But at Least I can Pedal

It's hard not to feel sorry for yourself when you are sitting outside of the yoga joint, watching Girlfriend through the window doing her practice without you. It's hard because the hip, well, it ain't so good and all one can do without making things worse is the stationary bike or the elliptical trainer. And who likes those things? Especially when those are the only two choices. I mean, let me tell you, the stationary bike sure loses its zing when that is the only thing one can do.

So here I am, sitting in the tearoom at Yogaworks, the best yoga gig in town. HWWV is inside there taking pictures of all the kids doing their yoga and I'm typing this. I feel like I'm complaining, and I guess I am.

And I know someone will say, "but you have it good, I've had a hip replacement and I can barely walk." And then a next person will say, "barely walk? Barely walk? It would be a dream to barely walk! I can barely crawl." And then the next person will say, "hah! That'll be the day when I finally crawl again! Most of the time I just lay there."

"Yeah, but I have to lay under a volcano! One that always erupts! Right on my face!

"Volcano? You're lucky! A volcano! Just think of the beautiful sight of an erupting volcano! I have to lay on the asphalt and one of those asphalt rollers rolls over me day after day! I'm absolutely smushed!"

And so on and so on and so on and so on.

Now that I have that off my chest, I just bought 10 balls Rowan Damask and I think I shall make some sort of cover up for the beach/pool/yoga outfit (since I'm only a poser these days). I've started to write down the pattern and we'll see how it goes. The yarn is just beautiful. It looks even better when near a nice cocktail. But we all know that knitting and drinking don't go together, right? [Hah!] Which, reminds me of a funny story my friend Scout told me the other day. She told me she was talking to a close knitting friend and I guess he had a few beers. Anyway, he was knitting away and realized that he made a mistake and had to rip back a ton of his work.

And then, after he finished ripping, he discovered that he hadn't made a mistake after all, that he ripped back for nothing. That's what you get when drinking while knitting.

Off to drink and knit.

Comments

[christyn]

Ah yes. I call this the bad news poker.
I'll see your a bad hip and raise you a carpal tunnel.....
I can't stand the bad news poker!

[darlene]

wendy try being medicated just enough to where your tired of sleeping and can't really stay up. then trying to knit....that project is put 'away'.

[pixie]

I have had 1 skien of that exact yarn and color sitting in my stash for a while now, I would love as much as you have there to make a sweater or shawl. Soooo lovely.

[Jaime]

Did you just say that knitting and drinking don't go together?! That's crazy talk!

[Amy Cutting]

I'm using that yarn in a different colorway (all tans, golds and cream - beautiful!) and I'm absolutely in love with it!!! It is a bit splitty so you have to watch it a bit but oh so lovely. Too bad I have already told the person I'm making the Orangina for about it otherwise I'd be tempted to keep it!

[carole]

I'm going to recommend a Grey Goose Gimlet. It would compliment that colorway fabulously.

[Lauren]

Well, of course, drinking and knitting go together! You just have to pick the project accordingly.
Garter stitch scarves that you throw at the bartender on your way out of the bar. . . that's the kind of knitting that works.

Oh, and use the huge yarns that you can buy for nothing in the bins in discount stores.

See, drinking and knitting can (and do) mix!

[Steph VW]

So sorry about your hip issues. I have no magic wand... but I do have a quick hip-replacement story, 'cause it's funny, not 'cause anyone's prone on the asphalt:

My best friend had her hip resurfaced a year ago. At the ripe old age of 33 she was not the "normal" orthopedic patient. During her recovery, I called her at the hospital every day to ask if she was still the cutest and least wrinkly patient in the ortho wing. And every day, she got to answer "Why yes, yes I am!"

[Mellanie]

"Bad news poker" I have got to remember that term. Thanks, Christyn.

[susan]

is that panda vomiting? what is coming out of its mouth??

[Wendy]

he's drinking a gin and tonic. That is how the Panda's do it: they stick out their tongue and lap.

[jess]

I offer commiseration -- I can't do anything but the stationary bike myself due to rehabbing a knee injury. I hope you are back to the yoga -- and having choices! -- soon.

love the color of the yarn! :)

[Patty]

Hoping you're back to the sun sals soon - I'm with you on the bike and elliptical - it's like watching grass grow!

[Teresa]

Hips? HIPS!? I WISH I had hips!!!! :D Sorry, had to put that in there. Don't you just love ridiculous competitions like that?

[setters]

that yarn is just beautiful! I love pretty much all of the bamboo yarns which is weird as I wouldn't have imagined that bamboo would make a good yarn...

[Laura]

Thanks for explaining the panda drool. Hah! Bad News Poker. That's a good one. I'll remember it too. Someone explained to me that when we are facing physical ailments we not only mourn whatever injury or unwellness we are facing, but we also mourn the loss of our illusion of imortality. Not that any of us really believe that we are immortal, but that most of us, in order to get through the day, take our well-being for granted. When we get hurt the vulnerability that we feel is a large part of the frustration. I don't know if that's something everyone else already knows, or if it will help at all, but acknowledging that has helped me a little, so I thought it might you as well. I hope you are feeling better real soon. Drink and knit on!

[Keatyn]

I love the color of that yarn and the panda figures sitting all over it are just adorable.

[Emily]

Hey, i am currently restricted to the stationary bike too due to doctors orders. It sucks doesnt it! I get pretty stabby from all the unsolicited medical advice and one-upping complaints these days so I know just how you feel.
I read you mention you might have a herniated disc, which is what I have right now. If you are interested in hearing about getting throug this injury from someone who will not a) tell you you are screwed, b) tell you they have it worse, c) complain, d) scare you, then drop me a line.
Feel better soon!

[Nicole]

I call that being a "one-upper". I had a friend who would always one up me no matter what the situation was - she was always sicker/healthier or richer/poorer or drove a better car or had a harder/better childhood.... She could always top your problem or story.

[victoria]

Let me see if I understand you: you're advocating *sober* knitting? Where's the challenge in that?

I feel you on the whole hip thing. I have premature arthritis in my hips and the only exercise I can do is the sissy elliptical thing. Even bikes hurt. So, yeah, I suck it up and go do that lame thing. Every day. Feeling very sorry for myself.

But today I'll think about the people lying under the asphalt rollers and count my blessings. :-)

[Susan]

Heh, your whole hip scenario reminds me of that Monty Python sketch where these old fogies are comparing how hard their lives were as children. "We were LUCKY to live in a shoebox!" etc.

Hope you feel better soon, and the Rowan is quite pretty!

[Dorothy]

Ouch! Knitting and drinking while fun at the time, may or may not mix well. Good thing practice makes perfect, no? ;)

[Jeanne B]

Oh, to have an Undo button on my knitting. I feel for your friend who was KUI (Knitting Under the Influence). I did it once myself. But not as badly (therefore I cannot "one up", LOL!). Look at the hip issue this way—it's giving you more time to knit and think. :-)

[Georg]

My hip aches in sympathy. I won't go over the other problems. :) Keep knitting!

[donna lee]

I'm sitting her recovering from gall bladder surgery and trying not to laugh at the poor folks under the volcano. I have a friend like that too. If I get a bruise, she has a compound fracture. I'm waiting for her to call me and tell me she had something more important removed from her body.