I had a lot to talk about today, but what happened yesterday is the only thing which really matters to me right now. I thought that it was 2010 which sucked royal ass. Perhaps for me it’s being 45 instead.
When I die I as you to do one thing for me — raise a glass of whatever it is you are consuming, and say “Paulie was alright. That sonnabitch has some of the worst luck of anyone I ever met.”
I was having a decent weekend until…
Who Would Have Thought That Hashing Would’ve Been The Safer Choice?
With unusually warm and sunny weather and my poor running getting me down, I decided to take the Red Rocket out for a ride to Stone Mountain.
This might make you laugh, but I’d already written the opening bit for today’s blog in my head.
The last time I mounted the Red Rocket for a road ride we were in South Dakota, it was the last day of August, I was a good five pounds lighter, and I was a mere two days away from having my vacation crash around me.
I didn’t know it at the time, but yesterday’s ride is probably going to be the last for the Red Rocket and me.
I left East Atlanta a little after 1pm. I was riding well, at least better than a six-month hiatus should let me, but my cardio (which has plagued my running) was also showing up riding. Somewhere around the 8 mile mark (unsure because my fancy-pants odometer/speedometer and I weren’t on good terms and I couldn’t get it to work) I passed two riders while heading North on Church Street. After pumping hard to separate I successfully crossed 285.
Here is my ride map for yesterday.
At the next intersection I saw two cars
1. A gray car heading South on Church Street, waiting to turn left (in front of me) onto Northern Avenue.
2. A black car waiting at the stop sign on Northern Avenue waiting to turn left onto Church Street heading South.
I moved into the middle of my lane in order for both cars to see me and I was fairly certain that they had since they were both stopped.
The gray car decided that they didn’t want to wait and turned in front of me, but that wasn’t the complete game-changer. For some reason the black car didn’t wait to see if the road was clear and immediately began to turn left from Northern, which put it right in my path. I was left helpless…
I hit the black car squarely near the back portion of its front driver’s-side tire. The Red Rocket and I were catapulted onto the black car’s hood, and when my momentum carried me off the car I landed on my right hip, hitting my right ankle as well when the Red Rocket hit the ground with me. I’m also told that I broke the car’s windshield.
To say I was enraged is an understatement. I cursed at the driver and his passenger. I told them that if they drove off I’d get the cops on them. And while doing so from the road, the two riders I had passed a minute or so previously rode up and called 911.
Yesterday I had my third bike wreck in Atlanta (two of those thanks to drivers which have pulled out of side roads in front of me).
Yesterday I had my first ambulance ride.
Yesterday I had my first IV.
Yesterday I had my first hospital visit.
No bones are broken, x-rays of my hip were negative (in the good way). However, I still cannot walk. The pain in my right hip is excruciating when I put any weight on it. Truth be told I probably need crutches because I can’t walk and hopping is not a viable option either. I am currently using my office chair as a makeshift wheelchair and rolling around the hardwood floors to get things. I’ve noticed that the kitchen’s “linoleum” doesn’t appreciate the wheels of the chair, but fuck it I don’t care.
The Red Rocket, while it did its best and super-mechanic Allan might be able to get it road-ready, may have seen its last ride. The impact with the car bent the headset, pushing the front fork back so far that the tire no longer clears the frame. While sitting on the road/curb awaiting help I thing I saw that the large-ring sprocket bent too. And I’m not sure if the front wheel suffered any real damage. For obvious reasons I’ve not had much time to investigate.
As if my life needed more bullshit with which to deal I now face having to follow up with the police, the hospital (and the costs), as well as insurance companies.
The Silver Lining
With all of the bad things yesterday there is some good. I have a lot of friends who have wished me well.
While riding to the hospital and spending two hours there with not much to do I tried to figure how I was going to get home. A taxi was my first idea, but taxis in Atlanta suck. I thought about walking home carrying my bike as some sort of trophy but that I idea was nixed when I couldn’t take a single step from my hospital examination table. I needed to do something that I don’t particularly like doing, asking people for help. I’ve lived alone for at least seventeen of the last twenty years — with the exceptions being the eight months Jeannie and I lived together, and the two years I rented a room and lived with some buddies.
One of my friends deserves my utmost gratitude. I called ITP-Reader “Martha” (aka Laura) after getting discharged from the hospital. Without hesitation she agreed to come and fetch me. Not only did Martha drive me (and the Red Rocket) home, she also went into my house for me to get my insurance card and wallet, then drove me to CVS and even went inside and got my medication (I can’t walk, remember). Upon delivering me home Martha helped me get into my house. Then she went home and got a her heating pad for me, and brought me food to eat last night.
Seriously, I was touched. In my current condition I have no idea what would have happened to me last night had she not been such a great friend.
I just received a call from ITP-Reader Betsy who has informed me that she’ll bring me dinner later.
Thank you friends, you literally keep me going.
Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – somewhat happy to be alive, but questioning the meaning of my life
Current Music – silence
Website Of The Day – don’t feel up to finding one.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – riding (~8.5 miles)
Morning Weigh-In – I don’t care
Monthly
Foot Mileage – 34.0 miles
Wheel Mileage – 8.5 miles
Pushups – 0
Situps – 0
Stairs – 0 flights
Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 0 (5)
Vegetarian Days – 4*
Carnivorous Days – 23
Marta Rides To Work – 0
Bike Rides To Work – 0
February Goals
– Not to get sick for the entire month FAIL
– Not get fired from my job
– Run no fewer than 75 miles
– Lose two pounds
– Go out on a date with someone else
– Read an entire book
2011 Goals [will be a little more fluid than in past years]
– Reduce my weight by 25 pounds based on the my weight as measured on February 1st
– Completely read the book Daily Negations which I received as a Christmas gift.
– Run Sharpened Stone as a real business — one which does not get penalized.
– Save $500 for the sole purpose of donating to charitable organizations of my choice
– Attend at least one professional photography workshop
– Enter no fewer than three photographic competitions / gallery showings
– Ride in no fewer than five 50 mile or 50K bike rides
– Run in no fewer than two half-marathons
– Submit at least one application under the name “Sharpened Stone” to Apple’s iOS store
The Unmeasurable
– Continue backing up all data, including the off-site storage
– Become a proficient programmer in Objective-C
– Do not create a solution for something which is not a problem
– Eat smaller portions
Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]
All I can say to that is I’m so glad you weren’t hurt worse. Hopefully the hip is just badly bruised (when I wrecked on BRAG a few years back I had some good bruises that really hurt)
Which hospital did you go to?
If you need anything, just let us know.
Allan said once you are for it (or need it for the other people’s insurance), he will take your bike to Cycleworks & get you a good replacement estimate. Even if it is fix-able, you stil want them to pay the $$ for a new bike. Most likely the frame is messed up somewhere, even if it isn’t obvious.
Wow! I’m glad you’re okay, but sorry you can’t walk!
Did the cops ticket the driver? Did you get their insurance stuff?
First of all, I’m glad you aren’t hurt any worse. The asshat who hit you will be buying you a new bike, covering your deductables for your insurance, and I’ve already dropped a note to Ken Rosskopf kenBIKElaw.com that you were hit and may need some lawyering.
Second- the list of friends who would have come to your aid is at least as long as the regular posters to this blog. We all share the love of ourdoor activities and share its risks and rewards. By the time I learned of the crash, Martha was already on it. I was about to call and see what I could do.
Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Trust me on this one.
-FP
I know I live north of BFE but if you need anything from me please don’t hesitate to call, I would be more that happy to help out.
It pisses me off to no end that some douchebag would pull out in front of a cyclist. I am normally not one to call a lawyer for an injury but your case is much different. This asshole has caused you pain, taken your bike, taken your confidence to ride, made you take days off of work, and made you pay for a trip to the hospital.
Take Steve’s advice above and make that call.
The important thing is that you are going to be okay. I didn’t do anything that any of your many other friends would do in that situation. If you feel up to it later, take a bath and use the Epsom salt I brought over, if nothing else you will smell nice 😉
I don’t know if you noticed when we went to (the first) CVS, the front door was all boarded up? Well while waiting inside I saw the ATM by the front door looked more beat up that you did…looks like it was another (attempted) ATM smash and grab.
I said it last night, I’ll say it again, because you are stubborn, hard headed and a terrible patient…call me (or anyone else that has offered) if you need anything. I’ll swing by tonight to see how you are doing.
Just an FYI, remember I put your insurance card(s) in the bag the prescriptions came it. And if you still need me to grab a cane from an old lady, just say the word.
Picture is fixed. I had it set to “private”.
I went to Atlanta Medical (Boulevard and Sidney Marcus). They were nice folks, and close(ish) to home too!
A police report was taken, I have no idea what it says yet. This was my first time in the Big Boy Rodeo so I didn’t know what to do (fwiw- my RoadID was on, which was good because I forgot my license. I was conscious the whole time, but it was good knowing I had my RoadID. Also, I received an email alerting me that someone had checked my account.) so I didn’t get insurance info. I’ll be following up with the police today.
Thanks for the help, everyone.
Hey Paulie…people are the worst! I’m so sorry to hear about your accident. From my years of coaching Mock Trial (heehee), I happen to know a couple of lawyers, if you need one (at the very least to give you advice…although there are several lawyers in the hash you can also contact, I suppose :)!).
BTW- I have a pair of crutches, if you need them. Call/ text/ email and let me know.
~~good vibes~~
-T
Thanks Terri. If I can’t walk by this afternoon I would love to borrow your crutches. Dragging myself to the bathroom and looking like an animal with worms is getting old quickly.
You had to know, with this crowd, there would be a few extra sets of crutches hanging around.
Jerry didn’t think the bike looked as bad as I thought it did, what do I know.
It’s still in my car, I figured you might not be ready to have a constant reminded cluttering the house.
Martha- as accident prone as I am, I have two sets of crutches :)!
OMG. I am so glad you are okay. And that you have wonderful supportive friends. Heal quickly, and keep your chin up. Take care!
hey Martha – we could meet up for lunch again & I’ll take the bike (if that is okay with Paulie of course).
Maybe tomorrow? We could meet halfway – maybe somewhere on Roswell Rd. near 285?
I don’t mind the bike pass off, but I would like to get photos of the damage in case I need to prove anything down the road. My mother informed me that I should take photos of bruises and cuts too just in case.
okay- between Martha & me, I’m sure we can take a photo or two or 10, but they won’t be as good as one of yours 😉
My goal is to show how bent the headset and forks are, as well as to show how the tire no longer passes under the frame. This proves that this was anything but a head-on collision for me and not a glancing blow. I’m not litigious but I know that I may need proof later on.
Barb, name a place and I’ll be there. I’ll get some photos before I hand it off, tonight doesn’t seem like it will be a good time to take photos. As far as the ‘bright side’ you will not have to drive home, in what will surely be a cluster fuck of epic proportions, tonight.
Paulie, have you called for a follow-up appointment with your regular doctor? Probably be a good idea.
I haven’t done any follow ups yet. I still need to call the hospital to give them my insurance info, the Dekalb Police about the police report, as well as set up an follow up check up.
hey Paulie & Martha – here’s another option – looks like there is going to be a bike maintenance night Wed. night at Mango’s – we can always just get the bike there, if Paul wants to take his own pictures to be sure he gets what he wants?
Paul – you can come & be the center of attention 😉
That’ll work for me.
Paulie,
I am right around the corner from you as well. Let me know if you need anything. As long as the police showed up, I am sure that there is a police report, but I would give it at least until Weds to get a copy of it. Glad to hear the you are ok, and that the Red Rocket maybe the only fatality. Let me know if you need anything.
Dean
I was going to offer my crutches from my broken ankle but I do believe I gave them to Terri!
Paulie–sometimes it takes this sort of accident/incident to remind you of the good things and good people in your life. Get ready for a lot of love coming your way….
And if you do happen to get a hankering for something specific let me know. Would it be Urban Cannibals dinner? Fox Bros. turkey wings?
I’ll be at Mango’s on wednesday for a paulie appreciation gathering. But paulie, we still have to watch top chef, bruises or no bruises.
Betsy, you know the only reason I’d miss Top Chef is being out of town. Watching with you is one of the highlights of my week.
Oh yeah, one of the other “benefits” from yesterday is now I know exactly when I received my last tetanus shot. That’d be yesterday.
Paulie, I’m so glad you’re okay! I will add my voice to the others, please let me know if you need anything!
Go, Martha! 🙂
I am so glad you are ok. I am sending healing vibes your way!
Any chance you got the drivers name & address so we can taunt them just a little? 🙂
Best wishes for a speedy recovery – I may not be able to offer anything immediate in the way of help (referring you to Sani for medical advice is not actually considered help… just kidding, Mom), but we do have a physical therapist on staff up here for the next time you visit 🙂
Man. I’m so sorry that this happened — but I am so glad you are in one piece!
Also, I am saying extremely uncharitable things under my breath about those drivers *right now.*
Sorry Paulie….glad you’re okay. Definitely take pictures.
And seriously, if you need anything, let me know.