hurting myself.

I am prone to injury. I am not sure how this came to be. Maybe it is hereditary (my dad seems to have a similar problem). I did it again. I was in a bouldering competition on Saturday. Originally, I wasn't going to compete because I am still recovering from the sprained left ankle injury of three months ago. I started rope climbing again a month ago and have felt totally comfortable with the bouldering for just a couple of weeks. Since my climbing abilities are still lacking (compared to where they were before my injury), I wasn't going to climb on Saturday. Well, my friends thought that that was silly and urged me to climb. So, I did. It was good, I was doing far better than I had anticipated. Then, I did something stupid. I was working a problem without a crash pad, I came off the wall in a bad way and I landed in a worse way. This time it was the right ankle. The doctor on site was sure it was broken, so Ian took me to the ER. It isn't broken, just a sprain. I got a new set of crutches. It is swollen like a grapefruit.

Strange, when I did it, it hurt far worse than last time. It immediately swelled faster and fatter than last time. Now, three days later, it is still more swollen and the bruising is better too, but the pain is much less. I can't decide if it just doesn't feel as bad because I am used to this type of pain, or if it really hurts less. I went to my doctor yesterday and he said that I didn't have to use the crutches unless I wanted to (they won't really make my recovery any faster), so I deep-sixed them. I hate crutches.

So, I am pissed. I can't climb again, but give me a couple of weeks and I will be good to go. I placed 6th out of 13 in the comp. This may not seem so good, but considering this was my first comp and I was climbing on an injured ankle, it is quite good. I am quite proud of myself. Overall, it was a good time. The comp was swell. Ian and I had a great time in the ER. We went to the after party and then the after after party. I drank my sorrows and my pain away, and since have been amazingly upbeat.

Do you recall me ever talking about how sad the state of the ER at O'Bleness is? Well, the last two times I have gone to the ER was in Athens, and at the time, it was quite disappointing. Saturday, I went to the ER at Akron General, which I hadn't been to since high school. It was awful. Keep in mind, my doctor friend, Noah (who is an ER doc at Akron General), was at the comp. He called the ER before I went, told them that I was coming and pre-ordered x-rays. So, all of my issues were completely non-wait related. We were in and out in approx. 2 hours. This aspect of the experience was beautiful. But still, the overall visit was terrible! Give me O'Bleness any day, really.

Also, I saw Peter Ipnar. That was weird. He swears like a sailor now. I didn't ask him, but I think that all that I have heard is true. It kind of made me sad.