Slight mishap...
I am such a klutz.
At the point where I change buses I have a 15 minute wait in front of a high school. I don't like sitting down there because there is a big soda machine right next to the stop that blocks my view of the street, and also the bus driver can't see me sitting there. If I stand where I can see, I'm blocking the path of all the students coming to class. So today I figured I had plenty of time so I would just walk to the next stop. I had enough time, and I could use the walk.
Actually the next stop was still in front of the high school, so I kept going. It's one of those typical Southern California neighborhoods where the houses are surrounded with 7 foot cinderblock walls, and the main artery streets in residential areas are really rather ugly. The sidewalk runs next to the wall, and there's a dirt strip next to the road. In newer, more well-to-do areas, these may be prettily landscaped (either part of your taxes or your homeowner association dues), but in older neighborhoods, either there's a bare dirt strip or the sidewalk goes all the way to the curb.
Anyhow, I knew I had plenty of time before the bus came; however, I couldn't keep myself from looking over my shoulder to check. On one of these checks, though, the turning of my head coincided with stepping off the edge of the sidewalk into the dirt, tripping, and totally going sprawling onto the sidewalk. In front of a street full cars and bunch of high school students walking by, no less. I picked myself up and inspected the damage. A bleeding pinkie knuckle and a scraped knee, and a pair jeans I won't be able to wear to work anymore because now there's a hole in the knee. Ah well, if it'd been thirty years in the future, I could've broken a hip.
The next stop wasn't until after the next signal, a half-mile from the first, not too far, and I still had a few minutes to wait. Luckily we have a first aid kit in the wetlab,so I was able to patch myself up ok. Note to self: spare pair of pants at work. I should have them here anyway, in case I have to run to the docks, but since I usually wear jeans anyway, I haven't had the need to change.
At the point where I change buses I have a 15 minute wait in front of a high school. I don't like sitting down there because there is a big soda machine right next to the stop that blocks my view of the street, and also the bus driver can't see me sitting there. If I stand where I can see, I'm blocking the path of all the students coming to class. So today I figured I had plenty of time so I would just walk to the next stop. I had enough time, and I could use the walk.
Actually the next stop was still in front of the high school, so I kept going. It's one of those typical Southern California neighborhoods where the houses are surrounded with 7 foot cinderblock walls, and the main artery streets in residential areas are really rather ugly. The sidewalk runs next to the wall, and there's a dirt strip next to the road. In newer, more well-to-do areas, these may be prettily landscaped (either part of your taxes or your homeowner association dues), but in older neighborhoods, either there's a bare dirt strip or the sidewalk goes all the way to the curb.
Anyhow, I knew I had plenty of time before the bus came; however, I couldn't keep myself from looking over my shoulder to check. On one of these checks, though, the turning of my head coincided with stepping off the edge of the sidewalk into the dirt, tripping, and totally going sprawling onto the sidewalk. In front of a street full cars and bunch of high school students walking by, no less. I picked myself up and inspected the damage. A bleeding pinkie knuckle and a scraped knee, and a pair jeans I won't be able to wear to work anymore because now there's a hole in the knee. Ah well, if it'd been thirty years in the future, I could've broken a hip.
The next stop wasn't until after the next signal, a half-mile from the first, not too far, and I still had a few minutes to wait. Luckily we have a first aid kit in the wetlab,so I was able to patch myself up ok. Note to self: spare pair of pants at work. I should have them here anyway, in case I have to run to the docks, but since I usually wear jeans anyway, I haven't had the need to change.