Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Biking mishap

So, it’s been a while since I posted. I guess I’m at a loss for words. I don't feel like my life is that interesting. Anyway, I thought I’d give you a little update on how my life has been recently. I’ve finally settled into a house here, and actually had my 3-month review today at work. It went pretty well. I’ve been biking to and from work now pretty regularly. I even have the legit biker pants with the padded seat that makes you feel like you’re wearing a diaper. After work today, I decided to go to my local grocery store and buy a gallon of milk, since I ran out last week. On my way home, on a whim, I stopped by the local pupuseria for some yummy dinner. This “restaurant” is really nothing more than a parked camper that can't go into, but order through the window. Just as I received my order (complete with horchata in a disposable cup) the bus that runs by my house came. I wanted to catch it since it’s hard to carry a full gallon of milk, a hot to-go box and a flimsy full cup of liquid on a bicycle. Thankfully the to-go box was in a bag so it was a bit easier to carry. I started wheeling my bike across the parking lot toward the bus when a man who was still waiting for his order called me back and pointed to my backpack that I had left on the ground. I thanked him and started to back up my bike to retrieve it. (I wasn’t riding it, just holding the handlebars and steering it backwards) I hoped that I could still catch the bus (which was stopped at a red light). Just as I started to turn my bike around and walk with it forwards to get my backpack, I tripped over the bicycle and found myself sprawled flat on the concrete. My cup immediately broke in half, the contents spilling everywhere, and following its natural gravitational pull, ran down the incline of the parking lot right towards me. I couldn’t move for several seconds. I was just stunned. I was in pain (mainly my knees) and couldn’t believe I had just fallen down out of my own stupid hurry in front of a large audience of people waiting for their food and the intersection of two busy roads. I hurt my pride more than anything. After about 10 seconds of laying in my own mess, I decided to get up. Just as I was about it, two men ran over who had seen me fall and helped me up. They were very nice and inquired if I lived nearby and could I ride my bike? One man even offered to buy me another drink. I just wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible so without taking time to assess anything I gathered what was left of my pride and biked away up the hill. My knee didn’t feel so good doing that. Upon finally returing home and taking off my horchata-soaked pants I found that I had scraped up both knees pretty good and bruised my elbow, but otherwise was fine.