Ok, so where do I begin? I guess I'll start with the reason I haven't posted anything for a while:

 

In June, 2009, I had a little brewing accident. Well, a "cleaning" accident actually, not a "brewing" accident. I broke a carboy, slicing a tendon, a nerve, and a couple veins while cleaning up after kegging my last batch of beer. It was about half way filled with luke warm, soapy water. I was turning it upside down to drain after scrubbing with a carboy brush, and when I had it perpindicular to the countertop, the bottom just collapsed. There was broken glass and soapy water in the sink, on the counter, and on the floor.

 

But then I saw that the soapy water was also red in some areas.

 

"What the...?"

 

I looked around, saw that I had it all over me, and realized it was my wrist. I had an eye shaped slash on my wrist, pouring blood. I immediatly grabbed my right wrist with my left hand, and held pressure to stop the bleeding. I stood there for a couple minutes, surveying the scene before diciding on what to do next. There is broken glass all over the place, and the dogs are nearby. But on the other hand, no pun intended, I'm bleading - quite a bit, I might add - and I'm sure I need to get it stitched up.

 

The dogs decided for me. They heard the crash, saw that I was a little upset, and dicided that it's time to go upsatirs and lay low for a while. With them upstairs, and the cat hiding in the basement, I decided that I need to tend to my wound first. I released pressure, saw more blood, grabbed a paper towel, and reaplied pressure with it. I rinsed my free hand off in the sink, and carefuly, I stepped over the glass to get the phone. I figured that I need to take an ambulance ride.

 

My free hand - my right hand - was what I was going to use to call 9-1-1. But that idea didn't work out too well. I picked up the handset, and then promply dropped it. When it struck the floor, the battery cover came off, spilling the battery from it's compartment, and the three peices went in three different directions. I'm not having a good day.

 

I finally manage to dial 9-1-1, speak to an operator, and get drilled with a buch of questions. Maybe I shouldn't have blurted out that I cut my wrist with broken glass, but the questions took me by surprise. "Are you trying to hurt yourself?" And after several pertinant questions, like my age, who's home with me, and confirming my address; "Are you depressed in any way?" Hell yes I'm depressed. I broke one of my carboys, a peice of equipment that I use, and I need help, which isn't getting here any faster with these stupid questions.

 

I hung up and went outside to wait for the ambulance. As I was stepping off the porch, a police cruiser was pulling into my driveway. I walked up to him, showing my bloody arms, and told him to tell his dispatcher that I appologize for the temper I had on the phone. He laughed and said he knows all about it. He then opened his trunk to get his EMS kit, bandaged me up, and we waited for the ambulance. 

 

The dogs were barking at the "intruders" in their teritory, but they were still upstairs. The paramedic mentioned that he wanted to go inside to see how much blood I lost, but wasn't too sure about the dogs. I told him that it'll be easier to take my word for it. He did, and we left for the hospital.

 

Fast forward to today, more than six months later. I have no feeling in most of my index finger, the tip and palm side of my middle finger, the palm side of my thumb, and from the base of my thumb to the base of my middle finger across my palm. That area is a lot smaller than it was in June, 2009, but still isn't normal. I also have a fear of large glass bottles. I have four of those little monsters left, but I think I have found a way to reduce their bite. A product called Plasti-Dip. I'll write more on that subject later, but for now, I wanted to come back and revisit my blog, post a few articles that I should have written a long time ago, and finish up the new look. 

 

I'll be working on it over the next few weeks, but in the meantime, happy brewing.