# I earn my Orange Heart, or, ice and fractures on the campaign trail **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 19, 2006, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-earn-my-orange-heart-or-ice-and-fractures-on-the-campaign-trail/340601 "2006-01-19T03:16:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-earn-my-orange-heart-or-ice-and-fractures-on-the-campaign-trail/340601/1 "2006-01-19T03:16:20Z")
Today, due to the absolutely [appalling weather](http://www.cbc.ca/montreal/story/qc-storm20060118.html) (an inch of rain-slicked ice on all the sidewalks, caused by a storm that also prevented Jack Layton from getting into Quebec City), our original plan to do a door-to-door pamphlet drop was cancelled in favour of going into big apartment buildings and stuffing their mailboxes. We had done six - two low-cost housing developments in Verdun and four condo buildings in Nun’s Island - when, leaving a building, I slipped, rotated through about 45 to 90 degrees, fell hard, and let out a burst of invective - I had non-trivially damaged my ankle. First thought: “I don’t have time for this!” It was fortunate that I was with my amazing volunteer Patrick in a car, as he was able to get me to a local clinic (rather stupidly situated just about as far as possible from the entrance of the shopping mall it was in - I had to use a shopping cart as a walker, cursing all the way). The doc thought it was a twist, but she sent me for X-rays to be sure. Crutches were rented and pills bought. At the X-ray clinic in Verdun (immensely stupidly located up stairs!!) it was confirmed that my ankle was broken and that I should go to the emerge. On the way out, being unused to crutches, I fell partway down the stairs. Pas fort, mon affaire. _sigh_ Anyway, after much hopping about, we headed up to Mom’s hospital and the doc (a friend of hers) put a temporary splint on. I’m to go tomorrow to buy an air cast. I have three different campaign appearances tomorrow, and maybe some mainstreeting; I’m hoping to go for the sympathy vote. No more door-to-door, of course. So there you have it. Most people break their first bone as a kid, tearing around or playing sports or whatnot. Me, I break mine campaigning. Politics: an extreme sport. ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-earn-my-orange-heart-or-ice-and-fractures-on-the-campaign-trail/340601/2 "2006-01-19T03:35:18Z")
"And if you elect me as your MP,I’ll bust my _ass_ for you! Only four more days, champ… ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-earn-my-orange-heart-or-ice-and-fractures-on-the-campaign-trail/340601/3 "2006-01-19T04:45:00Z")
Man, campaigning is tough! Guess we shouldn’t say “break a leg”? But good luck on the 23rd! ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Macphisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b487fb/32.png) [@Ms\_Macphisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Macphisto)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-earn-my-orange-heart-or-ice-and-fractures-on-the-campaign-trail/340601/4 "2006-01-19T07:35:46Z")
Looks like **Savannah** beat me to it, and I haven’t really heard it applied to politics, but I was gonna say, as a general rule when people tell you to “break a leg”, they don’t mean it literally. Best of luck come Monday! If I was still living in Montreal, you’d have my vote, but as it is I’ll just have to make do with my local candidates. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-earn-my-orange-heart-or-ice-and-fractures-on-the-campaign-trail/340601/5 "2006-01-19T16:12:52Z")
So sorry to hear about your falls, **matt**. Good luck on the 23rd–we need more like you. I will add, though, that the NDP candidate in Etobicoke-Lakeshore _kicked ass_ at the all-candidates meeting last week. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-earn-my-orange-heart-or-ice-and-fractures-on-the-campaign-trail/340601/6 "2006-01-19T16:25:52Z")
**Matt** , sorry, out to lunch here, but what are you running for? Or limping for, to be more exact? ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-earn-my-orange-heart-or-ice-and-fractures-on-the-campaign-trail/340601/7 "2006-01-19T16:30:55Z")
> [@Sal Ammoniac](#): > > **Matt** , sorry, out to lunch here, but what are you running for? Or limping for, to be more exact? There’s an election for the Canadian Parliament on the 23rd. **Matt** ’s the NDP candidate for the riding of Jeanne Le Ber. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-earn-my-orange-heart-or-ice-and-fractures-on-the-campaign-trail/340601/8 "2006-01-19T16:43:38Z")
> [@Governor Quinn](#): > > There’s an election for the Canadian Parliament on the 23rd. **Matt** ’s the NDP candidate for the riding of Jeanne Le Ber. And the advance polls have already closed. Some people _have already voted_ for **matt**. ---
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-earn-my-orange-heart-or-ice-and-fractures-on-the-campaign-trail/340601/9 "2006-01-19T17:22:15Z")
Oh, poor **matt**. All that door-to-door stuff can be rough, especially with conditions like that. I’m wishing you great luck, though. It’s about time we get a Doper in office! ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-earn-my-orange-heart-or-ice-and-fractures-on-the-campaign-trail/340601/10 "2006-01-19T20:35:21Z")
**matt** , my orange beret is very very tipped to you. Be assured I’ll be voting for Maurganne Mooney (Eglinton-Lawrence) on the 23rd. _cheers on_ ---
**Author:** ![Elenfair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cc9497/32.png) [@Elenfair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elenfair)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-earn-my-orange-heart-or-ice-and-fractures-on-the-campaign-trail/340601/11 "2006-01-19T23:23:34Z")
Pauvre Matthieu! Try not to break any other things, m’okay? I’m keeping my toes crossed for you, campaign boy. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2006, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-earn-my-orange-heart-or-ice-and-fractures-on-the-campaign-trail/340601/12 "2006-01-20T00:05:08Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Some people _have already voted_ for **matt**. (raises hand) Yep 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2006, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-earn-my-orange-heart-or-ice-and-fractures-on-the-campaign-trail/340601/13 "2006-01-21T21:33:33Z")
Yay for the candidates! Yay for the voters! ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2006, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-earn-my-orange-heart-or-ice-and-fractures-on-the-campaign-trail/340601/14 "2006-01-21T23:05:31Z")
Sorry to hear about it, **matt**. At least it happened as the campaign is winding down - 48 hours to go. You can put your feet up with a job well done soon. by way of a hijack, I love the Google ads on display at the bottom of this thread right now: “Quebec Florists” and “Crutches for Sale.” We’re obviously supposed to be wiring you flowers, crutches, or both. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2006, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-earn-my-orange-heart-or-ice-and-fractures-on-the-campaign-trail/340601/15 "2006-01-22T14:49:33Z")
> [@Northern Piper](#): > > Sorry to hear about it, **matt**. At least it happened as the campaign is winding down - 48 hours to go. You can put your feet up with a job well done soon. No time - off to Nun’s Island and Verdun for more mainstreeting today! ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-earn-my-orange-heart-or-ice-and-fractures-on-the-campaign-trail/340601/16 "2006-01-24T09:23:32Z")
Aww, Matt, that sounds terrible ☹ I hope you’re hobbling around under your own power again soon. I also hope you don’t drive a standard - I played taxi driver for my brother the better part of the summer because he does and was on crutches too after hurting himself in a much more stupid way than you did. But what do you mean about stuffing mailboxes? That’s against the law in the US (if you’re caught!). Okay in Canada, though? I mean, your name is most likely on it, so it’s not like they’d question who did it. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-earn-my-orange-heart-or-ice-and-fractures-on-the-campaign-trail/340601/17 "2006-01-25T05:43:00Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > But what do you mean about stuffing mailboxes? That’s against the law in the US (if you’re caught!). Okay in Canada, though? I mean, your name is most likely on it, so it’s not like they’d question who did it. It’s against the law to put pamphlets in mailboxes in the US?? If we _didn’t_ do it here, people would complain they weren’t contacted. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-earn-my-orange-heart-or-ice-and-fractures-on-the-campaign-trail/340601/18 "2006-01-25T06:08:00Z")
I think this came up in a thread a few years ago - something about under US federal law, the mailbox is reserved for, well, mail, and nothing but? ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-earn-my-orange-heart-or-ice-and-fractures-on-the-campaign-trail/340601/19 "2006-01-26T02:59:10Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > It’s against the law to put pamphlets in mailboxes in the US?? It’s against the law to put _anything_ in a mailbox that isn’t incoming or outgoing mail. As you imagine, this law is broken all the time (I bet few fines are issued, though). AFAIK this law has something to do with the post office having “exclusive use rights” to your mailbox, even though you own the damn thing.