Snyder's Down!

So last Monday (Aug. 25th) it was fairly hot and I was sick of running in the hot weather. The previous Saturday I had ridden my bike and thought I would go for a ride again. And so I set off. I went to Main Street then down 1200 South to the roundabout through UVU and then along 1200 West by the freeway. I was cruising about 20 mph when I came up to College Road. I saw a white car coming south and was going to turn left onto College Rd. but obviously she didn't see me because she turned right in front of me! I grabbed my brakes and for a brief moment thought I might make it around the back of the car. I locked up and knew I was going to eat it either into the asphalt or the car. I started to endo a wee bit then SLAM! right into the car! It immediately felt like someone had hit me in the lower back with a sledge hammer and my right shoulder was on fire. My right knee started throbbing as well. I got up off the hot pavement and started heading over to the grass. The driver got out of the car and asked, "Are you alright?" to which I said "No! I'm not alright!!!" Then the driver asked if she should call an ambulance to which I said Uh, Yeah! A guy who saw the whole thing grabbed my bike and laid it next to me. I reached over and grabbed my cell phone and called home. My daughter Abby answered and I blurted out "I've been hit! Get Mom!" Teresa got on and I repeated that I was hit. I tried to explain where I was and suddenly there were 2 ambulances and the fire chief right there so I hung up. They just happened to be on their way back from a call, drove by and did a double-take, saw me writhing on the ground and stopped. They asked where I hurt and I told them my lower back, so they rolled me onto my side. I felt the hot flow of blood run down. They started cutting my clothes and got very excited about the gash on my back, saying things like "Whoa! That's pretty amazing. Oh, it keeps on going! Hey, it drops down...you'll want a picture of this!" Then they got quiet and started talking about facia and muscle and spine and that's when I got worried.

Well, I was placed on a board, had my neck in that big brace and had my head and chin taped to the board as well. I was loaded up and off to Utah Valley Medical Center. Teresa came down 800 South and couldn't see anything and left to go to the hospital. She was freaking out a bit, not realizing where she was going. Chelsea was with her and said "Mom, do you want me to drive?". I had the paramedics call Chelsea's cell phone to tell them where we were going. They were at the emergency room already waiting.

When we got there, they took quick x-rays of my shoulder, wrist and knee. They cut off all the rest of my clothes, too. So, when your mother tells you to always wear clean underwear, well, do it! I was taken into another room to have an MRI done real quick to make sure my spine was OK and then I came back in and an ultrasound was performed to make sure my organs were OK, too. Teresa and Chelsea were allowed to finally come in. Ken, Jayton and Rob came in to give me a blessing which was real nice. 

The ER nurses then did something that I thought was odd; they handed a jug to my wife and asked her to collect my urine as they lifted me up to place gauze on my wound. First of all, I can't go if I know my wife is outside the door at home, let alone in a busy ER room. Second, when they lifted me up the pain was so intense I got all hot, white and sweaty and about passed out!

I asked Teresa to show me my clothes that they had cut off. The back of my shirt had a big tear in it, but when Teresa turned it around it also had a big chunk of meat stuck to it! Pretty nasty.

Well, I was taken into another room and prepped for surgery. I asked them to please make sure I was unconscious before they inserted the catheder. They obliged. I was in surgery for over an hour and ended up with lots of internal stitches and 25 staples on the outside as well as a tube

 sticking out for drainage. I woke up in my room with my family standing by me. Man, that first night was really bad. Teresa stayed until 2 AM with me then went home. 

Well, I had family and friends and even co-workers stop by over the next few days. I want to say thanks to all of them- it really means a lot to know people care. My family was well taken care of with food and love. I was able to get out Thursday evening from the hospital. It has been a struggle, especially with my shoulder; it really hurts and is in a sling. I will be involved with physical therapy for months! Teresa took a picture of my back wound. 

I ended up with 3 wrist bands- 1 for the ER, 2 for surgery 3 for general hospital admittance. 

Moral of the story, don't get hit by a car.

Or, suck it up and run in the heat

Some Happenings

So here are some happenings that have been happening...

The Olympics are on. Phelps rocks. Stupid French swim team. Some Jamaican dude is really fast yet really cocky. The American Gymnasts are getting ripped off. Guo Jing Jing and Dong Dong are my 2 favorite Chinese athletes.

I had a birthday dinner the other night at Maccaroni Grill. The Wakefields were in their car and we followed them. We being Teresa, Chantel (this was part of her birthday dinner) and myself. When we got into the restaurant there were a bunch of friends waiting- the Grovers, Frands(t)en's, Hatch's, Roberts, and Clegg's. We sat at the end of the table,  so I really didn't get to say much to anyone, but it was fun and fattening (they brought Chantel and I a couple big pieces of cake, and you know me, I am a cake-a-holic). I am honored to have such great friends and neighbors.

On Saturday morning the wind was blowing 200 mph. That may be a wee exaggeration, but not by much. I managed a pretty fast 5 mile run, but then did a huge number of walking lunges with 60 lbs. Holy crap, Sunday I was so sore I thought I was going to die. Then on Monday Jayton and I went running in the canyon. I couldn't run! I was taking little strides because I hurt so bad. Ah, there's nothing like a crappy run to make you feel really dissatisfied. 

So we had a 9:15 PM softball game last night. I have been playing catcher this go around and am fine with it. I only got out once and that was a line drive right at the 3rd baseman. It is also pretty fun having my brother, Carl, there playing, too. If only he could run! But we 10-runned this team. We are 3-1. Last week we were a little flat and lost a game we probably could have won.

Rob Clegg was released as the 2nd Counselor in our Bishopric on Sunday. This was really hard for me because he has been in this since we were called almost 5 years ago! He is now on the High Council and I can't wait for him to come speak at our ward! 

You know, we saw The Dark Knight and I still don't know why everyone is so freaked out by it. I didn't think it was so "dark and creepy". Geeze, have you ever watched 24? Way more violence and such there.

Chuck will be coming back this fall! 

Jason Russell let me know it's Robert Plant's birthday. He is 60! The Zeppelin memories go way back. I always crack up thinking of my brother trying to tell my dad (who HATED rock music; he was a classical music and Marty Robbins fan) what a nice easy album Led Zeppelin IV was--Carl was obviously trying to tout Stairway as the "easy". I remember having that album on my dad's stereo just blasting When the Levee Breaks so the whole neighborhood could hear. And I think that was when I was in 5th grade. Good times. One time my dad got really hacked off to see my Joe Walsh You Can't Argue With A Sick Mind on his turntable. He picked it up and chucked it down the hallway. The record actually got stuck between the wall and baseboard as it scraped both side of the album on it's roll down the hall. But, as soon as dad was gone, another record would go on the turntable. Rock on!   

Forty-Fetchin'-Two!

OK, so I'm 42 today. And I got to spend my birthday in a truck traveling home from the Sculpture in the Park show in Loveland, CO. It was fun being there since last Wednesday (which was Chantel's b-day). I got to be with Ken Donnelly and his wife Melanie for a couple days, setting up the show and attending the seminars. We had a fun time eating out and hanging out. We even went to a movie, Mummy 3. Wait for the dollar theater.

We stayed at the Comfort Inn, which was real nice. I was in the room by myself until Gary Price and Justin came. The show was fun and we got to meet a lot of nice people and artist's. Ken and I tried drumming up some business for the foundry at the other sculpture show going on across the street.

Gary and Justin left after the show. Ken and I loaded up and got back to the hotel. Though I love Gary & Justin, it still is nice being alone in the hotel room. 

The Wakefields brought over a card and socks. When Jayton loses a race to a 42 year old, he is going to be devastated. 

It's weird that your body gets older, but inside I still feel 17!

Chantel's Legal!!!

Our oldest girlie is 18 today!!! Holy cow! Happy Birthday Chantel. Why did your 18th birthday come so quick and it seemed to take 25 years for me to turn 18?

I am so proud of you. You have been a great example to your younger sisters. You are F.U.N. fun! I am so pleased that you received your Young Women's Recognition Award, too. What a great example to the Young Women in the ward. You know, there is a joke church-wide about "Bishop's Daughters", well, if they all were like mine, the joke would go away.

Hey, you can vote now, too. Just don't vote Obama. Or McCain. Oh crap, who do you vote for?

Anyway, Chantel, I love you and am so proud of the awesome young woman that you are. Get smart at the BYU, stay close to your Father in Heaven, and make sure you emulate the life of

 your mother. You Rock!!!

Random Sampler

So we are playing softball again in the Provo City League. I guess it's summer, or fall league, I don't know. I jacked my knee up in June rounding 3rd base and it is giving me crap. I can run, but any lateral movement really hurts. That's why I am playing catcher! My brother, Carl, is playing with us, too. It's a long way from the Youth Softball days back in California. Our church team was awesome for a few seasons, going undefeated in Stake play then having one of the most exciting games of my life against the hated Saratoga 2nd Ward to win the Region. Carl always pitched for us, but he is playing 1st base now. I think the funniest part of the whole deal is our fans! We have a great group who come out to cheer and support us. (Though it is weird to have people yelling "Go Bishop!" from the stands) We won our 1st game last week, in fact we 10 runned them and the game ended after 5 innings. So, we'll see how we do. Coach Grover is loving his new role and I'm sure is up late at night working on line-ups and position changes.

Chantel and Chelsea both have copies of the latest Twilight book. Chantel went to the party at Barnes & Noble, only to run to Walmart to buy her copy at midnight (she figures being #702 she would have been there for quite a while waiting). I took Chelsea over to Costco this morning to get her copy. Chantel took hers to work, much to her mother's chagrin, so she could read on break. Teresa is trying to get Chelsea to take breaks so she can read her copy. I have never wanted to read them, just like I have no desire to read Harry Potter. 

Let me ask you if this qualifies m

e as a dork- Our back yard is pretty big and mowing it is kind of a long, crappy experience that must be endured each week. After mowing the front and side yards, I run with the lawn mower in the back, just to make it go faster. So what used to take 30 minutes is now about 12 minutes. Am I really that much of an idiot?

Another disappointing season from the Giants. I don't like the Dodgers or Manny Ramirez, and now that they are hooked up, I don't like them both that much more. I hope the Devil Rays can pull it out because I am tired of the Red Sox and the ever hated Yankees. I would love to see the Cubs finally win, but who are we kidding.

Well, the Wakefields got us eating snowcones from the place right by the SCERA pool. Geeze, as if I don't already struggle

 trying to eat right, now I want the Tiger's Blood snowcones with the ice cream at the bottom all the time. Man they are tasty. I did make a coconut cake last week that was pretty yummy. But I took the remaining few pieces to work so I wouldn't eat it. Mary did. 

That's an old picture I painted, I think back in 1998. No reason for it, just thought I'd throw it on.