In search of lip balm

I'm a good driver (and not just because I say I am). HS says I'd make a great truck driver because I can dig one-handed for something in my backpack behind my seat without taking my eyes off the road (also a trademark Mom-move). Ninety-nine percent of the time I grab the intended object on the the first try... today was NOT one of those days.~


I'm stopped at the lights at the traffic square (if you know Edmonton at all, you know exactly where I was), and I reach behind me for my cell phone and snag it from it's compartment - no problem, even with my left hand. I then decide my lips are dry so I need my lip balm. Again, with my left hand, I reach behind my seat, undo the zipper on my backpack and stretch so I can reach the intended pocket. I feel around for the lip balm ...not there...

...hmm...

I pull my arm back towards me, to take another stab at it - I feel a sharp tug...



...something is wrong



...something is very wrong


I can't get my arm out from behind me

~~~

I jerk my arm toward my body -- I feel a sharp pain in my left hand and this time my entire (30lb+) backpack moves.

I feel a stabbing pain in my left hand. I twist around to see what the problem is (trying not to smack my head on the B-pillar) but I can't see my hand. I quickly discover that the pain is much worse if don't hold my hand/arm a certain way.

The light turns green and my car is at the front of the intersection--

(did you forget that I was sitting in traffic - I didn't!)

I readjust myself in my seat, look for opposing traffic and accelerate away from the light. My hand feels like I've been stabbed and one of my fingers is tingling. My arm is still contorted behind me - similar to how they restrain people on COPS.

I drive, looking for a place to turn off and stop -- I see nothing -- for several blocks.

My left hand starts to cramp up and I grimace in pain.

I see a parking lot ahead. I think I can turn into it without much difficulty.

I flick on the turn signal (yes I actually did- not sure how, but I did) and turn right into a quiet strip mall.
I try not to slam the gearshift into park (but I'm sure I did, despite my half-hearted attempt at restraint).

By this time I can't feel one of my fingertips and there is definitely something digging hard into part of my hand.



I fling my seat belt off and attempt to open my door (this took a second or two longer than I expected because I don't usually open the door with my right hand).

I swing my legs out of the car trying not to dislocate my shoulder or elbow. I tentatively look toward where my left hand meets my backpack...

and what do you think I find?

My ring has caught the *handy-dandy* key hook inside my backpack...

Seriously.

All of that because of a stupid plastic hook that's supposed to make my life easier.

~~~

I freed myself from my restraints and celebrated my new found liberty with a bacon egg McMuffin meal with OJ.



What about the lip balm, you ask? It turns out that I didn't have any with me at all!

From my performance today I won't be trying out for Cirque du Soleil anytime soon.

Springtime School Blahs...

Am I the only one this happens to?

At this time of year, no matter how interesting a course is, I can barely motivate myself to get up and go to class. Trying to psych myself up to do assignments or read or even study is pretty much a lost cause.

Does this (or has this) ever happen(ed) to you?

How do you deal with it?

Got any hints for someone like me who is floundering yet unphased by my own apathy?

you know something is really funny when...

...it makes you laugh out loud (and you're by yourself).

(thankfully I wasn't sipping my tea at the time or I would have snorted it through my nose)

(click HERE to go there and get one or whatever - I'm not the boss of you)

I wish it came in different colours.

I am super-geek, hear me squeak...

Aren't these the best geeky / nostalgic accessories ever?

space invader socks

Binary scarf.

I wish I had the patience to knit...

Or a Grandma still alive to make these for me for Easter...



Damn, I hate being old!

Special thanks to WWdN: In Exile for posting the links for me to find!

Things you miss when you're too busy to notice...

In the winter it gets dark early and so I don't see much beyond the beams of my headlights some days. Lucky for me House Spouse catches some of the stuff I miss with a little technology and can save a moment for later.

Case in point...

There is an undeveloped acreage right across the road from our place. A few weeks ago the wind was up and the snow was the perfect temperature to do this-

Isn't this amazing!

It looks like a bunch of snowmen got tired of waiting for someone to come along and build them so they started rolling themselves!