So they say

[HeyMikey]

... that bad things come in three’s.

1. Sprained my left hand, torn ligaments to my little finger. Bandaged and can’t play for at least a month. Typing with one hand.

2. Threw out my back and am laid up for a few days. In a half daze from living on muscle relaxers and ibuprofen.

Still somehow managed pull my self out of bed to run a 7:00 AM meeting and put in my normal 10 hour day of work.

3. Only to be called to a meeting first thing this AM and get laid off by the company I’ve busted my rear at for 16 years.

God I hope that’s it for now.

 

[davismanLV]

Jeeeze, Mike!!! You're beat up on all levels, I'd say!! Sorry to hear this. You've certainly completed your three with accolades!!! Take it easy for a while, huh??

 

[Stuball48]

You will find another job. You were looking for one when you got that one. With all the connections you have made over 16 years, another company noticed.
And hope your health issues make a speedy and positive recovery. Pulling for you from Tennessee.

 

[Guildedagain]

Hang in there and look for silver lining.

I did the same thing to my right hand being stupid, I'm still paying the price, pinky and ring finger ligaments painful as hell.

My back goes out more than I do.

No job to lose.

I use Arnica oil we make at home on all manners of sprains and beat up muscles, the effect is incredible. Put it on at night going to bed, by morning almost normal again.

I also make liniments and use them, a lot.

Wintergrreen is majorly pain relieving. I like to mix it with DMSO, takes it subcutaneously.

Comfrey heals, grows everywhere here. Boneknit they called it in medieval times.

Plantain also, one of sacred Saxon herbs. Majorly healing, the Romans planted it along to roads for wounded soldiers to use.

Broad leaf plantain: natural healing with every step

Anyone who likes to walk would do well to get more familiar with this little plant, broad leaf or common plantain (Plantago major). It is rumoured that Romans sprinkled the seeds along their roads …

thewildpharma.wordpress.com

 

[GGJaguar]

Zoinks! So sorry to hear that. Hope you feel better very soon and land a new job. Just breathe. Tomorrow is another day.

 

[ruedi]

When life hits you like a freight train... heads up heyMikey, take your time to relax and heal your wounds, there will be better times. Sending you lots of energy and confidence.

 

[walrus]

Yikes! Stay upbeat! A new job - a better one - will turn up soon.

2020 cannot end soon enough!

walrus

 

[fronobulax]

Ouch. I'm sorry.

I will say that after my legal use of Quaaludes I did understand why they were abused as recreational drugs...

 

[HeyMikey]

Thanks everyone for your advice and support. Didn’t sleep much last night as I expected. My head is going in 10 different directions.

It’s hard enough to think straight when feeling good but being in pain is not helping. If I could play guitar that would help tremendously, as it is instantly calming. But to look on the bright side at least I still have my original hips, knees, and no broken ankles.

 

[Rich Cohen]

Thanks everyone for your advice and support. Didn’t sleep much last night as I expected. My head is going in 10 different directions.

It’s hard enough to think straight when feeling good but being in pain is not helping. If I could play guitar that would help tremendously, as it is instantly calming. But to look on the bright side at least I still have my original hips, knees, and no broken ankles.

You'll be okay, Mike. You will persist and come out of this pain and mental anguish. Listen to your favorite music.

 

[richardp69]

Good thoughts coming your way. Never did understand why bad things happen to good people.

 

[MartyG]

I've worked for five employers in 40+ years and never left one on my own accord. I know the drill all too well, and it stings bad for a few days. Remember, it's really not personal, work is NOT family, and loyalty is rarely even-Steven. Good news is that each time I landed in another interesting place where I could reinvent myself all over again. Hoping I get to be the one saying goodbye to my current gig - just two more years. Wish me luck...

Here's to the next chapter in the life of Mike!

Marty

 

[Guildedagain]

Back when I had jobs, every time I lost one not of my own accord, got a new one, it was so much better than the one before I wanted to sent the last one a thank you card.

 

[HeyMikey]

Well, now that the initial shock is over and I’m into job search mode, my back is doing better, the one thing still lingering Is my hand. I need to keep my little finger buddied up to my ring finger as a pseudo splint for another month to let the ligaments heal. It’s soooo annoying to have the time to play right now but not the physical ability.

I NEED music to keep my sanity - to escape the fear of not finding a job. I’ve been listening to music but it just makes me want to play. I put on some relaxing Carlos Nakai - Canyon Trilogy on Native American flute. I used to play but haven’t in 3-4 years. Too focused on guitar with my limited time.

Then I thought maybe with now only the two fingers bandaged I could manage it. Pulled out one of my flutes and I can do it! The little fingers are not used. The ring finger on the left hand generally stays fixed covering the third hole on most tunes so I don’t really have to move it. So now I’ll spend the next month on flute to clear my head until my hand is healed. I have music!

Here is my collection of flutes. All of these were made by the late Hawk Littlejohn, who I had the pleasure of meeting a few times in the late 90’s. He was a very spiritual man, healer and gifted flute maker who passed on much too soon. I treasure each of these.

 

[Cougar]

Here is my collection of flutes..... I treasure each of these.

Wow, and no wonder! Those look pretty special!

 

[ruedi]

Well, now that the initial shock is over and I’m into job search mode, my back is doing better, the one thing still lingering Is my hand. I need to keep my little finger buddied up to my ring finger as a pseudo splint for another month to let the ligaments heal. It’s soooo annoying to have the time to play right now but not the physical ability.

I NEED music to keep my sanity - to escape the fear of not finding a job. I’ve been listening to music but it just makes me want to play. I put on some relaxing Carlos Nakai - Canyon Trilogy on Native American flute. I used to play but haven’t in 3-4 years. Too focused on guitar with my limited time.

Then I thought maybe with now only the two fingers bandaged I could manage it. Pulled out one of my flutes and I can do it! The little fingers are not used. The ring finger on the left hand generally stays fixed covering the third hole on most tunes so I don’t really have to move it. So now I’ll spend the next month on flute to clear my head until my hand is healed. I have music!

Here is my collection of flutes. All of these were made by the late Hawk Littlejohn, who I had the pleasure of meeting a few times in the late 90’s. He was a very spiritual man, healer and gifted flute maker who passed on much too soon. I treasure each of these.

These are nice flutes, wow! Good to hear your back is better and you are able to play music again, no matter what instrument. I can relate very well to your statement of needing music to keep your sanity, I feel exactly the same! Do you improvise with the flutes, or play along recordings? Or do you play known melodies?

A guy I brought my didgeridoo a couple of years ago to install a new mouthpiece has a nice selection of such flutes to sell, I was very tempted to buy one at the time, but then forgot about it untill you came up with this post! This is his website: https://www.digidrum.ch/index.php?page_id=2&katid=101 I like it because he's got sound samples for every instrument. I have to stop by there again soon. Flute GAS

I hope your finger is going to heal well and you do not end up like me as "involuntary" lefty guitar player! (I broke my left pinky as a kid, it didn't heal well, and voilà). And good luck for your job search! In which sector are you active?

 

[davismanLV]

Wow, Mike, those are beautiful!! Glad you found a way to make some music during this difficult time. Waiting for things to heal is awful. I can sympathize......

 

[HeyMikey]

Reudi I pretty much just improvise and play by ear. A lot is based on core phrases that I've heard from recordings and I improvise around those depending on whatever comes to me. I'm not a good player but at one point was decent enough and could turn things into "songs" that I could mostly repeat. Even the simplest phrases from these instruments sound wonderful and haunting, especially with some delay and reverb. I used to have a mentor that I'd play with occasionally and would pick up some tricks each time, but he moved away so I haven't played in years. He could really make these things sing.

Yeah Tom, I know you can sympathize! Way more than anyone should have to...

But anyway, this will be a lot of fun if not therapeutic. Sometimes the universe moves in mysterious ways and things happen for a reason.

 

[walrus]

Just a thought - learn some slide guitar?

walrus

 

[HeyMikey]

Just a thought - learn some slide guitar?

walrus

Interesting thought. I do have a slide Somewhere but am horrible at it. Maybe I’ll give that a whirl too.