Fools & Children.

In my trailer before shooting "Castle."

If you've been a reader of this blog for any length of time, you may have gathered that I tend to run, run, run myself into the ground, lie on the ground until I gather my strength and wits about me, get up and run, run, run some more.

Well y'all - I've been sidelined.  Sort of.  Let me explain.

For the past... 6 months or so, I've been having back problems.  And by problems, I mean pain and stiffness.  At first I thought it was just part of getting older or maybe I had slept wrong... move along, there's nothing to see here, you know?  And then I found myself unable to go from sitting to standing without a LOT of pain and transition time.  I knew something was wrong.

Long story short: I have a bulging disc in my back (L5-S1 for those of you who have interest/ experience with this), and looking back, I have been able to figure out how a chronic hip problem (from a fall) progressed to this point.

For the last 6 weeks, I have had to incorporate numerous doctor's and physical therapy appointments as well as back and core strengthening exercises into my schedule. I heard Sweet Brown saying "Ain't nobody got time for that!" in my head, but my back said "Girl, you'd better make time."

So I finished up the scene I was working on at the Beverly Hills Playhouse, and took leave of absence.  I've also had to pull back from some of my normal career-marketing efforts in order to just rest and allow my body to heal.  I am allergic to NSAIDS, and I was at about an 8.5 out of 10 on the pain scale, so I've researched natural supplements that act as anti-inflammatories and pain-relievers, and started taking them.  Slowly, but surely, I am getting better. I'm grateful for health insurance (thank you, SAG-AFTRA), but because of my deductible and co-pays it's not cheap.  Still, I recognize that it could be a LOT worse.  So I do what my doctors  and physical therapists tell me to do (as long as it agrees with my common sense). And I rest.

The thing is - I've been booking theatrical gigs left and right! In four weeks, I've booked four jobs - including a guest-star role on the season 6 finale of "Castle."  I believe that God takes care of fools and children. I won't speculate regarding which category best suits me right now, but I will say that I have been faithful in the work that I do on behalf of my career, and I feel like the universe is saying "yes" to me right now.  Auditions come in and I prepare for them just like I normally do.  But in this moment where I am not fully able to push myself the way that I would like, other people (friends, family, my reps, casting) have been instrumental in carrying me.

Fool Child that I am, you know.

XO.

--Nicole