Basement of DOOM or where I have been for two months.

 Are we there yet?

Well, no, but the good news is, I have a computer, and a desk, and a chair. It's a start.

Just over two months ago we moved, for those of you who don't know, and to say that in the time since it has been chaos around here...would be an understatement.

However! Never fear! Things are coming together. The basement that was almost completely unfinished, not counting the sixty year old carpet, has a brand new, fresh, clean, and spider free, finish. The TV is now mounted and the kids game systems (my game systems, but kids sounds better) has been hooked up and is functioning. The home schooling computers, and my writing machine, are set up in their own space, along with the treadmill. Pictures are getting closer to being hung, everything is looking more and more like it's time to start writing again.

I even sat down with full intent to open up the first chapter of 'The Event' and do a small re-write of the opening that has been rolling around in my head for over a week now...hmn, with that in mind...I have a file to open up!

I leave you all with some pictures of the before, and after, of our basement.

Feel free to ignore the orange couch...it is almost as old as I am, but still too comfortable to throw away...perhaps one day soon I will be able to buy our family a new one...perhaps.

Pain

Pain...
Everyone has it in some level.
I know this to be true.
Some people get headaches, others deal with emotional pain, while still others deal with the physical pain.
I have the physical pain.
There is a problem though. I was raised to be tough. Don't show your pain. Keep it inside and just deal with it.
That only works for a while.
What do you do when you can't do that anymore?
As a "man" society expects you to get over it. Deal with it. Move on.
I have been, I am, and I still will, but...how much can a person take before it breaks them?
What is my breaking point?

I injured my shoulder at work. There was no blood, there was no screaming. I just did it, and for years now I have been sucking it up. Yes, years. The last has been the worst.

I noticed in the spring of last year I had a real problem when I tried to throw a ball for my son. I would toss it a ways and he would run after it laughing. "Throw it farther Dad!" So I did...try.
I was never a slouch at throwing a ball, I could toss one from the outfield to the infield with little difficulty. I tried to throw it far and it barely went 20 feet, and a gun shot went off in my arm.
I had to tell him I couldn't throw a ball.
Spring is coming up again fast, and already he is asking me to do things I just can't do.
I can't climb a rope one handed. I can't play at the park one handed (very well). The list is sure to grow as we will be taking out the bikes soon...
So I am scheduled for surgery in the near future. The specialist has informed me I will need at least 6 weeks off work. Or at the very least, I can't move my arm after the surgery.
I am hating this.
I don't want to be "That guy".
I want to keep "Sucking it up for the company I have worked 18 years for."
I don't want to be the "Trouble employee".
Yet, I know, if I don't get this done I will never heal properly. I will not get the chance to throw a ball for my boy.
My mind is so conflicted here, I want it all to be swept under the rug. I want to pretend I am fine and there is nothing wrong. The people I deal with every day don't see my pain, usually. Most don't even notice I am only using half my body, let alone care.
One particular person actually keeps trying to tell me to hit the gym. "You need to work out." he says.
He doesn't know, or care, that I can't even lift a bottle with my right arm without feeling the heat in my neck, the rip in my shoulder, or the swelling in my right hand from over use.
I am just an employee to be used.
My state doesn't matter.
Just do your job and deal with the
Pain...