Well here’s the first part of really good news…..I’m living on my own!!!!! That’s right. After I left the hospital I moved back home, obviously because I wasn’t ready to live on my own. Now, I am strong enough, and ready to conquer the world!

So here’s August:

1.I moved out!

2.Olivia left for school

3. I got Maddy-my new assistant!

4.Celebrated my parents 30th! Wedding anniversary

5.I went to the Story Teller’s Ball

6. Judged a dance Competition for The MS Opera

7. Performed with Eclectic Soul @ the Alamo theater here in Jackson

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Here are some photos to help:

I moved!! After I left the hospital, I moved back into my parents house. Obviously, due to the fact, I wasn’t prepared to live on my own & I was still pretty weak. So now, after almost 2 years of recovery, still on going, I’m a big kid & I moved out! Part of my therapy is building myself back to independence, & buddy am I independent!!

Also, yet again I had to say “goodbye” to my beautiful Olivia. She is headed back to school to make something of herself. So selfish. KIDDING! I’m only KIDDING. Anyway, her school schedule along with my schedule interfere which I completely understand. Not to worry, we’ll still be talking regardless . I have a new girl now who is great. See, not all good things come to an end.

During all this madness, I flew to Seattle for a wedding! First off, flying by myself was like riding a bike. I had forgotten how much I missed jet setting around. It was a  wonderful, yet completely normal feeling. The wedding was awesome. When I was an acting apprentice in Louisville, Kentucky, I met Jake & Ruthie. Two of the sweetest people that are absolutely in love with each other. So you can imagine when I heard they were getting married I couldn’t wait to attend the wedding. I was able to see my other friend from Louisville & his girlfriend. Very very cool. While the wedding party came down the aisle, everyone attending received lyrics to the Beatles “I want to hold your hand” which we sang. But the best part was, once the entire wedding party was stationed, one of the bridesmaids sang a solo version of “I want to hold your hand” as the bride walked down. It was fantastic!

Well, there it is. My crazy busy happy life. Trust me when I say, there’s much much more to come…..

Nicole

From last I left off, I was super stocked to be helping choreograph. Dance to me is like crack- so when I hear “help choreograph/ dance”, I know I’ll get my fix, therefore breathing is easy. If that wasn’t the icing on the cake, I walked into therapy last week & 2 of my head therapists told me they needed to meet with me. Thinking I was in trouble, I wasn’t really looking forward to this meeting. However to my surprise, it was a really good meeting. June 31st is National Dance day, & my girls @ therapy really wanted to celebrate on June 30th,  by putting together a dance for everyone in therapy. The best part, they wanted yours truly to choreograph it! Ya know, life isn’t so bad.

The weekend then came before I knew it. Olivia made it back from her trip with stories of fun in the sun, & encountering first had, part of the oil spill…. Other than that, she told me it was a great trip. Who doesn’t like beach trips? Well, after the beach it was back in the saddle, & there’s nothing like a little excitement to get back in the swing of things. I say this because upon Olivia’s arrival back to work my horse of a dog Roxie got loose. So we spent about 15 minutes getting her back in the house. My phone decided “Not Today” & stopped working. We then went box hunting ( I am moving out of my parents house, so need boxes to pack stuff in). Fun times. Sometimes you just can’t help but smile

As of now, I’ve been steadily choreographing & couldn’t be happier. Make sure you celebrate National Dance Day.

Nicole

So let’s go over the last few days….WEDNESDAY! Talk about a day. Therapists I work with put together these outings throughout the year for all the patients. It’s sort of a “Let’s get out of the gym & find something involving therapy & fun”. I’m not gonna lie, I usually am a little hesitant. Remember being in kindergarten & going on field trips? Well, that’s what we do. We go on field trips, only we’re all older. Which makes it feel a little awkward. But, these outings serve a purpose, & for that I’m grateful.

Sooooooo, our outing was this week……and we went bowling. Bowling was great. Funny as it may sound, we went during the day & once we started to bowl, the lights went out & it turned into mistic bowling. Personally, my bowling skills are not the best. But who cares? Journey was playing & everybody looked really happy. That’s really all that matters. I believe my final score was….well, bad, and it didn’t even matter.

After bowling, it was off to my man, Mr.E. I’m getting stronger, so he’s putting the hurt on BRING IT! Which brings me to the next part of my story. One of my first therapists I worked with when I came back to Mississippi called me. Her husband is the drummer of Eclictic Soul. An amazing group. Any how, they are performing here in Jackson in August. For  their performance, they’re incorporating dance. Very cool, & even cooler she asked if I could choreograph it & dance in it. My answer? ………..YES,YES,YES!!!!!!!!!

Unfortunately, I have to leave you in suspense. Gotta run. Stay tuned!

Nicole

It’s been crazy. Literally. How about we go through the last couple of days. Let’s rewind. Fridays are usually the day in the week that everyone gets excited for, anticipate, smile for, etc., and I am right there. I told you I was doing yoga. It just so happens I go on Fridays. Man oh man, yoga is so invigorating! When I’m on that matt, engaging my muscles, feeling my body actually moving, loosening, I’m in heaven. I’m sure this sounds odd, but I love stretching. Weird yes, but it hurts so good ( you dancers out there feel me, right? ). That’s exactly how it went. Then when it was over, it was off to dreamland I went. Saturday was so happy. I caught up with a friend of mine visiting from out of town. Visiting with friends is always fun Now for the evenings adventures! The place where I go do yoga, were having some very special guests come in, The Mayapuris! This group is one unbelievable kirtran/chant world music band. Very very cool. In the south, new experiences are something you jump at, & trust me, this was one of them. Again, very cool. The music was definitely different and the dancing rocked. It was a for sure experience.The night ended with making new friends, sushi, & an all around good day. Sunday brought just as much fun. The lovely Mrs. Talamieka Brice & I took some photos for an art project she’s doing. The theme was “Cabaret”. We were able to get the fantastic LaShanda Jeanette to do makeup. Talk about good, that girl can do makeup! With a different face & one awesome costume, the photos came out great! We totally transformed into another world. The power of the imagination….it’s powerful stuff. Which brings us to MONDAY.

Monday was great! Quest was fabulous as always.  We worked on living independently & strengthening. Mr.E & I are starting to really pump up my workout & dancing in between Nicole

We kept the ball rolling with OT therapy, a.k.a. ” hand therapy”. I practiced my writing, which is actually getting easier to read Therapy closed out with moving & replaceing spice bottles. I mean, I’m gonna have to do it some day.

All together, therapy rocked! Now, to just keep it up & continue to move forward.

Nicole

Stick-ball, yes. Good ole stick ball. I don’t think I’ll be playing anytime soon, but boy do I respect those guys. Anybody who can take a stick to the face & keep going has an A+ in my book. I went with my friend Keri who was in PT school with a guy who was actually on a stick-ball team. Unfortunately he was unable to play because he messed up his eye pretty bad in practice. In other words, this is one tough sport. We ended our evening in Philadelphia, woke up the next morning & headed back to Jackson.

TIME FOR THE WORLD CUP!

My dad got me watching the World Cup & I love it! We were able to make it back just in time for kick off. Spain vs. Netherlands. Some friends stopped by, everyone got comfy, the game went into overtime, & after 120 minutes the score was still 0-0. Just when we felt there was a goal coming on, just when we knew either one of these teams could score…….the cable went out. No Lie. All that patience, & waiting……the cable went out. I’m sure you can imagine what happened next. After awhile the cable came back on, & Spain had made a goal, 1-0, Spain won. Ooooooohhhh, the irony.

Not to worry, funny as it may sound, one of my friends had some homemade pizza dough in his car. So, we brought it in, rolled it out & turned that dough into a delicious beautiful veggie calzone! I love random Sundays

So that’s the week. There are still some gaps, & I have a terrible memory. However, therapy is great. Not knowing my final outcome is delightful. I’m a fountain of hope & happy.

Nicole

This past week I was not only faced with adventures, but also some pretty shocking surprises with my therapy. Of course, the week got started with a pretty big bang. The story on CBS finally aired. What fun! They came down here in March & filmed, then low & behold it aired last Monday! June 5, 2010. Right on! After that, the week took off. For those of you who were keeping up with the World Cup, I was right there with you. The finals came on this past Sunday. Spain vs. Netherlands! The days leading up to this event were great! One of my good friends just had a baby, which I was able to not only meet, but hold! Yep, & I didn’t even drop the fella. Thanks Courtney & Jason!!!!  This part I’m also proud of. My physical therapist, Patricia, told me about this dance class I should check out. Zumba! Let me tell you, if you’ve never tried Zumba, DO IT! It was dancing, high energy, & tons of FUN!!! I did my Zumba, modified it my way, & loved every minute. My friend Kelly did it also, & boy did she cut a rug!!

Another great moment was had in therapy last week. I went through each ballet position, held it, & shocked myself! I guess patience is a vertue. And this is why….Friday I met Patricia for this yoga class she introduced me to. You guys, no joke, it was an hour & a half class of pure yoga- & I made it through! A couple of stops here & there to get my balance, but I made it! That night I checked out a pretty awesome band “Furrows”. Very cool. Met up with one of my very bestest friends I haven’t seen in awhile. Hung out, couldn’t be happier with life & went to bed.

The next day was just as good. My friend Keri, invited me to go watch a Choctaw stick-ball game in Philadelphia, MS. All I have to say is “WOW. Talk about intense. The point of the game is to make a goal throwing a little ball that’s bigger then a golf ball but smaller then a tennis ball @ the other teams goal. Doesn’t sound that intense, but when you have 30 guys on the field per team, each holding a wooden stick with a device on the end to catch the ball, wearing absolutely no protection, & bear foot…..you pick up real quickly that this is a ruff game. However, through all this roughness, there was a spot of beauty.

Well guys, I gotta run, but I’ll finish the story later….I promise

Nicole

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThCK-93wAME