Spot the 'Not'

What's [probably] not supposed to be in this photo of my office?

....I'm not sure.

But focusing on the more important thing in the photo is...


My bike!

FINALLY, I am biking to work!

What was a 35 minute door-to-door trip by Metro --OR-- a 45 minute door-to-door trip by bus, is now an 11 minute door-to-door trip by bike.

And while I can't say that uphill inclines and hitting potholes and speed bumps are the most pleasant feeling in the world for me, but I can say... Bye bye, broken ankle!

Overdue and Overdone

I'm overdue for a blog entry, so here's a recap on the past few days...

Dr. Douoguih said that two weeks after my surgery I could start putting weight on my right leg. Well two weeks have come and gone, and I've finally started limping around with the boot and no crutches.

So when the nurse took my stitches out at my appointment yesterday, I thought my down time was coming to an end. I also thought from there on out I would be able to hobble around DC, to and from work [and play], and slowly get back to my normal life. Nope.

I can't say the doctor was thrilled to see me in his office without my crutches: "I said you could start putting 'a little weight' on it, not all 123 pounds." (<-- yep that's my weight.) Not to mention, Dr. Douoguih said I have no muscle in my lower right leg and that I'm going to end up getting hurt [again]. How lovely.

And after hobbling from my appointment, to the metro, into my office, then to the bus stop to head home, I realized he was right -- I overdid myself.

[Feeling like the metal pins are rubbing marks in my ankle bone.]

...I was asleep by 8PM last night, and I'm pretty sure I could have kept hitting 'snooze' when my 6:40 alarm went off this morning.

But to make my morning sound even more charming than an alarm clock...

I left my house early, so I would have enough time to 'one-crutch-it' to the bus stop to get to my office by 8:30.

Let's just say the bus was overdue, as well... and it stopped at --every--single--stop--along--the--way. Such a long ride, and in the end, and as much as I'm an advocate of being environmentally friendly, I hate public transportation sometimes.

Can I please start riding my bike to work already?!?

Metro opens doors… but not for me.

After determining yesterday that I’ve already spent about $150 on cab rides to and from work, I decided to check out DC’s Metro Transit website to learn about some of my alternative options …or… lack thereof.

In what I consider to be a professional letter I wrote yesterday to Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), I explained my current situation and inquired about qualifying for a Metro Disability ID Card – including that:

“I work in the National Press Building at 14 and F Streets and the closest Metro to me is Metro Center at 12 and F Streets; however, there is no elevator at this entrance, and until I am able to walk without assistance, I am unable to ride the escalator. At the moment, my only option is to take a cab to the entrance with the elevator, which -as you might imagine- is becoming an unexpected out-of-pocket expense.”

This afternoon I received a response from a WMATA rep stating, “The duration of your disability must last a minimum of three months.” And because I stated that I will be temporarily disabled for 8-12 weeks… DENIED.

The rep included that I can find more information about Metro’s disability “requirements” at: MetroOpensDoors.com

…When one door opens…

It shuts right in front of my face.

Cankle Calculations

FIRST & MOST IMPORTANTLY

[Insert profanity sensor for the would-be-offended readers here…] !@#$%*! I just took the bandage off… And for the first time since the accident... I’m starting to see the ball-looking bone return to my inner ankle! I know you see it too?!


And in other news...

Over the past two weeks, in my semi-stationary stage of trying to get up and get to work, I’ve been keeping track of the cost of cab rides, in addition to other things like: pill consummation and my dwindling reserves, terrible movies on TV that I am forced to watch because I can’t get up… you know… the typical things to think of when thinking is all you can do.

Eventually, when all-things-ankle are said and done, I’ll determine how much this whole ordeal sets me back. But out of curiosity (and cash) this morning, I decided to do an initial add-up…

I might as well have rolled it up and smoked it because… In the past seven days, I have spent $125 on cab rides to and from work.

And I guess if you add on the $30 parking ticket that I got last week (see story & previous blog entry here), that puts me at $155… Also not including the fact that I still have to get home from work today and for the remainder of the work week. I really need to look into the Metro handicap bus and what the service defines as being “handicap.” [Added to today's to-do list.]

Finally...

Monday is my follow up with Dr. Douoguih, whose name I can only spell because the stickers from the day of my surgery will not come off of my crutches...
The swelling and pain have subsided beyond any words I can blog, and I’m almost certain the doctor will remove the stitches at my appointment. (I had to put myself to bed early last night because had I had one more glass of wine with my roommates, I was certainly going to try to ease the itch and take the stitches out myself... with nail clippers. Lessons learned from my run-in-the-family, accident prone father.)

Five more days... Five more days...

Seamless

(A parking ticket and a makeshift prop.)

Well, I made it into work this working. My first day back. A day I planned in advance to ensure seamlessness. I guess I ripped my seam...

My car was parked outside my house in a spot that doesn’t require a zoned parking permit, but when I woke up this morning, the first thing I remembered was… that sign also says “with the exception of Tuesday.” No parking on Tuesday for street cleaning.

It just so happens today is Tuesday.

Kristen (roommate) was kind enough to move my car to a two-hour parking spot; however, my grocery-getting, lengthy ‘little’ car didn’t fully fit into the spot.

Today I am thankful for the homeless park across the street… A homeless man who saw Kristen moving my car came and knocked on our door to tell us my car was being ticketed and would soon be towed.

Unhappy camper and seam starting to rip, I crutched out to my car where by the traffic cop was writing the ticket. “My roommate is moving this car. She came to open the door for me, because as you might notice, I can’t actually get out by myself,” I said to her in an attempted calm manner. All she said was “I don’t care” and handed me the ticket. So with a smirk on my face I told her to [unfriendly words] as she walked away (…hopefully getting hit by Karma and/or the nearest bus on her way back to Sticky Fingers Bakery on the next block).

Annoyed, I decided to take the car issue into my own hands. And because it was oddly uncomfortable, I didn’t take any photos to document the trip, but I somehow managed to prop my crutches in the passenger seat and lay my gimp leg over them as I drove the three miles to Northeast DC to park my car outside of Peter’s house. (Parking signs do not exist in the ‘hood.)

From there, I caught a $12 cab to work, and now here I sit. My leg is being propped up on an extra foot stool we had lying around the office (probably for many, many years – definitely has the retro feel). Not to mention that I haven’t had a sip of coffee since last Monday in the hospital waiting room (the term “coffee” should be used lightly here, as it was right up there in the running for worst coffee ever, next to the Amtrak coffee on the way to Canada).

Sitting upright at this desk is not doing wonders for my foot. It’s 1:00. I give myself another hour or so, and then I'll make an attempt at a “seamless” commute back home.

I just realized I don't even have the option of taking the metro back to my house. While Metro Center is the only one block from my office, there is no elevator at the 13th and F St entrance. Good planning, WMATA!

[Update: As of Thursday, May 21 at 2:49 PM -- Parking ticket paid.]

[Another Update: One week later, Thursday, May 28, The Washington Times runs this article about parking tickets and how 50% of people who fight the ticket get it dismissed, sigh: Read Washington Times article here]