Sunday, December 21, 2008

Walking wounded!

Or, alternate title: The Price of Stupidity!

Last night: 11PM

Dottie and I just finished watching "Southland Tales" and as we got ready to settle back in to watch the "extras" there was a commotion in the street in front of out house.

In it's efforts to save money, the city didn't bother plowing for 4 days after the snowstorm; on Friday after they were predicting the subzero stuff we're in the middle of now, they laid salt on half the street. On a wicked hill, with two curves on it, in opposite directions...

The neighbor two doors up couldn't get in her driveway the other day and slid across her own front yard and through the next one before she managed to get back onto the street; she still did better than she did 3 years ago when I pulled her out with my nephew's 4-wheel drive Dodge I was working on at the time.

Another neighbor down the hill on the outside of the other curve had someone go down it and over their 3.5 foot railroad tie retainer wall, through the yard below them and back out, taking the top of the wall with them.

So when we looked out the window we saw a full size Ford 4 door pickup, long bed, "dually" stuck in the corner of our front yard. In their effort to get enough traction to drive out, they kept backing up until the hit the telephone pole between the neighbor's and us. Though I really didn't want to get involved, the idea of them totalling the neighbor's Continental (that I know she can't afford to replace, she's a widow on fixed income) and possibly knocking her gas meter over as well (right next to the car in the driveway) finally made me bundle up (it was 2 above 0F., or -16C. with a 25-30mph wind).

I drug the barrel of sand I keep for my driveway around to the front yard and started throwing sand under the tires on the street, the ones that were spinning. Dottie climbed in the bed over the spinning tires (no weight in a dually on ice...stupid people...)

It almost got out after the lady's brother got there and started trying to ease it out instead of just heating up the tires...between my sanding and his rocking it was one tire short of going over the curb when I started to push to help...

and I shouldn't have!

It still didn't make it out...I finally gave up and had Dottie pull her Malibu out so I could get my truck out, along with Dad's log chain. When I got partway down the driveway to my truck I knew my back ached...by the time I had the receiver hitch in and the chain out of the garage I knew it was pretty bad.

I pulled onto the other side of the street, where they had sanded, we hitched the chain from my hitch to the recovery hook on the passenger side of the dually. I locked my transmission in tow-mode and low, and pulled the truck that weighs half again more than it out without slipping a tire.

They thanked me...told me that they would get some weight in it today...the whole time the brother was chewing the girl out in Spanish...

I knew I ached last night, but thought I'd be walking it off today...

So far there's not a lot of walk to it. If I hadn't had Dottie dig the cane I used last time out of the closet I wouldn't have managed to get around so far today.

I'm dreading the idea that anyone might show up at the door because I really don't want to get dressed...

My Dad used to joke about "no good deed going unpunished". Hopefully by the time we need to load Bill's truck on Friday for their move to D.C. I'll be getting around a bit better!

I hope you all are warm and dry!

May the week be kind!

alan

15 comments:

Lori D said...

Doggon, you poor thing! I think you need a break from being Mister Philanthropist! It's dangerous being you!
HUGS

Shinigami Liz said...

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one causing themselves needless injury. Even with #4 keeping half an eye on me to try to keep me from moving stuff by myself because as he puts it I'm a weak little girl who is too headstrong to usually ask for a man's help (damn him for being right!) Lol.

Anonymous said...

I can certainly relate to the backache! I know how easy it is to mess up your back trying to get a vehicle unstuck. I hope it's not too bad and that you feel better soon!

Jo said...

Aw...Alan...your reward will be in a higher place hon. Seriously, you did a good thing...poor you :-(

I have back trouble and sometimes find that a combination of heat/cold gels helps?

Green tea said...

I hope you didn't injure a disc..
Ice it for 20 minutes every hour..

Jennifer said...

No, no, no, no, no! NOT your BACK!

Lori D is right.

And Josephine's suggestion to alternate heat and cold might help.

I'll be thinking healing thoughts, and not just so you can load Bill's truck!

Unknown said...

Get one of those ice/heat packs from the pharmacy! They work wonders. :-)

People always seem to think that they can drive in the snow, when they can't.

You're a gentleman, a scholar, a samaritan, and a chap with an aching back! I salute you! :-)

Carolyn Ann

PS Next time, tell them that a decent fire under the gas tan... Maybe not. :-)

Anonymous said...

There is no helping some people at times, what did you think of Southland Tales?

robin andrea said...

Sorry to hear about your back, alan. I know how bad a bad back can be. I have also used alternating cold and heat, and it really does help. It takes time to heal, so no overdoing it, okay?

Anonymous said...

I hope you recover quickly. (You have to learn to say no, but I guess you'll always be putting others first).

I hope you and Dottie and all the family have a very special Christmas and that 2009 brings you much joy.

Dr. Deb said...

Popping byt to wish you a Merry and a Happy

Puffer said...

Merry Ho HO HO to you and everyone in ur life!

ryssee said...

Ugh, I'm so sorry to hear that! I'm also willing to bet there's STILL no weight in it.
Well, have a Merry Christmas, even if it means you have to lie flat out in your favorite recliner with everyone waiting on you... oh wait! That actually sounds pretty good! ;-)

Lucie G said...

Hope you recover soon, you did a good thing though :)

chosha said...

You poor thing - NOT a nice reward for helping someone. Hope you're better soon.