Confessions of an antiBLOGite

My first encounter with the “BLOG” concept was during an online course I was taking. My first opinion was, “What a waste of time! One more tool for corporate America to publish propaganda for the foolish mortals to suck up and take as the word of the almighty CEO.” I was positive that I could not be bothered with such a silly idea, and told my fellow students I saw no value in them what so ever. You ask, why the sudden change of heart? And I answer quite proudly, there are two, Tea With Mrs. Fox and Maverick, the works my two wonderful and creative offspring. They have shown their rather stubborn and opinionated mother that quite possibly there is a reason for Blogs to exist. I must say that I still find the term repugnant, and if I were in charge they would have been given a much more positive and flowing acronym.

Now that the confession is there for all to see I feel it necessary to explain how I have found the time and courage to make own “you know what”.

Wanting to save a little money, gas being so high, I spoke with my wonderful husband about riding my bike to work, after all it was no more than a two mile ride. His answer was not a good idea: too hot, too many q-tips on the road (a term of endearment for the vast number of very elderly drivers on the roads down here), the two schools I had to pass and their quotas of student drivers to run me over. What he did suggest and ultimately got me was a beautiful brand new shiny navy blue scooter, 200 cc’s of zoom, zoom, zoom! I was so excited I went online and got the drivers manual and started studying for my test. Aced the written portion and set about practicing for the road test. I had a couple of coaching sessions with my wonderful son-in-law who has ridden motorcycles most of his life. Time was of the essence as the State of Florida had decided to change the policy concerning motorcycle licensing. As of July 1, 2008 you would have to go to an outside source pay $300.00 and take a 4 day class. I was not real happy with the fact that I would have to pay for the class or that I would be required to use one of their motorcycles which would mean I had to learn how to change gears (My lovely scooter has an automatic transmission you see). With permit in hand and test date scheduled I rode to work everyday rain or shine and just about everywhere else I could find to go. I found a practice test site at one of the schools near by and went there as often as possible.

June 26, 2008, TEST DAY!! I ride to work and it rains all day and I am sure the test will canceled. It is still cloudy but the rain has stopped so I go anyway. I arrive early and as suspected the tests have been suspended. As I am making another appointment they decide it is OK to resume testing. I really did want to get it over with so I stayed and watched the first guy fail, he couldn't manage weaving around the cones. The second guy does OK until he has to do a quick stop. His bike skids and it goes to the left he goes to the right he is OK but fails (bad omen). The next person is a girl she passes her test just fine. Then its my turn: I weave and turn with grace and am told by the person scoring the test I have not missed a single point perfect score, and then comes the quick stop. I feel confident even if I did see that other guy fall I have practiced it many times. I position my bike at the starting point and take off. I apply my breaks at the appropriate spot, the rear wheel hits some loose gravel and 200 pounds of pretty blue scooter lands on my right knee and time stands still for about 4 days. I do remember begging the paramedics to just get me to my daughters car and not take me to the hospital. I do remember getting an IV in the ambulance for pain. I do remember the inept guy that rammed my gurney into a big cart in the hall, after I kept telling him he was going to hit it. Past that I am told I did a lot of screaming, cursing and shivering.

Total damage: torn ACL (repaired), fractured the inside top of fibula (I now have a metal plate and 8 pins) crushed outside of upper fibula (reconstructed with what amounts to human cement) and pushed the meniscus an inch into the crushed fibula (removed). The doctor later tells me that any one of the four would have been a serious problem and that having decided to do them all at once would mean two to three months no weight baring.

Needless to say I have some time on my hands. I always knew I had a special family and my wonderful Maverick and her Hubby have proved it. They been a constant support and help there is no end to the debt I owe them both. When someone even if they are family without hesitation helps you with the necessities of life (potty etc.) you know how much you are loved. It is my Maverick that set up my computer so that I could read hers, her sisters and some other interesting "you know whats" from my bed which is pretty much my world at this point. Everyday I would log on and read the new postings and then go to my account and look. First I set up a profile (toe in the water) then I read some of the other profiles (in to the knees) and then finally to day I am an official "you know whater". With a whole new prospective on life.

We will have to see where this leads!!!