Nov 28 - there goes another one

I hit a car.  There goes another of my nine lives.  I don't recall how many are left.  I now have matching shoulders ... maybe.

It was a great day for a ride.  A strong NE wind is work on the way north and a delight on the trip back.  Close to the end of the ride, in fact a couple of blocks from the 7-11 where I get my final receipt, easily moving 20+ mph, an oncoming car turned left in front of me.  I had zero time to react but did manage to hit the brakes and turn sideways, taking the impact with my left shoulder and hip, rather than t-boning with my head.  My shoulder and hip have a better chance of recovery than my neck.

There was a long line of cars wanting to turn left into Sacred Heart Church -- my church -- and the opposing traffic was heavy (me being part of the opposing traffic).  This old lady saw her chance and her brain didn't realize how fast I was moving.  There were lots of people around. She got out of her car, obviously in stress -- we thought that she was going to have a heart attack -- and said that she had the right-of-way.  No, said a pedestrian, I had the right-of-way.  She did realize that once her brain started working again. 

I put a nice scratch and dent in the side of her car but I was, miraculously, fine.  My front wheel was turned to one side, just the fork turned.  That took a second to fix.  I walked around a bit while everyone stood around; some traffic complained that we were blocking the road; I was fine.  Nothing hurt.  It didn't make sense to call police as there was no damage to me or my bike.  So we both gave thanks.  She headed into church; I'll be heading there in about 20 minutes.

South to the 7-11, I realized as I got there that my shoulder was hurting a little.  That wasn't a surprise given the impact that it absorbed.  10 minutes later, when I got home, I needed to have a quick shower and ice the shoulder.  I had a hard time carrying the arm, kind of an injury where a sling is necessary -- a sling or the other arm holding it up.  Great.  It's not quite the same thing as my right shoulder and I'm hopeful that it's just bruising of the muscle right at the shoulder ...

Moving around in bed wasn't easy last night.  Time will tell how this recovery goes.  I may not be able to do any more dock work.

I was finished the dock until I started working on it again.  Before heading out for my ride, I removed the wooden corner bench or at least broke it up.  My intent was to then start removing the deck and laying boards.  I will also replace the railing on that side.  This might have to be postponed.  I'll get out there this a.m. and see what works.  At the moment I don't think that I can do any lifting with that arm.  Great. 

So there goes another of the nine ... or do I have nine ?  I'm not a cat so I'm not sure how that works.  I don't want to count the times because I might discover that this was the last one. 

Cassie .... complained like heck when put into her kennel last night.  She now thinks that complaining gets her way.  Time and again I went in and told her no, bad dog, no barking.  She eventually settled down and had a good night's sleep ... until 3:45 a.m. again.  I was prepared.  I had my cell phone and turned on the A/C in that area, giving her a cool down.  That didn't last long.  Up -- a couple of bad-dog repeats and she settled down again.  I hit the couch and we both slept.  She complained again at 5am but I just let her settle herself down then waited 15 minutes and got both of us up.  This could take a couple of nights to square away.

I think that the first night she had a little gastrointestinal distress from drinking salt water and now thinks that she can get out of the kennel when she pleases.  We don't want to leave her alone overnight in the kitchen just yet.  Although she hasn't shown many signs of wanting to chew cupboards etc. (like Abby), until she loses those baby teeth at 4 months, they are bothering her and she might just find something chewable that helps, other than her Nylabones.

Yesterday she went to the dog beach with Sandy and had a great time, so she was definitely tired.  No, she just needs to get her body clock in tune with mine.  Granted mine is weird ....

Today ... dock work ?  We'll see.  Skiffing ?  Hopefully.  Biking ?  Not on your life.

Onward !