December 15th, 2003

Our time in St. Louis was wonderful! I loved the sense of "home," and being able to do all sorts of fun activities during the day! It almost felt like a mini vacation, which I think we ALL needed, and I was truly sad to leave.

On our last night of the show, during the Priscilla's drunk dance in Speakeasy, Diane and I were too close to each other and she backhanded me, causing my finger to to jam up- instantly swelling and paralyzed, and hurtin so much I couldn't dance. I cried the rest of the number, trying my best to dance through my tears with a horrible thought

"broken finger, broken dreams"

going thru my head. I thought if it was broken, I wouldn't be able to play Millie in Houston , and that would be the most terrible thing to happen!

Immediately I was given an ice pack, but I had to quick change (where my dresser had to dress me because I couldn't use my r. hand, making the tights change esp. difficult)and go right back on stage in all that pain. I was kinda out of it for the rest of the night, but I braved it and finished the show, as my finger proceeded to swell more and more.

By the end of the show, many were concerned I'd broke it that I went to the ER at a nearby hospital for x-rays. Andy drove and Diane came along for support, holding my hand in the back seat on the way there. They're so wonderful, and I have deep affection for them both.

We waited about an hour and were told we were next. Then we waited another 45 mins. while people who had just arrived were being taken before me. By this time it was about 12:30, and we had been there for 2 hours. Andy went up to check into it and found out my info. was never entered into the computer and wed been waiting for nothing! Quite upset, Andy explained we had an early flight to catch and please, could they see me immediately, and they did.

My temperature and blood pressure were taken and I was taken into a room where my hand was x-rayed from all angles. Then, I waited for the doctor.

The doc was a v. nice old gent, and he told me my hand was just fine, and my finger was only badly jammed- not broken, yay! He then began asking me about why I was in town and was delighted when I told him I'm in Millie. Turns out, he loves theatre an his son does theatre in his home town. He showed me pictures of his son as Jekyll/Hyde and I, in turn, play a piece of Gimme Gimme for him on my ipod!

Being in the ER was a v. eye opening experience. All the crappy drama in life was really put into perspective for all 3 of us as people were flooding in with emergencies, often life threatening situations. We are SO BLESSED to have our health and the health of our loved ones. Its things like that which really are the important things, and we should all remember, esp. around Christmastime.

Today, my finger is still highly swollen (I'm icing it now) and has turned a dull purple colour, but it doesn't hurt as much and can even bend a little. Thank God its healing!

Bradley, Rene and I are renting a car together this week, and Bradley and I had quite the adventure driving to our Candlewood Suites from the Enterprise rent a car @ the airport. Bradley was SO nervous about driving, she tried turning on the engine about 5xs before the Rental car man pointed out that the engine was already on! (granted, its a v. smooth and quiet engine...) We were so embarrassed, and he must have been concerned as we drove away.

We were following Andy and Jeremy, but Andy was going 70 and darting in and out of lanes- a terrible leader- and cars kept getting between us. At one point, they continued on the freeway while we mistook another car- an EXITing car- for theirs and got off!

We ended up calling them and they got off the freeway and we agreed to meet at a nearby Denny's wed both passed, and went from there. Bradley and I were freaked out the rest of the way home and drove like 2 little old ladies, clutching the steering wheel... me on my cell phone with Jeremy- and laughing all the way!

The Candlewood is nice. I LOVE my one bedroom (got a large one as opposed to studio because my mum and aunt will be staying with me when I'm Millie!), and I cant wait to make it home... burn ALL my candles and get a Christmas tree, lights, etc. HURRAH!

Write to Juliana at Juliana@haineshisway.com