Snow Globe

Last one for today, I promise - here's a picture of Shawn ice skating on the night I banged my knee (I hadn't fallen yet). See the snow falling - it was like we were inside a snow globe, looking up at the tall buildings lit up. Ah, New York. *eye roll*

Knee Jerk

I feel like a jerk - a big useless pansy jerk. But let's re-cap yesterday's trip to the ER, which when you think about it, makes ice skating the most expensive NYC-activity in which I have partaken (and I've got tickets to West Side Story in March!)...

I woke up and the knee was swollen and I couldn't walk at all. I was crying and the whole thing was just embarrassing. Shawn had to help me put on my socks! After some bickering and online searching we decided to go to an "in network" ER. there aren't any walk-in clinics in our insurance network, and the NYU university health center is for students only if you can believe that crap.

So it was snowing and colder than a witches you-know-what, and I'm hobbling/hopping on one foot in the icy streets while he gets a cab. The end result was a day (a good 5 hours anyway) in the ER/fast track section (where I continued to take work calls, as I had three conference calls scheduled AND was really sitting and waiting for most of the time anyway). They took X-rays (nothing broken), gave me a scrip for Vicodin, wrapped up the knee and gave me crutches. At least now I can get around (and I have more in common with Dr. House* than just my dry wit!)

I am taking a lot of ibuprofen/Motrin - which seems to help. And I took Vicodin last night, but when I woke up this morning I thought I was going to throw up** - I got super pale and had to lie down and sleep for another 45 minutes. Once I ate lunch I felt better, but by now the Vicodin should definitely be out of my system. SO I don't know if I'll chance that again tonight or just stick with the Motrin.

All of this proves that NYC hates me and wants me to leave. I would oblige, but still waiting to hear on job opportunities for my husband. Praying we go somewhere near one set of parents.

~mari (adding sig to this entry to give clear definition for the asterisk/footnotes)

*The actor who plays House, the GENIUS Hugh Laurie, will appear on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno tonight - as part of "The Band from TV" - a band created by Greg Grunberg, actor on Heroes and Felicity.

**I promise this is NOT morning sickness. I can't handle another rumor flying about me like that - although I'm sure those will be relentless until there's actually some TRUTH to that!

Update: I'll Never Be a Figure Skater ... Or a Hockey Player

Here's the story as I'm telling my coworkers, more or less:

I should have KNOWN better than to try to have NYC-fun. Last night we went ice skating in central park, with the tall buildings around us, it was gorgeous. Shawn and I had never done it before, so we were clinging to the wall.

I used to roller skate a lot as a kid, and I was getting the hang of the ice, moving away from the wall a bit to move around stragglers, etc. When I did that on the end of my 4th round, a faster skater swooshed by me (at least that’s the story I’m telling) and I lost my balance, lunging toward the wall and falling on my knee while my leg kind of twisted out…

Once I got off the rink I was able to walk/limp to the bus stop (no way was I taking the subway with all the stairs). This morning it was hurting SO bad and was so swollen – I couldn’t even move around our dinky apartment with Shawn’s help…

So we went to the ER and I now have crutches and know it isn’t broken. If it’s not better in a week I’ll follow up.

This makes three giant “only in New York” horror stories – the bedbugs, Waldorf shooting and the ice skating that led to an ER visit… This city is truly trying to tell me something… :-P

UPDATE - thanks to Holly who points out I never say WHAT is swollen and hurt - it's my left knee...

Bad Idea

Skating was the worst idea ever. It was almost fun until I fell. Now it's going to turn into a medical nightmare, as I can't even walk or hop around the apartment (am moving about in my rolly chair as much as I can and holding onto other things to get to the bathroom). The pain is excruciating, the knee is swollen somewhat, although no bruising that i can see, unless it's on the back of the knee. i probably should have gone to the doctor last night when i could still walk a little. instead i took the bus and walked back here.

i can't even get to the kitchen if i want breakfast. i doubt i could make it over to the window to open the shades - apparently it's snowing outside.

it's really cold here too. i don't know how i'm going to get down to the lobby to even get a taxi to go where we need to go. Apparently we need to go to the ER at St. Vincent's. I'm sure that will be a hell of a time.

this is the most humiliating and painful thing that's happened to me. it's less of a pain in the ass than bedbugs i guess, but a solid second place. (and i had a spot on my jaw yesterday that looked suspiciously like a bedbug bite. so i'm not convinced that saga is over yet)

i don't even know how i'm going to get dressed. there's no comfortable position - right now i'm in the rolly chair with my legs propped up on a dining chair - so at least my knee is higher than my waist (is it supposed to be higher than my heart? if so, i'm screwed b/c i have no way to do that unless i lie flat on my back).

i have a busy afternoon full of meetings. i just can't believe my luck. NYC really hates me, and as we all know, I hate it right back.