Memorial Weekend '05
Ah, whew, memorial weekend is over. I've had a long one myself.
To kick it off on Friday night, I went to a bar where we had our DPHH. It was a relaxing night for me. Some people played some sand volleyball at the bar. Some just sat and chatted. Monica and Silas and their friend, Wayne came from California for Memorial weekend. Why Arizona? because every year on Memorial weekend, as a tradition, we have an event that we all deafies like to do which is tubing on Salt River. It was nice seeing and catching up with Monica and Silas. I met Wayne for the first time whom I didn't realize earlier that he is the boyfriend of my childhood friend, Nelky. I had heard of his name and a little about him for the last some years. So, finally, I met him. Silas, the last time I saw him was a little before I moved out of California. He came over to my home with Rico and Shannon and Berna, to chat some and to score some greenies which I didn't have. Monica, I had last seen her in Amsterdam when I was on my European vacation. I hung with Rico and Monica for one night and they saw me off when I left to return to London. It was real cool seeing Monica on another side of the world. heh. Anyway, getting back on track, at DPHH, I also met 2 New Yorkers who lives in AZ too. So, that was neat. Saw few old faces as well. Maurice came home with me from DPHH to sleepover at my home. April, TJ and Sean were supposed to join us to sleepover too, but they wanted to sleep in their own bed in order to preserve better energy for the next day. That was cool with me.
Saturday which is the tubing day. yay. I didn't sleep well in the morning so I woke up at 630am and 7am, but got up at 730am and woke Maurice up to have a good breakfast and prep our lunch and pack few things (towels, sheets, food, drinks, sunblock lotion, etc.) By 830am, April, TJ and Sean came by to pick us up. Off we went to tubing, well, we made a short stop at the food store for three of them who didn't really prepare any food/drinks. ohwell. On our way over, I was paging back and forth with Deaf258 to make sure that we will meet there, but we found out that he and his friends were on 87 when they were supposed to be on Power Road after I-60. I knew we would not be meeting at all because of the timing of both of our arrivals at Salt River. Oh well. I wished he and his friends had been with us. (They did get to the river btw. only on their own. I later heard from him, when I was at Claim Jumper after tubing, that he had a good time despite the fact that he had lost his eyeglasses in the river and splitted his toenail due to looking for it. but he had a nice time thou.) After we got to Salt River in Mesa, we got our tubes and got on the service bus there to get to the point one (beginning of the tubing part of river). We also met up with many deafies there. Jason and Tracie and Peggy joined our circle to tube ("ride") with us. Jason and TJ proceed to rope up all of our tubes. Peggy changed her mind, maybe 2 or 3 times on whether to join or not to. She ended up not joining our tubes circle. So, it was just us.. Jason, TJ, Sean, April, Tracie, Maurice and me and the cooler in its own tube. This year, the river water seemed higher because we had so much rain earlier this year. (Hey, westerns, remember that?? phew! damn! right?) It was a first time tubing for some of us.. TJ, April, and Maurice. That was neat. This one was my third time.
Into the first 20 or 30 minutes of tubing in the COLD water, at one point, I had a UNLUCKY tumble in the river. It was bad. I'll try my best explain this momently experience in words; it's so much better via signing in person, naturally. But here goes..
My tube was flipped over so fast. I can't remember what exactly had happened, really. It was as if I was sitting on my tube just fine.. floating up n down a bit rapidly then the next second, all of the sudden, I was underwater on the rocks! (it's all rocks underneath). It was kinda shocking and a little scary. I banged up my right knee bad and my pubic bone on left side and my left ankle and mildly stratched my gums in the front inside my mouth and a bit of skin rawed off my hand from the rope. I had lost everything on me. I had shower slippers on, hat on, and was holding my mini cooler and thermos. Everything went off of me as I fell in water. My limbs went into many directions. I don't recall the moment of the transition from top of tube between underwater. (It's the between that amazes me the most of all. Of the whole thing.) We were on rapids at that point. I remember thinking, "Where am I? Why am I underwater?" Everything was too quick for my brain to process and disgest and absorb that very moment. Flashed by me. Had no time to realize what happened. So, first thing my body did for me was to rocket upward out of the water so I can breathe. I did not do that. My body did. Deep survival instinct had kicked in for me, I guess. I realized that later on after looking back at what happened. I remember feeling my body swim frantically upward itself and feeling my knee bang on a rock and feeling all rocks on my front body. It hurted all over afterward, of course. After I got back on my tube, my hair was a mess and my body was shaking due to a natural scared adrenidle rush. Everyone had wide eyes looking at me with concerns "my gosh! vee! you ok you ok??? *gasp* *sigh* alright? whew. damn." Words such as those splattered out toward me from them. I appericated their concerns of me meaning they're friends. :-) (Thanks, guys, really! hugs!) I will never forget that river tumble of mine. It will definately be "memorial" for me! I still dwell on it a little now, but it's dwidling though. Looking back at it and be amazed by it. It could have been worse. I could have cut something and had it gashed out or knocked out unconsciously or broken any of my bones. *sigh* I counted my blessings.
After that, we continued our tubing fun for the next 3 and half hours. Very sunny day. Got my left shin burnt. That's it. The rest of my body was blocked by the sunblock at spf 45. I don't understand why my left shin wasn't. Weird. *shrugs* Also, I got stung by a huge wasp on my left arm near my armpit. I was resting my arms on the tube and felt something underneath. I just readjusted my arm on the tube a few several times and it still bothered me so I decided to look at what was it and found it was a wasp underneath my arm! I screamed. I didn't expect myself to scream. Usually, I don't scream at bugs. Maurice helped me by pushing it away from me. I found the stung area and left it alone and let the salt water help heal it. I ignored the bite for the rest of the ride and the rest of the night. Good thing that it wasn't itchy at all. I hadn't been stung by any bugs in a long time! About time, I guess. heh. The whole ride was fun including my own mishaps. I look at it as experience, not as a negative disappointment.
We got out at point 4 on the river. Point 5 was closed that day. I had never been to 5 anyway. Went back to return the tubes. Went to April's SUV to dry off and tiny up few things then meet with Jason's car at front to discuss where to eat for dinner. But few PDSD students came to April for help because their ride did not show. So we waited while April and TJ tried to come up with ways of how to get them home. We thought about dropping them off at a bus stop in Tempe or Phx. Discussed back and forth. I did not input much because I did not really know what was going on fully. Just when Maurice, Sean and I were about to transfer to Jason's car so April and Tj could take the kids to a bus stop and Jason was supposed to follow, but the kids' ride finally showed up. yay. Maurice and I stayed in April's suv. Sean joined Jason anyway to keep him company. Off we went to my home to dry off and use the bathroom, I need a change of clothes. I had a dry tshirt ready, but I forgot my bra. After we all were done powdering up, we left for Claim Jumper for dinner. We chatted, laughed, ate. All day and night, Jason and TJ teased me about my erected nipples because of the cold water in river and because of the air conditioning in the restaurant. I was wearing a tank top that had a built in sport bra-like. I think I looked good in it even with my erected nipples. Let them point and laugh. I thought it was funny too. I went home and went to sleep early. I was too wiped out to take a shower. The river is not clean, we all know that. I so badly wanted to get clean before bed, but I couldn't move my body anymore. My knee was hurting. I limped all night by the way.
Sunday was a pool party at Kim and Ronda's. I woke up and tried to walk normal. I did not. We would think that my banged up knee could turn bad the next day, but no, it was my left shin that was burnt..I couldn't walk on it completely. I had to lean on everything in my path to walk around. But it got a little better as the day went by though, but it still hurted bad. Shower felt soooo good. When I brushed and airdried my hair, my arm had to be up to do my hair.. while I did that, I found that I had not one, but TWO wasp stings that I did not realize. I never felt the second one. I was surprised. They both felt fine, not itchy at all. yay for that. Jason came and picked me up and we headed for the party. Poor Jason, on the way over, his pager was accidently in a little water in an old cup in the car. It sort of died on him. He reseted so many times. He had a good attitude about it though. I appulaud him. ;-) to Jason. Anyway, we got to the pool party. Again, I saw old faces, new faces and recurring faces and also, 2 faces remembered me when I did not remember them. Few people were visiting from Calif. There were few CODA kids. Zoe is getting bigger! JD is a big boy in size, wow. So cute. Met baby Cody for the first time since Feb. Jason and I stayed at the party from 2p (party started at 1p) until 1030p, I believe. It was a nice party overall. Some people played sand volleyball. I don't play that much. I'm usually clumsy in sand when it comes to playing sports. It was a good party, successful. Good job, Kim and Ronda! Also, great food. It was potluck also. I bought a seedless watermelon that no one ate because I didn't find the right time to cut it open. Ohwell. Gave it to Gina who was gonna ride back to Calif with her friends. Better make it handy! Again, I pooped out at home after Jason dropped me off. Slept early.
Monday, Memorial Day. My mom was off and she had been wanting to see and touch Ikea for the first time so I went with her too. We went in the morning because I knew we needed some time surveying that whole bigassed store. We got few things for our new place. She got her herself a desk chair. She is now eyeing an entertainment center. I think she is seriously considering ordering it soon. We'll see. Jason found me at Ikea. He was with Carrie there whom I didn't see at Ikea. Another deafie who was at the pool party the day before. Jason and I talked for 5 minutes because we really wanted to shop than talk. heh. Later on, I saw Brian who works there. He was at the same pool party too. He asked me if I wanted to pick up a job application and fill it out while he would come with me. I told him that I already had one from Ikea, but I forgot to bring it with me and that I would come back tomorrow. He said fine. (oops, I got my period late last night and I didnt feel strong this morning so I didnt go to Ikea today. Tomorrow for sure.)
After Ikea, I put Mom's desk chair together which was so easy. Cleared up the balcony which was so filled up with folded packing boxes. Later on, we watched a netflix movie called "Waking Life". It is strongly recommended for those who loves to think philsophy and likes deep stuff and animation, all blended in. I think I would like to buy this DVD for myself. hm. I need to watch it again to absorb information from the movie anyway.
Well, there, that's my detailed memorial weekend. :-) In case you were wondering, my knee is better. I've stopped limping, but I cannot really get up from the floor by my knees, has to be by my arms. My burnt shin is alright, but still okay.
To kick it off on Friday night, I went to a bar where we had our DPHH. It was a relaxing night for me. Some people played some sand volleyball at the bar. Some just sat and chatted. Monica and Silas and their friend, Wayne came from California for Memorial weekend. Why Arizona? because every year on Memorial weekend, as a tradition, we have an event that we all deafies like to do which is tubing on Salt River. It was nice seeing and catching up with Monica and Silas. I met Wayne for the first time whom I didn't realize earlier that he is the boyfriend of my childhood friend, Nelky. I had heard of his name and a little about him for the last some years. So, finally, I met him. Silas, the last time I saw him was a little before I moved out of California. He came over to my home with Rico and Shannon and Berna, to chat some and to score some greenies which I didn't have. Monica, I had last seen her in Amsterdam when I was on my European vacation. I hung with Rico and Monica for one night and they saw me off when I left to return to London. It was real cool seeing Monica on another side of the world. heh. Anyway, getting back on track, at DPHH, I also met 2 New Yorkers who lives in AZ too. So, that was neat. Saw few old faces as well. Maurice came home with me from DPHH to sleepover at my home. April, TJ and Sean were supposed to join us to sleepover too, but they wanted to sleep in their own bed in order to preserve better energy for the next day. That was cool with me.
Saturday which is the tubing day. yay. I didn't sleep well in the morning so I woke up at 630am and 7am, but got up at 730am and woke Maurice up to have a good breakfast and prep our lunch and pack few things (towels, sheets, food, drinks, sunblock lotion, etc.) By 830am, April, TJ and Sean came by to pick us up. Off we went to tubing, well, we made a short stop at the food store for three of them who didn't really prepare any food/drinks. ohwell. On our way over, I was paging back and forth with Deaf258 to make sure that we will meet there, but we found out that he and his friends were on 87 when they were supposed to be on Power Road after I-60. I knew we would not be meeting at all because of the timing of both of our arrivals at Salt River. Oh well. I wished he and his friends had been with us. (They did get to the river btw. only on their own. I later heard from him, when I was at Claim Jumper after tubing, that he had a good time despite the fact that he had lost his eyeglasses in the river and splitted his toenail due to looking for it. but he had a nice time thou.) After we got to Salt River in Mesa, we got our tubes and got on the service bus there to get to the point one (beginning of the tubing part of river). We also met up with many deafies there. Jason and Tracie and Peggy joined our circle to tube ("ride") with us. Jason and TJ proceed to rope up all of our tubes. Peggy changed her mind, maybe 2 or 3 times on whether to join or not to. She ended up not joining our tubes circle. So, it was just us.. Jason, TJ, Sean, April, Tracie, Maurice and me and the cooler in its own tube. This year, the river water seemed higher because we had so much rain earlier this year. (Hey, westerns, remember that?? phew! damn! right?) It was a first time tubing for some of us.. TJ, April, and Maurice. That was neat. This one was my third time.
Into the first 20 or 30 minutes of tubing in the COLD water, at one point, I had a UNLUCKY tumble in the river. It was bad. I'll try my best explain this momently experience in words; it's so much better via signing in person, naturally. But here goes..
My tube was flipped over so fast. I can't remember what exactly had happened, really. It was as if I was sitting on my tube just fine.. floating up n down a bit rapidly then the next second, all of the sudden, I was underwater on the rocks! (it's all rocks underneath). It was kinda shocking and a little scary. I banged up my right knee bad and my pubic bone on left side and my left ankle and mildly stratched my gums in the front inside my mouth and a bit of skin rawed off my hand from the rope. I had lost everything on me. I had shower slippers on, hat on, and was holding my mini cooler and thermos. Everything went off of me as I fell in water. My limbs went into many directions. I don't recall the moment of the transition from top of tube between underwater. (It's the between that amazes me the most of all. Of the whole thing.) We were on rapids at that point. I remember thinking, "Where am I? Why am I underwater?" Everything was too quick for my brain to process and disgest and absorb that very moment. Flashed by me. Had no time to realize what happened. So, first thing my body did for me was to rocket upward out of the water so I can breathe. I did not do that. My body did. Deep survival instinct had kicked in for me, I guess. I realized that later on after looking back at what happened. I remember feeling my body swim frantically upward itself and feeling my knee bang on a rock and feeling all rocks on my front body. It hurted all over afterward, of course. After I got back on my tube, my hair was a mess and my body was shaking due to a natural scared adrenidle rush. Everyone had wide eyes looking at me with concerns "my gosh! vee! you ok you ok??? *gasp* *sigh* alright? whew. damn." Words such as those splattered out toward me from them. I appericated their concerns of me meaning they're friends. :-) (Thanks, guys, really! hugs!) I will never forget that river tumble of mine. It will definately be "memorial" for me! I still dwell on it a little now, but it's dwidling though. Looking back at it and be amazed by it. It could have been worse. I could have cut something and had it gashed out or knocked out unconsciously or broken any of my bones. *sigh* I counted my blessings.
After that, we continued our tubing fun for the next 3 and half hours. Very sunny day. Got my left shin burnt. That's it. The rest of my body was blocked by the sunblock at spf 45. I don't understand why my left shin wasn't. Weird. *shrugs* Also, I got stung by a huge wasp on my left arm near my armpit. I was resting my arms on the tube and felt something underneath. I just readjusted my arm on the tube a few several times and it still bothered me so I decided to look at what was it and found it was a wasp underneath my arm! I screamed. I didn't expect myself to scream. Usually, I don't scream at bugs. Maurice helped me by pushing it away from me. I found the stung area and left it alone and let the salt water help heal it. I ignored the bite for the rest of the ride and the rest of the night. Good thing that it wasn't itchy at all. I hadn't been stung by any bugs in a long time! About time, I guess. heh. The whole ride was fun including my own mishaps. I look at it as experience, not as a negative disappointment.
We got out at point 4 on the river. Point 5 was closed that day. I had never been to 5 anyway. Went back to return the tubes. Went to April's SUV to dry off and tiny up few things then meet with Jason's car at front to discuss where to eat for dinner. But few PDSD students came to April for help because their ride did not show. So we waited while April and TJ tried to come up with ways of how to get them home. We thought about dropping them off at a bus stop in Tempe or Phx. Discussed back and forth. I did not input much because I did not really know what was going on fully. Just when Maurice, Sean and I were about to transfer to Jason's car so April and Tj could take the kids to a bus stop and Jason was supposed to follow, but the kids' ride finally showed up. yay. Maurice and I stayed in April's suv. Sean joined Jason anyway to keep him company. Off we went to my home to dry off and use the bathroom, I need a change of clothes. I had a dry tshirt ready, but I forgot my bra. After we all were done powdering up, we left for Claim Jumper for dinner. We chatted, laughed, ate. All day and night, Jason and TJ teased me about my erected nipples because of the cold water in river and because of the air conditioning in the restaurant. I was wearing a tank top that had a built in sport bra-like. I think I looked good in it even with my erected nipples. Let them point and laugh. I thought it was funny too. I went home and went to sleep early. I was too wiped out to take a shower. The river is not clean, we all know that. I so badly wanted to get clean before bed, but I couldn't move my body anymore. My knee was hurting. I limped all night by the way.
Sunday was a pool party at Kim and Ronda's. I woke up and tried to walk normal. I did not. We would think that my banged up knee could turn bad the next day, but no, it was my left shin that was burnt..I couldn't walk on it completely. I had to lean on everything in my path to walk around. But it got a little better as the day went by though, but it still hurted bad. Shower felt soooo good. When I brushed and airdried my hair, my arm had to be up to do my hair.. while I did that, I found that I had not one, but TWO wasp stings that I did not realize. I never felt the second one. I was surprised. They both felt fine, not itchy at all. yay for that. Jason came and picked me up and we headed for the party. Poor Jason, on the way over, his pager was accidently in a little water in an old cup in the car. It sort of died on him. He reseted so many times. He had a good attitude about it though. I appulaud him. ;-) to Jason. Anyway, we got to the pool party. Again, I saw old faces, new faces and recurring faces and also, 2 faces remembered me when I did not remember them. Few people were visiting from Calif. There were few CODA kids. Zoe is getting bigger! JD is a big boy in size, wow. So cute. Met baby Cody for the first time since Feb. Jason and I stayed at the party from 2p (party started at 1p) until 1030p, I believe. It was a nice party overall. Some people played sand volleyball. I don't play that much. I'm usually clumsy in sand when it comes to playing sports. It was a good party, successful. Good job, Kim and Ronda! Also, great food. It was potluck also. I bought a seedless watermelon that no one ate because I didn't find the right time to cut it open. Ohwell. Gave it to Gina who was gonna ride back to Calif with her friends. Better make it handy! Again, I pooped out at home after Jason dropped me off. Slept early.
Monday, Memorial Day. My mom was off and she had been wanting to see and touch Ikea for the first time so I went with her too. We went in the morning because I knew we needed some time surveying that whole bigassed store. We got few things for our new place. She got her herself a desk chair. She is now eyeing an entertainment center. I think she is seriously considering ordering it soon. We'll see. Jason found me at Ikea. He was with Carrie there whom I didn't see at Ikea. Another deafie who was at the pool party the day before. Jason and I talked for 5 minutes because we really wanted to shop than talk. heh. Later on, I saw Brian who works there. He was at the same pool party too. He asked me if I wanted to pick up a job application and fill it out while he would come with me. I told him that I already had one from Ikea, but I forgot to bring it with me and that I would come back tomorrow. He said fine. (oops, I got my period late last night and I didnt feel strong this morning so I didnt go to Ikea today. Tomorrow for sure.)
After Ikea, I put Mom's desk chair together which was so easy. Cleared up the balcony which was so filled up with folded packing boxes. Later on, we watched a netflix movie called "Waking Life". It is strongly recommended for those who loves to think philsophy and likes deep stuff and animation, all blended in. I think I would like to buy this DVD for myself. hm. I need to watch it again to absorb information from the movie anyway.
Well, there, that's my detailed memorial weekend. :-) In case you were wondering, my knee is better. I've stopped limping, but I cannot really get up from the floor by my knees, has to be by my arms. My burnt shin is alright, but still okay.
posted by Veronica at 5:04 PM
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