Happy Halloween

I was right; people at work did the holiday proud. At least half of the company was dressed up, and not just sort of dressed up. We're talking dressed up and fully in character.

We had a gathering around noon so everyone could show off their costumes and such and it was like paparazzi with all the cameras flashing and people posing. At one point, all the people in costume went outside for photos in front of the building. The timing was pretty great, because at that moment, one of the massive SF tour buses was passing by. (I hope we enhanced the tour.)

The costume contest winner was a guy who dressed up as a contestant on Double Dare. His costume was thorough and hilarious and he was absolutely ready for the physical challenge. I'll post up a photo as soon as I have one.

Thanks to a suggestion from E, I decided to incorporate my crutches into my "costume" (as it were.) My friend D got attacked at a cafe near our office a month or so ago. (He was o.k. Don't worry.) For today, I gave myself a fake black eye, put tape over the top of my nose, and had a couple other strategically placed Band-Aids. I made and wore a shirt that said, "Doug beat me up at Cafe Francisco."

D got a good laugh out of it, as did most of the other people in the office who knew it had happened. I got a good laugh when I realized that a lot of people didn't know I really am on crutches, and thought that was just part of the costume. (I love the idea that I would have just created a costume based on how another employee had beat me up without some impetus to do so.)

I got in 6 1/2 hours today, and again, was completely drained when I got home. I am bummed that my recovery is going to be keeping me away from this party this year. But between the large staircase leading up to D's place, and my need to rest after the longer day today, it's just not to be.

Still easing my way back

I put in 5 1/2 hours in the office today, continuing to build on my return to the office yesterday. Even though I'm beat down in the evenings, I'm convinced that going back in these growing intervals was the way to go.

I got a lot done today and figured out a few more ways to make accommodations for my limited range of movement in the office. And I got to catch up with a friend I hadn't seen for a while, so that was probably the best part.

Similar to yesterday, I crashed for a couple hours after I got home. And then I treated myself to a little hot tub time before prepping for Halloween tomorrow. Our company does it up on Halloween so I'm glad I'll be up and around and able to see all of it.

Brief return to work

I've been working from home since late last week and cabin fever has been getting the best of me. I thought it was best to start easing my way back into the workplace, even if it was only for partial days, so I could start building up my stamina for the world again.

Today went all right. I was only there for about 4 hours, and it was good to catch up with people and get a few things done that I couldn't do from home. We rigged a setup under my desk so I can keep my leg elevated while I sit. I started to get a good sense of what was going to be a problem to pull off and I'll have time to fine tune the best way to get things done effectively while I'm at a limited capacity.

Mostly, it was good to see people again. I even inadvertently helped a friend win a bet. (Well, I didn't help the person win. I just revealed that the other person in the bet had lost when he wasn't around.) Long story. Anyway ...

I'm glad I went, but it was exhausting. Within 5 minutes of walking in the door, I was back in bed with the leg propped up and iced, and nearly asleep.

We'll see how it all goes tomorrow.

Motorized shopping carts

A friend sent me a pretty hilarious and detailed list of some of the perks of being on crutches (ex: scams, pills) and various activity suggestions (ex: crutch art) I can take on while I'm laid up.

One perk I discovered last night was the motorized shopping cart. In truth, I think my roommate had more fun than I did, running around the store with my crutches (which are a good 6" too short for him.) Still, the relief of being able to ride around was pretty great.

I never even noticed them before, even though they sit parked and charging right as you walk into the store. The controls take a bit of getting used to, and I was scared a couple times that I was going to crash into a display because the breaks don't respond all that quickly. Once I got the hang of it, it was kind of fun. (*shrugs* I haven't been out in a while.)

However, one does wonder how people who need to use the carts who live alone manage to unload the groceries from their cars. If I used plastic bags, I could probably pull it off in multiple trips. But there's no way I'm getting kitty litter into this house.

Woo! Free tacos!

Thanks for the offer, but come on, Taco Bell. 2p-6p? That's weak sauce. You know as well as I do that most people don't eat at your fine establishment until around midnight.

The gecko claw

There was a story on the news about a device that's being developed by Berkeley researchers that would allow humans to scale walls of buildings. I think my roommate and I were both largely ignoring the story, engrossed in our laptops, but then we heard this gem of a quote from Dr. Michael North:

“Think if you want to go do search and rescue, right? And you don’t want to send a human in … you want to send a little robot in. Well all of a sudden you have a robot that can go over any surface. Think about the coffee cup that doesn't slip. I mean, we could change coffee drinking forever.”

My roommate and I both simultaneously looked up from our laptops at each other and then to the TV with a "did he just say that?" And then we started cracking up.

First of all, huh? He was just talking about search and rescue and then all of a sudden he was talking about coffee drinking? It made me wonder if that wasn't why he'd started the project in the first place. (I'm sure many inventions with shallow intentions have probably become applicable in more important scenarios. But don't let me know that's what you were going for, o.k.?)

Second of all, BIG props to the editor of the segment for leaving that bit about coffee in, because it easily could have been cut out. But it would not have been nearly as joyous a sound bite.

You can see the story and the demonstration of the gecko claws here. Dr. North's verbal gift is at 1:44.

It's not the lack of regular use of the leg.

With crutches, I think the bigger issue is not being able to use my arms.

I've been trying to come up with clever ways to get around this, and haven't ruled out the idea of rocking a fanny pack.

No, Ice Cube. Today was not a good day.

I had my post-op meeting with my surgeon today.

Apparently, my situation has been caused by this condition.

I've also learned, much to my chagrin, that I will be on crutches for at least another 2 months.

This is probably the most deflating, exhausting, and painful day I've had since the surgery.

It's been less than a week.

I'm already over this.

The Knee Chronicles, Vol. 3

I have surgery tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. It's arthroscopic surgery so I should be home by lunch time.

They are going to remove the stray piece of bone and also repair where the break took place. The former should be relatively routine. The latter, according to the surgeon, will "depend on how things go once they get in there."

I don't know how much writing I'll be doing in the coming days. For the next couple, probably not so much. For the ones after that, I'm hoping for some Vicodin-influenced gonzo-style writing.

Eff You and Your Effing Air Quotes

Puh-effing-lease.

The Knee Chronicles, Vol. 2

Good news: It's not torn cartilage.

Bad news: Apparently, a piece of bone has broken from the bottom of my thigh bone and is all up in one of my knee joints now. (I don't really know how that happens, but that's what happened.) The orthopedic guy said it's probably not something I did nor something I could have prevented. That doesn't comfort me greatly.

So I'll have to have surgery. I meet the surgeon tomorrow a.m.

The Knee Chronicles

(Eh, what the heck ... more people know about it than should, so I may as well own it and share it.)

Somehow I managed to jack up one of my already jacked up knees a few weeks ago. Unlike most other times with my knees, it wasn't getting better on its own, so I conceded to seeing a doctor. My doctor thought I had some kind of cyst, and referred me to an orthopedist, as well as ordering an ultrasound. The orthopedist didn't agree with the whole cyst thing, instead telling me that I tore cartilage in the back of my knee and he ordered an MRI.

I had the ultrasound this morning. My knee isn't pregnant. And the tech said that the results wouldn't be in for a couple days, but she didn't see a cyst either.

I had the MRI this evening. I won't know those results for a few days since they need to send them to the orthopedist. (Though they gave me a copy of the films, I suppose, as a souvenir of my experience.)

I got to keep my head and shoulders out of the machine, but every time it would adjust and pull me into the tube a little more, I freaked out. So I think I must be claustrophobic, which is new to me. Also, when you are forced to sit absolutely still for over 30 minutes, wear earplugs AND those headphones they give babies at concerts, and all you can hear is the VERY loud banging of the MRI tube that you are sure will eat you any minute, your mind bugs out. At least, mine did. My thoughts went to some crazy places. And I thought I'd lost control of my legs at one point, thought for sure I was moving them when I wasn't.

In general, the MRI experience looks much better on House.

Until the results are in, it's just going to hurt. I'll continue to hobble, and manage my intake of Vicodin. Which also looks much more fun on House.

Happy birthday, Miss Zoe!

She's hitting the fantastic 5 today!

(Zoe - Your ming owes you a phone call...)

Ohio's stepping it up

Good on you, Buckeye State. Keep it up.

And make sure that voters get to vote.

Happy Birthday, Ally!!!

Happy birthday from your ming.

I wish you no Math homework today!

Best. Analogy. Ever.

I'm watching Real Time with Bill Maher and Garry Shandling just offered up this gem when speaking of last night's Vice Presidential debates:

"Joe Biden, I thought, handled [Palin] ... this is how I think he prepared for her, Bill. I think he watched tapes of how Johnny Carson used to deal with Charo."

"Coochie coochie" to you, Mr. Shandling.

Damn. Now I have to respect Michigan.

You gonna take that, Ohio?