Flying Leap

So… I consider myself to have a pretty fun-loving sort of attitude. For example, I regularly hide my family's drinks or plates of food if they happen to leave the table while eating. I try to keep a straight face when they return, but as soon as they realize their food is gone, they stare accusingly at me, at which point I break out into resounding guffaws.

I also like to run and take a flying leap onto my king-sized bed. (Consider that, in my mind's eye, I still see myself as 20 years younger than really am.) Anyway, last week, I attempted-once again- just such an aerial display. Only it didn't turn out as in all my previous flights. Namely, I fell off the bed and landed sideways onto the charging mobile phone in between the mattress and the chair. Then, the reality of my predicament began to sink in. Only, my mind replayed my sad plight in slow motion. I couldn't seem to move, I just lay there, instead of trying to extracate myself from between the chair and bed!

Everything about my life now cries, "middle age". To prove it I have visual conformation. Just look at that bruise and scratch-what a doozy!

Dog Fight

In the dog world there is an order to things.

Rusty is the head honcho, but Star and Aki have differing opinions about who's second in command.

The lastest skirmish was quite scary. Star's front tooth broke off and lodged in Aki's foreleg.

Sometimes the dog are very friendly toward each other, but other times Star gets so riled up by another dog passing on the street that she turns territorial. That's when the fights start.

I still love them all though.

Stoneman Lake

Larry and I went camping this weekend at Stoneman Lake and I saw something I’d never encountered before. During one of my exploration treks around our camping spot, I came upon an elk skin hung over a fallen tree. The skin had obviously been in that same spot for many seasons. I thought about taking it but the coat was mangy and matted. Hunters must have skinned their prey, left it to dry and forgot it. I never saw any bones or other parts of the animal.

But that wasn’t the only noteworthy thing that happened. We had a time of it for sure! Camping with no facilities makes for a true wilderness experience.

During the night I got up to go to the bathroom, but because I was still groggy from sleep, I wasn’t thinking too clearly and when I pulled up my pajama bottoms and they were soaked! Well, now I was embarrassed and wet. I had to rummage around in the dark for a second set of pajama bottoms, luckily I packed an extra pair. While I was outside the tent balancing on one leg ( I find that the older I get the less supple my body becomes) I fell down and scratched my calf on a stick. The resulting three inch scrape burned and made it difficult to sleep comfortably because any material that touched my calf irritated my skin.

While lying awake, I was bothered by a familiar hum-mosquitoes! We had put on bug spray before retiring, but it must have worn off. I didn’t feel like getting up again and spraying outside. I would have sprayed inside, except we had foolishly done so earlier. Who knew that toxic fumes build up if spraying occurs in an enclosed area? The can clearly states the warning. (Every once in a while I feel like all my common sense has deserted me.) So I just hunkered down even further in my sleeping bag and waited for the sunrise.

The joys of the forest have always far outweighed any inconveniences. As usual, I can’t wait to go again!