Matt rides his bike nowadays, being a much cheaper form of transportation, and in his case it’s also very convenient. I like to meet him at the front door with a kiss when he gets home.
Today when I opened up the door the first thing Matt said to me was not the usual, “Well hello there!” It was, “I got hit by a car.”
What?
He walked in with a dazed looked, very much still in shock. He was still walking, yes this was good, and I didn’t notice any chunks taken out of him, but hit by a car?!!!
He had been coming down a steep hill, and ahead of him was a car in his bike lane. He slowed down, and the car moved left back into his lane. Matt proceeded forward, and the car, without signaling, turned left right into him. It knocked him down to the pavement, and from what I understand he landed on his backpack and hit his head, then rolled. Thank heavens he was wearing a helmet. (Yet another testimonial of why they should be worn by everyone).
I asked if he had gotten information from the driver.
No.
Had he called police?
No.
Could he describe the car?
Yes, but not the license plate.
I looked him over. He was holding his hand kind of funny, and it had abnormal bumps on it and he was bleeding in several spots. He knee was bloodied, his side looked like it had some swelling, his hip hurt and he was limping and he looked very much confused and still in total shock.
Early that morning as he was walking out the door I thought, “We should say a quick prayer together” as we very often do. Then I thought, “Nah, I don’t want to wake up the kids.” We do live in a very small apartment. I said a prayer after he left, and asked the Lord to bring him home safely to us. We are very blessed that He did. From now on, though, I am going to pray that he travels “without harm nor accident.”
After icing him up and assessing the situation (i.e. him talking me into not taking him right to the ER) I called his doctor and got him fit in for later in the afternoon. Then I called the police.
Unfortunately, because Matt told the driver he was okay (the adrenaline had kicked in, by the time he got home he obviously wasn’t as okay) there was nothing the police could have done. If he hadn’t said that, they would have searched down the driver and charged him with a hit and run. Apparently saying he was fine turned the accident into a “civil matter.”
I looked over my poor sweetie and started patching him up with bandages and kisses. Poor Matt.
His backpack got totally shredded. His helmet has a big gash in it. His palm pilot (in the bag) has a great big ding but still works. Fortunately, the backpack took the brunt of it. The officer said he was lucky he had it on and had rolled.
Later at the doctor he was told that he is a very lucky man. No apparent permanent damage- except to my peace of mind. Maybe biking season should be over; our SUV is nice and safe.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Pen Disaster Update
For all of you concerned parents out there, poison control assured me that Amelia would be fine and that her life would not be ruined by this little incident. ;-)
And, ever more spectacularly, the pen came out of the towels! (They were new cream colored towels. It had to be the new towels and not our 10 year old ones, didn't it?) Hallelujah for borax and washing soda.
I have to admit as well, as soon as I saw Amelia I nearly burst out laughing. (Not at her, because of her). Sometimes it is SO hard not to laugh when kids do something like this. I didn't want to encourage her, after all. We do have lots of sparkle pens in the house!
And, ever more spectacularly, the pen came out of the towels! (They were new cream colored towels. It had to be the new towels and not our 10 year old ones, didn't it?) Hallelujah for borax and washing soda.
I have to admit as well, as soon as I saw Amelia I nearly burst out laughing. (Not at her, because of her). Sometimes it is SO hard not to laugh when kids do something like this. I didn't want to encourage her, after all. We do have lots of sparkle pens in the house!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
The Great Pen Disaster of '08
It's really a shame that I don't have a picture of this.
I was in the bathroom washing my hands, when Amelia quietly raced in and made a bee-line for the towels. I turned to see what the matter was.
She had maroon sparkle gel pen on about every available surface in her mouth. All over her teeth, all over her tongue, under her tongue, above her tongue, her tonsils... every single minute spot in her mouth was covered. (Not to mention her hands).
I grabbed a washclothe and started scrubbing.
Thankfully it came off easily, and after a thorough cleansing and tooth brushing, I gave her a big drink and sent her off to bed.
Later that night when Matt got home from work the hilarity of it all finally hit me. She got the whole dang ink reserve in her mouth. I don't think she'll make that mistake twice.
Coincidentally, the pens were made in China and there was no label about them being non-toxic. YIKES. They're a reliable (?) brand, pen-tech, but maybe we'll get her tested for lead for good measure.
Kids.
I was in the bathroom washing my hands, when Amelia quietly raced in and made a bee-line for the towels. I turned to see what the matter was.
She had maroon sparkle gel pen on about every available surface in her mouth. All over her teeth, all over her tongue, under her tongue, above her tongue, her tonsils... every single minute spot in her mouth was covered. (Not to mention her hands).
I grabbed a washclothe and started scrubbing.
Thankfully it came off easily, and after a thorough cleansing and tooth brushing, I gave her a big drink and sent her off to bed.
Later that night when Matt got home from work the hilarity of it all finally hit me. She got the whole dang ink reserve in her mouth. I don't think she'll make that mistake twice.
Coincidentally, the pens were made in China and there was no label about them being non-toxic. YIKES. They're a reliable (?) brand, pen-tech, but maybe we'll get her tested for lead for good measure.
Kids.
Monday, November 3, 2008
It's almost over! Finally!!!
I went for a walk around the block a few days ago and found myself reading campaign signs: "Obama”
“Change”
“Obama”
“Obama”
I counted 12 Obama signs and 1 Obama bumper sticker as I walked around one block.
Then the next day I was driving home from the doctor’s office, not very far away, and counted (while still paying careful attention to the rules of the road) 21 Obama signs and 1 bumper sticker.
I did not, on either excursion, notice any McCain signs.
Then tonight I was trying to listen to the headlines on news and I couldn’t help laughing as I saw “Obama” signs being waved enthusiastically in the background. (The news station’s backdrop is a glass wall where passersby often wave.)
I should mention that I heard on the local NPR station that Obama signs have sold 3 to 1 here in this state. The signs are given for a ‘donation’ of $10 whereas McCain signs are $3.
At first thought, this may not seems so unusual. I think that many Americans are waiting for change, hopefully for the better, and have decided that our present Republican leaders have had much to do with our current state of affairs in the world, not to mention local economic conditions.
What struck me as funny about all of this is that this is a very RED state. I dare say this state is probably thought of as one of the most Republican states in the nation. However, the county I live in, which county holds the state capital, is very decidedly Democratic. I think most non-locals don’t realize this.
I have thought that perhaps, for some number of people, supporting Obama is kind of the trendy thing to do. He seems to have more of a presence, and hasn’t distanced himself through bitter politics like McCain has.
In the end there are certain moral beliefs which I hold that far outweigh many of my other political concerns and definitely influence my voting heavily, so for me deciding who to vote for is usually not difficult. Not until this year. I was still up the air until a week or two ago.
So, I’m going to get a good night’s rest so that tomorrow morning I can stand in line, with my 2 small children, for as long as I have to until I get my vote in.
“Change”
“Obama”
“Obama”
I counted 12 Obama signs and 1 Obama bumper sticker as I walked around one block.
Then the next day I was driving home from the doctor’s office, not very far away, and counted (while still paying careful attention to the rules of the road) 21 Obama signs and 1 bumper sticker.
I did not, on either excursion, notice any McCain signs.
Then tonight I was trying to listen to the headlines on news and I couldn’t help laughing as I saw “Obama” signs being waved enthusiastically in the background. (The news station’s backdrop is a glass wall where passersby often wave.)
I should mention that I heard on the local NPR station that Obama signs have sold 3 to 1 here in this state. The signs are given for a ‘donation’ of $10 whereas McCain signs are $3.
At first thought, this may not seems so unusual. I think that many Americans are waiting for change, hopefully for the better, and have decided that our present Republican leaders have had much to do with our current state of affairs in the world, not to mention local economic conditions.
What struck me as funny about all of this is that this is a very RED state. I dare say this state is probably thought of as one of the most Republican states in the nation. However, the county I live in, which county holds the state capital, is very decidedly Democratic. I think most non-locals don’t realize this.
I have thought that perhaps, for some number of people, supporting Obama is kind of the trendy thing to do. He seems to have more of a presence, and hasn’t distanced himself through bitter politics like McCain has.
In the end there are certain moral beliefs which I hold that far outweigh many of my other political concerns and definitely influence my voting heavily, so for me deciding who to vote for is usually not difficult. Not until this year. I was still up the air until a week or two ago.
So, I’m going to get a good night’s rest so that tomorrow morning I can stand in line, with my 2 small children, for as long as I have to until I get my vote in.
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