Ok, so we floated the river, the kids had a great time, we made it to solid ground and obviously the good Lord wasn't ready for me yet, no matter how certain I was that the float trip was my last day on Earth.
We were all pretty tired after that little jaunt, so we went on home, had some dinner and pretty much relaxed for the rest of the evening before hitting the sack.
When I woke up the next morning, I felt hot and feverish as I headed for the bathroom. In addition, my skin felt sore, so I knew I was probably a little sunburned. As I stumbled into the bathroom. I turned on the light, looking in the mirror to shock myself fully awake. What I saw was this monsterous looking red thing staring back at me with swollen eyes, a couple of green slits of color where there should have been irises. And since it was Summer, I was wearing only the skivvies I usually sleep in during hot weather. I'm pretty fair skinned and what I was seeing was the white, and I mean white, outline of a tank top on my chest, continuing all the way down to about five inches above my knees where my cutoffs had stopped, against the backdrop of the reddest skin I have ever seen on a human being. I wasn't sunburned, I was deep fried! That was the day I learned that an overcast sky, on a hot day in the water, does not guarantee protection from the sun.
No wonder I was hot! I touched my skin and was sure I could fry the eggs for breakfast on my upper chest if I could lay down on my back. I turned on the shower to a cool temp, hoping the water would take some of the burning out of my skin but the spray made me cringe in pain. I got out the aloe gel and asked my husband to rub the areas that I couldn't reach. The cooling effect was great for a few short minutes. As the morning wore on, I felt sicker and sicker and the pain was almost unbearable. Not being able to stand it any longer, I asked Archie to take me to the emergency room. I was very weak, feeling like I was going to pass out by the time we got there.
It was agony getting out of my clothes, but the doctor had to see what was going on with me.
He looked at my skin and told me that I had second degree burns and that the faintness was from severe dehydration. He left, bringing back a quart of Pedialyte. He told me it was nasty but that I needed to force myself to drink the whole quart right then. He was right, it was NASTY! I gagged it down and within fifteen minutes I felt a thousand percent better....except my skin. He told me to drink lots of fluids, take some aspirin for the fever and pain in my skin and to keep applying the aloe gel. I went home, got naked, and laid in my bed with nothing to cover me but air (I couldn't stand anything to touch my skin) for several days.
Now I could have born all of this with grace and dignity if it weren't for the fact that our house was on the market for sale. Archie, a realtor, had called the MLS service to tell them not to allow any showings that week. Unfortunately, not everyone got the message. We had floated the river on Saturday. On Tuesday, Archie had taken the kids fishing or something, so that I could have a day of peace and quiet. I was still laying naked and uncovered on my bed, my bedroom door shut. I was apparently dozing when I suddenly opened my eyes and stared into the faces of three strangers, two men and a woman. For what seemed an eternity, we stared at each other, speechless and wide eyed. Finally, I heard some kind of an apology and a "we'll come back another time.", followed by the slamming of the front door.
Was I embarrassed? Certainly! Did I find the incident hysterically funny, followed by a fit of uncontrolled laughter? Of course, I did
I peeled like a moulting snake for the next few weeks but we sold the house the a little over a week after I had my surprise "viewing". Those folks must have been impressed! LOL
Life is good!
Showing posts with label The Great Outdoors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Great Outdoors. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
I Am Terrified of:
Everybody is afraid of something. I am no exception. The three most terrifying to me are water, heights and roller coasters.
Back in the seventies, after moving our family to Boise, we learned of a very popular Summer activity and decided to take our four kids and join many others who floated the Boise River on rafts or in tire tubes.
This was, and probably still is, a big deal. The city even had a little vending area at Barber Park where you could rent tubes for the ride and get some drinks and snacks if you so desired.
The day we had our first adventure on the River was warm, with overcast skies. It seemed perfect to me as I cannot take blistering hot weather. We were dressed in cutoffs and tanks, along with shoes that the water wouldn't hurt. The kids were so excited, they were all water babies at heart. Me? I was apprehensive because of my fear of water but determined to make this a great day for our family. Besides, my husband had promised to stay right by my side to protect me in case of any trouble. I knew he was a great swimmer and not afraid of anything, so I felt pretty safe in spite of myself.
We arrived at the park, rented our tubes, talked to the kids about keeping close together, then ventured to the bank of the river to get into our tubes and start our float trip. While Archie helped the two youngest kids into their tubes, (sitting with your butt in the center, legs and arms hanging over the front and back) Michelle and Darrell went into the river, got themselves situated and somehow paddled with their arms to keep themselves close as they waited for the rest of us. Archie told me what to do and that he would be right behind me with Sandee and Crisitie. So off I went into that cold water, found a spot where my tube would float and carry my weight as I situated myself into it.
Just being in that water made my heart start pounding; terror was raising it's ugly head in me and I was hopeless. As soon as I sat down in that tube, it took on a personality of it's own and soon I had floated what seemed like miles from another human being. What could I do but start screaming my head off. "Archie! I can't control this thing, I'm going to drown! Help me! Oh, my God! Hurry, hurry!" All the kids were in their tubes, looking at me like I was some kind of nut case as their Dad came running through the water toward me. My arms and legs were flailing around as I saw my life pass before my eyes.
Strangers were staring. My kids were laughing at me! How could they do this when their Mother was about to leave this life forever? Just as I was thinking that I would haunt them relentlessly for their untoward behavior, Archie reached my side to rescue me. "Jesus Ca-rist!" he said, (he rarely swore) as he leaned down, taking hold of my tube. It was only then that I noticed he was standing in water that didn't even reach his knees. I grinned at him sheepishly, apologized for my irrational behavior and off we went, him close by my side, floating freely down that river, enjoying the beauty of the land and river, feeling happy for the fun the kids were having and people watching the other adventurers. Even so, I was never so happy as when we reached solid ground again. It was one of those love/hate relationships for me.
The adventure didn't end when we reached solid ground....tomorrow I'll tell you the rest of the story, it gets better, or worse. Depends on your point of view.
Back in the seventies, after moving our family to Boise, we learned of a very popular Summer activity and decided to take our four kids and join many others who floated the Boise River on rafts or in tire tubes.
This was, and probably still is, a big deal. The city even had a little vending area at Barber Park where you could rent tubes for the ride and get some drinks and snacks if you so desired.
The day we had our first adventure on the River was warm, with overcast skies. It seemed perfect to me as I cannot take blistering hot weather. We were dressed in cutoffs and tanks, along with shoes that the water wouldn't hurt. The kids were so excited, they were all water babies at heart. Me? I was apprehensive because of my fear of water but determined to make this a great day for our family. Besides, my husband had promised to stay right by my side to protect me in case of any trouble. I knew he was a great swimmer and not afraid of anything, so I felt pretty safe in spite of myself.
We arrived at the park, rented our tubes, talked to the kids about keeping close together, then ventured to the bank of the river to get into our tubes and start our float trip. While Archie helped the two youngest kids into their tubes, (sitting with your butt in the center, legs and arms hanging over the front and back) Michelle and Darrell went into the river, got themselves situated and somehow paddled with their arms to keep themselves close as they waited for the rest of us. Archie told me what to do and that he would be right behind me with Sandee and Crisitie. So off I went into that cold water, found a spot where my tube would float and carry my weight as I situated myself into it.
Just being in that water made my heart start pounding; terror was raising it's ugly head in me and I was hopeless. As soon as I sat down in that tube, it took on a personality of it's own and soon I had floated what seemed like miles from another human being. What could I do but start screaming my head off. "Archie! I can't control this thing, I'm going to drown! Help me! Oh, my God! Hurry, hurry!" All the kids were in their tubes, looking at me like I was some kind of nut case as their Dad came running through the water toward me. My arms and legs were flailing around as I saw my life pass before my eyes.
Strangers were staring. My kids were laughing at me! How could they do this when their Mother was about to leave this life forever? Just as I was thinking that I would haunt them relentlessly for their untoward behavior, Archie reached my side to rescue me. "Jesus Ca-rist!" he said, (he rarely swore) as he leaned down, taking hold of my tube. It was only then that I noticed he was standing in water that didn't even reach his knees. I grinned at him sheepishly, apologized for my irrational behavior and off we went, him close by my side, floating freely down that river, enjoying the beauty of the land and river, feeling happy for the fun the kids were having and people watching the other adventurers. Even so, I was never so happy as when we reached solid ground again. It was one of those love/hate relationships for me.
The adventure didn't end when we reached solid ground....tomorrow I'll tell you the rest of the story, it gets better, or worse. Depends on your point of view.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
I'm Buried and I Can't Get Out!
I swear that the Earth has tilted and the North Pole is sliding right down onto the Palouse of Washington and Idaho. A couple of days ago, I asked a couple of the guys if they wanted to go out and build an igloo and make snow angels in the snow that was covering the parking lot at work. Well, be damn careful what you ask for!!
This morning, when I took my first look out of my front door window, I discovered the whole damn neighborhood was being cacooned into one big-ass igloo. We are being buried with the most snow I've seen since the Winter of '49, and I ain't kidding. One look and I knew I would never get my car anywhere in this mess. "This is definately chained-up, four-wheel driving only," I thought, as I saw two vehicles stuck in a snowdrift a few yards up the street. "How am I going to get to the store?" I continued thinking, knowing the full responsibility I had for taking care of the business.
I called the store (open 24/7) and talked with my 2nd Assistant Manager, letting him know that he would have to stay (after an over night shift) until I could find a way to get there. Needless to say, he was tired, wanting to go home to his warm bed, so he offered to come to my home and get me to work since his vehicle is all-wheel drive and chained to boot. That was Ok by me.
He arrived about ten minutes later. I went out my front door, which is protected by a small porch, down the steps and into about two feet of snow along my front walk. Turning the corner around the garage, the snow was suddenly almost three feet deep, which was pretty difficult to maneuver through, getting to the street where he was waiting.
The roads are like a solid ice washboard, covered with huge warts! He got me to work but it was a very bumpy ride, which was only the beginning of a very fun day. Thirteen people called before 10:00 am to say they were snowed-in, which left me with a skeleton crew. I wasn't too concerned because not many people were out and about. Then, around 10:30, the University of Idaho closed and I swear, every student in that school came in to buy beer, wine, champagne, mixers, and all the snacks to go with them. They were going to celebrate the first "snow day" the U had experienced in years. Including myself, I had four people to check and lines halfway through the store. Could have used another seven or eight cashiers. The day was full of adventures too numerous to list, all related to the blizzard going on outside.
I managed to get a ride home with one of my employees (another four-wheeler) late in the afternoon. He drove cautiously, but we still managed to do a 360 wheelie on my street, which now has four to five feet burms from the snowplow that went though there sometime today. The snow I had to wade through to get into my house is now about 8-10 inches deeper. The igloo is growing and another storm is on it's way.
The snow was beautiful in December when it first blanketed the ground. Today I would like the North Pole to take it's snow and shove it right up it's ice hole. I want to see the green, green grass of home, damnit.
This morning, when I took my first look out of my front door window, I discovered the whole damn neighborhood was being cacooned into one big-ass igloo. We are being buried with the most snow I've seen since the Winter of '49, and I ain't kidding. One look and I knew I would never get my car anywhere in this mess. "This is definately chained-up, four-wheel driving only," I thought, as I saw two vehicles stuck in a snowdrift a few yards up the street. "How am I going to get to the store?" I continued thinking, knowing the full responsibility I had for taking care of the business.
I called the store (open 24/7) and talked with my 2nd Assistant Manager, letting him know that he would have to stay (after an over night shift) until I could find a way to get there. Needless to say, he was tired, wanting to go home to his warm bed, so he offered to come to my home and get me to work since his vehicle is all-wheel drive and chained to boot. That was Ok by me.
He arrived about ten minutes later. I went out my front door, which is protected by a small porch, down the steps and into about two feet of snow along my front walk. Turning the corner around the garage, the snow was suddenly almost three feet deep, which was pretty difficult to maneuver through, getting to the street where he was waiting.
The roads are like a solid ice washboard, covered with huge warts! He got me to work but it was a very bumpy ride, which was only the beginning of a very fun day. Thirteen people called before 10:00 am to say they were snowed-in, which left me with a skeleton crew. I wasn't too concerned because not many people were out and about. Then, around 10:30, the University of Idaho closed and I swear, every student in that school came in to buy beer, wine, champagne, mixers, and all the snacks to go with them. They were going to celebrate the first "snow day" the U had experienced in years. Including myself, I had four people to check and lines halfway through the store. Could have used another seven or eight cashiers. The day was full of adventures too numerous to list, all related to the blizzard going on outside.
I managed to get a ride home with one of my employees (another four-wheeler) late in the afternoon. He drove cautiously, but we still managed to do a 360 wheelie on my street, which now has four to five feet burms from the snowplow that went though there sometime today. The snow I had to wade through to get into my house is now about 8-10 inches deeper. The igloo is growing and another storm is on it's way.
The snow was beautiful in December when it first blanketed the ground. Today I would like the North Pole to take it's snow and shove it right up it's ice hole. I want to see the green, green grass of home, damnit.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)