Hammer and the Nail

The 2010 Tour de France was not kind to Lance Armstrong. After 7 years of winning and having relatively good luck in terms of punctures, crashes, and sickness, 2010 was perhaps an occasion to catch up on all of that good luck, with bad luck.

"It's the nature of the sport. Sometimes you're the hammer, sometimes you're the nail. Today I was the nail. I have 20 days now to be the hammer". This was after Stage 3. There would be no more hammers in the Tour for Lance.

And sometimes you have weeks like that yes? I've not really been the hammer, but I do know what the nail feels like. This week was so bad I think I was the board.

It started poorly Friday night. I felt a bit woozy walking the concourse during the Blue Jackets game, so I left in between the 2nd and 3rd periods. I got up to use the restroom in the middle of the night and I had a horrible, splitting headache. I couldn't get the aspirin bottle open, I was feeling miserable, so I opted for a glass of water and then back to bed.

Instead I dropped the glass in the sink and promptly passed out, spilling Alex's water bowl. I came to with a nice cold feeling on my cheek (was probably feverish) and soaking wet. And yes fortunately I had used the toilet prior to this!

So I spent the next 4 days in bed. And Alex was sick herself so while she tried to come and cuddle I was too sick, she was too sick and it didn't work out.

Then due to NWA hosting Princesses on Ice I worked late the next 3 days. Friday night when I got home I couldn't find Alex. And I knew it probably wasn't a good sign.

She was in the basement, struggling to breathe. She didn't really want to be held so I left her. She made it upstairs onto the blanket Cindy made me. I slept a bit but could hear her struggling so we spent the rest of the night up together, waiting.

And then the heat went out. On one of the coldest nights of the winter.

And gradually I knew with Alex it was time. I headed up to get dressed and she jumped up to her window bed, still quite able to get up and around, making the decision harder. But it was time and Alex passed away just before 8:00 friday morning at the vets. And I still had no heat.

It hadn't been a very good week.

Sometimes you're the hammer. Sometimes you're the nail. And sometimes it feels like you are the board, getting pummeled from all sides.

I hope this week is better.