Bad News Bix

[cookie]

Hi, folks--
How eerie. The post about the French song came back to the board and Goodspeack thought I was back. I hadn't logged in, but I had indeed peeked in for the first time since I removed my shortcut. Weird, huh?

So why did I come back so soon? I've had a weird week, man. My husband went to North Carolina on Wednesday and won't be back until Monday. The day he left, I had an accident at school. I got my finger caught in the piano bench cover at school and essentially lost the the very tippy top of it. It won't effect my playing (no broken bone, no nerve or muscle damage), but it will hang me up for a while and will probably never look right.

It was all very dramatic. They had to take me to the hospital in an ambulance. I got two stictches. The doctor essentially stitched the two sides of my finger together to fit over where the top used to be. It looks like meat. When it happened, it looked so horrible that I just couldn't look. After I washed off the blood in the bathroom and saw that a piece of finger was missing, I went across to the office and laid on the floor of my office with a paper towel over my finger hanging on for dear life. A couple of my students were there comforting me and reminding me to breathe. I didn't look at my finger at all until the doctor told me I *had* to look so I could see what he was doing.

It still looks like meat, man. It's not as painful but it still needs to be heavily bandaged. I essentially have no finger tip. I've been so lucky because my kids, friends, and students stepped up for me. My students rehearsed on their own and were flexible in rescheduling appointments, my friends have helped take care of my kids. My friend and mentor Steve even left school to make sure my kids and babysitter knew what had happened to me. And my kids have been helpful with the housework even though I know it's not their favorite thing.

And I'm not working this weekend which is a blessing. I went to a rehearsal on Thursday and was supposed to have played some flute. THAT didn't happen, but I rehearsed the vocal things. I gave lessons at school yesterday and played piano. My mentor warned me not to play, but since I found out that the injury wouldn't stop me from playing, ALL I want to do is play. I have been playing mostly left-handed (which is a good thing). I have to be careful with the right. I have four good fingers which immediately changes how I can voice things. And that's all cool until I forget that I have only four fingers and smack the injured finger---or when I reach in for black keys and smack the end of the bandage into the back of the keyboard (ouch!).

Anyway, my piano plans are kind of laid up for a while, my school stuff is settled for the moment, my husband's away, my kids are asleep, and there's noplace I need to be. So, why not be here?

I could use the company and good company it is, too.

[Pete C]

hug

[cookie]

Thanks, Pete.

I forgot to metion that it also looks like I have an eye infection. None of this is really so terrible when I think about what other people are going through, but it's certainly a drag and especially because my ol'man is gone. He really takes care of me. Right now he's with his mother visiting her terminally ill best friend (James's godmother). I'm glad that he has the opportunity to be with his mother and to say good bye, but it's the first time that *I've* been the one sitting at home with the kids while my spouse is gone for a few days. Usually, I'm the gone one.

Hug back, baby.

[Ron Thorne]

Hi Cookie. It's *great* to see your name here again.

Sorry to learn about your misfortune(s), kiddo.

All the best for a speedy recovery.

[cookie]

Thanks, Ron. I *did* miss JC, but I also have to admit that until my injury, I was getting alot of work done---mostly because there was a lot of work to be done.

There's still alot of work to be done, but there's nothing I can do about it right now. So I'm just gonna chill and say hi to everyone here while I have a little downtime. It all ratchets up again on Monday.

I'm supposed to accompany some students for their high-school Valentine cabaret concert and I have a rehearsal for that Monday afternoon. My mentor says I shouldn't do it. Problem is that it could be hard to find a sub not to mention that I could really use the money. I didn't actually ask my doctor specifically about whether or not I should or shouldn't play now. I was more interested in any long-term consequences. One thing I notice is that the other fingers on the hand also tingle and sting at times--probably due to blood flow issues (or psychology---who knows?).

BTW: it was the right middle finger that was damaged so with this big bandage, I look like I'm constantly flippin' off the world. I'm also right-handed so my good hand is down by one.

[GoodSpeak]

Finger or not...I am glad you're back

[tippy]

I'm glad you've stopped by for a visit too, Cookie, but I'm definitely sorry to hear about the circumstances that led to the down time. Losing the tip of one's finger is no doubt *quite* disconcerting--so sorry you have to deal with that and the pain and the readjustments. Thank god though that it won't impair you in the long run (from what you've said). So take care and good luck.

[Tom Storer]

Originally Posted by cookie

One thing I notice is that the other fingers on the hand also tingle and sting at times--probably due to blood flow issues (or psychology---who knows?).

Are you kidding? MY fingers are tingling and stinging just reading about it! Good to see you around. Pamper yourself as much as possible!

[jesus marion joseph]

Ouch! I used to work as a cook, and a couple of times I cut off the very tips of a finger or thumb. In addition to being painful when it happens, it seems that I would manage to bump the injured finger every time I reached for something, which was *really* painful.

[Dr Dave]

My wife cut the tip of her finger off one New Year's Eve a few years ago. We were in the middle of fixing dinner for friends at their place in Brewster on the Cape. I remember collecting the tip from the cutting board, while we decided whether or not it was worth it to go to the hospital to have it put back on. Lucy decided against, and as it happened, the little bit grew back--it was just thick skin. (Sometimes it's good to be thick-skinned!). There was quite a lot of blood, and she nearly fainted, but we sat her on the floor, staunched the bleeding and got her patched up, and she decided to soldier on. It hurt her for a couple of days afterward. No fun at all, really.

My best wishes for a quick heal, and nice to see you here again, no matter the circumstances.

[clinthopson]

Hey Cookie,

I'm sorry to read that you are digitally challenged, but I expect you will recover and proceed in fine fettle.

[cookie]

Hi, folks. Thanks for the well-wishes and sympathy. I appreciate it.

I'm now trying to figure out who might be able to sub for me for this piano job. My kids just reminded me that they don't have school tomorrow! AAAAGH! Now I have child-care issues on top of the physical issues of to play or not to play.

And the eyes look worse. I think I'm going to have to break down and go to the Convenient Care Center (it's an alternative to ER care for less life-threating but nonetheless acute and urgent conditions). First, I'm going to take a walk with the kids and see if the fresh air brings any improvement. My eyes are rimmed in red. I'd chalk it up to my recent late nights, but the skin doesn't feel right. I had a bout of pink eye back at the holidaze and I think I now have a secondary infection. So I think I'll need to act soon but since I don't think I'll go blind in 24 hours, I'm going to take my time.

I am NOT going to look at my finger today. It is still neatly wrapped from yesterday and I'm sure it's fine. I know that if I undo it, It WILL hurt. I think it's best to just let it ride for a day, dig?

The eyes on the other hand....well, who knows where that's gonna go.

James returns tomorrow afternoon. Yay!

[Lenny D.Guitarist]

Cookiemonster,
I feel your pain and wish you a speedy and complete recovery. Two years ago I had a similar accident. I was in my hot tub for about 30 minutes or so, almost ready to get out. I noticed that the one filter was bobbing up and down and I adjusted it and tightened it securely. Without using one brain cell, I immediately turned on the jets while my right hand was still holding the vertical filter. The pressure needed to turn on all 46 or so jets propelled the filter upward into the top rim of the tub, thrusting my hand into this immovable,hard object. My fingers looked like Mike Tyson AND Andre the Giant bit them. Couldn't play my guitar for 2 weeks. Looked very silly playing the air guitar with black,blue,purple,and red phalanges.

[graypencil]

Hi Cookie:

another hug here ..sorry to hear about your digital domain being attacked, but I have faith you'll be back to full speed soon.

It hasn't been all roses out here in the PNW eiither. A week ago, I had to say goodbye to my 15 year old dog Loosie ..she finally developed multiple organ failure and had to leave us ..

on a more positive note, Sammie now has a NEw little buddy, an 18 mo. old Beagle named Jody who is a real doll , and a great playmate for Sammie the 3 year old surviving Beagle .. they are already playing together pretty well ( aside from some miscellaneous Lesbo-Beagle humping )

Life moves on ..getting ready for a big band rehearsal/gig next Saturday in Seattle to shake down some new charts for the next CD ..

..and I'm typing all this with a swollen arthritic left index finger, so I can commiserate thoroughly with digital misery.

great to see y'all back!!

P (GP) K

[sonic1]

Glad to have you back lil' cooks. Missed ya. You will be proud of that scar soon enough!