Oops...

Today I put on a pair of jeans that I had just washed, stuck my hand in the back pocket and pulled out this:



My unused bus ticket. BOO.

In Italy, bus tickets have to be validated when you get on the bus by putting them in a little machine to get stamped, like GO bus or GO train tickets.

Do you think my nice, clean bus ticket will still work? If it does, then I guess this will be the one and only time I will be thankful that Italy doesn't have dryers.

The Thumb Saga: Chapter 257

If anything else interesting or exciting besides updates about my thumb happens to me, trust me, you'll be the first to know. I myself am to the point where I don't really give a flying whatever anymore.

Bottom line: Yes it is still broken, but the hand surgeon doesn't feel that it needs surgery because I am not a world class pianist and therefore don't REALLY need proper use of my thumb. Besides, the joint that I broke is not the really important one anyways, and surgery involves cutting, etc. so I have been advised to just start using it.

I ask, why did I even bother GOING to the damn hospital in the first place? I only went so that it would heal properly and I wouldn't be stuck with a messed up and deformed thumb for the rest of my life. But it hasn't healed properly and will be messed up and deformed, so please somebody explain to me WHY I wasted all that time and energy consulting doctors when the outcome is no different, or worse, than what would have happened if I had just taped a few popsicle sticks to it myself???

.....

Got a call from the doctor this morning. He consulted the hand surgeon. Apparently my thumb isn't broken anymore. Figure that one out.

Outcome Unknown

Well I called the doctor at 1 and his phone was off. I called again at 4 and no answer. Called about two hours later and left a text message, and still no word. I think I am going to be forced into making an executive decision here.

Still Broken

After my horrible day at the clinic yesterday I decided to call my friend doctor to see what could be done next. I told him that I had gone to the clinic and that when they tired to page him, he was in surgery, so they would not help me at all. He was like "No!" I said oh yes, that they told me to go away (not nice!!!). Since he was working today, he told me to go to emergency after school and call him when I got there.

So after school, I rode my bike to the hospital and called him on my cell phone. I have decided to avoid dealing with the nurses at the reception desks AT ALL COSTS! He came out, told the nurse he had to see me, and took me with him to the examining room, got me x-rays, etc.

Here is how it all went:

I removed the bionic thumb costume. He looked at the previous x-rays, told me the swelling that I still have is normal, squeezed my thumb a bit here and there asking if it hurt, and then asked me to bend my thumb. And I did.....about 4 millimeters. It doesn't bend. At all.

Then he sent me to get some x-rays and I waited around to be called back in to the examining room. When I was called in again, I came in to find him frowning at my latest x-rays. The first thing he asked me when I sat down was if I had been wearing my bionic thumb at all times. I said yes. Then he put my x-rays up on the light board and we went to look at them. I walked over, looked at the x-rays, and said:

"It's still broken."

Yes indeed. My fracture is totally separated. Even the part that was together last time I went to the doctor is now separated. That explains why it is still swollen. And to top it all off, there is a second fracture down where the knuckle connects to the hand that no one told me about before. He looked at the x-ray, took my hand, and pressed on the other spot. It hurt. Yup, another fracture. Lovely, because that one isn't being treated.

So now he doesn't know what to do next. Either I wait 10 more days, or have thumb surgery at a hand clinic. I have to call him on Monday to find out. He has held onto my x-rays I guess to get a second opinion. I will post them once I get them back.

Personally I would go for the operation at this point. It has been 28 days already. If it's not knitting now, it isn't going to start in the next 10 days. And I NEED my thumb! Also, I have a feeling the bionic thumb led to my downfall. It doesn't prevent my wrist from moving, so my thumb is able to slide and twist around. It is actually always moving. The only thing it can't do inside the boinic thumb is bend. So if they do decide to let it go for 10 more days, they need to give me some other kind of cast thing.

Having said all that, I am seriously considering flying home to have it taken care of. Especially if they can't get me in for treatment of some kind this week. We get two days off next week: the 31 and 1. At least at home they will know what they are doing and I won't be refused treatment or verbally abused in the process of trying to get my freaking thumb fixed!

Italian Healthcare Bites

As some of you may remember, I had a slight biking mishap a few weeks ago. Well today was supposed to be my 21 day check-up after the initial 5 day check-up.

As you may also recall, I had a bit of a hard time at the 5 day check-up due to my missing impegnativa, but it managed to get all sorted out, etc. When I left that day, I asked the doctor about getting an impegnativa for the 21 day visit and he said I didn't need one because it was a public hospital and they help everyone; that if I didn't have an impegnativa then they would give me one.

Ok fine.

In the meantime, the Italian friends that I met through Gigi heard about my predicament. Lo and behold, they know an orthopedic doctor, so they gave me his contact info. and we met up a week and a half ago. He works at the same hospital where I was treated, so he told me that if they give me any problems then to just page him and he would take care of it.

Ok fine.

Well, yesterday I called to make an appointment at the clinic but the wouldn't give me one because I don't have that stupid form. The guy on the phone told me to just come in to see if the doctor who helped me was working.

So I did.

Well, let me say that I have never been treated so badly and rudely in my whole life!!! Of course the doctors were not available and since I didn't make an appointment (which I COULDN'T DO!!!) I should basically go to hell.

So then I went to the emergency to see if they would help me, and they also told me to go to hell. Well, first they insulted me over the fact that I didn't have a doctor. "How can you not have a doctor??? EVERYONE has a doctor! Even the pope has a doctor!!!"

What's worse is that they are screaming at you in Italian and you can't even defend yourself because a) you don't have 'telling-off' command of the language, and b) you get too flustered to say what you do know!

If I could have, I would have said something like:

"OH! And where is my doctor??? Did I forget to pick him up at the airport along with my luggage? Sorry, is there a Doctor Vending machine I can go to and choose one? Or does it rain doctors on Sunday? Maybe I should go get one then???"

But the most I could say was:

"I DO have a doctor. IN CANADA!!! [where I'm from! DUH!!!]"

And that was it. No one checked me out. I was flat out REFUSED treatment. They are most helpful here if you ask me.

I Forgot My Cow

Poor Little Pink Cow. The most travelling she has done lately has been from one side of my bedroom to the other.

This Thursday, my mom arrived to visit me in Italy. Before she came, we planned a trip to Paris for the weekend since it was something I had wanted to do with her way back when I was still studying French.

Anyways, we thought that this would be the perfect opportunity (that and the airfare was dead cheap: 0.03 Euro one way plus tax = 22.50 Euro) so yesterday morning we hopped on a plane and off we flew. A more accurate description of events would be to say that we took a local bus to the regional bus terminal, and then a regional bus to the Treviso airport about 75 minutes outside of Padova, checked in, waited around, stood in line for a bit, AND THEN hopped on a plane, but that just sounds way less spontaneous!

On the way to Paris, we flew over the Alps in Austria and Switzerland. Totally amazing. What's nice is that because it was a short flight, we stayed comparatively low to the ground.

When we landed in Paris (more specifically Beauvais), we jumped on a shuttle bus (another 75-80 minutes) and headed into Paris!


Ah Gaie Paris!!! It was lovely. We were only there for a short time, so we didn't get to see much up close, but just being there was enough. And yes, that is a Gap bag you see in my hand. The bus dropped us off right in front of a mall. I couldn't resist. I told you the Gap was evil!

So...we went shopping, then had crepes for lunch, hopped on the metro, saw the Eiffel Tower, took a boat ride down the Seine, ate dinner in the Champs Elysees (dead expensive!!!), returned to the area where we had to catch the bus in the morning, got a hotel, and slept for about 5
hours. What fun!

The city has a really great atmosphere. And much to my surprise:

a) the people there were really nice,

b) they spoke French to me when I spoke French to them,

and perhaps the most surprising thing of all:

c) I can still totally speak French!!!

I guess those 12 years of study weren't a waste after all. I thought for sure I wouldn't remember a thing given that I haven't so much as read 'the other side' of a box of cereal in Canada for the last 8 years. But lo and behold, I was rattling away, conjugating verbs and tenses like nobody's business. Tres bien if I do say so myself.

So that's what I got up to this weekend. But I forgot the cow! I had ideally wanted to get a picture of her with the Eiffel Tower for my blog profile, but alas, it was not to be. I really must try to remember her when I go travelling at Christmas. She *is* my travel mascot after all.

Better Late Than Never

I have got a little caught up this week in all the goings on about which I will shortly update you, my faithful readers. But first let me address a certain thanksgiving issue. It was pointed out to me by SOMEONE that some people still like pie crusts. I however, am not one of those people. And so for you pie crust lovers, I say this: Find your own recipe since I am not going to provide it here.

What I will provide you with, however, is my Bars of Pumpkiny Goodness recipe:

Oatmeal Crust:
3/4 c flour
1/2 c rolled oats (or whatever oats you happen to come across)
1/4 c firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 c butter

1. Combine flour, oats, and sugar in a bowl
2. Add softened butter and mix until crumbly
3. Press in to a 9x9 greased dish
4. Bake at 350 F (176 C for those of you with European ovens. Thank goodness I brought my scientific calculator with me! Does anyone out there actually remember that temperature converting formula?!?!?!) for 15 minutes
5. Remove from oven and let cool

Pumpkin Filling:
16 oz canned pumpkin (or two cups fresh)
2 tbsp flour
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 tbsp softened margerine or butter
1 c sugar
1 c milk
2 tbsp maple syrup
2 large eggs

1. Mix pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, flour, and butter in a large bowl (you could blend if you wanted....we just don't have a blender so I didn't)
2. Add sugar, milk, maple syrup, and eggs
3. Mix well, or blend
4. Pour mixture into pan
5. Bake at 425 F (218 C) for 15 minutes
6. Reduce heat to 350 F (176 C) and bake for 45 minutes or until centre is firm and knife comes back clean from the poking test

And that's it! Make it and enjoy!

Say What?

Apparently I have a half-Spanish, half-English accent when I speak Italian. How funny!

A Few Observations

1) Judging from the soreness of my ass from having ridden my bicycle yesterday and today, I think my suspension system is shot and I need new shock absorbers.

2) Tight, tapered, and colourful jeans are not sexy in the slightest; especially when it comes to men.

3) Older children are more fun to teach that younger children.

4) Making travel plans is exciting

Mmmmm: Bars of Pumpkiny Goodness

Before:

After:

How Obscure is Oatmeal Really?

Today one of the teachers is hosting a Canadian Thanksgiving potluck dinner at her house. I signed up to bring homemade pumpkin pie.

Interesting sidenote: none of the British teachers at my school have ever had pumpkin pie before, so they are quite excited about it.

I went to the local grocery store to see if they had any frozen pie shells. When I didn't see any, I knew I had to figure something out since there was no way I was going to go through the hassle of making pie crust (with a broken thumb no less). Besides, who actually eats the crust of the pie anyways? So when I got home, I started checking out recipes. I found a recipe for Pumpkin Pie Bars with an oatmeal crumble crust. YUM! Plus, I figure it would be easier to locate oatmeal than frozen pie crusts anyways.

So yesterday I went to the grocery store with my little shopping list (partly translated in Italian in case I couldn't find stuff) and came out with everything BUT the oatmeal. Of course. So a little later on that day, on the way to meet a friend, I stopped at another grocery store to ask if they had any oatmeal.

This is the response I got from the clerk:

Oatmeal? And in what capacity do you use oatmeal?

She took me over to some beans and other grain products in bags, just in case the oatmeal might be lurking around with the lentils and corn. But it wasn't. So she directed me down the street to the health food store.

And that is where I found my oatmeal! It wasn't instant, of course. And I still am not sure the lady who sold it to me knows what it is for, but at least I got it. Now I can make my Thanksgiving dessert!

The Lady with the Supersonic Ears

As some of you may recall, a few weeks ago my roommate Gigi and I had a slight mishap with BATS in the middle of the night.

Well. The next day, the old lady who lives below us stopped me on the stairs to tell me that she is an old lady and that she needs her sleep, so if we could please not make any noise after 11pm, she would appreciate it. I apologized and explained that the reason we were stomping around at 1:30am was because we had 6 bats flying around the room. She said she understood, and then repeated the message that we must be quiet after 11pm.

Ok. Fine. I can understand that.

Last week my other roommate Alison had washed the sheets covering the couch and hung them out over the front balcony railing to dry. Then she and Gigi began rearranging the furniture in our living room. It was around 5pm. All of a sudden we hear *knock knock knock* on the door. Actually, we heard the buzzer, but whatever. Guess who?!?!? The old lady. This time her visit was to tell us not to hang our sheets over the front balcony because she doesn't think it looks nice, and to ask us why we were making noise. We told her we were rearranging our living room. She said ok, and then told us not to make noise after 10:30pm because she is old and needs to sleep.

Ok. Fine. A little anal about the sheets maybe, and sorry about the noise, but it was only 5pm.

So last night Gigi, Alison, and I went to a party. When we went to leave, Gigi discovered that someone had spilled red wine all over her jacket and purse. So when we got home at 2am, she put her jacket in the washing machine to prevent it from getting stained. Well, the next morning around 10am, *knock knock knock* on the door. Why were you running the washing machine at 2am? I need to sleep. Please don't make any noise after 10pm.

What the hell???

I am starting to get a little annoyed here. First of all, it's not like we regularly stomp around or do laundry at all hours of the night. In fact, we are usually all in bed before midnight most nights. Secondly, we are quiet. We do not throw parties, or have people over, or even play music! So I am getting a little annoyed at her coming up here complaining to us about how noisy we are. With all due respect, we have to live our lives too, and if that means chasing out bats or cleaning red wine off our clothes, then so be it. I mean, I could understand if we ALWAYS did laundry at 2am. Ok, then you have a right to say something. But one time??? Give me a break.

And how did she even HEAR the washing machine at 2am anyways? My room is right beside the washing machine, and I could barely hear it. She sure has good hearing for an old lady I guess.

75% Safe Returns

I rode my bike out to the electrical store today to buy the plug thingy we needed for our not-fried wireless router. It was a little scary, to tell you the truth, but I made it there and back all in one piece. I am now up to a 75% safe return ratio, given that out of the 4 times I have ridden my bike, I have made it home in one piece for 3 of those times. Not too bad.

Anyways, the point of this post is that I got the router up and running. I am sitting in my room at my desk posting through my wireless connection this very minute! How tech savvy am I???

Still Works!

Yesterday I went off to a computer store with my router and fried plug adaptor in tow to inquire about buying a new plug for the router and checking to see if the router was "spegnente" along with the A/C plug adaptor.

I got to the computer store and explained the situation as best I could in my limited Italian. Nope, couldn't help me there. Try the hardware store down the street.

So off I go down the street to the hardware store. Again I explained the situation. Luckily the guy at the store spoke some English, but didn't have what I needed. He recommended I try the electrical store down the street.

So, off I go down the street in search of the electrical store. I found it and went inside. I explained what had happened to my router, and they got out this voltage meter to check the plug. Yup. Definitely spegnente. Then they got a plug adaptor/electricity transformer all-in-one deal and plugged in the router. Still good!

YAY!!! I am so relieved. The plug we need is only 16 Euro too, which is a relief. So I am going back on Monday after school to buy it because of course I didn't take enough money with me yesterday.