Well last Saturday, Len and Kaylee had a great day trip to Tofino. Poor K hasnt done to many long trips and her first words on rolling in were her butt hurt. She had lots of great pics and I received one text around 3pm that uncle was snoozing on the beach. They stopped at Taylor Flats and Kay went swimming in the river and played underwater with my camera. Chasing fishies and underwater videos. Len said it was friggin cold and he couldnt believe she was in for that long. Long 12 hour day for them but they had fun and that was the important thing. Sunday Len decided to head for Gold River with the gang. That would be to much of a trip for me so I elected to stay behind and do my own thing. He headed out at 7 am to meet up in Lantzville and go from there. He had a great day and was so happy to actually get some long rides in, to a total of about 1300k in the weekend.
Me, well Saturday was uneventful, waited around and eventually Sue and Steve showed up, we went to Arrow and then back down to the Swan, home again and eventually they were getting ready to pull out. I heard the pipes coming off the highway and said oh theres Len and K now, well wasnt I confused when this bright pumpkin orange Roadglide came around the corner. Not realizing at first who it was and then saw the shit eating grin on Kellys face. Guess he just made the trade of a lifetime and swapped the guy his Ultra plus a grand for this RG. He was smilin in a big way. S & S left and I stood around talking with Kelly for a bit and then the real pipes did come in and Kelly hid around the corner as Len pulled in with the same dumbfounded look on his face that I had. He stopped, looked at me, then Kelly came out and he was completely confused. So Len got filled in and we ogled the great pumpkin and the story again. Kelly headed off to torture his wife with his orange bike and we came in to relax.
Sunday the plan was to head to the S&S at the Arlington. Sue and Steve were to meet up with Bear and Kimmie then head here to get me before we headed to Nanoose. Guess they met up on time but they took their sweet time getting here. We shot the shit for a bit then off we went. Bear and Kimmie decided to hang with us for awhile before heading home, we stayed for the judging then headed home ourselves. Was a decent day but it did tire me out. It was the longest ride for me so far and lack of windshield sure does tire you with the wind pushing on yer body. Len eventually made it home from Gold river and actually in some good time. Got a text that he was at Fanny Bay and then next thing ya know he was here, he was hauling some ass coming home, but from the sounds of things they all were most of the day.
Back to normal on Monday, starting a new course, my very last one!!!!! But its a four weeker on Child development. Oh well, I just wanted the info for the project because that was going to be the biggest portion of the whole course really. The rest of the week was just getting by til the weekend. It was a busy week for both of us, mind you it helped to make it fly by. Wednesday I had to leave class early (we are now stuck there until 430 everyday, which is not amusing me) and race home to get K and Lumpy. We had an appointment at the vet to have her put down. She was quite old, had lost all her weight, had some bumps on her neck that I believed were cancer and she had been having seizures on a daily basis, some day 4 or more. K didnt want to put her down but I had to try and make her understand that it was the best thing and that she wouldnt be in any pain any more. It was difficult but we managed thru. Thursday I had to do the run around Victoria before coming home. K came with me to school as she was upset about the Lump and didnt want to be alone at home. On our way in there was a sign I had seen all week with kittens so we stopped to have a look and K fell in love with one almost right away. So I said that more then likely we would be back at 430 to pick him up. She had a tough afternoon, thinking about Lump and getting a new one. She thought it wouldnt be fair to the Lump but I told her Lump would be glad that she had someone new to keep her company and that she wasnt just replacing her. So stop we did and got the new addition, Oliver is his name and he is gray and white and full of beans. From there we headed over to Steves, where wee swapped out vehicles. I took his van and left him my car. This way their bed would be here for the weekend and they could ride up on Saturday and ride to the show. Then another stop in Langford to pick up the rest of the camping gear that K and Wayne had left behind at Luxton. After all that we were finally able to come home. In the process Len has hooked up with 443 and they are heading for Duncan Starbucks, so he says get the bike and come join them. Well I was close, saw them all at the light in Mill Bay and then they were out of sight heading north. I came home, parked the van got K settled in with Oliver got changed and off I went. Good little blast up to Duncan and shoot the shit with those that were there. The Vic group headed back and the 5 of us stayed a little longer before heading back to our neck of the woods. Got home and just tried to relax knowing the tomorrow and the start of Saturday was going to be a blur. Then the rest of the weekend was going to be a different blur.
Friday came and as far as I knew B & B would be here that evening to set up camp and spend the weekend. I ran around out in the yard prepping a few things and then next thing ya know it is time to run. I check the puter one more time to find a message the Bee has fallen down some stairs and is in the hospital. Well I hauled ass and stopped in to check on her and offer a ride in the truck if she didnt want to be on the trike. They said they were going to stay in town one more night and would be up in the morning. Alrighty not to worry then can get a few things done tonight. Tortured myself sitting thru class and was anxious to leave, but everyone kept having discussions and was drawing things out. I was not impressed, just wanted to get on the road and get the hell home. Well Bee tried to call at 4 but I let it go to voice mail and checked it when I left. At 430, Len was sitting at the summit, taking a breather from the traffic and insanity. I said well depending how bad it is, I might see him up there, then I checked the message from Bee and they were in Mill Bay already heading for the house. Ummm Len stop relaxing and get yer ass home, they are already there. For me it took over an hour and a half to get home. The traffic was insane. I can tell ya now in two weeks when we are supposed to have another late Friday, I wont be staying, I will go in early and leave early but Im not playing that game again. The other 2 we have exam so I will be ahead of the traffic.
I finally get here and they are set up so we sit and catch up and next thing ya know the Bear pulls in and he is ready to go for the weekend. He is moving in and here to stay and PARTAY!!!! So we sit around and bullshit for the course of the evening and nothing much really gets done. Thankfully K was able to manage kitten duties as well as getting the house cleaned up. Bear is gung ho and wants to party and we keep reminding him it is tomorrow, dont want to burn out tonight. The boys wander off to bed around 10 and I went about 1030. Bear was a good boy and came in around 11 and went to bed. Saturday rolls around and it is going to be a whirlwind. The boys after Len finally gets out of bed, head off to Bears to pick up the trailer for Rick. Us girls are making a trip into Duncan. We wait a bit in the hopes that Ed shows up to set up his spot and finally they do. Ed makes plans to meet the rest of the boys at Dranes and Suzie is coming to Duncan with us. Off we go in the truck to pick up last minute stuff and try to get back at a reasonable time cause there is still more yard prep to do. Surprisingly the boys werent back yet. Oh well get in and get things unloaded and as that is getting done the boys start tapering in. we start getting the rest of things set up while having a drink and of course peoples started showing up. It was great to have everyone here from all over the island. Even had a group from Courtnay show up. I knew Crash and Ruthie were coming and I had a good feeling that Dez and Paws were going to make it cause she was trying to be sneaky bout it. They did and a little later Roy showed up as well. Not to mention all the rest of our mixed bag of friends and B and B from the interior. Was a great evening that is for sure, but Im going to get that little rotter Kazz one of these days. She had to make me a cougar suit and it was all good except the headband that wouldnt stay on. Everyone had a good time, including Ed who was mesmerized by the fire most of the night. Good cookies eh!!!! In the morning, everyone pitched into to clean things up so there wasnt too much to do at the end of the day. Got it to the point that it was just the chairs that would have to be stored. We all got ready and headed off to the Cassidy for the show n shine. It was a warm day, thats for sure. Well out of all of us that entered our bikes, only Rick got no award, but it was also the biggest class for a change. I took first and Suzie second in the softail, Kazza took first in sportie, Adam first and Sheila second in Road, Di first in 3 wheel and Kelly took first, Len second in Decker. Poor Rick especially when he is so proud of his new baby. But it made Kellys day and Suzie was all excited about her first award. B&B and Bear headed out earlier for the house and presumably to get Bear homeward. When the judging was done we said our goodbyes and headed off in our own direction. Kelly rode with us back south, atleast til Duncan where he stopped for gas. We got to our lite and were waiting to turn left and as we come up the street, there is Bear in the uturn route waiting for us and follows us back into the house. Im LMAO that boy oh boy Kimmie is going to kill him when he does make it home. He has sat around and BSed with B&B and was attempting to leave when he saw us and figured he had to come in for one more goodbye and thanx. I only promised Kimmie he wouldnt fall down and break another hip, I never said I would make him go home on time although I did try.
We relaxed for a while and I had a call from my cousin Beav in Ontario and eventually B & B made dinner for us which was nice. We pulled out the mini eclairs that we forgot to put out at the party and proceeded to eat almost the whole box. We sat around for a little and around 8 I gave up, I needed to go and lay back on the couch and put my feet up as I was getting some achy after being on them all weekend. Bee downloaded her pics and around 10pm everyone toddled off to bed. Need the good nights rest now. Yep everyone was exhausted.
Good this morning and back to normal it will be. Now that the party is over with, I have to focus on my project, the last 3 weeks of class and find one other practicum placement. Heres hoping we hear something from the Praxis program this week. Have to take the van back to Steve today on my way in but will hopefully be able to ride the rest of the week.
My next mission now, is to make sure all is good to go for the show n shine in August. Thanx to Moe in PA for finding me the last couple of sponsors, it was a huge help. The awards are being made and I think everything is in place. Will have to do a follow up and go up for the day to figure out the set up for the day of. Besides that things are looking up.
Thanx to everyone that came to the party, I had a great time. Thanx for all the wishes and gifts as well.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Basically Back to Normal
Well it seems things are getting back to normal now. The last posting, I had a mid term and pulled a 94 which is normal for me. Guess the brain is starting to settle down and not scramble information as much. Still having some dizziness but usually only when getting up, laying down, or doing stupid shyte like looking down, bending over or looking up into the sky. That really gives the head a spin. Otherwise things arent bad. The rib still has its moments and the ankle is still tender, especially if I spent to much time on it but bearable overall.
Got to leave school a little early on The friday thankfully, as traffic was fairly busy. Got home to take a short break then we loaded up and headed to Crofton to meet up with the gang. Definitely a great weekend, for sure. Got settled in and then headed to the pub for dinner, back to the resort for a bonfire and amusement. Saturday, I was just going to stay behind and relax and let the boys torment me while I did some homework but I decided to ride to Duncan so I could check on the boots that were ordered in for me. We waited around for a while waiting for Suzie to arrive, we finally headed out to the highway to meet her then went to Duncan. everyone went on a little shopping spree methinks. I bought the boots to replace the old ones, Len got me a new DOT helmet and Im not sure what all else was bought but I know I saw the girls going thru the racks of clothes. The rest of the group decided to make a run out to Lake Cowichan and I said I would just head back to the cabins. Suzie decided to come with me, so we waved them off and then we headed to Crofton. Well they all got their chance to tease me with my homework, but I just wanted it out of the way so I didnt have to worry about it later. Eventually all returned and the kibitzing continued. I tried to take a nap but it didnt work out that well and finally gave up, thankfully in enuf time to see Pam who had stopped by for a visit. The same usual BS insued for the evening, mind you it was much tamer. I think the biggest laugh of the weekend was when poor Bear walked face first into a sliding glass door. Oh and of course getting the blackmail evidence on Ed for riding bitch. yep, good times.
Back to the work week and a final exam on friday. Lots of info to deal with on this one. I didnt feel all that great going into it but who knows, I have said that before. I was one of the last to leave for a change but methinks it paid off. I ended up with the highest in the class and that is a good thing cause the marks were all low but I scored a 91. After I got home on Friday, we decided to take a trip up to Crofton to see 394 and if they wanted a tour guide the next day. Well a surprise for sure, the good Doctor was actually very calm and well behaved for a change. It really didnt seem normal. Oh well, plans were made for me to meet them and lead them on a backroads tour to Vic and area and eventually end up in the inner harbor. So Saturday comes and Len is working but I head off to take the group out sight seeing. We have a great ride down and everyone enjoyed it over taking the highway. When we hit the harbor, everyone dispersed on their own missions and eventually it was just Crash and Ruthie and I that were heading back up. we stopped off to wait for Len to finish and meet us for the ride up. They stopped off at the house and had another short visit before heading back to their campsite. we ended up heading to Duncan for a Canada day party for the night. So fairly busy weekend none the less.
This past week, I took the bike into Dranes on Tuesday to get the rear running lights dealt with on warranty. I took it in, got picked up for school and came back for it at the end of the day. Len met me there and all seemed to be working again. I had lights and the horn was replaced and didnt sound like a dying goose anymore. Len decided we should ride to Saltair for dinner, so we did. That has been about the longest ride for me so far and it did take a toll on me. We relaxed and had a nice dinner, ran into some friends I have not seen in years and then headed home. We switched bikes to give me a break and when we got home and Len pulled up to the garage he realized there were no headlights now. Well WTF! He pulled it in and tried the switches, then off comes the seat and we find a blown fuse. As we are looking we find that the wire that was pinch for the tail lites is mickey ducked together in a ball of electrical tape. Len tried another fuse and sure nuff as soon as we turned on the driving lites, poof, up goes the fuse. So they half assed fixed one thing to cause another problem. Guess its going back.
Wednesday I had an interview for my practicum and got accepted for a group home in Duncan. Should be kewl as they are going to give me a couple of my own residents to deal with on a daily basis. Off to school straight from there in a mad hurry but made it for 1pm. Thursday the bike went back in to hopefully be fixed right this time. so far so good. Nothing else has blown up since leaving and the tape issue was done properly now. Have just finished a lame one week course and on to my last course. Yay, one month left and I am done and heading out on practicum. Still holding a 95 GPA and believe this dumb biker chick is top of the class!
Today so far, Im just taking it easy and relaxing. Made some potatoes to create potato salad for later and Len and Kaylee have gone off on a ride to Tofino. He has been chomping at the bit to do a long ride and with school then the accident we havent been able to go anywhere. Kaylee has never been there so he figured what the heck, go for it and take his other favorite girl for a day out. Im sure they will have a great time although her butt may be sore by the time she gets back cause she isnt used to the long rides. They left a 8 am and havent heard anything yet. Me well, I will prolly get my act in gear and head out on the bike somewheres and maybe head to Vic later to see my class mates who are having a grad BBQ for those that finished yesterday. Otherwise, Im not in a rush to do much.
Got to leave school a little early on The friday thankfully, as traffic was fairly busy. Got home to take a short break then we loaded up and headed to Crofton to meet up with the gang. Definitely a great weekend, for sure. Got settled in and then headed to the pub for dinner, back to the resort for a bonfire and amusement. Saturday, I was just going to stay behind and relax and let the boys torment me while I did some homework but I decided to ride to Duncan so I could check on the boots that were ordered in for me. We waited around for a while waiting for Suzie to arrive, we finally headed out to the highway to meet her then went to Duncan. everyone went on a little shopping spree methinks. I bought the boots to replace the old ones, Len got me a new DOT helmet and Im not sure what all else was bought but I know I saw the girls going thru the racks of clothes. The rest of the group decided to make a run out to Lake Cowichan and I said I would just head back to the cabins. Suzie decided to come with me, so we waved them off and then we headed to Crofton. Well they all got their chance to tease me with my homework, but I just wanted it out of the way so I didnt have to worry about it later. Eventually all returned and the kibitzing continued. I tried to take a nap but it didnt work out that well and finally gave up, thankfully in enuf time to see Pam who had stopped by for a visit. The same usual BS insued for the evening, mind you it was much tamer. I think the biggest laugh of the weekend was when poor Bear walked face first into a sliding glass door. Oh and of course getting the blackmail evidence on Ed for riding bitch. yep, good times.
Back to the work week and a final exam on friday. Lots of info to deal with on this one. I didnt feel all that great going into it but who knows, I have said that before. I was one of the last to leave for a change but methinks it paid off. I ended up with the highest in the class and that is a good thing cause the marks were all low but I scored a 91. After I got home on Friday, we decided to take a trip up to Crofton to see 394 and if they wanted a tour guide the next day. Well a surprise for sure, the good Doctor was actually very calm and well behaved for a change. It really didnt seem normal. Oh well, plans were made for me to meet them and lead them on a backroads tour to Vic and area and eventually end up in the inner harbor. So Saturday comes and Len is working but I head off to take the group out sight seeing. We have a great ride down and everyone enjoyed it over taking the highway. When we hit the harbor, everyone dispersed on their own missions and eventually it was just Crash and Ruthie and I that were heading back up. we stopped off to wait for Len to finish and meet us for the ride up. They stopped off at the house and had another short visit before heading back to their campsite. we ended up heading to Duncan for a Canada day party for the night. So fairly busy weekend none the less.
This past week, I took the bike into Dranes on Tuesday to get the rear running lights dealt with on warranty. I took it in, got picked up for school and came back for it at the end of the day. Len met me there and all seemed to be working again. I had lights and the horn was replaced and didnt sound like a dying goose anymore. Len decided we should ride to Saltair for dinner, so we did. That has been about the longest ride for me so far and it did take a toll on me. We relaxed and had a nice dinner, ran into some friends I have not seen in years and then headed home. We switched bikes to give me a break and when we got home and Len pulled up to the garage he realized there were no headlights now. Well WTF! He pulled it in and tried the switches, then off comes the seat and we find a blown fuse. As we are looking we find that the wire that was pinch for the tail lites is mickey ducked together in a ball of electrical tape. Len tried another fuse and sure nuff as soon as we turned on the driving lites, poof, up goes the fuse. So they half assed fixed one thing to cause another problem. Guess its going back.
Wednesday I had an interview for my practicum and got accepted for a group home in Duncan. Should be kewl as they are going to give me a couple of my own residents to deal with on a daily basis. Off to school straight from there in a mad hurry but made it for 1pm. Thursday the bike went back in to hopefully be fixed right this time. so far so good. Nothing else has blown up since leaving and the tape issue was done properly now. Have just finished a lame one week course and on to my last course. Yay, one month left and I am done and heading out on practicum. Still holding a 95 GPA and believe this dumb biker chick is top of the class!
Today so far, Im just taking it easy and relaxing. Made some potatoes to create potato salad for later and Len and Kaylee have gone off on a ride to Tofino. He has been chomping at the bit to do a long ride and with school then the accident we havent been able to go anywhere. Kaylee has never been there so he figured what the heck, go for it and take his other favorite girl for a day out. Im sure they will have a great time although her butt may be sore by the time she gets back cause she isnt used to the long rides. They left a 8 am and havent heard anything yet. Me well, I will prolly get my act in gear and head out on the bike somewheres and maybe head to Vic later to see my class mates who are having a grad BBQ for those that finished yesterday. Otherwise, Im not in a rush to do much.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
The Healing continues
Well the main focus has been getting back in the groove of things at school. Im doing my damnest but those last 2 exam marks really have me feeling down and worried that I hit my head too hard. All my marks have been pretty much 95 and above then I get back to back mid 80's. Its a real killer on the confidence, especially when I wrote them thinking I was having no problem. Well do what I can and study as much as able without making the brain hurt and go from there.
I got my project done and turned in and as usual went way overboard on it. But hey, can always use it in the future. Never know when I might need to resource something and low and behold I already have it. Thankfully 100% on that project. I was going to need it to help bring up my mark from my mid term and lord forbid whatever I end up with on my final. Study my brain off and pray for the best. Well, yet again, I wrote it and felt real good about it, just like the last 2 but of course I have that worrisome feeling hanging over me from the last 2. As I leave I ask the teacher to please email me when she is done marking the exams. Simply so I am not fretting over it all weekend. If its lower, I know the brain is still shorting out on me, if it is a regular mark then I can relax and know that things are starting to work right again. When I got the email later that day I was relived, I pulled a 95 again. Hey maybe Im back! And that is exactly what the teacher put on my paper when I got it on Monday.
My classmate and I head out after the exam back to her place which is by Dranes. On route I sent Len a text to say I was on my way home. I knew he was having an early day as well so he might be waiting for me to get home. Get to the car and start to head out and still no answer from him. Oh well maybe he is still working so off I go to head up the hill. As I pass Ice Cream Mountain and head into the park I get a response. He is telling me to hang tight as he is in Langford. Great Im already on the highway, nowhere to pull over or turn around. I head as far as the park and turn in so I can call and see what he is up to. I ring once, he doesnt answer. Wait a few and try again, this time he does. He tells me he is at the park and ride and that he was there to meet me. Men, they really dont listen much do they! I only parked there the first day I went back for my classmates evening convience and since then I have parked at her house and have told him that and where it was. Oh well, he says he has all my gear with him. I double check and state good thing I finally decided to wear jeans to school today otherwise, I would still be in trackpants. He did have everything for me except a pair of socks, as I have been wearing sandals all the time except when he has taken me out for a ride. Well guess we can go for a ride just have to pick up some socks somewhere. We decide to meet back at Dranes so we can have a look at the crash bar that Aron found in the attic that might fit the bike. It was questionable as it said for a deluxe but all the other have a note saying it wont fit anything else, this one didnt. Aron offered to bring it by the house around 6 and we could size it up and see if it was going to work. Lucky for us when we tried it, it did work, so we got new bars for half price and they were the same nostalgic ones that I had before. We grabbed a pair of overprice HD socks there and went out to the car to gear up.
We took a little ride thru the backroads of Metchosin and then stopped at a little beach that he knew of. We were hoping that we might be able to see the navy ships but we were to far around the point. We sat down at the beach for awhile and enjoyed the view. He had told me that he was planning to do something special that afternoon and surprise me, but I messed it up by not parking where he thought I was and by being to far ahead of him. He wasnt going to tell me what it was as he will do it another time. Then of course that brought the conversation around to our anniversary which he believed was Sunday. OMG all of a sudden Im in a small panic. I have drilled him for a year on our anniversary and my birthday and he is always getting them wrong. I knew that the anniversary was actually going to fall during the week, but he kept thinking it would go to the weekend. I knew I had forgotten it myself. Why simply because I might have the day of the week in my head but I havent quite got the dates figured out yet thanks to my brain meltdown. I pull out my phone and check the date and of course come back with a Happy belated as it was yesterday!!!! Opps, hey I have an excuse! We laughed about it and he just said he was thankful that Im still here for another year of course. In light of the events preceding it, I guess we were allowed to screw up. We left the beach and carried on and did a little tour along the lagoon to look at the ships before heading back to Dranes to get my car and come home. we headed home to a relatively uneventful evening.
On Saturday, I was pretty sore in the ribs, as I had lifted a water jug on the cooler before leaving for school on Friday. We got our act together and took my bike up to RE so that they could do a frame test, to be on the safe side, and reweld the crash bar mount. he wasnt going to get to it until Tuesday but it didnt matter as I wasnt going anywhere as of yet. We dropped it off then meandered our way back homewards. Stopped by Arrow and had a look at some boots, then gradually made it home. We decided just to take a short ride locally as I was pretty sore and didnt want to do a whole lot. Sunday came around and I told him just to head out and go for a ride and enjoy himself. I was going to lay around and relax and not do anything to strenuous. I guess he made it up to Qualicum and ran into a bunch of our friends. He rode with them back in our general direction with a few stops along the way. he stopped by Ed and Sues and had a beer with them and picked up the mirror I needed thanks to them both. After the mirror not much left but for a new windshield and the bike would be back to normal.
The rest of the week was uneventful back at school. We started an new course and basically I have this 3 weeker, a week one on resumes and shyte and then my last month long course before I go out on practicum! Holy crap Im almost there and even with those couple of lower marks Im still at the top of my class!!! We have nightly review questions and homework questions which is a real pain in the arse. I would rather have a project to do then doing these for three weeks. Our mid term is in the middle of the week instead of on a Friday but oh well nothing I can do.
The weekend rolls around again and I sit at home for the morning, while Len ran into Vic for smokes. He stopped by Dranes not realizing that it was the show n shine today, then comes home and tells me and of course I just say ya I know. Well with his extra stop, it gave me enuf time to finish all my homework and my exam review so now I had no school work left. I got ready and we went back down to Dranes so I could have a look and be social as well as meet up with Sue and Steve. We headed out, stopped at Arrow as they has supposedly ordered some boots in for me to try, instead Len bought me a windshield! Ya HAHAHA, it was actually a pair of goggles and him stating, your gonna need them! We have decided not to buy another and instead just buy the fairing that I was going to get in the winter. We left there and rode up to Ladysmith to Mile Zero, they were having a biker babe bike wash, so Len figured what the hell better then him doing it. We finished there and went over to the Timberlands to have a bite to eat and say bye to Steve and Sue who were heading to Parksville for the night. We took a little big detour and went to Ed and Sue for a visit as they hadnt seen me since the accident either. Little big detour meaning we were right there so of course Len had to take Yellowpoint and go for his coaster ride!!! Bugger. Take it easy my ass or should I say rib! Yep zip zip zip, over the humps, I start to get a little lightheaded then the bump at the bottom that just pounded my rib! Asshole! We get most of the way around head spinning and he starts dancing in the lane, thats when he got the knees! Enuf already! Sat and had a nice visit with the Howes besides Suzie giving me shit then headed for home. He wanted me to come along the next day but I knew I would have to rest up tonight to be able to do it.
Sunday morning, get up achy, head for the tub, and get my arse in gear, knew this wasnt going to be the best of trips considering who Len had decided to ride with. At one point up past Parksville I think I saw 160, and just held on and shut my damn eyes! The car show was kewl but to much walking for me. I had to get off my feet as it was so overwhelming. We decided to head to Dee's for some lunch then head homewards. Talked with Dee and she is taking over the Pig n Fin this year, she also gave a gift certificate for our show. I gave her some info to get the word out as there has been much confusion surrounding it. From lunch we just headed south, stop for gas, then we pulled into a very dead Cassidy before heading the rest of the way home. I had been bugging and being a pain about riding, so of course Len says, well I got ya a windshield, you want to go out. We came in for a few and then off we decided to go, just local to test and see how I felt and how the head did. Surprisingly the head is actually better on the bike then in the car. We went down Hutchinson and across the backroad to stop at the Grocer, then took Telegraph back across so I could get a few more twistie roads, wasnt feeling to bad so I went past Hutchinson and down to the Petro Can then hit the highway to see how bad 100 to 120 was going to be on me! Okay You are spoiled with a shield or fairing that is for sure.
Monday night, I thought well maybe let the rush hour die down some then go for the hat. Came home gave it an hour then got ready to go and chase some demons off the hill. I took a happy pill just in case and off we went. Going down wasnt to bad, had some salivating happening but that was it really for nerves, anxiety or panic setting in. We got down and Len noticed that my tail light wasnt working so try CT for a bulb but it was still doing the same damn thing. Great new friggin problem. Head home and fight with this now. Coming back up I felt okay and as we neared the start of the hill, I slowed to wait for a speed demon to go by then said screw it and took the left lane to follow my exact path. No damn problem, I may just have been the first day that I had the anxiety attack or maybe it was the happy pill. Either way, Im still taking it slow and having Len with me when I go out. At least for a bit, but damn it I can ride to Crofton this weekend!
Thats all for now, until the adventure returns!
I got my project done and turned in and as usual went way overboard on it. But hey, can always use it in the future. Never know when I might need to resource something and low and behold I already have it. Thankfully 100% on that project. I was going to need it to help bring up my mark from my mid term and lord forbid whatever I end up with on my final. Study my brain off and pray for the best. Well, yet again, I wrote it and felt real good about it, just like the last 2 but of course I have that worrisome feeling hanging over me from the last 2. As I leave I ask the teacher to please email me when she is done marking the exams. Simply so I am not fretting over it all weekend. If its lower, I know the brain is still shorting out on me, if it is a regular mark then I can relax and know that things are starting to work right again. When I got the email later that day I was relived, I pulled a 95 again. Hey maybe Im back! And that is exactly what the teacher put on my paper when I got it on Monday.
My classmate and I head out after the exam back to her place which is by Dranes. On route I sent Len a text to say I was on my way home. I knew he was having an early day as well so he might be waiting for me to get home. Get to the car and start to head out and still no answer from him. Oh well maybe he is still working so off I go to head up the hill. As I pass Ice Cream Mountain and head into the park I get a response. He is telling me to hang tight as he is in Langford. Great Im already on the highway, nowhere to pull over or turn around. I head as far as the park and turn in so I can call and see what he is up to. I ring once, he doesnt answer. Wait a few and try again, this time he does. He tells me he is at the park and ride and that he was there to meet me. Men, they really dont listen much do they! I only parked there the first day I went back for my classmates evening convience and since then I have parked at her house and have told him that and where it was. Oh well, he says he has all my gear with him. I double check and state good thing I finally decided to wear jeans to school today otherwise, I would still be in trackpants. He did have everything for me except a pair of socks, as I have been wearing sandals all the time except when he has taken me out for a ride. Well guess we can go for a ride just have to pick up some socks somewhere. We decide to meet back at Dranes so we can have a look at the crash bar that Aron found in the attic that might fit the bike. It was questionable as it said for a deluxe but all the other have a note saying it wont fit anything else, this one didnt. Aron offered to bring it by the house around 6 and we could size it up and see if it was going to work. Lucky for us when we tried it, it did work, so we got new bars for half price and they were the same nostalgic ones that I had before. We grabbed a pair of overprice HD socks there and went out to the car to gear up.
We took a little ride thru the backroads of Metchosin and then stopped at a little beach that he knew of. We were hoping that we might be able to see the navy ships but we were to far around the point. We sat down at the beach for awhile and enjoyed the view. He had told me that he was planning to do something special that afternoon and surprise me, but I messed it up by not parking where he thought I was and by being to far ahead of him. He wasnt going to tell me what it was as he will do it another time. Then of course that brought the conversation around to our anniversary which he believed was Sunday. OMG all of a sudden Im in a small panic. I have drilled him for a year on our anniversary and my birthday and he is always getting them wrong. I knew that the anniversary was actually going to fall during the week, but he kept thinking it would go to the weekend. I knew I had forgotten it myself. Why simply because I might have the day of the week in my head but I havent quite got the dates figured out yet thanks to my brain meltdown. I pull out my phone and check the date and of course come back with a Happy belated as it was yesterday!!!! Opps, hey I have an excuse! We laughed about it and he just said he was thankful that Im still here for another year of course. In light of the events preceding it, I guess we were allowed to screw up. We left the beach and carried on and did a little tour along the lagoon to look at the ships before heading back to Dranes to get my car and come home. we headed home to a relatively uneventful evening.
On Saturday, I was pretty sore in the ribs, as I had lifted a water jug on the cooler before leaving for school on Friday. We got our act together and took my bike up to RE so that they could do a frame test, to be on the safe side, and reweld the crash bar mount. he wasnt going to get to it until Tuesday but it didnt matter as I wasnt going anywhere as of yet. We dropped it off then meandered our way back homewards. Stopped by Arrow and had a look at some boots, then gradually made it home. We decided just to take a short ride locally as I was pretty sore and didnt want to do a whole lot. Sunday came around and I told him just to head out and go for a ride and enjoy himself. I was going to lay around and relax and not do anything to strenuous. I guess he made it up to Qualicum and ran into a bunch of our friends. He rode with them back in our general direction with a few stops along the way. he stopped by Ed and Sues and had a beer with them and picked up the mirror I needed thanks to them both. After the mirror not much left but for a new windshield and the bike would be back to normal.
The rest of the week was uneventful back at school. We started an new course and basically I have this 3 weeker, a week one on resumes and shyte and then my last month long course before I go out on practicum! Holy crap Im almost there and even with those couple of lower marks Im still at the top of my class!!! We have nightly review questions and homework questions which is a real pain in the arse. I would rather have a project to do then doing these for three weeks. Our mid term is in the middle of the week instead of on a Friday but oh well nothing I can do.
The weekend rolls around again and I sit at home for the morning, while Len ran into Vic for smokes. He stopped by Dranes not realizing that it was the show n shine today, then comes home and tells me and of course I just say ya I know. Well with his extra stop, it gave me enuf time to finish all my homework and my exam review so now I had no school work left. I got ready and we went back down to Dranes so I could have a look and be social as well as meet up with Sue and Steve. We headed out, stopped at Arrow as they has supposedly ordered some boots in for me to try, instead Len bought me a windshield! Ya HAHAHA, it was actually a pair of goggles and him stating, your gonna need them! We have decided not to buy another and instead just buy the fairing that I was going to get in the winter. We left there and rode up to Ladysmith to Mile Zero, they were having a biker babe bike wash, so Len figured what the hell better then him doing it. We finished there and went over to the Timberlands to have a bite to eat and say bye to Steve and Sue who were heading to Parksville for the night. We took a little big detour and went to Ed and Sue for a visit as they hadnt seen me since the accident either. Little big detour meaning we were right there so of course Len had to take Yellowpoint and go for his coaster ride!!! Bugger. Take it easy my ass or should I say rib! Yep zip zip zip, over the humps, I start to get a little lightheaded then the bump at the bottom that just pounded my rib! Asshole! We get most of the way around head spinning and he starts dancing in the lane, thats when he got the knees! Enuf already! Sat and had a nice visit with the Howes besides Suzie giving me shit then headed for home. He wanted me to come along the next day but I knew I would have to rest up tonight to be able to do it.
Sunday morning, get up achy, head for the tub, and get my arse in gear, knew this wasnt going to be the best of trips considering who Len had decided to ride with. At one point up past Parksville I think I saw 160, and just held on and shut my damn eyes! The car show was kewl but to much walking for me. I had to get off my feet as it was so overwhelming. We decided to head to Dee's for some lunch then head homewards. Talked with Dee and she is taking over the Pig n Fin this year, she also gave a gift certificate for our show. I gave her some info to get the word out as there has been much confusion surrounding it. From lunch we just headed south, stop for gas, then we pulled into a very dead Cassidy before heading the rest of the way home. I had been bugging and being a pain about riding, so of course Len says, well I got ya a windshield, you want to go out. We came in for a few and then off we decided to go, just local to test and see how I felt and how the head did. Surprisingly the head is actually better on the bike then in the car. We went down Hutchinson and across the backroad to stop at the Grocer, then took Telegraph back across so I could get a few more twistie roads, wasnt feeling to bad so I went past Hutchinson and down to the Petro Can then hit the highway to see how bad 100 to 120 was going to be on me! Okay You are spoiled with a shield or fairing that is for sure.
Monday night, I thought well maybe let the rush hour die down some then go for the hat. Came home gave it an hour then got ready to go and chase some demons off the hill. I took a happy pill just in case and off we went. Going down wasnt to bad, had some salivating happening but that was it really for nerves, anxiety or panic setting in. We got down and Len noticed that my tail light wasnt working so try CT for a bulb but it was still doing the same damn thing. Great new friggin problem. Head home and fight with this now. Coming back up I felt okay and as we neared the start of the hill, I slowed to wait for a speed demon to go by then said screw it and took the left lane to follow my exact path. No damn problem, I may just have been the first day that I had the anxiety attack or maybe it was the happy pill. Either way, Im still taking it slow and having Len with me when I go out. At least for a bit, but damn it I can ride to Crofton this weekend!
Thats all for now, until the adventure returns!
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Follow up from the 24th
Well at the end of the post from the 24th I said get some work done so I could go and play, well I guess I did, cause I have been laid up ever since.
Most of yall know by now that I went down on the evening of the 24th on the Malahat. Hehe finally it was my turn to hold up traffic for a few hours instead of being stuck in it. Not that that is a good thing but something to joke about.
Memory is pretty slim for the day by any means, weird part is I remember most everything that I did except for the physical act of riding that day. Since I hit my head that has been erased. I can tell ya what I did, and where I went but it is as if I snapped my fingers and was there, for I don't have any recollection of my travels on the bike.
I did my post on here, then set to work and got most of my project figured out, so all I would have to do is type it out. Len was outside hosing his bike down again because of that stupid oil filler cap that let go for a second time and sprayed oil all over everything. Around noon, I called it quits and he was ready to go, so off we went. We headed to Luxton - no idea what route we took or leaving the house, I know from fact we were riding but that is all. we were at Luxton around 1pm and were watching the rodeo. Yet again, Len has asked me where we parked, I said the obvious, where we always do, he wanted specifics, exactly where I had parked or he had parked and still I couldn't tell him. I knew the area as it is the same place we always park when we go there but as to where I parked the bike, couldn't tell ya. Yes we had a couple beer but after a while, I went on a mission for my daughter. She had sent me a message that she had lost her earrings and could I go and buy her a pair that she had seen at one of the vendors. So off I went in search of the pair she wanted and then off to the other side of the grounds where she was working at the time. I spent a good hour on this mission and visiting with her and listening to her stories of the weekend. By the time she was done babbling the rodeo was over. Poor me, I had Patti with me and trying to drag her arse around is a challenge. We finally got back over to the guys and I finished the drink I had left there. Not knowing why but it was decided that we would go by the Loghouse with Patti and Gary. I guess we left, snap my fingers and we are there as there again is no memory of riding. Len has quizzed me again, what were they riding/driving, my guess one of the bikes, Im wrong, guess at some point Gary had gone and got the corvette and they were in it. Who followed who there, no idea, what route, no idea, parking, same guess as we always seem to park in the same spot when there. We were just there! Well there, I had a beer and Len tried some kind of ice cream drink, he liked it so much that he took the menu card so he could make them at home. Now I didn't remember this until he told me the other night, but that the plan was we were heading home and stopping in Mill Bay so that he could get the fixings to make them at home,and relax in the tub. Everything there is also a little hazy, the Millers were starting to perform in the usual manner and that was our sign to leave. I know we decided to head home for dinner, (and now knowing) ice cream drinks and hot tub, and enjoy the last evening of peace and quiet without our ever present chaperon as she was staying one more night with her dad. This was at 6pm. Well from this decision, the next thing I remember is approximately 3.5 hours later coming to in the hospital and confused to no end. Even the remaining 3 hours in the hospital is patchy at best. It was all quite surreal. Nobody explained anything to me, just giving orders and asking questions of which I couldn't answer as the head trauma had me discombobulated. Eventually, they allowed Len and the others to come in and I think that was near 10:30. Len was there and Wayne had come over with Kay and of course to my surprise Lynn was there also! At this point I'm thinking I really hit hard, if I was seeing her! But she had offered a ride to Len and then also to take us home. Kay got to see me kinda and realized I was basically ok and I told her and her dad to get lost. He had to work in the morning and there was no sense in them hanging around and waiting til I was released. I must say at the end of it all, I was quite put out by our medical system. When they realized that all was fine and I could go, they finally let me have a glass of water I had asked for, this consisted of a half a dixie cup of water, gee thanks. They gave me a couple pain killers, a script for more and a small bottle of them for the night. They found me some scrubs to wear out and basically sent me on my way. They left the blood on my face, never cleaned it off, I had a severely sprained ankle, that they never wrapped up and left me to my own devices to walk out of the building in scrub pants, open back gown and barefoot. They did eventually go and find me a wheelchair to use but I was already halfway out by then. No bandages, ointment, information on followups or anything. I got nothings broken, no need for surgery your all good, here is a list of what to watch for in the next 24 from a head injury and out the door I was sent. Then on top of it all, we are in the truck and heading out and I'm confused even more wanting to know what hospital we are at as nothing is familiar. Lynn informed me that it was VGH but they had moved the emergency department to the other side of the building. How to mess with my head even more. The drive home was pretty sketchy as well, I know we stopped at a gas station and Len got me a drink, and smokes for both of us. he he he that was great smoking in Lynns truck and she cant give me shit for it!! Beyond that the drive is vague, I know Len was stuffed in the back jumper seats but I don't really remember him back there and I think there was some kinda comment about it being funny that he is stuffed back there for a change, as he was typically driving it and I would be stuffed in the back.
Well that night was pretty rough, I was up about every two hours of my own accord and damn I was in some pain. The next day Len had to work, but I had my girlfriend Ang come over to sit with me and keep an eye on me for the day. I spent most of it napping needless to say. Ang's hubbie Scott stopped by and both of them were freaking about my eye and said I should get it checked out. I figured prolly a good idea to head to the clinic for a follow up anyways as the hospital didn't tell us much or do much. I have to say the dizzy spells were the worse and Im glad that they are almost gone.
Wednesday came and Len took me to the clinic and I had the Doc check things over, he said all looked normal and not to worry about my eye as that is what he would expect to see. Come back and see him on Saturday.
Good enuf, so I just have to rest and see how things progress. I'm in contact with my teacher each day, to let her know how things are progressing. I manage to get my project typed out but now Im on a mission that somehow, I'm getting a ride to Vic so I can go to class for 10 minutes and do the presentation for my project so I don't lose 10 marks!!!! I had emailed it off to the teacher with a message from the doctor regards to follow up and that I wouldn't know when I was returning for sure until I saw him on Saturday. Also stated that I may try and show up to do the presentation. Next thing ya know I get a call from her telling me to keep my sorry ass in bed and stay home. In the big picture, that 10 marks is not going to affect my honors grade!!! Fine then but Im not happy about it. I took the next 2 days and basically disregarded everything and just rested. Len brought home my note packages from school and my final review for the exam I was missing. Thankfully I was told that I could write it as soon as I return with no penalty.
Sunday seemed to be a day of change, I had been taking the T3's every 6 hours or so, but for some reason, that morning I didn't take any. I briefly talked with Leanne on chat and she said to ditch them and take more ibuprofen instead. Well Len had left his phone here at home, so thru the grapevine the message went, Leanne texted Kat, and Kat told Len, then of course Len borrowed a phone and called me. I said this is the instructions, 'Im getting from da nurse so stop and get me a big bottle please on your way home. He was out doing the memorial ride for Colin and I was saddened that I couldn't go but recuperating was more important. I spent most of the day resting but also took short bouts working on my exam review so that I could email it in to get it checked and make sure I was going to study the right information. Hoping that this day was really the turning point and not just a good day.
Well it was the turning point, Monday I was feeling the same, less and less of the dizzy spells and more and more human, well with the exception of the aches and pains that were still screaming at me. I talked with the teacher at the end of the day and told her that it seemed like things were coming around and that I was aiming for Wednesday to come back to class. The doc on Saturday had said mid week to early the following week, well you know me, I gotta go and I didn't want to end up that far behind since this was the start of a new course and I could end up double slammed with back to back exams on two different subjects. I said Weds and I would be there around 11ish unless something changed between then and now, and I would be in contact if things fell thru.
So I continued to rest on Tuesday, with short studying bursts in between naps. Damn, I needed to get out, I was so lost, sick of the idiot box, sick of the puter, sick of laying around doing nothing, I want out!
Wednesday came and I had it worked out that I was going to drive as far as Ma Millers area to a classmates and she would drive to school. She had no problem going early so I could write the exam I had missed so all was on schedule. About half an hour before leaving, the hands started shaking, ah shit here we go. It was a hard trip down the Hat to say the least. Len called just before leaving and checked in with me, I told him I would call when I got to Jenn's so that he knew I was ok and made it down the hill. I left, stopped at the Petro and gassed up and off I went, taking it easy and just focusing on the road. I was shaking but not so bad until I got to the double lanes and tunnel hill. At that point the whole body started, the hands weren't just shaking but on full vibrate, the legs were going and it was all I could do to keep the gas pedal pressure even and coming down the hill I was to the point of tears, but I forced myself to go on and just get to Jenn's, which was only another 5 km. If I got this far, i can get there! Well I made it, she almost had to pry me out of the car as I was so shaken with the anxiety attack, she parked mine for me and got me in her car and I slowly calmed down. I had my happy pills with me but was unsure if they would have a side affect with a head injury so I hadn't taken any. But was going to talk to one of the LPN teachers at school to see what her opinion was. By the time we had arrived at school, I had calmed considerably but didnt have the opportunity to talk to the LPN as she was teaching, I told my teacher we could do it after the exam and after her class. So off I went for my exam and she told me to just take my time and not rush myself, start it when I felt ready to. I sat for a few more minutes and drank a bottle of water and then said to heck with it and did the exam. Surprisingly I felt damn good about it but in the end, the multiple guess got me as I was not in class to hear the conversations about a few things. I still passed but it was my worse mark ever. Oh well as everyone has said, Let it go, you just smashed your head for crying out loud!! The LPN teacher came in after the exam and I showed her my happy pills, she asked a few questions, gave my melon and egg a feel then said take the effin things, are ya nuts! Well I just wanted to make sure first. The rest of the afternoon was uneventful and it felt good to be back and not laying on the couch. When we left I took the other half of the happy pill for the drive home, knowing this time I'm going up on the same side as I had the accident. I had told Len at break that when Jenn dropped me off I would call him so he knew that I was on my way and to expect me or a crisis. Well we had just got onto the highway and Len called me, he was actually sitting at Westshore Parkway waiting to meet me. So meet we did and he followed me up the hill. Now it may have been a combination or not but I was fine on the drive home, partly the happy pill and also knowing that he was right there behind me and it was ok. Well we got home, had some dinner and then the couch and I promptly became friends for the rest of the night. I was out! Guess it was a big day for me and I over did it some.
Since then the next two days to school were ok, I would take a half a pill on leaving and coming home, and the drive was ok. I'm caught up in class, did the mid term on the friday and I think it went good, find out on Monday. Although the weirdest thing is I can spell the big words like disestablishmentarianism but cant figure out the little ones, I would have to stop and actually think instead of them just coming naturally. Go figure! So besides having a few little dizzy spells, mainly getting up or laying down Im thinking the worst is past. Now it is just the damn aches and pains that need to settle and the egg on my head to leave. It feels all squishie now instead of a hard lump. I guess that is good. The bruised rib has got to be the worse part of it. My ankle is calming down nicely and of course Im walking on it, and only bandage it when I go out of the house. The abrasion on the knee is slowly getting smaller but it has been a bitch. Doc said leave it open to air and not covered and keep the ointment on it. Well it scabs over and starts to dry then you walk and flex the knee and it breaks open again and starts to weep. Was really starting to annoy me but looks like it is on the uphill now as well. The pain in my shoulder and neck has subsided and not bothering at all, and the head well, the bruises are fading, the cuts are gone, its just the blood in the white of my eye that is still there and the few occasional dizzy spells but not much anymore. If it wasn't for the damn rib, I think I would be on my bike!!!! But I know better then to try to ride it with the rib the way it is, push steering would be a painful bitch, slow speed maneuvers, and lord help I had to take evasive action.
So I guess that is me in a nut shell or two. As for the bike, Len went and picked it up on the Friday after the accident, so the 28th. He rode it home from Langford and tested it out. At 60 k he took his hands off the bars to check "alignment"?? and it was fine. When he got on the highway heading home, he took her up to 120 and put her thru her paces and he said she was handling fine! So this is good. He parked it outside the door instead of in the basement so I could come out and see the aftermath. Well shyte, I really didn't do that much damage at all! I was amazed at the shape of her. Ya I felt bad cause she was looking a little fugly at the moment but to fix what needed to be fixed was going to be minor. He parked her in the basement and spent a couple nights down there taking things off and getting things fixed. The two major items are the crash bars and windshield, besides that, right mirror,right driving light housing and trim ring, headlight trim ring, front running light lens and chrome frame around it, brake lever housing,rear signal housing and lens, and the bag took a good scuffing but I can clean it up I'm sure and it really doesn't matter as hard bags will be going on it eventually. By Tuesday night, all but the two big items and the front running light are fixed and I don't think, including hi bright bulbs, Len has put out $200 on parts yet, cheaper then deductible would be.
Oh Thursday because the weather was actually decent and plans for the weekend were supposed to be better, he was going to ride to Vic for coffee with the 443. He decided that maybe this would be a good trip for me to try before the weekend to see if I was up to it. He waited for me to get home from school, then helped bandage me up and get me into jeans, boots and the rest of the gear. Hmm should have checked a helmet first to see if it would fit over my egg, it did and will no discomfort. Well happy pills are great, cause I really didn't spaz out being on the back this time, mind you he took it easy for me. I reiterated the fact that he better take it real easy on the hill in case I did panic and he did. Everything felt fine, minor discomfort in the leg with the tape pulling at the bandage under the jeans, but I also didn't want the jeans rubbing on the abrasion. With the rib being so painful, it takes a little effort to get on and off the back of the bike, but I get there. When we arrived that damn ornamental came tearing out of Timmies giving me shit for getting on the bike already. He figured I shouldn't be and that watching me hobble off was sign enuf. What ever, I'm just sitting there, I'm not doing anything so what it takes me a bit of an effort to get on. All considering it was a good little ride and I figured if the weather did co operate then I would go on at least one of the rides with him on the weekend.
So that brings us to now, obviously I chose yesterday to go with him as I'm home here blogging away now. We did the red and white poker run in Nanaimo yesterday. Had lots of time to get ready but forgot to take any pain killers or happy pills before going. We got to the starting point and he says, maybe ya should think about taking some, so I did. We had a good day overall, ya I was slow, on and off the bike but it was nice to be out of the house and doing something. The rib was a bit tender over the course of the day and near the end I did want to just get home and get the boots, jeans, and bandages off. We had gone in the hot tub for the first time that morning and it actually felt pretty damn good and seemed to relax the pain in the rib some. It is a chore getting me in and out but we get there. So needless to say when I got all the gear off that was the next plan of attack, into the hot tub before laying down to relax. It was a fairly long day for the first one out, but so far today I'm not feeling to bad. Pretty sure I will be having an afternoon nap though, while I wait for him to return from the Ride to Live run.
So there is the low down on the accident and how I am feeling to this point. As of yet I still have heard nothing from the police in regards to anything, so no idea what is happening. I'm slowly healing up and the bike is ready to ride, minus a few things. So game plan remains the same, continue on the course of recovery, and carry on with school and as soon as the rib heals up then Therapy and I will be back at it. Certainly a bit slower to start but we will get there.
Most of yall know by now that I went down on the evening of the 24th on the Malahat. Hehe finally it was my turn to hold up traffic for a few hours instead of being stuck in it. Not that that is a good thing but something to joke about.
Memory is pretty slim for the day by any means, weird part is I remember most everything that I did except for the physical act of riding that day. Since I hit my head that has been erased. I can tell ya what I did, and where I went but it is as if I snapped my fingers and was there, for I don't have any recollection of my travels on the bike.
I did my post on here, then set to work and got most of my project figured out, so all I would have to do is type it out. Len was outside hosing his bike down again because of that stupid oil filler cap that let go for a second time and sprayed oil all over everything. Around noon, I called it quits and he was ready to go, so off we went. We headed to Luxton - no idea what route we took or leaving the house, I know from fact we were riding but that is all. we were at Luxton around 1pm and were watching the rodeo. Yet again, Len has asked me where we parked, I said the obvious, where we always do, he wanted specifics, exactly where I had parked or he had parked and still I couldn't tell him. I knew the area as it is the same place we always park when we go there but as to where I parked the bike, couldn't tell ya. Yes we had a couple beer but after a while, I went on a mission for my daughter. She had sent me a message that she had lost her earrings and could I go and buy her a pair that she had seen at one of the vendors. So off I went in search of the pair she wanted and then off to the other side of the grounds where she was working at the time. I spent a good hour on this mission and visiting with her and listening to her stories of the weekend. By the time she was done babbling the rodeo was over. Poor me, I had Patti with me and trying to drag her arse around is a challenge. We finally got back over to the guys and I finished the drink I had left there. Not knowing why but it was decided that we would go by the Loghouse with Patti and Gary. I guess we left, snap my fingers and we are there as there again is no memory of riding. Len has quizzed me again, what were they riding/driving, my guess one of the bikes, Im wrong, guess at some point Gary had gone and got the corvette and they were in it. Who followed who there, no idea, what route, no idea, parking, same guess as we always seem to park in the same spot when there. We were just there! Well there, I had a beer and Len tried some kind of ice cream drink, he liked it so much that he took the menu card so he could make them at home. Now I didn't remember this until he told me the other night, but that the plan was we were heading home and stopping in Mill Bay so that he could get the fixings to make them at home,and relax in the tub. Everything there is also a little hazy, the Millers were starting to perform in the usual manner and that was our sign to leave. I know we decided to head home for dinner, (and now knowing) ice cream drinks and hot tub, and enjoy the last evening of peace and quiet without our ever present chaperon as she was staying one more night with her dad. This was at 6pm. Well from this decision, the next thing I remember is approximately 3.5 hours later coming to in the hospital and confused to no end. Even the remaining 3 hours in the hospital is patchy at best. It was all quite surreal. Nobody explained anything to me, just giving orders and asking questions of which I couldn't answer as the head trauma had me discombobulated. Eventually, they allowed Len and the others to come in and I think that was near 10:30. Len was there and Wayne had come over with Kay and of course to my surprise Lynn was there also! At this point I'm thinking I really hit hard, if I was seeing her! But she had offered a ride to Len and then also to take us home. Kay got to see me kinda and realized I was basically ok and I told her and her dad to get lost. He had to work in the morning and there was no sense in them hanging around and waiting til I was released. I must say at the end of it all, I was quite put out by our medical system. When they realized that all was fine and I could go, they finally let me have a glass of water I had asked for, this consisted of a half a dixie cup of water, gee thanks. They gave me a couple pain killers, a script for more and a small bottle of them for the night. They found me some scrubs to wear out and basically sent me on my way. They left the blood on my face, never cleaned it off, I had a severely sprained ankle, that they never wrapped up and left me to my own devices to walk out of the building in scrub pants, open back gown and barefoot. They did eventually go and find me a wheelchair to use but I was already halfway out by then. No bandages, ointment, information on followups or anything. I got nothings broken, no need for surgery your all good, here is a list of what to watch for in the next 24 from a head injury and out the door I was sent. Then on top of it all, we are in the truck and heading out and I'm confused even more wanting to know what hospital we are at as nothing is familiar. Lynn informed me that it was VGH but they had moved the emergency department to the other side of the building. How to mess with my head even more. The drive home was pretty sketchy as well, I know we stopped at a gas station and Len got me a drink, and smokes for both of us. he he he that was great smoking in Lynns truck and she cant give me shit for it!! Beyond that the drive is vague, I know Len was stuffed in the back jumper seats but I don't really remember him back there and I think there was some kinda comment about it being funny that he is stuffed back there for a change, as he was typically driving it and I would be stuffed in the back.
Well that night was pretty rough, I was up about every two hours of my own accord and damn I was in some pain. The next day Len had to work, but I had my girlfriend Ang come over to sit with me and keep an eye on me for the day. I spent most of it napping needless to say. Ang's hubbie Scott stopped by and both of them were freaking about my eye and said I should get it checked out. I figured prolly a good idea to head to the clinic for a follow up anyways as the hospital didn't tell us much or do much. I have to say the dizzy spells were the worse and Im glad that they are almost gone.
Wednesday came and Len took me to the clinic and I had the Doc check things over, he said all looked normal and not to worry about my eye as that is what he would expect to see. Come back and see him on Saturday.
Good enuf, so I just have to rest and see how things progress. I'm in contact with my teacher each day, to let her know how things are progressing. I manage to get my project typed out but now Im on a mission that somehow, I'm getting a ride to Vic so I can go to class for 10 minutes and do the presentation for my project so I don't lose 10 marks!!!! I had emailed it off to the teacher with a message from the doctor regards to follow up and that I wouldn't know when I was returning for sure until I saw him on Saturday. Also stated that I may try and show up to do the presentation. Next thing ya know I get a call from her telling me to keep my sorry ass in bed and stay home. In the big picture, that 10 marks is not going to affect my honors grade!!! Fine then but Im not happy about it. I took the next 2 days and basically disregarded everything and just rested. Len brought home my note packages from school and my final review for the exam I was missing. Thankfully I was told that I could write it as soon as I return with no penalty.
Sunday seemed to be a day of change, I had been taking the T3's every 6 hours or so, but for some reason, that morning I didn't take any. I briefly talked with Leanne on chat and she said to ditch them and take more ibuprofen instead. Well Len had left his phone here at home, so thru the grapevine the message went, Leanne texted Kat, and Kat told Len, then of course Len borrowed a phone and called me. I said this is the instructions, 'Im getting from da nurse so stop and get me a big bottle please on your way home. He was out doing the memorial ride for Colin and I was saddened that I couldn't go but recuperating was more important. I spent most of the day resting but also took short bouts working on my exam review so that I could email it in to get it checked and make sure I was going to study the right information. Hoping that this day was really the turning point and not just a good day.
Well it was the turning point, Monday I was feeling the same, less and less of the dizzy spells and more and more human, well with the exception of the aches and pains that were still screaming at me. I talked with the teacher at the end of the day and told her that it seemed like things were coming around and that I was aiming for Wednesday to come back to class. The doc on Saturday had said mid week to early the following week, well you know me, I gotta go and I didn't want to end up that far behind since this was the start of a new course and I could end up double slammed with back to back exams on two different subjects. I said Weds and I would be there around 11ish unless something changed between then and now, and I would be in contact if things fell thru.
So I continued to rest on Tuesday, with short studying bursts in between naps. Damn, I needed to get out, I was so lost, sick of the idiot box, sick of the puter, sick of laying around doing nothing, I want out!
Wednesday came and I had it worked out that I was going to drive as far as Ma Millers area to a classmates and she would drive to school. She had no problem going early so I could write the exam I had missed so all was on schedule. About half an hour before leaving, the hands started shaking, ah shit here we go. It was a hard trip down the Hat to say the least. Len called just before leaving and checked in with me, I told him I would call when I got to Jenn's so that he knew I was ok and made it down the hill. I left, stopped at the Petro and gassed up and off I went, taking it easy and just focusing on the road. I was shaking but not so bad until I got to the double lanes and tunnel hill. At that point the whole body started, the hands weren't just shaking but on full vibrate, the legs were going and it was all I could do to keep the gas pedal pressure even and coming down the hill I was to the point of tears, but I forced myself to go on and just get to Jenn's, which was only another 5 km. If I got this far, i can get there! Well I made it, she almost had to pry me out of the car as I was so shaken with the anxiety attack, she parked mine for me and got me in her car and I slowly calmed down. I had my happy pills with me but was unsure if they would have a side affect with a head injury so I hadn't taken any. But was going to talk to one of the LPN teachers at school to see what her opinion was. By the time we had arrived at school, I had calmed considerably but didnt have the opportunity to talk to the LPN as she was teaching, I told my teacher we could do it after the exam and after her class. So off I went for my exam and she told me to just take my time and not rush myself, start it when I felt ready to. I sat for a few more minutes and drank a bottle of water and then said to heck with it and did the exam. Surprisingly I felt damn good about it but in the end, the multiple guess got me as I was not in class to hear the conversations about a few things. I still passed but it was my worse mark ever. Oh well as everyone has said, Let it go, you just smashed your head for crying out loud!! The LPN teacher came in after the exam and I showed her my happy pills, she asked a few questions, gave my melon and egg a feel then said take the effin things, are ya nuts! Well I just wanted to make sure first. The rest of the afternoon was uneventful and it felt good to be back and not laying on the couch. When we left I took the other half of the happy pill for the drive home, knowing this time I'm going up on the same side as I had the accident. I had told Len at break that when Jenn dropped me off I would call him so he knew that I was on my way and to expect me or a crisis. Well we had just got onto the highway and Len called me, he was actually sitting at Westshore Parkway waiting to meet me. So meet we did and he followed me up the hill. Now it may have been a combination or not but I was fine on the drive home, partly the happy pill and also knowing that he was right there behind me and it was ok. Well we got home, had some dinner and then the couch and I promptly became friends for the rest of the night. I was out! Guess it was a big day for me and I over did it some.
Since then the next two days to school were ok, I would take a half a pill on leaving and coming home, and the drive was ok. I'm caught up in class, did the mid term on the friday and I think it went good, find out on Monday. Although the weirdest thing is I can spell the big words like disestablishmentarianism but cant figure out the little ones, I would have to stop and actually think instead of them just coming naturally. Go figure! So besides having a few little dizzy spells, mainly getting up or laying down Im thinking the worst is past. Now it is just the damn aches and pains that need to settle and the egg on my head to leave. It feels all squishie now instead of a hard lump. I guess that is good. The bruised rib has got to be the worse part of it. My ankle is calming down nicely and of course Im walking on it, and only bandage it when I go out of the house. The abrasion on the knee is slowly getting smaller but it has been a bitch. Doc said leave it open to air and not covered and keep the ointment on it. Well it scabs over and starts to dry then you walk and flex the knee and it breaks open again and starts to weep. Was really starting to annoy me but looks like it is on the uphill now as well. The pain in my shoulder and neck has subsided and not bothering at all, and the head well, the bruises are fading, the cuts are gone, its just the blood in the white of my eye that is still there and the few occasional dizzy spells but not much anymore. If it wasn't for the damn rib, I think I would be on my bike!!!! But I know better then to try to ride it with the rib the way it is, push steering would be a painful bitch, slow speed maneuvers, and lord help I had to take evasive action.
So I guess that is me in a nut shell or two. As for the bike, Len went and picked it up on the Friday after the accident, so the 28th. He rode it home from Langford and tested it out. At 60 k he took his hands off the bars to check "alignment"?? and it was fine. When he got on the highway heading home, he took her up to 120 and put her thru her paces and he said she was handling fine! So this is good. He parked it outside the door instead of in the basement so I could come out and see the aftermath. Well shyte, I really didn't do that much damage at all! I was amazed at the shape of her. Ya I felt bad cause she was looking a little fugly at the moment but to fix what needed to be fixed was going to be minor. He parked her in the basement and spent a couple nights down there taking things off and getting things fixed. The two major items are the crash bars and windshield, besides that, right mirror,right driving light housing and trim ring, headlight trim ring, front running light lens and chrome frame around it, brake lever housing,rear signal housing and lens, and the bag took a good scuffing but I can clean it up I'm sure and it really doesn't matter as hard bags will be going on it eventually. By Tuesday night, all but the two big items and the front running light are fixed and I don't think, including hi bright bulbs, Len has put out $200 on parts yet, cheaper then deductible would be.
Oh Thursday because the weather was actually decent and plans for the weekend were supposed to be better, he was going to ride to Vic for coffee with the 443. He decided that maybe this would be a good trip for me to try before the weekend to see if I was up to it. He waited for me to get home from school, then helped bandage me up and get me into jeans, boots and the rest of the gear. Hmm should have checked a helmet first to see if it would fit over my egg, it did and will no discomfort. Well happy pills are great, cause I really didn't spaz out being on the back this time, mind you he took it easy for me. I reiterated the fact that he better take it real easy on the hill in case I did panic and he did. Everything felt fine, minor discomfort in the leg with the tape pulling at the bandage under the jeans, but I also didn't want the jeans rubbing on the abrasion. With the rib being so painful, it takes a little effort to get on and off the back of the bike, but I get there. When we arrived that damn ornamental came tearing out of Timmies giving me shit for getting on the bike already. He figured I shouldn't be and that watching me hobble off was sign enuf. What ever, I'm just sitting there, I'm not doing anything so what it takes me a bit of an effort to get on. All considering it was a good little ride and I figured if the weather did co operate then I would go on at least one of the rides with him on the weekend.
So that brings us to now, obviously I chose yesterday to go with him as I'm home here blogging away now. We did the red and white poker run in Nanaimo yesterday. Had lots of time to get ready but forgot to take any pain killers or happy pills before going. We got to the starting point and he says, maybe ya should think about taking some, so I did. We had a good day overall, ya I was slow, on and off the bike but it was nice to be out of the house and doing something. The rib was a bit tender over the course of the day and near the end I did want to just get home and get the boots, jeans, and bandages off. We had gone in the hot tub for the first time that morning and it actually felt pretty damn good and seemed to relax the pain in the rib some. It is a chore getting me in and out but we get there. So needless to say when I got all the gear off that was the next plan of attack, into the hot tub before laying down to relax. It was a fairly long day for the first one out, but so far today I'm not feeling to bad. Pretty sure I will be having an afternoon nap though, while I wait for him to return from the Ride to Live run.
So there is the low down on the accident and how I am feeling to this point. As of yet I still have heard nothing from the police in regards to anything, so no idea what is happening. I'm slowly healing up and the bike is ready to ride, minus a few things. So game plan remains the same, continue on the course of recovery, and carry on with school and as soon as the rib heals up then Therapy and I will be back at it. Certainly a bit slower to start but we will get there.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Conga BBQ
This is a little conglomeration that I fixed for Flo about the BBQ and photo shoot. She is sending it into BDB for the paper.
Just want to say thanx to all of those that came by to start us off on the right foot.
Just want to say thanx to all of those that came by to start us off on the right foot.
Conga III Update
This past weekend my good friend Jenn Geeson and Len Redekopp hosted a Barbeque at the Movie Gallery in Mill Bay. Jenn has ridden in the past two Congas with me, as well as helping organize me and the Conga itself. She went out of her way organizing the BBQ to make it another huge success. When those two get together, they can put on a great event. On Sunday May 23rd, we managed to raise close to $700.00 selling hot dogs, burgers and Breast Cancer items.
As you can see we had a great time doing it. The sea of pink rolled in slowly on pinked out bikes. The riders themselves were dressed in anything from a neon pink wig and pink bra on the outside of their clothing, to full pink leathers, gloves, and boots. We even had the guys join in wearing pink, from wigs to glasses and leis. The bikes were from mild to wild so to speak. Simple decorating of breast cancer ribbons on the tins and pool noodles wrapped around headlights and taillights to full blown Conga machines, that included flags, magnets, pink crystals stuck to every imaginable place, pink leather in the tassels and even pink sheepskins. We left Jenn in charge of the orders and as usual Len was an awesome cook for the day. They kept up with the orders and everyone was happy with the food, especially the combo burgers which had a wiener sliced in half on top. The rest of this roving band of pink took to the highway to draw in the customers. It was definitely traffic stopping to see this group in pink flagging down traffic. There was also the introduction of a new Conga mascot who became known as Rozilla, that was so entertaining she almost caused a few accidents.
Thanks so much to Jenn and Len for all their hard work! She is way more than just a spirit rider this year!! I would also like to say Thank You to Doug at the Movie Gallery – Mill Bay, for his space and support, Rory from M&M Meats – Duncan, for the burgers and dogs and also Dave from Save On Foods – Westside, for all of the buns. Without you, all of this would have been impossible.
A lot of the Island Riders came out to support this event. The first being the SCRC riding club from Victoria that got the coals going and the BBQ off to a great start. We also had riders stop in from Port Alberni and even from the Mainland. A lot of the gals riding in the Conga this year came out and some of us were meeting for the first time. Everyone got decked out in pink along with their bikes.
We have our very own Conga Photographer from Campbell River that came down for the day, Mike Goodman from MG Digital Art. He took many candid pre Conga shots of us while going about hustling up business and he will be making a DVD with all the pictures and donating a portion to the Conga Cause. After the BBQ, Mike followed the group to Whippletree Junction, known for its false front buildings to do a photo shoot of the Conga Chicks and their rides. With a small shower passing through, we thought it was going to end the chances of some photos, but the sun came back out and we found this great back alley courtyard with a fountain that we all parked in. Each bike in front of a different store. The merchants came outside to see what was going on and loved what we were doing, the riders in pink and the bikes. One merchant spent the rest of the day with us taking her own set of pictures of everything that was going on and another we found out was a Breast Cancer Survivor herself and was so pleased that we were doing what we are. Eventually we thanked Mike for his efforts and the gang said goodbye and split up to head to their own destinations. Mike will be following the Conga as it leaves and stopping at each pick up place on the Island. He will be filming us coming in and leaving and meeting us at the next stop.
Jenn is also putting on the Grand Finale Show and Shine August 14 for when the Conga returns. This will be in Nanaimo at Timberlands Pub. Be sure to mark it on your calendar. We are having live music, food, vendors, 50/50’s, all of the regular categories plus an extra PINK category!! At the end of the day, besides the awards, we will be handing over a cheque to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, BC/Yukon Region. We are still looking for vendors and donations for the show, so if you are interested in being a vendor or have an item to donate for a door prize, please contact Jenn at dragonfyre@shaw.ca.
If Sunday was just a sample of what this girl can pull off, then August 14th ought to be fantabulous!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Well it has been a hectic week, that's for sure. Started a new course after the rotten one we just finished. Overall for the last course was a 99, did far better on the exam then anticipated. When the teacher called me on Friday evening as requested, I actually broke down in happy tears. I was shocked to score so high cause I was having a hella time getting the words off the tip of my tongue and onto the paper and with everything that had transpired over the course I was not feeling good about writing it. The negativity and bad omens surrounding the projects, the passing of our friend and here we are studying death and dying. This course is better but with the holiday thrown in, we have to make up hours and we have a midterm and major project as well as a final. Well Ive done the midterm but havent started the project (that is next on the agenda) Bust my arse to get it going to hand in on Thursday. We have our final on Friday again but I requested that I write it early and in Duncan so that we can get on a ferry sooner. Well I was hoping for 930/10 maybe but I guess Im going in at 830 now. So much for my morning cram session. Now Im not sure about this trip, cause they are forecasting rain the whole time we are away,and that is not going to make for a happy trip.
The rest of the week was tied up with loose ends being dealt with for the Conga BBQ. Things were falling thru and it was all going to be last minute if it happened at all. Well it all worked out in the end. Everything was lined up to go and it was just a matter of picking everything up and going for it. Saturday morning found Len and I running to Duncan to get the necessities and then decided to take a little ride on the bikes before having to deal with the buns. the plan was for Flo and group to check in the motel, then empty their bags and head down to Vic to meet us so then we could get all of the buns in the bikes and save another trip to Vic in the car. Well 5pm, I get the message that they arent coming so into overdrive I go and manage to get it sorted out. Still ended up in a trip in the car on Sunday morning but at least we werent doing it all on Saturday night. Sunday morning rolls around and into warp speed I go. Have all the veggies to chop up, things to pack, Len making a dash to Vic for the buns and then we have to get the truck loaded with BBQ, tables, food, etc. And wouldnt ya know it but I managed to pull my shoulder lifting the damn Q into the truck. Thankfully I managed to stretch it out and the pain subsided, but I had a feeling I might be feeling it today which I am. We got everything together and off we went to the plaza and to the rest of the group that was there waiting. We got everything set up and wouldnt ya know it but just as Len was about to throw the first of the meat on the 443 group came rolling in for food. Was really great that they all came up to support us and heck they even found Keibler and brought him with them. It was great seeing him as he isnt around enuf these days with all his training he is doing. The day seemed to go in waves, we would have a mad rush and then it would seem to calm and you were caught up and think you were going to get to sit down and then bammmm another wave of people came in. Made for a steady busy day for sure. Flo had arranged for her photographer friend to come down and take pics of the day and after a little photo shoot up at Whippletree. So Mike was around all day taking assorted pics of everything going on. One of the local newspapers came by and did some pics of all us gals, so will have to remember to grab the papers on Wednesday to see whats what. Overall for the day when we shut down around 230, we had sold out on hot dogs and over half the burgers. Between the food and Flos BC goodies we ended up bringing in almost $800. Our quick count was around $760 but Im sure there is a bit more.
we got the BBQ wrapped up and everything loaded back into the truck, Big E went with Len back to our house to unload everything, and us girls raced up to Whippletree for the pics. First Mike did a set of all the bikes together in front of one building then thy went looking for another set of buildings to do individual ones. Well we ended up pulling the bikes right down into the inner courtyard of the place and he did many pics there. Of each bike and rider in front of a different store, then he did a few extra of mine and Lens bike dePinked. We actually had a great reception from the merchants there as well. One of the ladies is a BC survivor and thought it was great what we were up to. Another merchant was out there snapping pictures like crazy of us, our bikes and the whole shenanigans. She kept saying this was the best thing that happened all day. When it was all finished we said good byes. Lady Di, was beelining home hoping to escape the rain and in her mood she was sure to get there quick. She had her so called buddy put a stabilizer on the trike and he put it on the wrong way and wouldnt ya know it but she must have hit a pot hole in the road that cause the forks to go down, fender to come up and now she has a wonderful dent in her fender from this phuk up. Needless to say she was none to happy when she discovered it. The two pink queens were heading north until they got rained on and then were going to hole up somewhere, for all they knew it might only be Duncan. Havent heard anything so who knows how far they actually got. Mir headed south with us and decided she was going to leave hubby Pete to deal with the kids and she was going to stay out and play for awhile. We took the backroads home and we sat around the house and bullshitted, had a few beers and then dinner. When all was done it was time for her to head over the hat and try and hit home before dark. Nice relaxing end to the day. After that, all I know is that the two of us curled up on the couch and watched tv from the back of our eyelids!!!!! Body drained and tired, we were done.
So on to the next week, have to get this project happening, then going to have a final review to work on as well. Thursday night will be busy, packing up and getting the bagger loaded for the morning and try and study some. Friday morning up and at 'em, up to Duncan for an 830 exam and when Im done its straight to a ferry to get outta dodge for the weekend and the festivities in the interior. Should be fun and of course we will get to go by our favorite winery again, with both bikes we should be able to bring home a few bottles. Hehehe.
K thats enuf for now, time to get to work if I want out for a while later on.
The rest of the week was tied up with loose ends being dealt with for the Conga BBQ. Things were falling thru and it was all going to be last minute if it happened at all. Well it all worked out in the end. Everything was lined up to go and it was just a matter of picking everything up and going for it. Saturday morning found Len and I running to Duncan to get the necessities and then decided to take a little ride on the bikes before having to deal with the buns. the plan was for Flo and group to check in the motel, then empty their bags and head down to Vic to meet us so then we could get all of the buns in the bikes and save another trip to Vic in the car. Well 5pm, I get the message that they arent coming so into overdrive I go and manage to get it sorted out. Still ended up in a trip in the car on Sunday morning but at least we werent doing it all on Saturday night. Sunday morning rolls around and into warp speed I go. Have all the veggies to chop up, things to pack, Len making a dash to Vic for the buns and then we have to get the truck loaded with BBQ, tables, food, etc. And wouldnt ya know it but I managed to pull my shoulder lifting the damn Q into the truck. Thankfully I managed to stretch it out and the pain subsided, but I had a feeling I might be feeling it today which I am. We got everything together and off we went to the plaza and to the rest of the group that was there waiting. We got everything set up and wouldnt ya know it but just as Len was about to throw the first of the meat on the 443 group came rolling in for food. Was really great that they all came up to support us and heck they even found Keibler and brought him with them. It was great seeing him as he isnt around enuf these days with all his training he is doing. The day seemed to go in waves, we would have a mad rush and then it would seem to calm and you were caught up and think you were going to get to sit down and then bammmm another wave of people came in. Made for a steady busy day for sure. Flo had arranged for her photographer friend to come down and take pics of the day and after a little photo shoot up at Whippletree. So Mike was around all day taking assorted pics of everything going on. One of the local newspapers came by and did some pics of all us gals, so will have to remember to grab the papers on Wednesday to see whats what. Overall for the day when we shut down around 230, we had sold out on hot dogs and over half the burgers. Between the food and Flos BC goodies we ended up bringing in almost $800. Our quick count was around $760 but Im sure there is a bit more.
we got the BBQ wrapped up and everything loaded back into the truck, Big E went with Len back to our house to unload everything, and us girls raced up to Whippletree for the pics. First Mike did a set of all the bikes together in front of one building then thy went looking for another set of buildings to do individual ones. Well we ended up pulling the bikes right down into the inner courtyard of the place and he did many pics there. Of each bike and rider in front of a different store, then he did a few extra of mine and Lens bike dePinked. We actually had a great reception from the merchants there as well. One of the ladies is a BC survivor and thought it was great what we were up to. Another merchant was out there snapping pictures like crazy of us, our bikes and the whole shenanigans. She kept saying this was the best thing that happened all day. When it was all finished we said good byes. Lady Di, was beelining home hoping to escape the rain and in her mood she was sure to get there quick. She had her so called buddy put a stabilizer on the trike and he put it on the wrong way and wouldnt ya know it but she must have hit a pot hole in the road that cause the forks to go down, fender to come up and now she has a wonderful dent in her fender from this phuk up. Needless to say she was none to happy when she discovered it. The two pink queens were heading north until they got rained on and then were going to hole up somewhere, for all they knew it might only be Duncan. Havent heard anything so who knows how far they actually got. Mir headed south with us and decided she was going to leave hubby Pete to deal with the kids and she was going to stay out and play for awhile. We took the backroads home and we sat around the house and bullshitted, had a few beers and then dinner. When all was done it was time for her to head over the hat and try and hit home before dark. Nice relaxing end to the day. After that, all I know is that the two of us curled up on the couch and watched tv from the back of our eyelids!!!!! Body drained and tired, we were done.
So on to the next week, have to get this project happening, then going to have a final review to work on as well. Thursday night will be busy, packing up and getting the bagger loaded for the morning and try and study some. Friday morning up and at 'em, up to Duncan for an 830 exam and when Im done its straight to a ferry to get outta dodge for the weekend and the festivities in the interior. Should be fun and of course we will get to go by our favorite winery again, with both bikes we should be able to bring home a few bottles. Hehehe.
K thats enuf for now, time to get to work if I want out for a while later on.
Monday, May 17, 2010
The dreaded Project
Writing your own Eulogy Project
Jenn Geeson was born 4 decades ago in Scarborough, Ontario. She was raised in the east end suburbs of Toronto. She attended elementary school in Oshawa, and high school in Whitby. During her childhood she was active in many different sports. In the summer it was primarily soccer that she played and eventually started coaching, and during the winter she played both hockey and ringette. Again she started coaching and refereeing the game of ringette. She spent many late Friday nights going with her step father to play hockey with him and his friends, until he was politely asked to leave his girl at home cause she was making them look bad. After graduating high school and spending a year or so working in Toronto, she moved to British Columbia. She lived mainly on Vancouver Island but also set up roots in both the Interior and the Yukon.
In 1994, Jenn gave birth to her daughter Kaylee and is the world to her. She could not have asked for a better child and even though Jenn is not here with us, Kaylee may just be a twin of her mother. At times Kaylee was the exact opposite of her mother and Jenn couldn’t figure that out, then the baby dragon would emerge and make her momma even prouder. Jenn had 2 special relationships in her life. The first with James (Bull), where after a year together they bought a house and moved to Cobble Hill. At first Jenn fought tooth and nail about having to drive the Malahat daily to get to work, but since then she has daily tried to set the land speed record on her daily commute. After 6 years they went their separate ways, but still remained great friends. Sadly Bull passed away in a bike accident in 2008. It was a hard time for both Jenn and Kaylee, to lose someone so important to them. In 2009, Jenn finally may have found her soul mate. It is just a shame that it took them 15 years to get together. She leaves behind her best friend and true soul mate Len. Although he aided her while going thru school, she sure helped him in all areas. Always keeping him organized, going to work with him and helping with tile and hardwoods or just being his pack mule for the day and carrying over 1000lbs of tile up 3 flights of stairs by hand while he worked. The two of them were inseparable and it wasn’t often that you would see one riding without the other. They were like a well oiled machine and just worked well as a team.
After having her daughter, Jenn realized that she needed to get some training to have a stable job to help raise her daughter. She decided to get her cosmetology license in 1995. She was a hairdresser for over 10 years and for 7 of them she worked in a care facility. She loved working with the seniors. Not only were they a wealth of knowledge and full of stories of days gone by but they all seemed to live vicariously thru Jenn and her antics. They were amazed that she rode a motorcycle to work and many wanted to see it. When she left the care facility, Jenn took an Administration job close to home. She was basically running 3 business and the boss until just 3 short weeks after Bull died, so did her boss in a boating accident. Even with this turn of tragic events, Jenn was able to keep things together both for herself and the businesses that she was asked to take charge of for the time being. Eventually they were closed down and Jenn needed to make another change. She decided to go back to school and take the Community Support Worker Program in the hopes of working with teens with addictions. Well, she graduated with honours from the program and even though she pushed herself harder she was amazed that she maintained the marks that she did. Not too shabby for a dumb biker chick!
Jenn had a very creative side and was always making something. During Kaylees childhood she made many of her clothes and always made her Halloween costumes. She even made matching Christmas dresses for them one year. She had a knack when it came to a sewing machine but also her creativeness was witnessed by the designs she would make in pumpkins every year. For years, she sold her creations to the local Harley dealership. Many times I heard her state that she wished she had not stopped drawing as she was a fine artist as well but life just seemed to get in the way of all the things she would liked to have done. She even went so far as to decorate Len’s bedroom in Harley motive, which all started by painting the walls burnt orange then free handing the Harley logo on the wall above the headboard. During her 20’s and early 30’s she spent a great deal of the summer playing baseball. You wouldn’t know it but Jenn was a long ball off field hitter that stunned most teams. She could send the ball deep right field without batting an eye. She enjoyed camping with the family and did quite a bit of travelling as well. She had been to England, Wales and Scotland when 9 years old, a trip to Mexico at 17 and over the rest of her lifetime the only part of Canada she had not been to was the Maritimes. She has also been to a number of the states on both the east and west coast. In her mid 30’s, she finally fulfilled one of her dreams, by getting her own motorcycle and learning to ride. After a rocky start, she took to it with a vengeance. Even though her bike was smaller, she was determined to keep up with the big dawgs and after only 6 months she was getting rid of her disposable bike and bought her first Harley. Mind you she didn’t keep it long as she wanted something bigger after she had spent so much time “stealing” Lens bike. She loved being out on the big touring bike and being able to ride it like she stole it. (Which she kinda did at times) She always loved stating the fact that when the guys on the same size bike would see her, the looks on their faces were of pure amazement and then she would twist the throttle and out do them. With her new found love of riding also came her generosity in helping and enabling other new women riders and her passion for riding for a cause. She has spent many long hours both organizing and riding for the benefit of Breast Cancer, a cause that was always close to her heart. She has pushed herself on many bike runs, proving to herself that she was capable of anything. She rode into the USA on her own thru rain, snow and sun, on a mission to find a friend and bring them home. She also accomplished what very few would even try and ride over a 1700 kms (1000 miles) in one day.
Jenn was a diamond in the rough but a class act just the same. She might seem hard and bitchy but if you took the chance to get to know her you would find that she was truly the opposite. She had a carpe diem attitude, zest for life and generosity of spirit. If you gave her lemons, somehow she would make lemonade. She wouldn’t take No for an answer, it was always go big, go home and get over it! She was always in the lead somehow and was obviously a born leader, and she worked well under pressure. She was always organized even though she would quote that “it was like herding cats” trying to keep us all in line. She would keep the routes straight (if only in her head) so that we all got to where we were going and she would do this without using a map. Even with all of this she still had a tendency to mother everyone, especially on the road. She would be the first one up and getting everyone coffee, even if she had to ride down the street to find it. I still can’t figure out how she would bring back multiple coffees on her bike. She tackled a career change in midlife, which is a hard thing to do, especially competing with the young 20 year old brains! Yet again it was a competition to her and she had to be out in the lead. There were so many driving characteristics in Jenn. She was sincere, caring, compassionate, thoughtful, loving and you could always count on her to have your back in times of trouble. Her intelligence and spirit are to be admired by all. Jenn was fun and adventurous and there was never a dull moment with her around. Jenn was the hostess with the mostest and always held the best of gatherings big or small. I can see it now, she will be the party coordinator for the big man upstairs!
Jenn was loved by many in all walks of life. She may not have been perfect and will probably not end up as God’s right hand woman, but hey she had other qualities that counted. She shared an enthusiasm for life with her friends that in turn made their lives better for knowing her. Jenn wouldn’t want you to shed a tear but to party on in celebration of her life. So now let’s raise our glasses in her memory and seize the day!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
For Bear
Okay, trying to write damn it, just for you!!!!!
Life gets in the way sometimes, and will try and pay more attention to my blog for those that want to read my ramblings. Now that I have my new puter, I can actually bookmark and find my blog again.
Well quick up to speed, been busy as hell, with school, organizing the show n shine and of course riding. Seems that it is now the season and have been out and about somewhere every weekend. Keeps me on the go, which is fine, cause I need to be busy but sometimes I think I just need to relax and take it easy. Think I will try and do that this weekend, nothing major just enjoy the sun, the bike and do a few minor errands in the process.
School is still going awesome! Still raking in the big marks, even though I have no clue how I do it some days. I barely study for the exams, just cram a few hours the morning of and then go for it. My projects have all been coming back 100%. Course prior to the one I just finished was on Mental Disorders and I used Vince as my subject and yep got 100. But then again we all know he is disturbed! This past course took me thru the wringer. Last Monday we started it and she gave the course outline and the projects and I threw on hell of a fuss about doing them. they were so dark and negative and it was just something I didnt agree with. But if I wanted to graduate, I had to suffer thru and find a way to do them. She let me adjust part of one a bit, cause I just didnt have anyway of writing anything on it. Well the first project got me another 100, thanks to the slight adjustment I was able to make. I wrote more about my dads passing and then the second half was my beliefs and she let me be somewhat imaginative and I wrote more about the urban myths that we as riders have surrounding our departed riding friends. She stated on it that it was beautifully written. But then I have been told that I do have a way with words. The second one that we will get back on Monday, we had to write our own eulogy. That was giving me a shit kickin, but thanks to comments from friends on FB, I was able to pull something together to write about. I still wasnt comfortable doing all this, and the whole course my spidie senses were tingling with bad vibes. I just had a feeling that something was going to happen. didnt know when or to who but in the end I was right. I turned the eulogy in a day early at 1 pm and wouldnt ya know 7 hours later we have a friend die on his bike. I hate having these feelings and I hope the hell I dont have anymore for a long while. Needless to say I didnt go to class the next day, as it was all about the last hours of death and dying. Not like I could sit and listen to that. I just took the day to myself and didnt do much of anything.
Oh well all I can say is Im glad its over and we can move on to something more positive hopefully.
On another note, I only have just over 2 months of classes left, and then Im on to my practicum, doesnt seem like it has been that long and Im there already. Look out world here I come!!!
Kay has her learners and she is getting there but it is still kinda scary. She would rather drive with Len then me, and ya know that is fine with me!!!! She hasnt been out in the car much as it is a standard and I havent found a parking lot that is large enuf that she can practice upshifting before I take her on the streets. The truck of course is bigger but besides wandering to the right and heading for the ditch, she is pretty good with it. But the wierd part, ya put her on a 2 lane road she goes right, take her on the highway with 4 lanes and she goes left! I dont get it at all.
Beyond that general stuff, life is just the same up here in the toolies. Seems as though the weather gods are smiling on us finally, which means I guess I have to get off my ass and go wash the bike. Presumably, Im not going to run into anymore rain storms on the way home.
Well there ya are Bear, quick run down to make ya happy, I will try and be more prompt about writing again.
Life gets in the way sometimes, and will try and pay more attention to my blog for those that want to read my ramblings. Now that I have my new puter, I can actually bookmark and find my blog again.
Well quick up to speed, been busy as hell, with school, organizing the show n shine and of course riding. Seems that it is now the season and have been out and about somewhere every weekend. Keeps me on the go, which is fine, cause I need to be busy but sometimes I think I just need to relax and take it easy. Think I will try and do that this weekend, nothing major just enjoy the sun, the bike and do a few minor errands in the process.
School is still going awesome! Still raking in the big marks, even though I have no clue how I do it some days. I barely study for the exams, just cram a few hours the morning of and then go for it. My projects have all been coming back 100%. Course prior to the one I just finished was on Mental Disorders and I used Vince as my subject and yep got 100. But then again we all know he is disturbed! This past course took me thru the wringer. Last Monday we started it and she gave the course outline and the projects and I threw on hell of a fuss about doing them. they were so dark and negative and it was just something I didnt agree with. But if I wanted to graduate, I had to suffer thru and find a way to do them. She let me adjust part of one a bit, cause I just didnt have anyway of writing anything on it. Well the first project got me another 100, thanks to the slight adjustment I was able to make. I wrote more about my dads passing and then the second half was my beliefs and she let me be somewhat imaginative and I wrote more about the urban myths that we as riders have surrounding our departed riding friends. She stated on it that it was beautifully written. But then I have been told that I do have a way with words. The second one that we will get back on Monday, we had to write our own eulogy. That was giving me a shit kickin, but thanks to comments from friends on FB, I was able to pull something together to write about. I still wasnt comfortable doing all this, and the whole course my spidie senses were tingling with bad vibes. I just had a feeling that something was going to happen. didnt know when or to who but in the end I was right. I turned the eulogy in a day early at 1 pm and wouldnt ya know 7 hours later we have a friend die on his bike. I hate having these feelings and I hope the hell I dont have anymore for a long while. Needless to say I didnt go to class the next day, as it was all about the last hours of death and dying. Not like I could sit and listen to that. I just took the day to myself and didnt do much of anything.
Oh well all I can say is Im glad its over and we can move on to something more positive hopefully.
On another note, I only have just over 2 months of classes left, and then Im on to my practicum, doesnt seem like it has been that long and Im there already. Look out world here I come!!!
Kay has her learners and she is getting there but it is still kinda scary. She would rather drive with Len then me, and ya know that is fine with me!!!! She hasnt been out in the car much as it is a standard and I havent found a parking lot that is large enuf that she can practice upshifting before I take her on the streets. The truck of course is bigger but besides wandering to the right and heading for the ditch, she is pretty good with it. But the wierd part, ya put her on a 2 lane road she goes right, take her on the highway with 4 lanes and she goes left! I dont get it at all.
Beyond that general stuff, life is just the same up here in the toolies. Seems as though the weather gods are smiling on us finally, which means I guess I have to get off my ass and go wash the bike. Presumably, Im not going to run into anymore rain storms on the way home.
Well there ya are Bear, quick run down to make ya happy, I will try and be more prompt about writing again.
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