Languishing in the midwinter doldrums

The astute reader will note that I managed to get knocked off my bike, leaving both it and I a bit creaky and damaged. I'm getting my shoulder looked at by my orthopedist next week after I return from NYC.

I'm somewhat distressed that I haven't mustered one iota of enthusiasm for putting the airhead back together, though. I'm not sure what it is. Midwinter doldrums? General lack of enthusiasm to do virtually anything physical while my shoulder feels like it has rocks in it? I'm really surprised at myself. I love that airhead and I cringe a bit when I see it out there with a big gash over its eyeball.

One thing at a time I guess. My job is in flux, I'm getting ready to do some traveling, I've got MOA responsibilities to tend to that have gone too long without attention.

One thing at a time.

Good thing Tina's here to prop me up and help me deal with it.

When it rains, it pours

I'll say it right up front. I'm a sales person. Account Executive, if you prefer. I show people things they can use to help manage their litigation document collections. Sometimes, they buy. More often, though, they don't. It's not personal, it's business.

I'm at a company that sells some nifty processing that's an add on to more basic processing. Business has been, in a word, tough. I still do OK, but one can't help but wonder whether the company is going to make it. So, I've been idly casting about for a job elsewhere in the industry. This week, I've been talking with a company I respect about an AE position. They're pretty large and do some pretty neat stuff. Strangely, I was referred to them by the president of my company. I'm not sure how I feel about that. Am I getting the bum's rush?

Anyway, a recruiter I know, also a rider, called this morning with a Sales Engineering position opportunity. It sounds neat and I'd get to work with some folks I already know and respect.

So, decisions, decisions, decisions.

We've got company coming tonight, so the hard core husband/wife decisions will probably have to wait a day.

MRI Day with an open MRI

Today, I went for an MRI on my shoulder. I've had them before and they were sort of like slowly being fed through a sausage stuffer or something.

This time, I had an "open MRI". Instead of the ring arrangement, the "open MRI" has a pair of parallel planes that you lay between. It wasn't bad. It's got the usual accompaniment of drum sounds, but it's not nearly as claustrophobic.

I walked out with a set of "X Rays" that show various slices of my shoulder, all with a handy orientation guide in the upper left. The guide shows exactly where each "slice" was positioned. It's kind of creepy to look at them and see all the big parts in my shoulder, even if I don't have a clue about what anything is.

Come to think of it, that's probably why it's creepy.

Off to the orthopedic guy, hopefully next week. I'm headed to NYC in another week and will gone most of the week, so I'm hoping I won't have to wait two weeks to get some progress going.

Speaking of other fallout of the events a couple weeks ago, it seems that Schuberth Helmets aren't being distributed in this country anymore. The folks with the distribution rights seem to have found something else to do with their time and/or money, so us folks that like them are out of luck.

Fortunately, I found them on line, so I'm still able to replace it. It's just that I'd rather have been able to support my local dealer, Marin BMW.

Fell off my motorcycle

A bit more than a week ago, I managed to get knocked off my R100CS by a guy making a Uturn. He did the typical pull to the right like he was going to park, then, as I got closer, he pulled out and hit me. I wound up flying through the air, landing right on my face.

You really want to wear a full face helmet.

My gear kept from getting any bit of road rash or other damage, though my right shoulder continues to hurt. Nonetheless, I took a trip to the emergency room at Marin General and they checked me out, pronouncing my injuries as a sprained neck and shoulder.

Tomorrow, it's off for an MRI.

I've reached a settlement with the insurance company, who will be buying me a new helmet. They're also going to give me some money to fix the fairing, which is busted beyond all belief. This is kind of a rare bike, with a history (more on that at a later date), so I think I'm going to try and make the bike prettier than it is now.

Both of us need a little help, I think.

Frozen

The neighbor's lemon tree is frozen, the bougainvillea is dead. It's 27F in San Rafael.

Miraculously, the shrub that block my view out of my office is still living as is their rat haven rose bush.

Well, then

Ah, the blog. The electronic version of "dear diary".

The wonderment and terror of the empty page, now occuring almost every day, right here on my desk. Tag along, gentle reader, as I attempt to bore you with page after page of my interpretation of the world.