My back aches, My belts too tight....

OK, so I know I did it to myself. I should have thrown those shoes away before I came to Japan, but they are ssssoooooooooooo cute, I could not bare to part. They have been with me through thick and thin (which is what the heel of these pathetic shoes have become). But I wore them anyway because they are red and it was Valentines day! Had I known I would be walking the greater part of Kyoto in 4 hours I would have reconsidered. Alas, Valentines day was spent with my great friend Fionna, eating Italian food, drinking wine, chasing Geisha and walking along the river back to Kyoto station (the scenic route). It was the best way to spend Valentines day in Japan.

However, I knew I had walked too much about 3 hours in. But I just kept going. I suppose you could say I was just swept up. Plus there was no time to slow down, we stayed out quite late and didn't want to miss the last train.

The next day I had to go to Kyoto to meet up with a new pal to conspire with about my pillows. I knew my body would be a little cranky but I had plans.

About 1 hour into my visit I noticed some pain in my left foot. The same foot that I fractured (twice) about 10 years ago. (Side note : holy shit it was 10 years ago?!) I ignored it. I kept walking. More pain. Kept walking. I felt bad we had both paid quite a bit of money to meet up and we had planned it for over a month. More pain. Ok....maybe walking is not such a good idea. I figured this out when I was about a mile from the train station on the 6th floor of some mall looking at $70 Marimmeko fabrics. I needed to get home and OFF my foot. My new friend decided to hang back and enjoy more of Kyoto and the gloriously warm day it had become. So I hobbled hitori de (by myself) back to the subway station which would eventually get me to the train station which would eventually get me home.

Searing pains were stabbing through the left side of my foot all the way up behind my ankle. Fuck. That was pretty much all I could think. And yes, I am a bit dramatic but WTF my foot was not suppose to feel like that. I called my supervisor who explained to me that the emergency hospital might not have doctors who know how to use xray machines or know anything about bones (I know what you are thinking...and I thought the same thing..."are you fucking kidding me?") and that my next option was to go to the special "bones and muscles" clinic in the morning. Until then ice and elevate.

Fuming. Beyond being in pain, I hate it when my crisis plans fall through. I was reduced to hymning and hawing alone in my apartment with a bum foot until the next day I could hobble to school and have someone look at it. Which I did - and ouch ouch ouch the whole way there. My supervisor had six classes today so she had no time for me. Which was fine because our school nurse did and was more than happy to help. I just wanted an xray. Tell me if it is broken because it feels like something is pinching.

The doctor touches my foot which doesn't hurt. He gives me a look and I suddenly feel like I'm 8 years old faking a sprained ankle in the emergency room. Except this really hurts. He talks to me (in Japanese of course) and then when its my turn to acknowledge him understandingly I give him my customary raised eye brow smile, make a noise like "uh...." and shake my head. So he then repeats himself to the nurse who takes her turn talking to me in Japanese. Great.

His diagnosis in english verbetum to me : "no worry fracture" and "weather". My foot was then taped with 2 wraps of tape (quite precisely and meticulously -thank you Mr. nurse) and then I was sent to get my meds. Later it was explained to me my broken foot is simply caused by the weather of this time of year and all I need are some nice pain meds to heal me. The tape will come off and stay off by tonight and the meds will take it from there.....rrriiiigggghhhhtt.

So long story short. My foot hurts like a bitch and I have the weather to thank.

What a wonderful world.

pleasant dreams.

Tonight, I am going to fall asleep dreaming of me drinking a cold corona, watching a movie in bed while my two cats are sleeping next to me.