the weekend that was

Oh hell where to begin.

The weekend that was supposed to be a nice get away- a free trip to TO (giving me full justification to do some shopping) hanging with mom in the evenings, enjoying free food and drinks in the hospitality suites (let me tell you, 500+ catholic teachers know how to party.

The trip started off bad and got worse as the weekend went on. And seriously people, I’m not exaggerating. I think I cried every day because of the crap that was thrown my way. There were so many events that I better do it in chronological order so not to forget any. And I warn you, it’s gonna be a long post…

I brought Tiffer to the vet to be boarded for the weekend as planned, and then went to work so that I can hurry up and write a huge email explaining to clients (and their managers) my research recommendations for the project that has suddenly started an evil downward spiral. With my train leaving at 12:30 I absolutely had to leave work by 11:15 at the latest. I left at 11:35. Ran home and grabbed the suitcase that was 95% packed (if you called literally throwing clothes into a suitcase “packed”). Called a cab and was put on hold, so hung up knowing full well they wouldn’t come in time. I decided to drive to the train station (which takes all of 1 minute and 45 seconds if all three sets of lights are green) and pay for the weekend parking- which wasn’t that much. I ended up thinking this was a fantastic idea since I’d then be able to pick up the cat from the vet once my train got in on Monday and head in to work for that afternoon. Seeing the train in front of me, hearing the “now boarding/Final call announcement, I ran to the station with my laptop bag over my shoulder dragging my wheeled suitcase and carry-on behind me. I enter through the sliding door and start trotting/jogging to the Panorama lounge to get my ticket. I fall. Yep wiped out completely, hearing a loud “crack” on my way down. Feeling complete agony (and embarrassment) I look at my boots to see if a heel broke. No such luck, that crack was not my boot. I look around, and go figure, NO one in the train station bothered to rush to me to see if I was ok.. Normally, I wouldn’t really mind, I mena in all honesty, most of the time I would rather everyone do as they just did and completely ignore what they just saw. However this time, I couldn’t get up. I actually needed help. Alone, I managed to shuffle my legs underneath me to get up with my “good” left leg. I hobbled with tears swelling up in my eyes to the lounge to get my ticket to then head to the train. Of course being in VIA1, it was the very first car on the train, so I had to walk/run forever. I head down the aisle to my seat and see that the drink cart has already passed my seat. As I’m passing the lady does ask did you want a drink? (lady if you knew the pain I was in, you’d leave the bottle). Due to the excruciating pain, I momentarily forgot about the amazing caesars that VIA makes. They're so good, but I ask for a glass of wine in haste. After remembering about the caesars, I down the wine and ask for one. I get a look from the VIA lady. I look back and smile. I then look for my cell phone, which is not in my purse. Considering I was going to be meeting up with 4 friends over the weekend and wondering the streets of TO alone, not having my cell phone was not ideal. Once I relax, listening to the music on my computer (oh did I forget to mention that my ipod’s battery was dead?) Right, so I feel my feet vibrate. I think WOHOO I have my phone. I look in my carry-on bag that my foot was reasting on, no cell phone. Damn must have been ‘wishful-vibrating” (that sounds so much worse than I mean hehe). About 10 minutes later, again I feel it. Ok I’m not crazy- I search through again, and lo and behold I find the cell phone wrapped in my black pashmina that I threw in my bag. PHEW I’m connected to the world. It was mom calling, she was on her train – in first class, enjoying her own Caesar- making sure I was on the train. I cried to her telling her about my ankle and that no one helped me. She kinda laughed it off, told me to have another Caesar and then we arranged who was going to go to the store across from the hotel to get the cranberry juice to go with the amaretto she was brigning.

I finally get to the hotel at 6pm, still in pain, and as I get off the elevator on the 17th floor, so did mom from the opposing elevator. I went from 27 years old to 7 years old in 2.2 seconds. The power of being around your mommy when you’re not feeling good is astounding. She took two looks at at my ankle, and made a couple calls for second opinions, and then she followed her motherly instincts and dragged her daughter kicking and screeming to the emergency room of a Toronto hospital.

7pm arrive at Mount Sinai
I gave pain rating 7 out of 10 to the triage nurse (mom then smacks me upside the head)
No pain killers
No ice pack
Beg mom to ask for ice pack
Tell nurse to change my pain rating to 12 (out of 10)
9:30pm Got in for x rays
Still no pain killers
Waiting for doctor to look at xrays
Nurse tells us the computer system is down (apparently computer glitches are the new thing) So the doctor has to go upstairs to look at the xrays
12:30 (12 hours after the accident) FINALLY GET PAINKILLERS!!!!!!!!!!
1:30 the news hit: Since the computer system is down, the doctor can’t get a clear view of the xrays. The computer system won’t be back up till 3am. They’ll give me a splint, wrap up my ankle, set me up with crutches send me back to the hotel and call me once they get the results and let me know if I need to come back for a cast.

We went back to the hotel and ordered room service at 2am. The nurse called at 6:20. It wasn’t broken. I was told to go to the doctor’s when I got back to Ottawa so I can get recommended for physio and the like. Poor mom- she had to get start working at 8:30 that morning, in front of 600 teachers.

Saturday my day was ruined. I was so high on percocet that I slept all day. I had to cancel my visits with two friends and postpone the shopping I had planned for the day. I wasn’t able to go to the Southern Hospitality suite with mom or meet and greet with new people. We had already missed the charity casino night Friday night since we were at the hospital. We went to fill the prescription and had dinner at the hotel. When we were done eating, I didn’t have the energy to use my crutches to get back to the room, so asked mom to get me the wheelchair she’s been insisting I use. Feeling so bad, we started to wonder if I should get back to Ottawa ASAP.

After over 12 hours of sleep, I felt better on Sunday. I had lunch with mom again whereby she tells me how great Stephen Lewis’ speech was. I turn to her and my mouth drops. She knew the booboo she had made. “Oh honey, I’m so sorry, I didn’t even think of it, and I totally could have gotten you in!”. Oh for crying out loud. In the elevator back to the room, we then hear stories about who met the Ottawa Senators and got their autographs- WHAT the Sens were staying at our hotel Friday night and Saturday and me on crutches and from Ottawa- did not run into any of them! I was too drugged to notice! Oh heavens!
After lunch, I ventured to the Eaton centre for an hour’s worth of shopping- it’s amazing what I can do in an hour and on crutches- I amaze myself!!!! H&M rocks!

I also got to see my old roommate Erin and met her new boyfriend. It was so great to see her again. We hung out for an hour. It was awesome.

I then had to get back to the hotel to put some ice on the ankle and get ready for the gala dinner. Luckily I was able to put the fishnets over the tensor bandage and get my foot into the cute patent-leather peep-toe shoes. With one crutch in tow, mom and I went down to the dinner. Gerard Kennedy was getting an award, so it was great to hear him speak. He’s hot. I also got to hang out with my friend Trina. Trina’s dad and my mom have known each other for YEARS. Trina and I went to high school together and whenever I get to TO, I love to hang out with her and catch up. We did so after the big dinner.

Monday morning, I head to the train station with mom’s help, only to find out that due to a CN derailment I had to take the bus from TO to Ottawa. FUN! With my crutches no less. Lovely.

Let me just say this- the VIA people- not good- from beginning to end, they weren’t helpful at all- I got more help from fellow passengers than from staff. Needless to say, they’ll be getting quite the letter from me in the next few days.

All in all it was quite the trip. It was good to see mom. Unfortunately it was overshadowed by all the crap being thrown my way.

So much for my mini-vacation!