I've Got a Joint Lock on My Own Thumb

I fumbled all the way through tiger/snake form last night. The movements are starting to make more sense to me. However, I found the hand positions exceedingly difficult because of some pretty serious pain in my right thumb. I believe it's the arthritis the doctors tell me I probably have (but never shows up on any medical tests). Osteoarthritis runs in the family, and right now, the base joint of my thumb hurts like the bejeezus, and no position seems to relieve the pain, although some worsen it. I took an Advil during kung fu last night, but it didn't seem to help at all.

I think the soreness in my thumb is presaging a change in weather. I have built-in barometers like that. I just wish they didn't hurt so damned much. Argh!

Anyhow, the tiger/snake form did go pretty well. I went over it in my head this morning, while in that half-awake/half-asleep state, and I can get 3/4 of the way through before I get confused. I still need to ascertain what my hands are supposed to be doing through parts of it, though. They move between fists, spear hands, phoenix eyes, leopard strikes, and tiger claws. And that's not even taking into consideration the arm movements, kicks, and stances! There's so much to remember, and my brain is already too full.

As I was getting ready to bike home, I chanced across a group of teens. They watched me unlock my bike and set my sword across the saddlebags, and one of the boys asked, "Is that a real sword?"

"Yes," I said.

"Whoa....."

And then I biked back home to a delicious post-workout meal. Food always tastes best right after heavy exercise.

cynebeah called me last night, and we talked for a long time. Too long, considering what it must cost her to phone from Austria. Her boyfriend keniken was in a terrible incident a month ago. While walking down the street, he was jumped by a bunch of thugs and beaten almost to death just for the hell of it. That's what happens in the UK during football games. A bunch of bleedin' psychos over there--just like in an Irvine Welsh novel. f00dave, when you go over there, keep off the streets during big sports events. They'll murderize you for sure.

I Wanna Hold My Hand

My hand still hurts like it's being squashed by the flaming hoof of a horse made from fire. Yeah, it hurts so bad I come up with terrible metaphors to describe it. I've taken two Advil over the course of the day, but they did little. So right now, I have my hand bandaged up in the hopes that a bit of pressure will help. Well, it's not hurting any more, at least, although it is making it very difficult to type. I hope that when the weather breaks, my hand goes back to normal. Such is usually the case, whether the hot ache is in my hands, knees, wrists, or hips.

Today was the first decent sales day at the store in quite some time. I actually sold a pair of my earrings. That makes two pairs this week. I wish it were more. It's sad when less than $100 gets me excited. $100 won't pay a whole lot of rent.

Despite my lack of funds, I have been doing a bit of spending. I recently purchased a very reasonably-priced second-hand laptop from nymphie. It's in the mail right now. It will be nice to be able to do some writing outside the home again. Although I do scribble in notepads, I do my best writing with a keyboard. I type faster than I can write, and my brain goes faster than either.

I also stopped by a thrift shop today and scored some beautiful shalwar kameez. I gave one of them to snowy_kathryn (which made her squee, because it's really pretty!), and am keeping another one for myself. This one is made of purple fading to grey silk, and also has a matching dupatta with gold and purple tassels. I'm wearing the shalwar right now. It goes nicely with the grey choli I made last week. I also purchased an enormous maternity top, not because I'm expecting quintuplets, but because it's made of gorgeous embroidered red velvet. I've already hacked it apart to make a choli. I'm about 1/4 of the way through making the choli, too, which shows you that despite my bum hand, I've been at least somewhat productive today! I was working some more on my jade, jasper, and mookaite belt, but using the pliers was more than I wanted to handle.

Tonight, I'm going to a going-away party for starmae. I don't really know her very well, but she was so kind as to give me a little ready-made garden on my birthday. Tomorrow, if the weather is nice and my hand will allow it, I'm going kayaking again--this time with Dmitri.

(no subject)

Whoa. Am I ever snapped. At least my hand isn't bothering me!

Time to go. I am Shanzilla.