Monday, June 27, 2011
Day -258
I'm headed out to go fishing. We go GA to ME. Bombing up the coast with rubbermaid tubs of fish and then a respite at a campground in Maine before hightailing it back to FL.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Day -261
One of the traditional homecoming activities my mom enforces is Editing My Stuff. I've always been a collector of things small and useless which have important symbolic, sentimental meanings. I tuck them away in shoe boxes and suitcases and rubbermaid tubs piled up on the top shelf in the guest room closet. Eventually these things (plastic skeletons, pens that have run out of ink, advertisement badges, ribbons of all sorts, notes scribbled on napkins: "I was here, you weren't. Call me!") lose meaning. Mom doesn't like to store these boxes of garbage, but she's sensitive, so the getting rid of process has taken years. This year my assignment was "Get rid of all those old t-shirts and boxes of crap upstairs" Ok. Turns out those boxes of crap were my old journals from about 6th grade on and all my papers from junior and senior English. The titles were things like "Connie Chatterley: A Woman Awakened" or "A Journey Worth the Loss of Six Toes: A Review of Pride and Prejudice", in which I concluded Pride and Prejudice gives the reader a satisfaction upon actually finishing the book that I think can be compared to the satisfaction of a mountain climber reaching the summit of Everest...and though one may have lost six toes along the way, when asked why the journey was undertaken--why this book, why that mountain--"because it is there." Oh boy.
I also found these scrawled notes from the first backpacking trip my dad took me on when I was about 11. [sic] througout
I also found these scrawled notes from the first backpacking trip my dad took me on when I was about 11. [sic] througout
Fig. 1. On the river age 11
It was a rough morning. Trees down all over the trail. Landslides and crawling up hills. But nothing as beautiful as this treasure goes ungarded. Lucious greenery. Thimble berries. The rambling of the river. The wind. The dew.
It is about 9pm. Everything is all buttoned up and ready if it rains. It rained earlier about 6 or 7. We can't go down the trail any further so we are going to hike out in the morning. We are spending the night on a little beach. Dad built a campfire. [blah blah blah nature is lovely and beautiful...unbridled 11 year old enthusiasm]
Day -263
"Hey! What's this?" My nephews have spotted my new hammock hanging between the porch and the garage at my folks' house.
"Oh, that's my new house, what do you think?"
"That's a house?"
"Sure, I'm going to live in that when I hike the Appalachian Trail. Do you want to get in?" The boys emit some excited squeals and flap their hands like ducklings--I pretty much feel the same way about the hammock. The boys, ages 8 and 6, take to the velcro trap door like fish to water.
"What's the Appalachian Trail?"
"Well, it's a long trail in the woods from Georgia to Maine" They nod, like they know what I'm talking about.
"So you're going to walk that whole way?"
"Yes."
"Carrying all your stuff?"
"Yes"
"How long will that take?"
"How long do you think it will take?"
"A few weeks?"
"No, more like five months. Want to come?"
"Oh, yes! But only for three months because we can't miss school" That's my 8 year old nephew, he is a serious student.
I talk them into going on a hike with me the next day. I took them out to a little patch of forest north of town. We explored a creek. Found a frog and some sticks. Climbed up a ridiculiously steep hill and walked for about 1/2 a mile before my 6 year old nephew expressed his dislike of "All this walking". Maybe long hikes aren't in his future, but he does have an aptitude for plant identification and taught me a thing or two about the flora of the area.
"Oh, that's my new house, what do you think?"
"That's a house?"
"Sure, I'm going to live in that when I hike the Appalachian Trail. Do you want to get in?" The boys emit some excited squeals and flap their hands like ducklings--I pretty much feel the same way about the hammock. The boys, ages 8 and 6, take to the velcro trap door like fish to water.
"What's the Appalachian Trail?"
"Well, it's a long trail in the woods from Georgia to Maine" They nod, like they know what I'm talking about.
"So you're going to walk that whole way?"
"Yes."
"Carrying all your stuff?"
"Yes"
"How long will that take?"
"How long do you think it will take?"
"A few weeks?"
"No, more like five months. Want to come?"
"Oh, yes! But only for three months because we can't miss school" That's my 8 year old nephew, he is a serious student.
I talk them into going on a hike with me the next day. I took them out to a little patch of forest north of town. We explored a creek. Found a frog and some sticks. Climbed up a ridiculiously steep hill and walked for about 1/2 a mile before my 6 year old nephew expressed his dislike of "All this walking". Maybe long hikes aren't in his future, but he does have an aptitude for plant identification and taught me a thing or two about the flora of the area.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Day -265
 |
| Fig. 1. This is way better than the guest room |
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Day -270
Leaving to visit my west coast and Idaho families tomorrow, trying like mad to make some progress at work. Had a dinner date with the scanner and now I'm trying to send myself some work through the internets so I can have it at home.
I'm rereading Thru Hiker's Eyes. It's a pretty funny book, if it were a movie it would be a cartoon. There's seriously improbable things going on in there--like when a tent 'implodes' as someone packs it up without even getting out. Ha! I wish my some of my Scouties could learn to do that. I think they TRY to pack the tent without getting out--that's what they tell me when I holler at them at 9am "Girls, we are packing up to leave. Everyone else has their bags packed and you haven't even appeared outside yet" and they reply "We're Paaaaaaaaaacking!"
I'm rereading Thru Hiker's Eyes. It's a pretty funny book, if it were a movie it would be a cartoon. There's seriously improbable things going on in there--like when a tent 'implodes' as someone packs it up without even getting out. Ha! I wish my some of my Scouties could learn to do that. I think they TRY to pack the tent without getting out--that's what they tell me when I holler at them at 9am "Girls, we are packing up to leave. Everyone else has their bags packed and you haven't even appeared outside yet" and they reply "We're Paaaaaaaaaacking!"
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Day -271
Number crunching and RNA-Fail today. What I wouldn't give for a job where I can SEE what I'm doing. Lab work is soul shattering. Also, it may or may not be giving me cancer.
In other news: Something new that I can no longer live without.
Net tent and Poncho Tarp: at 19 oz for the set, how could I go wrong?
WORLDS LIGHTEST DOUBLE WALL TENT YOU GUYS!
Only thing I can't figure out is what the best way to set this up in the rain is. Presumably, I'd be WEARING the poncho if it rains. So how do you keep your gear dry while you set the poncho up? Maybe you're meant to crouch down and peg the poncho out around you while you're inside? Seems unlikely, though I'd love to see someone try that.
Or, I guess you could throw a ground cloth over your gear, put the tarp up and crawl inside. The bug net may not be necessary in a storm. Mosquitoes don't like rain, right?
In other news: Something new that I can no longer live without.
Net tent and Poncho Tarp: at 19 oz for the set, how could I go wrong?
WORLDS LIGHTEST DOUBLE WALL TENT YOU GUYS!
Only thing I can't figure out is what the best way to set this up in the rain is. Presumably, I'd be WEARING the poncho if it rains. So how do you keep your gear dry while you set the poncho up? Maybe you're meant to crouch down and peg the poncho out around you while you're inside? Seems unlikely, though I'd love to see someone try that.
Or, I guess you could throw a ground cloth over your gear, put the tarp up and crawl inside. The bug net may not be necessary in a storm. Mosquitoes don't like rain, right?
Monday, June 13, 2011
Day -272
Grueling day at work, must have put in 3 miles around the bench. ha.
My iPod reminded me how much I love the song American Pie, probably because it is so long.
I had vivid flashbacks of one late night in the dining hall with the kitchen staff at Camp 4echoes, standing on benches under the wagon wheel light fixtures singing that song at the top of our lungs. Because we knew all the words. Because it was late and we were 16. We had to be loud because everyone else was in bed and because it was finally dark. In the old lodge there were these dusty corners where the shadows would pass the afternoons when we would sit and sweat and will ourselves to feel cool. At night they would creep across the floors and spill out the single paned windows that were always open and roll across the lawn, under the starlight, down to the bay. If we were up to see that happen, and if we were alone then we owned the whole tableau. Now, it doesn't seem so strange that we were so into that song that summer. Who didn't want to be a "teenage broncin' buck with a pink carnation and a pickup truck"? We understood profoundly that "the half-time air was sweet perfume". None of us were born anywhere near to a time where we might have understood the whole significance of the lyrics but we thought we did. See that was our Kerouac and coffee shop summer were we came down with a case of 'too smart for our own good' that often infects high school kids, and it's a well known fact that everyone feels worldly at 16. We were so grown up then, not at all like I am now. And, American Pie seems like the kind of song that lends itself to dusty shadows. They tore down that lodge this past winter, bummer.
Bohemian Rhapsody occupies the same Long Song space in my brain. There was a canoe trip where both our party and the river ran out of water, we suffered group heat stroke and became marooned on a desert island with just that song and a deck of cards to occupy our minds. Thunder bolts and lightning...
My iPod reminded me how much I love the song American Pie, probably because it is so long.
I had vivid flashbacks of one late night in the dining hall with the kitchen staff at Camp 4echoes, standing on benches under the wagon wheel light fixtures singing that song at the top of our lungs. Because we knew all the words. Because it was late and we were 16. We had to be loud because everyone else was in bed and because it was finally dark. In the old lodge there were these dusty corners where the shadows would pass the afternoons when we would sit and sweat and will ourselves to feel cool. At night they would creep across the floors and spill out the single paned windows that were always open and roll across the lawn, under the starlight, down to the bay. If we were up to see that happen, and if we were alone then we owned the whole tableau. Now, it doesn't seem so strange that we were so into that song that summer. Who didn't want to be a "teenage broncin' buck with a pink carnation and a pickup truck"? We understood profoundly that "the half-time air was sweet perfume". None of us were born anywhere near to a time where we might have understood the whole significance of the lyrics but we thought we did. See that was our Kerouac and coffee shop summer were we came down with a case of 'too smart for our own good' that often infects high school kids, and it's a well known fact that everyone feels worldly at 16. We were so grown up then, not at all like I am now. And, American Pie seems like the kind of song that lends itself to dusty shadows. They tore down that lodge this past winter, bummer.
Bohemian Rhapsody occupies the same Long Song space in my brain. There was a canoe trip where both our party and the river ran out of water, we suffered group heat stroke and became marooned on a desert island with just that song and a deck of cards to occupy our minds. Thunder bolts and lightning...
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Day -273
Sorted out plans to meet up with my old Scout friends next week in Oregon. They're not real family, but they're chosen family. Whenever we see each other it's like no time has passed. Friends fade away eventually but family won't let you get away so easily. I don't get to spend too much time with them though, I'm only on the coast for 'business'. I'm dropping my little buddy Hopalong off at her Grandpa's house and then I'm off to Idaho to visit my natal family. The farm land and open space will be a nice change of pace for a week.
Took the dogs to the beach this morning before visiting one of my co-leaders to sort out the finances. She was a bit taken aback when I dumped out the jar of receipts on her kitchen table. Turns out I'm also supposed to open the bank statements? We got through it without any bloodshed, Hurrah!
One of my scouts dropped off a tightly sealed up garbage bag yesterday. I thought it only had the crummy walmart tent the troop owns in it. Today I was cleaning up my room and I was just going to throw the whole bag in the tent closet when I thought better and opened it up. Turns out there was my own 2man tent, the troop tent AND a gob of moldy cream cheese in there. Ugh, 5th graders! I resolve to never let those Scouts out of my sight until we unpack group gear after a trip. Be it lightning, snowing, raining or dead of night...
Took the dogs to the beach this morning before visiting one of my co-leaders to sort out the finances. She was a bit taken aback when I dumped out the jar of receipts on her kitchen table. Turns out I'm also supposed to open the bank statements? We got through it without any bloodshed, Hurrah!
One of my scouts dropped off a tightly sealed up garbage bag yesterday. I thought it only had the crummy walmart tent the troop owns in it. Today I was cleaning up my room and I was just going to throw the whole bag in the tent closet when I thought better and opened it up. Turns out there was my own 2man tent, the troop tent AND a gob of moldy cream cheese in there. Ugh, 5th graders! I resolve to never let those Scouts out of my sight until we unpack group gear after a trip. Be it lightning, snowing, raining or dead of night...
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Day -274
Last night and today definitely counted as about three days. We had our awards ceremony--which was more like "Girl Scouts: Clown Car Edition. How many people can we fit in the scout house?" We only get all our age levels together (Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors AND Ambassadors) once a year so it's quite an event.
The parents said it was a nice ceremony and the girls were happy to get badges and walk across the wooden bridge. But lordy was it ever hot and crowded. The house isn't much bigger than a standard-sized living room. It comfortably holds a dozen kids but we rearranged the furniture and made good use of all the benches and managed to squash 20 girls and their families into the house. I'm SURE that's not compliant with safetywise ratios or fire code or anything but I did point out the three exits (Here, here and HERE, make sure to look carefully, the nearest exit may be behind you).
Today we wrapped up the year with a party the Cadettes planned. It was kept TOP SECRET from me (seriously, Sam you can't know anything!). Turns out they planned a "Birthday" party for me complete with mildly humiliating party games. They made me a card shaped like a backpack and they all signed it with sweet sentiments. Though the highlight was: "Happy Turd-Day you're not Always Stupid" Trust me that is a compliment from the girl in question. They're the best.
So that's it, Folks. The Official end of the GS Year. Now I can sift through the ruins of my life and build it up again over the next few months before we start again. I mean, clean my bedroom and sort gear and start making the 2011-2012 calendar. It's a historic membership year after all...
Here's a list of things I did this year that I swore up and down I would never ever do (or at least wouldn't have thought I would do).
1. Accepted brownies into the troop. Turns out they're pretty cute and easy to handle.
2. Swam with gators, danced with ticks.
3. Hosted a Service Unit event. Film Festival, it went OK.
4. Attended the Opera Workshop. Learned a lot but, oops couldn't make it to the Opera performance had to go to wilderness first aid training.
5. Listened to Lady Gaga for 4 hours straight on the way to O'Leno State Park with the Cadettes.
6. Doubled the enrolement in Troop 48.
7. Snagged a really awesome co-leader who's in it for the long-haul.
8. Helped the Juniors and Cadettes complete their Journeys. For real!
Next year we're going to be training seriously for the kick off of the Eaglet Express. We're bringing as many girls and parents as we can up to Springer for the first leg of the Journey.
The parents said it was a nice ceremony and the girls were happy to get badges and walk across the wooden bridge. But lordy was it ever hot and crowded. The house isn't much bigger than a standard-sized living room. It comfortably holds a dozen kids but we rearranged the furniture and made good use of all the benches and managed to squash 20 girls and their families into the house. I'm SURE that's not compliant with safetywise ratios or fire code or anything but I did point out the three exits (Here, here and HERE, make sure to look carefully, the nearest exit may be behind you).
Today we wrapped up the year with a party the Cadettes planned. It was kept TOP SECRET from me (seriously, Sam you can't know anything!). Turns out they planned a "Birthday" party for me complete with mildly humiliating party games. They made me a card shaped like a backpack and they all signed it with sweet sentiments. Though the highlight was: "Happy Turd-Day you're not Always Stupid" Trust me that is a compliment from the girl in question. They're the best.
So that's it, Folks. The Official end of the GS Year. Now I can sift through the ruins of my life and build it up again over the next few months before we start again. I mean, clean my bedroom and sort gear and start making the 2011-2012 calendar. It's a historic membership year after all...
Here's a list of things I did this year that I swore up and down I would never ever do (or at least wouldn't have thought I would do).
1. Accepted brownies into the troop. Turns out they're pretty cute and easy to handle.
2. Swam with gators, danced with ticks.
3. Hosted a Service Unit event. Film Festival, it went OK.
4. Attended the Opera Workshop. Learned a lot but, oops couldn't make it to the Opera performance had to go to wilderness first aid training.
5. Listened to Lady Gaga for 4 hours straight on the way to O'Leno State Park with the Cadettes.
6. Doubled the enrolement in Troop 48.
7. Snagged a really awesome co-leader who's in it for the long-haul.
8. Helped the Juniors and Cadettes complete their Journeys. For real!
Next year we're going to be training seriously for the kick off of the Eaglet Express. We're bringing as many girls and parents as we can up to Springer for the first leg of the Journey.
 |
| Fig. 1 My "birthday" cupcake. It says "Sam's Fault" which is their way of saying they respect me so much that anything that goes wrong must be my fault because the sun and moon revolve around me. Right? Right? Anyone? |
Friday, June 10, 2011
Day -275
Subtitle: Scout Awards
Today we're having the end of the year award ceremony. I wish I could say that I spend lots of time reflecting on how wonderful the girls are in philosophical and eloquent ways, but I don't. I'm usually busy packing or unpacking gear, running after folks with paperwork, writing emails that may or may not be read, thumbing through the badge book and generally testing the limits of my memory and patience. This is not to say that I don't think the girls are the coolest kids on the planet. Obviously I enjoy what I do, or I wouldn't put in the (probably) 300+ hours a year to help make Troop 48 the rockin'est troop in the area. I love hanging out with them and watching them try new things or pull of something especially challenging is really rewarding. And they're funny, hilarious even (when they're not screaming).
Maybe I should hire a speech writer.
In other news:
275 days until March 12, 2012. I've lost my lexan cup. I couldn't find it when I was packing for the O'Leno trip a few weeks ago. I'm really bummed out about that--not because it's a valuable cup or especially fancy or anything but I liked it. My dad bought it for me before he took me on my first ever backpacking trip in 1995. So-long lexan cup, you'll be missed. At least we can say you were durable. Guess this means I have a reason to stop by REI next week!
Today we're having the end of the year award ceremony. I wish I could say that I spend lots of time reflecting on how wonderful the girls are in philosophical and eloquent ways, but I don't. I'm usually busy packing or unpacking gear, running after folks with paperwork, writing emails that may or may not be read, thumbing through the badge book and generally testing the limits of my memory and patience. This is not to say that I don't think the girls are the coolest kids on the planet. Obviously I enjoy what I do, or I wouldn't put in the (probably) 300+ hours a year to help make Troop 48 the rockin'est troop in the area. I love hanging out with them and watching them try new things or pull of something especially challenging is really rewarding. And they're funny, hilarious even (when they're not screaming).
Maybe I should hire a speech writer.
In other news:
275 days until March 12, 2012. I've lost my lexan cup. I couldn't find it when I was packing for the O'Leno trip a few weeks ago. I'm really bummed out about that--not because it's a valuable cup or especially fancy or anything but I liked it. My dad bought it for me before he took me on my first ever backpacking trip in 1995. So-long lexan cup, you'll be missed. At least we can say you were durable. Guess this means I have a reason to stop by REI next week!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Where'd we go???
Ok, so Virginia Skyline Council is organizing this thing called the Great Girl Scout Hike, it's basically the Eaglet Express.
They have a website at www.gshike.org. Check them out there, they're going into it with the ATC and lots of other higher up support.
I'll still be hiking, I'll still be starting March 12, but if you want more official info on the GS Appalachian Trail thru for the centenary contact the GS hike folks.
They have a website at www.gshike.org. Check them out there, they're going into it with the ATC and lots of other higher up support.
I'll still be hiking, I'll still be starting March 12, but if you want more official info on the GS Appalachian Trail thru for the centenary contact the GS hike folks.
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