Into the wild
Heading out for a few nights of backpacking with the husband and the Bear (not a grizzly, as discussed in yesterday’s comments). We’re going to our favorite high mountain lake, where we scattered our previous Lab’s ashes a few years ago. We get very sentimental visiting his resting place. My husband has even mentioned that he’d like his ashes strewn there, too. Um, okay, but not now, right?
Which reminds me of a discussion he had with one of his hunting buddies a while ago. (That’s right, I’m a vegan, my husband is a hunter–it’s hilarious.) The buddy was saying he’s now known three different guys who died during hunting trips–and not from being shot. The typical method seems to be hunting all morning, then sitting down on a log for lunch, and ugh–heart attack–over.
My husband said that didn’t sound like a terrible way to go. “Yeah, I wouldn’t mind dying during a hunting trip,” his buddy answered. “Just not this one.”
Anyway, we’re looking forward to a few days of hard hiking, peaceful reading, watching the Bear chase marmots (always unsuccessfully) and swim his legs off in the clear mountain lake, and the inevitable struggle to keep Bear in the tent with me while my husband fishes for cutthroat trout. Bear really loves to get involved with that. Which is why there was that emergency visit to a vet to remove the fish hook from his lip. Yeah. So during fishing hours we’ll be reading together in the tent, Bear and I. He really likes Nora Roberts.
This means I’ll be off line for a few days, and more important, I’ll be missing two nights of Olympics! Aarg! Oh, well, choices must be made.
Carry on, and I hope you’re all having a fabulous week!
August 20th, 2008 at 5:39 am
I’m sorry, but the phrase “I’ll be off line” made me laugh, coming as it did after the discussion of fishing. And Bear being hooked by Nora Roberts. Or maybe my mind is just thinking in puns today.
Have fun, and no keeling over for anyone!
August 22nd, 2008 at 6:36 am
Sara, obviously you are on full-capacity creativity. You’re too funny.
I’m back, had to come back early because of this dang plantar fasciitis I’ve been enjoying so much the past few months. Apparently adding a 30-pound pack is not what my injured heel was wanting. Go figure.
August 22nd, 2008 at 8:50 am
Oh, too bad that you had to come back early. You could *pretend* you were still away, though, and spend some time gratuitously reading.
I don’t think I’d like to die on a hunting trip, although I’ve never understood airplane fear, as I think *that* would be an okay way to go. At least it’s quick, and you were on your way somewhere that, presumably, you wanted to go.
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Sorry you had to come back early, but I hope it was fun while it lasted.
August 26th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Yes, airplane death seems acceptable to me. Hunting death, well, am I shot or mauled by a wild animal? If shot, did I shoot first or was it something I said?
Personally, I’d prefer to be killed as opposed to just having my body shut down.
Incidentally, I recently hiked this mountain featured in this article, A beautiful place to die
Some people(passer bys) did think I was going to die. Strangley, my friends found my possibly imminent death mildly amusing.
August 26th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Patrick, congratulations on not becoming a statistic! Excellent! And by the way, you need new friends.
Thanks, Jules! It’s all fine–I’m still considering myself to be on vacation, so let the movie-watching, Nora Roberts-reading continue.
(See, Adrienne? I took your advice.)
So Adrienne, I can’t really agree with you about the airplane thing. There would be those last few moments of sheer terror. I’m against terror.
August 27th, 2008 at 4:38 am
Robin, people pay good money for that kind of terror. You just put your arms over your head and yell “Wheeeeeeee!!!”
August 27th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Sorry you had to come back early, but glad to see you’re still considering yourself on vacation. Let the gratuitous reading never die!
August 29th, 2008 at 10:40 am
What happened to the free chocolate??
August 29th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
P, you’re avoiding my advice about dumping your friends. You know I’m right. (Except for those of us on here who are your friends–we deserve to stay.)
Elizabeth, I agree about gratuitous reading! Especially since for months all I read were research books. As much as I loved them, I need some pure fun!
Christen, that’s so last January. I had to let it go. Sorry!
August 30th, 2008 at 5:50 am
Robin, one does not simply dump the hiking mafia. Is complicated.