I wrote this a couple weeks ago and forgot to post...
I am back in Austin! I can't believe that I have returned already. The past week has been a blur because of the jet lag but I now feel coherent enough to give an update. The whole week before I left was crazy. I hope I packed everything, I raided the kids room, but I am sure that some things are still hidden.
I actually had an easier trip back than I thought I would. I was 9kg's over weight with my luggage! I was expecting to have to leave valuable things behind, but for some reason Air New Zealand said "oh, well your only 9kg's over, just remember not to do it next time". I was surprised and relieved, but then thought of how forgiving American Airlines is and knew I would be in big trouble when I got to LA. I decided not to think about it. Whilst I was packing Rossanna kept giving me more and more stuff from Hayley, Tirol, and Kiri. It got to the point where I thought I might have taken a good chunk of their wardrobe...well, actually it was Hayley's wardrobe. The kids would just "borrow" her clothes and claim them as their so it probably felt as though I really was taking their stuff. Poor Tirol got the worst of it. We were sitting at the table enjoying my final meal (sushi) and Tirol walked in with a bright red arena shirt on. Dialog below:
Sarah M: Tirol that color looks really nice on you!
Rossanna: That is nice...Take it off and give it to Sarah
Tirol: What?!
Rossanna: Take it off! Its a good shirt and you should give it to Sarah, its not ever yours anyways it Hayley's
Tirol: But mum, Hayley gave me this shirt it's one of my favorites!
Rossanna: Well don't you want to give Sarah your favorite shirt?
Tirol: NO!!!
(meanwhile me and Sarah M don't know whether to laugh or just sit there... I think we both took the safe route and just sat there)
Rossanna: TAKE IT OFF!
Tirol: UGH!!
(Tirol turns to go upstairs to change)
Rossanna: No take it off now! Don't go upstairs! Take it off now!
Tirol: What?!
At this point I broke into laughter, Tirol was so shocked at the prospect of stripping in front of us all, her reaction and facial expression were classic! She was finally released to change shirts. Don't worry, I left one of my shirts behind for her so I think she is satisfied.
We spent the drive to the airport laughing about what had just happened. When it came time for me to go through security I promised myself I wouldn't cry, but of course I couldn't stop myself. I was a mess! I miss my 2nd family!
My flight was actually nice. I had the aisle seat on a full flight...except for the one seat next to me. Luckiest person award goes to me! When I got to LA I knew a storm of stress was coming since I was so over weight. When I finally got up to the counter to get the tags for my bags the women there told me to try to rearrange my things so that my bags would be lighter, I told her that that was impossible, but she insisted and moved me to the side. I was so not in the mood to rummage through everything so I literally took 10lbs of clothes out of my bags and put them on the cart I had. I then put my bags on the scale and the lady checked me off and put my tags on. I then put all the clothes back in my bags, and lugged them over to the checked baggage screening. No fuss at all. I now consider myself a full fledged criminal! Out smarting the airlines! What else could I get away with? Of course I told my family when I arrived and they were appalled, but I knew they were thinking ("why hadn't I ever thought of that before?") So I arrived a hero. What can I say? I am amazing.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
The Jump Video
OK, I finally got it all put together. I had to sift through about 10min of video that Hayley took and also what was taken from the Wharf (located across the bridge) where the rest of the Palmer's were watching. I am the greyish speck falling at that part. I will try to get the video in a bigger size so you can see it better, but I wanted to get this up asap. ENJOY!
Saturday, December 6, 2008
5-4-3-2-1...GO!!
Yes, I did it. I actually did it. I am sure everyone is wondering why I didn't post about my choice of jump or my last will and testament, but I figured it would be better not to for fear of getting too many comments like "you are crazy!"and "don't do it!" which would have made me 10x more nervous. This particular jump (head first into water) is the one I fear the most, the one I promised myself I would never do, the one that makes me cringe thinking about it. I was given the option of the Sky Tower, but I knew Brian would never let me live that down if I chose that. A controlled fall is for sissy's.
So to Tirol's great dismay I didn't die, unfortunately I can now hold this one over her head for the rest of her life because I know she would never be able to jump. HA! So I feel quite accomplished. This birthday present definitely ranks up there with best ever! Hayley got the whole thing on tape which I will post when we get it all edited and whatnot.
So dooms day was yesterday. We decided that Hayley would come up to the little cockpit tucked right under the bridge. We had about 20 people jumping in my group and it took forever to get everyone harnessed! Hayley got to wear one as well since we would be scaling the bridge. It took about 10min to walk all the way up. On the last little bit of stairs to the cockpit I began to get a little anxious. The guys strapping everyone in were covered in tattoo's and piercings...typical. I looked down and discovered that it wasn't nearly as far as I thought it would be, but as the first person went I counted the seconds he was falling in my head...1-2-3-4-5...6!!! Ahhh!! The fact that I was looking down at water completely distorted my depth perception. I knew that as long as I wasn't last then I would be fine. I waited and waited and waited for my turn. The names were being called randomly. No one had backed out and no one had died...yet. So after about 12 people had gone I started to feel more comfortable being so high. You would think that being up there longer would make it worse, but it actually made it a little better. I could also asses what way i should jump and which would be the least detrimental to my neck. I decided I would do a graceful swan dive.
After an hour of waiting I started to notice that there were not many people left...at all!! Fate had put me last!! What a cruel world!! Hayley of course noticed this as well and was highly enjoying herself and the situation. So my name was finally called. I sat in the chairs that elevate your feet so I could be strapped in. I looked at the actual bungee cord...well I wouldn't even call it that, it was tiny! It looked like a bunch of rubber bands all weaved together. At this point I started to hyperventilate. Hayley was filming the whole time and trying to make me laugh and I was trying to focus all energy on making my self jump. When I was strapped in I hopped over the to plank...yes an actual plank! I was grabbing the guys shirt as he practically shoved me up to the edge. During this whole process they make you take pictures and smile, I was trying not to vomit. They also tell you that because of the boat traffic you had to jump on their count down otherwise you will die. So not only did i have to worry about sharks, but I also get to worry about being impaled by a boat mast! Anyways, I am standing at the edge of this plank and realizing that I actually cannot do this. There is no possible way I am going to jump off this thing. I am going to die! Then I hear the count down..."We are go for jump...OK Sarah in 5-4-3-2-1 GO!"
I don't remember much from that point. I remember watching my sights of the bridge disappear and then having my cord kick in to pull me up. At that point I realized that this was actually really fun. I can't possibly explain the feeling. Its was nothing like i thought it would be, very serene and peaceful mixed with terror, adrenaline, and awesomeness! Oh wow! I felt no pain, all my limbs were still attached, and i was still breathing. They pulled me back up to the bridge and did all the unstrapping. I was so relieved and could not believe I had actually done it. I had to have Hayley show me the video she took cause I couldn't remember how I jumped. So I have done it! Nothing will ever be as terrifying/amazing/cool/fun as that! I think all those years of standing at the edge of a freezing pool every morning and making my self jump have finally paid off.
So to Tirol's great dismay I didn't die, unfortunately I can now hold this one over her head for the rest of her life because I know she would never be able to jump. HA! So I feel quite accomplished. This birthday present definitely ranks up there with best ever! Hayley got the whole thing on tape which I will post when we get it all edited and whatnot.
So dooms day was yesterday. We decided that Hayley would come up to the little cockpit tucked right under the bridge. We had about 20 people jumping in my group and it took forever to get everyone harnessed! Hayley got to wear one as well since we would be scaling the bridge. It took about 10min to walk all the way up. On the last little bit of stairs to the cockpit I began to get a little anxious. The guys strapping everyone in were covered in tattoo's and piercings...typical. I looked down and discovered that it wasn't nearly as far as I thought it would be, but as the first person went I counted the seconds he was falling in my head...1-2-3-4-5...6!!! Ahhh!! The fact that I was looking down at water completely distorted my depth perception. I knew that as long as I wasn't last then I would be fine. I waited and waited and waited for my turn. The names were being called randomly. No one had backed out and no one had died...yet. So after about 12 people had gone I started to feel more comfortable being so high. You would think that being up there longer would make it worse, but it actually made it a little better. I could also asses what way i should jump and which would be the least detrimental to my neck. I decided I would do a graceful swan dive.
After an hour of waiting I started to notice that there were not many people left...at all!! Fate had put me last!! What a cruel world!! Hayley of course noticed this as well and was highly enjoying herself and the situation. So my name was finally called. I sat in the chairs that elevate your feet so I could be strapped in. I looked at the actual bungee cord...well I wouldn't even call it that, it was tiny! It looked like a bunch of rubber bands all weaved together. At this point I started to hyperventilate. Hayley was filming the whole time and trying to make me laugh and I was trying to focus all energy on making my self jump. When I was strapped in I hopped over the to plank...yes an actual plank! I was grabbing the guys shirt as he practically shoved me up to the edge. During this whole process they make you take pictures and smile, I was trying not to vomit. They also tell you that because of the boat traffic you had to jump on their count down otherwise you will die. So not only did i have to worry about sharks, but I also get to worry about being impaled by a boat mast! Anyways, I am standing at the edge of this plank and realizing that I actually cannot do this. There is no possible way I am going to jump off this thing. I am going to die! Then I hear the count down..."We are go for jump...OK Sarah in 5-4-3-2-1 GO!"
I don't remember much from that point. I remember watching my sights of the bridge disappear and then having my cord kick in to pull me up. At that point I realized that this was actually really fun. I can't possibly explain the feeling. Its was nothing like i thought it would be, very serene and peaceful mixed with terror, adrenaline, and awesomeness! Oh wow! I felt no pain, all my limbs were still attached, and i was still breathing. They pulled me back up to the bridge and did all the unstrapping. I was so relieved and could not believe I had actually done it. I had to have Hayley show me the video she took cause I couldn't remember how I jumped. So I have done it! Nothing will ever be as terrifying/amazing/cool/fun as that! I think all those years of standing at the edge of a freezing pool every morning and making my self jump have finally paid off.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)