Big Bear Part 2 - The Adventure Coming Down the Mt.

So the last post ended with us packing up and taking group photos.  There won't be any photos throughout this post so I am gonna start with a few.

Loading up and getting ready to go.

! 

Got to have a pic of everyone just standing around. 

Second day snow.  We made it all the way down the Mt. with that snow on the Sienna. 

Those are some major icicles.  

I just think this photo is so cute.  Love the sassy attitude :)



Ok on with the story.  So we load up and start going.  We go for a while without any snow on the road, so we decide to take off the chains. Then we make the one and only pitstop at a gas station for gas, snack, and bathroom break.  As I pull up to the pump RG walks over from the other van points to the front of my van and says, "Wendy it's gone, it's gone, it's not there, Terry is gonna be mad, it's gone!" I'm thinking I somehow lost the front bumper or something, I get out and notice it is the hubcap that is missing and just laugh.  I tell Aaron, who then tells me that he told me that earlier... go me for a.) not listening and b.) not even noticing.  Everyone gets back in the vans and away we go.  When pulling out of the gas station there is just no way that we can stay together, there is a constant line of cars coming down the Mt.  So Aaron ends up being about 1/2 a mile in front of me.  I was not thinking ahead and didn't program my GPS to help me back to Casa and eventually came to a fork in the road not having any idea which way to go. 

Before leaving Casa to go on the trip Aaron & I had set up for our shotgun riders to be our communicators since it is a Casa rule that we absolutely do NOT talk on the phone while driving so CN and SC were our copilot communicators.  Seemed like a good idea... not so much.  It was definetely a game of Telephone our messages to each other were twisted and turned and way more dramatic then we ever meant them to be.  I ask CN to ask which way on the fork and finally get a an answer to go right and then traffic comes to a complete stop.  When we finally start moving the Sienna is completely slipping and sliding and barely has any traction and then we get completely stuck.  That's right we are not moving cause we took the chains off too soon.  This one little town obviously did not get plowed hourly like everywhere else and I was stuck and completly blocking all traffic. Then suddenly there are 6 guys that get out of their cars and start trying to push me. I open the front 2 windows so that I can hear their directions. There was one guy who came up by my window and grabbed the front and sliding door handles to help push/ direct the van and he just started telling me what a stupid female I am and that I must be retarded for taking off my chains so soon.  He is just repeating this over and over.  CN is trying to call Aaron to tell him that I am stuck and everyone is hearing this man call me retarded... he was a real piece of work.  I eventually get out of the car, I'm not really sure why but I did, and this guy follows me and continues to yell at me. I finally turn to him and say, "Sir I'm sorry for the trouble I have caused you and I thank you for your help but I need you to go away now because if you call me retarded one more time I swear I am going to punch you in the face."  He then called me a stupid female under his breath and then finally left me alone.  Another man who was really nice told me there is no way they can push me out and that my only option is for him to push me with his F150.  Another guy offered to drive the van for me, which I kindly refused since its a company car and it is filled with residents.  At this time CN is so anxious and can't get a word out, so I take her phone and tell SC to tell Aaron to put in his ear piece cause I'm breaking the rule and calling him.  I tell him the situation and then have the F150 push me over to the side of the road. 

Then a trucker whose truck got stuck came over to offer me some help to get the chains back on my van.  Aaron had put chains on his van and had turned around to help me out as well.  He got to our van right as the trucker finished with my chains.  So now I was on my way and Aaron needed to turn around so I start driving to find a place to pull over because at this point I don't want us seperated anymore.  RCa tells me, "Wendy I commend you for how you handled yourself through that situation.  I heard what you said and if you had gotten into a fight then I would have had your back."  So sweet!  Then as we are sitting there and RCa is getting impatient about waiting he says, "Wendy I think I am going to call in some favors.  I have some friends that work in the military and I think I can make some calls and get us all helivaced out of here.  You know where they will harness the vans and carry us back to Casa." I laugh and RCa is proud of his joke.  Overall the residents did a great job of staying calm and no one really freaked out.  Finally the other van shows up and Aaron stops traffic so that I can go infront of him and we can now stay together.  He comes up with a plan that he will flash his lights when it is time to take off the chains.  So we are on our way. 

After a little while I notice that Aaron has gotten pretty far behind me and then pulls over.  I must not have noticed when he flashed his lights so I pull off the road and see him working on his chains.  Ok I will be helpful and take off my own chains its easy enough.  RCa lets me know that I am a girl and shouldn't have to do that, but I tell him it is ok.  So just as I am rolling up my chains to put them away, Aaron stops behind me and then informs me that he was just checking his chains not taking them off.  Great, so I'm the unhelpful girl who tries to be helpful and is NOT.  We decide I will drive the other van with the chains just in case.  Then Aaron lets me know that he has got to go the bathroom.  Well we are in the middle of NOWHERE!  Then RG hopps out of the van stating he has to pee as well.  So they walk off and pee.  RG thought this was the greates thing ever. He got to make yellow snow!

Then we start off again and traffic is incredibly slow and now the van that I'm driving is making this terrible noise.  I have SC call to tell CN to tell Aaron... well that just made it seem like an emergency so I get a phone call to clarify.  I really wasn't that worried cause the van was not overheating, but the message came across that I was freaking out. Oh the telephone game strikes again!  Then there was an accident where a van without chains completely flipped over and traffic was down to barely a lane.  Then there was check point for all vehicles going up to have to put on chains which slowed traffic on both sides.  And then finally we were down the Mt. A total of 5 hours and we finally made it down!  Then we were off.  SC is going nuts cause she needs a restroom break and is constantly calling Aaron screaming about it. It is histerical to hear her end of the conversation and you can tell that Aaron is antagonising her. So we made one more pit stop for those who didn't make yellow snow. 

A total of 6 hours to get home and it should have only taken 2!  It was quite an adventure and I would do it all again.  It was an amazing weeekend with tons of great moments.  I can not wait to plan the next trip to see what happens!!!!

Big Bear Weekend Part 1 - Fun Times in the Mt.

Last weekend was my first work overnight trip.  It has been a couple of years since Casa has taken residents on a weekend trip and as the Activities Coordinator I thought it was time to start this up again.  So I planned a weekend in Big Bear.  1 night 2 days go play in the snow, sounds like a great trip.  We got our cabins rented for a great price, had a good number of residents, 11 sign-up, and great activities planned.  Our first concern was that we planned this trip too late in the season and would miss the snow, then as the trip was a couple of weeks away the reports started coming in of late season snow storms, then last week Aaron, my boss and the other staff member going on this trip tells me that Saturday when we were planning on driving there was going to be a snow storm, so we bumped up our leave time to early morning.  Then last Thursday Aaron calls to say that Friday night they were estimating 2 feet of snow fall and that it would reach a record low of 6 degrees.... yup that's right 6 and I don't like to be cold... so we decided that we would go up a day earlier so we would miss having to drive in the craziness and hopefully not have to put the chains on the vans... and we were worried there would be no snow!  Thanks to Shannon, another staff member and friend, we got a bunch of snow gear lent to the residents and me (I don't own snow pants, those things are not cute!) Thursday was a crazy hectic day trying to help everyone process that we were leaving a day earlier and to get them all packed and ready.  Plus plan and purchase enough food for us to snack and make extra meals.  Thankfully we had one wonderful parent who graciously paid for the extra night! What a blessing!!!

Here are a few pics of some residents all loaded up and ready for fun! :)

Friday I arrived at work to find that another staff member unknowingly took the mini van that I had left all the food in from the day before, so we got a bit of a late start.  Thankfully traffic was not bad, we had to pick up one resident on the way out of town and then we were off to the races.  While driving through San Bernandino RCa, who is autistic, stated that it was a very bad part of town and we needed to be careful, in the same breath he then asked, "Wendy are we going to stop here and kick it with the homeboys?" I died laughing and then asked, "RCa what about about the homegirls? Don't you want to kick it with both?" He said, "Oh yeah I don't discriminate."  Hilarious!!!!  Then a few miles down the road he saw a building that said "Public Shooting" and yelled, "Everyone take cover we are under fire!!!" It startled me at first until I saw the sign and then explained it was a shooting range to which in a very serious voice he said, "I know I was trying to be funny, did it work? Oh look its right next to the prison, that was good planning at least if there is a stray bullet they deserve to get hit." To which I said, "Yes RCa that was very funny."  Which the other residents didn't really get it, but it was funny all the same.

We had to make a pit stop because everyone was hungry and needed a snack or bathroom break, the second on this 2 hour drive mind you.  Everything with these guys revolves around food and the bathroom.  While Aaron ran inside I noticed that the window of his van was cracked so I decided I would get out and mess with the other residents in the car and throw snowballs at the window and purposely miss, but still make them fret.  Well as luck would have it on the third throw I threw the snowball directly through the small crack and nailed SC, she screamed and laughed and told me I was going to be in so much trouble when Aaron got back.  I helped get the snow out of her seat and just laughed as she threatened to get me back.  We got back into our vans and continued up the Mt. through some really thick fog but did not quite need the chains.  We made it to the cabins got all unloaded and situated and before the snow really began to fall.  The cabins and the owner were absolutely lovely.  The guys cabin although it was smaller was homey and a better space to hang out in.  Dinner was made and the residents were all happy to be fed.  JS a resident who is from Columbia went back for a third helping, some of the residents made some comments and JS holds his stomach and then says, "I eat so much because I am like Ted Kennedy." FUNNY! How he thought of Ted Kennedy I am not sure but I will forever laugh when I hear that name.  We played boys v. girls charades, which CN totally dominated and guessed for both teams within about 8 seconds every round.  Then Aaron did some tricky point addition that I still don't understand and the boys won.  The best was when LG kept making a motion of a door closing and someone typing and CN yells, "Aaron" which was the right answer and then RG made a Longhorn sign and that was his hint for me to which I yelled, "I am NOT a longhorn!!!! I'm an Aggie!" That only egged it on. :) The night finished with watching Bridewars and the guys making brownies.  Aaron didn't remember about baking in higher altitudes so the brownies were very undercooked but still tasty... although he did cheat and used a box mix instead of from scratch... boys.

Enjoying some dinner

Gotta love it when a pic is taken as you are taking a big bite :) 

The boys cheat baking... box mixes with candy added

Night #1

That night we went to bed and were all getting situated and I see out our front window Aaron crouching below the windo and then RG go under the window. And then I remembered Aaron making threats of scaring the girls at night, so I go charging out of the cabin determined to not let those boys scare us and I open the door and BL comes jumping at me like a flying monkey and I scream, "SHIT!!!!" and then jump backward. BL falls down laughing and Aaron and RG come running back thinking I have hurt myself and then they die laughing that it was BL that scared me. Then it was time to settle down with the usual girl drama... I don't want to share a room with her... I don't want to sleep on this bed... I need more bathroom time... blah blah blah. 7 girls with one bathroom is pretty rough. I had to make about 4 trips back over to the boys cabin to get tylenol... forgotten cameras, phones, and gloves. Aaron filled me in on the guy drama of farting and bathroom issues and I was thankful for my girl drama.

We woke up the next morning to 18 inches of snow!!! It was absolutely beautiful and  the sun was out so it wasn't that cold! I didn't get any sleep that night due to a number of girls snoring, so at about 7am I hear the front door close, I get up and notice that LB is not in bed.  I wrap up in my sleepingbag and went outside to find LB's red booted feet kicking up in the air and her screaming, "Help I'm stuck."  I go over to her and the snow is up past my knees and help her out.  On our way back to the cabin she accidentally stepped on the back of my sleepingbag and I fell face forward into the a huge pile of snow.  It was hillarious, she was mortified and kept apologizing.  Come to find out she wanted to scare the boys by throwing snowballs at their cabin... unfortunately she was confused and got the wrong cabin and had another family come out and tell her to stop.

A look out our back door

Our vans covered with a bit of snow. 

A couple of shots of the Boy's Cabin

The other residents started to wake up and get ready and were very excited about all the snow outside and then became immediately worried that the parking lot and vans were covered with snow, so how were we going to get out for lunch!  We had not even eaten breakfast and they were so worried about LUNCH!  I told them to worry about one thing at a time and to get dressed so that we could go to the boys cabin for breakfast.  I made chocolate chip pancakes and the residents were thrilled to not stick to their normal diets.  Then it was time to go outside and PLAY!! Snowballs were thrown and snowangels made and then time to dig out the cars.  We waited a couple of hours for the plow to come, while answering the million $ question, "Are we going to be able to go out for lunch and shopping?"  Here Aaron and I were worried about if we would make it to go tubing and they were worried about Shopping!!! They are histerical. 

Whipping up some pancakes! 

I'd like some more please

Mmmm Breakfast was yummy.

Snow Angel Time!

Who's gonna get the first snowball?! 

 Just Relaxing

Happy Couples 

Who burried Aaron?! 

We finally got plowed out for lunch and at that point the temperature dropped drastically. It was now bitterly cold.  We didn't put the chains on just yet but once we found a spot to stop and have lunch at I got the residents situated and then went outside to see how these chains worked.  I didn't particually want to put them on myself but figured Aaron might need some help and it would be good for me to at least see what was going on.  Then we quickly ate, and then off to go tubing.  Tubing was fun but let me just say I have never been so COLD in my life. I had my Uggs waterproofed and well that did not hold up, my feet were completely numb.  I went down with SH 3 times and then could no longer fake that I was having a fun anymore.  BL and RCa were having blast and needed a little convincing that they were cold, but after about an hour we left.  Time to shopping, only problem is that it was so cold and had dropped so much snow that most shops were not even open.  I was a bit of a Scrooge and only gave them an hour because at this time my feet were warming up and were really starting to hurt.  They all found some suvouniers and were happy to get out of the snow. 

The only pic I got while tubing... I was so cold I completely forgot about pictures til the end.

Had to try sledding down the snowhill by the cabin

We ordered pizza and made salad and just had a great night watching movies.  I made some chocolate chip cookies and everyone pigged out! :) I couldn't eat anymore so I had a spoonful of the dough and then tapped out.  Time for bed more girl drama and another night of no sleep.  Man those girls can snore.  The next morning we packed up took some parting pics and hit the road.  The snow seemed to be cleared and after a while we took off the chains.  Made the a pitstop telling the residents that we were not stopping again so grab a snack and use the restroom.  We were thinking this would be fine it should max only take 2 hours to get down the moutain we would be back at Casa by 12:30pm.  Little did we know the adventure that lied ahead.

Group Photo of some of my Party Peeps

To be Continued... :)

The Big Orange Balloon

Oh my goodness I completely forgot I had a blog... well not really but it seems that way. There are 4 posts that I started but never finished so I'm starting and finishing this one.

Backstory:  My friend Shannon started this To-Do list of activities she had never done before, well then I jumped on the bandwagon along with Javi.  So on Shannons iphone we have a list and have started marking things off.  I am also now hoping that when we mark something off I will blog about the adventure we went on. 

This post is about  going on the Big Orange Balloon at Irvine Great Park.  The Park is very new and once was a Airforce base that they are trying to transform into the "Central Park of the West Coast".  It is a very slow process and they are trying to be as green as possible.  They have taken the old cement from the runways and moved it around to form the sidwalks of the park.  They are building a canyon and a lake and walking trails, if it all finally happens it will be a beautiful park in the next 20+ years.  Right now there is not much to it, a carasel, a small kids playground, a farmer's market on Sunday's, and the main attraction The Big Orange Balloon.   It is a helium filled Balloon that is tethered to the ground and goes straight up 400 feet in the air.  Yesterday was our 3rd try and I was beginning to wonder if it would be the charm or the strike out.  Try #1 Javi got sick and we didn't want to go without him, Try #2 it rained and they closed the balloon, Try #3 I am going to tell with pictures...

Javi unfortunately could not come :(

Shannon and I decided we would get up and try for the first ride time 8:30am... it was early and well it looked like the weather would be working against us again

FOG!!!

Well that was not going to get us down.  We decided to go to Starbuck's to get some coffee and see if the fog would eventually burn off.   We had a great time chatting and almost made a spontaneous decision to go to Disneyland, but sat for too long and talked ourselves out of it. 

After a couple of hours we went back to the park because the sun was out and the balloon might fly.  Once back at the park the attendants said they were discussing a test flight, but there was a forecast for wind.  So Shannon and I decided that if nothing else we were going to get pics of the balloon.

 Shannon taking creative pics of the broken up cement that is along the hills. Not sure the purpose but it looked cool. I was sad that there was a sign that said you couldn't climb on it. Why have it if you can't climb on it?

 Took pic of balloon laying on the ground... its a BIG balloon.

 Well I wanted at least my pic with the balloon in the backgound... Kinda hard at arms length.

 Sad face that I don't get to ride the balloon

Got smart and had Shannon take my pic... much better :)

Watching the workers get the balloon ready for a test flight... we should go see if they are handing out tickets yet.

Balloon in flight.

Shannon and I finally got tickets... and stupid blog spot won't let me place the pictures where I want to and I just spent the last 20 min of my life screaming at my computer... Can I have those 20 min back please?  I just wanted the pics to be next to each other is that too much to ask blog spot?!?!?!?

Reading all the interesting facts about the balloon.  You must be educated on the matter.  

Must know the safety precautions.  

 Going Up!

 Enjoying the view.

View from the other side of the balloon.

Looking down on the park's "walking time line".  It is kind of a bust, they could have been so much more creative with how they displayed this history of CA.  It reminded me of the many activities at camp that "seem" like a good idea. Look at our cute little shadow.

When on the ground I looked at this and thought why do they have a random sidewalk that leads no where. Up in the air Shannon informed me that this was N pointing North.

Can you tell this use to be an Airforce base?

I don't remember taking this shot but really like it.

Looking straight down the center of the balloon basket.

I would rate this activity as a B-.  There was a lot of build up and suspense, but I really wish there was more to the park.  I asked our balloon guy when the estimated completion of the park would be and he stated 20-30 years, well that gives them some buffer room. It got the B because it was FREE and that is always a plus when you are a girl living on a budget. The view was BEAUTIFUL and I would love to go again at night and see all the city lights.  This balloon would be perfect at Central Park in NY, that would me a phenomenal view, of course in NY it would probably cost about $20 to do.

See you on the next adventure! 

A little snipet about Casa de Amma

So a couple of weeks ago we had a journalist from the OC Register come to Casa de Amma and do a feature article on our facility and the residents.  Now this may be only a local paper but hopefully this article will get the word out there about what we are doing.  Here is the link it is also posted on my Facebook but knowing me I like to post where ever possible. 
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/amma-278577-casa-residents.html?pic=1



There is only one typo and that is Bradley Lewis has only been at CDA for one year not from when it first opened, but considering that is the only minor typo and they could have described our residents much differently I think it is over all a great article.  There are extra pics as well so make sure to check those out too so that you can get a quick glance at building.  Also you can go to
www.casadeamma.org to see me some more virtual tours of the building.  This is a short post but I am so excited about the article and wanted to share it with everyone.

A Tale From the Land of Melisstonia

So you have all heard the tale of how, Melisstonia, a country of Wendy's World came to fruition with the coffee stain.  Well I have contemplated purposly spilling something to create the next country in Wendy's World, but haven't quite decided how I feel about forcing the next country.  But back in the land of Melisstonia I still have my throne, a primative one but beloved one none the less.  This throne sits in the office of my most trusted advisor Duchess Kasidee.  I spent many of hours in her office, Kas's Korner, venting and getting advice on how to go about my daily affairs with the Wicked Villians of Wendy's World and how they would try to repress the people and break their spirits to point where the people no longer felt joy for their jobs.  These hours of advisement usually included some popcorn and LOTS of Diet Coke.  Even though I moved away from Melisstonia many of close friends included my trusted advisor Duchess Kasidee still fight off these Wicked Villians.  Duchess Kasidee has preserved my throne and even made a sign for it declaring it reserved. 

Recently I was sadden to hear that one of my loyal followers had torn down my sign and was using my throne as a place to throw her belongings.  My heart broke, I even cried a small tear.  Now this follower, Caitlin our Court Jester, admitted her crime and begged for forgiveness (through text message due to the long distance).  I was gracious in handing out the consequence for such a crime.  I told her she had to get on her knees and beg forgiveness from the throne in front of Duchess Kasidee.  Caitlin the Court Jester was also kind enough to bring a Diet Coke offering in her apology.  I think she was grieved as well from her offense. 

All has been made right in the land of Melisstonia.  The throne has been given the respect is deserves and the sign is a little worn but back in place. I suggested it might need to be lamenated so that it can better with stand the wear and tear of time.  The loyal residents of Melisstonia are still battling the WickednVillians. Many have escaped their clutches and other are still looking for the right timing.  All are loved by their Queen who wishes she could be there fight along side of them, but has been called to discover new lands.