All the Bits.

Okay, since I've now overused the opener, "Sorry it's been so long since I've updated this thing!" or another equally mundane apology, I'm going to try something different. Something to mask my insecurity and feelings of guilt:

I'm super-freaking glad it's been so long since I've updated this thing. It must mean I had a life!

Whether that's true or not, here are the things I did since the last post:

- I acted in this play at The Mint Theater:




(I was in this play for so long that I started to think I was Irish. I even started drinking Guinness - and, horror of all horrors, I began hating the British. Thank goodness that phase is over.)

- I staged a nonviolent coup against my landlord, and searched all of Brooklyn for a new apartment, so far with no success. (Um... help? Anyone?)

- I resumed my improv studies at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. I am enjoying this very much. (Wait, was that funny? I think I could have justified it better...)

- I resumed my previously pursued schedule of standup comedy open mics, a schedule that had been interrupted by making people cry nightly in Temporal Powers. Trying to get back to making people laugh, and looking to book another show.

- And, seriously folks, what would this blog be without a medical update? I got a positive review on my last MRI. This is the biggest news of all, so I've saved it for last.



Apparently, my beleaguered and battered big toe joint has withstood the test of time and the punishing life of a biped in New York City. My doctor says the joint is well on its way to a full-ish recovery. I don't know if it will ever be totally "full," but according to the scan I had two weeks ago there is enough fibrocartilage (the cartilage equivalent of cheap plywood) in there to do most of the work of a regular joint for quite some time. This is truly the best news I've had in a long time. It makes everything else seem insignificant.

Without my prompting him, my doctor said to me, "You should feel free to go ahead and play tennis or squash." And I came really close to saying, "SHUT your mouth!" Such was my utter disbelief. I've gone a year and nine months without even attempting to run, and I've avoided walking as much as possible. The idea of playing squash again seemed a very long way away. Too bad I canceled my gym membership, and that all of my medical expenses have made reopening it seem impossible. Still -- I've got my racquet and a couple of balls.

So why does my toe still hurt, damn it? Though the joint appears structurally sound, there is still some inflammation. It could be left over from the surgery, or a result of use. The doctor recommended a steroid shot to break through the inflammation and get it to go away. I had the ultrasound-guided shot (a cocktail of kenalog, lidocaine, and some other stuff) almost two weeks ago... I'm still waiting for it to feel better. But the welcome news that I will NOT need another surgery on my foot is reason enough to celebrate, and to believe that the suffering of the last year-and-nine-months is behind me.

Now to shift my focus to my many existential dilemmas, such as, "Huh. Why should I think anyone out there needs to read about what's happened to me in the last two months?"