Last Saturday started off so well. I woke up after a fun evening with friends, finally got Internet hooked up at my new place, and was taking a shower so that I’d be all pretty for my boyfriend.

Then the “nonslip” bathmat slipped out from under me. I angled out of the tub a little and smacked my chin into the counter of the sink. Nearly passed out. When I saw blood, I freaked a little and sobbed “Oh God, what did I do?” I got out of the shower, soap in my hair and soaking wet, and rubbed away the condensation on the mirror. Yup, I had a new dent in my chin.

Knowing I’d need stitches for this, I got back in the shower to at least get the soap out of my hair. Nearly passed out again and had to sit down in the tub to finish up. Then while I’m getting dressed, I call a friend to take me to the ER. I realize when I hang up that my laundry is still in the washer (it’s an on-site laundry room for my place). I go downstairs to move it to the dryer in the few minutes I have until my friend arrives, all the while holding a paper towel to my bleeding chin and what do I find but that the washer has broken and spilled its used water on the floor of the laundry room rather than the drainage pipe it’s supposed to use. I manage to move the clothes to the dryer, knowing I have no time to notify the manager or residents beyond a hastily scribbled note saying “Washer Broken”.

I get to the ER and spend the next five hours waiting. Waiting to see a nurse so that she can put gauze on my chin. Waiting to get the wound irrigated. Waiting for a tetanus shot. Waiting to see a doctor so I can get sutures. I even waited thirty minutes just to get discharged! It was dinnertime by the time I left.

Sunday morning, I wake up at my boyfriend’s place (he has been awesome the whole night), and I have a 100.5F fever, nausea, and a nasty welt has formed on my arm from the tetanus shot. A good baseball-sized section is swollen, hot, and tender.

Monday at work sucks. So does Tuesday, especially when I realize I’m getting sick with something. Swine flu? A cold? Who knows. I get to spend my day off (Veterans Day) at another doctor’s office to remove the sutures. She is surprised at my body’s reaction to the tetanus shot.

By Friday, the sore throat starts to subside but I’ve noticed all week that my front lower teeth are sensitive. Did they get damaged by the fall? Time to go see the dentist on Saturday (yesterday). For the first time in a week, I get good news: the teeth are fine, just a little sensitive from the fall trauma.

Today (Sunday), things seem to be turning around. Sore throat is gone and my chin wound is scabbing nicely. Won’t be able to avoid a scar, but at least I didn’t hit my esophagus or break my jaw. Could’ve been worse.

Anyway, just wanted to ask everyone to be careful with themselves this holiday season. Do your best to avoid a flu, bundle up outside, and for God’s sake, don’t use bath mats!