Taking one for the team

Yesterday was a pretty hectic day.

It was Monday, trying to get into gear with things. Analyzed some data. Went to a thesis defense. Ate cake.

Then 5pm rolls by and I change into my softball attire. It was game four. The previous game we won by one point, and we had actually improved our game a lot.

Then we learn that this team we're playing is actually very good. We get there and they're measuring (with a tape measure, not just steps) the distance between the bases. They also have multiple bats, which up to now has meant that the team can play.

We have one bat.

I digress. So, we warm up for the game. I'm feeling particulary lazy and sleepy. Our best and most competitive player, Jody, is out of town. And there's no beer.

So we start playing, and they demolish us from the start.

First inning: They score 6, we score 0.

Second inning: They score 3, we score 0. I pitched, we were happy that their score went down.

Third inning: They score 4, we score 0. Becky pitching, ok but they still scored a bit.

Fourth inning: They score 5, we score 0. Me pitching isn't helping.

Fifth inning: We decide to let Steph pitch, I can back her up if things go badly. I take 2nd base for the first time. Tim is being really helpful and trying to get the balls. Then a girl comes to bat. Hits the ball straight at me. I think, I can do this, I will try to catch it. I'm trying to figure out where to place my glove and bam, it hits me in the face.

My first reaction, because my vision was a bit blurry, was that I broke my glasses. Uh, no, I'm wearing contacts. Then I notice the blood spewing out of my nose. Some guy takes off his shirt and gives it to me to try to stop the bleeding. Dr. Jon comes to the rescue (an MD/PhD on our team), tries to get the bleeding to stop. A yellow towel is swapped for the tshirt. After a while the bleeding is better, I guess. But now everyone is wondering whether my nose is broken, and whether to take me to urgent care at the health center or to the ER. Jon whispers that he thinks it's either broken or my cartilage is torn.

This is not good, I think.

I get Becky to call Ryan, as Amanda comes with her car. We're off to urgent care. It's hurting quite a bit, although it's not as swollen as I would have thought.

Once at urgent care it went pretty quickly. I filled out the "triage" form (reason for visit: took a softball to the nose.)

Then they give me some ice, take my blood pressure. And it's off to wait for the doc in a room with a cushy bed. Jon came by to make sure I was alive :P That was sweet of him. I freak out a little bit.

Anyway, the doc finally comes in, he's very nice. Kind of didn't know where to start since there most of been a lot of blood around the area. It hurt quite a bit when he was cleaning it. He didn't think it was broken, though. He gave me two stitches right then and there (the softball cut into my skin a little bit), and I was on my way.

This is me now:


Not too bad I guess. It's just a bit painful. Certain facial expressions are a no-no, which I learned the hard way. Apparently I use a lot of facial expressions when I talk.

So I stayed home today, preparing for my meeting with Sue tomorrow, reading some papers, organizing my week, etc.

Off to do some more of that now :)