When to CRY UNCLE

On occasion I have the good sense God gave a peanut to stay in it's shell - but only on occasion...and not this one in particular.

After working a full weekend of Midwest Tribal Mafia (Chicago's one and only Mafia themed Tribal Belly Dancing event) and teaching a 2 hour FLOOR WORK WORKSHOP that included moves called THIGH MASTER SLIDE, BRIDGE, ASSASSIN TURNS and other various lunges, squats and jumps - I SHOULD have SAT my ASS, THIGHS and collective Self at home....BUT NOOOOOOO!!

Menty: We are kinda hurtin for certain - maybe we should stay home?

Side Bar: We can handle it - plus we've been eating like crap all weekend long.  Have you seen our thighs?? They seem to be expanding....

Physie: To hell with both of you - I've been taking muscle ache pain shit and its not working.

Side Bar: We Are Going. Get In The Car.

Physie: Fine! If we hurt ourselves, I can't be held accountable.

I get Joel Hall Center and meet two new chicks to the class. I warn them about MDB (I don't tell them that's her nickname though - too early to frighten the cattle) - she's likely to use crazy visual terminology, etc. They tell me that they have previous experience (ballet through 18 years old - pointe, etc). I tell them they should be fine then. I had no experience at all and I thought MDB was going to whip out a fondu pot and we were going to fry cheese in class - but that in fact was NOT the case :). 

When MDB arrives I introduce her to the two new girls - which makes her laugh that I've already introduced myself to them.  And she says wants to see which tassel I shook for her in the MTM show, but I didn't wear tassels - so I wore a hair clip for her - the large cream color one with the big bling on the side.

MDB gets us started with our plies...and about the 2nd position plie, I realize my left knee is NOT going to make it.

Physie: Menty...........we have a problem. 

Menty: Let's get the kneepad for support. 

Side Bar: So you're saying I'm wrong, huh?

Menty and Physie: SHUT UP!

MDB sees me putting it on and says UH OH! But I don't really have time to explain that I'm an idiot at this time, so I just skip it until we have time to break. I spend most of the barre part of class thinking about my knee. When we get to battements, I make it through, but I still ask MDB for assistance. 

MDB - ever dramatic -makes me stand next to the piano, steps on my left foot, and holds down my hips so I can lift my right leg only - no hip action. It really is an isolation, but I'm cheating. So here I am with MDB hanging off my hips trying to keep them down - AND IM TRYING MY DAMNEDEST NOT TO LAUGH! I always mention how little she is, but it's not until someone's head is level with your armpit trying to keep you FROM doing something that it hits home. 

Side Bar: MAYBE this isn't the BEST WAY to stop my hips....

Menty: But it's pretty damn funny

Side Bar: That's for sure!

The two new chicks are trying to decide if this is funny -haha or funny-strange and then MDB grants them the Barbie leg imagery that endears her to my heart- IF YOU COULD IMAGINE BARBIE AND THEN RIP HER LEGS OFF. Two new chicks had been warned....but their faces are kinda looking like - should we run for it or have the black chick sit on her?? :)

We put the barres away and go into the floor and traveling combos, which challenge my body and balance in different ways due to all the aching. We go back to jetes - which I must do at the barre, but I did finally get or mostly get the waltz turn which is really pretty when you aren't scare of it. 

So I get home and dump myself into a hot bath. Only problem is I had to figure out HOW TO GET OUT OF IT! 

I am going to class tonight, but I'm going much better today than yesterday...I mean with muscle soreness.