While I was recovering from my back injury, I could not drive. Therefore, I got a lot of rides from numerous co-workers and friends (thank you to them), and my car was in the garage idle. My car, a 2002 white RSX named Gohan, was not driven for 5 weeks.
After I was given the ok from my doctor to drive, I decided it was time to revive my car. I got into it, and turned the key. It turned, and nothing happened. I tried again, slamming the clutch as hard as I could into the floor of the car. Nothing. So then I decided that the battery was dead. Apparently it is not a good thing to leave your car idle for 5 weeks. So I decided to call AAA. They said the jumper dude would be there in an hour.
I decided that it would be much easier for the AAA guy to jump my car if it were out of the garage. So I decided to push the car out of the garage just enough to at least get the hood of the car outside. With back brace and all, I put all my weight into the car, and it didn't budge. Hmm...it's not supposed to be like this. I got into the drivers seat, and with the strength of one leg, tried to ease the car out of the garage. Still nothing. Ok, fine. So I decided to get back to the front of the car and give it one more shot. I heaved again, and it moved, about 2 inches. Great. So I gave it one more heave. It moved again 2 inches. I tried getting into the drivers seat and pushing again with my foot. Nope, nothing. So I decided to give it one more heave. It moved!!!
Unfortunately, it moved very quickly. It rolled down the driveway. It was going to roll into the street!!!!!
But no...
My drivers side door got jammed into the space between the garage door and the garage wall. Phew...
I got around to the back side of my car and tried to push it forward back into the garage. With all my crippled strength, I pushed as hard as I could to try to roll the car back into the garage. Nothing. Crap...
So I sat there for the next 30 minutes waiting for the AAA to rescue me from the dead battery and the car wedged into the garage. The AAA guy came, and he pushed my car back into the garage (quite easily, in fact). My the paint on the side of my door was a little scratched, but otherwise, it looked ok for having been jammed between the garage door and the building. He kindly jump started my car, and told me that if I ran it for 20 minutes, it would be fine. So I decided to drive it to work, and thanked the AAA guy. I was back in my car! Woo hoo!!!
Or so I thought...
On my way to work I realized that there was a lot of road noise. I thought a window was open somewhere, but I soon discovered that the garage door had bent the corner of my drivers side door back enough so that it would create drag and let in a lot of road noise. Sigh...
So I took it to the body shop, and they told me that not only was door corner bent back, but the entire door was bent the other way. I couldn't tell the difference, so I told them to just fix the corner. That turned out to be about $50. I got a new battery installed for about $60. All in all, my back injury and my stupidity cost me $110. So the lesson learned is don't break your back, and don't try to push your car out of the garage with a broken back =)
26 December, 2006
24 December, 2006
Friendship: The greatest gift of all!
During Thanksgiving weekend, 2006, 25 November 2006, I went out to lunch with my friends John, Alice, Steve, and Cecilia. I showed off my awesome back brace, and told them the story of my surgery and such. They then presented me with a present that 30 of my friends put together for me. It was a check from the Amy G fund.
http://www.johnchou.com/amyg/
I had no idea that this was going on behind my back (haha, pun!), but it was happening. It was all my friend's Conor's idea, and he and John were able to spread the word. And within a few weeks, my fund was huge! When I was presented the check, I was speechless. I actually thought that they were going to give me a palm, because the last time my friends got a gift for me, it was a palm, and since my palm had recently broke, I thought that it was a palm. But I was not exactly disappointed. I was blown away. First, I didn't realize that I even had 30 friends. =) Second, I couldn't imagine anyone putting together something like this, and doing something like this for me. I never ever expect anything in return for my friendship, and knowing that so many people cared about me was amazing. I couldn't believe it. I still can't believe it. I feel very loved, and very grateful. I am grateful everyday that I can walk and that I am recovering smoothly from my surgery. I feel grateful that I have so many people looking out for me. It's amazing!!
The money has helped me pay for my medical expenses, which were quite amazing. I am worth a lot right now according to the insurance company. =) It also went towards buying a smartphone, which is kind of like a Palm =) So yeah, it is amazing. I still can't thank my friends enough for their generosity.
So one of things that I decided to do was to visit each and every one of my friends, especially the 30 friends that contributed to the fund, as much as I can this year. The plan is to travel to as many destinations as possible, and to spend some quality time with all my friends. The plan is to write about each of those places, and the experience that I am able to have with my friends. So this blog will actually be updated more than once a year =).
Once again, to everyone who contributed to the Amy G fund, and to all my friends out there rooting for me, thanks so much for everything. I love you very much, and I will see you very very soon!
With Love,
Amy =)
http://www.johnchou.com/amyg/
I had no idea that this was going on behind my back (haha, pun!), but it was happening. It was all my friend's Conor's idea, and he and John were able to spread the word. And within a few weeks, my fund was huge! When I was presented the check, I was speechless. I actually thought that they were going to give me a palm, because the last time my friends got a gift for me, it was a palm, and since my palm had recently broke, I thought that it was a palm. But I was not exactly disappointed. I was blown away. First, I didn't realize that I even had 30 friends. =) Second, I couldn't imagine anyone putting together something like this, and doing something like this for me. I never ever expect anything in return for my friendship, and knowing that so many people cared about me was amazing. I couldn't believe it. I still can't believe it. I feel very loved, and very grateful. I am grateful everyday that I can walk and that I am recovering smoothly from my surgery. I feel grateful that I have so many people looking out for me. It's amazing!!
The money has helped me pay for my medical expenses, which were quite amazing. I am worth a lot right now according to the insurance company. =) It also went towards buying a smartphone, which is kind of like a Palm =) So yeah, it is amazing. I still can't thank my friends enough for their generosity.
So one of things that I decided to do was to visit each and every one of my friends, especially the 30 friends that contributed to the fund, as much as I can this year. The plan is to travel to as many destinations as possible, and to spend some quality time with all my friends. The plan is to write about each of those places, and the experience that I am able to have with my friends. So this blog will actually be updated more than once a year =).
Once again, to everyone who contributed to the Amy G fund, and to all my friends out there rooting for me, thanks so much for everything. I love you very much, and I will see you very very soon!
With Love,
Amy =)
Doctors orders as of 29 November 2006
For the next 2 or 3 weeks, I will get to wean myself off the brace. I need to gradually gain strength back in my back. So when I'm indoors, I'll probably go without my backbrace. When I'm out and about, I'll probably put it on. As it gets stronger, I will be able to go for longer periods without it. Six weeks from now I will be re-evaluated, and hopefully I will get to start physical therapy then.
Until I get some strength and a little bit of mobility back in my back, I won't be able to do much physical therapy. I will still make a full recovery in 3 to 6 months. =) So in the next few weeks, I will be able to drive for
myself again, lift some things (not too heavy, only with thd start
walking without the brace.
**It's been 3 weeks, and it's good to get some mobility back. I can do most things now except the lifting of heavy objects. I can't run or snowboard or jog or throw overhead passes in basketball, but I can do most things. Next doctor's appointment is 10 January 2007. Hopefully everything will look good, and I can start physical therapy then. I'll also be starting some pilates in order to get some core strength so that I don't have to rely on my back so much.
Here are the xrays of my back:
This is the back side of me. Two rods on either side of the vertabrae with screws in it to keep it in place.
This is the side view of me. The bone that doesn't have any screws in it is the one I broke.
Until I get some strength and a little bit of mobility back in my back, I won't be able to do much physical therapy. I will still make a full recovery in 3 to 6 months. =) So in the next few weeks, I will be able to drive for
myself again, lift some things (not too heavy, only with thd start
walking without the brace.
**It's been 3 weeks, and it's good to get some mobility back. I can do most things now except the lifting of heavy objects. I can't run or snowboard or jog or throw overhead passes in basketball, but I can do most things. Next doctor's appointment is 10 January 2007. Hopefully everything will look good, and I can start physical therapy then. I'll also be starting some pilates in order to get some core strength so that I don't have to rely on my back so much.
Here are the xrays of my back:
This is the back side of me. Two rods on either side of the vertabrae with screws in it to keep it in place.
This is the side view of me. The bone that doesn't have any screws in it is the one I broke.
The trials and tribulations of having a back brace
These are some of the things I've discovered in my experience of having a back brace:
1. I look like Robocop. Or someone with a bullet proof vest. I get looks like "why are you wearing a bullet proof vest?" "what bomb do you know about, that I don't..."
2. I sit with terrific posture. having a back brace that prevents you from slouching is probably the best thing that you could do for your posture. (Having titanium rods in the middle of back probably helps too)
3. It's a great way to discourage clothes shopping. Can't take it off, can't bend over. So can't try on shoes, shirts, or pants.
4. Metal detectors at the airport can't detect titanium rods embedded in me. At least not the ones in the domestic terminals. I have yet to go through an international terminal with it.
5. Sitting is difficult. It was hard to sit for any length of time with the back brace.
6. Bending at the knees is crucial. I think I did about a million squats while I was with the back brace. I think I still do, just because I'm so used to it.
7. The Beaverton Pharmacy is the coolest store ever. They have every medical supply that one could possibly need. From walkers to ankle braces, they have it. They even had my handy dandy sock putter onner. If you don't know what I'm talking about, I will show you sometime. =)
8. Sitting in a car is difficult, depending on the car. Trucks are ok. VW bugs are ok. Integras are ok. Mazda 6's are ok. Acura TL's are ok. Camry's are not. Elantra's are not. Civics are not. RSX's are ok, as long as you're in the drivers seat =).
9. Getting a taller desk was cool because then I could stand or sit while working at my computer. I am also taller than my coworkers at that point too =)
10. Basketball is doable, sometimes. Chest pass, Ok. Bouce pass, Ok. Overhead passes, not ok. I didn't know that utilized the back so much, but it does. Shooting is ok.
11. Your body is the only one you've got, so take care of it!!!
12. Putting on the back brace is difficult when you are laying down and someone has to do it for you. When you are sitting up, it is fine.
13. If you can't bend over for whatever reason, get a reachy grabby thing. They may look corny on the infomercials, but they really do work!
14. The doctor didn't give me a handicap sticker thing to use on the car because he said that walking would be the best way to recover. I understand he was looking out for my health, but sometimes, in the middle of xmas shopping, you wish you can just pull into the first open spot you see, and not have to pay the meter...
15. I am not sure if the weird looks I got from people were because I was wearing a back brace and carrying around a cane...or because I was just me. =)
16. The back brace is hot. For the first few nights, I slept with it on, only later discovering that I didn't have to sleep with it. But during those nights, I sweat up a storm. It was a good thing I got injured in the fall because if it had been in the summer, I would have had major rashes and been incredibly uncomfortable.
17. After having it on for 6 straight weeks, it didn't feel that constricting. It felt like a security blanket.
I am sure there are more trials and tribulations...but those are the ones that come to mind right now =)
1. I look like Robocop. Or someone with a bullet proof vest. I get looks like "why are you wearing a bullet proof vest?" "what bomb do you know about, that I don't..."
2. I sit with terrific posture. having a back brace that prevents you from slouching is probably the best thing that you could do for your posture. (Having titanium rods in the middle of back probably helps too)
3. It's a great way to discourage clothes shopping. Can't take it off, can't bend over. So can't try on shoes, shirts, or pants.
4. Metal detectors at the airport can't detect titanium rods embedded in me. At least not the ones in the domestic terminals. I have yet to go through an international terminal with it.
5. Sitting is difficult. It was hard to sit for any length of time with the back brace.
6. Bending at the knees is crucial. I think I did about a million squats while I was with the back brace. I think I still do, just because I'm so used to it.
7. The Beaverton Pharmacy is the coolest store ever. They have every medical supply that one could possibly need. From walkers to ankle braces, they have it. They even had my handy dandy sock putter onner. If you don't know what I'm talking about, I will show you sometime. =)
8. Sitting in a car is difficult, depending on the car. Trucks are ok. VW bugs are ok. Integras are ok. Mazda 6's are ok. Acura TL's are ok. Camry's are not. Elantra's are not. Civics are not. RSX's are ok, as long as you're in the drivers seat =).
9. Getting a taller desk was cool because then I could stand or sit while working at my computer. I am also taller than my coworkers at that point too =)
10. Basketball is doable, sometimes. Chest pass, Ok. Bouce pass, Ok. Overhead passes, not ok. I didn't know that utilized the back so much, but it does. Shooting is ok.
11. Your body is the only one you've got, so take care of it!!!
12. Putting on the back brace is difficult when you are laying down and someone has to do it for you. When you are sitting up, it is fine.
13. If you can't bend over for whatever reason, get a reachy grabby thing. They may look corny on the infomercials, but they really do work!
14. The doctor didn't give me a handicap sticker thing to use on the car because he said that walking would be the best way to recover. I understand he was looking out for my health, but sometimes, in the middle of xmas shopping, you wish you can just pull into the first open spot you see, and not have to pay the meter...
15. I am not sure if the weird looks I got from people were because I was wearing a back brace and carrying around a cane...or because I was just me. =)
16. The back brace is hot. For the first few nights, I slept with it on, only later discovering that I didn't have to sleep with it. But during those nights, I sweat up a storm. It was a good thing I got injured in the fall because if it had been in the summer, I would have had major rashes and been incredibly uncomfortable.
17. After having it on for 6 straight weeks, it didn't feel that constricting. It felt like a security blanket.
I am sure there are more trials and tribulations...but those are the ones that come to mind right now =)
Day 7 and counting...
Warning: This is a very personal and quite disgusting post, so you can skip it if you don't want to or don't know me that well period. But...it is quite entertaining...
So possibly the most uncomfortable aspect about recovering from surgery, was the fact that I was constipated. By the time I had gotten home, I had not gone no. 2 in 4 days. I thought this was not good, and did my best to go. I sat on the toilet for several minutes, but everytime I engaged certain muscles, my back would hurt like no other. Great. Just great. I have a broken back AND I'm going to die from constipation or infection of the intestines or something.
So my mother bought prunes. And metamucil. And I took laxatives. Nothing worked. Day 7, still no sign of No. 2. So my mom went to Uwajimaya (local asian grocery store) and bought the Chinese diet tea that makes you go the restroom all the time. I drank one bag. Nothing. I drank another bag. Nothing. This was not good. This was definitely not normal. I didn't feel good. I felt like I could explode. Trips to the bathroom were disappointing and uncomfortable. I could have had backissues of SI and ESPN the magazine in there, and nothing would have happened. I thought..Shit!...not literally...but Shit!
Day 8...So Tuesday night I asked my roommate Kelsey to call her mother, who was a nurse health practitioner, asking her if there was any way I could release the bloated feeling that I was having. She gave us two recommendations: Ducolax, up the butt style, and Fleet, an enema. Mom went to Walgreens and returned with the two packages. The Fleet system looked complicated and very invasive. The Ducolax was slightly disturbing as well, but less invasive. My mom had the unfortunate duty of sticking the Ducolax in me. Great. I was supposed to keep it in as long as possible. At this point I was praying that it would work and that I wouldn't have to go to the Fleet system.
Within 30 minutes, I was on the toilet, relieving the pressure from my body. It was PURE BLISSS!!!!
From then on, I vowed never EVER EVER EVER to become constipated again. I haven't been since. I never will be. Take your metamucil folks! Eat your fiber! Go regularly folks! Your bowel is counting on you!!!!
So possibly the most uncomfortable aspect about recovering from surgery, was the fact that I was constipated. By the time I had gotten home, I had not gone no. 2 in 4 days. I thought this was not good, and did my best to go. I sat on the toilet for several minutes, but everytime I engaged certain muscles, my back would hurt like no other. Great. Just great. I have a broken back AND I'm going to die from constipation or infection of the intestines or something.
So my mother bought prunes. And metamucil. And I took laxatives. Nothing worked. Day 7, still no sign of No. 2. So my mom went to Uwajimaya (local asian grocery store) and bought the Chinese diet tea that makes you go the restroom all the time. I drank one bag. Nothing. I drank another bag. Nothing. This was not good. This was definitely not normal. I didn't feel good. I felt like I could explode. Trips to the bathroom were disappointing and uncomfortable. I could have had backissues of SI and ESPN the magazine in there, and nothing would have happened. I thought..Shit!...not literally...but Shit!
Day 8...So Tuesday night I asked my roommate Kelsey to call her mother, who was a nurse health practitioner, asking her if there was any way I could release the bloated feeling that I was having. She gave us two recommendations: Ducolax, up the butt style, and Fleet, an enema. Mom went to Walgreens and returned with the two packages. The Fleet system looked complicated and very invasive. The Ducolax was slightly disturbing as well, but less invasive. My mom had the unfortunate duty of sticking the Ducolax in me. Great. I was supposed to keep it in as long as possible. At this point I was praying that it would work and that I wouldn't have to go to the Fleet system.
Within 30 minutes, I was on the toilet, relieving the pressure from my body. It was PURE BLISSS!!!!
From then on, I vowed never EVER EVER EVER to become constipated again. I haven't been since. I never will be. Take your metamucil folks! Eat your fiber! Go regularly folks! Your bowel is counting on you!!!!
I love my mom, dad, and sister!
So I was at home for the next two weeks after the accident. I had been in the hospital for 3.5 days. The afternoon I arrived home, my mother and her friend Heakyu ran around town getting various items for me. My prescription pain medication, oxycotane, and prescription laxative (I hadn't gone since Monday). They went to walgreens to get me a cane, a toilet seat raiser, and a thing that could reach 3 feet so that I didn't have to bent down to get anything.
My sister, Marie, came up from Corvallis to see how I was doing. I am pretty sure I looked pathetic. I called my dad and told him that everything was ok, and that mom was helping me out. I tried to describe what had happened, and I wasn't sure what to tell him. I was supposed to get my dressing changed at some point. I had to take a sponge bath in bed. But I was not capable of doing all this. So my mother took care of me. She bathed me like a small child. She even got a waterless hair washing cap thing that was a showercap that had some chemicals in it that would wet my hair and clean it. (The things they have no days.) My mom took pictures of my scar without the dressing. My mom helped me use the toilet for the first few days. My mom got food for me. My mom cooked for me. My mom cleaned for me. My mom cleaned me.
I am incredibly thankful for my mother. She was there for me for two weeks doing whatever it is I needed to do. She drove me to work so that I could say hello to my coworkers and reassure them that I was ok. She did everything for me, and I am forever grateful for it. I love and appreciate my mother very much, and I am so lucky to have a mother like her.
Marie taught me which bone I actually broke, since I had no real concept of what broke. She told me it was the vertebrae under my last floating rib cage, and it made all the difference in the world. It was RAINBOOOOWWWWWWWSSSSSS! all over again =) I love my sister!
Dad was always calling to make sure I was ok. He made sure that my mom had a rental car for her every day throughout her stay. I love my dad!
My sister, Marie, came up from Corvallis to see how I was doing. I am pretty sure I looked pathetic. I called my dad and told him that everything was ok, and that mom was helping me out. I tried to describe what had happened, and I wasn't sure what to tell him. I was supposed to get my dressing changed at some point. I had to take a sponge bath in bed. But I was not capable of doing all this. So my mother took care of me. She bathed me like a small child. She even got a waterless hair washing cap thing that was a showercap that had some chemicals in it that would wet my hair and clean it. (The things they have no days.) My mom took pictures of my scar without the dressing. My mom helped me use the toilet for the first few days. My mom got food for me. My mom cooked for me. My mom cleaned for me. My mom cleaned me.
I am incredibly thankful for my mother. She was there for me for two weeks doing whatever it is I needed to do. She drove me to work so that I could say hello to my coworkers and reassure them that I was ok. She did everything for me, and I am forever grateful for it. I love and appreciate my mother very much, and I am so lucky to have a mother like her.
Marie taught me which bone I actually broke, since I had no real concept of what broke. She told me it was the vertebrae under my last floating rib cage, and it made all the difference in the world. It was RAINBOOOOWWWWWWWSSSSSS! all over again =) I love my sister!
Dad was always calling to make sure I was ok. He made sure that my mom had a rental car for her every day throughout her stay. I love my dad!
Getting kicked out of the hospital
Thursday night I was informed that if in the morning, the doctors gave me the ok, I could go home Friday afternoon...2:00pm. Otherwise I would get charged another night, and the insurance would not cover it. Is this a hotel or something? Home? Already? Am I not cripple? I can't even go to the bathroom by myself...
So Thursday night was experimentation night. I used the bathroom by myself, but just barely. The first time I used the nurse call button but no one came. I thought I would have to stay there all night, but I rang the bell again, and someone came. I wonder if they would have noticed if I hadn't rung the bell again...
Friday, the doctor came, and told me that everything looked good. I had my back brace, and all I needed was for the physical therapists to come. The physical therapists came eventually..Around 10, and I would be discharged at 2pm. Great. So the first therapist came, and asked me to walk. So I took the bedside walker, and showed him how much I could walk. He said great, and promptly threw the walker aside and made me walk by myself. (At this point I was thinking...you want me to walk under my own power. haha!!!! funny...)
He decided that I was capable of walking, so he made me sit in the wheelchair, and carted me to the emergency stair case and dumped me at the foot of the staircase. He said, use the handrail and go up, and make sure to plant your whole foot on the stair. Fine. So I did that, and amazingly, there was no pain or anything. Cool... And coming down didn't seem to be a problem either. Awesome. I went back to the wheelchair, and I was carted back to my room.
That was my physical therapy session.
The occupational therapist was there asking me if I needed assistance doing anything. Embarrassingly, I admitted that I couldn't use the bathroom by myself, so she handed me some tongs. "This will help you reach..." Great. Thanks. She also suggested that I get a long shoe horn and such, and I thought, that's ok, I'll wear my flipflops. (Little did I remember that I lived in Portland, and the life of flip flops is short lived)
That was my occupational therapy session.
So that was it. Physical and occupational therapy was over. The nurse taking care of my section of the ward then gave me my prescriptions, and then asked me if I knew how to put on my brace. I said no. So she showed me, and told me that I should not be upright without it. Great.
She was about to walk away when I realized that I didn't really have any other instructions as to what I could or could not do. So I stopped her and asked if I could drive. Umm....probably not. Ok, I figured that much. Can I go to work. Um...no, probably not. Ok, yeah, duh... That was it. No explanation. I was supposed to meet my mom by the pick up area. Should I undress my gown? Oh, right. Yes, that would be great so that I don't have to expose my back side to the world. So my sweats went on, and I was on my way home. 2:00...on the dot.
So Thursday night was experimentation night. I used the bathroom by myself, but just barely. The first time I used the nurse call button but no one came. I thought I would have to stay there all night, but I rang the bell again, and someone came. I wonder if they would have noticed if I hadn't rung the bell again...
Friday, the doctor came, and told me that everything looked good. I had my back brace, and all I needed was for the physical therapists to come. The physical therapists came eventually..Around 10, and I would be discharged at 2pm. Great. So the first therapist came, and asked me to walk. So I took the bedside walker, and showed him how much I could walk. He said great, and promptly threw the walker aside and made me walk by myself. (At this point I was thinking...you want me to walk under my own power. haha!!!! funny...)
He decided that I was capable of walking, so he made me sit in the wheelchair, and carted me to the emergency stair case and dumped me at the foot of the staircase. He said, use the handrail and go up, and make sure to plant your whole foot on the stair. Fine. So I did that, and amazingly, there was no pain or anything. Cool... And coming down didn't seem to be a problem either. Awesome. I went back to the wheelchair, and I was carted back to my room.
That was my physical therapy session.
The occupational therapist was there asking me if I needed assistance doing anything. Embarrassingly, I admitted that I couldn't use the bathroom by myself, so she handed me some tongs. "This will help you reach..." Great. Thanks. She also suggested that I get a long shoe horn and such, and I thought, that's ok, I'll wear my flipflops. (Little did I remember that I lived in Portland, and the life of flip flops is short lived)
That was my occupational therapy session.
So that was it. Physical and occupational therapy was over. The nurse taking care of my section of the ward then gave me my prescriptions, and then asked me if I knew how to put on my brace. I said no. So she showed me, and told me that I should not be upright without it. Great.
She was about to walk away when I realized that I didn't really have any other instructions as to what I could or could not do. So I stopped her and asked if I could drive. Umm....probably not. Ok, I figured that much. Can I go to work. Um...no, probably not. Ok, yeah, duh... That was it. No explanation. I was supposed to meet my mom by the pick up area. Should I undress my gown? Oh, right. Yes, that would be great so that I don't have to expose my back side to the world. So my sweats went on, and I was on my way home. 2:00...on the dot.
23 December, 2006
Are you talking to me????
The routine in the ICU for me was to flip me over every hour or so to change my dressings, and to prevent one side of my body from flattening out too much (at least that's what it felt like). I felt a little week, and I still couldn't lift anything from the neck down, so I was still eating while laying down. I had things on my calves that inflated and deflated so that it would pump blood to and from my legs. I had a catheter in me to get rid of bodily fluids. I only had one IV in me. I had my jeopardy style pain clicker. I wasn't on oxygen, so that was good. I was always hot, and I'm sure I smelled lovely at this point. I am sure I was not in the best condition to do anything. So it came as a surprise to me when the night nurse said, "Ok, Amy, let's go for a walk."
Whuh...me??? Now????
He let the guardrails down from the side of the bed, and called another nurse saying that I was going for a walk.
Whuh...now???...I have a blood bag...I have a pee bag...how is this supposed to work?...I have a broken back...uh...I'm on morphine...
Ok, Amy, let's go.
So they lifted me out of bed, and with a nurse standing on either side of me, one holding my pee bag and the other holding my blood bag, they supported me while I shuffled around the ICU. I could barely put one foot in front of the other. I felt very unstable, but it was kind of nice to be able to put some weight on my legs. It also felt nice knowing that I could walk, and that I wasn't paralized after all.
Walking...wow...what a conconcept.
After one lap around the ICU, I was spent. I was eased back into bed, and fell asleep for the rest of the night.
I was able to go for walks like this anytime I wanted to after this experience. So early Thursday mornings, and the rest of the day on Thursday, I walked around the ICU with assistance from the nurses. And then I found a walker. So started using a walker. I felt like an old lady, but it was nice to be able to get out of bed. YAYAY!!!
Whuh...me??? Now????
He let the guardrails down from the side of the bed, and called another nurse saying that I was going for a walk.
Whuh...now???...I have a blood bag...I have a pee bag...how is this supposed to work?...I have a broken back...uh...I'm on morphine...
Ok, Amy, let's go.
So they lifted me out of bed, and with a nurse standing on either side of me, one holding my pee bag and the other holding my blood bag, they supported me while I shuffled around the ICU. I could barely put one foot in front of the other. I felt very unstable, but it was kind of nice to be able to put some weight on my legs. It also felt nice knowing that I could walk, and that I wasn't paralized after all.
Walking...wow...what a conconcept.
After one lap around the ICU, I was spent. I was eased back into bed, and fell asleep for the rest of the night.
I was able to go for walks like this anytime I wanted to after this experience. So early Thursday mornings, and the rest of the day on Thursday, I walked around the ICU with assistance from the nurses. And then I found a walker. So started using a walker. I felt like an old lady, but it was nice to be able to get out of bed. YAYAY!!!
Visitors galore!
I woke up Wednesday morning with a new nurse taking care of me. She told me I could eat. I realized that I hadn't eaten since Monday night. So I got to eat hospital style blueberry pancakes. I couldn't sit up from my bed, so I had to eat while lying down. Wasn't the best eating experience ever. It was a little hard to push everything into my mouth.
My back still hurt, and my eye was a little sore. I was wearing my glasses now, so I could watch TV, and actually see what was happening around me.
Elizabeth brought me my backpack from work, which had been in my car. My car was still at work. I think I had given the keys to Kristina, and she was able to get my laptop out of there. I don't remember the conversation very well. I think she said something about others coming to visit me.
Later, Eric, Joel, and Bob visited. My mom arrived in the afternoon. I tried to reassure her that everything would be fine. Kristina visited that night. I don't remember much about that either. Kelsey also visited at some point in the day. She just let herself in since she actually worked in the ICU. How convenient =).
Anna, Sheryll, and Jennifer visited on Thursday. Anna came with magazines and a crossword puzzle book. Sheryll and Jennifer came with games and a stuffed animal =) Peter also came later on Thursday with a book in hand.
Friday afternoon, prior to getting discharged, I had a visit from Fred, Eric, Elizabeth, and John. My mom's friend Heakyu also came to help out my mother. It was nice to have visitors. Always is =)
My back still hurt, and my eye was a little sore. I was wearing my glasses now, so I could watch TV, and actually see what was happening around me.
Elizabeth brought me my backpack from work, which had been in my car. My car was still at work. I think I had given the keys to Kristina, and she was able to get my laptop out of there. I don't remember the conversation very well. I think she said something about others coming to visit me.
Later, Eric, Joel, and Bob visited. My mom arrived in the afternoon. I tried to reassure her that everything would be fine. Kristina visited that night. I don't remember much about that either. Kelsey also visited at some point in the day. She just let herself in since she actually worked in the ICU. How convenient =).
Anna, Sheryll, and Jennifer visited on Thursday. Anna came with magazines and a crossword puzzle book. Sheryll and Jennifer came with games and a stuffed animal =) Peter also came later on Thursday with a book in hand.
Friday afternoon, prior to getting discharged, I had a visit from Fred, Eric, Elizabeth, and John. My mom's friend Heakyu also came to help out my mother. It was nice to have visitors. Always is =)
Waking up
1, 2, and 3...
Ouch....I thought surgery was supposed to make this hurt less..
I felt a cold hard surface on my back. My back still hurts...they took the xrays..at least I think they did.
Ok, no more cold hard surface...but now my left eye hurts like no other!!!
Owwwwwwwww....my eye hurts...how can it hurt when I don't have my contacts in? Maybe if I cry it will get whatever's in there out of there.
How are you, hun? Why are you crying?
My eye hurts (whhaaaaaa)!
Ok hun, we'll get a doctor to look at you.
Ok (sniffle)
what seemed like 30 minutes later...
where is the doctor?!?!?! (WHHHAAAAA!!!)
He's coming dear.
what seemed like hours later, the doctor came, squirted some magic solution in my eye, and it was all better. Ahhh....that is sooo much better...Apparently I had a scratch on my cornea, and I would have to have the nurse put some ointment in my eye 3 times a day. Great. I have a broken back AND a bum eye...
I looked at the clock. It was 11pm. Wow, that was a long surgery. The guy was standing over me.
Amy, do you want to brush your teeth.
Yes, sure.
Ok, here's the special brush
Ok.
Amy, open your eyes...
Ok
I grabbed the brush
I jab my mouth, and then remember that I have to open my mouth. I poke something in and out of my mouth and aim for my teeth. I hand it back to the nurse.
Ok, Amy, now push this button and it will squirt water...
Ok
Amy, open your eyes...
Ok.
I grabbed the contraption, and I brush my teeth, foam and all, without spitting out or swallowing toothpaste. I thought it was awesome. And really weird.
My roommate. She's going to be worried. She works here.
Do you know where she works.
She works somewhere at OHSU. Her name is Kelsey. Can you look her up.
I can try.
I don't remember her email. Can you email her?
I can try.
Her name is Kelsey. Kelsey Oveson. O-V-E-S-O-N.
Ok, I will try.
Ok, she might be worried.
(I am pretty sure my nurse thought I was totally crazy)
It was time for me to get my dressing changed. Did you click your pain button Amy?
I felt my pain clicker with my right hand next to me on the bed. *CLICK*...yup, clicked. He heaved me over, and tah dah, all done. This would be what I would do for the next 24 hours on the hour. Oh joy...
Ouch....I thought surgery was supposed to make this hurt less..
I felt a cold hard surface on my back. My back still hurts...they took the xrays..at least I think they did.
Ok, no more cold hard surface...but now my left eye hurts like no other!!!
Owwwwwwwww....my eye hurts...how can it hurt when I don't have my contacts in? Maybe if I cry it will get whatever's in there out of there.
How are you, hun? Why are you crying?
My eye hurts (whhaaaaaa)!
Ok hun, we'll get a doctor to look at you.
Ok (sniffle)
what seemed like 30 minutes later...
where is the doctor?!?!?! (WHHHAAAAA!!!)
He's coming dear.
what seemed like hours later, the doctor came, squirted some magic solution in my eye, and it was all better. Ahhh....that is sooo much better...Apparently I had a scratch on my cornea, and I would have to have the nurse put some ointment in my eye 3 times a day. Great. I have a broken back AND a bum eye...
I looked at the clock. It was 11pm. Wow, that was a long surgery. The guy was standing over me.
Amy, do you want to brush your teeth.
Yes, sure.
Ok, here's the special brush
Ok.
Amy, open your eyes...
Ok
I grabbed the brush
I jab my mouth, and then remember that I have to open my mouth. I poke something in and out of my mouth and aim for my teeth. I hand it back to the nurse.
Ok, Amy, now push this button and it will squirt water...
Ok
Amy, open your eyes...
Ok.
I grabbed the contraption, and I brush my teeth, foam and all, without spitting out or swallowing toothpaste. I thought it was awesome. And really weird.
My roommate. She's going to be worried. She works here.
Do you know where she works.
She works somewhere at OHSU. Her name is Kelsey. Can you look her up.
I can try.
I don't remember her email. Can you email her?
I can try.
Her name is Kelsey. Kelsey Oveson. O-V-E-S-O-N.
Ok, I will try.
Ok, she might be worried.
(I am pretty sure my nurse thought I was totally crazy)
It was time for me to get my dressing changed. Did you click your pain button Amy?
I felt my pain clicker with my right hand next to me on the bed. *CLICK*...yup, clicked. He heaved me over, and tah dah, all done. This would be what I would do for the next 24 hours on the hour. Oh joy...
Sooooooo many questions
I am sure all the questions were asked in order to keep coherent and conscious. But really, I think it was excessive.
What is your name?
How do you spell that?
How old are you?
When is your birthday?
Where do you work?
Do you work at Nike? YES!!!!!
What is your insurance?
Should we call your parents?
What is your parents number?
On and on and on...
And then the next person would ask me the EXACT SAME QUESTIONS!!!! I just wanted to say, "look, ask the person who asked me the first time...I'm sure they could help you out as much as I could...I am in a lot of pain, and I don't really feel like being asked these annoying questions time and time again..." But I refrained from saying that, and I answered the questions one after another.
What is your name?
How do you spell that?
How old are you?
When is your birthday?
Where do you work?
Do you work at Nike? YES!!!!!
What is your insurance?
Should we call your parents?
What is your parents number?
On and on and on...
And then the next person would ask me the EXACT SAME QUESTIONS!!!! I just wanted to say, "look, ask the person who asked me the first time...I'm sure they could help you out as much as I could...I am in a lot of pain, and I don't really feel like being asked these annoying questions time and time again..." But I refrained from saying that, and I answered the questions one after another.
Going under
16:00
24 October 2006
It's time to go into surgery!
I don't really remember much about this. Other than the anesthesiologist saying that she knew what she was doing, and that I would be totally asleep during teh whole process, and taht she was going to tape my eyes shut. Great. Last thing I remember was waiting for my OR (operating room) to open up. I remember the bright lights of the operating room, and that was about it.
Apparently I was on my stomach during the whole process. They fused the two vertebrae on top of the L1 (T11 and T12) to the two vertabrae on the bottom of L1 (L2 and L3). They fused it with two rods on either side of my spine, with screws going through my vertabrae. They are supposed to be made out of titanium. They are also supposed to be in me forever. The L1 is untouched.
24 October 2006
It's time to go into surgery!
I don't really remember much about this. Other than the anesthesiologist saying that she knew what she was doing, and that I would be totally asleep during teh whole process, and taht she was going to tape my eyes shut. Great. Last thing I remember was waiting for my OR (operating room) to open up. I remember the bright lights of the operating room, and that was about it.
Apparently I was on my stomach during the whole process. They fused the two vertebrae on top of the L1 (T11 and T12) to the two vertabrae on the bottom of L1 (L2 and L3). They fused it with two rods on either side of my spine, with screws going through my vertabrae. They are supposed to be made out of titanium. They are also supposed to be in me forever. The L1 is untouched.
The Diagnosis
I was wheeled into the ER at OHSU. I believe I was lifted off of the stretcher, after they unstrapped me, and heaved onto the ER bed. What is your name...Amy Gishifu. How old are you...25. Where does it hurt...in my back and my hips. How did this happen...I fell while rock climbing. Are you in pain...yes! Let's get something for that...yes!
They decided to take xrays and a CT Scan. In order to do that, they had to take off my tshirt and my pants.
Sorry, Amy, we're going to have to cut your tshirt to get your robe on you.
(What tshirt am I wearing...2003 La Jolla Half Marathon...that's ok)...Ok, you can.
Sorry, Amy, you're sports bra too
(What sports bra...old cotton...not dri-fit...)...Ok, that's fine.
They got the hospital gown on me and heaved me once again onto a stretcher and took me to another room. I saw the ceiling of different hallways, and apparently arrived in the CT scanning room. The lady asked me to put down my legs because I wouldn't be able to fit through the tunnel. I painfully lowered my knees and lay my legs flat against the bed. It hurt a lot. The CT scan was much less claustrophobic than the MRI machine that I went into about 10 years ago when I had to get my knee scanned to see if there was any muscle damage. (Wow, that was 10 years ago?!? turned out it was only a sprained knee). Then it was off to the xrays. They heaved me over onto my side, and xrays were taken. I was taken back to the ER, and hoisted back onto the bed.
Kristina was there. I was still blind from not having my glasses with me.
Is there anyone you want to call?
My manager...503-532-4233.
What about your parents?
NO!!!! Don't call them!!!!
I talked to John, and I think he knew what happened because I think all he said was that I had to go all the way. I told him I didn't know how long it would be, but that I was ok.
The pain was still there. Kristina was at my bedside now. They asked if the painkillers were working, and I said not really. It still hurt. So then they decided to give me morphine...that totally worked. I didn't understand why they didn't give me that to begin with. =)
That's when I met Dr. Yoo. He is the spine specialist at OHSU. He proceeded to tell me about his credentials and what his background was. He told me in his doctorly voice: Hi Amy, I took a look at the images, and there's some good news and bad news. The good news is that nothing hit your spinal cord, and that is fully in tact. The bad news is that you have an L1 burst. (Holy shit!) You have a couple of options. You can let it heal on it's own, but there is a possibility that some of the vertebrae can hit the spinal cord. The other option is to have a surgery and get the fragments out and fuse the bones together. He proceeded to tell me the success rate he's had with this surgery, and I heard a lot of 99%'s and less than 1%'s, so I figured I was in good hands.
I will do the surgery. (Oh, my gosh...surgery...)
Ok, then the other thing is that we can go into your hip and scrape bone off from there, or we can use this protein in order to fuse everything together.
Give me the protein (I don't want another incision)
Ok, that's good. But the drawback to using the protein is that you can't get pregnant in the next 12 months.
Oh, don't worry about that! (haha...like THAT's going to happen in the near future....I wanted to burst out laughing if I wasn't in so much pain.)
Ok, well then, we'll try and get you scheduled for surgery.
Holy moly...surgery...
The nurse came up to me, and she said, you should really call your parents. If I were your mother, I would want to know that you're going through surgery.
Ok
I called my dad
Hi Dad.
Hi Amy. How are you? Are you sore?
(Sore? How did he know I was sore?)
Aren't you sore from running this weekend?
(Oh, yeah, I ran). No, I'm fine. But I fell. I fell while I was rock climbing, and now I need surgery.
Oh. Ok. Well, I won't call your mom because she's at work. I'll tell her when she gets off of work.
Ok, here's the number to the hospital.
And so I gave my dad the phone number to hospital. And then I was told that I would have to wait til Thursday for the surgery. Crap.
When was the last time you ate?
Err...Monday night at 7:30pm.
Oh, maybe you can go through surgery today.
By now they had hooked up a jeopardy style clicker thing to the IV thing so that I could inject myself with morphine anytime I needed it. I clicked it now. I was still in pain, and I didn't want to think about how long it would be before I would be out of pain.
I was then carted away to ICU (intensive care unit) 7A. (They were kind enough to take my glasses with me, which they labeled with my name, so when I wore them I looked like a complete idiot) They then told me the good news, that I would be able to get in surgery this afternoon! Yes!!!!!!!
Kristina was with me the whole time, and managed to ask the doctor if I could make a full recovery, and the answer was yes. So the good news was also the fact that I could go back to doing my thing soon enough. Nice!
At some point during this diagnosis, I was told to roll on my side, and the doctors started applying pressure down the length of my spine, starting at my neck. Does this hurt? no. How about this? nope. They went down my neck and my back, and around my mid back I howled in pain. Does this hurt? YEEEEEESSSSSSS!!!!! They went down a little further, and the pain was there, but not as bad. They hit my tail bone, and it was slightly sore. And then, I don't think I imagined this, but I think someone poked me in the butt with a needle! Ouch! yes, that hurts!! Ok, well, at least you can feel that.
Great..I am laying on my side, my backside exposed to anyone in the ER, and I get poked in the butt with a needle. Great...
They decided to take xrays and a CT Scan. In order to do that, they had to take off my tshirt and my pants.
Sorry, Amy, we're going to have to cut your tshirt to get your robe on you.
(What tshirt am I wearing...2003 La Jolla Half Marathon...that's ok)...Ok, you can.
Sorry, Amy, you're sports bra too
(What sports bra...old cotton...not dri-fit...)...Ok, that's fine.
They got the hospital gown on me and heaved me once again onto a stretcher and took me to another room. I saw the ceiling of different hallways, and apparently arrived in the CT scanning room. The lady asked me to put down my legs because I wouldn't be able to fit through the tunnel. I painfully lowered my knees and lay my legs flat against the bed. It hurt a lot. The CT scan was much less claustrophobic than the MRI machine that I went into about 10 years ago when I had to get my knee scanned to see if there was any muscle damage. (Wow, that was 10 years ago?!? turned out it was only a sprained knee). Then it was off to the xrays. They heaved me over onto my side, and xrays were taken. I was taken back to the ER, and hoisted back onto the bed.
Kristina was there. I was still blind from not having my glasses with me.
Is there anyone you want to call?
My manager...503-532-4233.
What about your parents?
NO!!!! Don't call them!!!!
I talked to John, and I think he knew what happened because I think all he said was that I had to go all the way. I told him I didn't know how long it would be, but that I was ok.
The pain was still there. Kristina was at my bedside now. They asked if the painkillers were working, and I said not really. It still hurt. So then they decided to give me morphine...that totally worked. I didn't understand why they didn't give me that to begin with. =)
That's when I met Dr. Yoo. He is the spine specialist at OHSU. He proceeded to tell me about his credentials and what his background was. He told me in his doctorly voice: Hi Amy, I took a look at the images, and there's some good news and bad news. The good news is that nothing hit your spinal cord, and that is fully in tact. The bad news is that you have an L1 burst. (Holy shit!) You have a couple of options. You can let it heal on it's own, but there is a possibility that some of the vertebrae can hit the spinal cord. The other option is to have a surgery and get the fragments out and fuse the bones together. He proceeded to tell me the success rate he's had with this surgery, and I heard a lot of 99%'s and less than 1%'s, so I figured I was in good hands.
I will do the surgery. (Oh, my gosh...surgery...)
Ok, then the other thing is that we can go into your hip and scrape bone off from there, or we can use this protein in order to fuse everything together.
Give me the protein (I don't want another incision)
Ok, that's good. But the drawback to using the protein is that you can't get pregnant in the next 12 months.
Oh, don't worry about that! (haha...like THAT's going to happen in the near future....I wanted to burst out laughing if I wasn't in so much pain.)
Ok, well then, we'll try and get you scheduled for surgery.
Holy moly...surgery...
The nurse came up to me, and she said, you should really call your parents. If I were your mother, I would want to know that you're going through surgery.
Ok
I called my dad
Hi Dad.
Hi Amy. How are you? Are you sore?
(Sore? How did he know I was sore?)
Aren't you sore from running this weekend?
(Oh, yeah, I ran). No, I'm fine. But I fell. I fell while I was rock climbing, and now I need surgery.
Oh. Ok. Well, I won't call your mom because she's at work. I'll tell her when she gets off of work.
Ok, here's the number to the hospital.
And so I gave my dad the phone number to hospital. And then I was told that I would have to wait til Thursday for the surgery. Crap.
When was the last time you ate?
Err...Monday night at 7:30pm.
Oh, maybe you can go through surgery today.
By now they had hooked up a jeopardy style clicker thing to the IV thing so that I could inject myself with morphine anytime I needed it. I clicked it now. I was still in pain, and I didn't want to think about how long it would be before I would be out of pain.
I was then carted away to ICU (intensive care unit) 7A. (They were kind enough to take my glasses with me, which they labeled with my name, so when I wore them I looked like a complete idiot) They then told me the good news, that I would be able to get in surgery this afternoon! Yes!!!!!!!
Kristina was with me the whole time, and managed to ask the doctor if I could make a full recovery, and the answer was yes. So the good news was also the fact that I could go back to doing my thing soon enough. Nice!
At some point during this diagnosis, I was told to roll on my side, and the doctors started applying pressure down the length of my spine, starting at my neck. Does this hurt? no. How about this? nope. They went down my neck and my back, and around my mid back I howled in pain. Does this hurt? YEEEEEESSSSSSS!!!!! They went down a little further, and the pain was there, but not as bad. They hit my tail bone, and it was slightly sore. And then, I don't think I imagined this, but I think someone poked me in the butt with a needle! Ouch! yes, that hurts!! Ok, well, at least you can feel that.
Great..I am laying on my side, my backside exposed to anyone in the ER, and I get poked in the butt with a needle. Great...
The ride over...
I was on a stretcher. My back hurt. There was one paramedic riding with me. He asked me what my name was...Amy Gishifu...G..I ...S..H..I...F...U. How old was I...25. Where does it hurt...my back and my hips. What happened...I fell. Can you feel your legs...yes. Can you wiggle your toes...yes (they are cold by the way... because I don't have any shoes or socks on...) Good girl! Ok, we're going to get you some help soon.
Where are we going?
To the hospital.
Which one?
OHSU (Oregon Health and Science University)
Why not St. Vincents? (the one in Beaverton on th 26/217 interchange)
Because OHSU has a better trauma center, and we don't know how badly you are hurt.
(Trauma?!?!?) But there's going to be traffic!!!!!
It's ok, Amy, we're going to get there.
(but there's traffic....)
What are you doing?
We're going to stick an IV in you.
Why?
Because we dont' know how life threatening your injuries may be to you.
(Argh...why????!?!?!?!? My veins are so hard to get a hold of...he's never going to get it in me...we're in a moving vehicle...he's crazy)
Hmm....your veins don't seem to want to open up.
Yeah, I know (yes, they are evasive...especially in a moving vehicle....)
Hmm...that didn't work either...let's try the other arm. Sorry, Amy, you're going to be ok.
Ok (oh geez...he's never going to give up)
Excuse me for leaning over you...
(Yes, thank you for putting your body into mine when my back is hurting..)
Ok, it's in.
(Great, after poking my arms to death)...are we there yet?
We're almost there. Don't worry Amy.
I could hear the sirens of the ambulance. They aren't so loud from inside the ambulance. I feel myself going up a driveway. I guess we're there now.
Where are we going?
To the hospital.
Which one?
OHSU (Oregon Health and Science University)
Why not St. Vincents? (the one in Beaverton on th 26/217 interchange)
Because OHSU has a better trauma center, and we don't know how badly you are hurt.
(Trauma?!?!?) But there's going to be traffic!!!!!
It's ok, Amy, we're going to get there.
(but there's traffic....)
What are you doing?
We're going to stick an IV in you.
Why?
Because we dont' know how life threatening your injuries may be to you.
(Argh...why????!?!?!?!? My veins are so hard to get a hold of...he's never going to get it in me...we're in a moving vehicle...he's crazy)
Hmm....your veins don't seem to want to open up.
Yeah, I know (yes, they are evasive...especially in a moving vehicle....)
Hmm...that didn't work either...let's try the other arm. Sorry, Amy, you're going to be ok.
Ok (oh geez...he's never going to give up)
Excuse me for leaning over you...
(Yes, thank you for putting your body into mine when my back is hurting..)
Ok, it's in.
(Great, after poking my arms to death)...are we there yet?
We're almost there. Don't worry Amy.
I could hear the sirens of the ambulance. They aren't so loud from inside the ambulance. I feel myself going up a driveway. I guess we're there now.
Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!! Really!!!
It was Tuesday, 24 October 2006. I looked at the clock. 6:20. Crap! I was going to be late! Every tuesday for the past 4 months I had met my climbing partner, Crystal, climbing at the Nike rock gym on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 6:30 am. Why at 6:30am, you ask? Because we are nuts. But Crystal moved back to the Univ of Cincinatti to finish her studies, and I had recruited her friend Kristina to be my climbing partner at that hour in the mornings. Dammit! I'm late! No contacts today. No breakfast. No lunch making. Grab workout clothes for after work, grab work clothes (jeans and a tshirt), grab my climbing bag. Out the door! (Forget about the fact that 2 days ago I was up at this hour in the middle of Union square in San Francisco waiting to start my half marathon. Forget about the fact that my thighs were still slightly sore from having run 13.1 miles...)
I announce my arrival at my gym at 6:45. Juan, the rock gym supervisor was there, and Kristina was already there. I apologize for my lateness, and I start putting on my harness. Kristina climbs first. No problem. I was up next. I decide to start out this morning with the easy red route. Juan and I were talking about how I was 25, going on 26 in a month. As I climbed, we talked about how in May, this route had been hard, but now it was easy. Done. Ok, let me down!
I started coming down fairly fast in my opinion. I slowed a little, and then the holds whizzed past me, and just as I caught my breath to think "oh shit", WHAM!!!!! My feet touched the floor a little, my body followed, my glasses flew off, and everything hurt. I heard Juan and Kristina say "oh my gosh". And everything hurt. My back. My hips. It all hurt. There was a sharp pain in all of my back, and my hips were super sore. I thought to myself, oh shit..my back..I wonder if I can still move. I felt myself lift my legs, which felt like lead pipes. Then I heard a "DON"T MOVEEEEEEEE!!!!!" So I didn't. I lay on my side. Juan asked me if I was ok, and I said "it hurts". I couldn't see because my glasses were somewhere not near me.
I heard commotion, and I think it was a Nike security guard that arrived first. They asked everyone there what my name was. I moaned "Amy Gishifu". He asked me how old I was...25. He asked me where I was...At the Nike rock gym in the Lance Armstrong building on the nike campus. He asked me what hurt, and I said my back and my hips. He kept saying that someone would be there soon, and I just complained by saying "it hurt". I overheard Juan say "she fell from about 20 to 25 ft. up." I thought...holy shit...this is not good....
The parametics arrived next I think. Maybe 2 minutes had gone by. Some guys came in and asked me what my name was "Amy Gishifu". How old are you...25. What hurts...my back and my hip. They tried to move my legs....OOOOWWWWWWW!! Ok, maybe not. They told me they were going to put me on the hard plastic rack thing, and then transfer me to the stretcher. I said fine. They asked me if I could feel my legs, and I said yes. Juan took off my rock climbing shoes for me. They strapped the hard plastic stretcher on me, and my whole body hurt. My back especially. I refused to put my legs flat on the stretcher. I insisted on putting my feet on the stretcher so that my spine could rest on the surface of the stretcher. I told them I had a hard time breathing. My lungs felt like they were being squeezed by my rib cage. An oxygen mask went onto my face, I was lifted into the stretcher, onto the cobblestone round in the back of the Lance. It was cold. It was still dark. I couldn't see people's faces because I didn't have my glasses. I think I told them to bring my glasses with me in the ambulance. They kept reassuring me that everything was going to be ok. I think I just kept thinking ...ouwww.....it hurts.....
**What happened? I fell 25 ft. onto the slightly padded rock gym floor at the Lance's rock gym. How? I think my belayer, Kristina, tried to let me down, didn't realize how quickly the rope went through the gri gri, tried to correct for it, got rope burn, didn't let go of the break, and by the time she couuld do anything else, I was on the floor.
I announce my arrival at my gym at 6:45. Juan, the rock gym supervisor was there, and Kristina was already there. I apologize for my lateness, and I start putting on my harness. Kristina climbs first. No problem. I was up next. I decide to start out this morning with the easy red route. Juan and I were talking about how I was 25, going on 26 in a month. As I climbed, we talked about how in May, this route had been hard, but now it was easy. Done. Ok, let me down!
I started coming down fairly fast in my opinion. I slowed a little, and then the holds whizzed past me, and just as I caught my breath to think "oh shit", WHAM!!!!! My feet touched the floor a little, my body followed, my glasses flew off, and everything hurt. I heard Juan and Kristina say "oh my gosh". And everything hurt. My back. My hips. It all hurt. There was a sharp pain in all of my back, and my hips were super sore. I thought to myself, oh shit..my back..I wonder if I can still move. I felt myself lift my legs, which felt like lead pipes. Then I heard a "DON"T MOVEEEEEEEE!!!!!" So I didn't. I lay on my side. Juan asked me if I was ok, and I said "it hurts". I couldn't see because my glasses were somewhere not near me.
I heard commotion, and I think it was a Nike security guard that arrived first. They asked everyone there what my name was. I moaned "Amy Gishifu". He asked me how old I was...25. He asked me where I was...At the Nike rock gym in the Lance Armstrong building on the nike campus. He asked me what hurt, and I said my back and my hips. He kept saying that someone would be there soon, and I just complained by saying "it hurt". I overheard Juan say "she fell from about 20 to 25 ft. up." I thought...holy shit...this is not good....
The parametics arrived next I think. Maybe 2 minutes had gone by. Some guys came in and asked me what my name was "Amy Gishifu". How old are you...25. What hurts...my back and my hip. They tried to move my legs....OOOOWWWWWWW!! Ok, maybe not. They told me they were going to put me on the hard plastic rack thing, and then transfer me to the stretcher. I said fine. They asked me if I could feel my legs, and I said yes. Juan took off my rock climbing shoes for me. They strapped the hard plastic stretcher on me, and my whole body hurt. My back especially. I refused to put my legs flat on the stretcher. I insisted on putting my feet on the stretcher so that my spine could rest on the surface of the stretcher. I told them I had a hard time breathing. My lungs felt like they were being squeezed by my rib cage. An oxygen mask went onto my face, I was lifted into the stretcher, onto the cobblestone round in the back of the Lance. It was cold. It was still dark. I couldn't see people's faces because I didn't have my glasses. I think I told them to bring my glasses with me in the ambulance. They kept reassuring me that everything was going to be ok. I think I just kept thinking ...ouwww.....it hurts.....
**What happened? I fell 25 ft. onto the slightly padded rock gym floor at the Lance's rock gym. How? I think my belayer, Kristina, tried to let me down, didn't realize how quickly the rope went through the gri gri, tried to correct for it, got rope burn, didn't let go of the break, and by the time she couuld do anything else, I was on the floor.
San Francisco Women's Half Marathon 2006
So a few things have happened since hood to coast back in August 2006. I took a one month break from running, and then started to train for the Nike San Francisco Women's Marathon. My friends Shelley and Christina were running the half marathon with me. It was a good time, and we all survived, and we were all very glad that it was over.
But now I will go into more details about what happened two days after the half marathon in San Francisco. I know a lot of people have heard me tell this story a million times, but I figure this was a way to capture it electronically on some server somewhere.
But now I will go into more details about what happened two days after the half marathon in San Francisco. I know a lot of people have heard me tell this story a million times, but I figure this was a way to capture it electronically on some server somewhere.
27 August, 2006
Traveling by Foot
I ran Hood to Coast again this weekend. Last year I ran it because when I was asked by my coworker Elizabeth to run it, I hadn't started working at Nike yet, and I thought it would be a good way to see Oregon and to get to know my coworkers. It was indeed a good chance to do both, but I didn't know that I'd be doing it while runninng on 45 minutes of sleep in the middle of the night and through the middle of nowhere.
So this year, I somehow decided to do it again, and signed up to be the 11th runner, driving along in van 2. My legs were 4.1, 4.1, and 7.4 miles long.
I started my day, Friday, 25 August 2006 at work. I did the usual work things, then met my team in the Mia Hamm parking lot next to our white rented Dodge Grand Caravan. We piled in our stuff, and got ready to drive out to Sandy, Oregon, where we would meet the first van of runners. Packing for this adventure consisted for me of: 1 pair of running shoes, 3 sets of running clothes, 2 PBJ sandwiches, fruit, 2 20oz bottles of diet coke, some vitamin water, water, peanut M&M's, and granola bars. That all got in the van, along everyone else's stuff, and we were off.
We pulled up into the Fred Meyer (local grocery store, also sponsor of the race) in Sandy, found a parking spot, and waited. Elizabeth was runner 7, then Mike, then Shelley, then Christina, then me, then Peter. We were waiting for Rochelle, the 6th runner in the first van to come along. I ate my usual lunch of a sandwich, fruit, and diet coke, as we waited. At around 12:45, Elizabeth started running, and we piled into the van to meet her at the next exchange.
My first run was at 5pm, in 85 degree heat, along a boring trail, and in no shade. I thought about going fast, but soon realized that I would probably die from melting in the hot sun. So I ran my leg in a reasonable 9:45 minute mile pace, and was grateful that our van had air conditioning. We ended out running undernath the Hawthorne bridge around 6:20pm on Friday. We said hello to Van 1 again, and then drove to Elizabeth's house in Beaverton.
It was nice to take a shower after the run, and to eat a hot meal of delicious tortallina soup. I sat around for about an hour, when we realized that it was 10pm and we had to ddrive out to St. Helens, which is about 1 hour away. The first van was already on their 5th runner. Great. So, we hurriedly packed our things into the white van, and drove out to St. Helens. We met the first van in the parking lot of the Columbia County fairgrounds, and Elizabeth was off and running again.
Between Mike, Shelley, Christina, and Peter, we ran trhough gravel roads, hills, trails, and two lane highways through the middle of western Oregon. Mike had to breathe the dust awakened by the vans that drove along him on the gravel road up a hill...ew..... By the time I ran it was 3am, and I ended up running with the nice headlamp and reflective vest. I passed a few runners, but wanted to be close to some just because I was afraid of being eaten my a mountain lion or being tackled by a snake rustling alongside the road. I would look up on occasion to a sky full of stars. It was really nice to just look up and see the stars at 4am without any man-made light, save my headlamp. We finally handed off to the 1st van at 5:30am, and then carefully drove the course to the next place where we would have to start running. We got there around 6:00, busted out blankets and sleep bags (I forgot to mention that among the things I had packed), and fell asleep.
2 hours later, we were awake, preparing to meet the next van. In this remote part of oregon, there was very little cell phone coverage, so there was no real way to communicate with them. We figured they would be rolling in about 10am. By now the exchange point was bustling with vans and we walked over to a house that had become a makeshift roadside cafe, serving up french toast and coffee, among other breakfast items. Our van was now a weird grayish, brownish color. It was completely coated with the gravel scum and road dust from 2 hours earlier. Gross... Eventually, we saw Rochelle come running her bright pink skirt with a sign saying "how many more miles til the beer?" Then Elizabeth was off and running. We said good bye to the first van, saying "see you at the coast."
I ran my 7.4 miles on the Lewis and Clark Trail, and then along side major powerlines on a gravel road. Once again, in the middle of the day underneath the blazing sun. I now have a bright red nose because the sunscreen managed to drip off there first. And I plodded along at a 10:15 mile pace, and thought it could be worse...but at least there was a cool ocean like breeze coming through...although from looking around, it didn't seem as though there could be an ocean 5 miles away.
But after my run, I discovered that there was, and we met up with the other van at the beach, and ran in as a team together. So basically, it took a team of 12 people 30 hours and 26 minutes (I know this since I was one of several time keepers) to travel 197 miles, from Mt. Hood to Seaside Oregon. To get from Seaside back home to Beaverton, it took us 1 hour and 15 minutes. Running is the most inefficient way to travel that distance in my opinion. So, I will say this now, but I don't think I will do this inefficient crazy travel adventure again....but then, one knows what will happen next year...
So this year, I somehow decided to do it again, and signed up to be the 11th runner, driving along in van 2. My legs were 4.1, 4.1, and 7.4 miles long.
I started my day, Friday, 25 August 2006 at work. I did the usual work things, then met my team in the Mia Hamm parking lot next to our white rented Dodge Grand Caravan. We piled in our stuff, and got ready to drive out to Sandy, Oregon, where we would meet the first van of runners. Packing for this adventure consisted for me of: 1 pair of running shoes, 3 sets of running clothes, 2 PBJ sandwiches, fruit, 2 20oz bottles of diet coke, some vitamin water, water, peanut M&M's, and granola bars. That all got in the van, along everyone else's stuff, and we were off.
We pulled up into the Fred Meyer (local grocery store, also sponsor of the race) in Sandy, found a parking spot, and waited. Elizabeth was runner 7, then Mike, then Shelley, then Christina, then me, then Peter. We were waiting for Rochelle, the 6th runner in the first van to come along. I ate my usual lunch of a sandwich, fruit, and diet coke, as we waited. At around 12:45, Elizabeth started running, and we piled into the van to meet her at the next exchange.
My first run was at 5pm, in 85 degree heat, along a boring trail, and in no shade. I thought about going fast, but soon realized that I would probably die from melting in the hot sun. So I ran my leg in a reasonable 9:45 minute mile pace, and was grateful that our van had air conditioning. We ended out running undernath the Hawthorne bridge around 6:20pm on Friday. We said hello to Van 1 again, and then drove to Elizabeth's house in Beaverton.
It was nice to take a shower after the run, and to eat a hot meal of delicious tortallina soup. I sat around for about an hour, when we realized that it was 10pm and we had to ddrive out to St. Helens, which is about 1 hour away. The first van was already on their 5th runner. Great. So, we hurriedly packed our things into the white van, and drove out to St. Helens. We met the first van in the parking lot of the Columbia County fairgrounds, and Elizabeth was off and running again.
Between Mike, Shelley, Christina, and Peter, we ran trhough gravel roads, hills, trails, and two lane highways through the middle of western Oregon. Mike had to breathe the dust awakened by the vans that drove along him on the gravel road up a hill...ew..... By the time I ran it was 3am, and I ended up running with the nice headlamp and reflective vest. I passed a few runners, but wanted to be close to some just because I was afraid of being eaten my a mountain lion or being tackled by a snake rustling alongside the road. I would look up on occasion to a sky full of stars. It was really nice to just look up and see the stars at 4am without any man-made light, save my headlamp. We finally handed off to the 1st van at 5:30am, and then carefully drove the course to the next place where we would have to start running. We got there around 6:00, busted out blankets and sleep bags (I forgot to mention that among the things I had packed), and fell asleep.
2 hours later, we were awake, preparing to meet the next van. In this remote part of oregon, there was very little cell phone coverage, so there was no real way to communicate with them. We figured they would be rolling in about 10am. By now the exchange point was bustling with vans and we walked over to a house that had become a makeshift roadside cafe, serving up french toast and coffee, among other breakfast items. Our van was now a weird grayish, brownish color. It was completely coated with the gravel scum and road dust from 2 hours earlier. Gross... Eventually, we saw Rochelle come running her bright pink skirt with a sign saying "how many more miles til the beer?" Then Elizabeth was off and running. We said good bye to the first van, saying "see you at the coast."
I ran my 7.4 miles on the Lewis and Clark Trail, and then along side major powerlines on a gravel road. Once again, in the middle of the day underneath the blazing sun. I now have a bright red nose because the sunscreen managed to drip off there first. And I plodded along at a 10:15 mile pace, and thought it could be worse...but at least there was a cool ocean like breeze coming through...although from looking around, it didn't seem as though there could be an ocean 5 miles away.
But after my run, I discovered that there was, and we met up with the other van at the beach, and ran in as a team together. So basically, it took a team of 12 people 30 hours and 26 minutes (I know this since I was one of several time keepers) to travel 197 miles, from Mt. Hood to Seaside Oregon. To get from Seaside back home to Beaverton, it took us 1 hour and 15 minutes. Running is the most inefficient way to travel that distance in my opinion. So, I will say this now, but I don't think I will do this inefficient crazy travel adventure again....but then, one knows what will happen next year...
25 July, 2006
Hot and Sticky and Pictures
The one drawback about being in Munich in the summer is that it is hot and sticky. There were many days where it was 30C, and 70% humidity. And unlike most of the US, there is not much air conditioning in Europe. In a way that is good because of environmental reasons, but it also makes for a very sweaty day. Our conference was at the Olympic hall, and unfortunately, there was very little air circulations. For us Americans who weren't used to non-AC buildings, it was extremely uncomfortable. While talking to someone, I could feel myself get hotter, and the sweat soaking through my clothes. After the first day of the conference, I decided to go casual and just wore tshirts instead of a nice shirt. I don't think I was made for warm weather, because I was uncomfortable, tired, sticky, stinky, and hot the entire time. Just sitting in the chairs listening to people present their research made me sweat. I don't think I was the only one who was hot during the conference, but maybe next time, we can hold the conference in the spring or fall =)
The venue for the sports engineering conference was the site of the 1972 summer Olympics. The presentations were held in the central hall...no ac, but interesting nonetheless
The main tourist attraction in central Munich is Marianplatz
A memorial to those athletes who died during the games in Munich
We ate dinner one night at a restaurant famous for their pork knuckle. German food is ok, but meat and potatoes get a little boring after a while.
This is the main trains station. It was tempting to just hop on a train to Paris or Berlin...but maybe next time =)
Elizabeth and I waiting to check in
Like the train station, the airport in Munich listed all the departure flights. It seemed like we could really go anywhere.
John, Peter, and Eric waiting to check in
Ahhhh...business class. You can recline these seats until you're laying down completely flat. It was kind of weird laying down sleeping next to someone on an airplane, so I just kept my seat in a recliner mode. No wonder I slept for more than half the flight both on the way there and coming back. =) So much legroom!
The venue for the sports engineering conference was the site of the 1972 summer Olympics. The presentations were held in the central hall...no ac, but interesting nonethelessThe main tourist attraction in central Munich is MarianplatzA memorial to those athletes who died during the games in Munich We ate dinner one night at a restaurant famous for their pork knuckle. German food is ok, but meat and potatoes get a little boring after a while. This is the main trains station. It was tempting to just hop on a train to Paris or Berlin...but maybe next time =)Elizabeth and I waiting to check inLike the train station, the airport in Munich listed all the departure flights. It seemed like we could really go anywhere.John, Peter, and Eric waiting to check inAhhhh...business class. You can recline these seats until you're laying down completely flat. It was kind of weird laying down sleeping next to someone on an airplane, so I just kept my seat in a recliner mode. No wonder I slept for more than half the flight both on the way there and coming back. =) So much legroom!
16 July, 2006
What I did in Munich
Here are a couple of things that me and my coworkers did while we were in Munich besides attending the sports engineering conference.
We took the subway a lot. I love public transportation in big cities. And for the most part, I feel a little bit safer using public transportation in Europe as opposed to America. The subways here are waaaaaaaaaayyyyyy underground, as the picture of the escalator shows.
We went to the famous Hofbrauhaus to watch the runner up match between Germany and Portgual. The Germans won, and were very happy about their World cup performance.
We went to the Deutches Museum, which documents every technology that humans have discovered, from paper to pharmaceuticals. Here, I am standing in front of an airplane engine on display.
We also did some work. Here, we are talking about work stuff during halftime at the Hofbrauhaus.
We went to the Augstiner Keller beer garden to watch the world cup finals match between France and Italy.
We also took a tour of the major highlights of Munich. There is a statue of the Greek god Nike in town. How appropriate =)
This is Marienplatz, the city center of Munich.
Our conference was located at Olympic Park, where the 1972 Summer Olympics were held. It was a beautiful place, although it didn't have any air conditioning =(
Bee
r is good here =)
We took the subway a lot. I love public transportation in big cities. And for the most part, I feel a little bit safer using public transportation in Europe as opposed to America. The subways here are waaaaaaaaaayyyyyy underground, as the picture of the escalator shows.
We went to the famous Hofbrauhaus to watch the runner up match between Germany and Portgual. The Germans won, and were very happy about their World cup performance.
We went to the Deutches Museum, which documents every technology that humans have discovered, from paper to pharmaceuticals. Here, I am standing in front of an airplane engine on display.
We also did some work. Here, we are talking about work stuff during halftime at the Hofbrauhaus.
We went to the Augstiner Keller beer garden to watch the world cup finals match between France and Italy.
We also took a tour of the major highlights of Munich. There is a statue of the Greek god Nike in town. How appropriate =)
This is Marienplatz, the city center of Munich.
Our conference was located at Olympic Park, where the 1972 Summer Olympics were held. It was a beautiful place, although it didn't have any air conditioning =(
Bee
r is good here =)
ZOOM ZOOM
While living in Germany a few years ago, I never got a chance to drive on the famed Autobahn. This time, I got my chance. My colleagues and I rented a BMW 3 series automatic diesel station wagon to go from Munich to a town just outside of Coburg, about 2.5 hours North of Munich. We were there to visit a vendor. There are speed limits on most of the autobahn. Usually the fastest marked speed limit is 120 km/hr. And people obey them all the time. However, when the sign says that the speed limit no longer applies, it means that you can go at any speed that you seem fit.
We drove the four lane A9. The far right lane was for the slow people. Slow is relative here. Slow was those going less than 140 km/hr (70 mph). The 2nd to the left lane was known as the "fast" lane. Fast here is going more than (200 km/hr). I drove back from the vendor to Munich. I think I averaged about 180 km/hr. Anytime you want to pass someone, you have to pass on the left. That is what the far left lane is reserved for. And you're not allowed to underpass, which is passing on the right. So I spent most of the time in the 2 left lanes. The surprising thing was that despite going "fast" there were still people flying past me. I knew I was going fast, but I think the locals like to drive faster.
I liked driving on the Autobahn. When I got home though, I realized that my little RSX speedometer "only" goes up to 220 km/hr. It made me realize that the only time I'd ever be able to drive that fast again would be on the autobahn. Sigh... =)
p.s. I drove an automatic in Germany, which is virtually unheard of. Where was this automatic when I had to drive from Herzo to Sheinfeld while I was working with adidas???? Oh well, that is a whole other story for another blog.
I also got to drive by Erlangen, my old town of residence. Didn't get to stop by my old apartment though. That's ok, I wouldn't have known how to get to it anyway from the freeway since I never drove =)
We drove the four lane A9. The far right lane was for the slow people. Slow is relative here. Slow was those going less than 140 km/hr (70 mph). The 2nd to the left lane was known as the "fast" lane. Fast here is going more than (200 km/hr). I drove back from the vendor to Munich. I think I averaged about 180 km/hr. Anytime you want to pass someone, you have to pass on the left. That is what the far left lane is reserved for. And you're not allowed to underpass, which is passing on the right. So I spent most of the time in the 2 left lanes. The surprising thing was that despite going "fast" there were still people flying past me. I knew I was going fast, but I think the locals like to drive faster.
I liked driving on the Autobahn. When I got home though, I realized that my little RSX speedometer "only" goes up to 220 km/hr. It made me realize that the only time I'd ever be able to drive that fast again would be on the autobahn. Sigh... =)
p.s. I drove an automatic in Germany, which is virtually unheard of. Where was this automatic when I had to drive from Herzo to Sheinfeld while I was working with adidas???? Oh well, that is a whole other story for another blog.
I also got to drive by Erlangen, my old town of residence. Didn't get to stop by my old apartment though. That's ok, I wouldn't have known how to get to it anyway from the freeway since I never drove =)
15 July, 2006
Back in Germany
From 07 - 15 July 2006, I was in Munich, Germany, for a sports engineering conference with 5 of my fellow co-workers. It was a great chance for us to learn about the sports engineering research, and to know that we were doing the right things at work.
However, this blog is not about work. It's about Germany and the adventures that I had this time around. So here goes...
We flew out of Portland to Frankfurt in Business Class on Lufthansa. The seats were the best part of the entire flight. First of all there were only 2 seats where there would normally be 3 or 4 economy class seats. And they were totally adjustable. It was set up so it was possible to be lying completely flat. In a way, I felt as though I was in one of those adjustable beds that you see in hospitals and infomercials. It made sleeping in the airplane a lot easier. In fact, of the 10 or 11 hours we were in the sky, I believe I was asleep for about 7 of them. It also helped that I had only gotten about 3 hours of sleep the night before. I was actually able to sleep very soundly with the chair in the reclined positiion. I didn't feel like laying all the way down because it felt weird to be asleep on my side while someone was sitting right next to me.
Anyway, if you ever get a chance to fly business class on an international flight, do it. You'll spend the first 30 minutes playing with all the nifty features, and the rest of the flight wondering how you'll ever fly in a normal seat again =)
Toasted Almond Ice Cream
I went home to San Francisco from 1-4 July 2006. It was nice to come home and see lots of family and friends. I ate a lot. Saturday I had brunch with Kaylin, lunch with Stacy, and dinner with Conor, John, and Alice. The following day, I was with my family, and Mom cooked a nice homemade dinner. Monday was brunch with Lisa, and dinner with Carman and Conor.
Carman and Conor and I went to Fentons in Piedmont, near Oakland. Fentons is a familiy owned ice creamery, and it is known for their homemade ice cream and their HUGE sundaes. Their sundaes are about $10, but it is well worth it. My favorite ice cream flavor of all time is toasted almond". I haven't been able to find a similar flavor anywhere outside of fentons. It isn't too nutty, so I don't have to crunch my way through my ice cream. I love that stuff =)
Carman and Conor and I went to Fentons in Piedmont, near Oakland. Fentons is a familiy owned ice creamery, and it is known for their homemade ice cream and their HUGE sundaes. Their sundaes are about $10, but it is well worth it. My favorite ice cream flavor of all time is toasted almond". I haven't been able to find a similar flavor anywhere outside of fentons. It isn't too nutty, so I don't have to crunch my way through my ice cream. I love that stuff =)
25 June, 2006
Fun in Chicago
I was in Chicago from 18-23 June, 2006 for NPE, the largest exhibition of plastics related stuff. We stayed at the Intercontinental Hotel on Michigan Ave, and made our way each morning to McCormick place where the convention took up four halls. The convention showcased everything from the raw materials to heavy duty machineary that could make anything from garbage bags to injection molded ping pong paddles. It was quite amazing to see all these businesses and companies catering solely to the plastics community. It was also very eye opening for me to see the new technologies within the plastics industry.
But during my 6 day stay in Chicago, I got to do some pretty fun stuff. Mikey lives in Chicago now, so I got to see him. And Amy B was in Chicago for a conference Monday and Tuesday, so I got to see her as well. And I got to see Lili and her family while I was in town as well. It was a mini Mudder reunion.
What did I do during this trip to Chicago? Hmm....let me see.
- I got to see Indiana from Navy Pier
- I went to Millenium Park, a newer addition to the Grant Park area in downtown Chicago
Me at the Millenium Park Grand Theater and Big Reflecting Jelly Bean where you can see the Chicago skyline- One of our vendors, Huntsman, gave us tickets to a box suite, so I took Lili to see Jim Thome hit a solo home run at Komisky Field where the Sox won 1-0 against the Cardinals. WHoo hoo!
- I got Frango chocolates from Marshall Field's
- I saw the NBA finals at ESPNZone.
- Mikey and I went to Bijou's Cafe for a late night dinner after the Sox game. He also showed me his sweet apartment and his future awesome condo
- Mikey, Amy, Lili, and I went to eat some yummy deep dish at Giordano's. Then headed up to the John Hancock Tower's Signature Room where we had some dessert and got a terrific view of Chicago. The best view was in the ladies' room =)
- Lili and I went to the Field Museum of Natural History, which had a King Tut exhibit but was sold out for the day, but we got to see some other very cool stuff.
Me in front of the Field Museum
Me in front of Sue, the Trex
- Then we went to the Art Institute where I got too see some of my favorite Impressionist painters and some other cool art that I can't really name, but thought it was cool.
Me in front of the Art Institute
- Lili and I also passed by the spot where we would watch the Fourth of July fireworks from near Buckingham fountain during the Taste of Chicago. I spent my 2000 and 2001 Fourth of July's there =)
Lili in front of Buckingham Fountain
And I did a lot of walking. Between the convention and site seeing Chicago, my feet were tired, and I was zonked at the end of the night. But Chicago was a lot of fun and I miss it already =)
24 June, 2006
"Pre Classic" rainy Oregon day
Sunday was the "Pre Classic", one of the premiere professional track meets in the country. I had an extra ticket, so I invited Drew to watch the meet on the University of Oregon campus, about 6 blocks from his Dad's house. We were on our way out, and it looked as though it was going to rain. Luckily, there was an umbrella or two in the house, so we took those and walked over to the campus.
It was pouring the whole way. We eventually got to the will call booth, and I reached into my purse for my wallet. Unfortunately, it was not there....it was still at the house. Cursing at myself for being so silly, we turned around and walked back to the house. IT was raining even harder at this point. We went back to the house, found my wallet, and somehow still decided that it was worthwhile to go back to the meet. It was still raining.
By the time we got to the meet, about 30 minutes of it was over, and our feet were soaked. But we found our seats under the grandstand awning, and watched the rest of it out of the sun...that had decided to shine for the rest of the day. =)
It was pouring the whole way. We eventually got to the will call booth, and I reached into my purse for my wallet. Unfortunately, it was not there....it was still at the house. Cursing at myself for being so silly, we turned around and walked back to the house. IT was raining even harder at this point. We went back to the house, found my wallet, and somehow still decided that it was worthwhile to go back to the meet. It was still raining.
By the time we got to the meet, about 30 minutes of it was over, and our feet were soaked. But we found our seats under the grandstand awning, and watched the rest of it out of the sun...that had decided to shine for the rest of the day. =)
A memorable, memorial day camping trip
The plan: go camping at Crater Lake with Vipul and Marie over Memorial Day weekend.
In Reality: The entrance to Crater Lake was completely snowed in still, and the Rim drive was also snowed in. So we probably wouldn't even be able to see the lake even if we wanted to
The new plan: go camping along the coast, between Florence and Reedsport, about 1.5 hours directly west of Eugene.
The weather forecast: showers from Friday through Monday. Ok, not the best forecast for a camping trip, but we decided to go for it. The weather dudes in Oregon weren't very good anyway, so there would be equally likely to be sunny and 80 during the weekend.
The gear: This was going to be my first camping trip since 3rd grade, where I camped at Ft. Funston in San Francisco with the cloth tents and froze the entire night with my "sleep over" sleeping bag. I was more or less prepared this time. I bought my -20F rated sleeping bag from REI, a self inflating sleeping pad, and some wool socks. I had the waterproof jacket, hat, and hiking shoes. I also had a lot of food. Cookies, ingredients for smores, granola bars, etc. I felt much more prepared than in 3rd grade.
The Story:
I drove to Corvallis to pick up Marie. Then we drove to Vipul's place in Eugene, and packed up the car. We stopped at an Albertson's for firewood and matches, and then we were on our way west toward the coast.
About 45 minutes into it, whilie in the mountains between the valley and the coast, Vipul's fuel light comes on. "We'll be fine," says Vipul. Both Marie and I think, "We're gonna die." So about 5 minutes later, we are still in rolling hills, and the fuel light comes on again. Ok, perhaps we need gas. Just as we are thinking about how our friends could come out to meet us with some gas, there is a gas station. Whoo hoo!!! With a great sigh of relief, Vipul pulls in and gets $10 of gas (about 3 gallons worth), and we're good to go.
We arrive at the campsite (I forget the name of it, but it is off 101 and it's between Florence and Reedsport), and it has stopped raining. Phew. So we find our campsite, which is located under some trees, and manage to find a dry area to set up our tents.
Lesson 1: Tent Assembly
There were poles that brilliantly snapped together. There were loops for the poles to go through. There was a bit of difficulty figuring out how the poles overlapped over the tent. The ground was suprisingly hard to poke the stakes through, but we managed to do it. It was a little complicated, but in the end, it was standing, and actually very roomie on the inside. Marie and I could sleep next to each other with plenty of room.
For dinner this first night, we decided to go for civilization food. Mo's restaurant in Florence was best known for it's clam chowder, so we had to try it. Located right in a bay of sorts we had our clam chowder. It was really good. While we were eating there would be downpours that would last about 5 minutes. It didn't look too promising tonight. But we were glad to have set up camp prior to dinner. As we got out of the restuarant, the rain had stopped, and a rainbow was out. This looked promising...
Lesson 2: Campfire
The rain had let up, and we started our campfire. I contributed by figuring out how to light the special matchsticks that we bought. Marie took over from there and got the fire going. She was able to create a nice fire, and we started with the smores. Caramalized marshmallows, dark chocolate and graham crackers...mmm....yummm...!!!
We chatted, Vipul told bad jokes, and laughed the night away. It was great =)
The following morning we woke up to the sound of rain. It was icky out, but we decided to try for a morning hike. The 3 mile trail head started at the camp site, worked it's way to the dunes, and we could come back around. The idea was that the rain would let up by the time we would make it back.
Lesson 3: "waterproof fabrics" are not always waterproof
After hiking for about 1.5 hours, our predictions prooved incorrect. It started to rain harder, and the further we went, the harder it rained. Mosquitos were swarming as they had since yesterday, and at one point we just took shelter and watched the rain continue. We came out of the trail onto the beach, and tried to find the trail head to the other path. Exposed in the pouring rain on a beach was not the greatest idea that we had had all day, so we decided to turn around and just head back to camp. By now, the trail was covered with puddles, and our clothes were thoroughly soaked. And we were all soaked to the bone. So much for being waterproof. I think we needed to get "downpour-proof" gear.
It tooks us another 1.5 hours to get back to the campsite, and we were all hungry and wet. We carefully crawled into our tents, and ate some food. I yelled at Vipul "what are we doing?" I went out to look, and Vipul was stuffing his sleeping bag away. I guess we were going back to Eugene. So Marie and I started to put our stuff away as well. The tents took forever to fold up in the rain, and nothing seemed to go back into it sack nicely. Everything was drenched and smelled mildew-y.
Once the equipment was back in the car, Marie and I changed into some dry clothes, and then climbed into Vipuls car for our 1.5 hour drive home. We had been "roughing it" for 20 hours. It was my first camping trip in ages. It was good enough. =)
Back in Eugene, we all got nice hot showers and into dry sets of clothes. And yup, it was still raining outside.
In Reality: The entrance to Crater Lake was completely snowed in still, and the Rim drive was also snowed in. So we probably wouldn't even be able to see the lake even if we wanted to
The new plan: go camping along the coast, between Florence and Reedsport, about 1.5 hours directly west of Eugene.
The weather forecast: showers from Friday through Monday. Ok, not the best forecast for a camping trip, but we decided to go for it. The weather dudes in Oregon weren't very good anyway, so there would be equally likely to be sunny and 80 during the weekend.
The gear: This was going to be my first camping trip since 3rd grade, where I camped at Ft. Funston in San Francisco with the cloth tents and froze the entire night with my "sleep over" sleeping bag. I was more or less prepared this time. I bought my -20F rated sleeping bag from REI, a self inflating sleeping pad, and some wool socks. I had the waterproof jacket, hat, and hiking shoes. I also had a lot of food. Cookies, ingredients for smores, granola bars, etc. I felt much more prepared than in 3rd grade.
The Story:
I drove to Corvallis to pick up Marie. Then we drove to Vipul's place in Eugene, and packed up the car. We stopped at an Albertson's for firewood and matches, and then we were on our way west toward the coast.
About 45 minutes into it, whilie in the mountains between the valley and the coast, Vipul's fuel light comes on. "We'll be fine," says Vipul. Both Marie and I think, "We're gonna die." So about 5 minutes later, we are still in rolling hills, and the fuel light comes on again. Ok, perhaps we need gas. Just as we are thinking about how our friends could come out to meet us with some gas, there is a gas station. Whoo hoo!!! With a great sigh of relief, Vipul pulls in and gets $10 of gas (about 3 gallons worth), and we're good to go.
We arrive at the campsite (I forget the name of it, but it is off 101 and it's between Florence and Reedsport), and it has stopped raining. Phew. So we find our campsite, which is located under some trees, and manage to find a dry area to set up our tents.
Lesson 1: Tent Assembly
There were poles that brilliantly snapped together. There were loops for the poles to go through. There was a bit of difficulty figuring out how the poles overlapped over the tent. The ground was suprisingly hard to poke the stakes through, but we managed to do it. It was a little complicated, but in the end, it was standing, and actually very roomie on the inside. Marie and I could sleep next to each other with plenty of room.
For dinner this first night, we decided to go for civilization food. Mo's restaurant in Florence was best known for it's clam chowder, so we had to try it. Located right in a bay of sorts we had our clam chowder. It was really good. While we were eating there would be downpours that would last about 5 minutes. It didn't look too promising tonight. But we were glad to have set up camp prior to dinner. As we got out of the restuarant, the rain had stopped, and a rainbow was out. This looked promising...
Lesson 2: Campfire
The rain had let up, and we started our campfire. I contributed by figuring out how to light the special matchsticks that we bought. Marie took over from there and got the fire going. She was able to create a nice fire, and we started with the smores. Caramalized marshmallows, dark chocolate and graham crackers...mmm....yummm...!!!
We chatted, Vipul told bad jokes, and laughed the night away. It was great =)
The following morning we woke up to the sound of rain. It was icky out, but we decided to try for a morning hike. The 3 mile trail head started at the camp site, worked it's way to the dunes, and we could come back around. The idea was that the rain would let up by the time we would make it back.
Lesson 3: "waterproof fabrics" are not always waterproof
After hiking for about 1.5 hours, our predictions prooved incorrect. It started to rain harder, and the further we went, the harder it rained. Mosquitos were swarming as they had since yesterday, and at one point we just took shelter and watched the rain continue. We came out of the trail onto the beach, and tried to find the trail head to the other path. Exposed in the pouring rain on a beach was not the greatest idea that we had had all day, so we decided to turn around and just head back to camp. By now, the trail was covered with puddles, and our clothes were thoroughly soaked. And we were all soaked to the bone. So much for being waterproof. I think we needed to get "downpour-proof" gear.
It tooks us another 1.5 hours to get back to the campsite, and we were all hungry and wet. We carefully crawled into our tents, and ate some food. I yelled at Vipul "what are we doing?" I went out to look, and Vipul was stuffing his sleeping bag away. I guess we were going back to Eugene. So Marie and I started to put our stuff away as well. The tents took forever to fold up in the rain, and nothing seemed to go back into it sack nicely. Everything was drenched and smelled mildew-y.
Once the equipment was back in the car, Marie and I changed into some dry clothes, and then climbed into Vipuls car for our 1.5 hour drive home. We had been "roughing it" for 20 hours. It was my first camping trip in ages. It was good enough. =)
Back in Eugene, we all got nice hot showers and into dry sets of clothes. And yup, it was still raining outside.
15 May, 2006
Home sweet Home
I went home to San Francisco, CA, USA for Mother's Day. My mom was very happy that I came home. It was nice to be home. Although my San Francisco sense of direction was a little off, which was sad, I was able to get together with friends. I saw Stacy and her baby Michael while watching lots of j-league club basketball games. I saw Alexis, John Chou, and Alice, and we shopped at Niketown and had sushi at Kitaro.
On Mothers Day, I managed to get out of bed and go to church with Dad, where we started to set up for the Mother's Day brunch. I volunteered to cook the 10lbs of bacon. It was the first time that I had cooked the bacon for this occasion, and I was glad to wear not so nice clothes, an apron, and glasses. I must say that I don't think I'll be eating bacon anytime soon. Just thinking about the strips of fat and meat floating in it's own grease is very unappealing.
I got to spend time with the family, which is always good. I had fun, and I enjoyed being home. =)
On Mothers Day, I managed to get out of bed and go to church with Dad, where we started to set up for the Mother's Day brunch. I volunteered to cook the 10lbs of bacon. It was the first time that I had cooked the bacon for this occasion, and I was glad to wear not so nice clothes, an apron, and glasses. I must say that I don't think I'll be eating bacon anytime soon. Just thinking about the strips of fat and meat floating in it's own grease is very unappealing.
I got to spend time with the family, which is always good. I had fun, and I enjoyed being home. =)
Welcome to the land of fried chicken
I was in Charlotte, NC, USA to attend a 3 day long plastics conference, where experts in different fields presented their papers. It ranged from material development to manufacturing methods. It was a good learning experience, and I think I know a little bit more about plastic than I did before coming to the conference.
Downtown Charlotte is cute. It is home to Wachovia Bank and Bank of America. It's downtown consists of these company's tall buildings and lots of places to eat either lunch or dinner. There is a little neighborhood called the Fouth Ward right outside of downtown where homes with older architectures are featured. My favorites were the brick townhomes and those houses with the large porches hugging the exterior of the older houses. It was cute.
There are a lot of fried chicken places in Charlotte (and I suppose NC in general). There is Church's, KFC, and the ever-fun-to-say Bojangles. We did not have the pleausure of eating at these establishments, since we were never really in the mood for fried chicken. We did eat our first dinner at the Cracker Barrel though.
The weather was overcast while we were there, so it wasn't like the previous two times I had visited the state when it was hot and humid and very uncomfortable.
So that was Charlotte.
Downtown Charlotte is cute. It is home to Wachovia Bank and Bank of America. It's downtown consists of these company's tall buildings and lots of places to eat either lunch or dinner. There is a little neighborhood called the Fouth Ward right outside of downtown where homes with older architectures are featured. My favorites were the brick townhomes and those houses with the large porches hugging the exterior of the older houses. It was cute.
There are a lot of fried chicken places in Charlotte (and I suppose NC in general). There is Church's, KFC, and the ever-fun-to-say Bojangles. We did not have the pleausure of eating at these establishments, since we were never really in the mood for fried chicken. We did eat our first dinner at the Cracker Barrel though.
The weather was overcast while we were there, so it wasn't like the previous two times I had visited the state when it was hot and humid and very uncomfortable.
So that was Charlotte.
11 May, 2006
Are we in Charlotte yet?
This week I went to a conference about plastics. I listened to people talk about the latest and greatest in plastics. Before I talk about that though, let me tell you about getting to this plastics conference.
The goal was to get to Charlotte NC. My coworkers, Peter and Eric, and I were to leave Portland OR at 6:10am, have a 2 hour layover in Chicago, and arrive in Charlotte by 3:30pm. We arrived in Charlotte at 8:30pm. "What happened?" you ask? Well...
We got on the 6:10am flight ok. This involved us getting to the airport by 5:00, so I woke up at 4:00am PDT. We got to Chicago O'Hare, and the fancy tv screen said that our flight to Charlotte was canceled. Great. It was the only flight on the 8 screens announcing departure times that was canceled. So we went over to United customer service, and the nice lady there said to use the automated flight adjustment feature on their electronic kiosk. Peter and I were put on the 8:58pm (Chicago time) flight. Eric somehow got onto the 3:45pm flight. Fine.
Peter and I, after several phone calls to Nike Travel, and several visits to the *friendly* (sarcasm here...) customer service agents at United, were able to get on a 5:25pm US Airways flight to Charlotte.
I learned a few things about Chicago O'Hare during this trip:
Freshly baked Cinnabons are in Terminal 2
The airport is big
The airport is really big
Customer Service at United in this airport is not very friendly or accomodating
Don't have a layover in Chicago
The goal was to get to Charlotte NC. My coworkers, Peter and Eric, and I were to leave Portland OR at 6:10am, have a 2 hour layover in Chicago, and arrive in Charlotte by 3:30pm. We arrived in Charlotte at 8:30pm. "What happened?" you ask? Well...
We got on the 6:10am flight ok. This involved us getting to the airport by 5:00, so I woke up at 4:00am PDT. We got to Chicago O'Hare, and the fancy tv screen said that our flight to Charlotte was canceled. Great. It was the only flight on the 8 screens announcing departure times that was canceled. So we went over to United customer service, and the nice lady there said to use the automated flight adjustment feature on their electronic kiosk. Peter and I were put on the 8:58pm (Chicago time) flight. Eric somehow got onto the 3:45pm flight. Fine.
Peter and I, after several phone calls to Nike Travel, and several visits to the *friendly* (sarcasm here...) customer service agents at United, were able to get on a 5:25pm US Airways flight to Charlotte.
I learned a few things about Chicago O'Hare during this trip:
Freshly baked Cinnabons are in Terminal 2
The airport is big
The airport is really big
Customer Service at United in this airport is not very friendly or accomodating
Don't have a layover in Chicago
20 April, 2006
450 km/hr
450 km/hr. That's how fast the Shanghai Maglev took passengers from the middle of Shanghai to Pudong International Airport. It would normally take 60 minutes by car to get from the city to the airport. On the Maglev, it took 7 minutes. I took it to the airport, and it was definitely quick. It took about 3 minutes to reach top speed, and then traveled at 450 km/hr for about 30 seconds, and then started to slow down as we approached the airport.
I could see where a Maglev (magnetic levetation) train would come in handy. Say, from Seattle to Portland to San Francisco to LA to SD. I bet, if you timed it right, you could catch a game in Seattle and San Diego in one day, no problem. =)
I could see where a Maglev (magnetic levetation) train would come in handy. Say, from Seattle to Portland to San Francisco to LA to SD. I bet, if you timed it right, you could catch a game in Seattle and San Diego in one day, no problem. =)
19 April, 2006
Amy x 3
Amy G - tourist
Amy B - tour organizer. She got me on this trip. Without her, I don't know if I would have ever made it to China =)
Amy C - tour guide/tour mom. She basically got us from Beijing to Xian to Shanghai. She met us up with our local guides. She made sure our whole tour group got on the plane. She tried recovering my jacket from the hotel in Beijing. She did a lot of things for us, and the fact that she is an Amy makes her the coolest tour guide ever =)
More Shanghai pics
The Shanghai skyline at night
Amy B at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf
Me, Amy B, and Lili at the Yu Yuan Garden
Me, Lili, and Amy B on the river cruise with the Shanghai skyline at night
Us having lunch...I am blocking Lili with my big head =(
Amy B at the Coffee Bean and Tea LeafMe, Amy B, and Lili at the Yu Yuan GardenMe, Lili, and Amy B on the river cruise with the Shanghai skyline at nightUs having lunch...I am blocking Lili with my big head =(
"Death Cab" in Shanghai
I would not want to drive in China. Cars cut across 4 lanes at a time, people make left turns from the right hand lane. The horn is the most used part of the vehicle. Pedestrians and bikes are merely temporary road blocks.
But I don't think I want to get into another taxi in Shanghai. I somehow ended up sitting shotgun for most of the taxi rides that we took there. And I got a great view of all the potential accidents. (Side note: Eddie says don't ride the dark red cabs...they rip you off cuz they don't have meters). Usually there were three lanes, but the taxis seemed to think that the space in between the cars in those three lanes were also lanes. So we squeezed by numerous cars like this. Although "squeezed" isn't quite the right word..."whizzed by" would be more appropriate. Without any hint of hitting the brakes, the taxis would pass vehicles in these make believe lanes, with inches to spare on either side of the car. Another taxi driver decided that he was facing the wrong direction, so he made a U turn from the right hand lane, cutting off traffic in the left hand lane. Another taxi driver decided that he wanted to get back to our hotel as fast as possible. So he speeded down the road, and almost hit another taxi driver who was standing outside his car AND almost hit the taxi coming from the left hand side trying to cut our taxi guy off. There was some honking, and he slowed down just enough where if I had my windows rolled down, I could have touched the taxi driver standing outside his car. There were rides where I thought we would definitely, without a doubt, hit a bike, motorcyclist, pedestrian, or concoming vehicle. The only reason we avoided the moving objects seemed to be because the taxi driver used his horn to warn them that he was going to hit them. There was also that driver that ran through a red light, as if it were completely normal...
Needless to say, I did not breathe while the taxi was in motion. I may have turned blue during the ride, but it was impossible to ignore the fact that at any moment, I could die. Amy B even admitted that Shanghai drivers were worse than NYC taxi drivers. So, I've decided that the next time I have to ride in a cab in Shanghai, I am putting on the seat belt, and sitting in the back seat.
But I don't think I want to get into another taxi in Shanghai. I somehow ended up sitting shotgun for most of the taxi rides that we took there. And I got a great view of all the potential accidents. (Side note: Eddie says don't ride the dark red cabs...they rip you off cuz they don't have meters). Usually there were three lanes, but the taxis seemed to think that the space in between the cars in those three lanes were also lanes. So we squeezed by numerous cars like this. Although "squeezed" isn't quite the right word..."whizzed by" would be more appropriate. Without any hint of hitting the brakes, the taxis would pass vehicles in these make believe lanes, with inches to spare on either side of the car. Another taxi driver decided that he was facing the wrong direction, so he made a U turn from the right hand lane, cutting off traffic in the left hand lane. Another taxi driver decided that he wanted to get back to our hotel as fast as possible. So he speeded down the road, and almost hit another taxi driver who was standing outside his car AND almost hit the taxi coming from the left hand side trying to cut our taxi guy off. There was some honking, and he slowed down just enough where if I had my windows rolled down, I could have touched the taxi driver standing outside his car. There were rides where I thought we would definitely, without a doubt, hit a bike, motorcyclist, pedestrian, or concoming vehicle. The only reason we avoided the moving objects seemed to be because the taxi driver used his horn to warn them that he was going to hit them. There was also that driver that ran through a red light, as if it were completely normal...
Needless to say, I did not breathe while the taxi was in motion. I may have turned blue during the ride, but it was impossible to ignore the fact that at any moment, I could die. Amy B even admitted that Shanghai drivers were worse than NYC taxi drivers. So, I've decided that the next time I have to ride in a cab in Shanghai, I am putting on the seat belt, and sitting in the back seat.
Shopping - Shanghai style
For our day by ourselves, we did the following:
Went to the French concession where they have a lot of foreign restaurants, and to Amy B's delight, a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf
Ate lunch at a hot pot restaurant (eddies recommendation), where we managed to order ourselves a pretty good meal, considering I couldn't really decipher the menu, and the only English speaking waitress had difficulty explaining some of the things on the menu. Oh, I also had to draw a shrimp in order to indicate that we wanted shrimp. Pictionary does come in handy!
Took a night time river cruise, which was beautiful!
Got a full body massage at the hotel!
In between all that, we shopped. Shopping in China is different for tourists. You barter. And you barter for the price you think it cost for them to make it...and that's probably still even a bit high. If you are shopping for knockoffs, you follow middlemen to the back streets of Nanjing Road where they sell knockoff hand bags and shoes in small apartments. We followed two people into the back of the alley places for Lili to successfully acquire two Coach purses for $15 each. And you just keep bartering. You stick to your price, and if they don't give it to you, you walk away. And then they chase you, and then you stick to your price, and then they say no, and then you walk away, etc. And this goes on until they finally give it to you for the price you state. you communicate via calculator. You say yes or no.
This got to be very tiring, and we were all glad to go into UniQlo (Asian version of the Gap), and get clothes that we liked without having to barter for it. After that, it was a little more shopping here and there, and then we were done. =)
Went to the French concession where they have a lot of foreign restaurants, and to Amy B's delight, a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf
Ate lunch at a hot pot restaurant (eddies recommendation), where we managed to order ourselves a pretty good meal, considering I couldn't really decipher the menu, and the only English speaking waitress had difficulty explaining some of the things on the menu. Oh, I also had to draw a shrimp in order to indicate that we wanted shrimp. Pictionary does come in handy!
Took a night time river cruise, which was beautiful!
Got a full body massage at the hotel!
In between all that, we shopped. Shopping in China is different for tourists. You barter. And you barter for the price you think it cost for them to make it...and that's probably still even a bit high. If you are shopping for knockoffs, you follow middlemen to the back streets of Nanjing Road where they sell knockoff hand bags and shoes in small apartments. We followed two people into the back of the alley places for Lili to successfully acquire two Coach purses for $15 each. And you just keep bartering. You stick to your price, and if they don't give it to you, you walk away. And then they chase you, and then you stick to your price, and then they say no, and then you walk away, etc. And this goes on until they finally give it to you for the price you state. you communicate via calculator. You say yes or no.
This got to be very tiring, and we were all glad to go into UniQlo (Asian version of the Gap), and get clothes that we liked without having to barter for it. After that, it was a little more shopping here and there, and then we were done. =)
The New York of China
The first thing that you see in the Shanghai skyline is the Pearl Tower. We went up the tv tower our first morning in Shanghai, but the sky was overcast, and we weren't able to get a good view of the city. However, it was interesting to see all the construction that was happening from a bird's eye view. I could tell that there were many construction sites preparing to build more sky scrapers. I'm not sure if they were business or residential buildings, but there were about 4 visible plots in the vicinity of the Pearl Tower.
Next was the Yu Yuan Garden, which was surrounded by a huge tourist market. The garden itself was very beautiful. The flowers were real, the trees were real, and the architecture of the houses and walls was amazing. The main path through the garden snaked around into various corners, and each provided a great picture taking opportunity. It was amazing to think that all this nature was neighboring a loud and crowded tourist shopping area.
The Jade Buddha Temple was next on our hit list. We went through various portions of the temple, and got a chance to see monks doing their routine prayers. We later found out that this was an extremely rich temple, and that the monks here could probably afford a Mercedes a month if they were given the opportunity. Many people come to this temple because it is famous and because it has two of the largest Jade Buddhas in China. Later on we went to a Tea House and sampled some tea.
We all also signed up for the Shanghai Acrobatics Act for that night...yet another must do tourist thing in Shanghai. The acrobatics were amazing! They must have been up and coming gymnasts or has-been gymnasts because these people were buff and flexible! Their abs must have been made of steel, and I'm pretty sure that their muscles stretched to about 4 times that of a normal person. I was envious...I can barely bend down to touch my toes =(
Part of the Yu Yuan Garden
Monks coming out of a prayer session
Amy B and Lili sampling tea
Me with the Shanghai skyline
Me with another part of the Yu Yuan Garden
The Pearl Tower from street level
If only I were that strong and flexible...
Next was the Yu Yuan Garden, which was surrounded by a huge tourist market. The garden itself was very beautiful. The flowers were real, the trees were real, and the architecture of the houses and walls was amazing. The main path through the garden snaked around into various corners, and each provided a great picture taking opportunity. It was amazing to think that all this nature was neighboring a loud and crowded tourist shopping area.
The Jade Buddha Temple was next on our hit list. We went through various portions of the temple, and got a chance to see monks doing their routine prayers. We later found out that this was an extremely rich temple, and that the monks here could probably afford a Mercedes a month if they were given the opportunity. Many people come to this temple because it is famous and because it has two of the largest Jade Buddhas in China. Later on we went to a Tea House and sampled some tea.
We all also signed up for the Shanghai Acrobatics Act for that night...yet another must do tourist thing in Shanghai. The acrobatics were amazing! They must have been up and coming gymnasts or has-been gymnasts because these people were buff and flexible! Their abs must have been made of steel, and I'm pretty sure that their muscles stretched to about 4 times that of a normal person. I was envious...I can barely bend down to touch my toes =(
Part of the Yu Yuan GardenMonks coming out of a prayer sessionAmy B and Lili sampling teaMe with the Shanghai skylineMe with another part of the Yu Yuan GardenThe Pearl Tower from street levelIf only I were that strong and flexible...
"Ask Eddie"
When we arrived in Shanghai, we were introduced to our local guide, Eddie. He started talking about the history of Shanghai, and then he asked "do you want to hear a song?" He broke into a pretty good rendition of "American Pie". He later told us he liked karaoke.
Amy B, LIli, and i were going to spend a day in Shanghai on our own, so we ended up asking Eddie a lot of questions. Where can we eat hotpot? How can we get to the shopping district? How do you write the name of our hotel? What time is the river cruise? Where do we have to go to reserve the river cruise? Where is the maglev station? How long does it take to get there? How long does it take to get to the airport? It was endless...
So, the motto of our stay in Shanghai became "Ask Eddie"
Amy B, LIli, and i were going to spend a day in Shanghai on our own, so we ended up asking Eddie a lot of questions. Where can we eat hotpot? How can we get to the shopping district? How do you write the name of our hotel? What time is the river cruise? Where do we have to go to reserve the river cruise? Where is the maglev station? How long does it take to get there? How long does it take to get to the airport? It was endless...
So, the motto of our stay in Shanghai became "Ask Eddie"
18 April, 2006
The world's largest jigsaw puzzle
The following day, we drove out to the site of the Terra Cotta Soldiers mausoleum. I was totally impressed with this place. There are three main buildings, each covering three separate excavation sites. The first building is the largest, and held the bulk of the "army". Each statue is made with details down to the fingernails, and the facial expression on each of the soldiers is different. Each statue held some sort of weapon, and the hairstyles indicated the rank of that soldier. The warriors definitely looked ready for battle.
The amazing thing is that these statues weren't discovered in tact. They had been through flood, fire, tremblers, and other natural disasters. The tunnels that they were buried in were made of wood and would eventually collapse. The wooden pillars and roofs are now petrified, and the soldiers were all crushed underneath the weight of the earth. So archaeologists have to now go through and reassemble the warriors. About 7,000 in all. All in pieces. They apparently have software to help them match pieces, but it is a daunting task. That's why I think of this as the world's largest jigsaw puzzle.
The mausoleum also had displays of fully assembled soldiers as part of their exhibit. There were soldiers in chariots, and terra cotta horses (much to Lili's delight), and everything had been made to be exactly like a real life army. We were all impressed with the craftsmanship as well as the great lengths the emperor had gone through in order to protect his tomb.
Main building of the site. Seemingly endless row of soldiers
Me holding a replica of a soldier
The amazing thing is that these statues weren't discovered in tact. They had been through flood, fire, tremblers, and other natural disasters. The tunnels that they were buried in were made of wood and would eventually collapse. The wooden pillars and roofs are now petrified, and the soldiers were all crushed underneath the weight of the earth. So archaeologists have to now go through and reassemble the warriors. About 7,000 in all. All in pieces. They apparently have software to help them match pieces, but it is a daunting task. That's why I think of this as the world's largest jigsaw puzzle.
The mausoleum also had displays of fully assembled soldiers as part of their exhibit. There were soldiers in chariots, and terra cotta horses (much to Lili's delight), and everything had been made to be exactly like a real life army. We were all impressed with the craftsmanship as well as the great lengths the emperor had gone through in order to protect his tomb.
Main building of the site. Seemingly endless row of soldiersMe holding a replica of a soldier
Summer Palace
Lili and I went to the Summer Palace, and decided that it was our favorite touristy destination in Beijing. We managed to escape from the crowds, and climb up the hill that overlooking the lake as well as the outskirts of the city. We climbed rock formations around former buddhist temples, and went around the lake crossing several unique bridges. Willows gracefully swayed on either side of us as we walked around the park. Although it was a tourist spot, it was serene just walking along the path around the lake. Lili said that when she got married she'd want willows on either side of the main aisle. I'm sure that can be done...otherwise, she'll have to have her wedding in the Summer Palace in Beijing. =)
We followed this older lady all the way up the stairs to the top of the mountain. Chinese old ladies can really move...
Lili making her way across some boulders to a gazebo thing near the temples
One of many beautiful bridges embraced by willows along the lake
Standing amongst the rock formations near the temples
The hill that we climbed is in the background, and so is the lake!
The view of the lake from on top of the hill!
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