Showing posts with label Riders Ride. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Riders Ride. Show all posts

Sunday, January 11

Ghost Hunts and Motorcycles

 I was browsing back through the few recent posts I have put up this last week, or so, and noticed From Friday night's goings-ons, I forgot to share the part of the night I thought was weird. So, you now have a teaser for that coming up in today's post. Probably followed with a bit of the day yesterday as my Riders Chapter did the Frozen Throttles Run. Then, like always, I think I will round it out with plans for this week. In other words, not much more than a regular post, and now you know all this is going to say, you can move on and quit wasting your time today.

Friday night was the "Ghost Hunt at the Post" event put on by the Post. I heard yesterday, that the whole thing was supposed to go until about midnight, but it was past 2am before it ended. Allegedly, no one that attended is talking about "who" or "what" they may have seen, so, is this true stuff? Anyways, earlier Friday evening, after having dinner with RM & PT, I was talking to Stace, as she had said she had an extra ticket for the Ghost Hunt part of the night. She was offering it up to someone else that really wanted to go (limited seating slots available) but turned out, she couldn't get a sitter last minute, so Stace offered the ticket to me. This is probably just a short bit before 9pm - Hunt starts at 10pm. 

Throw in a little backstory part - earlier in the week I had talked with RM and as usual she had asked about the Riders Dinner this week. I glossed over about what we were having, and I was hoping for more people due to the Hunt...which is where I got RM's "holy" look. Now PT & RM are ordained ministers. RM preaches at a couple places here in the Valley during snowbird season. I don't recall exactly what was said between us, but it basically me mentioning to RM to not start on the holy, spiritual thing of angels and demons, and psychic things like this are nothing but temptation to trouble. And she did not continue, but I knew what she was thinking. And earlier too, when I mentioned to the Wife about the Hunt (prior to me even knowing about the ticket) her words were "Don't invite anything home". How do you fell about that?

So, it's around 9pm, Friday night. Psychic is off doing the private readings people actually signed up for (ad paid money). Hunt is not for about an hour. I start getting a headache. One of those stress ones, that start on the neck and from the back, slowly envelopes your skull. I have been told to not take Ibuprofen and Aspirin and  Acetaminaphen (liver has to break them down) whilst trying to figure out my liver issues, so there is no relief that way. I just deal with it... as I did now. I switched my drink from tea to cola. About 5 minutes later, nausea hits - strong! within moments of that, my pulse kicks up, you know the one, that beats at your chest like it is going to bust through and you feel anxiety that speeds it up more. I turned to Stace, told her to give the ticket to someone else, I was out. I went home. I hadn't even gone 1/2 mile from the Post, nausea gone. About halfway home, pulse settles. By the time I got in the house, the headache had not completely gone, but faded to where it was more of an irritant than anything. Was I being manipulated to leave? Was I being moved to avoid something bad happening (let alone to me)? Just a weird story part to the tale. Yes, RM, I am sure I can figure out what you are thinking about it....lol.

The ride yesterday went pretty good I thought. Granted, this is the first one I have ever been on, and I was in my Rav, not on two wheels. We did KSU at 10am to a bright and chilly morning of about 43 degrees. We had 5 guys from our chapter (best turn-out yet) and three others along. We headed north to Prescott. There are a couple steep hills going north of the Valley towards Flagstaff. One of the riders started lagging as we hit the first one. Seems his bike was "just small enough" it didn't have the power to hold the speed limit (75) as it went up the hill. I stayed behind him until we caught up to everyone. We made out first stop (about 30 riders from all over were there) hung for a bit. They had a grand opening so had burgers and hot dogs with chips for free. It was still 43 degrees (there is about a 10 degree difference between Phoenix and our closest urban neighbors year round - Tucson, Prescott, Payson especially). Had a dog, and eventually we readied to move on. another group of riders from Chino Valley joined us as we went to VFW Post 541 Bucky O'Neill. First time there, as typical for the town, the place is well-worn looking, but comfortable. Hung out for a soda or two, and we were off again to Camp Verde VFW Post 6739. Nicer place, bigger, on a mesa so it overlooks a part of the Verde Valley headed out of town (pretty). Couldn't stay long as the riders wanted to be as close to Phoenix before full dark, so we hit the road near 5, and made it back to the Post around 6:15pm. Had a good day and enjoyed my time. Met a bunch of riders from different groups and places. So, for being only like the second ride run we have done, this wasn't bad I thought. ABATE of AZ sponsored with us, so I know getting the word out was more them than us.

This week: Paracentesis on Monday. Liver Specialist on Thursday, followed with bloodwork for his office. Medically, that's all I have. Tuesday (I should) need to get over to SSN to get that Disability paperwork started. Joy. I think that is about all I got off the top of my head this morning.

PeacE

Friday, January 9

*GASP* I Was Wrong ....

Putting this post in on Friday night, as tomorrow will be a long day with a fairly early start for me. But we will get there ....

I had mentioned before about tonight being the Riders Monthly Dinner, and this Ghost Hunt/Show they are doing at like 10pm. I thought maybe we would pick up additional meal sales, as people come early (they had to purchase within a limited number of tickets) as they get off work, and haven't eaten dinner yet... sounds about right? Well, we only sold 16 meals tonight. The gal that was making the garlic bread and possibly bringing a "cheap dessert" (like cupcakes from the store) totally zoned about tonight, so no garlic bread to go with the spaghetti. The Director made (or rather bought then cooked) plain meatballs at home and brought them in, and we used a big ol' bottle of Ragu for sauce. Threw some noodles in the pot, and were off! I personally had picked up 4 bags of salad. Last month, we did about 20 sales, and went through 2 bags, so I figured if we popped out a 35+ number of sales like most months (pre-holiday period) there wouldn't be much spaghetti or salad left over to worry about. No. Instead I have 3 unopened bags. I know I can only get through one bag, before the others start turning to mush and brown stuff, so I ended up giving one to the bartender, and one to my friend's daughter. At least they will eat it.

So the meal came and went. RM and PT came up, as usual (which is nice). Another couple had sat at our table as well, so we didn't talk as much personally as we might normally, but we still caught up. PT's mental facilities are definitely wearing down. I felt he kept asking me questions that he should already know the answer to, or know at least I don't have the answer. Maybe it was just my observation, as I admit, I always get 'testy' when PT comes around. Irritation doesn't begin to hardly describe it. Oh well.

Tomorrow I am going on the Frozen Throttles Run our Riders are putting on with ABATE of AZ. Charity ride to Prescott to Full Stop Motorsports (a motorcycle custom/tire shop) grand opening (friend of one of our riders). Followed with short trip to the Bucky O'Neill VFW 541 in Prescott. Then back to the main highway to head north to Camp Verde to VFW Post 6739. Heard this place is just full of awesome people, and the views, as they sit on top of a hill, look over Camp Verde's valley city area. Two more I can add to my list of visited. Another one of our 'Support' Riders is riding along with me. Have the car pretty much packed up: case of bottled water, trauma kit, 2 boxes of Tees (for the 2 styles we have for sale), my notebook (with all the addresses in case I get lost/lose the group) and a day out of the Valley. Was thinking about stopping in Black Canyon City at Cafe there. It is "world-famous" for their pies. Thought I might stop and get one to bring home, but then I saw the prices online.... almost $30 for a pie. Yeah, they ain't that special to me.

With all that going on, I am sure Sunday will be me resting up, as I have another paracentesis on Monday.

Oh the Joy....
PeacE

For Those That Work .... TGIF!

 Friday has rolled around, and I feel like I got absolutely not one dang thing done. Getting over to the Social Security has been moved to next week (or the attempts to). I just could not get things to work out right for me to get it done this week. I know it is important to get it started forthwith, but still....

Tuesday I did make the VFW House/Entertainment committee meetings and did my secretarial duties. This coming Tuesday, the General Post will vote on the new House Policy that I have helped revamp/emend/revise/update (my first one!) so I am a bit excited. I have been working on this goal for seven months now.

Spent close to an hour up at the Walgreens yesterday. I'm physically out of two of my prescriptions (that have auto-refill) and now have one day left of another. So I go in, as I have not received any of the regular text notifications of auto-refill, or asking if I want a refill. In the past month, the "regular ladies" that work in the pharmacy and I have gotten to know each other a bit. Well, I found out it seems they are all gone (relocates) or retired just all of a sudden it seems. I had three "new" people that didn't know my name, situation, but trying to figure out why their system isn't releasing refills, versus my insurance holding them (which they are). Found out the insurance is 'requiring' a new prior auth for medications (even though some I have been on for years) so my doctor's office has to contact the insurance, then the pharmacy, on each one (I take like 8). I've been out of a couple for a couple days. Already I can feel being chemically "off" a bit.

Friday! This one is a Riders Dinner night for the month. We are serving up some basic spaghetti with sauce, garlic bread, and salad. I believe my friend Stacey even said she was going to bring an easy dessert as well. Even though I am trying to get the Riders Group to "step up" and have others start volunteering (it is slowly working) I try to not offer to help with getting food, or prep, etc. But I did offer finally about Tuesday to get the salad for tonight. Nice and easy, right? Well, tonight will be interesting.... Long story short, we have members that believe that the VFW is "haunted" by spirits - ones they know from the Post. Either way, one of the members knows a popular "medium" and she is doing some private readings tonight, as well as a "show" (I say that, as it sounds like a seance show to me) for a limited number of people as well. Hey, proceeds and the mediums donations, almost all the money for the event comes back to the Post!

Anyhow, I warned our Riders Director, that tonight could be a big dinner night for us, as the "Ghost show" starts a couple hours after our dinner, but people always come up early. He said no it won't. So, typically for the past handful of months, we have averaged around 35-40 dinners in sales. The Director cut it 30-35 tonight. We shall see who was right.

Saturday the Riders also have a Ride! I am planning as of right now to be going, in my 4-wheel Rav4, but it will be a nice ride up to Prescott to a grand opening of a motorcycle place, then to a VFW there in town, then back up north to Camp Verde to visit their VFW, before returning to the Valley. A nice day to get out of town and drive. This will be my first "run", and will be running behind the group, but it is all good. I got the trauma kit and training (hope to not use).

Next week will be interesting. Paracentesis on Monday. Liver Specialist on Wednesday where they will finally get an ultrasound scan of the liver and see what we are working with. May be an adjustment of meds. May be several changes (for the good) but don't know until Wednesday, then I need a day or so to wrap my head around it all.

In the meantime, RM, yes, I will be a the Post for dinner.

PeacE