Watch out for monster binder bins...

An innocent paper jam in the copier on Wednesday started it all. So Shannon (my dear friend and co-worker) and I were trying to figure out what the deal was with the copier. Both of us were bent over opening and closing drawers of the silly thing. I stood up rather quickly to respond to another co-worker only to smack the back of my head on the corner of my binder bin.

Yes, I experienced immediate pain and blackness started to close in. I grabbed my head and had the presence of mind to breath in deep...that helped the blackness to go away...well that and grabbing on to my desk for support.

HOW EMBARRASSING! I really felt silly but more than all that my head hurt really, really bad!
Thursday was Commencement and even though it was Shannon that was crazy busy, I wanted to be there. My plans to stay and work in the quiet were thrown aside as I decided my head felt like it would burst and I really wasn't thinking very clear. Muscles in my neck were incredibly stiff.

Friday morning after a miserable night, I headed to Provo to work realizing I would probably have to file the dreaded BYU Risk Management Injury Report. ARGH! Can I just say I have the best co-workers in the world. Pat Williams took me up to the Health Center where I was greeted by very nice people who responded very kindly as I red-cheeked explained my on-the-job injury feeling very silly and clutzy the whole time.

Dr. Blackwell with questions and more questions, touch my nose, do this, do that, x-rays for skull fracture (really I'm sure it was to see if I really had a brain!) Skip the x-ray tech, move this way; up, down, do that, do this. Skip saying, "I'm sorry if I'm hurting you." Me saying, "It's okay, Skip...I just trying to keep from barfing all over you."

"x-rays successful...do you want a wheel chair." By this point my head was pounding worse, the nausea increased 100 fold and I'm determined I'm not going to ride in a wheel chair or hold on to Skippy's arm. Back in the exam room, barf bag in hand, room spinning, head exploding. Doc Blackwell exclaiming everything looks normal (boy she doesn't know me!) All, I could think of was proof I have a brain and get me out of this place.

Drugs for muscles in neck. Co-workers driving me home in my car the whole time thinking soon I'll be home and can barf my guts out in the privacy of my own bathroom.

This is where life got pretty fuzzy. Don't know what time I took that magic pill and was in and out of sleep with weird memories of trying to figure out if I sent that email Norm asked me to send and talking with Julie, Vanessa moving, cancel the dentist appt. on Monday, feeling hot, feeling cold, ice on neck, get the famous barf bowl. Precious sleep only to be wakened by ringing phone. "Yes, Julie I'm okay." Did I schedule that room for the meeting on Monday? So much nausea - hate that. Ah, neck not as stiff. Vanessa moving, Brian helping. Brian giving me a blessing....couldn't tell you what he said, but finally feeling peace. TV on but too blurry to see, cannot read too blurry. Giving in to sleep.

So now it is Saturday morning. My world isn't as blurry; the neck not so tight. The head ache ever present but not as fuzzy. Ah, blessed internet...search...mild concussion. Yup, that's me! One thing for sure...I'm kicking that copier next time I'm at work!

Finally a Cable TV Person

I'm not sure if it is good or not.

I cannot believe how clear my TV picture is. I flipped between the opening of the olympics and HGTV. How DID they do all that in the opening? I fell asleep on the couch with the remote in my hand and it was on HGTV and when I woke up...no I didn't turn it off and go to bed. I started watching the show that was on and fell asleep again.

It's a good thing I don't have a cable TV outlet to my bedroom. I'm sure the newness WILL wear off. I do have a bedtime that I must meet to function during the week. All I know now is I was very happy this morning when my phone alarm went off and I sat up thinking I had to get ready for work and was very happy when I remembered it was Saturday.

I couldn't help but reach for the remote...HGTV was calling me. A show on fixing things in the house...my brain quickly rationalizing...I can learn how to do things.

I'm in trouble.

Prize from my Brother

When I arrived in Minnesota, my brother Greg was there to pick me up. It is one of the things I love most...that time with him and visiting. If I get in close to lunchtime, he usually buys me lunch before we get to Elk River.

This time on my trip back to Minnesota he gave me a fun prize - a pretty purple rock. (See previous post on prizes). So it has a place of honor! It is sitting on the pretty plate that Vanessa gave me from her trip to Mexico. Now sitting at work I look at it and think of my "Hero Brother", Greg.

Memories are the best!

Back in the Saddle Again...

Phew, time flies when you're in Minnesota. I'm back in Utah now. My cat wouldn't leave me alone last night and I finally locked him out of my bedroom only to have him crying in the hallway. I'm a mean mom. I can hardly walk through the house as he is wrapping himself through my legs like crazy.

I'm back at work and decided the routine will keep my mind off the fact that I think I left my heart in Minnesota. Yup, right back there with all the trees, lakes and critters in the back forty of my parents property. And all I did was sit in their room and visit and read to them. Treasured memories.

We partied hardy - yes even on the Sabbath. It was a wonderful day and allowed so many to be with us. I cannot tell you the joy I felt as we all crunched in to Mom and Dad's bedroom for the "program". I walked around with my video camera and thoroughly enjoyed watching all those cousins interact with one another, playing games, talking and have such a good time.

Family - it's what it's all about. I am the most blessed daughter, sister, and aunt.

After 29 years I'm officially a parent...

After reading on the California Cousins blog about Big Bertha, I decided I needed to become an official parent and owner of a video camera. I've spent years of borrowing but mostly wishing for my own, and with Vanessa and Brian's help I located one that was good for me (price and bells and whistles). So I'm official now. I'm entering the world of videoing which I suspect is even more annoying than being a camera picture taking nut. I am very happy that "Puny Pani" is nice and light and fits in my hand just perfectly. And I promise I'm probably going to be abnoxious with it! Sorry in advance!

Silliness runs in the family

This is my nephew, David. Yes, silliness definitely runs in the family. He said he lost his sunglasses at the pool so he picked these up for fifty cents at a garage sale. Yes, he really is going out in public like this. I was sitting in the rocking chair visiting and soon became aware that he was copying all my movements. So, I gave him an auntie slap and he stopped. Such a character. But he fits right in. We were all here for lunch. Greg, Penney, Honcho and Auna, David, Mike, April, Dustin, Mom, Dad and me. We're getting together later. So, my dad asked how you set up a blog....I'm thinking I'll set one up for him.

Silly Papa

Just so you can see that Papa has kept his sense of humor! Well, he laughed when I walked in with them on...and he didn't have much choice when we put them on him and took a picture - so he could see how he looked. Now the world can see through my blog. I am the luckiest of daughters to have such a man for my father.

Being with my parents here in Minnesota is always wonderful. My favorite thing is to sit and read to them. We're reading the Mitford series and they seem to like the story. I dashed to Barnes and Noble to get the next two books once I found they liked the first book. So I'm madly reading book two so I can leave it for them. Books on tape will hold nothing to me reading book three for them and sending it back - Dad seems to like to hear my voice. Go figure!

They have a Trader Joes here and I introduced Dad to the little oatmeal raisin cookies. He says they're a perfect size. Between those cookies and the chocolate covered peanuts...he is a happy man after a little snack.