Yesterday after writing that last blog – twice, as there is one version lost in the ethers, and a shower, I was pretty wiped out.

We stayed in the room all day, ordering in for dinner. I had a craving for spaghetti. Fortunately, or not, depending upon ones waistline, there is a very good Italian restaurant right next door. In fact, my window looks out on their exhaust fans… I know when the ovens are fired up!

Gaby had been over to pick up a menu during a previous order. We had noted that they had Friday Saturday and Sunday specials. However, last week, Tom and I were going to eat there before hospital time and found they were closed. A glance out the window yesterday showed lots of smoke from the wood oven vent! Thinking last week was a fluke Sunday closing we called to order, my taste buds ready for good Italian spaghetti…But, no, they are closed Sunday and Monday. So room service from the hotel it was.

So I ordered spaghetti, a pile of pasta with some Bolognese tossed on top. Esta es horible! ( I’m practicing my Spanish).
I'm pretty sure there wasn’t a tomato anywhere near the dish. Gaby ordered an enselada de cesar which was swimming in dressing.
We had ordered room service before and this was way below anything else Tom and Gaby and I had experienced.

Anyway, we at least filled our bellies. I had the best night sleep in quite some time – I didn’t wake up until 7 this morning. I felt refreshed, and my leg felt ‘different’ - less swelling, I think. We decided that since dinner had been crappy, our usual fruit and yogurt breakfast just wasn’t going to work. A couple of orders of juevos rancheros arrived and were quickly eaten.

I felt strong enough for a stroll today, at least an attempt. So after making arrangements with the maid, we got dressed and crutched it down the hall -100 feet or so, making one rest stop, turning the corner for another rest stop and 50’ to the elevator to the main floor.

As we excited the elevator the entire central courtyard and bar – our destination for the comfy chairs- was filled with diners having the hotel’s famous buffet breakfast. We thought that it had something to do with the torrential rain this morning – water level at the street was above midline of hub caps- thinking maybe the restaurant had flooded. No, they are in the process of remodeling the kitchen in the restaurant. Now our crummy food for dinner made lots of sense. They’re working out of a small kitchen on the main floor, slightly more than a butlers pantry.

We think we’ll stick to quesadillas for our room service orders. Then left overs can be heated with the hairdryer!

So after sitting in a corner of the courtyard for a while and people watching we headed back to our room with only one rest stop along the way. I definitely feel stronger today.

Anyway, about that shower.
First of all, remember that I’m totally relying on crutches. You should also know that Mexico is extremely fond of tile and marble. Ok now think what happens when you put water on that tile… add some rubber footed crutches and one has the potential for disaster! I’m always on the look out for water drops in the bathroom and anywhere else where the mix of water and rubber could be really bad!

The shower is the perfect size for me in my current ambulatory state. It’s about 24 “ wide, and 56” long shower head to opposite wall. The floor of the shower is also recessed about ¼” which makes for a nice ‘stop’ for the crutches. The maid had brought us a plastic chair that would fit in there. We also spread several math mats on the outside of the shower for walking on when I was done.

Gaby had showered first and was ‘water aware’ when she finished. I followed shortly, soon enough that I thought the water might still be warm. I crutched in carefully, crutch tips against walls, turned around and sat on the plastic chair, wet with cool water. I turned on the water and Yikes! It’s really cold!
Now I’ve been spritzed with the water and most of me is at least moist. It’s at this point that I remember that for this very occasion I’ve purchased a waterproof leg covering, now referred to as the ‘elephant condom’!

Its got a 14’ rigid ring at the top, bright blue. Attached to the middle of this ring is a fairly tight rubber gasket material with a 4” hole in the middle. On the underneath side is attached heavy gauge plastic ‘sheath’ 42” long and about 15” seam to side seam, creating a waterproof showering bag (condom) for injured and casted legs.

Ok, so back to the lightly misted, chilled body…… Crap! I remember that while my bandages are waterproof, Dr Jaime wanted me to use this especially since I’d brought it along.

Gaby standing outside the shower door, in case of emergency, came to the rescue. Let’s just say that this item was designed to be put on a ‘dry’ leg, and definitely for one that is not as swollen at the thigh as mine is. Me, one legged, balanced against the slippery, wet marble floors, and Gaby trying to get this flippin’ thing on my sticky, damp leg without hurting me or placing the tight gasket on any of the incisions was amusing…. At least by the time we got it somewhat in place most of the leg was covered from anymore water…. And we were laughing. But there was a fair amount of water inside!

Unfortunately, I won’t be using it again as it is supposed to secure around the leg right where my most painful spot is… and it’s hard to shave your leg through 8 mil plastic! One has to be a bit vain during an experience such as this.

If anyone knows of an elephant that is looking for ‘protection’ or is ‘self interested’… just let me know! However….. I may want visual proof that the ‘self interested’ individual is worthy! Any takers?