Last night, as I drove home, I had my evening all planned out and prioritized real nice. I was going to jog (this time, with plenty of time to complete the cycle), I was going to go to Buddhist class at the Shambhala center, and then I was going to come home, unwind, and possibly take care of a few bills and things.

Sometimes, life doesn't go as planned.

A few minutes after I arrived at the house, just as I was right about to head out the door, the kitchen remodeling people showed up to move the fridge back to its standard location. Since I was the only one in the house, I became the de facto person to take all the food out, watch the big guys carry across the floor, and back all the food after they were done. So much for jogging.

Positive side: The fridge is back in its normal place.

Moments before I was ready to meander off to Boulder, the land line rang. bouncing, who had just arrived, answered it.

It was mom. She was hurt. She had fallen down in the parking lot at work and injured her arm. It was bad enough that she didn't feel up to driving home. bouncing and I needed to go. One would drive both of us out there, and the other would drive her car home.

After we had gotten out the door, and were halfway down the block in bouncing's car, she called again on the cell phone. We needed to go back to get some painkiller pills to bring. At this point, I realized for sure that this was beyond a mere scrape.

Dad wanted to join us, so we met him in a parking lot on the way (which took quite a bit longer than expected), and bouncing boldly disregarded the speed limit to get there.

We got to the parking lot and located her vehicle, where she was situated in the passenger seat. She was indeed in a LOT of pain.

From there, straight to Avista Hospital. The ER. Quite a busy place, even when there are no ambulances rushing in. I went in with her and helped fill out the paperwork while dad parked.

Then we waited in the available chairs. While we waited for available personnel who were qualified to make a diagnosis, a nurse brought an ice pack. Even on 3 painkillers, her arm was still extremely sensitive to movement.

Finally, a technician came to take her to the X Ray room.

Meanwhile, the room became increasingly populated with infants, one no more than a couple months old. Apparently, there was something particularly nasty going around to which that age group are susceptible. One mother brought in a basket from which the torturous screams could be heard all the way outside the double door as they approached. Funny thing though: The instant she got settled, and picked it up into her arms, the crying stopped, and the baby just looked, and looked, and looked around the room, eyes getting larger with every moment. Cute. Hehe.

After mom emerged from the X Ray room, more waiting ensued. Finally, she was taken to the back, where a bed waited, and a doctor arrived shortly.

Prognosis: The bone was broken, right at the elbow joint. (Not actually the elbow bone itself, because it's the other bone in the arm. The one above the elbow. I'm sure anyone with an ounce of real medical knowledge is going to laugh hilariously at my description.) It was broken such that the socket was out of its joint, and that part of the bone was rotated a bunch such that if you looked closely, you could actually see the ball punching up beneath the skin with the naked eye. No wonder she was in pain.

Surgery would be required, but not necessarily on the spot. They sent her home with a huge cast and splint, a ton of more potent painkillers, and instructions to come back in the morning when doctors more specialized in this area would be available.

Although it was quite late when we got home, although I didn't go to sleep right away. Instead, I wandered back over to Keslin's site (addiction index: similar to that of slashdot when it was first getting started) and discussed what best gets one off. Is that odd, or what?

(And again, I caution people NOT to visit the above link while at work. <wesley willis style voice>"It will get you fired. They will chop your arms off. You will be fried like a chicken. Your brains will simmer."</wesley willis style voice>)

...

The surgery is in progress right now, or so I have been told. Called me at work shortly before it was supposed to begin.

(Sidenote, and one interesting curiousity of the emergency room: Operation of cell phone devices is prohibited in or around the emergency room and waiting area.)

After work, I talked to my dad on the cell phone (apparently, he had to leave the area to talk on it), and he said they were just putting her to sleep. There wasn't really anything I could do by coming while she was under, so...

Here I am at home.

Wierd.

Today had to be one of my all-time lowest productivity days at work ever. Probably because I was so sleepy the whole day. Well, I guess I got a couple things done. Maybe an hour's worth of work. lol.

It does feel like it should be a Friday. Sheeet, it's only a TUESDAY. Unbelievable.

Should I get some sleep now, or stay awake until further news? Hmmm..

Guess that answered my question. Dad's here. She's in recovery. We'll probably be able to see her in a half hour. Heading out to the hospital...