I'm back and I bring epic tales

edited July 19 in Travel and Meetups
So.... I'm back living with my parents which means I actually have internet access now, so expect me to be an actual part of the community again for the rest of the year at the very least.

And now to the how:

I was drunk and climbing a tree and, having completed this feat in record time and with near monkey-like skill, I screwed up the dismount. I broke the last branch I had to grab before shinning back down the trunk. I fell around 10-12 feet and landed on my back.

Because I am awesomely tough/mildly retarded I managed to get my breath back, declared myself ok, demanded cigarettes, more beer and a bag of frozen peas (the first two for consumption, the last for my back) and continued to party for another few hours.

When I woke up the next morning I figured that maybe this was a job for medical types when I was having difficulty moving well. So we wandered over to the hospital where they looked at me funny when I explained what happened, having walked to the desk.

What was "Well we'll put you into the trauma unit because of the height of your fall, but you seem ok" became pretty swiftly "What the hell is wrong with you? How were you walking on that?" Because I managed to not only fracture one of my vertebrae, but the shock of the landing travelled straight through me and cracked my sternum as well. Fear not though, I have avoided doing any damage to my spinal column.

Cut forward a couple of days, I now have a bunch of Meccano in my lower spine and a wicked new scar healing up my back. A few more days after that and I'm walking around ok, but if I drop anything on the floor that I can't pick up with my feet, I'm pretty much screwed.

Oh, and because my life is hilarious, this all happened 3 days after I'd gotten a job at the hospital as an orderly, although I hadn't actually started working yet.

So I'm pretty much going to be bumming around in Bridgetown until (if all goes according to plan) I go back to uni next year.

I'll post some pics in a few days. Although I won't be able to get my xrays until sometime next month, because I forgot to grab them when I was still at the hospital.

Comments

  • edited May 2010
    WHATEVER.
  • edited May 2010
    You didn't break enough bones. If you break all your bones and come close to dying, they give you cyborg implants and then you fight crime.
  • edited May 2010
    Well, maybe you could go the other way and commit crime as a super villain with cyborg implants if you wanted to.

    Regardless I think it's safe to say that tree climbing remains an activity that best be done sober even if it sounds like good times at a party.
  • edited May 2010
    Jon, only you could sustain frightening and serious injuries and turn it around into a story about how badass you are. Glad you're okay!
  • edited May 2010
    No dramas. It's just what I do.

    I was pretty disappointed that they wouldn't give me a new robotic spine that shoots lasers though.
  • edited May 2010
    Sounds like you need to break it again until the doctors get it right.
  • edited May 2010
    Hey! Animal's back! Oh wait, it's just that Apathy guy...
  • edited May 2010
    I was breaking my back and sternum back before it was cool.

    Also: Sup, Jon. We haven't talked in a really long time!
  • edited May 2010
    As promised: a picture of the massive incision on my back.

    Should end up as a pretty impressive scar. Especially considering that they'll have to cut me open again in 6 months to a year to take the Meccano back.

    kascar.th.png
  • edited May 2010
    Hoooooooooooooooooly shit
  • edited May 2010
    +1 to Jake's comment.
  • edited May 2010
    My god... That is all.
  • edited May 2010
    That's a pretty manly scar. It looks like your spine tried to burst out your back, but you stapled it back in.
  • godgod
    edited May 2010
    So you still have an opportunity to have a spine implant that fires lasers?
  • edited May 2010
    Apparently they 'don't have that technology' yet.

    I'm pretty sure they're lying to me.
  • edited May 2010
    I'm of the opinion that back lasers would only serve a defensive purpose. Which is totally lame.

    Laser shooting nipples are where it's at.
  • edited May 2010
    I am of the opinion that Jon's hobo beard grew inward and replaced his spine. Which is badass.
  • edited May 2010
    Itchy though.

    And, Tak, I deny that back lasers would be for defence. I would be using them to just leave a general trail of destruction in my wake.
  • edited May 2010
    But would you concede that you'd prefer laser shooting nipples?
  • edited May 2010
    Nah. Laser eyes maybe.

    Or a mechanical heart that shoot lasers. For SCIENCE!
  • edited May 2010
    WOW that is a righteous scar. Good job on not being paralyzed!