A slow journey with an awkward package
Jul. 5th, 2022 07:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mtbcYesterday, I headed into the office to pick up, among other things, a boxed 27" monitor, which turned out to weigh around 6kg, together with the included heavy stand, power supply unit, etc. It was also large and awkward to carry, with two opposite handles (long holes) being toward one end of each of the narrowest sides. I had the task of carrying this monitor home from the railway station, for over one and a half miles, generally uphill. At least I had both arms free, having thought to bring a backpack for everything else.
Carrying the monitor box in front of me, holding the handles, did not work at all, I kept kneeing and kicking it. Holding the box to the side of me got me a little way further but that was rather awkward to maintain and, in time, my fingers lost strength. The next improvement was to clutch the monitor to my chest, that got me some distance. Then, I tried out holding it more like a tray of goods, more horizontally in front of me, directing some of its weight into my abdomen, which did help well. However, not enough: I was noticing that each rest period bought me less walking and I started to wonder what Zeno's paradoxes had to say about the duration of my journey home. Fortunately, in casting about for useful ideas, I was inspired by other recollections from distant lands: after resting enough to gain the strength to elevate the monitor, I carried it on top of my head and that got me the rest of the way home without another break.
This morning, I found myself with arms still weak enough to challenge shaving, and a bruise on each side of my abdomen. By tomorrow, I expect to be back to normal. Once I have a car next week, that will raise the question of where, rather nearer the railway station, one may find affordable parking for the day.
Carrying the monitor box in front of me, holding the handles, did not work at all, I kept kneeing and kicking it. Holding the box to the side of me got me a little way further but that was rather awkward to maintain and, in time, my fingers lost strength. The next improvement was to clutch the monitor to my chest, that got me some distance. Then, I tried out holding it more like a tray of goods, more horizontally in front of me, directing some of its weight into my abdomen, which did help well. However, not enough: I was noticing that each rest period bought me less walking and I started to wonder what Zeno's paradoxes had to say about the duration of my journey home. Fortunately, in casting about for useful ideas, I was inspired by other recollections from distant lands: after resting enough to gain the strength to elevate the monitor, I carried it on top of my head and that got me the rest of the way home without another break.
This morning, I found myself with arms still weak enough to challenge shaving, and a bruise on each side of my abdomen. By tomorrow, I expect to be back to normal. Once I have a car next week, that will raise the question of where, rather nearer the railway station, one may find affordable parking for the day.
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