First, let me start with an update from the last blog for those who didn’t catch my Facebook post. I did just as I said I was going to do and reported the local Denny’s restaurant to Corporate Denny’s. It took over a month but I finally got a hand written response in a card. The card also included two certificates for a free Grand Slam with up to four items of our choice each. It doesn’t make up for the sucky service or the manager’s attitude but at least someone was notified.
That whole incident got me paying attention to just how crass we have become as a society. I have noticed that people are in such a hurry and unfocused that they don’t seem to care about other people in their vacinity. Don’t get me wrong… There are still good people out there but we’re all in such a rush anymore that we don’t pay attention to each other on a daily basis unless something goes terribly wrong.
I’ve had people yell at me over parking spots at stores. I’ve had people walk into me with shopping carts. People stand talking on their phones in the middle of the isles at stores while others impatiently try to get past to get the lastest and greatest deal. Is it really necessary to be inconsiderate to other folks just because you are in your own little world.
The holidays haven’t been the same since Mom passed. This was her time of year. She loved the holidays top to bottom. She would plan skits and entertainment for the women’s group at the church. She was like a little kid when it came to passing out the presents from under the tree. This is one of the times of year I miss her the most.
I’ve never been a materialistic person. The more commercial the holidays get… The more I resist celebrating. This year Christmas stuff was out in the stores long before Halloween was even here yet. Don’t get me wrong… I like to see the way people decorate, especially with the new technologies available today. I just don’t have the need to get caught up in it all anymore.
We usually go to my Aunt’s on Thanksgiving. We eat way more than any of us needs to and then take a nap and drive home. This year, Dad and I did Thanksgiving a little differently. The weather went sideways so he and I went to Golden Corral for Thanksgiving and then home. It was a nice relaxing day. There was no rushing two hours to another location or even dishes to do for that matter. Christmas is going to be different this year as well. Traditions are nice but sometimes its nice to break the chain and try something new.
I need the change to be honest. Work has been a mess. I don’t know where I belong. Changes are happening that could be good or bad… Time will tell. I’ve been on this bungee cord depression cycle… Really low one day then up the next. Work has been a big driver in that. I decided I will do what I can until such time as I find another job or maybe even a way to change careers.
We had a big project come down the pipe that was dropped on me. I decided to run with it, if for no other reason than to prove to myself I still have some ‘smarts’ left in this large cranial cavity that sits on my shoulders. There have been days that I feel like someone has stolen my knowledge and put sand up there. Last week went pretty well and I felt pretty up by Friday afternoon. Today, my mellon was mush and I couldn’t even get dates to fall in line the way I wanted.
I’ve been feeling kind of off for a while now. I don’t know if I’ve got something going on healthwise or if its just the flailing depression. I know my sugar has been higher than it should be. I had five weeks of a nasty sinus bug that made its rounds at work. Just don’t feel like I’m getting caught up with myself at all.
Last night, I slept terrible. The last time I saw on the clock was 2:40 AM. I fell asleep sometime after that but it wasn’t restfull. I ended up waking up from a wierd dream that had me in a sweat. I rarely dream about work, but this was definately work related.
I was sitting at my desk when I heard an odd creaking noise from the server room (doors are right beside my desk). I knew something wasn’t right but tried to disregard it. Another noise… then another… Something was definately wrong. I got up and opened the door. I took a few steps in as the lights kicked on. Suddenly, there was a rush of air and a loud crashing noise. When everything stopped, I was pinned under the drop ceiling.
Pain was shooting through my right thigh. Something had pierced my stomach. My left arm was pinned down and throbbing fiercely. I could feel the warm sensation of blood pooling near my leg and arm. I tried to move my left arm enough to reach my iPhone which was clipped on my belt. Pain fired and a burning sensation shot through me. I realized, that as the ceiling fell, the wiring from the lights must have shorted against the ceiling track. I was not only bleeding but I was apparently being shocked as well.
One of the guys finally came through the door. I screamed to him not to touch the track. The next thing I knew I was in an ambulance on the way to the hospital. They stabilized me there and then flew me to Cleveland. The piece of track that had pierced my gut had not only caused organ damage but had been driven clear back against my spine. It stopped only when it hit bone causing a couple of vertabrae to shatter and leaving my already trashed back in very delicate condition. Doctors told me that I would only gain about eighty percent of my strength back because of the huge incision they had to make to repair the damage. Any further gains would only be through surgery. Therapy was painful. I think that’s what woke me up.
I frequently remember my dreams but they are usually not nightmarish in nature. I’m not sure how to classify this one. I wasn’t scared when I woke up. It was more like I could feel the pain and stress therapy was causing. I know… I’m a weird one.
Speaking of pain… As I left work today, I heard them paging both the Service Desk Manager and my boss repeatedly on the intercom. I thought that a bit odd, since when I left my desk, they were both in my boss’s office. I got off the elevator and turned toward the front door. I immediately felt a sense of urgency. I was told someone had slipped an fallen on the ice. I looked out through the glass to see a group of people standing around someone on the ground. 911 had been called.
They asked me what to do. I’ve had a bit of first aid exposure from working as Head of Security at the race track but I don’t claim to be an EMT or Medic. I got out to where he’d fallen. He said he felt fine but his wife said he was unresponsive with his eyes open immediately after the fall. He couldn’t remember falling. I noticed he was not fully coherent either, at first. We covered him up and kept him still while waiting for the ambulance. He said he felt fine and wanted to get up but I assured him that wouldn’t be a good idea. He had a good sense of humor. Apparently, they are going to Florida over the holidays. His wife told him he wouldn’t get out of going that easily. I said “Nah… He’s a snow bunny. He’d rather go skiing instead of the warm beach.” He laughed a bit.
I get very concerned when someone hits their head, especially when they say they can’t remember something or they lose consciouness. Dad’s fishing buddy and neighbor died a couple of days after hitting his head when he fell in our driveway. The brain is a very powerful organ but does not take well to being slammed around inside its container. This guy was going to the hospital if I had to take him myself.
I helped get him on the board and then the gurney. We lifted him into the ambulance. Yes folks… I heard you in the background telling me not to lift him because of my back. This was not a small individual and I intentionally positioned myself at his feet for the lift.
I thought about that the whole way home. I hope he is ok. I also thought “Dummy… You should have had someone go get the salt from by the front door and salt the work area so we could get some traction when we lifted.” Hindsight … I guess… We used the ice to our advantage and slid him to clear pavement before lifting.
I worry all the time about falling on the ice. With my back the way it is, one good slip and I’m in hospital land. If you seem me walking weird across the ice/snow, I’m just trying to make sure I have footing before I transfer weight to my lead foot.
So that’s pretty much how my week has gone so far… What day is this again? Oh yeah… Monday. 🙁
I’m going to go try to get some sleep tonight. Hopefully, tomorrow will be a better day. (Six meetings after lunch… I doubt it.)
G’night.
~Cappy
Those of you that have been following along probably read the story of how my two aunts and uncle left from one location and Dad and I from here with no plans of meeting up with them until we got settled in at the hotel. That’s them in the gold Jeep with its lights on. The caught up with us just before I-95… about eighty-eight miles from Williamsburg.
She disappeared. I went to find her. Not downstairs. Not in the spare bedroom. All of a sudden a little fuzzy face pops up from behind my suitcase. She had found the pants I had worn today and was curled up on the legs against the suitcase. I laid down on the bed and gave her a scratch behind the ears.