CSE-- Pg. 74 SATAN'S HAMMER, Ch.18, pg.160 "Goodnight Sweetheart" epilogue

[reelmom]

Anything to get out of going on BTMRR again, huh? Seriously, I am so glad you are ok. That was a scary post to read. I can't imagine living it.

 

[Thumper_Man]

and don't forget to renew your cpr/first aid cards just in case

Let me see how I can put this to be post friendly.

Had poor Nebo fainted with me around, he would be in heaven. Especially since he cut his head.

T_Man doing first aid with little to no blood means person will survive. Little blood meaning nothing more that a band-aid can't stop.

T-Man doing first aid with lots of blood, as in needing stitches, call EMT's for T_Man as well. I would faint just like Nebo did. If it's me bleeding like that, I can handle it; anyone else, forget it. Although in the past I've been able to handle doing first aid like this on other people. I've gotten better as long as I can get it done quick.

Now Lady H on the other hand is certified to do CPR and use an AED. So as long as nothing happens to her, I'm covered.

Since Lady H and Smidgy will be there when we meet up with him, Nebo should be fine.

 

[Thumper_Man]

Thanks Ponzi, that's kind of what I thought.

Nebo, Harry Potter is very scary. Between the motion, the stuff coming at you, the videos, the lighting and music , it's not for the faint of heart. Anyone else agree?

HP is one of my all time favorite rides. Definitely in my top 5. I for one like thrill rides though, so I may not be the best person to give advice about this ride. I will agree it's not for the faint of heart. To me, HP is like Spider Man and Sum of All Thrills combined. There's a lot of movement in the seat and that's what can get a little intense. Think of the movements you feel in Soarin', just much faster and more sudden at times on HP. I always tell people, if you can handle roller coasters like Hulk and RnRC, then you should be able to handle HP.

Can't wait to ride HP in December. Hopefully more than twice this time. When we went back in 2010, HP had just opened up in June. By the time we went in October, lines were shorter but wait times were still around 45-60 minutes. Unlike the 2-3 hours when it first opened up. And at least we were able to get into WWoHP and look around without being shoulder to should with other people.

 

[pkondz]

The notes and thoughts below are only from the author's mind, they are NOT to be taken as science or given facts,

Especially given the fact that the author's mind has recently been trying to remove itself from its usual position located in the author's skull.

And should it appear that I am way to flippant and unconcerned about what transpired, well, please believe me when I say that it really is how I am; when I am nervous, scared, or in an unfamiliar situation, my defense mechanism is to make jokes.

Don't worry. We get it. Just tell the story in whatever way makes you comfortable... if that's even possible. How about tell the story in the way that causes you the least discomfort?

When the brain impacts the skull, the results can be anywhere from bleeding, swelling or hemmoraging, immediately, to long term, un seen results that won't show up for years to come.
Among them, vision changes, changes in personalities, constant dizziness, vertigo, depression, new pschiatric neurosis, difficulties in comprehension, attention disorders, and the onset of early demensia.

I have to admit that after reading that last bit, I had a real sick feeling in my gut. Not at the description, but because of the reason behind why you must have posted that. I sat and stared and felt sick to my stomach. "Oh, no. I knew it was going to be bad, but... "

Suddenly it wasn't funny anymore.

Yeah, I know you're feeling better now.
Yeah, I know you're going to try to make light of it.
Yeah, I know you don't want a lot of sweet, syrupy, saccharine, sympathy...

Still...

There's a lot in the next part where I just felt so bad.

For you.
For Smidgy.
For Todd.
And especially for Jackson.

It's a fact of life that we can't protect our youngest ones from all of life's dark spots. But it sure hits hard when it happens. You mention that Todd heard your head hit and it "sounded disgusting". I see that he takes after his father in using humour in stressful situations. So if he heard it, by extrapolation Jackson saw and heard it too. And I'm sure you were mortified that you were negatively affecting his Disney experience.

I don't want to turn this into the world's most maudlin commentary because I already know that I'm making you twitch. Some things just have to be said.

So take it as it's meant to be. Just a friend saying he's concerned and glad you're ok.



So are you now "fighting throwing up to the last man standing"?
Yeah, I figure you can use the break from the sympathy train right about now. Besides, we wouldn’t want you to take all this outpouring of caring and get a swelled head.

oops.

_____________________________________________

I'm not sure from what, or why, but I'm really not in the mood right now for "Raymond", and no, Everybody doesn't.

I always thought that show should've been called "Raymond, everybody can take him or leave him... meh"

I could tell I was lying on the ground though, and I felt like I had been sleeping for at least 10 hours, everything was so surrealistic, completely bizzarre and I wanted to go back to sleep.

That doesn't sound good. Well the 10 hours of sleep does, just not the way you achieved it.

Then I noticed someone squeezing my left arm,, not in a re-assuring manor, but in a manner that kept increasing that seemed almost threatening and I made up mind that I did not like it.

I read that and thought it was Smidgy grabbing your arm and trying to wake you.

I opened my eyes, and the first thing I saw was two strange men's faces right above my own, and one of them hd to be the one squeezing my arm.

"Love is in the air..." If I open my eyes and a man's face is right above my own... I'm going to be upset.

I believe I told him to get his ****ing hands off of me, that much I remeber. I was to find out later that I had been swearing at them more than just that. Half unconscious yet I proved to be a real potty mouth and an all around unfriendly person to be hanging around with.

Well, if Jackson has to witness a traumatic event... at least he got an education out of it. :

I really have little respect for people that have to use the F word constantly in everyday speech cuz it's the only adjective they know.

I agree with you 95%. Why not 100%? Because of this one guy who I used to work with. Great guy. Funny, personable... the kind of guy that's everybody's best friend. Except every other word was the F bomb. But he did it unconsciously. It was part of his patois. Like how some people say 'like' all the time. "Like, it's, like, really, like, weird. Like, ya know?" Or some Canadians say 'eh' all the time. It was just part of who he was. When he wasn't using that word in a sentence, it stood out for its absence.

However, when I am angry?
All bets are off!

Yeah, me too. It's a pretty good sign to just back away and leave the room if I start swearing like a sailor.

Sorry, I'm not a morning person that "Rises and Shines."

No, your more of a “Falls and Shiners” kind of guy.

And the two men hovering over me had on nice, pretty blue uniforms.

So you thought they were pretty. Okay.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

I couldn't see them clearly, so I blinked a couple times, not realizing yet that I don't have my glasses on, but the act of blinking tried to make my head explode.

I’m thinking that you know you’re in trouble when it hurts to blink!

We now have further proof that "Nebos wobble and they DO fall down".

Yeah. ‘Cause that’s what we needed. More proof.

The slightest little glance I tried to take around me for bearings only told me that there were a heck of a lot of people formed around me, lookinig at me, wonder what it was that I did that was so funny?
Is my fly open?

No but your head’s unzipped.

I have discovered that, people love to see OTHER people, lying on the ground, bleeding. That will empty a line to get Mickey's autograph faster than a Mickey bar melts walking down Main Street.

I must admit I’ve never seen a Mickey bar walking down Main Street.

You really hit your head hard, didn’t you?

That sentance reminds me of Richard Pryor after he talked about self immolating when he burst into flames when he was freebasing and later said:
"People will get out of your way, when you are on fire!"

Not long after the fire, (well about 3-4 years later) Mad Magazine put out an issue with a prevue of the upcoming 1984 Olympics in LA. They had Richard Pryor lighting the Olympic cauldron with himself as the torch.

At the time I thought it was funny, now I marvel at the editor’s chutzpah.

I was starting to put it all back together and realized they weren't trying to steal my wallet, or get my BTMR fastpass,

Okay, folks. He’s coming around. His wallet concerns are just a reflex, but the BTMR fastpass… that shows lucidity!

but were probably here to help me so this time I politely asked them to let go of my arm.
Someone in the background laughed.

Probably from relief more than anything.

After opening my eyes for good, I discovered that the squeezing was a blood pressure cuff, and the two men helped me up to a sitting position, while somebody held an ice pack to the back of my head. I took over that duty myself since I wasn't really doing anything anyway.

No kidding. You were just laying around.

Lazy, that’s what you are.

Of the "blue shirts" I think one was a cop and the other an EMT, not really sure, my "editor'" will probably correct me. Looking to my left I saw they already had a gurney set up to move me in,

I couldn't believe all this took place without my knowledge. When I was in a sitting position they had somebody give me a bottle of water and told me to drink it, even if I'm not thirsty.
"No thanks, really, not thirsty. "

"DRINK IT!" About 8 people seemed to yell at me.

Two things here. At this point, how long did you think you were out… or were you even thinking straight enough to wonder about that? The other thing, and Smidgy will let us know, I wonder if the EMTs were telling the crowd that you were probably dehydrated?

Really, they told me I was out about 5 minutes, but from what I heard and saw was done, it sure seemed like it had to be longer than that.

Again, Smidgy will fill in the gaps, but… a gurney was already there? Doesn’t that take 1/2 an hour or more?

First, the cop told me he was inside Columbia Harbour House just looking outside and happened to be looking right at me when I took my two and a half gainer into the concrete.

I bet he saw you wobbling and kept watching. Cop instinct?

No, I never did get my score.

6.3

Same as Greg Louganis.

Diane was the closest, but still too far away to stop it.
According to her, when she saw my head hit, she thought I was dead.

Ugh. Rough.

Seriously.
To the point that she started performing CPR on me.

Just how scared do you have to be to start CPR on your husband when he’s still breathing. My heart just breaks.

Spiffy, absolutely spiffy, in the middle of the Magic Kingdom in broad daylight when I'm unconscious, now she wants to get frisky!
I can see no one's laughing. Ok, bad joke

I’ll laugh later, k? It is funny… just, maybe, not right now while it’s still fresh.

Listening to all this I soon discovered that I had now grown a second head off the back of the one I'm used to.

Again… ouch.

Then the EMT, and everybody else in hearing and talking distance told me I need to go to the hopisital, (yeah, that's what I called it when I was little),

I re-read that and re-read that…. And still didn’t get it. He called a hospital a hospital when he was little… He called a hospital a hospital when he was little? Okay, wait. He called a Hospital a Hospital when he was little.

Nope, not getting it. It was only after I looked at it for the fourth or fifth time that I got it. I’m so used to seeing typos and ‘correcting’ them that I simply couldn’t see it!

since any time you knock yourself out for that long there is no doubt that at the least, you have a concussion, possibly a skull fracture, bleeding on the brain, brain swelling, who knows what else!

I still can’t believe that you didn’t go. Or someone didn’t force you! Not after hearing that!

I told the EMT he left out low re-sale value!

True.

You go to the hospital and someone’s going to come by eventually and suggest filling out an organ donor card (Monty Python – The Meaning of Life anyone?).

I’m betting that person took one look at you and said, “Nah.”

But I felt like such and idiot, I had screwed up the evening enough already, and I didn't like the look I saw on Jackson's face, it was not a "Oh boy we're in Disney" type of look. Believe me, the last thing in the world that I wanted to have to do right now was make decisions, but it had to be done,

That’s so typical. Of anyone. You’re embarrassed. You don’t want people making a fuss. “No really, I’m fine!”

Compounded with Jackson being there and it being in Disney… where nothing is supposed to go wrong…. Ever.

Guess I should have saved that "a dolt" comment for myself, it works better that way.
heh?

Personally, I’d have to say, “yes”.

Honestly, I could take up a whole chapter just giving brief descriptions of head injuries I had as a child, if you want a bibliography on it, let me know and you'll see how stupid I can REALLY be when I was a kid.

Oddly enough… of that I have no doubt.

Have you ever been xonerated? I don't think I have.

Have I ever been x rated?

I chose not to answer that.

And now I am all questions since I can tell my rebuff has brought on the gruff stuff in ripping off the cuff since calling my bluff proved to be tough and they had enough.

I just went from having a sick feeling in my gut to feeling like I have to vomit. (Besides you left out “and went off in a huff”)

( See? I can't help it, I just don't write drama for long)

No, but you can stretch it out long.

Yeah, yeah, I know. Me too.

When they first got to me and cuffed me,

Probably for their own protection. If you’re cuffed, you won’t be able to take a swing at them when you wake up angry.

Oh, BP cuff.

Nevermind.

She did everything but yell out, "Thar she blows!"
( sigh, ok, I give up)
(no wonder it's always Smidgy that eveybody feels bad for)

Oh, so now you want sympathy! Smack your head on the concrete and almost shuffle off this mortal coil and you joke it off… but tell a lame duck one liner and you want comforting.

And of course Smidgy gets it… she’s the one that has to live with you, after all.

They looked at themselves and nodded as if I had just incriminated myself in the JFK assasination.

“Just how many times do we gotta tell people that it’s hot in Florida?”

(You’re just itching to read that book, aren’t you?)

My problem is I"m not a drinker.

I’m sorry, what did you just say???

I'm just not thirsty usually,

Oh, that kind of drinking. Actually, neither am I. It’s not uncommon for me to go most of a day then suddenly think, “Gee, I haven’t had anything to drink today.”

Plus, if I go to McDonalds or any fast food place, I never get something to drink, really, very rarely, and if I do it's usually a shake.

We differ there. If I go to a fast food place, I always get a fountain drink. Maybe because when I was a kid, we never had any in the house and the only time we would have some is when we went out. Dunno.

Also, the little bit of water I have now gotten in me has brought my BP up to 105 over 70, a definate improvement and the men in blue were satisfied.

It really is amazing how the human body reacts to just that little bit of hydration. We’re all just balanced on the knife edge aren’t we? Take temperature (please). We think nothing of making ice or boiling water. But vary our own temperature by a measly two or three degrees…

I then asked the big question on my mind, the one I was brought up with being taught, and from a MASH episode, apparently I wasn't the only one:
Can you go to sleep after you have a concussion?

They told me yes, it's an old wives tale that you won't wake up.

And yet… and yet… When DD fell and hit her head about 10 years ago, we were told by the doctor to wake her up every 2 – 3 hours. And I’ve heard and read the same from others.

Nothing worse than taking a nap tomorrow at the Hippy Dippy Pool and waking up dead!

Gotta hate it when that happens.

"Wait a minute, you're telling me Hawkeye was wrong?"

No answer

I thought the exact same thing! “But what about that episode where Hawkeye has the accident and is stuck with the Korean family?”

Then I thought, “Well maybe that was the conventional wisdom back then.”

I still think that bashing your head against concrete might cause you to wonder about which medical advice is correct… and then err on the side of caution anyway.

I was told that sensitivity to light was a common occurance, and not to worry too much about that.

No, because you can’t see anyway, so… “Light? What light? (thru yonder widow brakes)

"Anything at all" he said, "Nothing really matters."

"Nothing really matters, to meeeee" I finished for him. "Now, what are you confused about?"

I see a little silhouetto of a man
I can’t see, I can’t see, will you guide me
Crouching then standing, very very frightening, Smidgy
Think I’m falling, think he’s falling
Yes I’m falling, yes he’s falling
Think I’m falling to the ground – on his crown

Ok, so most of that didn't happen, I'm easily confused.

It’s all those head shots as a kid.

Oh, and vomitting is not a good sign, it CAN happen in more extreme cases, something you should probably NOT ignore if it comes on in the next few days.

I’d heard the same thing… several times. “Hello doctor/nurse/health care provider? My DD/DW/self has/have bonked their/my head.”
“Is there any vomiting?”

Always the first question.

This made me wonder, how do you ignore puking?
"Ok, I'm throwing up now, but I'm going to pretend I'm not, and just let it run down my shirt."

Ummm… ew. I’ll just chock that one up to you still being traumatized, shall I?

Oh, I should have given a disclaimer at the beginning saying not to read this before dinner.
or after dinner.

Or especially, DURING dinner!

Not to worry! I won’t be eating anytime soon. Thanks for that!

When we are all finished, I am unanimously informed that my evening at the MK has magically come to an end.

I’m kinda thinking you didn’t put up much of a fight, there.

Somehow a Nebo size stroller appears, and I am told to head directly to the busses, and do not pass Go or The Mad Tea Cups.

How about a refund??? No? Oh, well.

What I can’t get out of my head is the vision of you in a Nebo sized stroller…. And I keep picturing the size of the pacifier that comes with it.

Saying goodbye to them as Diane pushed the wheelchair I never felt so stupid in my life. Right, tough guy Nebo who can deal with any pain thrown his way is being led out of the Magic Kingdom by his wife in a wheelchair.
And yes, that's a dangler, live with it!

Aw. You’re taking the fun out of it! And this was such a funny uplifting chapter!

And I am still holding the ice pack to the back of my head, it's not really throbbing, but just an extreme constant pain, and not from just the area on the back where the impact was, but inside, as well.
( wow, another one, did you catch the dangler there?)

Nope. But where can I buy this throbbing ice pack? Sounds cool.

You know, where the brain is?

I can attest that for some people it’s located midway between their feet and their head.

I think it was doing a little pinball action before it finally came to a rest back at CHH.

CHH?

In the room, the bleeding had mostly stopped,

They gave you an ice pack… but nothing for the bleeding?

but I could NOT believe the size of the lump on the back of my head. And it was right underneath the back band that holds the baseball cap on, which I was wearing.

Missed opportunity. You should’ve said that it was the size of a baseball.

I also had issues with my neck and shoulder on that side, as if it had suddenly been snapped out of place.

Gee, ya think?

I asked Diane if she was coming to bed soon, and she said yeah, she was tired.
"Really?" "Already" I was surprised.

"Well yeah I'm tired, I didn't get a nap like you did!"

Somehow I have my doubts that that last conversation took place. But I have no doubt that she was ready for sleep after that level of stress.

That was quite the chapter, my friend. Very glad that you came through it. I didn’t want you to be flooded with “oh, mys” and “oh, dears” throughout the commentary so I tried to make light where I could… but it wasn’t easy. I had to keep telling myself “Okay, Nebo’s trying to keep it light, you should too.”

Dude, on your next trip? No need to try and outdo this one.

Really.

Thanks for sharing all that. I’m pretty sure it was nowhere near as easy (or as fun) to write as previous entries. You managed to inform your readers while not making them feel uncomfortable reading it. Well done.

I tried to echo the mood, hopefully I didn’t miss by too much.

Ach. I’m getting all mooshy again, aren’t I.

I’m going to stop typing now.

 

[Backstage_Gal]

Ponzi, that was an awesome breakdown. You and Nebo are made for each other.

No, not in that way, geesh!

 

[nebo]

I guess the best thing to do is kind of make a blanket type statement (like Rebecca did), and say thanks for all your concerns about how Smidgy handled this terrible situation, yes, it was really bad for her, not like for me who slept through it!
Ponzi, Mike, you're wise men, is it just me or do men really matter that little? I'm lying on the gound unconscious, spread eagle, toes up, and it's "poor Smidgy".
I'm kidding, but got a few comments to make here.

Okay. I know that I am WAY beyond the time limit - my fault for falling behind. But without looking ahead, I'm going to record an estimate of 114,800 mi.

Looking forward to catching up to see how I did...

Geesh, do I answer that now, or wait till you get to it in 3 months? What happened to you Malfoy, you used to be right on top of things?

Poor Smidgy-

I'm just so glad it wasn't anything worse than dehydration!
Well, it was worse than dehydration, it was my head colliding with the earth when the odds were a miliion to one that it would miss, and turning into Hot Fudge Sundae.
Geesh!

My girlie Mackenzie tried to pass out on me one time because she hadn't eatin all day (didn't know this of course), all I could think of was to grab her, grab her head with my arm around it incase she fell and just sunk to the floor as controlled as I could with her.
The scariest damn thing that I ever want to experience with anyone I love.

Smart move on not taking the ambulance to the hopspital. We refused them taking my daughter when she tried to pass out (we were out in public at the time-the store by law has to CYA and call for one), but I did allow them to check her blood pressure and blood sugar levels (per the doctors office urging whom I called while waiting for the EMT's to show up) and the bill was still $700 dollars! AFTER the insurance covered their part!

Ok, now that part is terrifying. But I think in Disney, they use Reedy Creek Emergency,,, and I'm not sure, but I was to find out that I'm pretty sure the ambulance ride would have been free.

I once had to be taken to the hospital in an ambulance and without insurance in 1990 it was a $1600 bill.

I'm just glad you're okay, Nebo. I hope the rest of the trip was uneventful.

You silly goose: I don't do uneventful!

Idk... it may be the massive headache I have or the bright lights around me (and the computer screen) or the story of the nasty blow to the head and the whole conversation about vommit... but now I want to revisit my dinner as well.. Thanks for that.

Great movie title: "My Revisited Dinner with Nebo."
on the other side of the coin,

it's either heads, or tails, depending on which side you are currently looking at. um, why are we looking at coins now?

I'm glad you recovered

Well thanks, I just knew somebody would.




Also- on the topic of doing things you don't remember while unconscious- I was having my tonsils out (as a 26 yr old) and it was the first and (so far) only time I've ever been put under. The doctor said by the time they got me into recovery I just kept saying how cold I was... every time I spoke they told me not to - to save my throat- and the nurse brought me in more 2 blankets... about 10 minutes later I told her and my husband that I was cold again- this time she brought in two more blankets that had been put into a warmer and had my husband tuck them in around it. When I came to, I was roasting and swaddled so I couldn't move.
And... my feet were like ice because they had given me medical booties to wear that were 2 sizes too small... I guess that's what I was complaining about- cold feet... but didn't make that clear enough.

I'm well familiar with those stupid, embarrassing medical booties, worn them a few times and when you're a guy, you feel extra stupid in them.

Happy you are still with us to entertain us for many more years to come.

What? Years to come? Mommy, she won't leave me alone again!

Is it bad to admit that I laughed through that last post? I think the line that got me chuckling the most was...."I'm not a drinker".





A few months ago I woke up laying on the ground in church with a strange man's face 2 inches from mine. When I tried to get up I discovered that not only had I fainted and had a seizure but I'd managed to wedge myself halfway under the pew. Let's just say I was slightly embarassed that the entire congregation was gathered around and the ambulance had been called.


I'm guessing that a ride on the "roughest ride in the wilderness" wasn't on the agenda for the rest of the trip.

Cherie, I do remember your Church story from somewhere, and yes, the "wildest ride in the Wilderness now included the People Mover, and finally, I'd rather hear that you liked the chapter, I made you laugh, much more than any old, "how scary, hope you feel better" comments.
You know us tempermental faux writer types, it's not the subject that counts, it's the prose.

Anything to get out of going on BTMRR again, huh? Seriously, I am so glad you are ok. That was a scary post to read. I can't imagine living it.

What, it takes a near death experience to get you to come back out of your hole in my report? Geesh. Ever since I brought up Adairsville and you relived your lousy blind date you cut me off. Oh wait, I just brought it up again.
Ok, see you next crisis.

Now Lady H on the other hand is certified to do CPR and use an AED. So as long as nothing happens to her, I'm covered.

Since Lady H and Smidgy will be there when we meet up with him, Nebo should be fine.

You know, I"ve never taken a class in it either, it always seemed silly, since I can't perform it on my self, rigtht?

HP is one of my all time favorite rides. Definitely in my top 5. I for one like thrill rides though, so I may not be the best person to give advice about this ride. I will agree it's not for the faint of heart. To me, HP is like Spider Man and Sum of All Thrills combined. There's a lot of movement in the seat and that's what can get a little intense. Think of the movements you feel in Soarin', just much faster and more sudden at times on HP. I always tell people, if you can handle roller coasters like Hulk and RnRC, then you should be able to handle HP.

Can't wait to ride HP in December. Hopefully more than twice this time. When we went back in 2010, HP had just opened up in June. By the time we went in October, lines were shorter but wait times were still around 45-60 minutes. Unlike the 2-3 hours when it first opened up. And at least we were able to get into WWoHP and look around without being shoulder to should with other people.

Smidgy doesn't do heights. She really wants to do this but there's that height issue. She can handle the Test Track speeds though,b ut she's really worried about this ride.

 

[nowellsl]

I still can’t believe that you didn’t go. Or someone didn’t force you! Not after hearing that!

Exactly what I thought when I read it! When my DD was little she walked off a curb and went smack dab down to the pavement head first. That is a sound that I'll never forget So glad you're OK now and here to tell us the story!

 

[smidgy]

poor smidgy.. I feel so bad for Smidgy.....etc etc

thank you ALL for your kind thoughts of my well being, I am feeling MUCH better now, and your prayers were welcome and.....

tee hee. Nebo thought it was pretty funny that he was hurt, and I got all the sympathy. I, on the other hand, think it was proper and fitting!

there isn't too much I can add really.

one major difference.. when I said "I thought you were dead!" I didn't mean from hitting his head. I thought he was dead and that's WHY he fell and hit his head! and I wasn't too concerned about his head, since even if he gets a goose egg, no one will see it in the casket anyway and, oh yeah, he wants to be cremated so it won't matter.

just kidding (well, exaggerating) but this thinking was behind my stupid, absurd behavoir.. i.e.: giving CPR to a breathing person. sheesh, what an idiot.

like I said earlier, I though he had a heart attack or a stroke or something, and I was bound and determined to jump into action instead of just standing there screaming like a school girl, and put to use my newish training in CPR.

Todd was there a millisceond later (he must have hyperspaced) and trying to pull me away.. "mom, mom, get back" me "no, no I know CPR"

suddenly there was a crowd around us, people rushing up, ( I didn't realize how annoying gawking is) and some guy leaning over hubby was also telling me to get back.. now I'm really annoyed. "no, he's my husband and I know CPR!"
"I'm a COP!" ok, he wins.. he's probably been doing CPR a lot longer than I. I back up and imagine my surprise when he doesn't keep up the tremendous job I had been doing. Todd later told me "mom, you forgot the important part of CPR.. ABC. A stands for airway, B for Breathing. if the airway is clear and he is breathing, you don't do CPR." ....oops....
then I took on the all important job of looking for Jackson. too many people around. so I took on the next important job (just so I didn't feel so useless) of telling everyone to GET LOST!!! I know some were trying to help (esp. the person who gave steve the water bottle), but most were just curious. as they cleared the way a bit, now I could see Kim and Jackson. Kim was holding him in her arms, and they were standing quite a ways back.. boy, that Kim is a great stepmommy. you could see her concern for him and stepped right in there for him, knowing Todd and I would be occupied with Steve. and keeping Jackson apart from all the drama. Jackson did have a frightened look on his face, and I told him "Papa Nebo just fainted, but he;ll be ok."
the rest was just as steve said. the EMTS were irritated that he wouldn't go to the hospital, and I tried to sign for him, but they wouldn't let me.. "He has to sign himself" makes sense. and I thought maybe we'll go over to Celebration tomorrow. (which, of course, steve nixed)
so we told Todd and gang to continue on without us and we'll see them back at the resort.
I'm sure todd would've gone back with us if jackson hadn't been there. no way were we going to cut short his night. so off they went to ride BTMR and then see the parade and wishes, and I wheeled steve off to the bus stop
we were morose
**************************
of course we found out later that, without our expert guidance, they "did it wrong" well maybe not, everyone has their own way of doing things.

It's just that Nebo and I have discovered that the best place to watch Wishes from is somewhere in front of the castle. (not necessarily RIGHT in front. some like that, I got a sore neck when we tried it once). the show is actually choreographed to be seen from the vantage point of somewhere in front of the castle.

we have seen it from the DSA on the wooden walkway by fronieirland, from fantasyland, from the bridge to tomorrowland, from the poly beach, from the viewing area for California grill, and from Top of the World Lounge.

and still, the best place is from in front of the castle. (example, at TOWL, you can see that the fireworks are WAY behind the castle, so you look left, then right, etc.. from fantasy land you REALL have to trun your head left, right left right.)
well, we like to watch the parade from the country bears side of the fronteirland street, then duck through the shortcut that lets you outnear ALoha Isle, and scurry to find a little piece of real estate on main street.

well, they weren't going to stay for the fireworks at all after the parade , but since they were stuck back in frontierland, they watched some of them, before heading out. so they didn't get to see the castle change colors, or anything.. so it was just like the many fireworks shows you see back home at the town festivals. oh well, as long as they had a good time.
back to us, on our arrival at pop, a CM was RIGHT THERE!! with a wheel chair, and asked repeatedly if there was anything at all we needed. they said we could use the wheelchair for the rest of the trip, no charge.
so back to the room we went (I strolled, he rolled), and against my better judgement, I did acquiesce and make him a drink. (and as long as he's having one....)
the kids got back and wanted to know how dad was. and steve had already decided that he was going to stay at the resort the next day, and I was going to go ahead with the kids to Hollywood studios. they had an ADR for breakfast at hollywood and vine. I told steve I would stay back awhile, see how he feels, meet up with them later, but he knew I wanted to be there for toy story with jackson.

see, once again, there is a moral quandry on a trip. if it was just steve and me, we would just scale back the plans, slow it down, take it easy (like we did the freezing dec trip when he hurt his back).
but the kids don't come twice a year, they don't have the time or luxury to "take it easy". and steve said he would feel worse than he already does if I was with him instead of with Jackson, that I had looked forward to for ever,.
so it was decided that I would go off with the kids, and leave him my phone. we would also leave him the car. and take it day by day.

It was the perfect storm. we aren't used to WDW in the summer. the time we did go in July, we spent a LOT of time by the pool. we are used to leaving the park at lunchtime and returning later, not used to commmando touring anymore. steve doesn't do well standing in one place, and we were doing more waiting than we thought we would, while they rode and rerode things. which is great! dont' get me wrong.. If Jackson wants to ride something 4 times, todd is going to ride something 4 times. but steve is used to calling the shots, so to speak. not bossy, but when he's had enough, he's had enough. but know there are 3 other people to figure in the equation.
so we ended up standing and waiting a lot more. (and this was just our 1st park day!)

also, you really have to take it a little easier in the hot sun with alcohol and drink more water. no, we didn't drink a lot, just more than we should have for the heat and THAT type of touring.

we have learned a lesson about touring with others. don't have a picture of happily donig everything together. many families go with the grandparents, and end up meeting up with them here or there, not being tied at the hip. and we were trying to do that. we wanted to be there for everysingle thing and not miss a MINUTE! of the Jackson trip. and we're not the spring chickens we used to be..

so what is, is, and what was, was. but ya know, go figure. in the words of Rosanna rosannadanna, "It's always SOMETHING!"

 

[Backstage_Gal]

[QUOTE Smidgy]
so what is, is, and what was, was. but ya know, go figure. in the words of Rosanna rosannadanna, "It's always SOMETHING!"
[/QUOTE]

Ain't that the truth! Well, you are all alive (and hopefully well) so that's what counts.

 

[Beka]

This nurse isn't happy that you didn't go to the hospital. I'm just up the road from WDW.

 

[kath1210]

Nebo - I am so sorry you had to suffer this terrible accident, especially on your first trip with Jackson. I am so glad you are well now and able to look back at it and find the humorous parts (or make some up )

Smidgy - I feel bad for you in the same way so many here have expressed. Maybe it's because a lot of us are wives and can relate to how we would feel if our husbands collapsed in front of our eyes. Scary!

Hugs to both of you!

 

[nrod]

I'm so sorry for all of you. Especially your head, Nebo. In college a kid fell out of a tree right on his head, so I know that sound. As I was reading, I could hear it in my head. It's a sound that never leaves you. Glad that it was not more serious, but of all trips.

 

[pkondz]

Ponzi, that was an awesome breakdown. You and Nebo are made for each other.

No, not in that way, geesh!

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

tee hee. Nebo thought it was pretty funny that he was hurt, and I got all the sympathy. I, on the other hand, think it was proper and fitting!

After all you were there, he wasn't (well not all there, anyway)

one major difference.. when I said "I thought you were dead!" I didn't mean from hitting his head. I thought he was dead and that's WHY he fell and hit his head!

Oh! Still just as scary (if not more so).

and I wasn't too concerned about his head, since even if he gets a goose egg, no one will see it in the casket anyway and, oh yeah, he wants to be cremated so it won't matter.

Always good to be practical.

giving CPR to a breathing person. sheesh, what an idiot.

No. Absolutely, 100% no. If anything it demonstrates just how much you care. Don't ever, ever, ever think that jumping in to help someone is dumb. Sure in this case it wasn't needed; so what. Next time it will and you'll save a life.

"I'm a COP!" ok, he wins.. he's probably been doing CPR a lot longer than I.

Yeah, I guess years of professional training wins.

then I took on the all important job of looking for Jackson. too many people around. so I took on the next important job (just so I didn't feel so useless) of telling everyone to GET LOST!!! I know some were trying to help (esp. the person who gave steve the water bottle), but most were just curious. as they cleared the way a bit, now I could see Kim and Jackson. Kim was holding him in her arms, and they were standing quite a ways back.. boy, that Kim is a great stepmommy. you could see her concern for him and stepped right in there for him, knowing Todd and I would be occupied with Steve. and keeping Jackson apart from all the drama. Jackson did have a frightened look on his face, and I told him "Papa Nebo just fainted, but he;ll be ok."

I was really concerned about Jackson. Sounds like the situation was handled just right. And see, even if you thought "what an idiot" about the CPR, telling Jackson that Steve "just fainted, but he'll be ok" was perfect.

It's just that Nebo and I have discovered that the best place to watch Wishes from is somewhere in front of the castle.

Couldn't agree more. Not because I've seen it from so many different vantage points... but it's obvious isn't it, that Disney wants the Castle as the backdrop?

back to us, on our arrival at pop, a CM was RIGHT THERE!! with a wheel chair, and asked repeatedly if there was anything at all we needed. they said we could use the wheelchair for the rest of the trip, no charge.

Disney does so many things right. And people want to know why we want to go back. It's not the rides. It's not the shows. (Although, of course, that plays a part) It's the million little things, isn't it?

so back to the room we went (I strolled, he rolled),

Nice turn of phrase!

It was the perfect storm. we aren't used to WDW in the summer. the time we did go in July, we spent a LOT of time by the pool. we are used to leaving the park at lunchtime and returning later, not used to commmando touring anymore. steve doesn't do well standing in one place, and we were doing more waiting than we thought we would, while they rode and rerode things. which is great! dont' get me wrong.. If Jackson wants to ride something 4 times, todd is going to ride something 4 times. but steve is used to calling the shots, so to speak. not bossy, but when he's had enough, he's had enough. but know there are 3 other people to figure in the equation.
so we ended up standing and waiting a lot more. (and this was just our 1st park day!)

It just clicked. When you spell it out for dumb 'ol me I get it. Now it makes sense. "I wonder why Nebo fainted? How come he got dehydrated?" D'oh!

we have learned a lesson about touring with others. don't have a picture of happily donig everything together. many families go with the grandparents, and end up meeting up with them here or there, not being tied at the hip. and we were trying to do that. we wanted to be there for everysingle thing and not miss a MINUTE! of the Jackson trip. and we're not the spring chickens we used to be..

Yup. Before we had kids, DW and I went on a tour of Germany with my folks and my Dsis. DW was concerned about spending every waking minute with my family (Hey, who wants to spend 24/7 with their outlaws?). I promised her that every time we stopped the car to tour, we'd go our own way... and we did.

Best decision I ever made.

so what is, is, and what was, was. but ya know, go figure. in the words of Rosanna rosannadanna, "It's always SOMETHING!"

I haven't thought of that character in a long time! Gilda was so talented. She's the reason (a la Emily Litella - "What's all this about violins on TV?) that I frequently will end a comment with "nevermind"

 

[dwheatl]

Prunella Scales was the wife (Sybil Fawlty) in the show, but he was married to Connie Booth (the maid, Polly) in real life. He just got married for the fourth time.

We got to see John Cleese in person a couple of years ago. He was a riot, as you all might imagine. He was doing a speaking tour, as he said, to cover alimony for wife #3.

I cannot even imagine what was going through everyone's mind as you took your swan dive.

In Nebo's case, it was a slab of concrete.
I'm sorry, I know that was in the poorest taste, but I just couldn't resist.

In reality, I am so sorry that you were hurt, Nebo, and that Smidgy and the rest of your family were upset, and that the trip you had so looked forward to was pretty well ruined. I pray that you will not have lasting effects from the concussion, and that your whole family will be able to have a do-over trip someday.
On that trip, Smidgy, you know what to do. Take every refillable mug you've ever owned, make the whole family drink up, and make sure every other drink is not caffeinated, perhaps even some powerade once in awhile. Of course, I would never post that on the mug thread, for fear of my own concussion from objects being hurled at me.

 

[cp'ersmom]

 

[jakeybake]

OUCH!!!

My head started to hurt just reading this! Like I could feel your head hitting the concrete.

I'm sorry for both you and Smidgy. A concussion is nothing to joke about, especially one caused by you smashing your head from 6 feet away. I have to say that I'm a bit appalled at the MK folks just letting you sign a waiver and go on your way. Maybe it's because I have spent my entire career around MD's and Nurses but I would think they would of been more demanding in making you go to the hospital. You could of had a brain bleed for god sakes! I know you said you were adamant about not going in an ambulance but I wish they would of pushed the issue a bit.

My DW got dehydrated at Typhoon Lagoon in August. She was sitting on the stairs by the ice cream place and within seconds a CM/Life Guard came over to her, diagnosed the situation, gave her cold compresses and a bottle of Powerade (which amazingly they didn't charge her for ) and brought her into First Aid so she could cool off while she vomitted her brains out!! It was quite impressive. They did all that and she didn't even bang her head!!

I'm glad to know that you are ok and survived. The world would be missing a hell of a lot of fun if you weren't around to entertain us all.

And last but not least, BRAVO to Smidgy!! NOTHING on this earth is more important and valuable to a man then a loving and caring wife. True love shines through in times of need and Smidgy jumping on you and performing CPR (even though she shouldn't have aside) shows you what a great decision you made when you chose your second wife

Continued great health!!!
Jay

 

[nebo]

Especially given the fact that the author's mind has recently been trying to remove itself from its usual position located in the author's skull.

nah, I just had my mind set on "puree"

Don't worry. We get it. Just tell the story in whatever way makes you comfortable... if that's even possible. How about tell the story in the way that causes you the least discomfort?

Ok, "What happened was just this, my head began to twitch, when EMT's went running past me thumbing for a hitch."

I have to admit that after reading that last bit, I had a real sick feeling in my gut. Not at the description, but because of the reason behind why you must have posted that. I sat and stared and felt sick to my stomach. "Oh, no. I knew it was going to be bad, but... "

Suddenly it wasn't funny anymore.

Yeah, I know you're feeling better now.
Yeah, I know you're going to try to make light of it.
Yeah, I know you don't want a lot of sweet, syrupy, saccharine, sympathy...

Still...

There's a lot in the next part where I just felt so bad.

For you.
For Smidgy.
For Todd.
And especially for Jackson.

It's a fact of life that we can't protect our youngest ones from all of life's dark spots. But it sure hits hard when it happens. You mention that Todd heard your head hit and it "sounded disgusting". I see that he takes after his father in using humour in stressful situations. So if he heard it, by extrapolation Jackson saw and heard it too. And I'm sure you were mortified that you were negatively affecting his Disney experience.

I don't want to turn this into the world's most maudlin commentary because I already know that I'm making you twitch. Some things just have to be said.

So take it as it's meant to be. Just a friend saying he's concerned and glad you're ok.

Allright. Thank you, I know you mean it, and it's appreciated. Now,,,,,,

Knock it off!

So are you now "fighting throwing up to the last man standing"?
Yeah, I figure you can use the break from the sympathy train right about now. Besides, we wouldn’t want you to take all this outpouring of caring and get a swelled head.

oops.

_I really, really hate to throw up.____________________________________________


I always thought that show should've been called "Raymond, everybody can take him or leave him... meh"

I just hate the mother on the show, I alwyays like Peter Boyle and now I feel bad knowing he's gone too.





I read that and thought it was Smidgy grabbing your arm and trying to wake you.

So, I was stil able to sneak in a little surprise after all?


I agree with you 95%. Why not 100%? Because of this one guy who I used to work with. Great guy. Funny, personable... the kind of guy that's everybody's best friend. Except every other word was the F bomb. But he did it unconsciously. It was part of his patois. Like how some people say 'like' all the time. "Like, it's, like, really, like, weird. Like, ya know?" Or some Canadians say 'eh' all the time. It was just part of who he was. When he wasn't using that word in a sentence, it stood out for its absence.

Sometimes I have a prob lem saying "You know" all the time, you know?





No, your more of a “Falls and Shiners” kind of guy.



So you thought they were pretty. Okay.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

I like blue.

I’m thinking that you know you’re in trouble when it hurts to blink!



Yeah. ‘Cause that’s what we needed. More proof.



It's the worst feeling when you just come to and you know something is really wrong cuz you're lying on the ground, then you try to slowly figure out how bad it is:
did I have a heart attack? was I shot? are my legs gone?



I must admit I’ve never seen a Mickey bar walking down Main Street.

You really hit your head hard, didn’t you?

It's amazing how sometimes I can't think up a dangling participle phrase to save my life,and other times I can't stay away from them.

Not long after the fire, (well about 3-4 years later) Mad Magazine put out an issue with a prevue of the upcoming 1984 Olympics in LA. They had Richard Pryor lighting the Olympic cauldron with himself as the torch.

At the time I thought it was funny, now I marvel at the editor’s chutzpah.

But it is still funny.

Two things here. At this point, how long did you think you were out… or were you even thinking straight enough to wonder about that? The other thing, and Smidgy will let us know, I wonder if the EMTs were telling the crowd that you were probably dehydrated?

At first I thought I was out an hour or so, and no, I don't think they were telling the crowd anything about that.

Again, Smidgy will fill in the gaps, but… a gurney was already there? Doesn’t that take 1/2 an hour or more?

I am now wondering about this, Smidgy is not so sure about it, but yet there are definately other things I remember that night thay she either doesn't, or wasn't right next to me when it was said. It doesn't make sense now, for them to have a gurney there they also should have had an ambulance right there too, which I didn't see.
Maybe somebody brought out a table on wheels from the restaurant? But I can even picture in my mind where it was in relation to how I was still lying down.

I bet he saw you wobbling and kept watching. Cop instinct?



6.3

Is that my Olympic score or the Richter Scale impact?


I’ll laugh later, k? It is funny… just, maybe, not right now while it’s still fresh.



I re-read that and re-read that…. And still didn’t get it. He called a hospital a hospital when he was little… He called a hospital a hospital when he was little? Okay, wait. He called a Hospital a Hospital when he was little.

Nope, not getting it. It was only after I looked at it for the fourth or fifth time that I got it. I’m so used to seeing typos and ‘correcting’ them that I simply couldn’t see it!

Hopisital. I was certain that one would be hard to see, and I was right.

I still can’t believe that you didn’t go. Or someone didn’t force you! Not after hearing that!

I should have, but then I would have missed Raymond later on that night.

You go to the hospital and someone’s going to come by eventually and suggest filling out an organ donor card (Monty Python – The Meaning of Life anyone?).

I’m betting that person took one look at you and said, “Nah.”

Yeah, when I go to give blood, I end up walking out with two pints.

That’s so typical. Of anyone. You’re embarrassed. You don’t want people making a fuss. “No really, I’m fine!”

Compounded with Jackson being there and it being in Disney… where nothing is supposed to go wrong…. Ever.

Remember "Westworld"? Where nothing could go wrong, wrong, wrong.



I just went from having a sick feeling in my gut to feeling like I have to vomit. (Besides you left out “and went off in a huff”)

No idea why I just went intot the 'uff' rhyming shtick, no, they aren't planned, it's more like a possessed keyboard.

No, but you can stretch it out long.

Yeah, yeah, I know. Me too.

This also makes no sense cuz I hate typing.

Probably for their own protection. If you’re cuffed, you won’t be able to take a swing at them when you wake up angry.

Oh, BP cuff.

Nevermind.

My actual first thought was, ok, where am I and why do I have a rock python around my arm?

Oh, so now you want sympathy! Smack your head on the concrete and almost shuffle off this mortal coil and you joke it off… but tell a lame duck one liner and you want comforting.

Yes, that's exactly right. I could have written the funniest jokes ever told in the history of time and it would have gotten eaten up in this chapter.
Although I did get a snicker out of Cherie, bless her heart.


Oh, that kind of drinking. Actually, neither am I. It’s not uncommon for me to go most of a day then suddenly think, “Gee, I haven’t had anything to drink today.”

That describes me perfectly.





It really is amazing how the human body reacts to just that little bit of hydration. We’re all just balanced on the knife edge aren’t we? Take temperature (please). We think nothing of making ice or boiling water. But vary our own temperature by a measly two or three degrees…

Great analogy. My normal temp is about 98.0, about ten years ago I had the flu bad with a temp of only 101.4, high, but not that high, however, I just about started hallucinating from it.

And yet… and yet… When DD fell and hit her head about 10 years ago, we were told by the doctor to wake her up every 2 – 3 hours. And I’ve heard and read the same from others.

Right, I remember that too when I was little.
I rarely got a full nights sleep.


I thought the exact same thing! “But what about that episode where Hawkeye has the accident and is stuck with the Korean family?”

that's teh one I was talking about.

Then I thought, “Well maybe that was the conventional wisdom back then.”

Nah, it's cuz he wanted to cut off everybody else's speaking lines and take over the whole episode on his own and turn it into the Alan Alda Show.





I see a little silhouetto of a man
I can’t see, I can’t see, will you guide me
Crouching then standing, very very frightening, Smidgy
Think I’m falling, think he’s falling
Yes I’m falling, yes he’s falling
Think I’m falling to the ground – on his crown

It took a few times to make the notes all fit where they belong but I pretty much got it.





I’d heard the same thing… several times. “Hello doctor/nurse/health care provider? My DD/DW/self has/have bonked their/my head.”
“Is there any vomiting?”

Always the first question.


Not to worry! I won’t be eating anytime soon. Thanks for that!

I usually stay away from vomit stories in my reports, only once before I think did I go into a nasty one. Yeah, everybody hated me after I told the "Human Volcano" story that day.
Hmm, that also took place at CHH.

I’m kinda thinking you didn’t put up much of a fight, there.

You are right, I had enough laughs at that point.

How about a refund??? No? Oh, well.

You know, for the most part, this had nothing to do with Disney itself, it's the Reedy Creek Emergency team, but I am surprised a cast member didn't give me something usefull like Space Mountaing and Big Thunder Mountain fastpasses to look at.

What I can’t get out of my head is the vision of you in a Nebo sized stroller…. And I keep picturing the size of the pacifier that comes with it.

Goo?

Aw. You’re taking the fun out of it! And this was such a funny uplifting chapter!



Nope. But where can I buy this throbbing ice pack? Sounds cool.



CHH?

Ooh, I got him on an acronym.

They gave you an ice pack… but nothing for the bleeding?

Really, the ice pack worked on stopping that too.



Somehow I have my doubts that that last conversation took place. But I have no doubt that she was ready for sleep after that level of stress.

That was quite the chapter, my friend. Very glad that you came through it. I didn’t want you to be flooded with “oh, mys” and “oh, dears” throughout the commentary so I tried to make light where I could… but it wasn’t easy. I had to keep telling myself “Okay, Nebo’s trying to keep it light, you should too.”

Dude, on your next trip? No need to try and outdo this one.

Really.

Thanks for sharing all that. I’m pretty sure it was nowhere near as easy (or as fun) to write as previous entries. You managed to inform your readers while not making them feel uncomfortable reading it. Well done.

I tried to echo the mood, hopefully I didn’t miss by too much.

Ach. I’m getting all mooshy again, aren’t I.

I’m going to stop typing now.

Again, I'll say thanks, great comments.

 

[orangecats2]

The last episode was funny! But then I had already heard the story and knew you were ok.
I was surprised I only missed one episode while I was away.
Thanks to everyone who wished me well on the trip. Unfortunately it didn't go as planned.
A special thanks to Ponzi for the kitty poem. Did you make it up?
I did send out postcards. They were mailed from CSR on Thursday late morning.
So how many more chapters will there be?
When do you go on your next trip?

 

[smidgy]

um, I didn't want to argue with you on the report (cause I would never dothat), but like I told you the other night, I don't think there was a gurney.

I mean, I'll bet fainting is a pretty common occurrence, given the het, humidity, and the way people push themselves at WDW. the" perfect storm" isn't unique to us.

I would think they let the emts assess the situation before dragging out a gurney from whereever.


T-man, I AM very nervous about FJ. I have never ridden hulk or rockinrollercoaster (and never will, and NO desire to go upside down). I saw a film on utube where it broke down and the people were going through it with the igths on, so I thought,, hmm. doesn't look so bad. now I hear this. youdon't go upside down, do you? how much DO the seats turn? I am

on a thread about "families worst moments at WDW" someone said that in their family it's a rule that everyone has to try a ride one time. yeah, I'll bet that's a rule the daredevil in the family made! I think it's sadistic to coerce someone to do something that terrifies them. (nebo found out the hard way, and never will again)

did anyone hear about the ride at Knots Berry Farm, where the people were stuck 300 feet up with feet dangling for 4 hours? one lady was talked into it by her "loving" hubby who convinced her it would be a great way to get over her fear of heights! sheesh. "It'll be just a few minutes and it'll be over, honey" that would be my luck.

sorry to get honey...

 

[mmeb144]

Thanks to everyone who wished me well on the trip. Unfortunately it didn't go as planned.

I did send out postcards. They were mailed from CSR on Thursday late morning.

Oh, please tell us how your trip went. I got your postcard today. Were you watching Stacy because you spent way too much time in your room?

Thanks for the postcard, it made my day!