In case my comments start to get stranger than usual, perhaps the following incident might explain:

I was on "vacation" last week in Vermont, helping my sister remove some plywood sheets (used by the previous owner in lieu of such ugly alternatives as clapboards or cedar shingles) (*irony*) from the side of her recently-purchased 1790's farmhouse. My house-warming gift was a copy of "The Money Pit" (*sarcasm*). Tom Hanks is her favorite actor.(*humorous aside*).

The $6 flea-market pry bar I was using might as well have been made from a Titanic hull plate. I'm no Arnold Schwarzenager. But when this thing broke, the end I was holding flew up into my forehead causing a mild concussion and a cut requiring 5 stitches. I now possess that rugged Harrison Ford look (a scar above my left eye). I'm not sure it caused any brain damage, but how would I know? You tell me if you notice a difference. BTW: I felt so nauseated, I couldn't eat the delicious dinner my sister cooked that evening: red herring.

The moral of this story: A new question, seemingly related to Titanic, isn't always.

-- Dan Dalton (foo@bar.com), August 20, 1998

Answers

Dan, sorry to hear about your injury, truly. Thankfully you missed your eye! Be careful! *total sincerity* As far as your remarks made here since the incident..perhaps you should bonk yourself in the head more often, because you seemed to have lightened up a little. *no sarcasm* I especially enjoyed your self ridicule re dramaturgy and your refined opinion about Titanic, having met a true "die Titanic die." Friends forever

-- BobG (bob@bob.bob), August 20, 1998.

Good one Dan. My guy had six of the best stitched into the back of his head two weeks ago. Ouch.

Seriously though, get well soon :-)

-- Emma (dilemma76@hotmail.com), August 21, 1998.

Dan! Oh my God!!! You poor thing! It really must have hurt, so please don't get offended when I say I'm trying not to giggle from the cartoonish visual you gave me.:) I have a really twisted sense of humor, I beg your forgiveness.

I really and truly, in all sincerity, hope it heals quickly and painlessly and doesn't leave a terrible scar. I am really glad you're okay and back with us. I swear. :)

-- Gilded Age Junkie (GildedAgeJunkie@yahoo.com), August 21, 1998.

Hello Dan:

Sorry to hear of your injury but don't worry, I checked with someone and asked them when you would be well again and they replied emphatically: "TWO WEEKS!". (Great movie!).

Regards and best wishes for a moderate recovery,

Peter

-- Peter Nivling (pcnivling@capecod.net), August 21, 1998.

Poor Dan! I hope you get well soon. I never had any stiches around my head yet (God thanks!) but I did have one when they pulled out one of my wisdom teeths recently. But I assume that was nothing compared to your injury. At least we can get stiches, Titanic could not. It simply cracked and went down to the bottom. That's when you realize we're far better than anything our hands we'll ever create... And that's a very comforting feeeling.

All the best!

-- Dan Draghici (ddraghic@sprint.ca), August 21, 1998.

Thanks for the comments, everyone. I wrote the above not so much as a plea for sympathy but more as the world's shortest shaggy-dog story, and because there were'nt any other new questions last night. The stitches are out, the pain has subsided, and time will tell if the scar will be noticable. No damage brain yet evident.

-- Dan Dalton (foo@bar.com), August 21, 1998.

..."damage brain"...LOL, Dan. You slay me!

-- Gilded Age Junkie (GildedAgeJunkie@yahoo.com), August 22, 1998.