I got my boots on and am back in the bloggin’ saddle.

Thank you, though, for this brief break, brought to you by…

…old age and the lessened ability to multitask. 🙂

In the last episode of BHD’s Musings, I stated that I had re-injured my back and was unable to concentrate on writing for this blog. I also said that I was about to depart for……where I facilitated five concurrent and sequential meetings for some 150 people from all over the U.S. and Canada. Yep, I was responsible for planning, organizing, executing, facilitating, and running those meetings. Quite a chore, but I actually enjoy that kind of work.

Back to my back for a bit … while I was unhappy that I had reinjured a bone in my back, thus placing pressure on my sciatic nerve and making it painful to walk, sit, or lie down, I survived. Grateful that Excedrin works for me, and nothing stronger or narcotic was needed. (I would avoid narcotic drugs at all costs… not for me, being so sensitive them.)

I babied my back, and while it was very hard for me to do, I asked other people for help. My spouse carried my suitcase to my truck, and I dropped it with at curbside check-in at the airport (even ponied up a tip, much to the chagrin of the frugal side of my wallet.) I let others help me along the way, including seat mates who lifted my carry-on to the overhead storage compartment.

Let me tell ya, asking others for help is not easy for me, but I knew deep-down that if I attempted to lift heavy things, the back injury and pain could get much worse. It was bad enough, thank you.

With babying the back and being ultra-careful, by today (two weeks after injury), I am feeling better. Not perfect, but not in nearly as much pain. My doc and I will discuss it in person this coming week. Oh joy… another physical exam. How I dislike them, but know their necessity. (Just no blood draw; I don’t do needles, no-how, no way.)

My business trip last week was good, though I had to tap my organizational skills when inclement weather (more than a foot of snow) closed our meeting location for a partial day, and about 30 participants were delayed on arriving for the meetings. I even organized feeding 100 people when the cafeteria in the building where we were meeting was closed — and it worked out financially even (I didn’t lose or gain money.)

Due to the weather, we advised that the dress code was casual — jeans, warm shirts, and boots were the norm. And most men wore boots at my meetings! Yay! While most boots were of the snow-warmth variety and looked rounded and dorky, they were boots, nonetheless.

I wore my Chippewa hikers and Chippewa (tan) loggers throughout the events — hikers on the plane, and loggers in the snow. Hikers with khakis and Loggers with Wranglers — on stage before 100 people. No problem.

The hikers even passed through airport security (at both airports that I flew out of) without setting off the alarm — wow! I am grateful that TSA-pre lets me keep my boots on.

Now I have a week of follow-up activities to do. Post presentations, meeting minutes, and notes on web pages, and send communications to meeting attendees about reimbursements and other required after-the-meeting activities. All in a day’s work. And work I love to do, despite the tedium.

But for now, I will enjoy being back home in the arms of my beloved spouse. While he watches that stupid bowl late tonight, I’ll be dreaming in sweet slumber, preparing for my usual early rise and arrival at oh-dark-30 at the office to get a jump on my meeting follow-ups.

Life is short: love what you do!