When I was a kid, back in the days of carefree summers and lenient day camps, my absolute favorite activity (aside from free swim-every kid loves free swim) was archery. I was always really good at it... well in form anyway. I may not have been able to hit a bullseye to save my life, but I had excellent form and follow-through.
So, based on that strange little passion of mine (or at least the memory thereof), I have decided to enroll in an Archery course offered by the local city Parks and Recreation! Starting Tuesday Sept 16, and continuing through on Tuesday nights until Oct. 7, I will have a bow and arrow in hand.
Oh, yes, I know what you're thinking....this is an accident just waiting to happen.... perhaps dismemberment of my fingers from the taut bow string? Or perhaps a puncture from an arrow gone awry? How about slicing my face open with the feathers as I release too close? Or for you Supernatural fans out there....well, you should know from Mystery Spot... I'll just leave it at that.
So let's not go there. Let's think positive! It'll get me out of the house...I'll have a purposeful destination, and the course will be overseen by a highly trained, hopefully helpful, master archer. And, the best thing is, I don't have to invest in an archery set since all materials will be provided. (As well they should for the fee they are charging!) That way, I won't have a bow and arrow at my disposal at home should I want to rid the room of a pesky fly. (Oh, c'mon...you know me well enough by now to know I'd try something ridiculously stupid like that!)
In any event, this should lead to some fun stories to recount starting next month. See, now you have something to look forward to as well 
So, I started Physical Therapy this week.
Bear with me for a moment while i get medically technical... I recently saw an orthopedist to discuss the excruciating lower back and hip pain that just HAS to be more than the Fibromyalgia. Sadly, the result of the visit did not lead to any great breakthrough to make life more comfortable. (Now, pay attention--is anyone keeping track of the ever growing list of crazy things wrong with me??? I mean really!!!!)
I have come to learn that I have a particular syndrome known as Ehler's-Danlos (Type 3)--it's genetic and I've had it since birth, but never knew it had a name. Basically what it comes down to is that the collagen produced by my body (which goes into making everything from the heart muscle to skin to soft tissues and connective tissue) is of the wrong consistency
This could very well be the cause of the Mitral Valve Prolapse as well as the obvious cause of constant hip, jaw and shoulder dislocations. Basically, having lumpy, super stretchy collagen (as opposed to smooth and taut like most normal people) allows me to have hypermobility and instability in all my joints.
Just one example, as a kid this lead to the great trick of being able to put my legs behind my neck. A feat I was strangely proud of back then, and I must admit...the flexibility has come in handy as an adult (we'll just leave it at that) 
So, anyway, there's no cure and it just adds to the intense pain and chronic nature of the Fibromyalgia and CFS. When I asked the doctor if there was ANYTHING that could be done he offered me two options:
1. Surgery-they would go in and take out the inferior collagen/tissue/cartilage of the hip bone--- only problem is, everything would just grow back in the same, lumpy, over stretchy unstable way. So, I'd say a big NO to option number one.
2. Try Physical Therapy for a bit to see if we can help stabilize the skeletal system, strengthen muscles and reteach various parts of the body the correct way to move (as opposed to the over extended way that I just thought everyone had/did).
Option number 2 sounded like the better plan. Thus the opening line...I started PT on wednesday.
I had my initial assessment a few weeks ago, but with house sitting and dog sitting and dog walking I postponed the actual therapy until my days were a bit more free (Maya went home thursday night! REJOICE!)
During that initial assessment the Physical Therapist, a slightly older, and quite handsome gentleman I might add, was joking and sarcastic and responded well to my own sarcasm, and cringed at the over rotation of my hips, which made me laugh for some reason. All in all, it was a very pleasant experience.
Even though 4 1/2 weeks had passed since our initial meeting, he remembered me quite well. I warned him that I might be difficult and I'll whine and complain alot, so he might just have to ignore me. Well, he said he could never ignore a redhead. :perk:
Then, he gets me started with the exercise. Now, for the first day of PT I figured we'd take things slowly, gently work up to more repetitions and higher tensions, but no...threw me right into the fire.
I was doing one particular exercise and asked what it was for since I wasn't really feeling any burn or muscle usage, and he explained in very exact PT terms (that I didn't understand) specifically what it was for. When I asked him to explain in English he said, it'll make your back look nice.
Wait!??! I turned to him and said "Are you saying that my back DOESN'T look nice???" At which point he got just a little flustered and said, no no, you have a lovely back. Very nice curves.
OK!! Now we're getting somewhere!!!! Let's just put flirtation into overdrive!
At one point, he had me laying on my back (HEY! get your mind out of the gutter!!! sheesh!! This blog is rated PG!) doing some weight work (even though I told him the 8 pound weight was too heavy, but did he believe me?? noooooooo....) So, I'm on the table with my arm just wibble wobbling all around and he just jumps on up and sits down next to me and tells me how much he loves his job.
I asked him "why? so you could torture cute little redheads?"
And he said something to the effect of "Oh, I know about you redheads..."
Then somehow, and really, I don't know how :: looking all innocent :: HE brings up the fact that patients and their doctors date all the time..and that he isn't allowed to ask his patients out, but if THEY ask him, well, that's another story...
Whoa?!?!? Did he really go there??? was that a veiled offer?? An attempt to perhaps persuade me into suggesting that he should just happen upon me in an aforementioned location at an aforementioned time?!?!
So, I questioned him. For me, as a mental health therapist, there are strict ethics and boundaries that I have to keep with my clients (or had to when I was actually working). I can understand how Dr.s or PTs or RNs or whomever may grow close with their clients and venture into dating...but is it really a good idea?? I mean, if it doesn't work out how on earth do you continue on with the client relationship?
He replied that it could be done.... (I'm thinking of Sam and Dean looking at each other saying "awkward". C'mon, you know exactly what I mean!)
I scoffed, and huffed since during this whole conversation I still had the friggin 8 pound weight balancing on my arm....
So, in my cutest, coyest way I looked at him and said, if you're not dating anyone when I'm done with my physical therapy (which should be in about 4 weeks), I'll let you take me out to dinner.
He seemed quite pleased, but did react sarcastically to the fact that I would ALLOW him to take me out... But at least I set SOME boundaries.... only AFTER the "professional" relationship was over would we venture into a more personal one.
Since I've only had PT once (on Wednesday) I'm not really sure I read him clearly. He may have just been harmlessly flirting, making conversation.... but really, how many PTs just hop on the table and make small talk with you while you're counting to 15 on each arm in sets of 3???
Hmmm...I THINK he was flirting with me. Or, maybe he just thought I was cute and funny and was making small talk because he enjoyed my company. But if he enjoyed my company while I was all sweaty, gross and working out, wouldn't he enjoy my company when I was looking super cute, fresh and clean???
Anyway, I have another appointment today (friday), so we'll see how he reacts to me then. I'll keep you posted...but your thoughts would be appreciated. I'm so out of practice with the dating scene it's almost embarrassing But, I'm sensing (feeling) a bit of chemistry....
And seriously....if there's any guy who's willing to go out with me KNOWING full well all my health issues, I'm thinking that's a pretty good guy. And really, can't look a gift horse in the mouth.
***EDIT: OK, so I went again this morning and I'd give it a definite thumbs up!! Instead of passing me off to one of the PT assistants he chose to stay and work with me for the entire hour+; even though he was supposed to leave early, he chose to stay. So the flirting makes the session fun and physcially bearable, hopefully I'll strengthen some muscles along the way, AND I have a dinner date when I'm done. Sheesh- you'd think that after 38 years dating, flirting and reading the signs would be a little easier... Age may bring wisdom, but the heart will always have its doubts.
Next session is Monday of next week. We'll see how things go and I'll keep you posted! 
Happy Sunday!!! I have a favor to ask of all my friends at TV.com:
The Animal Rescue Site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it daily to meet their quota of getting free food donated every day to abused and neglected animals. And please know, this is a legitimate site; no scams, no rip-offs.
It takes less than a minute (how about 30 seconds) to go to their site and click on the purple box 'fund food for animals' for free. This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate food to abandoned/neglected animals in exchange for advertising. Here's the web site! Pass it along to people you know.
As a side note, from the main page you can navigate to The Rainforest Site, The Hunger Site, The Literacy Site, The Breast Cancer Site and The Child Health Site. They all work in the same way, just click where it says to 'click for free' and you've done one (of hopefully many) good deed(s) for the day!
