Solace

A few weeks ago, I had an unexpected visit to San Fransisco, which though not that far from LA, was very exciting to me because I had only driven through...never actually stayed there. 

It started with a long drive to Tahoe to snowboard.  Beautiful isn't it???

Unfortunately, during the last run on the first day, I broke my arm and coccyx (silliest word ever), thus ending my fun that weekend.  As I waited with a friend for the snow patrol to sled me down the mountain, I screamed, cried, cursed, and began to develop hypothermia (seriously).  By the time I got into the rig (ambulance), I was so cold that the medic had to put warming packs under my armpits, on my belly, and hands.  She cut my beautiful black down jacket to gain access to my broken arm, which caused a mass of feathers to swirl around as I lay tied to a backboard in horrid pain.  The lady could not get an IV in because my arm was so cold (veins shrunk), therefore no pain meds yet.

At the hospital, five more nurses tried (at different times) to put in a damn IV, and decided to wrap my arm (non broken one) in hot towels to open up the veins.  Finally, access to my blood supply was reached, Dilaudid was sent in, and...I was still in pain.  Luckily in the case of having broken bones, docs are really liberal with the pain meds, so I received, another dose, and another, and another...until I was (as they stated) "in happy land".  By the way, for all of you who are against western medicine, go break a bone or two, and then come tell me how shitty our care here is (meaning that I thank the medicine gods for american hospitals).

Obviously after this, I could not drive home, so it was off to SF with my friend to recoup (where, if you read one of my previous posts, I had a hard time finding places to stay.  Friends sometimes become assholes when one is in need).  If you have seen my photos, notice the full arm cast that I sported, that is until my arm swelled and it had to be cut off. 

goes up to my armpit.

I was determined not to let this trip go to waste, and managed to stay a couple of nights with a good friend and her boyfriend, enjoy a night on the town with a long lost pal that drove in from Oakland, and take a bunch of photos with my good hand.  Some of these pics are of the Asian Art museum and its amazing exhibits.  One statue in particular, really touched my heart, and I want to share it with you.

They also have an amazing original Japanese samurai warrror's armor...my son loved this pic

and this one

The museum is across from the gorgeous city hall.  I fell in love with the architecture that is absent in LA, and also these trees in front of the building.  Their symmetrical placement makes for nice shots, and I have a weird obsession with symmetry.  There was this drunk man cursing and dancing with flags, but I only managed to snap his pic as he layed down. 

After almost a week in SF, I finally felt good enough to return home, and headed south under the bay bridge.  The pic below was taken by moi, while driving (I tend to do this...), as I enjoy capturing the mundane. 

(no photos of friends were placed here to protect their privacy)

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