In the blink of an eye

On Tuesday past I reluctantly decided to rollerblade home from work. I was feeling pretty down in the dumps, for no apparent reason, just one of those days. I wasn’t feeling particularly up for heading back home on the blades as it requires a fair amount of energy, especially considering it’s all up hill. My journey, I mean adventure had just begun. Heading north on Beverly I found myself gaining speed and racing against the traffic. Often times I beat them because they are stuck in traffic. Driving in cars, is not the better way! Anyways, I finally headed east on College, where I felt pretty good about my performance. I was feeling really good. I made some pretty sweet maneuvers and managed to avoid other pedestrians, and headed WHAM!!! A branch hit my face. The pain – immediate – the goose bump – ginormous – the blood – not gushing. Luckily, I was about 10 feet from a walk-in clinic. I headed there hoping for some instant gratification. What I got was shock and awe. Nurse: I’ll get you some ice.What felt like five minutes later she arrives with, what looked like those plastic popsicle cases that you buy at convenience stores, only this was 3 inches long. I immediately place the ice on the bump that is slowly taking over my eye. Nurse: You need to go to emerge.Caryl: Emerge! Really?Nurse: Yes! The lacerations and blood…you need to go to emerge.Caryl: Um…okay….At this point I’m still on the phone with Dave who is kindly and calmly I might add, directing me to the quickest entrance to TGH, which by the way was a five minute walk away. Thank goodness. I get to the emerge, filled out some paperwork, while bleeding, and holding the now melted and warm ice on my face, and the nurse finally brings me some real ice. I wait in the pre-waiting room for twenty minutes, when a nurse in bright red pants, and those fancy shoes that help with your posture, comes in and directs me to the ‘fast-track waiting room.’ And by fast track, I mean slow track. It took about 2 hours to see a doctor in emerge, who by the way, was super friendly, but didn’t really do anything to my face except touch the bruise. The pain had actually subsided from my face, which was good. Next was to get a tetanus shot. To be honest, that was and is the most painful thing that happened out of this whole thing.
As a side note, I should mention that as of Tuesday, the day of the accident, I was scheduled to fly to LA for a holiday.
Examining the damage I came out of that accident with a pretty bad ass scratch and an amazing shiner, that is currently a pretty purple and blue. I should say, any higher, I probably would not have an eye. I’m extremely lucky I was able to walk away from this with a sweet scratch, and a black eye. Thank goodness!
Usually with things like this I tend to over analyze and assume that this happened for a reason because I truly believe that things happen for a reason. I have a few ideas as to what the reasons are for this, but I’m still trying to figure that out. One important lesson that I think I’ve learned/learning, DON’T RUSH! I’ve always been a rusher. I don’t know what my problem is. It’s like my mom always says “it’s not a race!” And maybe, for once, she’s right. It really is amazing how fast accidents can happen, so fast that you don’t even see the branch that is about to smash into your face.
I must say I think I’m going to refrain from in-line skating at least until my face heals, so I’ve resorted to walking to work, which is going to be a feat in and of itself. It’s about a forty minute walk: one way. I can do it, and it will be good for me. At least that’s what I keep telling myself.
I’m really not sure who or what I should be thanking or if I should be thanking anyone at all, but I’m really glad I didn’t lose an eye, or lose anything else for that matter.
*sigh*
For anyone who comes across an accident whereby there is a lot of swelling and bruising, I must pass on to you some information that helped me that could help you.
Ice your bruise/bump/injury for 48hrs for 20min then break for an hour. (Please note, this was for an eye injury, this may change for other injuries). Then after that a warm wash cloth for 10 min, 3 times a day. Also, this stuff I used called Traumeel (thanks Julia L) it really helped with the swelling.
Anyways, I do support wearing helmets (which, by the way, I was wearing and didn’t need to be used), and being safe on the road and sidewalk. Also, please be careful if you are wearing an ipod, as that can also impact accidents and affect things.

Until next time, keep safe and have fun!

Caryl

Recall

cutting your hair: please do so at your own discretion and please be warned that you might have to actually go to a stylist to get it fixed.

Mouse Trap

Sometimes it's hard to let go of the things that you have, these things try to define who we are, well I'm here to tell you that it's okay to let go, to move on, and be rid of the things that tie you down. That's why I've decided to take matters into my own hands. It's time to start doing things myself. So, with that in mind, I have decided to cut my own hair. As difficult as it sounds, it's rather quite easy, and very rewarding. I highly recommend it. To me, it's like a cleanse of the soul: cutting the access, strangly hair is a purifying process. The only problem is this: my hair is a wee bit crooked and uneven at the back, but do you know what I say to that, "hey, that's okay, it adds character!"
To all you naysayers out there, be kind to your hair, save a buck, and cut your own hair!

cheers!
Caryl

Queens University

Dear Jerk faces from Queens University, (if you ever read this, you totally know who you are!)

Okay, I get how pulling my elastic string on my bag is hilarious and fun, and I get how you're drunk and getting something to eat, but really, do you have to act like a bunch of juvenile ape shits?

So I got drunk on Friday night (which never happens) and I was stumbling home and I went to McDonald's because I was starving, I was waiting patiently in line, when some idiots from Queens snapped the elastic string on my bag. That's real mature. So the person that I am, I acknowledge them and begin a conversation with them.

they say "do you go to queen's university" (please note, we're in Toronto and no sign on me suggests I go to queens:

caryl says "no."

they say "oh, so you go to UofT"

caryl says "well I dont go now, but I've been"


they say "oh, well where do you go?"

caryl says "well I go to Humber"

they say "really? what do you take"

****Alarm, this is where I should have made a lie

caryl says "i'm in the comedy program"

they say "the what?"

caryl says "i'm in the comedy writing and performance program"

***first mistake - talking to them

***second mistake - telling them what i was studying


they say "tell us a joke"

*thank you to stranger who made some random horse joke!

caryl says "um, no!"

they say....they just harass me to do a 5 min routine, in mcdonalds, continually, over and over

caryl says "do you ever assault a doctor at mcdonalds and ask him to perform surgery"

they say "do your routine right here, (they point to a small table in the corner)

caryl says "no, actually i won't"

the idiots from queens continue to harass me to be funny....

WTF....really though...


I'm just going to throw something out there, and no offense to anyone that I know, but asking someone who is trying to be a comedian to "tell a joke" or "be funny" is not helpful, and really though, do you really expect me to be funny to someone who demands something so ridiculous.
Just don't ask me or anyone who is a comedian to "be funny," it's really not nice and pretty much insulting! I don't ask you to solve arithmetic, or ask you to teach me the alphabet. Let's just leave it alone and move on.

I'm not funny, you're not funny, end of story!


The End!

cjd