One Ten Oh Eight

This post describes the events that took place on January 10, 2008. The number in parentheses indicates what my headache number is on a scale of one to ten, except where it indicates the time change from Eastern Standard Time to Central Standard Time.

3:45 am. (4) Woke up and got ready to go to Chicago, made the coffee, showered and finished packing.

4:30 am Left Tazewell, VA for the Roanoke Airport. Stopped at McDonald’s in Fort Chiswell for a Bacon, Egg and Cheese Biscuit and ended up getting 2 for $2. Just what my gut needed…

6:30 am arrived at Roanoke Airport and met the shuttle bus driver who directed me to a parking spot in the front row of the long term parking. I have never before parked in the front row of an airport parking lot. I tried to enter the secure area of the airport to board the plane. I forgot and had my shaving cream and tooth paste with me. I could not carry on my carryon luggage. What was I thinking, so I had to go back and pack my carryon luggage. This was actually a blessing because that thing was a brut to carry and lug around. Checked my school email from my IPOD Touch. The Roanoke Airport has free WiFi access. Nothing new on the email, yet.

7:15 am (5) Boarded the plane to Chicago.

8:30 am CST Arrived at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. Had to go to the bathroom. Then I started to make my way to baggage claim which is in Terminal 1, we arrived at Terminal 2. While waiting on my luggage, I spied the sign for a Train into the city. My luggage came out and I proceeded to walk to the L station. Thank heavens for the moving sidewalks. Got to the automated ticket machine for the Chicago Transit Authority, $2 for a train ticket. Got on the train, there were may be 8 or 9 people in the car I was on. Each car has seats for like 30 people maybe. Finally off to the city. I had already scoped out my route. I would take the train to the Clark Street station and then get on the Brown Line and ride it to Fullerton Station and then walk back to Clark Street Station. On the way into the city more and more people got on the train, some got off of the train, but much more got on. By the time we got to the Clark Street station there was nearly 50 people on the train. So I got my briefcase and that big rolling duffle to get off the train. I thought I would never make it through all those people. Some how I did, now where too? I finally ask someone how to get to the Brown Line. I had to carry all my stuff up three stories and outside to the Brown Line Train.

10:00 am (6) Got on the Brown Line Train to Fullerton Station. They are doing construction work on the CTA L, and it took 30 minutes and several delays to finally make it to Fullerton Station.

10:30 am Arrived at Fullerton Station. So I finally made it to Fullerton Station and tried to get through the construction and out that little turnstile with my rolling duffle and briefcase. Some how I made it. Then just out side the station some black guy ask me for a smoke. “Sorry buddy, I don’t smoke.”

11:00 am (12:00 pm EST) I had walked from Fullerton Station to Ranallia’s to have some lunch. What do I get to eat a Calzone or Chicago style pizza. I am in Chicago, why not have the pizza. Oh man, was it good. Those layers of cheese, that sauce, oh my, that was delicious.

12:00 pm (7) I finally made it to the Diamond Headache Clinic. Once there I had to fill out more paper work. After I got the paperwork done I walked down to Best Buy and did some shopping.

1:00 pm I went back to the Diamond Headache Clinic after getting a Web Cam at Best Buy. I hope to be able to video chat with my son using Skype. I check back in at the front desk and wait till I am called.

1:30 pm Called back to the exam room. Had to check my weight on a fancy scale that read out my weight, I am over weight, surprise, surprise. Christine, PA came in and talked to me. Said she wanted to put me in the hospital on the same medication I had the last time I was hospital.

2:00 pm I waited for the nurse to come and tell me that the insurance was going to review the pre-admission approval. Which meant that I could not be admitted to the hospital, I would have to wait till they called back. So I decided to walk around for a minute or two. I went up the block to a Borders Bookstore and went to the computer book section. I thought I might see an interesting book on computers or something that I might like to read while here. I did not find anything.

3:00 pm (8) I got the call from the nurse saying that the insurance had approved the hospital stay. So I headed back to the Clinic and picked up my hospital orders. Then I go a outside and wait for the van that takes me to Saint Joseph’s Hospital.

3:30 pm The van driver drops me off at the front door. I go to admitting where I pick up a number to be admitted. While there some guy, who did not pick up a number gets mad because they were not waiting on him. It was funny, but sad in a way.

4:00 pm Finally, I get an elevator ride up to the ninth floor. My room number is 941. I get a nice view of Lake Michigan.

5:00 pm Now that I am in my hospital room every day and thing is almost a blur. It is all running together. I knew it would. But at least the pain should start easing up soon….