February 18, 2013 -- Notfall Aufnahme

February 18,  2013

This is one entry where I had trouble deciding on a title as there were so many options.  I opted for "Notfall Aufnhme."  For those of you who do not know "Notfall Aufnahme" is Emergency Room in German.  I could have just as easily gone with "All my German Class buddies went skiing for FIS ski week except me and I got injured" or even "It is hard getting old."  As I will explain, all of them work.

It started out a beautiful mild day in Germany, even the sun was out.  I decided it was a good day to start running again.  I went to FIS's gym, ran a mile on the treadmill and walked a mile with a steep incline.  Feeling pretty good, I went home and took the dogs for an hour and a half walk.  Later in the afternoon, Sarah asked me to meet her at FIS so she could pitch to me (she was a counselor in a basketball camp this week).  Even after catching Sarah for a half an hour (I sit in a chair), I was still in one piece.  The problem occurred when I started to shoot baskets with Sarah's teammate.  As I dribbled the ball, I took a step to shoot and felt something pop in my calf.  Seconds later I could not walk and I was in excruciating pain.  I made it home (thankfully it was my left leg) and called C.  He was about to board a plane to China, but instead got to come home and take me to the ER.

We got to the ER around 6 pm.  C left me on a bench outside while he went to get a wheelchair.  He checked me in managing despite the fact the woman at the desk spoke little English.   Four hours later, (yes, I said four hours later) we saw the equivalent of a nurse practitioner.  They sent me across the hall for an ultra-sound on my calf.  She left me sitting in a chair while she tried to maneuver the wand around my leg.  Seeing nothing, she sent me back to the room and the nurse practitioner told me that I probably tore part of the muscle and that I would feel better in three days.  They gave me an injection to prevent blood clots and sent me on my way with crutches.

The next day I went to an orthopedic surgeon. Their offices looked much more like a medical office in the U.S.  He examined my leg (which by now was twice the size of the other leg).  After doing an ultra-sound, he told me that I had ruptured my calf muscle.  He put on a compression wrap and explained that it would take three weeks to heal.  He told me to come back in two weeks to make sure it was healing correctly.

So instead of shopping with S and going to Bruge, I get to spend the week icing my calf and limping around.  The moral of the story -- when you are 50 don't fool around shooting baskets -- go skiing it is probably safer and if you get hurt DO NOT GO TO THE ER -- that part holds true whether you are in the U.S. or Germany.

February 11, 2013 -- Fasching

February 11, 2013

The Carnival season is in full swing here in Germany.  Apparently, the season begins on November 11th at 11:11 am and continues through Ash Wednesday.  Carnival week actually begins the Thursday before Ash Wednesday (Weiberfastnacht).  On that day, women dress up and go around cutting men's ties.  Chris was warned that this tradition takes place in his office; he was told to put away his good ties for the day.  (It turns out he was in the U.S.).  Many towns have parades and costume balls on Rosenmontag (Rose Monday). The largest celebrations are in Köln (Cologne) and Mainz.  I decided to stay local.  I attended the Fasching parade in Oberursel yesterday.  It was quite a celebration.  Certainly, Germany's answer to Mardi Gras.  The parade in Oberursel consisted of 300 floats.  (According to my neighbor, there are clubs that meet throughout the year planning the design of their float and their costumes.)  As the floats pass by everyone yells "Helau" and the people on the floats throw candy (although some actually threw flipflops) to the children watching the parade.  People in the crowds as well as the people on the floats dress up in all sorts of costumes.  In addition, to these festivities, there is a fair amount of heavy drinking.  Here are some pictures -- o.k. a lot of pictures.

My neighbors -- from left to right - Pauline, Florin, Katrin and Rosalie

Jesus was in attendance

Castle Float

Pauline grabbing candy

Katrin and Kristopher -- my neighbors

Pauline yelling Helau