I have a good excuse for not writing yesterday, I hurt myself. On Wednesday I stopped at Aldi on the way home. For the second time I missed my st0p. It’s in the Bronx but way south of my house and I get there much faster than my brain has been trained to look where I am. I was busy doing something and missed it. The 5 train runs express so the next stop is far away. Then on the return trip it runs local; that kills too much valuable time. That’s not how I hurt myself but it’s an idiot story which makes it mandatory blogging material.
Now to how I hurt myself. When I got off the train I was jumped by three guys. Fortunately I fight like a demon and gave them a proper thrashing. They didn’t hurt me but I delivered the final blow, a left hook to the third assailant, awkwardly and strained my left shoulder and elbow. Remember kids, boxing is the sweet science, proper form is vital.
That is not the story I told my students of course. I don’t want them to think that fisticuffs is the way to solve problems. I told them that groceries were heavy and I carried them awkwardly and that’s how I strained my shoulder and elbow. I hate not being honest with my students but it’s important for me to be a good role model. It would take too long to explain why my actions were justified. I have the time for a proper explanation to My Gentle Readers.
It didn’t bother me much until I went to bed. All my usual sleeping positions proved painful. I finally found one on my back where the pain was dull enough that I could sleep. I paid for that in the m0rning when my shoulder screamed bloody murder. I took tylenol and headed to work. On the subway it pain came back even worse and spread down my left arm, almost to my wrist. You all know what pain radiating down the left arm is a symptom of a heart attack. I didn’t want to be the guy that panics thinking something minor is serious. I also didn’t want to be the guy that dismisses a heart attack as something minor. I closely observed how I felt while finding a more comfortable position and decided it was just muscle strain. I could always stop by the nurses office if anything changed.
Teaching was difficult. The pain was under control as long as I was sitting in a chair with an armrest. When I walked around it hurt bad. I acted out the old joke.
Patient: It hurts when I do this?
Doctor: So don’t do that.
That led to me spending so much time in my chair while my co-teacher taught that I fell asleep. Good thing I didn’t snore. That was like falling asleep while driving and woke me up. I went back to circulating around the classroom helping students. I did have to take breaks to keep the pain under control. Sitting with my left elbow on the armrest was the only pain-free position.
I had to leave right after class, to make my zoom psychiatry appointment. I stopped at the pharmacy by my house to get a sling. I figured that what I needed was to keep the arm supported. The sling would take the place of the armrest.
This was a good psychiatrist appointment, which is not the same as therapy. This is more about evaluating my condition. My mental health has been all over the place so I needed that.
I then called River and had something else which was not therapy but is great for my mental health. I consider River part of my mental health team. Many of my friends are. It’s not like we talked about my mental health at all. We talked more about River’s adventures with a monitor lizard. I should have told my students that I got hurt wrestling one.
Then I realized that I had never promoted last night’s edition of Gord’s Gold. That meant collecting pictures of all the artists and linking to the Folk Music Notebook Facebook page. I managed to get that done. With a few hours to spare.
I wanted a good dinner I could make with minimum fuss so I made a blackened breast sandwich. I cheated and made a baked potato in the microwave. I gave myself the injury pass on the cooking.
Then I had to upload Gord’s Gold up to Mixcloud. I should have done that earlier in the week. I finished recording the show on Sunday. I have to turn the entire show into one long mp3 to post it and then add the playlist with the times. That’s not a fast process. That took the rest of the evening. You can now enjoy the fruits of my labor.
Give it a listen, you’ll enjoy it. I start with a brand new song by Hannah Rose Baker that I’m sure you haven’t heard yet. There’s also a new release by Robinson & Rohe. Listen and expand your musical horizons.
Today I wore my sling to school. It works! I was able to function just fine. Everyone asked me what was wrong. The first time I had no idea what they were talking about. I forgot I was wearing the sling.
Right now I encountered my only problem. I couldn’t type this with the computer on my desk. I have it on my lap so my elbow can be on the armrest. I should have taken the sling off. Now my neck hurts. That’s my cue to finish this.
Wise Madness 