Out and About

Since I've been so cocky about all of my recent progress and have been going on about how I think I'm getting better quicker, I thought I'd try and venture out into the world today. After lunch and after my second hour on the bender, I washed my hair, got a sponge bath, shaved, and got dressed. Today's the first day I've worn underwear since the paramedics cut them off me the night of the accident. I had been getting by alternating between two pair of baggy shorts.

After getting all cleaned up, we decided I might be able to handle something relatively tame like a book store. I loaded into the car and even sat in the front seat instead of sideways across the back as I've been doing. We went to the new Tattered Cover location where we got a primo parking spot thanks to my new handicapped hanger. I hobbled on in using my crutches. I was able to walk around for maybe 7 or 8 minutes before I was sweating and had to sit down to rest. I was up and down browsing and resting two or three more times before we left. We probably weren't there more than 35 minutes, and it exhausted me. It made me realize how out of shape I am and how far I have to go before I could handle an 8-hour work day.

I bought a book of interviews with various experts from various fields on the nature of consciousness as well as the latest version of What Color is Your Parachute? and its companion workbook. I need to use at least part of my remaining recovery period to think more about a job that would be a better fit for me. I mentioned to someone the other day that it's hard to want to get better knowing what I'll be returning to at work. Hopefully, I can come up with some viable ideas.

I find that the muscle relaxants no longer knock me flat. There's a bit of residual tiredness that comes many hours after I take them, but they've stopped getting me high. My sleeplessness is back too. I managed 3 or 4 hours in total last night even after taking an ambien at 3 AM. My leg is getting stronger, but I'm also more stiff more often lately. I'm not quite to the point where I'd call it a setback, but the challenge does appear to be growing. Still, I'm trying hard to do more for myself in terms of getting in and out of bed and moving between rooms and carrying stuff myself. I've largely quit using the bedside urinal and am making myself get in and out of bed each time. I'm cheating a bit with that one in the middle of the night and when I'm riding bender.



Jonathan 9/03/2006 04:29:00 PM