Larger victories
Jan. 26th, 2011 06:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pecuniumI have wheels. I have a giant blue sock.
Now I want Les to come home, so I can try the latter out. I got good at "bottle baths in Iraq. They became so familiar (and/or I got so good at them) that I don't actually feel less than clean when I'm done. But there is something soothing about a shower. Also, I don't have the means to wash my hair. Cornstarch and a stiff brushing, then a good combing and braiding it up is fine, for keeping it healthy, but it's not as nice as actually shampooing it.
The former is a bit problematic. I think I shall get used to it, but the local streets don't have good sidewalks,and the balance isn't as stable as I might like. It seems to want to tip when one makes a more than gentle turn with any real energy. The track on the rear wheels is a bit narrow, and the brakes aren't great. This isn't a problem, on the flat but I'd hate to be on a steep hill.
Backing up is a bit less easy than I'd like.
The third bus I take to class is also pretty crowded by the time it gets to me. I don't know if the 522, which leaves a bit before the 22 I took yesterday, will get me there in time to get a less crowded 40, or if I ought to try going a little further on, and grabbing a 52. In any case I am getting to class pretty much on the hour.
But I expect it to be a lot easier, overall; certainly a lot less tiring, than the crutches. Yesterday was an adventure.
From my house to the bus is something between 1/5th and 1/4th of a mile. I made it in nine minutes. This meant I had eight minutes to wait on the bus. I was also trying to split the difference between the actual temp at 0630, and the expectable temps at 1500. I was, therefore a bit underdressed for the one, and over for the other. I did, however, have a pocket in my hoodie.
I'm also not a stork, and there is no bench at that stop. Balancing on one foot is a pain, and the crutches help some, but only some (the wheels can function as a seat, so that problem is fixed) The bus came. I got on, grabbed a seat. Got to the Palo Alto transit hub. No pastries in the café. Got my bus. Realised Peet's was out of the question (no way to crutch with any speed while holding a coffee cup.
Got to the stop. Made sure I was at the door when it opened. Got on. About one stop later I was offered a seat. Made it to class (coffee in hand, yes it really slows one down).
Got done with classes, headed to the library, to copy some paperwork I needed to present for my disabled transit pass (I really ought to have done this months ago, when it was useful, not needful). Got to the stop, had less than five minutes to wait. Same for the train.
Crutched to the SamTrans office, turned in the paperwork. Sat about. Was escorted to an office, explained my supporting docs, let them photocopy my VA card and had my picture taken. Card ought to arrive in a couple of weeks. I get to pay full fare until then.
Back to the train, called Les, who told me her plans had changed, so could bring me home; was told not to play the tough guy. Stay in the library, she'd be there at 1735.
Got some food, on the way to the library, then to the library, where I checked out some books, took a sort of dozey cat-nap, and was asked by the cop not to lie on the couch, but make some effort to sit up. I think my opening my eyes to look at him before he actually got there made him think I hadn't been sleeping, which appears to be against the rules.
Got ready to go... discovered my foot was not happy with the amount of work I'd done. Popped a percocet, and headed out. Got home, went to sleep. Woke up, got a snack, wrote an email, took a percocet, went to sleep.
Got up, puttered, made lunch, got fitted for the wheels, was otherwise productive in terms of overseeing some minor housework (Les has someone picking up some things I meant to do in the yard, which can't wait, so we went and got some soil, and amendment). Came home, puttered, talked toladymondegreen, made supper and dashed this off.
Now I have some homework to do, and if I'm lucky, might be able to take a shower.
But, realistically, that will have to wait until tomorrow. It might be possible to make like a stork in the shower, but I don't want to chance it. If Les gets home in time I might hit the hot tub. I've tested the "big blue sock" on my good leg (as per the instructions) and it works.
If the pain would stop (and a co-worker ofladymondegreen has a similar injury, he says my pain pattern is very much like his. Joy. On the one hand it's good to know there is probably nothing abnormal, on the other... this shit hurts).
Now I want Les to come home, so I can try the latter out. I got good at "bottle baths in Iraq. They became so familiar (and/or I got so good at them) that I don't actually feel less than clean when I'm done. But there is something soothing about a shower. Also, I don't have the means to wash my hair. Cornstarch and a stiff brushing, then a good combing and braiding it up is fine, for keeping it healthy, but it's not as nice as actually shampooing it.
The former is a bit problematic. I think I shall get used to it, but the local streets don't have good sidewalks,and the balance isn't as stable as I might like. It seems to want to tip when one makes a more than gentle turn with any real energy. The track on the rear wheels is a bit narrow, and the brakes aren't great. This isn't a problem, on the flat but I'd hate to be on a steep hill.
Backing up is a bit less easy than I'd like.
The third bus I take to class is also pretty crowded by the time it gets to me. I don't know if the 522, which leaves a bit before the 22 I took yesterday, will get me there in time to get a less crowded 40, or if I ought to try going a little further on, and grabbing a 52. In any case I am getting to class pretty much on the hour.
But I expect it to be a lot easier, overall; certainly a lot less tiring, than the crutches. Yesterday was an adventure.
From my house to the bus is something between 1/5th and 1/4th of a mile. I made it in nine minutes. This meant I had eight minutes to wait on the bus. I was also trying to split the difference between the actual temp at 0630, and the expectable temps at 1500. I was, therefore a bit underdressed for the one, and over for the other. I did, however, have a pocket in my hoodie.
I'm also not a stork, and there is no bench at that stop. Balancing on one foot is a pain, and the crutches help some, but only some (the wheels can function as a seat, so that problem is fixed) The bus came. I got on, grabbed a seat. Got to the Palo Alto transit hub. No pastries in the café. Got my bus. Realised Peet's was out of the question (no way to crutch with any speed while holding a coffee cup.
Got to the stop. Made sure I was at the door when it opened. Got on. About one stop later I was offered a seat. Made it to class (coffee in hand, yes it really slows one down).
Got done with classes, headed to the library, to copy some paperwork I needed to present for my disabled transit pass (I really ought to have done this months ago, when it was useful, not needful). Got to the stop, had less than five minutes to wait. Same for the train.
Crutched to the SamTrans office, turned in the paperwork. Sat about. Was escorted to an office, explained my supporting docs, let them photocopy my VA card and had my picture taken. Card ought to arrive in a couple of weeks. I get to pay full fare until then.
Back to the train, called Les, who told me her plans had changed, so could bring me home; was told not to play the tough guy. Stay in the library, she'd be there at 1735.
Got some food, on the way to the library, then to the library, where I checked out some books, took a sort of dozey cat-nap, and was asked by the cop not to lie on the couch, but make some effort to sit up. I think my opening my eyes to look at him before he actually got there made him think I hadn't been sleeping, which appears to be against the rules.
Got ready to go... discovered my foot was not happy with the amount of work I'd done. Popped a percocet, and headed out. Got home, went to sleep. Woke up, got a snack, wrote an email, took a percocet, went to sleep.
Got up, puttered, made lunch, got fitted for the wheels, was otherwise productive in terms of overseeing some minor housework (Les has someone picking up some things I meant to do in the yard, which can't wait, so we went and got some soil, and amendment). Came home, puttered, talked to
ladymondegreen, made supper and dashed this off. Now I have some homework to do, and if I'm lucky, might be able to take a shower.
But, realistically, that will have to wait until tomorrow. It might be possible to make like a stork in the shower, but I don't want to chance it. If Les gets home in time I might hit the hot tub. I've tested the "big blue sock" on my good leg (as per the instructions) and it works.
If the pain would stop (and a co-worker of
ladymondegreen has a similar injury, he says my pain pattern is very much like his. Joy. On the one hand it's good to know there is probably nothing abnormal, on the other... this shit hurts).
