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Home » Musings » Hurricane Klint: My Horrible Week In La La Land
Musings

Hurricane Klint: My Horrible Week In La La Land

Matthew Klint Posted onAugust 19, 2023November 13, 2023 40 Comments

Folks, it has been one heck of a week here in Los Angeles. I’m not looking for your pity, but let me tell you about Hurricane Klint.

Hurricane Klint, A Rough Week In Los Angeles

I already mentioned the car break-in: that was traumatic for my wife Heidi and is going to be costly and annoying to replace the missing ID cards and repair the window.

But my daughter Claire Marie also fell on our stone steps in the garden and split her forehead open. A parent never wants to see his daughter screaming at the top of her lungs with blood flowing out of her head like a fountain.

a close up of a wound on a child's forehead

That required a trip to the urgent care, where she was sutured up (and now we pray she will not scar…).

Then a miscalculation led to an unplanned road trip to Las Vegas, which I will “live blog” next week. On the way up, I literally collapsed at a desolate Tesla Supercharger at 1:00 am in the morning…

a car on the road at night

Yesterday, I was home alone and decided to cook a steak for lunch. I browned it on the stove then transferred the pan into the oven.

a meat and tomatoes cooking in an oven

Well, when it was done I pulled it out using hot pads, but then like an idiot forgot that the pan was hot a few minutes later, picked it up, and burned my hand badly.

a hand holding a band aid

I was wholly unproductive from 1:00 pm on yesterday…

My son Augustine was then climbing our massive oak tree in the backyard…I stopped him before he could fall off it and break his arm.

Oh, and did I mention that Hurricane Hilary is approaching Los Angeles, the first such tropical storm in 84 years? Today I’m cleaning the rain gutters with my left hand.

a satellite view of a hurricane
NOAA

There’s always a silver lining, though.

I got to spend quality time with my son this week. My hand could have been burned much worse. Heidi could have been in the car or mugged. My daughter could have sustained head damage instead of just a messy cut.

Sometimes life stinks…there’s nothing redeeming about my many dramas this week.

Even so, here I stand in one piece with my family (relatively) well and no damage that cannot heal or lost items that cannot be replaced.

This week made me wish I had stayed longer in Europe, but this is life.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get to those rain gutters…

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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40 Comments

  1. derek Reply
    August 19, 2023 at 1:53 pm

    Heidi didn’t know a plastic surgeon (or, in a pinch, an oculoplastic surgeon or facial plastic ENT surgeon) that could put special sutures in?Many years ago, when a model got slashed in NYC, that’s what she found.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      August 19, 2023 at 1:54 pm

      What do you mean special sutures? We went to a very specific pediatric urgent care where the doctor on duty had a lot of experience with this sort of thing.

      • derek Reply
        August 19, 2023 at 2:35 pm

        I am not a doctor but I heard that plastic surgeons, oculoplastic surgeons, and ENT facial plastic surgeons, may have access to fine sutures thinner than a human hair. Of course, that means many more sutures in order to gain strength to close the wound. Then there are different techniques to close the skin. I am sure there are plus and minuses to each technique. I know this because I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express.

        Probably no harm done but it may be like flying Singapore Airlines versus United Polaris class. There are subtle differences flying to city A or B while the average infrequent flyer doesn’t have nearly the skill that you have in planning flights.

        Maybe have Heidi use her local knowledge to seek out the names of orthopedic surgeons, just in case? There are those who are trained in shoulder versus hip. If one of the kids should have a broken bone that needs surgery, then have the specialist do it. Otherwise, the orthopedic surgeon assigned to cover the hospital emergency room as a consultant while also working at their own practice will do it.

      • Interested Traveler Reply
        August 19, 2023 at 3:29 pm

        Matthew, when one is talking facial lacerations, it is always best to see a Plastic Surgeon as he/she is best trained to minimize scaring. Added to that you live in La La land, there must loads of Plastic Surgeons there.

        Pediatricians and Pediatrics EDs aren’t always skilled in scar prevention.

        While the prevention/minimizing of scarring is an art, subcuticular sutures are one of the ways to minimize scarring with the big downside being it is more time consuming than interrupted sutures which are the most common type of suture for closing simple wounds.

        I have no idea what type was used on your daughter, Regardless, I hope she heals quickly.

        • Matthew Klint Reply
          August 19, 2023 at 3:30 pm

          Should have called my friend Dr. Sanders…

          • PlaneSailing
            August 19, 2023 at 4:31 pm

            I am no Dr….. but my experience is some vitamin E cream rubbed into the wound or after surgery helps a cut heal with less or no scaring. Clearly apply after the initial wound heals over and can tolerate the rubbing, it also seems to help internally with any lumps/scar tissue etc……. good luck.

          • derek
            August 19, 2023 at 4:51 pm

            On the other hand, kids heal better than teens or adults. The face and forehead has lots of blood vessels, which make healing better. If there is a scar, might be a light line. A few people develop bumpy keloids, particularly Africans. I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express more than once!

            I looked up Dr. Sanders. His credentials seem good. Not perfection but the basic building blocks are there. And perfection in credentials doesn’t mean the best.

          • Interested Traveler
            August 19, 2023 at 8:06 pm

            I don’t know who Dr. Sanders is, but I have been a Trauma Surgeon for over 20 years.

            What matters is that your daughter heals quickly.

            I saw somewhere you said she has subcutaneous sutures, so that is the right approach.

        • Descartes Reply
          August 20, 2023 at 5:05 pm

          Pediatrician here. I would always recommend an experienced Pediatric ER / urgent care physician over an inexperienced plastic surgery resident / intern for facial lacerations. The experience of the physician is more closely correlated to the risk of scarring than their specialty. And unfortunately you will almost never get an experienced Plastic surgeon to come out for something small like this; they will send their residents instead, who are less experienced than your Pediatric ER doc.

  2. Jerry Reply
    August 19, 2023 at 2:15 pm

    Scars are cool, even for little girls… Though of course I hope you both heal quickly.

  3. OG Reply
    August 19, 2023 at 2:15 pm

    Sorry to hear. Did they give her subcutaneous sutures?

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      August 19, 2023 at 2:39 pm

      Yes, they did.

      • OG Reply
        August 19, 2023 at 2:42 pm

        Great. That is the first step. Scarring (if any) should be minimal vs normal sutures.

  4. Maryland Reply
    August 19, 2023 at 2:42 pm

    Hint: Get oven mitts. When you pull anything with a handle from the oven immediately hang the thumb over handle as a reminder not to touch.

    Stay safely inside until storm passes. Good luck.

  5. Twinkle Reply
    August 19, 2023 at 2:43 pm

    What an awful time you have had.

    I bet your daughter’s scar won’t show much. My son ran into a pole with his forehead in the same spot. He had 7 stitches and after a couple years you can’t tell. They heal up nicely when they r young.

  6. Santastico Reply
    August 19, 2023 at 2:59 pm

    Not sure if you are religious but I am praying for you and your family. It never hurts and I find it very comforting for myself. Kids are kids. I had a cut twice as big as hers in my forehead many many years ago when plastic surgery probably didn’t even exist. I have absolutely no scars. She will be fine. Search for Blue Fire heat resistant gloves. I only use those when grilling or making pizza with wood fire. Take the weekend to relax and recharge the your mental battery.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      August 19, 2023 at 3:24 pm

      Thank you for your prayers. I think it is safe to say I am religious. 😉

      https://liveandletsfly.com/death-of-reader/

  7. Stuart Reply
    August 19, 2023 at 3:18 pm

    I would have high fived my daughter and showed her my scars everywhere, reminding her that these are the marks of a life well lived. Then again, probably why I’ve never succeeded at marriage or been named father of the year.

  8. Mick Reply
    August 19, 2023 at 4:32 pm

    My six year old banged his head on the coffee table on a trip to Vienna (first day of the trip). He had a decent scar for around three years but you can barely see it now.

    I was hoping for an in and out lax meetup last week! Can imagine why that wasn’t going to happen! 🙂

  9. Travelgirl Reply
    August 19, 2023 at 4:33 pm

    Yikes! Grabbed the handle of a perforated grill pan when removing it from the grill. I literally feel your pain!

  10. Willem Reply
    August 19, 2023 at 4:34 pm

    That Vegas one should be a fun one to read about, altho I personally have (and would always) physically stay at MGM properties while making my Hyatt earnings (but I also have a “gambling friend” I go with for 2 weekends per year)

  11. Glen Sea Reply
    August 19, 2023 at 4:52 pm

    We’ve all had equivalent weeks like yours: Not a criticism of your post but a “commiseration” of “We know how you feel.”

    I’m not unmindful of parental pain when their child is injured: we want the world to be perfect for offspring. Your daughter is fortunate that the worst outcome is a possible scar; I’m 75 and still have a scar on my body from a significant childhood accident, a scar which daily reminds me of how fortunate I am that it was not a fatal injury. What I remember from way back then is not the pain and anxiety of the time but that my parents determined that one of them would be at my bedside 24/7 in hospital and for the days after my release to home for continued recovery.

    From reading your various reports including family, I sense that Heidi and you are modeling a world we want for the coming generations. Your children are living into an awareness of the importance of family and community even when there are problems, seeing the world beyond their own home or neighborhood, and have parental encouragement to discover themselves as well as the world around them. Well done to Heidi and you!

    Tomorrow during Sunday worship in my Lutheran faith community, I’ll include Claire in the petitions for healing.

  12. Tony N Reply
    August 19, 2023 at 5:32 pm

    Geez, you have quite a responsibility; poor kids… With regard to the hurricane, it hasn’t hit land yet and will probably be a tropical storm when it does. I’ve driven in L.A. with rain and I can tell you, people are confused (actually I’m confused too). They either drive too fast or too slow. Stay home when the storm comes in ! …around Sunday, Monday.

  13. Chi Hsuan Reply
    August 19, 2023 at 6:32 pm

    Oh dear. Now the other kids at school will call her “Scarface Claire”, as in, “Look, here comes Scarface Claire and her blogging moron father”.

    • UA-NYC Reply
      August 20, 2023 at 7:45 pm

      You are a true a-hole (unsurprising coming from an incel too)

  14. Dave Edwards Reply
    August 19, 2023 at 7:38 pm

    Sorry to hear about your daughter, that just sucks.

    The Tesla is on you for falling for that scam.

    But damn, no one ever complains about an unexpected trip to Vegas.

    I look forward to the reason and the reports!

    • Matthew Reply
      August 19, 2023 at 8:20 pm

      My fall had nothing to do with the Tesla and everything to do with the position in which I fell asleep while it was charging. Ugh – stupid me again. I’ll share on Monday.

      • Dave Edwards Reply
        August 19, 2023 at 8:29 pm

        If you had a “normal” car you would have filled it up at a gas station and moved on. That was my point.

        Look forward to the updates!

  15. MeanMeosh Reply
    August 19, 2023 at 9:41 pm

    I’m sorry to hear about your bad week. This, too, shall pass. Hope your daughter’s feeling better.

  16. AlanJ Reply
    August 19, 2023 at 10:07 pm

    Yes, sorry it was a bad week….and yes…definitely first-world problems. We are grateful for houses to clean, cars to charge, food to cook, money and credit cards and doctors and taking trips…..yet not grateful for Hilary still lingering around.

  17. PM1 Reply
    August 19, 2023 at 11:11 pm

    My wife, daughter (3 years old at that time) and I were on vacation a couple of years ago in Florida and my daughter fell off a stool and cut open her chin. It wouldn’t stop bleeding and was still oozing with a skin flap open an hour later. It was horrible to watch as a parent.

    I debated whether to call 911 and took her instead to ER where we waited for an hour with no one looking at her. I finally got up and left. At that point the staff came running because revenue was walking out the door. We found an urgent care nearby where they took her in immediately. 5 people held her down while she screamed murder – it must have hurt so bad. They put horrible metal hooks in with piano wire type wires and stitched her up.

    I had nightmares from watching her suffer so much. But guess what. She has healed so well and there is no scar. You can see faint puncture wounds from the stitches but you have to really look for them. All in all, she’s in great shape.

    Claire Marie will also recover (young kids heal so quickly). Sorry about the hand. BTW, I have a company clean my gutters and they charge $150. May be worth it during this time of crisis. All the best with the hurricane!

  18. 9volt Reply
    August 19, 2023 at 11:29 pm

    “This week made me wish I had stayed longer in Europe, but this is life.”

    Nah, don’t wish that. I’m sure your family appreciates you being home during the hurricane. Although, based on the most recent news reports, it seems it’ll be downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it reaches LA.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      August 19, 2023 at 11:29 pm

      We would have all been together in either place.

  19. Connie Reply
    August 20, 2023 at 12:46 am

    Prayers are powerful.

    I’ve got you covered!

  20. DavidM Reply
    August 20, 2023 at 1:02 am

    Sorry to hear about all these events, Matthew. I also burned my hand today on the grill while getting things ready around the house down here in the OC for the big storm. Have fun up there, and keep the lifelines at the ready.

  21. Aaron Reply
    August 20, 2023 at 2:51 am

    Glad it wasn’t worse for your daughter, hope it all heals well.

  22. Robb Reply
    August 20, 2023 at 4:51 pm

    After all heals, everyone’s nerves are settled, and Hilary has said good bye … I’d recommend getting a quote for Leaf Filter gutter guards so you never have to worry about getting on a ladder again (preventing a mishap) onto clean out the gutters. Might be worth it. I know it was for me. Speaking as a retired Pediatrician, after tge tears dry, children wear those temporary cuts as a badge of honor boasting that they fought off … the dragon, Batman, the burglar etc.

  23. Maryland Reply
    August 20, 2023 at 7:36 pm

    Oh no. Not an earthquake too. Tonight I pray on my knees

  24. KC Reply
    August 21, 2023 at 2:00 pm

    Matt,

    The best way to prevent discoloration of the scar (so that it is not as visible in the future) is to make sure you block it from the sun. Apply sunscreen as much as you can.

  25. PM Reply
    August 21, 2023 at 3:58 pm

    Gosh, that really sounds bad. I don’t do prayers, but I hope your luck improves soon!

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