Monday, July 28, 2008

Falling Over Work

Feeling a bit like the girl in these photographs by the talented Rosemary Laing. I would love to shred all my paperwork and dance around in it! Especially today...you know those kind of days.

So, my office is attached to a textile plant...like hardcore machines weaving and finishing fabric. You may think, "oohh how cool you get to see textiles being made EVERYDAY!" Yes, it was cool for the first two weeks. Now the loud noise and smelly (probably toxic) fumes from the machines aren't so fun. We are also required to wear closed toed shoes out in the plant. My poor, cute open toed shoes...how they sit abandoned in the closet. Sigh. Anyways, you would think - closed toe shoes plus being alert in the plant would equal no accidents. Apparently not for me. I pulled the collapse to your side fall...where your ankle gives out for no reason and you sort of fall off the heel of your shoe. There was no bump on the floor, nothing in the way, just me embarrassed and looking like I can't walk. The janitor looked at me with concern, and I'm pretty sure one of the guys in the plant whistled at me. Falling is not sexy...especially when you are carrying sweet tea, a Twix, and several yards of fabric. Oh five o'clock my throbbing ankle waits for you.

Your best falling story? We all have one...unfortunately.

45 comments:

Ann Marie said...

Gosh Diana, I hope you are OK. And yes, I know exactly the kind of fall you are talking about. One minute your walking along minding your own business, and the next thing you know you ankle has decided to check out!

My best falling story? Most embarrassing as well, was in high school. I was in high school in the early 80's when we girls all wore high spike heels to school. To school I tell you. (Crazy!) Anyway, I'm hauling butt down the stairs between classes, and when my foot hits the last step, WHAM BAM, my ass hits the step so hard I think I bit my tongue! At first I heard gasps, then giggles coming from my classmates. Not only was my pride hurt, my rear end was sore for days.

/// said...

Awww, you poor dear. :( I have MANY falling stories--- they're quite funny, simply because I didn't seriously hurt myself.

Anyway--- I so hope you're better! Go put those ankles on some ice. :(

JanelleGrace said...

I hope you are okay. Someone here was wearing flip flops and cut open her toe. It looked painful.

But I fall so often and I do TONS of the falling sideways. There are days when I will come home with numerous cuts, bruises, scrapes, and I just sit at a desk.

Unknown said...

Ha ha! I'm sure you don't want to hear this, but seeing people fall is one of my favorite things. :) Not if they get hurt of course, but I just think it's so funny! And I such a klutz that I'm doing stuff like that all the time, and I think it's funny when I do it, too!

Anyway, hope your Monday ends on a good note. You should go home and wear your cute open-toed shoes. :)

Karen said...

Oh my...hope you're okay!

I have TONS of falling stories...there's the one where my college friends and I were walking to a frat house (oh, those were the days) and it was icey, and I slipped and fell sideways onto the ice, making a high-pitched sound that my friend says was "like a squeaking mouse" on my way down...all the while, my "friends" were pointing and laughing hysterically. :)

Anonymous said...

It was the late eighties and for some reason I was wearing a mini skirt in the middle of a snow storm. I was on the corner across the street from my high school when I slipped and fell flat on my ass. With most of the school watching : ) Ahhh the memories... hope your ankle is ok.

please sir said...

Ankle is feeling better - thanks for asking! Loving your stories - glad I'm not that only falling person!

Wayfaring Wanderer said...

I can't recall a falling story, but there was this time in 7th grade when I was running away from somebody at warp speed.......I turned around to look and see how far behind he was.....I turned back around to find my face planted in a tree trunk....Oh it was harsh! I almost never lived that one down.

evencleveland said...

Yikes! This is my worst falling story:

I once was playing Helen Keller and walked clear off a stage during a rehearsal for The Miracle Worker the night we had a hotshot playwright visiting. I fell about five feet and was black and blue from head to toe, and so embarrassed I nearly ceased to be. But I got back up on stage and continued with the rehearsal, only to have a pitcher accidentally slip out of Annie Sullivan's hand during the climatic fight scene and crash into my temple.

It was a long night.

I hope your ankle feels better soon!

Cindy said...

oh dear, i hope you're ok girl. my most recent story involves me falling UP the subways stairs when i was running to catch a train = ugh! so sad, as i'm lucky i can walk up the steps let alone run up them.

did you ever notice how differently boys recover from a fall vs. girls? girls try to pretend it didn't happen and boys kind of look around like they're bad ;).

Sara Christine said...

In high school biology class we were dissecting frogs and I started to feel lightheaded. I ended up fainting and falling off my stool in front of the entire class. My friends said they could hear the crash in the classroom below! I ended up being totally fine, and also TOTALLY mortified. So your little trip's not so bad. ;)

Mrs.French said...

Oh I hope your Monday improves...I am completely serious, I have too many stories to pick one. I don't get embarrassed anymore because I fall almost daily...wheee!

naphtali said...

oh no! you poor thing!! but, I'd gladly waltz amoung the paper! how fun and "girl-like".

Falling story? Apparently I didn't learn how to walk properly, but my worst would have to be when I was helping lead a tour of people through the Capitol in DC. We were descending beautiful Marble stairs and after about the third step down, I proceeded to fall (like feet out from me, bum planted) and I slid down several marble stairs. Ouch (physically and mentally). Oh the joys of clumsy at the most awkward times!

shi(f)t said...

i bit it a few weeks ago and totally feel your pain...what a way to start your monday! Hope youre okay!

Krissy | Paper Schmaper said...

ohh. you poor thing :) That isn't funny!!!
Did you at least save the Twix? That's the 2nd most important part (behind you being ok)!

(I work in a print shop and the toxic fumes will probably cause brain damage one day, so I can relate there :)

Chocolate and Steel said...

I love those pictures! If only I could be that graceful falling:)

It's funny how when you fall it's the most embarrassing thing ever. But now, I can't remember any of them. Time heals all wounds:) hahaha

Absolutely Fabulous said...

Great Post Diana! love the photos and your story!!!!!

thank you for your kind words :) i've bounced back and your post just inspired me again :)

Wendy @ Ramblings from the Sunshine State said...

OUCH! I'm glad you feel better!!

aimee said...

ohhhh you poor dear!!! i hope you didn't twist or break it! did you?

i have a story that will make you feel better... i hope... i used to be an assistant buyer for neiman marcus and our offices were above the lovely flagship store so i had to go through it to get out of the building. one day i went out for lunch, got a salad, tripped over a phantom bump and went flying down a flight of stairs - clothes ripped, bloodied up and salad all over me... so i had to drag my beaten self through all of that lovely merchandise and google-eyed customers to slink back up to my office.

yes, it's true, i'm not just saying that to make you feel better.

Jan said...

So glad it wasn't worse for you!!!

I fell pretty hard coming down cement steps at work! My heel got caught in my pant cuff. And I went flying! My hands were soooooo sore for weeks b/c I managed to get them out in front of me. My shoes were still on the steps, and some lady helped me up and stuck them back on my feet!

Fifi Flowers said...

Good to hear you and your ankle are ok.

Let me just say one thing... my mother calls me GRACE... so falling or ungraceful moves are not an uncommon thing for moi!

However... I did have a bad fall a few months ago while shopping for a client in IKEA... I fell flat on my back, wearing white pants... soaked the back of my pants... lots of people around... a man picked me off the floor... everyone asking me if I was ok... and I was terribly embarassed... looked at my watch and realized I needed to get my kids from school soon, announced it to the crowd and walked out of the store mortified... later that night I was in so much pain I had a hard time breathing. It put me out of commission for quite some time... I am only now able to get back to playing golf(which I love and use to play 3 to 4 times a week)... and I was so ignorant not to file a report... learn a lesson... you might not feel the pain at first, so file a report.
Ok.. that's it.

Hila said...

oh dear, poor you! I hope you mend quickly :)

I love those photos - I wish I could just shred my thesis and dance around in it, although I do think my professor would kill me if I did that!

Anonymous said...

What gorgeous photos. & yes, too perfect on a crazy Monday after a 3 day weekend. Sigh.

Crave said...

I love this post! Great photos and I can totally relate to your day...and I think that these photos would most definitly be a great little synopsis of many mondays...

I may be one of the most clumsy and akward people in NYC...my most recent 'episodes' if you will, include but are not limited to falling face first in the middle of 86th St and spilling my groceries all across the street, flipping a kayak over and my life flashing before me because I was stuck underneath it and lastly, walking down the subway stairs (in a very pretty flowy dress might I add) and flashing everyone and thier brother....Oy vey!


Again, love the photos and the blog!

Camille said...

Those photos are fun. They make you feel as if you are flying around in them.

I'm not so much a faller as a bumper into things. I habitually bump into stuff, which probably keeps me from falling. However, one time I was sitting on a rope swing with a glass of red wine, talking with my husband as he did yard work and I just fell off the swing. The dark red wine splashed on my face and my husband turned when he heard me screech. For an instand he thought I cracked my head and was bleeding, but instead, I had the wine glass high in the air, saving what didn't splash and laughing.

Victoria said...

Oh poor baby! That hurts, and I feel for you!

My best falling story was when I was just entering middle school, and my mother thought it would be a great idea for me to take formal junior ballroom dancing classes, (sounds like fun now, but as a kid it was living hell). Well, one day we were running late, and by the time I got to class, all of the other boys and girls were already seated and awaiting the first dance. It was a huge ballroom, and the chairs were all around the perimeter of the dance floor. Every seat was taken by an uncomfortable looking kid, except for one... all the way on the opposite end of the room. I started walking, what felt like the longest walk of my life, all eyes on me, and so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Right as I was about to take my seat, I slipped on the shiny waxed floor. My feet flew straight up in the air, and I landed hard on my back, with my dress way up over my head! The room erupted with hooting and hollering, whistles and applause. I was mortified!

Great photos by the way!

robin ann mcintosh said...

brutal... but I love the photos : )

karey m. said...

awww! i feel for you...are you ok?!

i fell for absolutely no reason when i lived in oman. while waving to a very cool dutch woman i rully rully wanted to befriend. wearing silly sandals. wiped out mid-wave and mid-overly-enthusiastic goofy smile. vomited in my mouth from the pain. drove to hospital. had surgery. with only an epidural. because i was seven weeks pregnant.

the worst part? my morning sickness began the next morning.

the really worst part? the dutch woman didn't wave back. no befriending at all.

feel better, you...see you soon!

Hey Harriet said...

Oh no! You poor thing! I regularly fall over so it would be difficult to pick a 'best fall' from my vast collection. My most recent one was a couple of weeks ago. I was running through the park in the rain with my dog (My dog still insists on her walks even when it is raining!). I tripped in a big muddy hole that I didn't see & I sprained my ankle. Thankfully nobody was around at the time to witness it, as most normal people don't frolick around parks with their dogs when it is raining. It hurt like hell, but I scored a couple of days off work at least. Woohoo!

Angela said...

OMG, hope you are feeling better. I don't have a falling story but I was hit on the head and shoulder with seagull dropping when on vacation in NYC few years ago, not very fun at all. Luckily I was outside my hotel. My family still double over from laughing so hard even today.

Hila said...

Diana, I've awarded you with something, so go check out my latest post :)

Anonymous said...

Aw, I hope your ankle is okay.

It's early and I'm having a hard time thinking of a good story. The only one that comes to mind is our stairs, in our 100 year old house, that I fell down halfway when I was 6 weeks pregnant. Hurt really bad. Everyone of us fell down those stairs. I finally put a runner in. What boggles me is that our house is 100 years old...are we the only owners to have had this issue?

Anonymous said...

I hope you're OK!!

My worst fall was one of the 2 below:

1) Somehow stumbling and then sliding down a set of stairs leading down to the subway in Boston. On my knees. Wearing tights, thank God. It was the weirdest thing ever.

2) Walking out of the grocery store, carrying a bag which included wine, and slipping on a wet part of the sidewalk. That fall seemed endless, like I would never hit the ground. And when I did hit the ground, it was like I CONTINUED TO FALL. It was horrible (and I was quite bloodied up). I think the problem was that the only thing I cared about was making sure the wine didn't hit the ground and break open. I can say that I was successful in making sure tht didn't happen!

I think my problem is tripping. I trip easily and sometimes it leads to a fall.

Jude said...

Hope you're all better today. There's nothing like exhibiting a little grace, is there?!!

I've had several moments myself, but on the top of the list has to be when I dislocated my hip in February and literally couldn't get up. "I've fallen! And I can't get up!" That commercial was made for me . . .

Project Ecoart said...

No falling story here but I sure would like to shred every ounce of paperwork ( unless a check is attached ) in my overflowing office and hav a big ol' bonfire!!!

Jessie Cacciola said...

psst. hi there, ms. diana. you have an award. you may pick it up over on my blog at your convenience. :)

Jan said...

Such funny comments in here. Great question on your expense. Sorry about that.

I have fallen much in my days. I think the worst was on a date at the movie theatre. I really wanted to impress him, but managed to embarrass him instead. So much for high heels.

please sir said...

Thanks for your "falling" stories - are we all that crazy? Ha! I'm doing much better today - thanks!

kat said...

What awesome images and what funny stories! Mine wasn't so funny as it included a fractured elbow!!!

Krissy | Paper Schmaper said...

i can't stop thinking about these images!

Esti said...

Poor you! I hope you feel better now...
Incredible photographs... I can easily realte to them, especially now that I am counting down my days for the beginning of my summer vacation...

Julia said...

Oh baby! That stinks :(

This is sad, I can't think of one off the top of my head... I think I must have blocked them from my memory, they were so wounding to my soul :(

littlebyrd said...

Oy yes - isn't falling grand? I hope you weren't hurt too badly - it's usually just the ego that gets bruised the most, right?

I am a huge klutz and have fallen many times. I blame it on my big feet. My best falling story is being at an outdoor concert in the 90's called Beat Fest. A little buss going, went to by a hot dog with my last $1 (starving by the way) and on my way back to the picnic blanket I tripped in hole and went face first into a mud puddle and the hot dog went flying 3 feet in front me where a real dog ran up and ate it.

Julia @ Hooked on Houses said...

Freshman year of college. Trying to look cool in front of a guy I thought was cute. Walking next to him as we crossed a busy street. Hitting an icy patch and wiping out. Having my friend stand and laugh at me (instead of helping me up) until she had tears rolling down her face.

-Julia

Unknown said...

Love the pictures! sorry your working environment is not so pleasant. Mine's not fully glamorous too but at least no fumes or noise. Falling story? fell into a drain ages ago. I was crossing one and told myself..if i crossed this 8' drain, I am sure to fall inside..well, I did. The power of visualisation, it works, both positive and negative!

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