TGINM - 2.4.14

That's Thank God It's Not Monday. Somehow, just about everyone I know had a sh*t day yesterday. Today is better, but the bar is not high over here so I'm not sure that's saying much.

This past Saturday marked 6-weeks post face-plant. Time flies when you're having this much fun - and I actually HAVE been having fun despite the weather. No offense to those able-bodied racer-types but this crap weather has EVERYONE relegated inside so I didn't have to endure the facebook postings or the twitterings of fantastic monster-miles every weekend. Sorry, misery loves company.

As mentioned in the prior post, my initial Ortho appointment was less than satisfactory so I followed up with another Bone-Doc who came highly recommended by a coworker. Her son apparently did a Superman off the bed when he was 2 or 3 and sustained a collarbone break. He's an overachiever- I didn't break my first bone until I was in my late 20s. Anyway, Dr. Thompson was great. I went in 10 days post accident. His first statement (not a question, but a statement) was : Bike Crash. He continued with another - statement, not a question - "you're on the bike already". I shed a tiny, unnoticeable tear as I said "I feel like you KNOW me!". His response - "I'm kinda surprised you're not on the road already" - settled it. This was the right Ortho for me!

Interesting outcome from the new round of X-rays - the plate DID crack from the impact. There are 4 screws in the plate and the plate broke at the one nearest the point of impact. So yeah, I kinda hit the deck.

I was out on the road - on my CX bike for the wider, more cush ride - the following weekend. One week off the bike (mostly on drugs or sleeping or sleeping on drugs), one week on the trainer and there I was, back in action. Kinda. I wasn't fast and I found that the motion of dismounting - say, at a stoplight- was painful. As long as I was pedaling, though, I was happy. Stupid happy, really.

In the meanwhile, I've been able to do trainer workouts and some other functional stuff - no bench-presses or chin-ups yet but I'll get there. Actually, maybe not the chin-ups. I've only managed to do a few of those in my lifetime.

Speaking of me  - the Month of Wendy was officially a success despite my best attempt to put a damper on the occasion. I was lucky to be able to spend time with friends, be it on the bike, dinner, a quick visit or to share a cup of coffee. I also had to part ways with an old friend - my beloved X3. She took me all over the country and back often lugging friends and family, most times with multiple bikes and bags. She was still looking great after 10 years and over 180k miles but she finally objected vehemently to the deep freeze that started early January. The repairs would cost more than was economical so ... it was hard to let her go but we had many good years and miles. I like to think she either got fixed up and is already sharing miles with a nice family or she's gone to that great highway with no speed limits in the sky.

I shopped around a bit to compare cars and maintenance ratings and longevity etc etc and ... I went to BMW of Alexandria and test drove the 2014 X3 and I realized that I couldn't match that "feeling" in any other vehicle. I didn't like the white or black, the red was DEFINITELY not for me (I have a heavy foot and screaming out to the law enforcement that I'm coming is not in my best interest), the sky blue is very much not me, the space-grey wasn't that beautiful gun-metal grey that Audi sports, bronze was out of the question. So .... blue it is. It's pretty much my old car, updated 10 years. And my how things have changed! I didn't even get the super-duper version but it's taken me a month to get used to things like - not having to put a key in the ignition and how to get my wipers in the correct position in the event of snow/ice on the way (it's like a secret handshake).

2004 X3

2014 X3

By sheer coincidence, the car was delivered on my actual birthday. Since then, it's been clean all of 5 days. Seriously. This weekend I was having some consternation finding a local "good" car wash - fully knowing that everyone was going to be washing cars after the past week. I didn't want my shiny new car to get all scratched up with someone else's salt left in the brushes or whatever. I was asking everyone around - I used to go to a great spot in Canton (Baltimore) - I had a monthly membership and would get my car washed at least twice a month. I have not found that kind of place down here. Anyway, after sweating it Friday and most of the day Saturday, I realized - wait - I have a driveway. And a hose. I CAN WASH MY OWN CAR!!!

Fun fact - don't wash your car with dish soap. It is so effective that it takes the wax off your paint job. Glad I read that before I started the process. Anyway, the boy and I proceeded to wash both cars Saturday afternoon - how novel, right? Funny that washing a car in your driveway was the way of the world most of my life and yet it wasn't even on the radar after "city" living for a few years.

The bad news is that it's almost a given that when I wash my car, it will rain, sleet, ice and snow.  You're welcome.