Well at least for a week. My costume choices came down to whatever I had in my closet, but they all worked well for the festivities between October 24-31.
October 24, 2015
I'd recently been invited to a Halloween Ball in Marin County: The Saints and Sinners Ball. Originally, I was going to go as my original choice, Dorothy. However, my dance partner stated that we should go as either a saint or sinner. So I went the sinner route. I whipped up a little something and headed on out. Devil or Angel? I let the other dancers decide. And boy did I have a lot of men asking for a dance. I guess it was more about the costume and less about my dance skills. Nearly every lead kept moving their hand down to my lower back before swinging me out. Hmmm...anyway, I had a wonderful time out on the dance floor.
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| Gotta love Chewbacca in the prom dress. |
This was our Halloween festivities event at my school. I decided to go out as a Sutro Baths bathing beauty. Most of my students (and surprisingly other teachers) have never heard of it beyond its current status as a San Francisco ruin. So they got a bit of a history lesson, too.
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| My Monster Mash with a few of my students. |
October 30, 2015
So I suffered a major injury. I went out for my usual hike in Purisima Redwoods Preserve. I was taking a snapshot of an ominous looking tree before I slipped and lost my footing. My right ankle twisted clockwise almost completely before I fell to the ground. It took awhile to get my bearings. My ankle went completely numb, but I was still able to move it. I kept thinking how I was going to get off the trail. My phone had no reception, and I'm in the middle of a mountain. This is how people die. So what to do? Tough it out and limp back to my truck. I drove myself to San Mateo Hospital and was immediately received by emergency. After x-rays, tests and other observations, it was determined that I suffered a severe ankle sprain. No breaks and no tears. Thank God! However, I have to keep off my foot for 2 weeks. That means no dancing, no hiking, and no walking around my classroom. Last year I suffered a badly twisted knee (from which I've completely recovered), and I ended up missing the Halloween festivities. This year, I was not about to miss Halloween a second straight year.
Halloween Night!
I planned to attend the Halloween Masquerade Ball at Presidio Officer's Club. I messaged all my friends letting them know about my injury but that I was still going to attend. My costume this year was to dress as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. I went with it anyway.
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| I wore my right shoe just for the pic. I went back to the splint and boot immediately after. |
Everyone loved my hair, make-up, and attire. Then they looked down my leg. What happened? I just shrugged, "Well, that Wicked Witch is no joke. She unleashed her flying monkeys, and I got a little roughed up." They laughed and asked if this was indeed a real injury. Unfortunately, yes. Every request for a dance was met with my sad face pointing at my ankle. So I got plenty of hugs. It was still a fun night with great music from Lee Presson and the Nails. I especially enjoyed all the costumes.
One thing that I was super bummed about was the cancellation of the Zombie Prom. I always look forward to that event. However, it will commence in 2016, so this time I'll be ready and healthier.