Thanksgiving Saturday and I’m in the office, reading e-mail.
Arrived back in San Francisco last Thursday with no immigration hassles whatsoever. The experience just left me wondering why I’d bothered to spend four whole weeks out of the country when I seemingly could have come back unmolested. Hmm, maybe it was the smart clothing that I’d purchased at De Bijenkorf.
I fell off my bike Tuesday evening and spent most of that evening in the Emergency Room at the St. Francis Memorial Hospital. After some x-rays, it turned out that I had damaged my Achilles tendon. They gave me some major painkillers and crutches, and sent me on my way.
I had to take Wednesday off work sick, and went to see an orthopedist to find out exactly how bad the damage to my foot was. It turned out not to be all that bad; just some spraining, bruising and puncturing. He prescribed me some anti-inflammatory tablets and I spent the rest of the day with my foot elevated and packed in ice.
According to the doctor I saw, it would be several days before the constant pain subsided, six or so days before I could put any weight on the foot, and ten or more days before I would be able to bike again.
Thursday saw me hobble downstairs to the car for the drive to Berkeley for Thanksgiving at friends of Sarah’s folks, who are in town for a week, visiting. It was nice to meet people and spend time in the company of people with whom I do not work.
Yesterday was spent quietly at the flat. I ventured out without my crutches to go to the video shop, since I’m growing tired of being a cripple.
Sarah wanted a day with her folks today, so I was turfed out of the flat. I decided to try riding my bike, so I biked over to Start-to-Finish to get some repairs made to my bike. The front brake mechanism in particular had taken quite a whack in the fall.
After breakfast at Max’s, I biked over to Townsend Street to do some work, from where I’m writing this diary entry.
So, it feels good to be back in San Francisco. It’s especially nice to be able to walk around in a dry environment once again after the constant deluge to which I was subjected in Amsterdam.
The presents I brought back from Amsterdam went down very well, especially the pralines and hagelslag.
I found an on-line store last night that sells hagelslag and lots of similar Dutch treats. The prices are absurd, so I think I’ll just get my ex to send over a box full of goodies from Albert Heijn.
I got offered a job in London a few days ago for GB ₤145,000 (US $200,000) per annum. Sometimes I wonder whether I have my priorities right.