You never know...

So I joined the club.. the "I went home because of an injury" club. I am typing this entry from my parents home in Florida and I have been out of the show for 2 weeks now due to a sprained MCL. When I was in Tempe, AZ the show was opening on a Tuesday, and we were all enjoying the wild audiences (mostly of Nathaniel Hackman's friends/family.) It was another day, another show, another "Be Our Guest" and then all of a sudden, I felt as though someone snuck on stage and stabbed my left knee with a giant kitchen knife. I continued the choreography, turning upstage and freezing my pose trying to look like a sexy little "plate." But instead I turned upstage and looked like a wilted biscuit holding a circular piece of white velour above my head. In doctor's terms, I dislocated my patella and sprained my Medial Collateral Ligament. I spent a couple of days beating around the bush before I learned what happened and even bothered to get my self out of the show. But by the time I figured out that I couldn't walk, we were in San Diego. I went to see an orthopedic surgeon and he gave me a stylish 24" long brace, some narcotics and an Rx for 4 weeks of physical therapy. Bye, bye Beauty for a while...

So I'm here at home now and I've been thinking back on the amazing summer I had. Both during the show and during our layoff, I have seen the East coast, West coast, North, South and a couple of Hawaiian Islands. Here are a few highlights and the things I've missed the most:

My friends, of course. I miss them the most of all!

Here we are in front of "The Thinker" at the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City!



Messing around in the dressing room in Fayetteville, AK


San Francisco Bus Tour!! (it was a little windy that day)


Cake Bread Cellars (Napa Valley) had never seen so many crazy girls!!



Riding in the air above Sterling Vineyards


First Hawaiian Night... A free Booze Cruise from our company, Networks!


Same Boat, different day. This time we went snorkeling!


Here we are in the water!


Our day off in Hawaii at the Hawaii Polo Club on the North Shore. Such a beautiful back drop.


A little visit to "the others" houses from a little show called... LOST!


Parasailing with my boyfriend for a day, Brandon. :)


And then, there was Maui...


Another day, another island, another boat...


My housemates in Lahaina, Maui. We're standing in the largest Banyan Tree in the world!


Just our private beach, no big deal.


That was our backyard for a week in Maui. Gaby and I are walking to the beach with our tubes around our waists :)


The Seven Sacred Pools along the Hana Highway in Maui. I'm striking a lotus pose, back when I could bend my knees.


Back from Hawaii to the mainland, and reality. But reality wasn't so bad, actually... it was San Antonio.


And over to the West Coast to San Diego. We had a great apartment and decided to have a few big dinners together. Sarah Claire and I were proud of our vegetarian vegetables


And I was Julia Child for Halloween ;)


But sitting here on my couch, with ice on my knee, the thing I miss the most is my asana practice. I miss yoga. Here are some awesome pictures I had taken by my friend Jen while we were still in O'ahu.


This is my teaching yoga on the beach. We're all sporting "Lizard Pose" a good hip opener!



Pachimotanasana with a smile :)


Sarvangasana (shoulder stand) with a variation of lotus feet


I am so proud of this picture. It took me years to achieve this posture.



Backbend variation. Urdva Dandurasana


My downward facing dog got caught in the waves. I laughed.


So folks, there you have it. My life has changed completely. One minute I was racing around the globe, having the time of my life and then somehow I ended up stuck on the couch. But I know that all this happened for a reason, whether to make me more grateful for my job and my friends or to show me to slow down a little. I am trying to use this time as productively as possible, and by the time I return back to work, I'll be fresh, tan and ready to take on the tour. Until then,

Namaste and Take each step like it's your last... it might be for a while. You never know!

Heather