Today I was doing my own tree trimming so I wouldn't have to hire an illegal alien to do it. I cut a big limb which knocked me off of my perch 8 feet up on a 12 foot ladder. I landed flat on my back on the pavement.

I spent about six hours in the ER and had all the CT scans they thought one person could have in 24 hours. My L1 vertebra is 15% compressed, that is, crushed to 85% of its diameter back to front. Put another way, the rear half of the L1 vertebra is 30% compressed. The ER doc wanted to admit me, but I declined admission, telling him I had only a part-time Mac-job with no healthcare insurance. He commanded me to get a fitted back brace as soon as the store opens in the morning.

The IV drip hasn't worn off yet, so I don't know whether I'll make it at home.

I thought I was being careful, and my neighbor was spotting me. Maybe I should be less of a stickler about who does my work?