I'm in the hospital.

so this is my first chance to find internet, so i wanted to drop you all a quick line and let you know what's going on. i know some of you already got word via friends and the instant communication power of the internet, but for those who don't know...

on monday night i was riding bikes with jenny and we were turning onto grove ave. we stopped and waited for a car to go through the intersection and once we were all clear, we pulled out. well, what we didn't see (and more importantly - what didn't see us, despite our front and tail lights on our bikes) was a guy, in a black shirt, with no lights on his bike, barreling down grove at full speed coming around a corner. well, the dude on his bike plowed right into me, knocking me off my bike and onto the ground.

most people when they fall to the ground they choose to break their fall with their hands or with their arms. not me. i'm too tough for that shit. i broke my fall with my face/beard. oddly enough, despite my years of belief otherwise, my beard offered little to no protection to my face beneath it. bummer, right?

anyway, now i'm in MCV hospital in richmond. i suffered multiple fractured bones in my face and i'm pretty beat up. however, the staff here is incredible and helpful, and my family and friends have been incredibly supportive.

i go into surgery tomorrow morning. they're going to take some steel plates and bolts and insert them into my face to help the bones heal correctly. i asked them if that meant i would look like terminator / robo-cop and was told no. bummer #2. i will be here in the hospital till friday or saturday and on a liquid diet for about 6 weeks. there's even a chance i'll have my jaw wired shut. what this probably means is that you'll be able to find me most days at carytown smoothie king, trying every single flavor until june.

so anyway, i've received a lot of calls and i've tried to answer as many as i can. your calls, and even your voicemails and text messages, have been greatly greatly appreciated. i think today i'm a little better rested and in a position to have a few visitors, so if you'd like to come by today for a few minutes, please call and hopefully we can make that happen. no need to bring anything - thanks to kind friends i've got magazines, books, and dvds for days i think.

now that i've discovered internet here at the hospital i'll try and check in with updates and whatnot.

thanks again for all the kind words and reaching out. i have amazing friends.

i'll be back up and running soon, you better believe that shit.

love,

phil