It's been seven days since the mugging, and I am pleased to be able to report that things are almost completely back to normal. We went to East Aurora on Thanksgiving as planned, Paul doing all of the 3.5 hour drive because my neck and head were sore and got stiff easily. For once we didn't have to deal with the threat of a blizzard on the drive--the weather has been beautiful for 7 days straight--sunny and 55-65 degrees. I feel like we're on spring break or something.
The company was pleasant and the food excellent. (The pies got rave reviews and Betty sent us home with two dinners' worth of leftovers!) I took my drugs dutifully as the pain was most fully developed after about 48 hours, but neither of us mentioned the mugging to anyone. This allowed me to really enjoy getting away from everything and put the whole experience in perspective. (For those of you interested in TMI details, I only took the Orphedadrine once a day right before bed, even though I could have taken it twice, and suffered no constipation.)
By Friday morning the pain was mostly just stiffness, so I was able to quit the drugs entirely after taking 1 Motrin in the morning, and I did all but one hour of the driving. We got home around 4 pm. Paul went to work on some stuff in the lab while I finished organizing the details for the service I had volunteered to lead on Sunday. Needless to say, I was just a teensy bit behind, but still managed to get it done not at the last minute.
By now I really felt the need to physically move after 2 full days of inactivity. A walk would have been ideal, but it was already dark and I was understandably hesitant to walk around the neighborhood by myself. So I did my gentlest FitPrime workout, FlexPosture, which is mostly yoga and pilates moves, and without the advanced modifications I usually do. I took it a little easy and made sure to support my head and neck more than usual when doing ab work. I felt better after.
Saturday we got up early with the intention to visit A Christmas Story House the morning of its grand opening. A Christmas Story is one of our favorite holiday movies, and it was partly filmed here. The actual house in the film is just across the river from downtown, and maybe 4-5 miles from our house. We parked at Clark Field and took a Lolly the Trolley shuttle to the house. Lolly has great sentimental memories for us--we haven't been on one since our wedding day.
When we got there, there was a line of about 100 people just waiting to buy tickets, and another snaking down the entire street and wrapping around the next block to get into the house itself. It was already 10:30 by now, and we had a dance lesson at 1:00, so we decided to just get tix (good anytime) and come back another day. Of course it was crowded--grand opening, Thanksgiving Saturday, California-like weather....
All weekend I continued to recover. I didn't even need over-the-counter pain relievers. I was able to do some cardio by Sunday and strength training today. I did take the weights down a notch, 10 lbs instead of my usual 12, but I can still do push-ups on the toes as long as there aren't too many reps. My neck is still a little not-quite-right but everything else is completely recovered. I think I bounced back this quickly partly because my body is used to stress and recovery from my workouts, and I probably would have gotten hurt more seriously if I hadn't been in shape.
I have been gradually replacing more cards. Now I have a new car insurance card, 2 grocery cards and library card. Losing the cell phone finally got me off my butt to switch us to a pay-as-you-go plan (roaming included!) which I should have done long before now. I still don't have my new credit card or ATM card yet, though, which is a major inconvenience. I had to go to a teller to deposit my paychecks and get major cash back so I could buy the cellphones, and I can't really start my holiday shopping without a credit card. Oh, well--I'm sure it will come before another week goes by, as the credit card company surely wants to make it easy to spend more money ASAP.
About Me
- Karinderella
- I'm a pianist, happily married. Socially progressive, chocolate lover, interested in the nature of reality, alternates between being a slacker and being a grind.
11.28.2006
11.22.2006
Mugged!
Last night I was getting gas at a station near downtown because it was 8 cents cheaper than the one near our house. As usual, once I got the pump going, I got out my PDA to enter the mileage. (In other words, preoccupied.) Next thing I know, my purse was being violently yanked by some asshole. Like an idiot, I instinctively refused to let go, so the force he used to take it knocked me to the ground. On my head. On solid concrete. A kind bystander helped me into the cashier area. I think I got up by myself but I honestly can't remember. I never lost consciousness or anything, but I was very disoriented at first.
The police came and I filed a report, but I couldn't help them much since I didn't get much of a look at the guy and didn't even see the getaway van since I was too busy hitting my head at the time. I was of course crying by this time and shivering uncontrollably from the adrenaline. I borrowed a cellphone (mine was in my purse, of course) and tried to call Paul, who wasn't home. I was upset at missing my ballet class at the Masonic Temple, where I had no way to get ahold of anyone to let them know I wasn't going to make it.
An EMS ambulance came by next, took my vital signs, suggesting the idea that they should take me to the hospital, just in case. I was reluctant to just leave my car there--if it got vandalized or stolen, it really would make the evening suck. We kept trying to call Paul every two minutes. It happened at 6:30 and he still wasn't home by 7:20, which was extremely unusual. My panicking mind started worrying that something had happened to him, too.
I was able to drive home (at least it was only about 3 miles away) and I called Paul at work, where he answered. It turned out that he was stuck in the lab because stuff wasn't working. As soon as I told him what had happened, he just left the mess as it was.
After canceling my cell phone, credit card and ATM card and eating a quick dinner, we drove to the emergency room at the Cleveland Clinic (8 blocks from home). Good thing we brought books. It took almost 3 hours between checking in and finally getting seen. It's a good thing it turned out not to be too serious or the delay might have complicated things. Mostly I just have a nasty bump on the head with strained neck muscles from the impact. They gave me two presciptions, one for heavy-duty Motrin and one for Orphedadrine, a muscle relaxant. Of course, I couldn't fill it then since it was now 12:30 am. Good thing the pain wasn't too bad.
I was exhausted from the ordeal but couldn't sleep until at least 3 am, worrying about all the pain-in-the-ass things I would have to get replaced immediately (driver's license, proof of insurance, etc.) When I did finally sleep, it wasn't very good sleep and I had to get up for work only 4 1/2 hours later.
At least the weather was beautiful--sunny and 50 degrees. I drove to Case (which I never do) so I would have time to get stuff done between classes. I was able to get to the bank to get cash and get the prescriptions ordered. After class, I picked up the drugs. Armed with my passport (thank God we had those, or I would have been sunk) and my tax return (couldn't find anything else with my Social Security # on it, lost track of the card years ago) I drove down to the BMV, thinking it would be a zoo on the day before Thanksgiving. Surprisingly, there was only one person ahead of me. The bad news is a tax return isn't an official document--it has to be something officially from the government. They suggested I go the to SS Administration building and get an official printout and then come back.
I drove out of there with a big black cloud over my head, with tears of frustration, fatigue and low blood sugar. It was a race against time. I had to get the license before closing time today because Paul and I are driving to East Aurora, NY tomorrow to visit Betty and Kurt for Thanksgiving, and every minute I drove without it I was breaking the law and tempting fate should I have an accident or get pulled over.
The SS building's parking lot was nearly empty. Oh no, I thought. Did everybody go home early for Thanksgiving? But no, thank God, there were only 2 customers there, and I was in and out with my printout in 15 minutes. Bonus: a new card will come in the mail within 10 days or so.
So back I went to the BMV, which was slightly busier now, but I was still out of there with my new license after about half an hour. By the time I left, it was quite busy, so at least I managed to beat the rush!
When I got home, I went online and printed insurance verification documents and temporary insurance ID cards directly from the Progressive website, then ordered a new AAA card online. I am thankful I only have one credit card, and that I only had $10.51 cash in my purse. All the other cards (grocery store discount cards, Blockbusters, etc.) are trivial so I can deal with them another day.
I still had the energy to bake 2 pies tonight, one pumpkin and one apple-cranberry-orange. Paul had to teach tonight, but he had time to help make the crusts, which he's really good at. I am really looking forward to tomorrow, when I can just relax, get away, and not have to deal with any of this stuff. And be thankful I'm in good shape now so didn't break anything, and that no weapon was involved, and no abduction or worse.
Now I'm off to take this drug which has some lovely side effects. I hate taking drugs. Side effects--collect 'em all! I usually do. I don't mind drowsiness or dizziness (hey, maybe I'll sleep harder!) but I sure could live without the constipation. Who wants to be constipated on Thanksgiving?
The police came and I filed a report, but I couldn't help them much since I didn't get much of a look at the guy and didn't even see the getaway van since I was too busy hitting my head at the time. I was of course crying by this time and shivering uncontrollably from the adrenaline. I borrowed a cellphone (mine was in my purse, of course) and tried to call Paul, who wasn't home. I was upset at missing my ballet class at the Masonic Temple, where I had no way to get ahold of anyone to let them know I wasn't going to make it.
An EMS ambulance came by next, took my vital signs, suggesting the idea that they should take me to the hospital, just in case. I was reluctant to just leave my car there--if it got vandalized or stolen, it really would make the evening suck. We kept trying to call Paul every two minutes. It happened at 6:30 and he still wasn't home by 7:20, which was extremely unusual. My panicking mind started worrying that something had happened to him, too.
I was able to drive home (at least it was only about 3 miles away) and I called Paul at work, where he answered. It turned out that he was stuck in the lab because stuff wasn't working. As soon as I told him what had happened, he just left the mess as it was.
After canceling my cell phone, credit card and ATM card and eating a quick dinner, we drove to the emergency room at the Cleveland Clinic (8 blocks from home). Good thing we brought books. It took almost 3 hours between checking in and finally getting seen. It's a good thing it turned out not to be too serious or the delay might have complicated things. Mostly I just have a nasty bump on the head with strained neck muscles from the impact. They gave me two presciptions, one for heavy-duty Motrin and one for Orphedadrine, a muscle relaxant. Of course, I couldn't fill it then since it was now 12:30 am. Good thing the pain wasn't too bad.
I was exhausted from the ordeal but couldn't sleep until at least 3 am, worrying about all the pain-in-the-ass things I would have to get replaced immediately (driver's license, proof of insurance, etc.) When I did finally sleep, it wasn't very good sleep and I had to get up for work only 4 1/2 hours later.
At least the weather was beautiful--sunny and 50 degrees. I drove to Case (which I never do) so I would have time to get stuff done between classes. I was able to get to the bank to get cash and get the prescriptions ordered. After class, I picked up the drugs. Armed with my passport (thank God we had those, or I would have been sunk) and my tax return (couldn't find anything else with my Social Security # on it, lost track of the card years ago) I drove down to the BMV, thinking it would be a zoo on the day before Thanksgiving. Surprisingly, there was only one person ahead of me. The bad news is a tax return isn't an official document--it has to be something officially from the government. They suggested I go the to SS Administration building and get an official printout and then come back.
I drove out of there with a big black cloud over my head, with tears of frustration, fatigue and low blood sugar. It was a race against time. I had to get the license before closing time today because Paul and I are driving to East Aurora, NY tomorrow to visit Betty and Kurt for Thanksgiving, and every minute I drove without it I was breaking the law and tempting fate should I have an accident or get pulled over.
The SS building's parking lot was nearly empty. Oh no, I thought. Did everybody go home early for Thanksgiving? But no, thank God, there were only 2 customers there, and I was in and out with my printout in 15 minutes. Bonus: a new card will come in the mail within 10 days or so.
So back I went to the BMV, which was slightly busier now, but I was still out of there with my new license after about half an hour. By the time I left, it was quite busy, so at least I managed to beat the rush!
When I got home, I went online and printed insurance verification documents and temporary insurance ID cards directly from the Progressive website, then ordered a new AAA card online. I am thankful I only have one credit card, and that I only had $10.51 cash in my purse. All the other cards (grocery store discount cards, Blockbusters, etc.) are trivial so I can deal with them another day.
I still had the energy to bake 2 pies tonight, one pumpkin and one apple-cranberry-orange. Paul had to teach tonight, but he had time to help make the crusts, which he's really good at. I am really looking forward to tomorrow, when I can just relax, get away, and not have to deal with any of this stuff. And be thankful I'm in good shape now so didn't break anything, and that no weapon was involved, and no abduction or worse.
Now I'm off to take this drug which has some lovely side effects. I hate taking drugs. Side effects--collect 'em all! I usually do. I don't mind drowsiness or dizziness (hey, maybe I'll sleep harder!) but I sure could live without the constipation. Who wants to be constipated on Thanksgiving?
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