Monday, October 5, 2015

"Stupid Is...


As Stupid Does..."




I've done some pretty dumb-assed things in my Life... 


some, intentionally...

Some, unintentionally...

A few weeks ago... the Sunday before the chaos at work that next Monday, I decided to paint my hallway in my house...

I had the paint... I had two ladders... I selected the smaller of the two... the 'other one'... and then got to work...  paying attention to detail... trying to be thorough in my work... one thing about repetitive-motion work is that one tends to get lost in what he/she is doing...


At one point, I turned around on the ladder so I could reach this one area... right up there... (points right up there...) and I am just painting away.

I decide at some point that everything would be easier if I sat down on that top rung of the ladder... made sense.... I've done it before...



So.. I position myself as to where I want to be... 

I go to sit down on that top rung...



... there isn't one... at least not on THIS ladder.... 

I was using the 'other one'...

Remember??



Do you have any idea how quickly it takes to fall about five feet...

head first???

Backwards??????


I tried to find an image of a woman falling off
a ladder... evidently, ladies don't do this.

They just manage to look sexy...

... but WHAT she is doing...
is what I was TRYING to do...

just no upper rung.

Instinctively, on the way back and down, 

I started to curl my torso...

I actually hit on my upper back and shoulders... 

with my head curled up...


... but when I hit the floor,

my head snapped back so easily.

There was absolutely NO way I could

prevent it.

I remember being so amazed that I couldn't brace my

skull and prevent the impact.

It was hard.


The above image is what I felt my brain or whatever contents it was that my skull held... must have looked like.  I remember lying there for a moment... doing a quick inventory...  I could move.. my skull/scalp wasn't lacerated...  no broken arms... no broken back... 
I was amazed at how coherent I was... clear thinking...

 I went to work the next day... and of course, that was the day we had the shooting are school. I seemed to be able to think clearly... rationally... logically...
At least, for me, anyway...

The symptoms/signs of a concussion didn't show up until Wednesday...

Or at least, that was when I became aware of them.

(Click on image to better see image)

I saw a sports doctor at the university... he told me that had I been a football player, I wouldn't be playing for a while.  I still have bad headaches... I still have feelings of nausea... at times I do have trouble thinking clearly...  my sleep pattern is all messed up...



People hurt themselves badly from these kinds of falls...

People die from these kinds of falls...

I was fortunate...

I was lucky...


~shoes~


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23 comments:

  1. Kalei's Best FriendOctober 5, 2015 at 3:38 PM

    dude!, u are so lucky u didn't snap your neck..Where was your ladder buddy??? Next time, (if there is a next) do the job w/a friend.. it will get done faster.. unless that friend isn't holding the ladder for ya....Glad u are ok, but, omg, I am surprised u don't have worse aches.

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    1. Red ShoesOctober 5, 2015 at 10:11 PM

      Hi there, Chris... I am so lucky I didn't hurt myself seriously... or even kill myself... I can't stress enough how helpless that was... how I had tensed myself so that I could hold my head erect so as to not hit the floor hard... and how easily my head snapped back...

      I need to get back to the dr for some more scans... this is one slow mend...

      I am fortunate...

      How are you doing??

      ~shoes~

      Delete
  2. Jules October 6, 2015 at 1:06 PM

    Bloody hell shoes, you need to just sit still for a bit! You are extremely lucky not to have done something terrible. At least your life isn't boring but I think a bit of quiet reading on the sofa whilst you get the painters in might not be a bad idea! :)

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    1. Red ShoesOctober 7, 2015 at 11:04 AM

      Hi there, Jules... I'm not convinced I am finished with this... I still have bad headaches... feelings of nausea... the dizziness seems to have subsided...

      I sure seem to manage to be caught up in a bunch of crap though...

      Amazing...

      How are you today??

      ~shoes~

      Delete
    2. Jules October 7, 2015 at 12:30 PM

      Today I am rather magnificent with a touch of bloody knackered! Take it easy, shoes I don't want you getting into any more situations. :)

      Delete
    3. Red ShoesOctober 15, 2015 at 2:33 PM

      Hey you.. that does sound rather magnificent!!

      ~shoes~

      Delete
  3. BBOctober 6, 2015 at 6:08 PM

    Lucky doesn't even come close. You really could have seriously hurt your neck, spine, bones etc. Ray has to climb up and down on ladders a lot at the gallery to hang is art. It scares the crap out of me. We're not kids anymore with rubber bones!! Glad you're ok.

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    1. Red ShoesOctober 7, 2015 at 11:07 AM

      Hi there, Barb... I was fortunate... after considering my age... and looking at statistics... it really could have been bad... or good if'n one was my student and wanting out of class for the rest of the semester...

      ~shoes~

      Delete
  4. Crystal CollierOctober 7, 2015 at 12:16 PM

    Gosh, I'm glad you didn't get hurt worse. I had a concussion once, and I felt it for a good two weeks, but that's the worst it ever got. (And that was from a kid slamming a door into my bowed head.) I hope the headaches subside quickly!

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    1. Red ShoesOctober 15, 2015 at 3:18 PM

      I apologize for the belated response... head trauma is Hell!!!

      ~shoes~

      Delete
  5. AnonymousOctober 12, 2015 at 7:40 AM

    Oh my gosh, Shoes! I'm so sorry for the fall, I'm glad "all" you had was a concussion. I hope you're feeling better now. Gentle hugs to you, my friend.

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    1. Red ShoesOctober 15, 2015 at 3:22 PM

      Hi there, Elsie... I've really struggled with this... symptoms and such seem to be reversed in order... the nausea is just now kicking in... loud 'white noise' in my ears...

      It's been four weeks... had to go back to dr this past Monday... did another CT Scan... reports from the scan are good (no brain swelling, no bleeding, no tumors, no fractures... no brains... well... that's probably VERY true...

      As the dr told me again the other day, it's just going to take time...

      I was fortunate...

      ~shoes~

      Delete
  6. TruedessaOctober 12, 2015 at 5:14 PM

    Ok, This is not setting well with me and I am truly concerned. You need to stay off a damn ladder do you hear me...yes..I am YELLING at you...out of love and concern. You should not climb ladders when no one is around to spot for you.

    ok, done yelling now I will send gentle healing your way..

    I will keep a close eye on you...

    ((huggles))

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    1. TruedessaOctober 21, 2015 at 9:20 PM

      The more important question is "how are things with you???

      Delete
    2. Red ShoesOctober 24, 2015 at 3:21 PM

      I'm ok... another round of ct-scans... dr tells me nothing scary is eminent...

      I am very forgetful about more things than I used to be... I reach an anger point quicker than I ever used to... I hardly ever got angry...

      I've learned to count to ten more often than I have in the past...

      ... but I am going to be ok.

      Thank you for your thoughts and concerns... :-)

      ~shoes~

      Delete
  7. Nancy/BLissed-Out GrandmaOctober 12, 2015 at 5:43 PM

    I have fallen forward just by tripping on the sidewalk and have been amazed at the impact of skull against hard surface. So I know that "oh shit" moment when you feel your head continuing to travel despite your best efforts. Please take care of yourself. Also: Could some of your symptoms be from the stress of the shooting?

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    1. Red ShoesOctober 15, 2015 at 3:28 PM

      Hi there, Nancy... how is retirement going for you??

      Yes, the more I read about TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury), the more I realize how lucky/fortunate I am...

      I don't think any of it is residual from the shooting... but I can't testify to that for sure...

      I failed to mention early that is seems that my body is just not starting to react the the fall... the aches, pains, and such... or maybe its just because the head aches have been so bad... that I haven't noticed them...

      I hope all is well with you!

      ~shoes~

      Delete
  8. Green MonkeyOctober 13, 2015 at 4:01 PM

    clearly... you were not supposed to be where you would have been if you had not fallen..... (did that make sense). bottom line....i am soooo glad you are ....still with us. ((((hugs and love)))))

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  9. Red ShoesOctober 15, 2015 at 3:33 PM

    Hi there, Monkey Girl... I know.. I know... It was so dumb of me... especially since I started looking at fall statistics...

    I am so fortunate...

    I can be quite a dumbass from time to time...

    ~shoes~

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  10. Blue GrumpsterOctober 17, 2015 at 12:20 AM

    Damn.... And you're still in one piece? Someone must really love you up there.

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    1. Red ShoesOctober 24, 2015 at 3:24 PM

      Hi there, Grumpster...

      Just fukken lucky I guess... the side effects have sure lasted a long long time, though...

      Ugh...

      How are you doing, buddy??

      ~shoes~

      Delete
  11. Blue GrumpsterOctober 17, 2015 at 12:21 AM

    Damn.... And you're still in one piece? Someone must really love you up there.

    ReplyDelete
  12. LindaOctober 20, 2015 at 2:59 PM

    Hi Shoes...
    Oh dear...that was a nasty fall...for sure!!
    Please keep track of your symptons...
    Concussions are scary things...
    Take care...
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

    ReplyDelete

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