Maile traveled via LA to Alaska for refueling and then to Hong Kong on the 27th. She was in a plane for 26 hours. It seemed that she had traveled well, all vitals were good when she arrived. On Day 2 however she spiked a fever of 104.3, and started coughing. They call it travelers fever, and it can turn to pneumonia very fast. She has had IV fluids, Anti Biotic, scanning of her lungs and scoping done. Of the 9 plus horses that seem to have fallen ill she is reacting to the treatment well and her temp is back to 102. We have 2 more days to get her off of the restricted substances so that she would pass a drug test. At this point her health is number one of importance.
When I arrived at the barn she was happy to see me, and made a total mess of the 3 apples I gave her, of course when the vet came in his eye's bulged out thinking she was not coughing up a frothy substance. OOPS!!! We were suppose to start riding today and actually have a 2 hour period of being in the competition ring for schooling. Maile and I will be walking in hand for the next 3 days.
When you enter the equestrian facility you have to sanitize your hands, when you leave you have to as well. Lots of the arena's and offices are out side of the equestrian sanitizing station which means you get to do allot of sanitizing. I wheel with gloves, and I still had to remove them and sanitize. I think I was at the Barn for 1 hour yesterday and had to sanitize 15 times......and if you try to slip by they run after you and thoughtfully remind you that you forgot to De-germ your self. Since everything is gravel and sand around the barns they pieced together a jointed walk way that is about 4 feet wide. I thought this was a great idea till I discovered that 4 feet isn't wide enough for 2 wheel chairs to pass one another, so it has turned into a Dosi doe maneuver if you like the fellow wheelchair user, or Gladiator moment to see who is going to come out still on the ramp.
The weather does not bother me much, it reminds me of a hot and Humid day in Florida. The misty fanned tents are wonderful, I could just sit in there all day. It really is a odd feeling when you go into the Competition ring and look around you, we are surrounded by sky scraper apartment buildings.
The Athlete village is In a 4 star hotel, every floor has something different. My first night with my wonderful room mate Ashley was a typical evening for us. Some how between the two of us the oddest things happen, and of course since we love to laugh our room is just a hoot. Ashley's scooter arrived broken so when we got it back to the room I tried to have a good look at it. WE decided to plug it in, I was informed that she had the correct adapter for it so I plugged the Charge box in to the wall. WELL it started to make a horrible sound and Ashley started to yell at me to UN plug it, as I did this the charger box which was in my lap when "POP" a cloud of smoke emerged from it as well as fire and spark's. I;m not so sure this is a funny thing but apparently Ashley and I figured it was and historical laughter then followed. Not to worry I only suffered a minor burn
We are surrounded by shopping malls, I attempted a wheel through one yesterday and I just felt overwhelmed and lost- people everywhere and stores all over the place. I did learn that if you order ice cream eat it before you go out side or else you have instant soup.
That is hilarious about the sparks! I was is China this summer. We thought we had the converters and all sorted out, but my sister still managed to blow a fuse! lol
Hope Maile has a speedy recovery.
Posted by: Aly | August 31, 2008 at 09:41 PM