Well, my cousin and I had a bit of excitement yesterday. It was time for her annual checkup and things proceeded relatively smooth on Thursday. We managed to get out of Dodge reasonably on time. Only had a couple turnarounds to pick up something we forgot. Got to Duluth, made the all important stop at Barnes and Nobles, had supper and got to the hotel bout our usual time. Morning arrives and bam. Things started going the way of Murphy's Law right up to bout 1500 (3:00 p.m.).
Turned on my trusty computer to do a bit of revising. Ratted, Windows 10 app decided it was time to work and started downloading the whole system. So, whilst the laptop is merrily clicking, whirring and doing it's strange happy dance, I decide to head out for some coffee from the local Star Bucks.
Got downstairs and remembered I'd have to drink the free coffee as it was 0445 in the a.m. and such places of business aren't open at that hour. Luckily, I was in the casino and proceeded to the free coffee at the beverage station. The machines started their "come hither" music which all such one-armed bandits use to entice the unwary into parting with their hard earned money.
Well, me and my money were soon parted and I go back to check on my handy dandy laptop's strange little dance. Course it wasn't finished yet. Still whirling. So I goes and gets the new and improved "moccasin telegraph," plug IT in and wait for the flashing green light. I make some more coffee, fully expecting to get a bit of revision done before breakfast. NOT!
Both machines were happily doing their happy dances as the moccasin telegraph decides to join its' compatriot. I try to find something to watch on the TV and it decides it needs a break and is filled with those half hour ads, being as how it must earn its' keep in some manner. So, I decided to answer the one-armed bandit's call which had found its' way to my room. I get to the door and bam.
My trusty laptop decides to quit dancing and get down to some serious work. So I go back, fully expecting it to be done within a half hour or so. Noooo, its' filled with some even stranger whirring and clicking, finally telling me its ready to install so I'd best save my work and let it get to business.
So, I have to do some fancy moves with my fingers so I can get signed in to my accounts which had been idle since the day I listened to the advice of the good folks over to King dot com and cleared my cache which also signed me out of all my accounts. And that is another loonng story which I may relate one day.
In the course of doing this, I find I need that moccasin telegraph to stop its' happy little dance so I can get the things synced. Whilst going to unplug it, my eye moves across the other little machine designed to get us on our way so we will not be operating on Indian time in the wider world off the rez. Oh! No. Can't be. Only 15 minutes til I have to meet Lucille for breakfast. Time sure does fly when one wants it to operate in slo-mo. Why, oh why, can we not have the powers of some of those heroes we watch on that time stealing machine every day?
I get the machines in sync, hit the button the insistent laptop keeps telling me I need to push so it can get on its' way to making my life easier. Lies, I tell you, lies. Why do I keep falling for those lies? Cousin calls and says she's ready. I look at the time machine's accusing little face and see that she's twenty minutes late. Yay!
Heeeh. I go down to meet her. Can't find her. She's usually waiting for me. I tell ya, people in wheelchairs turn invisible at times. Why are they gifted with those powers?
I ask the security guard if he's seen a woman in a wheelchair go by. This, of course, earns me one of those looks and I shake my head. Course he sees quite a few of them in the course of a few minutes. I roll my eyes and he decides to take pity and see if he can remember my particular person. No.
I head back to the buffet line. "Miss!" the guard says and points. I see her. Ahh, all is right with the world at this point in time. We have breakfast and decide to leave and get some shopping done before her appointment.
Well. Therein lay the problem.
Her trusty vehicle decides to join the others in their strange little rituals of flashing lights, weird sounds and funny little stops and starts which must be a universal step for these things. Being as how I really didn't want to worry her before her appointment with the doc, I don't tell her how serious it might be. Til she decided we'd have to head up the hill to the mall. One can only imagine the images that flashed in front of my mind's eye thinking about the flashing lights and what might happen if the vehicle decides to stop ITS' little dance going up that hill. (Only those familiar with Duluth know that feeling. Maybe San Francisco? Or any other city built on hills or mountains?)
Hahaheeheehoho...being from somewhere in the middle of the sticks where we are used to having much things done before the sun has risen a quarter of the way through its' daily dance, we sometimes experience frustration when we find that not everyone operates on the same wavelength. We had an hour to wait for the stores to open. She checks her to-do's and we find a store or two that are usually open 24/7. By the time we get done with a bit of her shopping, that flashing light has been joined by another ominous looking steady light that tells us something is happening with the braking system.
Course, seeing as how those things aren't always accurate cause they decide sometimes to dance just cause they feel like it, I hadn't been that worried. Til I thought of going downhill to her appointment with the doc. That steady light caused Cousin to grab her handy dandy instruction book to see just what that light meant. Not that she didn't believe me when I told her it had to do with traction. It had been raining off and on and we'd gone through some puddles in the potholes that are waiting on funding from the powers that be to be filled.
"We'll go the Honda store after I'm done." 'Maybe it'll fix itself' flashed through both our minds. I tell ya, the thoughts and hopes that go through one's mind when one is miles and miles upon miles from home and things are going wrong that'll interfere with reaching that objective. I'm still shaking my head at that one.
I stop in and see my brother-in-law before we head back up the hill intending on hitting the Honda store. Cause, of course, the lights didn't magically fix themselves whilst I fiddled with the other flashing lights on that handy dandy laptop that had been operating on it's battery this whole time installing its' new instructions for the new steps of it's chosen lifestyle.
"You can't drive it if the lights are flashing" started us on the hunt for a ride home. Luckily, my moccasin telegraph had decided it had had enough excitement for the day and decided to behave itself for a bit. I was hoping my niece was home and would be able to provide us with a place to wait whilst my sister drove down. Yay! Problem solved, niece shows up, we have lunch and head to her house.
Whilst there, my trusty laptop decides it must settle down to learn its' new steps which my niece took credit for since she has superfast internet. We made plans for the rest of the day. She heads out after trying to tell me how to lock her fancy new door in case the car gets fixed while she was gone which I said she'd have to write out for me. And anyway, the car wasn't going to be fixed because they had a backlog so I wouldn't need it.
Yep. The Honda store calls, said they'd found the problem and it was an easy fix. Seeing that most trusty vehicles all are attuned to their own little dance steps, one of the cogs in that machine had decided it wanted a bit of a rest, which of course, threw the rest off balance and started them whirling in alarm and set off our alarms at the thought of being so far from H-O-M-E. Niece kindly brought us back to the Honda store and waited to make sure we were safely in the car and on our way. Thinking bout the day, one would think I'd learn from past experience. When Cousin's reservation was lost in the hotel's computer system and refused to leave whatever dance it had joined even though she had her confirmation number, others would soon join in. I tell ya...
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
31 October 2015
27 October 2011
Home At Last! Part II
Our departure for the airport was imminent. I had no more time to inspect the machinations of the knight. My aunt took a wrong turn. I caught up to them, explained we were on a different level now. During the course of this conversation, another lady from our company joined us. She had been wandering and by now was so turned around she happily followed us back to our original starting point.
Upon our arrival at the airport, we had a bit of time going through security. I forgot about leaving out the laptop so my belongings made one more pass. My mother had to toss a five bladed grooming item that she'd had ever since I could remember. Our Tour Assistant had waited for us and he took over the pushing of the chair. When we arrived at the tram, he received a phone call requesting his assistance. After debarking, I told him to just go, we'd find our way. He pointed out where the elevator was and left.
We arrived at the departure gate and I plugged in the machine. Again, I thought it was working because she was getting air. So we waited the two hours for the plane to leave. No one wanted to relax too much or we'd fall asleep. Had to keep moving. The time arrived for boarding the plane. Not too bad. My mom and I arrived at the assigned seat. The flight attendant settled her in her seat and made sure the tank was where it was supposed to be. About an hour into the flight, the battery needed changing.
This plane was not as roomy as the other one. I couldn't lift the tank to change the battery. I thought it was cause the lady in front of us had put her chair back. No, it was because they had more seats in the plane with very little legroom.
After wrestling the tank to where I could reach the battery, I changed to the fully charged battery. Now is when I discovered that imps had joined the gremlins. Fifteen minutes later, the low battery alarm went off. We had no more batteries and an hour and half of flight time left. I discovered the skies were not so friendly as on our flight out.
After discussion with the Tour Assistant who was across the aisle from us, she left to find out what could be done. By now, my mom was having problems. When the flight attendant arrived, there was a bit of an argument. There are a number of items in my report to her superiors which I won't get into here. Suffice it to say that my temper was on a very short leash. Also, the principle of "treat others as you'd like to be treated" was in operation. The ruder she got, the less I wanted to inform her of the situation. They got one of their tanks for my mother.
Now began the worst flight experience I've ever had. Communications broke down. I received conflicting orders from the flight attendants [FA]. The one who strapped the tank in the seat between my mother and I was not the lead attendant. The FA checked on my mother a few times and I relaxed as landing neared. The FA came and took down my mother's name and address for her "Cabin Discrepancy Report" for the use of the tank. She was explaining things to me and when I told her that I understood rules and regs, she seemed to think I was still a child. Not good.
1. I've worked in a tightly regulated industry. I've done background checks. I've worked in Internal Compliance which has more regulations than she'd ever deal with. I've worked with law enforcement. I've had customer service training which I promptly forgot being on the receiving end of one representative's personification of all the wrong things to do when dealing with unruly customers which I was trying very hard not to be.
2. I've had some medical training. I'm familiar with my mother's medical needs. I do have some knowledge of how Oxygen Concentrators work having been around them for seven years, from the "dinosaurs" to the sleeker models out now. The tank they handed my mother was a smaller version of the 14 we usually use whenever my mother travels in a car. Huuuhhh.
Landing was the pits. The lead came back, very rudely unstrapped the tank and put it under the seat. No sooner had she accomplished this, when the FA for our section came and wanted me to hand it to her. At this time, I felt it best if I left the area. Unfortunately, the middle of a plane in the process of landing is not the best place to find a spot in which to calm down so situations can be dealt with in a calmer manner. When I realized this, I asked for T*** whom I kept calling T*** because it got stuck in my head from one of the other members of our company who thought that was her name. I really needed to get off that plane. We made it through the landing and out of the airport.
Upon our arrival at the motel, I really needed a cigarette, a cup of coffee and a few minutes to myself. I got my mother settled. As long as her machine is hooked into an AC outlet, the battery will charge. That worked. I checked out all the batteries we had and they were all low, out. There was a desktop charger which gave us the opportunity to charge two batteries at once. To fully charge the four batteries, we needed at the least, a 12 hour stopover, which we weren't going to get. So I made sure of at least two that should last for the trip to Fortune Bay whereupon I'd be able to use the DC. But of course, I hadn't planned on the gremlins activities. I thought only the imps had any energy for mischief. Turns out the gremlins had fully rested.
Upon our departure for the 5 hour trip to the home res, three of the Assistants asked if we had fully charged batteries. I assured them we had enough. Not. Our trip was delayed when we were about to depart. We had to wait for half an hour for our bag lunch to arrive. During this delay, I called home {yay, no roaming charges, didn't have to text} to let them know we'd be late. Now, I found out we didn't have a ride home. After setting plans for obtaining a ride were set in motion, I had another cigarette.
We finally left and were 10 minutes out when it was discovered one of our company had been left behind. We waited another half hour or so for the Tour Guides to bring the lost one to meet us. At this point, the low battery alarm went off. She had only been using it for 45 minutes. It's a 3 hour battery at the setting we had it on-pulse only. The driver set her up on the DC hookup and so we were set for the trip to Fortune Bay. Yay, the extra battery should get her home. In order to make up lost time, we missed one stopover.
Upon our arrival in Cloquet, I discovered that my mother's errant knight had some very harsh words for the lost one. Words which proved he was Not A Paladin due to the nature of the mostly FoUr Letter Words he used and the treatment he meted out to an elder. When we arrived, the lost one didn't talk to anyone at this stopover. The Duluthians left the bus at this point; we didn't make the planned stopover in Independence and were able to make up time arriving at Fortune Bay only one hour later than planned.
Upon our arrival at the airport, we had a bit of time going through security. I forgot about leaving out the laptop so my belongings made one more pass. My mother had to toss a five bladed grooming item that she'd had ever since I could remember. Our Tour Assistant had waited for us and he took over the pushing of the chair. When we arrived at the tram, he received a phone call requesting his assistance. After debarking, I told him to just go, we'd find our way. He pointed out where the elevator was and left.
We arrived at the departure gate and I plugged in the machine. Again, I thought it was working because she was getting air. So we waited the two hours for the plane to leave. No one wanted to relax too much or we'd fall asleep. Had to keep moving. The time arrived for boarding the plane. Not too bad. My mom and I arrived at the assigned seat. The flight attendant settled her in her seat and made sure the tank was where it was supposed to be. About an hour into the flight, the battery needed changing.
This plane was not as roomy as the other one. I couldn't lift the tank to change the battery. I thought it was cause the lady in front of us had put her chair back. No, it was because they had more seats in the plane with very little legroom.
After wrestling the tank to where I could reach the battery, I changed to the fully charged battery. Now is when I discovered that imps had joined the gremlins. Fifteen minutes later, the low battery alarm went off. We had no more batteries and an hour and half of flight time left. I discovered the skies were not so friendly as on our flight out.
After discussion with the Tour Assistant who was across the aisle from us, she left to find out what could be done. By now, my mom was having problems. When the flight attendant arrived, there was a bit of an argument. There are a number of items in my report to her superiors which I won't get into here. Suffice it to say that my temper was on a very short leash. Also, the principle of "treat others as you'd like to be treated" was in operation. The ruder she got, the less I wanted to inform her of the situation. They got one of their tanks for my mother.
Now began the worst flight experience I've ever had. Communications broke down. I received conflicting orders from the flight attendants [FA]. The one who strapped the tank in the seat between my mother and I was not the lead attendant. The FA checked on my mother a few times and I relaxed as landing neared. The FA came and took down my mother's name and address for her "Cabin Discrepancy Report" for the use of the tank. She was explaining things to me and when I told her that I understood rules and regs, she seemed to think I was still a child. Not good.
1. I've worked in a tightly regulated industry. I've done background checks. I've worked in Internal Compliance which has more regulations than she'd ever deal with. I've worked with law enforcement. I've had customer service training which I promptly forgot being on the receiving end of one representative's personification of all the wrong things to do when dealing with unruly customers which I was trying very hard not to be.
2. I've had some medical training. I'm familiar with my mother's medical needs. I do have some knowledge of how Oxygen Concentrators work having been around them for seven years, from the "dinosaurs" to the sleeker models out now. The tank they handed my mother was a smaller version of the 14 we usually use whenever my mother travels in a car. Huuuhhh.
Landing was the pits. The lead came back, very rudely unstrapped the tank and put it under the seat. No sooner had she accomplished this, when the FA for our section came and wanted me to hand it to her. At this time, I felt it best if I left the area. Unfortunately, the middle of a plane in the process of landing is not the best place to find a spot in which to calm down so situations can be dealt with in a calmer manner. When I realized this, I asked for T*** whom I kept calling T*** because it got stuck in my head from one of the other members of our company who thought that was her name. I really needed to get off that plane. We made it through the landing and out of the airport.
Upon our arrival at the motel, I really needed a cigarette, a cup of coffee and a few minutes to myself. I got my mother settled. As long as her machine is hooked into an AC outlet, the battery will charge. That worked. I checked out all the batteries we had and they were all low, out. There was a desktop charger which gave us the opportunity to charge two batteries at once. To fully charge the four batteries, we needed at the least, a 12 hour stopover, which we weren't going to get. So I made sure of at least two that should last for the trip to Fortune Bay whereupon I'd be able to use the DC. But of course, I hadn't planned on the gremlins activities. I thought only the imps had any energy for mischief. Turns out the gremlins had fully rested.
Upon our departure for the 5 hour trip to the home res, three of the Assistants asked if we had fully charged batteries. I assured them we had enough. Not. Our trip was delayed when we were about to depart. We had to wait for half an hour for our bag lunch to arrive. During this delay, I called home {yay, no roaming charges, didn't have to text} to let them know we'd be late. Now, I found out we didn't have a ride home. After setting plans for obtaining a ride were set in motion, I had another cigarette.
We finally left and were 10 minutes out when it was discovered one of our company had been left behind. We waited another half hour or so for the Tour Guides to bring the lost one to meet us. At this point, the low battery alarm went off. She had only been using it for 45 minutes. It's a 3 hour battery at the setting we had it on-pulse only. The driver set her up on the DC hookup and so we were set for the trip to Fortune Bay. Yay, the extra battery should get her home. In order to make up lost time, we missed one stopover.
Upon our arrival in Cloquet, I discovered that my mother's errant knight had some very harsh words for the lost one. Words which proved he was Not A Paladin due to the nature of the mostly FoUr Letter Words he used and the treatment he meted out to an elder. When we arrived, the lost one didn't talk to anyone at this stopover. The Duluthians left the bus at this point; we didn't make the planned stopover in Independence and were able to make up time arriving at Fortune Bay only one hour later than planned.
I met the lost one and asked if ** had said anything to him. "Yeah. Did you hear what he said?" "I didn't hear it but I heard about it. Don't worry about what he said. He's a bigger troublemaker than you ever were." I then proceeded to find my mother and brother who met us, thinking that that assurance to the lost one was enough. Not. This knight wasn't issued shining armor. A one hour delay for oversleeping vs. damage to a POC with it's attendant complications is the standard I'd use for whether or not something merited Harsh Words and/or Harsh Treatment.
We had to wait for my nephew to arrive. After a half hour stroll through the casino to stretch my muscles for the hour ride home, I discovered the full extent of the damage to the machine at our stop at the grocery store. I switched out the batteries and turned on the machine. Lo and behold, the charge on a fully charged battery had drained. Luckily, we could use the DC hookup. We arrived at home and my mother happily got on her very own trusty machine.
I surveyed the machine more fully. I think it's mostly the battery hookup that's damaged in some inexplicable manner. It most certainly needs a qualified Service Technician's attention. I don't know if trip insurance will cover human error. A simple push of one button, slide the battery out, slide the new one in til it clicks is all that is needed. Never did I have to take apart the machine to accomplish this.
All in all, I learned a valuable lesson to use for the trip to England's environs. The 31 hour ordeal happily was at the end of our trip. The Tour Guide and Bus Driver for the "Yellow Submarine" are much appreciated. Their assistance, knowledge and great customer service surely made our Trip Planner's/Assistant's job easier. I know my experience was greatly enhanced by their care and respect for my mother.
Here is a link for the "official" description of our trip. You'll need to read from the bottom up. Helen is the Bois Forte News editor/reporter.
We had to wait for my nephew to arrive. After a half hour stroll through the casino to stretch my muscles for the hour ride home, I discovered the full extent of the damage to the machine at our stop at the grocery store. I switched out the batteries and turned on the machine. Lo and behold, the charge on a fully charged battery had drained. Luckily, we could use the DC hookup. We arrived at home and my mother happily got on her very own trusty machine.
I surveyed the machine more fully. I think it's mostly the battery hookup that's damaged in some inexplicable manner. It most certainly needs a qualified Service Technician's attention. I don't know if trip insurance will cover human error. A simple push of one button, slide the battery out, slide the new one in til it clicks is all that is needed. Never did I have to take apart the machine to accomplish this.
All in all, I learned a valuable lesson to use for the trip to England's environs. The 31 hour ordeal happily was at the end of our trip. The Tour Guide and Bus Driver for the "Yellow Submarine" are much appreciated. Their assistance, knowledge and great customer service surely made our Trip Planner's/Assistant's job easier. I know my experience was greatly enhanced by their care and respect for my mother.
Here is a link for the "official" description of our trip. You'll need to read from the bottom up. Helen is the Bois Forte News editor/reporter.
26 October 2011
Home at last!
After what felt like hours on the last leg of the journey home, I discovered that we might not have a ride home. Apparently, the gremlins are mad about having their vacation cut short. On our last day of the tour in Las Vegas, they struck.
I happened to be away from my mother when the battery in her tank needed changing. The knight on the charger who came to their rescue was not the white knight of fairy tale fame. From the minute his hands touched the POC, things went wrong. One: This knight on the charger should have ridden to their rescue by admitting he didn't know how to change the battery and instead ride three steps up into the food court and inform me that I was needed. Two: When he spotted me sitting in the food court, he could have informed me then that the aforementioned machine needed changing.
When the lady who requested my attendance at a short meal had finished eating, we went back to where we had left my mother and my aunt. Alas, no one was there. We searched high and low [not really, we ourselves didn't want to get lost] and then decided to sit in one spot. Upon discovering that we had been joined by sufficient of our company that I felt comfortable leaving the lady, I made a circle looking for my mom and my aunt.
I came upon them at last where they were happily playing a machine. I checked my mom's machine and noticed the handle was not quite right. Aiiiiyeee. A first inkling began worming its' way through my almost overloaded brain. I tried to fix it or at least see what was wrong. Then, we visited the powder room whereupon I discovered the dastardly deed that was to cause me much heartache, sorrow, gloom, doom and a bit of the fiery temper I inherited from a certain parent who shall remain nameless was ignited on the fateful journey through the not so friendly skies.
"Millie" a highly excited voice came to me from the room. I searched in two rooms for the voice. "Millie, come here. Your mom's tank. You have to fix your mom's tank." I let out an exasperated sigh which quickly became a grimace and a short flash of the famous temper I inherited.
My mom's tank was in pieces. The look on my face said it all. I quickly rushed to her to get the tank off my mother who was trying to lift it while my aunt was trying to grab the handle which wasn't working. I reached down and grabbed both the tank and cart off my mother. "**** tried to change the battery. He did something." After I had gotten the tank mostly upright and air flowing through the tubing, I was biting my lip. That name was all I needed to know. Unfortunately, the gremlins had been joined by imps. I wasn't to find this out til much later. It turned out I only thought I had everything straightened out. {To be continued on the morrow. I am in dire need of a little rest and refreshment at this moment.}
I happened to be away from my mother when the battery in her tank needed changing. The knight on the charger who came to their rescue was not the white knight of fairy tale fame. From the minute his hands touched the POC, things went wrong. One: This knight on the charger should have ridden to their rescue by admitting he didn't know how to change the battery and instead ride three steps up into the food court and inform me that I was needed. Two: When he spotted me sitting in the food court, he could have informed me then that the aforementioned machine needed changing.
When the lady who requested my attendance at a short meal had finished eating, we went back to where we had left my mother and my aunt. Alas, no one was there. We searched high and low [not really, we ourselves didn't want to get lost] and then decided to sit in one spot. Upon discovering that we had been joined by sufficient of our company that I felt comfortable leaving the lady, I made a circle looking for my mom and my aunt.
I came upon them at last where they were happily playing a machine. I checked my mom's machine and noticed the handle was not quite right. Aiiiiyeee. A first inkling began worming its' way through my almost overloaded brain. I tried to fix it or at least see what was wrong. Then, we visited the powder room whereupon I discovered the dastardly deed that was to cause me much heartache, sorrow, gloom, doom and a bit of the fiery temper I inherited from a certain parent who shall remain nameless was ignited on the fateful journey through the not so friendly skies.
"Millie" a highly excited voice came to me from the room. I searched in two rooms for the voice. "Millie, come here. Your mom's tank. You have to fix your mom's tank." I let out an exasperated sigh which quickly became a grimace and a short flash of the famous temper I inherited.
My mom's tank was in pieces. The look on my face said it all. I quickly rushed to her to get the tank off my mother who was trying to lift it while my aunt was trying to grab the handle which wasn't working. I reached down and grabbed both the tank and cart off my mother. "**** tried to change the battery. He did something." After I had gotten the tank mostly upright and air flowing through the tubing, I was biting my lip. That name was all I needed to know. Unfortunately, the gremlins had been joined by imps. I wasn't to find this out til much later. It turned out I only thought I had everything straightened out. {To be continued on the morrow. I am in dire need of a little rest and refreshment at this moment.}
24 October 2011
All Aboard
We arrived in Flagstaff last evening where we went to Black Bart's for dinner. It was fun to listen to the waiters and waitresses singing. Yesterday was the highlight of the trip: the Grand Canyon.
We stopped at three places where we were able to look out. The date is wrong on the picture. Apparently, a couple of the gremlins decided to vacation with me. The date should have stayed set.
I don't think we were as excited as we were the day we went to Bryce Canyon. I have a lot of pictures that I took and I will be setting up a public album when I get home.
This is some really beautiful country. Our tour guide, Brian, told us to smell the bark of the Ponderosa Pine: vanilla or butterscotch. I smelled butterscotch.
This morning, we were standing outside and saw a "jackalope?" crossing the street. He'd sit and wait for the cars to go by and move a little bit. Just like the two legged jaywalkers I've seen.
I have only an hour to get ready to leave, so more on our trip later, Most likely on Thursday.
If you'd like to do the Pick Your Own Adventure, just click on the link in the picture on the sidebar. That's the start of the Adventure.
23 October 2011
And we're off
Well, the post is a little late. We actually left on Tuesday morning. Flew out of Mpls and arrived in Vegas in the early evening. Went on a tour of the city the next morning. Then to my surprise, I couldn't get on the internet until this evening. Not that it wasn't available. I just didn't have the cash to spare for the fee.
So far, we have been very tired at the end of the day. Our tour guides, bus drivers, travel assistants and hotel staff have been doing their best in making sure we are having fun.
Our days are scheduled right up until evening. I have had very little free time to post. Will be setting up some pictures on Monday or so. I might pick a few to post and comment on right in the blog. Most will be in an online album.
We will be getting up very early tomorrow again, and in the evening, I must get the Pick Your Own Adventure set up to be published Monday morning.
The country we have been touring is very beautiful. We are making our way around the rim of the Grand Canyon. Very tiring also, we aren't used to the altitude.
So far, we have been very tired at the end of the day. Our tour guides, bus drivers, travel assistants and hotel staff have been doing their best in making sure we are having fun.
Our days are scheduled right up until evening. I have had very little free time to post. Will be setting up some pictures on Monday or so. I might pick a few to post and comment on right in the blog. Most will be in an online album.
We will be getting up very early tomorrow again, and in the evening, I must get the Pick Your Own Adventure set up to be published Monday morning.
The country we have been touring is very beautiful. We are making our way around the rim of the Grand Canyon. Very tiring also, we aren't used to the altitude.
14 October 2011
From Father
Sent to me on Tuesday:
Thoughts to ponder on your elder's trip.
And if love is blind, how can there be love at first sight?
How do you tell when you've run out of invsible ink?
Youth is when you blame all your problems on your parents. Maturity is when you learn that everything is the fault of the younger generation.
Have fun on the trip
Father
Sent to me on Wednesday:
to #1
Show me a man in hot water and I'll show you a man who doesn't have cold feet.
Father
And now, father, I will be checking why the notifications aren't working. You may have to send me a text message. Smoke signals are getting lost in the wind and rain the past couple days. The moccasin telegraph has broken due to the cold outside. Heck, I had to hitchhike to the store because I could only make it halfway there. no. #1
Thoughts to ponder on your elder's trip.
And if love is blind, how can there be love at first sight?
How do you tell when you've run out of invsible ink?
Youth is when you blame all your problems on your parents. Maturity is when you learn that everything is the fault of the younger generation.
Have fun on the trip
Father
Sent to me on Wednesday:
to #1
Show me a man in hot water and I'll show you a man who doesn't have cold feet.
Father
And now, father, I will be checking why the notifications aren't working. You may have to send me a text message. Smoke signals are getting lost in the wind and rain the past couple days. The moccasin telegraph has broken due to the cold outside. Heck, I had to hitchhike to the store because I could only make it halfway there. no. #1
09 October 2011
Things happen for a reason
A little more about the activities is in order in the event some of things may help you if you get the chance to travel. I've posted before about my dream of traveling to England, Ireland, Scotland and possibly Wales.
I've always read ever since I learned to read back in first grade. Books were a constant companion. What really impressed me was when one of my teachers read "Charlotte's Web"-E.B. White to the class. I looked forward each day to class time. And in high school, I came across a book about Tzu Hsi. I read another book about Stonehenge. By the time I entered 10th grade, I had made up my mind that I'd like to visit England. Thus, was born a determination to go. Up until about 5 years ago, I'd always felt this was out of my reach.
For some reason, I thought it cost about $20,000 to take a trip. To a rez girl, that's a whole year's wages before taxes and whatnot. When I revived my dream of writing a book, my dream about travel to England was also given more thought. I started researching. When I found out the trip was doable in terms of money, like about two to three thousand, I started thinking about taking my mom with me. My sons had already said they wouldn't go.
Well, then she got double pneumonia and ended up needing oxygen at home. Still, I started saving money and thinking about things we'd need. Special considerations would have to be planned for. The concentrator she used was bulky, heavy and hard to transport. The portables only lasted for a few hours and wouldn't be allowed on the plane anyway. She started to give up on that also.
One of the items listed on the Trip Memo was for those who need oxygen. $400 was needed to rent a Portable Oxygen Container. We'd seen people carrying these at the various casinos. Still thought they'd cost lots and they do. About $3000 for one of those babies.
Mom called the oxygen supply company to find out about the POC. Well, they have one already approved for airline travel, it was already paid for and we got extra batteries. The airline's webpage had a Special Needs page and the last thing we needed was the letter from the doctor for her to be able to use the POC on the plane. When we got that part of the plan in motion, it dawned on me. "We can go to England." Her eyes lit up.
I've always read ever since I learned to read back in first grade. Books were a constant companion. What really impressed me was when one of my teachers read "Charlotte's Web"-E.B. White to the class. I looked forward each day to class time. And in high school, I came across a book about Tzu Hsi. I read another book about Stonehenge. By the time I entered 10th grade, I had made up my mind that I'd like to visit England. Thus, was born a determination to go. Up until about 5 years ago, I'd always felt this was out of my reach.
For some reason, I thought it cost about $20,000 to take a trip. To a rez girl, that's a whole year's wages before taxes and whatnot. When I revived my dream of writing a book, my dream about travel to England was also given more thought. I started researching. When I found out the trip was doable in terms of money, like about two to three thousand, I started thinking about taking my mom with me. My sons had already said they wouldn't go.
Well, then she got double pneumonia and ended up needing oxygen at home. Still, I started saving money and thinking about things we'd need. Special considerations would have to be planned for. The concentrator she used was bulky, heavy and hard to transport. The portables only lasted for a few hours and wouldn't be allowed on the plane anyway. She started to give up on that also.
One of the items listed on the Trip Memo was for those who need oxygen. $400 was needed to rent a Portable Oxygen Container. We'd seen people carrying these at the various casinos. Still thought they'd cost lots and they do. About $3000 for one of those babies.
Mom called the oxygen supply company to find out about the POC. Well, they have one already approved for airline travel, it was already paid for and we got extra batteries. The airline's webpage had a Special Needs page and the last thing we needed was the letter from the doctor for her to be able to use the POC on the plane. When we got that part of the plan in motion, it dawned on me. "We can go to England." Her eyes lit up.
28 August 2011
My Eagle/Dragons
We arrived at the Dragon Conclave where there were close to one hundred boats competing. Having missed their first race, we searched up and down Barker's Island for our particular Eagle/Dragons. After a couple hours, two fried rice combos,3 cokes and a trip down craft market, we found them.
Their next race was at 1350 (1:50 p.m.) so we had time to visit. I was sweet talked into cutting fringes on a few shirts. The impromptu fashion session was finished just in time for the race. We made our way down the fairway to the launch area and found a good spot near the finish line. We had a good view of the launch area and could see the starting line. The Sub Jamming Dragons led all the way til they got to the Red line and dropped back to last.
We knew they had a good enough time to continue if....The big if depended on the rest of the heats. Finally at 1700, they got the word. They were in. They won that race and took Gold in their Division.
The third race, the team got together and stayed together all the way, according to my fav niece. They focused and stayed focused til they got the word that they had won first. Shock. That's the state they were in when it was announced that they were first. Of course this led to their immediate disregard for protocol and held their paddles straight up instead of raised just off the water.
I'm very proud of my Eagle/Dragons and the team. They are happy today.
Their next race was at 1350 (1:50 p.m.) so we had time to visit. I was sweet talked into cutting fringes on a few shirts. The impromptu fashion session was finished just in time for the race. We made our way down the fairway to the launch area and found a good spot near the finish line. We had a good view of the launch area and could see the starting line. The Sub Jamming Dragons led all the way til they got to the Red line and dropped back to last.
We knew they had a good enough time to continue if....The big if depended on the rest of the heats. Finally at 1700, they got the word. They were in. They won that race and took Gold in their Division.
The third race, the team got together and stayed together all the way, according to my fav niece. They focused and stayed focused til they got the word that they had won first. Shock. That's the state they were in when it was announced that they were first. Of course this led to their immediate disregard for protocol and held their paddles straight up instead of raised just off the water.
I'm very proud of my Eagle/Dragons and the team. They are happy today.
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