Ever have one of those optical illusions, where you totally misjudge something, much to your embarrasment (and pain)? I get this all the time. Seems like at night, my 3D vision isn't so good.
My day job, when I'm not impersonating a raving lunatic guitar slinging muppet, is at a grocery store. There is a dock outside, where trailers are parked. I'm new to this particular store. I have to go outside and turn a refrigerated trailer on. I go outside, I see what I've drawn crudely here. The triangle represents a wall. The rectangle represents the rail along it, which adds about 3 1/2 feet to said wall. The dock is cut out of the side of this thing, and it's bottom is flush with the bottom of the wall.
Ok, but if you're new to the store, and it's 3 A.M., and you're outside there where it's really dark, and your 3D vision isn't so good, what do you think? Well, I thought: it's a ramp. And what better way to get there faster than to hop over the wall and run down the ramp?
Only, when you're expecting to hop down 3 1/2 feet, and instead jump down about 8 feet (roughly represented by the dotted line), that can be a real problem. Especially when the bottom is solid concrete.
I remember Michael Biehne saying on the Terminator documentary that to film his entrance through the time portal, they had two ladders with a board between them, and the stunt guy just rolled off the board about 5 feet up and landed on the concrete. Granted, I wasn't naked like him, but still, 8 feet to land on concrete is pretty hard. Good thing I don't weigh much. Nothing was broken. My pride was very hurt, but luckily no one saw it happen, so I was able to lie there for about 30 seconds and determine whether or not I really hurt myself. Answer: yes. I do not recommend doing this, and I know I'll never do it again. Look before you leap, they say. Well, I made that mistake once and never again.
Bruised, swollen wrist, twisted ankle, pulled triceps, and a bruised left buttock. That's pretty much the list of injuries. I feel like I just got out of a cage match with the Rock.
3 comments:
Hey Conan, I saw your comment at hotair.com and had to see if it was my old gaming buddy from Op4 days. Good to see it was indeed. Oh, BTW, this is doc, aka seriously ill. Remember me? Anyway, I will check out your blog and check back later. From the looks of your links, I can see you (as do I) have conservative tastes. And yes, this comment has absolutely nothing to do with your recent fall of which I have to say, "hope you feel better soon!".
Wow! Small world, aint it? Of course I remember you! You were always one of those guys I could game with all night and lose track of the time. It's cool to hear from you! Even cooler that you're a Hot Air reader.
Just about all is healed other than my wrist, which is still a little sore. But I'm well enough to do some Op4 sometime. :)
Well good to hear your progress. I do on occasion jump into an op4 match so look me up as I will you. I forget how to do the buddy thing, I will try to add you if I can figure it out.
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