Just call me ‘Grumpy Toes’
Let’s face it; my toes weren’t my best feature to start with. I inherited my father’s toes, and well…it’s best not to go there. Now, however, I’m waiting to see if they are going to end up looking even more, um, prehistoric.
A couple of days ago, I got up during the night to get something to drink. I didn’t put my shoes on. I didn’t put the lights on. I stumbled right into the corner of a bench, and yelled “OW” very loud. I thought I had broken my toe. I put down my glass of water, half of which had spilled on the carpet, and turned the light on, and looked at my foot.
My left second toe really, really hurt! I felt it, gingerly. It seemed to be intact. Good. I didn’t want to go to the emergency room and have it set. The whole front of my foot felt kind of weird, though.
The next morning, all five of my toes, and the areas in between, and part of the bottom of my foot were the most extraordinary combination of colors! What on earth could I have done to get my foot into this condition?
I reminded myself to always wear slippers if I go to the kitchen at night. You’d think I would, anyway, just because of the chance encounter with a scorpion—rare, but possible.
I had work to do the next day, so I hobbled around. I wore my sneakers, the shoes with the most protection, but I still walked funny. I wasn’t able to go hiking, and it still looked weird, and I thought I might be turning into a swamp creature. So I was grumpy. Too grumpy to blog; too grumpy to care I wasn’t blogging. I managed to publish a post that was already in the hopper, waiting for a few finishing touches it didn’t get. I didn’t want to tell you about my toes, because I felt like such a doofus, but I didn’t want to write about anything else, either!
Why is it that a localized injury like this takes up so much of our attention? Yes, it hurts, and all, and it’s a bit of a challenge to walk around, but the rest of me is fine, and my typing fingers are perfectly functional. It seems bashing one end of the body affects the other (brain) as well.
I had to ask myself why I needed to slow down. Isn’t it symbolic to have a foot injury at a time when one is running around too much? I will say, that in spite of being grumpy (there’s a part of me that enjoys being grumpy, I must confess), I’ve also experienced great calmness. “Hello, my foot is indisposed at the moment, perhaps I can do that next week.”
The tricky part is figuring out how to parcel out the tasks without having to have a case of zombie-toe first. I think injuries can be traced back to an imbalance somewhere—not that I’m blaming the injured, myself included, because it’s all too easy to become unbalanced as the busy humans we are.
I sat still, with my foot elevated, and asked myself what I needed, to bring myself back into balance. A little grumpy blogging perhaps? Getting the money thing sorted out (ongoing)? Maybe getting that blasted electronic keyboard out of the closet, and spending quality time with it every day (or almost) no matter what! Ah, that one hit home. And, “coincidentally” my foot started to feel better, too—how about that?
I was able to set up the keyboard on my stand. It had been in the closet for a while, because it, well, it DOES sort of take up a lot of room. When it’s not in the middle of the room, I have the illusion of more space, but there’s also a void. It’s better to have it out, and to connect, and to let go. I only have one pedal with my keyboard, and since I’m right-footed, it works just fine! 😀
Happy Passover, y’all!
MusEditions 
nothing like a stubbed toe to bring out a space-taking keyboard and have one thing more to possibly bump into.
i hope your toes are healing nicely! they may not be very pretty but they’re all you got. 🙂
is grumpy toes related to grumpy of the seven dwarfs? you do have lots of relations around the world…
sulz
April 9, 2009
Lots of hugs 🙂
I know localised pain can hurt more than we expect. I am most irritable with small injuries.
It is cool you could take out your keyboard. Have fun and hope your toe heals quickly and nicely.
Poonam
April 10, 2009
Ouch! Your poor foot! You made me wince, you realise?
I didn’t know you played the keyboard. I hope you’re enjoying yourself. A sore foot is a legitimate excuse for not being busy! 🙂
Wishing your toes a speedy recovery!
B0bbyG
April 10, 2009
Oh, ((((Muse)))) ouch. The same as Bobby, it made me wince. Is it healing up?
Even the slightest stub hurts when you don’t end up with bruises. Yours must have hurt terribly! 😦
But then you go and make laugh with the indisposed foot comment. hahaha! Sorry.
I am glad you had your keyboard to make your foot feel better! It’s funny, when we get something wrong we look for the reason why. Most people would think it odd. Every time I get something wrong, my Mom cracks open her book and tells me why, then gives me affirmations. I forget the name of the book but it has a rainbow on the cover.
One time I was in so much pain, and miserable, she was on the other end of the phone telling me what I had done to deserve it. I got all snarky and said, “Well, maybe it’s as simple as my being stupid and careless”
She adds, yes, by doing…such and such….(the reason in the book) LOL! Of course, deep down, I knew she was right.
I hope you are heal quickly and take care.
thebeadden
April 10, 2009
Hmmm, you have a point, there, sulz, but I think it’s worth the risk. 😉 Besides [raises right hand] I take a solemn oath to always wear my slippers when I get up at night. Failing that, I could invest in a nice comfy pair of steel-toed boots to keep by the bed. 🙂 Thank you! They are looking better. I have great hope of them looking nearly normal at some point. 😉 Oh, yes, Grumpy Toes is Grumpy-the-Dwarf’s younger cousin! I’ve outsmarted him, though, by growing taller than three feet. 😛
Thank you for the hugs, Poonam! They made me feel much better. You too? I think the localized things feel more isolated. It seems my foot is some alien part of me I don’t recognize, at the moment. 😛 I am enjoying my keyboard; thanks! And I am healing well. As for “nicely”? I appreciate the wishes! Don’t expect me to post any pictures of my toes, hehe. (Not that you’d want me to.) 😀
I’m sorry I made you wince on your holiday, B0bby. 😦 You should have only joy at that time. 🙂 I do play a few instruments, but the keyboard is especially fun as it can emulate many different ones. Thanks for your support about the good excuse! (What will I tell them next week?) 😉 My toes are much better, thank you. I no longer quite walk like ‘Igor’ from Young Frankenstein. 😛
Oh, sorry BD! I really probably shouldn’t have posted about this, but I just couldn’t seem to move on until I did! [Cue: “blog as therapist”] My toes and the rest of me thank you for the hugs! And you needn’t be sorry about laughing, that was its intent. 😀 I believe your Mom’s book is probably You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay. I’d recognize that rainbow anywhere. 😛 I like what she’s done lately, actually, more—her publishing company has made it possible for me to read some of my favorite authors. It must have been challenging to be read to in that way. I think there is much wisdom in Hay’s book, although for me, at least, there must be room for individual variation and intuition. I’m sure your Mom wanted to help! 🙂 Well, gosh, who doesn’t get snarky, sometimes, when they’re in pain? Maybe a saintly-type person, but that doesn’t describe me, at least. Thank you. Today, my toes are only three different colors instead of six. I see that as progress. 😀
museditions
April 10, 2009
That is the book, Muse! I don’t mind being read into like that, that is usually why I call her when something happens. And what is so creepy about it, is that it is usually spot on. Even if I don’t want to admit it.
You know all my health problems too!!!! Uh oh….look it up. Everything stated in that book, sadly is true.
Now you know the real me 😯
thebeadden
April 10, 2009
Oh, sorry, BD, I misunderstood! 😳 I thought because of your snarkiness 😉 and a couple of things you’ve said elsewhere that you didn’t like it…That book is the classic “affirmations-for-conditions” book. I can see the rainbow on my bookshelf right now. Been there for years. 🙂 There was a movie made about Hay’s life and philosophy recently; have you or your family seen it? I did, and it was awesome! Take care, and good holiday weekend to you. [And yes, now we know the real truth about BD]
PS: I fixed your itty-bitty typo. 🙂
museditions
April 11, 2009
Ooof, I feel for you. I’ve had broken toes three times, the second & third were the same toe twice in a year and broken in such a way that I couldn’t wear closed-toe shoes. Pull that off in a New England winter.
So I hope you heal quickly and well and comfort yourself with what I now call matzah brei a la Muse.
Happy Passover, Happy Easter, Happy Toes, Happy, happy!
ellaella
April 11, 2009
Oh! the same toe twice? And in winter? Cold as well as sore? —I’m stopping whining at once. I think I’ve gotten as much mileage out of this thing as I’m going to; my foot really is much better.
Hey, I’ve had a recipe named after me over at ella‘s! It’s not a traditional Passover dish, really, but my ext. fam. likes to have it then; it seems springy to us.
HAPPY EASTER!
museditions
April 11, 2009
If ever there is a time when the air is blue – in the whole village – is when I stub my toe, it is one of things I can quite confidently say that I hate.
Just the thought of it…
Will Rhodes
April 11, 2009
I could have toed you to be more careful. 🙂
seeing
April 11, 2009
LOL, Muse. That day I was just miserable and called her to say what happened at work because I wasn’t looking and wasn’t expecting her to crack the book. But usually I do call to find out why. It wasn’t my Mom that I referred to last time. She pretty much always let me do or think or be whatever! Which is probably why I am so odd. 😉
I had no idea about the movie! I don’t think anyone in my family has seen it. I am sure they would have mentioned it. I can’t wait to tell her! Thank you!
I am so sorry to go off topic here, but I never did ask if you were into astrology. Linda Goodman? Did you ever read Gooberz?
I hope you have a wonderful holiday too. I don’t even have to cook!
thebeadden
April 11, 2009
Ouch! I hate it when I accidentally hit something with my toes. For me it’s usually the leg of the office chair here at my desk. I’ve just about made it a habit to walk very slowly if I can’t see to avoid running into anything. But it’s funny how no matter how careful you are sometimes, that chair or bench makes it’s way in front of your feet somehow.
I had never thought of possibly running into a scorpion at night out in your part of the country. Yikes! Please remember your slippers! 🙂
Hope your toes are feeling much better now. Have a wonderful Easter tomorrow Muse!
Shane
April 11, 2009
Ouch!!! That must hurt a lot!! Hope your foot is heeling. I sometimes think either I or A (or both)must move around in an armour! 🙂 May be I must add you to that list 😉
Apar
April 11, 2009
Yah, let’s not do that anymore, Will. I think I got a three-for-one deal with it this time. 😉
seeing: {g r o a n} 😛 I wish I had emailed you at 2am my time; 4am yours so you could have toed me.
Nice you have such a great resource, BD. And if you are odd (a point I’ll concede) 😉 then I’m all for oddness! The movie’s on DVD now—hope you all like it. 🙂 I never have wrapped my mind around astrology very much. I have no objection to it, it just hasn’t “spoken” to me, somehow. I have friends who have studied it quite a bit. It’s good there’s a large assortment of consciousness-exploration tools out there.
Shane, walking slowly when you can’t see where you’re going is a wonderful idea. Sure wish I’d thought of it at the time! 😕 I have seen the occasional scorpion which has somehow gotten into the house when I wasn’t looking. Never’ve been stung by one though. Usually, they don’t want to be here any more than I want them to. But it IS a doubly good reason to wear my slippers. 😉 Thank you for the holiday wishes! Hope you and yours had a good one, too!
Thank you, Apar, my foot is getting better every day. I will be delighted to share yours and A’s armour! Oh boy! I feel better already! 🙂 I appreciate the protection!
museditions
April 13, 2009
I told everyone about the movie this week-end, Muse. No one had known about it. So thanks! You can also watch it on-line for $4.95!
I’m not big into astrology. Though I can do charts and stuff. My family is really into it. Linda’s book Gooberz is not an astrology book. It’s really like a 1000 odd page poem about her life. I fell in love with it right away. Not many people liked it that i know. It just ‘spoke to me.’ I’m not big into poetry either.
You can read the first few pages at amazon to get an idea of what I am talking about.
Sorry to take over and go off topic on you. I try not to do that to people. 😦
thebeadden
April 13, 2009
[…] a blog! online!), that having ones ubiquitous machines stop working well is almost as injurious as smashing ones toes! My brain hurts. (That’s a line from Monty Python; brains don’t really […]
Where does my brain stop and my computer begin? « MusEditions
April 15, 2009
Hey, the topic is somewhat related, BD, I don’t mind. I’m glad everyone liked the movie website! I just got an email announcing a “Hay House Author Cruise” to Alaska. She will be on the cruise; perhaps your family would like to go! 🙂
museditions
April 16, 2009
Ha! The only way you’d get me to go on a cruise of any length of time, would be to knock me out, or drag me kicking and screaming!
Quick story:
We stayed overnight on my Father-In-Laws boat that long ago. The boat was docked in the water.
My FIL must have noticed that I was looking a bit uncomfortable and mentioned it. I have been on his boat several times and overnight even though I am not very fond of it. I get used to it.
I know when your time is up, it’s up. But at this point I do have a choice on if it is drowning from a boat sinking. LOL! He had problems with a leak and was testing it. Though it was minor, it was something that I just should have been oblivious to. (He should know better!) 😉
Anyway I told him if it’s my time and I am going to drown, it sure as hell better be in warm water, not icy cold!
thebeadden
April 16, 2009
OK, so no cruise for your family, BD! I haven’t been on one since I was 11, and my aunt kindly took me. I had a pretty good time, although seasick the first couple of days. It was a huge ship!
museditions
April 20, 2009