A pain in the ass...and the left rib cage...
You wouldn't expect a colonoscopy to hurt in the left side of the ribs, but that's apparently where one of the sharp turns in the large intestine sits...just under the ribs on the left. But I got through all right, impressed the doctor and the nurses, and walked out fully conscious and able to go to rehearsal tonight. The procedure started at 2:20 and was done in under 20 minutes, and that's just over three hours ago. If I had used the sedatives and anesthesia (which would have been risky anyway), best case I would still be groggy and unable to do anything functional. Instead, I'm back to doing stuff. Good deal.
Preliminary report suggests that I am dealing with an inconvenient and extremely uncomfortable chronic condition (scary symptoms started in March) that is not life-threatening; I probably don't have cancer. This is the best news, and I am very relieved. Managing the condition will be a nuisance, but I'm not complaining. The alternative was looking really grim for a while.
I'm in Big River, my first musical in years, at Rose State College. It will be tedious, because the schedule is long (we only play the first weekend of November) and because more than half the cast is not musically trained, so we are getting coached along the way. Hence the long rehearsal schedule. It will also be fun, because I like working with the director and I will get to be one of the experienced old farts. I play Widow Douglas in the first act, an anonymous mourner and Sally Phelps in the second act. Fun family show, relatively easy music, good story...anyone here read Huckleberry Finn? :-) That's the source material.
I did a great audition for the other part I was looking at (the director said so! which is wonderful to know) but my schedule and his schedule made it pretty nearly impossible for him to cast me. He had a deep bench to draw from, so I might not have been his first choice at the end of the day anyway, and the show will be great. I have other friends in the cast as well. Looking forward to seeing it...
I waved a couple of olive branches at an estranged friend; he responded politely to the public one and ignored the e-mail one...oh, well, at least he didn't ignore both. Let time pass, as someone once said. Other old friends to whom I extended branches have responded; now if I could just remember to call people when I won't be waking them up... :-) I'm back in touch with several folks who I had not heard from in a while.
Life is good.
Preliminary report suggests that I am dealing with an inconvenient and extremely uncomfortable chronic condition (scary symptoms started in March) that is not life-threatening; I probably don't have cancer. This is the best news, and I am very relieved. Managing the condition will be a nuisance, but I'm not complaining. The alternative was looking really grim for a while.
I'm in Big River, my first musical in years, at Rose State College. It will be tedious, because the schedule is long (we only play the first weekend of November) and because more than half the cast is not musically trained, so we are getting coached along the way. Hence the long rehearsal schedule. It will also be fun, because I like working with the director and I will get to be one of the experienced old farts. I play Widow Douglas in the first act, an anonymous mourner and Sally Phelps in the second act. Fun family show, relatively easy music, good story...anyone here read Huckleberry Finn? :-) That's the source material.
I did a great audition for the other part I was looking at (the director said so! which is wonderful to know) but my schedule and his schedule made it pretty nearly impossible for him to cast me. He had a deep bench to draw from, so I might not have been his first choice at the end of the day anyway, and the show will be great. I have other friends in the cast as well. Looking forward to seeing it...
I waved a couple of olive branches at an estranged friend; he responded politely to the public one and ignored the e-mail one...oh, well, at least he didn't ignore both. Let time pass, as someone once said. Other old friends to whom I extended branches have responded; now if I could just remember to call people when I won't be waking them up... :-) I'm back in touch with several folks who I had not heard from in a while.
Life is good.