A Thoroughly BAD Day!

[rusty_armour]

Next time it's around 11:30 am on a Sunday and I don't want to get out of bed, I think I'll listen to my body and do just that! Believe it or not, I managed to break both my finger and my computer in the same afternoon. Okay, I didn't break my finger, but it's pretty badly sprained. We're talking swelling and bruising and quite a bit of pain in general:




Gorgeous, isn't it? Not as impressive as my ankle when I sprained it a few years ago, but still a thing of beauty, I think. Work sure is going to be fun tomorrow. *g*

Not long after injuring my finger, I turned on my computer to discover that Windows wasn't working. I tried turning the computer on and off a few times and still no joy. Then, when I couldn't find a Dell technical support number in the phone book, I called my parents to see if my brother could track down a number for me. I also asked my mom for advice on my sprained finger, and she agreed that I probably should have stayed in bed this morning. In fact, she suggested that I sit down quietly for a while and try not to move. However, I still had a number of dishes to wash, so I did that in an attempt to calm down before calling Dell technical support. Miraculously, I didn't break anything, though my finger was more swollen afterwards. Not a big surprise.

It took about an hour & 1/2 and $129 off my credit card (as my warranty expired some time ago), but my computer seems to be okay now. However, I'll be backing up my original fiction research and sending a copy of my Merchant Ivory porn to myself in case I run into the same problem. God, I feel so sorry for the poor guy in India who had to spend so long with me on the phone. I hope he goes out for a drink after work to recover. I know I'm certainly tempted to down a large quantity of booze!

Comments

[fengirl88.livejournal.com]

owww. glad it's not broken but that looks painful.

sorry to hear about the computer, too.

*offers you virtual tea and actual sympathy*

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

owww. glad it's not broken but that looks painful.

Yes, I'm grateful that it isn't broken. And I'm lucky that it was the baby finger on the left hand as opposed to the right one -- or one of the more useful digits on either hand, such as the index finger or thumb.

sorry to hear about the computer, too.

I'm just so frickin' relieved that it appears to be working again. The tech guy in India gave me a direct number to call if I ran into any more problems in the next couple of days. I'm really hoping I don't have to use it.

*offers you virtual tea and actual sympathy*

Ah, thank you, fengirl88! Both are very much appreciated! :-) Now that I'm eating dinner, drinking some Guiness, and reading a John/Lestrade fic, I'm not doing too badly. *g* I don't know if you've come across this one, but it's called Can't Start A Fire Without A Spark (http://sherlockbbc-fic.livejournal.com/9640.html?thread=47384232#t47384232) and I found it at sherlockbbc_fic.

[avictoriangirl]

Owww, that looks very painful. :( *hugs*

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

*Return hugs* Yeah, it's pretty painful. I'm icing it off and on and that seems to be helping. My mom suggested that I bandage it to the finger next to it, but I think it's too swollen for that. Maybe I'll just put a band-aid or two around it to act as a kind of tensor bandage. Anywaaaaaay, thank you very much for the hugs and sympathy, avictoriangirl. :-)

[avictoriangirl]

I've taped up broken toes to the one next to it before, but never tried a finger before. As long as you don't bandage it too tight, it should be ok. :|

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

I'll probably try it when the swelling goes down a bit. Right now, my baby finger really doesn't want to move that way. *g*

My mom used to be a nurse, so I'm guessing she's seen or heard about sprained fingers being bandaged this way. Thanks for the reminder about not tying the bandage too tight. Cutting off the circulation in my baby finger would be a bit not good. ;-)

[radiogaga80.livejournal.com]

Ow - that looks very painful! :(
And computer woes... don't get me started. *G* Glad it's solved now though!
Sending well wishes to the baby finger. :)

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Ow - that looks very painful! :(

Actually, I'm wishing I'd waited a few hours to take a picture because the bruising is much more pronounced now. *g* Yeah, it's pretty painful, though wrapping two bandages around the finger has helped quite a bit. :-)

And computer woes... don't get me started. *G* Glad it's solved now though!

I did think of you yesterday when I was experiencing my computer woes. I'm nervous about turning my computer on tonight in case the same thing happens, but I think everything should be okay.

Sending well wishes to the baby finger. :)

My baby finger and I both thank you! :-)

[karen9.livejournal.com]

Ow! That looks sore. Much sympathy and my remedy for most things: *a nice cuppa tea!* It's lucky that it's not your right hand.

The only support for your computer problems is in India? Let's hope your pc is okay now.

Sunday morning is for staying in bed you know, though you may use a laptop. In the winter I tend to get dressed and then get back into bed with a book and yet another cup of tea.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Ow! That looks sore. Much sympathy and my remedy for most things: *a nice cuppa tea!* It's lucky that it's not your right hand.

I may very well turn to tea tonight as I think I'm out of alcohol. *g* I'm grateful that it wasn't the baby finger on my right hand, though even disabling this finger presents challenges. Typing alone has been a bit frustrating, though I'm slowly getting used to using a keyboard without my left pinky.

The only support for your computer problems is in India? Let's hope your pc is okay now.

Maybe this only happens in North America, but a lot of tech support comes from India. India is really up and coming in terms of this particular area. In any case, I'm also really hoping my PC is okay.

Sunday morning is for staying in bed you know, though you may use a laptop. In the winter I tend to get dressed and then get back into bed with a book and yet another cup of tea.

Well, in my case, I was sleeping the day away. *g* To be honest, I do spend a lot of time lounging on my bed -- I just prefer to be awake if it's after 11:00 am. I feel as if I'm wasting the day away if I'm not at least conscious. ;-)

[karen9.livejournal.com]

Well, in my case, I was sleeping the day away. *g* To be honest, I do spend a lot of time lounging on my bed -- I just prefer to be awake if it's after 11:00 am. I feel as if I'm wasting the day away if I'm not at least conscious.

I agree - I usually wake up fairly early on a Sunday - about 7 a.m. Feed cats, make tea, back to bed.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

The need to feed your cats is one of the only reasons I can see for getting up at 7:00 am on a Sunday -- not that they give you any choice in the matter. *g*

[funkyinfishnet.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Oh darling, I'm so sorry to hear about your finger and your computer :( It does sound like you had a rotten day, how awful for you. I'm glad your computer's going okay though and I really hope that your finger heals up soon. Good luck with all your fic backing up.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

*Hugs back* Thank you for your kind words and sympathy, funkyinfishnet. :-) I'm keeping my fingers crossed for my computer, though I think the issue has been resolved. I guess I'll know tonight when I try turning it on. I did back up a number of things last night, so I'll be somewhat prepared if I run into another computer problem. As for my finger, I'm hoping it won't take too long to heal. Unfortunately, sprains don't usually heal quickly. I sprained my ankle a few years ago and I remember the recovery process taking longer than I would have liked. *g*

[tazzles.livejournal.com]

You did a good job there! Looks sore!

Sorry to hear about the computer. At least you've gotten it fixed.

Look after yourself. *gentle hug*

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

You did a good job there! Looks sore!

You should see it now! It's all black and purple! \o/ I'll have to take another picture tonight as I apparently have no shame. *g*

Sorry to hear about the computer. At least you've gotten it fixed.

I don't want to get too excited in case I run into another problem, but I think it should be okay.

Look after yourself. *gentle hug*

*Gives a hug in return* Thanks, tazzles. :-) I'll do my best to look after my finger and try not to injure myself anymore. *g*

[njc2007.livejournal.com]

Make sure you put some cotton between the fingers when you tape them together. I didn't do that with toes and caught hell from the doctor.

I feel for you. Sprains are much worse than breaks; they take longer to heal.

Funny, my computer died on me Sunday morning too. I vacuumed out the accumulated dust and reconnected the connectors I dislodged with the vacuum. All is good. Apparently, the mass of dust was causing it to overheat and shut down randomly.

I hope your finger feels better soon.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Make sure you put some cotton between the fingers when you tape them together. I didn't do that with toes and caught hell from the doctor.

Good advice! I'll remember that if I do tape my fingers together. Right now, I've just got two bandages wrapped around the injured finger because it's too painful to tape it to my ring finger.

I feel for you. Sprains are much worse than breaks; they take longer to heal.

Yeah, sprains are a bitch. I sprained my ankle a few years ago and it took ages for it to heal completely. :-(

Funny, my computer died on me Sunday morning too. I vacuumed out the accumulated dust and reconnected the connectors I dislodged with the vacuum. All is good. Apparently, the mass of dust was causing it to overheat and shut down randomly.

It's great that you were able to find such an easy fix for your computer problem! Smart thinkin' there! :-)

I hope your finger feels better soon.

Thank you very much, njc2007! Here's hoping! :-)

[njc2007.livejournal.com]

Oh, I have known about the dust causing overheating for several months now. I just was too lazy to get the vacuum out before it got super annoying by rebooting every hour or so.

How is your finger doing? And is your computer still functioning adequately?

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

I think my finger is a little better today. I could be imagining things, but I believe a tiny bit of the swelling has gone down. As for my computer, it seems to be doing okay. I managed to get into Windows when I turned it on last night and haven't run into any other problems. Here's hoping it stays that way. :-)

[crimsoncorundum.livejournal.com]

Ouch. That looks painful. I'm sorry you had such a bad day. :( Believe me, I know how you feel.

Maybe you should stay in bed for a few days to minimize the strain on that finger? And have some booze and/or chocolate (and read some good fics). :)

Hang in there.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Ouch. That looks painful. I'm sorry you had such a bad day. :( Believe me, I know how you feel.

Thanks for your kind words and empathy, crimsoncorundum. :-)

Maybe you should stay in bed for a few days to minimize the strain on that finger? And have some booze and/or chocolate (and read some good fics). :)

As tempting as that sounds, I really can't justify taking a few days off for a sprained finger -- not when I'm still able to work. Besides, it's really not that bad, especially with bandaging, icing, etc. It's also a shorter week as Friday is a holiday (Canada Day), so that makes things a little easier as well. :-)

Hang in there.

Oh, I'll be okay. I haven't managed to destroy anything or injure myself again today, so things are already looking up. ;-)