90 some hours –

This is going to be kinda all over the place. It will be a diary of the last few days since, well, they have been an interesting few days!

Jump back to Wednesday night. I go to a bar to meet a DJ I am hoping to start working for. I sit there for almost ninety minutes. He is late an I am not enjoying being there. I leave. Home, making something to eat and a phone call comes in on the cell. “Hey, you can do weddings right?” “Yes, I can.” “Are you busy Friday night?”

Amazingly to me, since it was 08/08/08, I was not booked for a wedding (or anything else) that particular Friday night. So the ball was now rolling. It is not really appropriate for me to give to many details. However, its a great story! Last minute find themselves without officiant. Last minute I am free. So far so good. I am always a bit worried when someone says, more than three times in five minutes, “I am not high maintenance” Since it was only forty-eight hours away, why worry?

I could  not attend the rehearsal since I had previous commitment, which I believe led to much pain and suffering by the way. Not missing rehearsal but the activity of the commitment. Try and keep up, I’m on a roll and pain medication too!

The ceremony included candle, sand, song, doves! I loved it. She took some of my stuff, and a lot of things she had already done, mixed and matched and bang! A really fantastic ceremony, lots of cool things, as mentioned, about a half hour. I was winging it with all the activity and coming and going of people and creatures. I must say, did a fine job under the circumstances.

Met some really nice people, made some great contacts for future weddings. A 9+ when I went in thinking a bit too much to pull off without big problems.

On the way home from said event, where I stayed for the obligatory chicken and rice meal, I started to feel kinda funky. Stomach ache but not the too much to eat, drink, something needs to move ache. More like, someone has stabbed me below the belly-button. Since no one was in car with me and not signs of blood, I dismissed that.

I got home, pulled up the drive, car into park, door open and nothing. I tried to get out. I thought I was getting out, I told my body to do all the things it does to turn and step up / out of car. Only thing was, I was still sitting and my legs where just not moving. I forced the issue with immediate regret. The pain in the gut was blinding. When I could breath again, I took a smoother more loving approach. Actually lifted my legs, one at a time with my hands, and tossed out the door. (still attached to body mind you) Once I was standing I felt fine. Then I tried to walk. Not so fine.

It became apparent that I had somehow damaged something in my lower belly. Something that was very content when left in one place, position. Not at all tolerant of movement. Any movement meant fast spasm and sensation of being ‘run through’ from pubic bone to tail bone. I determined all of this in the six steps it took to get to the front wheel of car. Three feet in five minutes. Great.

I was eventually in the house and trying to get in my bed. Figured what ever it was would be gone when I woke up. I had already figured out the best ways to move and the worst. It was only about 40 minutes from getting in drive way and finally being undressed and about to lay down. I only crawled as a last resort but I did make up a lot of time when I did.

Saturday morning was not so nice to me. Wake up, roll over and, nope. Wake up, begin to roll, scream and begin to cry. So, this was not something that will go away with some sleep. It did in fact become somewhat worse in the six hours I was laying down.

A few calls, some thinking and reading and a trip to the ER was the result. I have a pretty decent tolerance to pain. Not to say I like it but I do tend to embrace it and enjoy as much as I can while in it. This was different. This was reminiscent of the pain that my back created down my legs before the surgery to remove the bad disc bits. This was the kind of pain that when it was not hurting because I was being still, led to shallow breathing and tears when the need to move just came to mind. Not even yet attempted.

Painful bumpy ride there. Attempt to walk in failed. Wheel chairs are your friend. Nice doc, Rick, PA with sense of humor and economy too. Quickly rules out the obvious, hernia, kidney stone, infection. “This my friend is musculo-skeletal. I think you have a torn abdominal muscle.” Nice, I think. Then agian, what a pussy I think too. I’m in the hospital for a pulled muscle?  That sucks!

Then, Rick offers me vicoden or darvoset. What? Isn’t the a bit much for a pulled muscle? Seems not, not for this kind, place. I opted for the Tylenol #3. I really didn’t want any meds, narcotics at all. Even with a note. The injection of toradol was great! Non narcotic. Like some super strong Advil. Burns going in but pretty quick ya get over that. Wish I had some of that to bring home instead of the Tylenol. Oh well.

So, two days of chilling. Watching movies, icing and ems-ing. I start to feel really good so I jump up and stop feeling really good at the exact same time. Research has shown that this is the kind of injury that takes in the WEEKS to heal as well as very easy to make worse or re-injure. Great.

So, this morning I have called out for more help since I must go to the bank but cannot get garage open. Will cruise through rite aide for cane and back support – which I helps in front too.

Back from store – this is OK. Cane helps a lot – my right side seems more effected. Not sure about back brace yet. Ice, need to ice. You would think I know enough about muscles to know what to do. I just never anticipated this kind of pain from just a muscle issue. Surprise!

Then, yesterday, Sunday, I get an email that the wedding I was planning on doing in Texas in October is not being held in Costa Rica since the hotel in Texas was hit by hurricane and will not be back in action by the date. So, filled in printed and am ready to turn in passport stuff since mine expired in 05. Who could know? All I need is pictures. Might try some here myself. If they suck – then go to pro.  I am excited even more about this now – Texas was cool enough – but now I can say ‘Have traveled international to perform services.” Arrogant and all about marketing but – oh well! Plus, I get to go to Costa Rica too I hope. Need to check out my credentials there. Makes sure all on the up and up. How freaking cool is this eh?

I have seen some movies, watched some tv, laid about. Walked some, used the Chi machine and EMS. Not eaten enough or well and had too much coffee. Watched the race start to finish including 40 minute red flag period. Made some great progress organizing work things. Not a big spread sheet guy so this is taking some training.  I’ve written a wedding, learned something about my body and bodies in general. It is only 1:15 on Monday and I am feel like a million bucks. I’m going read about writing and make an effort to write some more today as well. This may be the drugs talking or the intense boredom, not sure.

I’ve lost track or my thoughts. Too much coming and going while writing this. I’m finished for now. So, that’s the last 90 or so hours of my life.

Peace, Ant-Knee