I’m sorry for not posting… but I was so dangerously tired. Well, maybe not dangerously. But seriously, I have been totally exhausted the past few days.
Let’s start with Coach OH!’s reaction to me being allowed to skate. I told her the minute I got to the rink. And instead of congratulating me for being able to continue, she flipped out in typical Coach OH! fashion. “Cate, what does that mean that your platelet counts are low? Because if that’s dangerous, you need to take care of yourself before you collapse on the ice.” I sighed. She always gets her medical stuff wrong, but it’s cute how she does. I love medicine, so I don’t mind explaining.
“Coach OH!, it’s red blood cells that would make me faint. If I was anemic or had a low red count. Low platelets just meant I was not having a good clotting day. Dr. K. said it was probably just a fluke – lots of people have extremely bloody nosebleeds. It’s not anything to worry about.”
Coach didn’t seem convinced, but I didn’t really want to talk about it so I just went and twirled around and then she yelled at me for being unprofessional, because I wasn’t practicing my actual routine. Well, no, I was just celebrating my ability to skate. Apparently that didn’t fly because I missed the morning anyway. She worked me SO hard! And then she threw a curveball at me. She wants me to start taking ballet, because it would help improve my flexibility. Mom thought this was an amazing idea when I told her after I got home. I really don’t. I mean, ballet is pretty, but I really don’t have time. They both thought it would also help me break up my routine and get a little more enthusiastic about skating practice.
Enthusiastic? I about killed both of them. I’m the one who was pushing to KEEP skating, and now Coach OH! and Mom both thought on their own accord that I need to be more enthusiastic about skating. Like they weren’t telling me five minutes ago that I should stop skating. And like I don’t want to go to the Olympics. I am totally dedicated. I really don’t get it. But I guess I’m doing ballet anyway. So guess when I have ballet? 8:30 – 10 pm, every Tuesday/Thursday, and from 9-12 on Saturday. That means Tuesday and Thursday I’m going to be rushing straight from work to ballet. And then on Saturday, when I’m supposed to be recovering from being totally sore all week, I’m doing ballet, which will make me even more sore and tired.
I guess I am a little excited though, mostly about the beauty of it. I think learning ballet will add a lot to my choreography. I can be a lot more lyrical and poised. But I don’t think I need to get more flexible. Who knows. I’d fight it, but if it’ll help me get to Vancouver… than I really can’t complain.
The rental counter Monday was fun. I had that mom come up who wanted the new-but-broken-in-skates, and she thanked me for the info on buying skates. That was really cool. Then Chrissy, the girl who runs the counter, invited us all to go rollerblading! I’ve actually never been rollerblading. It’ll be really fun. I wonder if I’m any good? The counter was fun at first on Tuesday – we were all talking and laughing at this one boy who was trying to learn how to skate backwards. I know, I know, we shouldn’t be laughing… but seriously, it was hilarious. Then the conversation changed and I got totally annoyed. We were talking about what music we like to listen to, and Abby said her favorite band was Rascal Flatts, and she loved “Skin”.
I flipped out. I hate that song, because it reminds me of all the bad stuff that comes with being an oncologist. And I can’t take my patients to the prom or something, I can only try to help them get better. I hope I encourage my patients. But who knows. And Abby knows totally nothing about leukemia or anything. She was just like, it’s cute at the end.
Oh and, by the way, if my life wasn’t exhausting enough, I’m leaving in two hours for Massachusettes to go to regionals! I’m doing my “Jupiter” routine for the long program. (We developed it last spring because we knew I’d be out for awhile.) Should be fun.
