This is (will be) a continuation of the Ouchie Overview of my 2013/14 Ski Season.
Plans were made and everything was seemingly perfect. I'd arrive to McCarren Airport (Las Vegas) on Valentine's Day, meeting Elisa and Tedd there. There would have arrived just slightly earlier than I.
Later on that night Dave (my valentine) driving from Orange County would meet me there after work (being that Vday was on a Friday). We were all booked at the Encore. A Wynn Resort and one of my favorite properties on the Las Vegas strip!
My flight would arrive at 2pm, I would check in and then spend the afternoon sightseeing and shopping with Elisa and Tedd. Dave would then swoop, sweep me off of my feet and then we'd go for a late night dinner at Wazuzu before heading up to enjoy our suite and open Valentine's Presents!
Meals, shows, shopping, sightseeing, and anything else we can toss in the mix - because as you know, I don't gamble anymore unless it's on myself!
Little by little the "plans" started to crumble. A couple of weeks before the trip, my uncle George had a stroke while vacationing in Florida. Elisa & Danielle had to rush down there from Long Island for support and to be by his side. Thank God he was okay. But it was still quite the scare and had the family on edge. Meanwhile when Elisa rushed down there, Gianna, and Kelsey stayed at home with Tedd. The east coast was getting pounded with snow, day after day. Kids were missing school and schedules were just a mess. It was no surprise that Elisa had to cancel the trip. I completely understood and rather expected it. Vegas isn't going anywhere, we'll plan it for another time.
So now it was going to be just me on Friday afternoon (before Dave arrives). It's all good; I like my company! I'm gonna go shopping, eat some delicious vegan food, I'll hit the gym, chill out in the room, walk galore. I know the drill. And then it happened...
Plans were made and everything was seemingly perfect. I'd arrive to McCarren Airport (Las Vegas) on Valentine's Day, meeting Elisa and Tedd there. There would have arrived just slightly earlier than I.
Later on that night Dave (my valentine) driving from Orange County would meet me there after work (being that Vday was on a Friday). We were all booked at the Encore. A Wynn Resort and one of my favorite properties on the Las Vegas strip!
My flight would arrive at 2pm, I would check in and then spend the afternoon sightseeing and shopping with Elisa and Tedd. Dave would then swoop, sweep me off of my feet and then we'd go for a late night dinner at Wazuzu before heading up to enjoy our suite and open Valentine's Presents!
Meals, shows, shopping, sightseeing, and anything else we can toss in the mix - because as you know, I don't gamble anymore unless it's on myself!
Little by little the "plans" started to crumble. A couple of weeks before the trip, my uncle George had a stroke while vacationing in Florida. Elisa & Danielle had to rush down there from Long Island for support and to be by his side. Thank God he was okay. But it was still quite the scare and had the family on edge. Meanwhile when Elisa rushed down there, Gianna, and Kelsey stayed at home with Tedd. The east coast was getting pounded with snow, day after day. Kids were missing school and schedules were just a mess. It was no surprise that Elisa had to cancel the trip. I completely understood and rather expected it. Vegas isn't going anywhere, we'll plan it for another time.
So now it was going to be just me on Friday afternoon (before Dave arrives). It's all good; I like my company! I'm gonna go shopping, eat some delicious vegan food, I'll hit the gym, chill out in the room, walk galore. I know the drill. And then it happened...
This isn't good.
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I can't believe I'm actually doing this!
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Everything came crashing down on the Sunday before heading to Vegas. I had just spent the day with my friends skiing at Canyons Ski Resort in Utah. The weather was bonafide ICK. I was in a pissy mood and on my last run took a horrid tumble and I tore my MCL. DAMMIT!
So now what?!? The rest of my week was a wash. I was in Jackson Hole, WY and in Park City in pain and plain ol' misery. On Friday afternoon according to schedule I left the beautiful wintery atmosphere and champagne snow and headed to Vegas. Sin City here I come, still sticking to the plans. But somehow the rest of my day wasn't quite as planned out anymore. I was in a wheelchair, and on crutches. How was I going to transport ALL of my many pieces of luggage (skis included)...no one to help me...ugh!
All I did in the wheelchair was dole out money - I felt like I needed to tip EVERYONE! I don't know the etiquette of being in a wheelchair. lol
I had an on-time landing at McCarren on time and was assisted to the baggage claim area. Now, I needed to figure out what I was gonna do. I chose to wait! An awful decision, because it would be another 9 or so hours before Dave pulls into town. But in my condition how else was I suppose to manuever in crazy party town?!
I just sat and waited. People watched and waited. Read and waited. Watched the same promotional video replay over and over again, and waited. Finally, I get the text the Dave is almost there! If I could've jumped up and down I would've! We load up and I get to leave the airport at last! Leaving the wheelchair behind.
I'm on crutches again (have you it's my third time I've had to be on crutches - and I am really not a fan).
Check in goes well, I make it up to our room without a hitch, we decide on room service instead of sitting at the restaurant, had a lovely meal and then open presents. YAY!
So now what?!? The rest of my week was a wash. I was in Jackson Hole, WY and in Park City in pain and plain ol' misery. On Friday afternoon according to schedule I left the beautiful wintery atmosphere and champagne snow and headed to Vegas. Sin City here I come, still sticking to the plans. But somehow the rest of my day wasn't quite as planned out anymore. I was in a wheelchair, and on crutches. How was I going to transport ALL of my many pieces of luggage (skis included)...no one to help me...ugh!
All I did in the wheelchair was dole out money - I felt like I needed to tip EVERYONE! I don't know the etiquette of being in a wheelchair. lol
I had an on-time landing at McCarren on time and was assisted to the baggage claim area. Now, I needed to figure out what I was gonna do. I chose to wait! An awful decision, because it would be another 9 or so hours before Dave pulls into town. But in my condition how else was I suppose to manuever in crazy party town?!
I just sat and waited. People watched and waited. Read and waited. Watched the same promotional video replay over and over again, and waited. Finally, I get the text the Dave is almost there! If I could've jumped up and down I would've! We load up and I get to leave the airport at last! Leaving the wheelchair behind.
I'm on crutches again (have you it's my third time I've had to be on crutches - and I am really not a fan).
Check in goes well, I make it up to our room without a hitch, we decide on room service instead of sitting at the restaurant, had a lovely meal and then open presents. YAY!
Finding the humor in having a rather tough time putting my shoes on!
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Staying in good spirits!
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The following day we are gonna paint the town red, I hobble around all stinkin' day long, and it was a long day. I don't see another (retarded) soul on crutches in this town. I'm very sore and I feel like an idiot. I'm wiped out to top it off, and all of this extra weight and jarring on my left knee isn't doing any good. FYI I tore my left ACL 4 years prior, almost to the day. And although I've had a fabulous recovery, I could tell that my knee is gonna eventually give way.
Dave, about to die from eating too much Wasabi!!
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About to head to the show.
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After dinner we went to see Le Reve that night, and as much as I enjoyed the show, I was just terribly terribly uncomfortable and shifting throughout the entire performance to readjust my positioning. Once the show was over, I was wiped out; I felt like I had one of the more grueling workouts ever, and not only that, but now I was starting to get sores from the rubbing of the crutches, so any movement was extremely painful and almost unbearable.
As we were making our way back to our room, we happened to have walked past Ozzy & Sharon Osbourne.
As we were making our way back to our room, we happened to have walked past Ozzy & Sharon Osbourne.
Towards the Finale!
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After the show!
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And two steps from our door my left knee goes out and if not for these stupid crutches I would've collapsed, and certainly hurt myself even further. What on earth am I going to do tomorrow?!
I strip down to change into my jammies and can see all of the blood red sores on my body - AWFUL!
After a night of uncomfortable sleep, Sunday morning arrives and I know that I had even more walking planned for today...I reach for my crutches and prop myself up, opting that this is going to be one heck of a slow moving day.
I strip down to change into my jammies and can see all of the blood red sores on my body - AWFUL!
After a night of uncomfortable sleep, Sunday morning arrives and I know that I had even more walking planned for today...I reach for my crutches and prop myself up, opting that this is going to be one heck of a slow moving day.
Trying to make the best of my situation, in my faux leopard skin cowboy hat!
Well apparently, Dave can place me where ever he wants to. I don't have much say in the matter!
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I don't belong in a wheelchair.
This is like Mr Toad's wild ride!
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Every inch of my body is screaming as I swing my weight back and forth on the crutches. We make it down to the lobby, and Dave begs that I allow him to push me in a wheelchair. I reluctantly dropped my pride and agreed to be pushed around. I had many negative feelings about being in a wheelchair and being pushed around all day long. Every time we passed another wheelchair bound person, I'd feel guilty and judge myself for being such a lame A$$. But at least I was being that fool on crutches (killing myself) in Vegas anymore! Come on...who does that?! (Apparently only retards with big egos like me.) So take it from me, here's my advice: If you're hurt and on crutches, drop the ego - diminish the pride, let someone who cares about you push you around and just enjoy the ride!