So It was Terrible

Well, good news. I was in a good attitude today. Didn't get annoyed at anyone. Buttt after we accompanied an all day commercial trip in the Narrows (another class 3-4ish rapids), we did flip boat training. I knew it would be hard, but it was ridiculous. It was terrible. We were in this tiny pond, and it took me like 45 stupid minutes to even get on top of my boat. It was one of the hardest physical things I've ever done. And it was so frustrating, because all of the boys did it in about 10 minutes, max. But either way - I made it on top, flipped it, got on top, then flipped it back over. By the time I was on top of the boat for the second time, my entire body was shaking because all of my muscles hurt so badly. Who knew getting on a raft would be so difficult. I also don't think it helped that I did a good 10-15 pull ups right before. But either way. It sucked. But it's over. For now. Here is a raft that is in the flipping process. It is not fun.

Oh, I forgot to say in yesterday's post - when I woke up yesterday, my lower lip looked like I had gotten Botox. It was so swollen from being so sunburned. I iced it for like 30 minutes, then kept putting spf 15 sunscreen chapstick on all day. It is all cracked and burning today, but no more plastic surgery.

Hmm. I am a litttle tired of rafting. I am tired of paddling, of being wet, and of being either cold or sweating under my stupid dry top and dry pants. But we have tomorrow off. So that will be nice. Time to recharge.

And I have more words to say, but I am so exhausted right now that I can't even think.

So What is the Deal?

Well. Today we ended up rafting the Numbers, which is a class 4 section of the Arkansas River, a few miles up the river from Browns Canyon, where we raft. Then we guided Browns this afternoon. I'm not really sure why, but I was pissed off like the whole trip. I actually did well (Rob said I styled Widow-Maker) but I was just so frustrated. And I think I pulled one of my intercostal muscles in my chest. It hurts so badly, especially to do back-strokes. So that has been fun.

But whatever. I've been pissed off for like 2 days now. I'm not really sure why... I am exhausted and certain people have just been annoying me so much. I can just look at them and get annoyed. Hopefully tomorrow will be a newer, brighter, better day though. Haha.

Anyways. Sunday is our day off. I am so excited. It will be nice to be able to sleep later than 6. I am planning on running, washing my clothes, cleaning our house some (we clean our house by listening and dancing to pump up music/rap/etc.), and then other stuff. Not sure what.

Ok, sorry this was so boring. My life is not interesting these days. It just consists of waking up around 6, being on the river for like 12 hours, and then going to bed around 9:30.

So My Watch Died

Well. My watch died. Doesn't work. Passed away. Gone. Donzo. Bye. I don't really know what to do with myself. I wore it today to keep working on my watch tan, but every time I looked down it was 12:00 on Monday, January 1st. Every one of those things are lies. But whatever. I will get a new one soon. Probably on Sunday, which is our next day off.

Anyways, yesterday we went down the river twice. We ran Siedel's Suckhole. Here is a video of it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl1B0wAjOzY . We just went to Hecla the second time. But we were on the river for about 10 hours.

Today, we did the half day trip (to Hecla) twice, and then we swam in the river and worked on throw bags. So cold. It was not the most fun.

Tomorrow we're running the river 3 times. 3 freakin' times.

I am exhausted now, after only 2 trips down. I was asleep by 9:30 last night. I haven't done that in a good 6 or 7 years. It's not even 8 yet and I'm about to fall asleep. Yessss.

So Am I Tan or is it Dirt?

Well. I just got back from my first backpacking experience. 3 days. It was actually really fun. Chilly, but fun. And I was on benadryl most of the time, so I don't remember a whole lot and I kept falling asleep.. Haha. But yeah, as you can read from the title, before I took a shower, I wasn't sure if my arms were tan or just covered in a later of dirt. But I think it was a mixture, now that I'm clean. But don't worry, I didn't loose my watch tan. I covered it or just turned my arms upside town in order to get my forearms tanned. My face did get a little sunburned today though. But no big deal. It will be tan soon. It will be sad having a farmers tan this summer. But my hair will be very blonde. So it all evens out. I don't even know what I'm saying. I haven't slept a ton the past few nights.. Sorrry.

So There's No Time?

Well. We had the day off, so I just relaxed and hung out. It was nice. Nothing interesting happened.

We're leaving for a 3 day backpacking trip tomorrow morning, so I won't be blogging between now and then. But I'm sure some things will happen for me to talk about later. 3 days without a shower will be so fun. I'll definitely smell and look great by Saturday.

Oh, we're not allowed to bring our watches. Which will be so weird and probably terrible. I love knowing what time it is. I can't remember the last time that I went a day without my watch. Well over a year. Maybe 2 years. Maybe more. So 3 days without it will be interesting. Rough. But don't worry, I will put sunscreen on my watch tan so it does not fade.

SB, nothing interesting has happened lately (except my rash has decided to spread down my neck and begin to itch a little), but I just wanted to tell you that I love your blog. I love all of your words. And I love you. Annd my true love proved himself to be wonderful, once again today. He told me happy birthday (Jeff just gave me a head lamp today, which was my present, and I guess he told you-know-who that it was for my birthday) and he even knew the correct day. And then he was an angel when I was getting ready for backpacking, giving me advice and asking if I needed anything. No big deal. Just true lub. Marriage.

So It was an Accident

Well. This whole post is because I accidentally fell asleep today (in my life-jacket) as I was laying on my bed reading, and ended up taking an hour and a half nap. So it's 12:18 am and I'm still awake.. Yeahhh.

Yesterday morning we worked on some river things, and then around lunch time, we got everything ready and we took off down the river. The water was even lower yesterday and today, so instead of really rafting, we more like learned how to avoid rocks. And it is so frustrating. We rafted about 5 and 1/2 miles down the river, and then stopped and set up camp, and spent the rest of the day and night in the middle of Brown's Canyon. It was a lot of fun. I am afraid of the dark though, so that was not the most fun. But that did make the trip a little more funny. And it was very sunny yesterday, so my watch tan is looking great. I am so excited about it.

Anyways. We woke up this morning, had breakfast, packed up our things, and then we went down the rest of the river. I guided through Widow Maker and Raft Ripper, which are two of the rapids on the way to Hekla (where we take the boats out on half-day drips). I definitely suck, but I'm starting to get the hang out it. My muscles are starting to remember more. Practice makes perfect.

When we got back to Noah's, we unpacked, cleaned up, and put everything away. Then, as soon as we got back to the Red House, I took a nice, long shower. It felt so good to be clean again. After lunch, I was reading my Bible, and as soon as I finished the chapter I was reading, I crashed, on accident. Thus the reason I am still awake.

We had dinner at Noah's, and then Katy and Taylor and I turned on techno, pop, rap, etc. and danced around the kitchen in our lifejackets and/or helmets while we cleaned. It was so much fun. After that, a couple people came home and/or came over, and we just hung out. It was a good night.

I don't know why I just went into that much detail about my day - accidental nap.

Oh, small rant: I cannot stand tiny injuries. I have a ton of small wounds that are killing me, and they are such a pain, because they make even the tiniest tasks so hard. For example, earlier today when I was putting the lifejackets away from our trip, my thumb got caught on something, but the rest of my body kept moving, so my thumbnail got pulled up a tiny bit and started bleeding a tiny bit, but now it hurts to do like everything. And I have a couple hangnails that are killing me. And stupid almost-blisters on my hands. Dumb. Oh, and for some reason, I have all of these bumps all over my face - I'm not sure what from. Not acne or anything, just annoying bumps, and the ones behind my left ear itch. I'm not sure if it's an allergic reaction, or some type of poison ivy from camping, or what the deal is. But all of these things are so annoying. When people ask what type of super power I would want to have, I would hands down say that I wouldn't get injured. I don't mind feeling pain, but stupid injuries are just dumb.

Ok, that was enough.

Tomorrow we have the day off, so I'm thinking a run, a cool shower, chocolate chip pancakes, a nice long quiet time, the thrift store, etc. I'm pumped.

SB, I have a secret to tell you, but it's too late for me to text you, so text me soon.

Ohh, and Jeff came today, and it was so nice to see him! I'm so excited about the summer.

And I don't have any great pictures, but here is one of me and my trophy before our first trip on the river:

So It's Fun

Well. We finished up WAFA Friday, so we're all pretty official now. And any time someone gets even the tiniest bit of hurt, we all stop, (1) asses the scene for any other dangers, (2) ask: what happened to you?, (3) put on our "gloves," (4) ask if there's anyone else, (5) see if they're dead or alive, etc. It was really boring being in class for 8 hours every day, especially after just getting done with exams, but it was a nice way to meet everyone and become friends with everyone. There are some siiick people in my guide class. It's weird being around so many boys. When I lived in Birmingham, I had a couple guy friends, but mainly friends that were girls. Then when I lived on the Eastern Shore, I had mainly friends that were boys. Then at Samford, because there are maybe 5 boys on the whole campus, I mainly have friends who are girls. But here - oh dear. So many boys. It's weird flip flopping so much. There are 6 girls in my guide class, and 13 boys. And that's just in my class. There are fewer girls in last year's class. So yeahh. Boys everywhere. But it's fun. The girls in my class are sweeeet. I love them. Everyone is so different, but so great. I will try to talk about them in more detail later. And then the older girl guides are so great too. Kait, who is a second year guide, is ballllin'. I want to be her best friend. And I want her to marry Jeff (they're like bff already - so close to marriage). Hopefully neither of them will read this. But anyways..

Yesterday was my first time on the river. It was pretty fun. The water was at 400 cfs (cubic feet per second), which is realllly low, so it was a pretty boring/slow trip most of the time. But a good time, none the less.

Today though. Oh boy. We went down the river again, but WE guided. Like I, Elizabeth Marie Vincent, was in charge of a boat. On my second day on the river. It was so hard and frustrating, but also really fun. I totally sucked it up, but that's ok - it was my first time ever. It's so tricky using the currents and the stupid huge oars to navigate the boat around rocks and the shore. Somehow the older guides make it look effortless. But do not be fooled. It is ridiculous. So hard. There were two other people in my guide class in my boat, so we took turns, and we were all drenched in sweat by the end. And we only guided for sections of the 5 mile stretch. I can't imagine doing the whole thing. But soon I'll be tough enough and I'll be able to do it. Hopefully.

Hmm. Tomorrow we are going to swim in the 40ish degree water. So that should be a lot of fun. And a little chilly. And then we're guiding down the river again, but we're going to spend the night in Brown's Canyon. So that should be interesting. I'm not a huge camper. And I freakin' hate sleeping bags. But we'll see what happens. It should be fun and hopefully bonding.

Every day here is so full. Like when I think about what I did yesterday morning, it feels like last week. And even this morning. Or this afternoon. Feels like forever ago. But it's good. Staying busy is good - keeps my mind off of stupid things. But it also keeps my mind off of important things. I keep forgetting to skype with people. :( And I really need to email some people at Samford about the concert in the fall. And I just finished my mom's Mother's Day card, but I haven't put it in the mail yet. So everything is good and bad. I get Tuesday afternoon and all of Wednesday off though, so that should be really nice. Sleeeeeping in. Yes, please.

Ok, I'm going to bed now. I'm already about 2 hours past my bed time. But here is a picture I took yesterday. This is what I see if I walk down the road about a block. Every single time I look out the window I see just how majestic and awesome God is. It is crazy.

So I'm a Slacker

Well. I had all the best intentions to blog about this week, tonight, but then I got really side-tracked. And I have to be "river ready" with 5 boats topped off and ready to go, but 8 tomorrow morning, so I need to go to bed right now. I will try harder to blog tomorrow. Sorrry.