Overly Optimistic, SI

So as I mentioned yesterday, I thought I could knock out the trees that I had to still trim in about an hour or so.  I took that thought and ran with it last night, thinking I would be able to get all the trimming done and debris dumped before darkness sets in around 7PM.  It was like I forgot all lessons that the previous 19 years of tree trimming taught me.  I felt so upbeat about it that I headed out to do the work in my gym clothes, no hat, and crocs.  I did at least have on gloves and safety glasses.

First I grabbed the power pruner to tackle the two sets of pygmy palms.  The pruner definitely made the job faster but because it has a decent amount of weight, holding it suspended over my head for long periods of time induced some considerable shoulder burning sensations.  I had to switch up arms repeatedly.

I then grabbed the sawz-all to do the rest of the trimming.  Three of the palms could still be trimmed on the ground but six of them required the extension ladder.  As soon as I got up there and started hacking away I regretted my clothing and (lack of) head protection choices.  Tree dirt, ants, and other organic material dumped all over me.  It constantly felt like I had something crawling on me, because I probably did.   Although I was making a good progress, it didn’t take long for me to realize my one hour time estimate was stupidly optimistic.  I finished trimming up the last palm by the fill pit in near total darkness.  Hell I thought I would get all the trimming done AND the debris dumped in the pit by dark.  Nope, all of the piles of branches remain scattered around the property, waiting for me. The experience left me dirty, tired, and intent to pay the extra money to have the tree guy trim all trees next year that require a ladder.

My SI belt arrived yesterday.  One of my EUC buddies described having similar back issues as I have and one of these belts really helped him.  It looks similar to a back brace but it is designed to be worn lower, across your hips.  Supposedly the compression helps stabilize the SI joint which in turn allows it to heal somewhat, reducing the associated pain laxity in that area can cause.  I have it on today.  It definitely feels odd.  My buddy said it took a couple weeks until he noticed a sizeable difference.  I am hoping for a similar outcome.