Best Random Statement Thus Far

Read this comment in some blog out there somewhere, "Don't mess with me or my stunt double will kick your ass!"
posted by Jeff Gatlin at 7/30/2002 12:10:00 PM

Pearls of Wisdom

Tonight during dinner, in response to Steph accusing me of kicking her feet, I angrily blurt out this shining example of American Intellect:

"Look, my feet are where they are!"


posted by Jeff Gatlin at 7/22/2002 12:09:00 AM

Cortisone Shots In the Heel Hurt Alot

So I go to the doctor. My left foot has been just deciding to hurt now and then. There's lots of interesting technical words for it, the closest almost understandable phrase in English is bone spur. First visit was 'Get some new shoes, arch supports and do these exercises". Fine. Got new shoes, skipped the supports cause I'm stupid and did the excercises. 5 months later, still having problems. I go back, after a little QA he whoops out a needle while explaining that most people are willing to put up with a little discomfort now for relief later. This is the part I'm only half paying attention to cause I've had shots before and they are not that bad.

This was not one of the shots I had before.

He prefaced the shot with "This is going to stick a little" and applies shot. Ouch. I respond, "OK, that sticks alot" and then he pushed harder and I shut up. I had to steady myself because I almost jump off the table and kick my leg. Note. it's bad to kick your leg when there a big needle in your foot. Fortunately, I avoided kicking. The funny part is how quick my desire to joke around left me. I wanted to curse. I wanted to curse alot. I was angry. A few points less of IQ and I would have went after the doc. I glanced down and saw only a few millimeters of the needle, the other two inches were in my heel somewhere. I stopped thinking and looked away.

After the shot, I had to lay down and let the shock wear off so I didn't get sick. Oddly, it didn't hurt after. That is until 2 hours later when the sore kicked in. Then I had to hobble the rest of the day.

Pain ends the next day. Faint soreness but nothing like the previous day. Doing some physical therapy to help clear things up. Pam, my physical therapist measures my foot and says this and that and makes perfect sense. I love specialists. I surprise her during one test because I can stand on one foot without losing balance. Thank you Tai Chi.

Ok, stories of pain over. It's safe again for now. (Yes I know I didn't warn you in advance, life is rough). -Jeffg
posted by Jeff Gatlin at 7/20/2002 12:03:00 PM

Mountain Man Jeff

Went camping at Taum Sauk Park in the lovely state of Missouri. A nice woodsy place within the St. Francois Mountains. We stayed two nights, dined on the best food I've ever had on a camping trip (kudos to cooks Steph and Mike) and took a relaxing hike down and up Missouri's tallest mountain.

I call myself mountain man cause I very nearly got to stay on the mountain. The trail is rough. Not just rough as in slightly uneven, but rough like in a giant pile of rocks and roots. Still, the trip down was not overly taxing, just a constant eye on the path for each good footing adventure. The trouble started when the path turned from decline to incline. Uphill + Sunny Day + Jeff = Massive Heat Energy. Unfortunately, you could say I have a balance score of 90, endurance score of 10. Any of the up hill jaunts (and there was approx 400 feet or more to climb) was about 20 yards (or 6 to 10 large upward steps) and rest. Plus I only brought two bottles of water and by that time I clearly needed 6 or more.

So, I chugged along anyway figuring I could make it to the top by midnight (it was 2pm-ish) but the lack of enough water was a clear problem so Matt Steph and Dave decided to head on up to the top and get more water, while Melissa and Mike stayed with me on my much slower ascent. Not much after I run out of water, Matt, King of the Mountain, comes bounding down the trail with a 5 gallon jug of water! I start soaking it up by osmosis as soon as it is within range (Steph arrives during the soak). Two bottles and two head dowsings later and we are on our way up and better pace. Plus the bonus was the trail uh... unsteeped ... no uh well the climby part stops and the slight incline began. In the end, we trodded up to the happy starting point and returned to camp where the drinks and food were 10 times better. Thanks friends for the helping hand!

The last battle was getting home. Since I didnt sleep well on the trip, I had to use much caffiene to battle road hypnosis even on a simple 2 hour jaunt home. Made it without incident. There are few joys as great as sitting on your couch in a cool house after a steamy hot camping trip. Nice.
posted by Jeff Gatlin at 7/01/2002 10:09:00 AM