Saturday, February 19, 2011

Mile-High Writer's Club

So, we’re in the air. During take-off JG and I discussed the incident at ticketing. But, I left off at Macy’s 50% off luggage sale. We bought two new large suitcases with four wheels each. Black, of course. They barely fit in the Prius with all the other luggage. I checked three suitcases on my way down – plus I had the backpack. JG had checked two suitcases and carried on his laptop case.  As you can imagine it was a tight fit. We decided we’d repack the luggage at the rental drop off.

We were still about 10 miles or so from the airport when we stopped to get gas. I was bored and pulled out the instruction manual for the car. The futuristic control panel had a fancy display for the ‘hybrid system’ but it wouldn’t really explain where the bars needed to be to show that you were driving ‘eco-groovy.’ I was trying to figure out if we were going to burn too much gas in those last 10 miles and would need to fill up again. For a hybrid we had for four days I was shocked we went through an entire tank of gas.

I discovered we were only using the ‘hybrid’ features if the box above the meter read “ECO” – please note this word never came on between there and the airport. I found out the prius has an 11.9 gallon tank. A few miles into the drive back to the airport I got so annoyed “ECO” didn’t show up on the control panel – if it’s a hybrid how come it isn’t doing it’s eco groovy cheer? So, I thought that if the cruise control were activated it would do it automatically. Upon my insistence, JG tried using cruise control but it was broken.

JG was annoyed I was only interested in the car a few minutes before we turned it in.

So, we get to the rental car place, cleared the car and began the repacking process. It took longer than I thought it was. We ended up leaving two of the old suitcases next to the trash can. We timed it just right to catch the shuttle before it departed. I turned back with a bag in each hand to tell JG that my crutches were on the chair. He didn’t hear me. This comes after me telling him in the car that we could leave them , that if I needed then again they’d give me new ones. I guess JG didn’t hear me because at the airport he asked where they were.

So we get to the airport. There’s a line of ten people. There are at least three electronic check-in terminals open. No one is moving; they are oblivious. I swoop in at the one on the end. JG and the dude behind the counter give me a hard time for cutting. (We ended up getting in line … eyeroll.) The conversation JG and I just had on the plane ended with me saying “I’d rather be rude than stupid.”

His bottom line? “The people in line were waiting to be called. And you cut.”

Granted, they probably were, however, each attendant was working two terminals. It’s not like they were being pro-active in the middle of checking one person’s bags to make sure maximum efficiency was achieved by having the next customer get their boarding pass.

Besides, the next person in line was a gaggle of 10 young people traveling together. The amoeba was ruining it for everyone else.

JG got me a wheelchair. That was fun. I got rammed into the doorway of the elevator, a woman’s bag rammed into my bad leg as she entered the train, and I got felt up by security because JG insisted I ride the chair through security instead of walking the few steps through the scanner.

I’m sure another eventful something will happen before we make it through the front door. Tomorrow morning will be an early morning for us. Zachary has his first tutoring session at sylvan. Edward is getting a free evaluation.

Aunt Heather was nice enough to watch the boys while JG came to Colorado Springs for my graduation. He got in the day after I injured my knee. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. The graduation ceremony last night was a killer though, up down-up down-up down without being able to put my leg up. Both times I used the restroom I sat for a few minutes in the power room with my legs up in an ottoman.

JG looked handsome in his mess dress. The last time he wore it was for the wedding. Speaking of, we got a call yesterday from the best man. He and his kids are coming out in July to visit for a week. I’m really looking forward to hanging out with other people who like to camp and hike as much as I do. JG has already warned me we’ll be playing a 24-hour session of a Star Wars role playing game.

There -  I think we have it all covered now – the French toast, the Air Force Academy and the Crutches.  

Friday, February 18, 2011

French Toast, Academy and Crutches

"You can start with 'I didn't get sent down the escalator in the wheelchair, but I was real close,'" said JG after he asked what I was chucking about.

About 15 seconds prior I was laughing, "there are just so many ways I can start this blog entry."

This morning we ate breakfast and Gunter Toody's - we split a strawberry smoothie and the French toast and the 'Big Rascal' - ham, bacon, sausage, pancake, eggs and hash browns. Then we went to the Air Force Academy - JG has now seen each of the military service's Academies. He was shocked I had never seen a photo of the chapel. It looked like it was going to transform in an F-22 any second.

After a few minutes admiring the beauty of the stained glass and gorgeous mural inside the chapel, we walked to the ledge that was about 50 feet above, looking over the parade field. More than a dozen flights in formation were waiting for something to happen. JG was ready to head back to the car but curiosity got the better of me. "I want to see what happens." 

After the band played the Air Force Song (trivia: the Air Force does not own the Air Force Song, I think we should buy it) a loud horn sounded and all the cadets in flights wearing BDUs (the old-school cammies) and yellow ball caps charged a little hill in the middle of the parade grounds. Then, as they left the ground the other flights, wearing ABUs, were marched towards the band.

Still wearing a leg brace and taking pain meds and really pushing myself, JG had asked a security forces Airman to drive me to our vehicle a few hundred yards away. When JG got into the car he said he had a helped a man in an electric wheelchair up the hill because his batter way dying. This wasn't the first time JG would be pushing a wheelchair today.

We met his friend Tammy for lunch in Denver. We ate at a really good barbecue place. It was fun listening to JG and Tammy talk about the adjustment to being in a relationship with someone who has kids. Tammy is a former lieutenant in the Air Force who worked at the AF Academy after she was force shaped. After we described the excitement on the parade field she said they only "take the hill" five six times a year. (I'd still like to know more about it if anyone would like to leave a comment.)

So then, we went to the nearest Barnes and Noble that was part of an outdoor mall. After we parked in a parking garage we surfaced to a chocolate shop. I got dark chocolate-covered strawberries decorated with white chocolate stripes. JG got the English Toffee covered with dark chocolate and nuts. We spent the next two hours at the bookstore catching up on email from the last few days.

On the way to the airport we passed a gorgeous shopping area - JG wanted to stop and buy a new suitcase as two we had traveled with were on their last legs and there were still a bunch of miscellaneous loose items inside the rental. Lucky for us there was a 50% off luggage sale at Macy's. 

Oh ... we're boarding now for Spokane. I'll finish this later ...

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

A Valentine's Day to Remember

Yesterday while showering I had my foot propped up on the soap dish to wash my leg and out of the blue the entire soap dish fell into the tub. I should have know then that that omen was going to set the pace for the entire day.

I failed my Unit Manager Test with a 60 - by one question. The practice test I had scored at 78, but still joined two study groups over the weekend. I was bummed. Especially after getting perfect scores on my two writing assignments - bullets and a memo. It felt good giving the 'wood chucks' a run for their money - but the failure "red-lined" me from any academic awards. When I announced I failed to the class they didn't believe me. Shortly after Rick asked if I needed a hug. I said yes, but it actually came from Brett. Matt said he wanted to write a memo that said I didn't deserve to fail. I shook it off. There was a competition later that afternoon that I KNEW we were going to win to turn around the day.

Then we watched a POW documentary - and I'd get a little choked up each time retired Brig. Gen. Risner spoke. A great man who I had the privilege of interviewing way back when I was an Airman First Class.

During the Flight Challenge at the gym our flight made it into the finals ... and we finished first in the relay of crazy exercises - both heats. Between competitions Jen said encouraging words that made me smile. In the second round after running in a circle around a piece of paper I sprinted has hard and as fast as I could and one step before the finish line my right knee bent the not-right way as my right foot struck the ground. Because I was going so fast I had to come down on that same leg one more time to try and stop - then I collapse in pain on the aerobic step pushed up against the wall.

"Are you okay?" said one of the instructors. "No," I said fighting back tears.

So the fire department responded. And wouldn't you know it, the same Airman who debriefed me after the popcorn incident (read previous blog entry) was the one who arrived on scene. Despite a pedicure polish gone bad and an overdue wax job needed on my legs I ended up smirking. "I know you," I said. "You do?" said the Airman who looked 16. "Yep. We met last weekend. I was the one who burnt the popcorn."

They splinted my leg and called the ambulance. I had started shivering before the fire department got there and they made me lay down. First Jen was my pillow, and when she got up to get my backpack from the locker room my instructor Sergeant Bradley replaced her. Ezekiel rode in the front of the ambulance. Both Jen and Manny drove their vehicles behind me on the way to the hospital. Kory called my husband. Joel said if I needed a fireman all I had to do was ask. Everyone stayed until I was wheeled away.

Dan, the paramedic who attended to me in the back, gave me synthetic morphine. It was good stuff - I figured I had better take the pain meds while I could get them - no telling what I'd be sent home with. His fiancĂ©e just got a job at Yellowstone National Park so the Colorado Springs native will be leaving the area. "They need paramedics everywhere," I said cheerfully. "You can't have any more of that - it dropped your blood pressure too much."

The x-rays hurt like a son-of-a-gun. And luckily when I was over I got Morphine, Motrin and Vicodin. They even sent me on my with a Vicodin prescription. So, I'll be able to tough out the next few days with my leg brace and crutches. I have lots of experience with crutches. :)

After we were done at the hospital we met most of the rest of the flight at Old Chicago where I built a $22 personal pizza. I wanted olives (all three kinds), mushrooms, spinach, tomato, garlic, broccoli and basil. Only the first three toppings are free. I ate half, then just picked out the veggies. Afterwards I realized what I really wanted was a salad.

I'm starved his morning and took my last dose of meds about ten hours ago - I can't take 'em on an empty stomach. I need to hurry up and get ready for the day. JG flies in to Denver in just a couple hours. His timing couldn't have been more perfect.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

The Microwave Hates Me

As of tonight, there's only nine more days until graduation. But, that's not the important countdown. JG is flying here in seven days. Valentine's Day he's actually testing for promotion, which is what I'll be studying for myself once I'm home while finishing the R&R I was owed after my deployment that I still have left to take.

JG and I skyped most of Super Bowl Sunday - we did some online shopping together at Best Buy and Fredericks. I ate a good breakfast at Cracker Barrel that morning and ate my leftover pancake and some leftover chicken from Friday night as a late lunch. Well, I got hungry and decided to heat a "mini" bag of popcorn in my microwave on the popcorn setting.

About three minutes and thirty seconds later smoke was rolling out of the microwave. I hit stop, opened the window, turned on the fan and opened my door and began fanning air into my room. I took the popcorn out of the microwave and threw it in my trash. I was waiting for the alarm to go off. After about 15 minutes of waiting I believed the coast was clear..I was wrong.

On a side note, I wonder how many blogs will be researched decades from now by historians. Just my facebook status alone from Sunday have painted an accurate picture of my day:

is waiting for an open washing machine.
Sunday at 1:23pm (PST)

just went online shopping with JG via skype. :)
Sunday at 4:58pm

wow - my FB friends tore UP the half time show and then spewed it all over their walls. Napkins?
Sunday at 6:11pm

**Insert text message from JG "you okay?" as the skype session abruptly ended**

had a lovely visit with the fire fighters and security forces. 15 minutes before the excitement I sent an email with the sarcastic remark "I just burnt a mini bag of popcorn waiting for the fire alarm to go off." I have the power of jinx.
Sunday at 9:27pm

BINGO Bonus!
Jennifer scored a BINGO in SCRABBLE with the word NEITHER worth 71 points!
BINGO is a play in which you use all 7 tiles in the rack. A bonus of 50 extra points is added to your score.
Sunday at 10:24pm via SCRABBLE

At least the game was over before the alarm went off. And, you can see, my day ended on a high note because I very rarely get bingos during Scrabble.