There's thumbthing about camping

This past summer was the annual Vaeth family trek to Rocky Gap State Park - a 5-day camping trip. Our first day was filled with traveling and setting up and a late evening crab feast down by the lake. The crabs were full, the beer was cold and the glow sticks were bright (even though they did get stuck in the trees). Thursday was overcast and rainy. Bella's bike had a blow out and we decided to head to Walmart to get her a new bike as the old one was really getting too small for her.
The Walmart trip was pretty non-eventful. Bella rode her bike around the store as we shopped and Ian got lost for 15 seconds.
When we got back to camp it was raining and that put a damper on things. Suddenly, things got a little more exciting. Walter ran over to our site to let us know that Sue had a terrible accident. Sue yelled,"It's not a big deal." Walter then told us that Sue had cut off the end of her thumb and he was taking her to the hospital to have it reattached. I was a little surprised when Sue came over smiling and laughing and asking if I wanted to see it. Of course I did. I had expected her to take off her bandage to show me a thumb tip badly cut. What I wasn't expecting was her handing me a plastic baggie with ice and a paper towel in it. I was a little grossed out but eagerly took the baggie from her, opened the towel and screeched when I saw the tip of Sue's  thumb with the nail still attached right there in the paper towel. Eeew!!
Long story short, they reattached it. Call her for the gruesome details that are too much for me to repeat here.
Needless to say, the tip and thumb jokes started before she even returned from the hospital. But when she did, each time you'd ask how she was, she'd give a thumbs-up. Of course she couldn't help it considering how her thumb was wrapped - in white gauze 3x normal size - kind of cartoonish.
The next day was again uneventful as far as injuries. A bunch of us took a ride on the Cumberland Railroad on an old steam train to Frostburg. It was a cool ride. We went to the first car on the way up and stood in the vestibule and found ourselves covered in soot. Anna even had it in her belly-button. On the way back, we hung out in the vestibule of the last car. It rained again on the way home.
Saturday was finally a beautiful day, sunny and warm and we hung out at the beach. We rented a canoe and Bella, Frank and I took a trip and saw lots of turtles, ducks fish and birds. Colson had a great "Colson" day; he played volley ball, football, and hung out with the big kids, went mountain biking and got to eat more s'mores. In the evening, after dinner I started thinking about the evening's fire. I coerced the youngsters into going to fetch fire wood. I got the money for the wood out the Pilot and as I closed the door I suddenly realized my right thumb was closed in the door. Ouch is not the right word. I was speechless and couldn't breathe. Unfortunately, I also couldn't talk and I just breathed heavily as I tried not to cuss in front of the children and fell onto the ground. Sophie seemed to understand something was odd about my behavior and came over to see if I was OK. I still could not speak but she saw the blood and went to fetch ice and paper towels (very calmly I may add).
Turns out it hurt like mad but the cut was not deep and nothing seemed to be broken. I wrapped it in towels and ice while it swelled and slowly calmed down. As family members mingled from camp to camp, the news of another thumb injury spread. Of course, more jokes came. 

Sue was not at camp during my injury but when she came back she visited me and we thumbs-upped each other. And made some lame thumb injury puns. Laughter really is the best medicine. That and vodka. I did make a drink for myself. That and the ibuprofin had me feeling better in no time. 

So now it's 3 months later. Sues nail came off but the scar looks great and things seem to be healing very nicely. I lost half of my nail but it's growing back. I have a small scar too but nothing compared to Sue's. Mine would be much better had I not caught it in the mouse trap last week, but that's just just how I roll. Being injured is just a way of life.

Hopefully, our next camping trip won't be so injurious. At least no one died this time. But that's another story I'll tell later. Here is the teaser - It's best not to ignore the sound of human suffering in the woods in the middle of the night.  Someone just might end up dead.

They're not Indoor Mousers....

I was sitting in the dining room a few days back when, from the corner of my eye, I spied a mouse creep from under the refrigerator and scurry over to the cat food dishes. I jumped and yelled at it. It hightailed back under the fridge. A few minutes later, the mouse repeated his trip. I yelled and threw something at it. Again, it cowered under the fridge. I knew this method would not solve my newfound rodent problem. So I went upstairs and found Tiger sleeping on my bed. "We have a mouse in the kitchen" I told her. She looked at me through sleepy eyes, put her paw over her face to block the light I had just flicked on and went back to sleep. Apparently, she is in a union and this was her break time.

So back to the kitchen for me. I remembered we had a mouse problem two years ago and thought we may still have some traps left over. I found them and set to work baiting them. One is a nice trap that only cages them. So I set that one with a little peanut butter and put it next to the fridge. The next was a little more sophisticated. It's an enclosed spring trap, basically like to old fashioned type you see on "Tom and Jerry". I'm afraid of this kind so I picked it up very gingerly and SNAP! It closed right on my thumb - the one with no nail from when I slammed my thumb in the car door this past summer. A few swear words later I was calm enough to figure how to bait it without further injury to myself. I put in some peanut butter, set it and put it on the other side of the fridge.

As always when at war, it's best to use all the weapons in your arsenal so I also put a few glue traps under the refrigerator.  Now I felt well protected from any advancement the mice may make from their new home in the crawl space under the fridge, so i set about my day. Upon returning home, there were no mice in the traps. I have to admit I was a little disappointed. I must have really scared the poor thing when I yelled at it earlier. Either that or he was building his own army. (And to Sue and other feminists, it's a he because that makes it easier somehow for me to kill them. There's still a part of me that thinks there are adorable little mommy mice in pink calico dresses rocking mice babies in walnut shells living in the walls.)

The evening arrived with no sign of mice. We ate dinner and the kids went to bed. I was sitting quietly in the dining room on the computer when I heard a snap. Jerry heard it too because before I could even get into the kitchen, he was at the mouse trap. He had the top off and was now walking around the house with the mouse in his mouth. The mouse in the trap in his mouth! That was probably one of the funniest things I have ever seen.  I tried to help Jerry out by taking the trap away from him to let the mouse out for him to play with. (Imagine the shame he would feel if the other cats in the neighborhood knew he used traps to catch mice!) He would not let me near him though. Each time I tried, he would growl a low intimidating growl at me. Tiger tried too and was growled at. By this time, Colson was downstairs joining in the fun but he got growled at too. So, we let Jerry prance around the house for a while with his treasure until he tired of it. I carefully took the trap away and released the now dead mouse. Jerry lost interest in it very soon. Then Tiger knocked it around for a minute until I got too grossed out by it. So I picked it up with a paper towel. Of course Colson wanted to see it so I showed it to him. He remarked on how big the eyes were. I guys they pop out a little when their necks are crushed. I tried to shake off the bad feelings I had about causing so much pain to a little critter, then I thought about mouse poop in my house and I didn't feel badly anymore. So I threw it in the trash and reset the trap.

While I was sleeping later that night I heard a commotion downstairs. I went into the kitchen and found Jerry under the table with a mouse in his mouth...in a glue trap. Again, I tried to get it away and was rebuffed. But I persevered. I was afraid Jerry would get stuck in the glue too. I picked up the trap with the wriggling mouse and wasn't sure what to do with it. I was a little groggy still from having just awakened so I just pitched it in the trash thinking it would die soon enough.

I went back to bed and after another hour or two of sleep heard that distinctive snap again. This noise no longer aroused any interest from the cats so I went down to a mouse filled trap. When I went to the cabinet where my trash can is kept to dispose of the creature, I was surprised to see a live mouse scurrying around the floor of the cabinet. I slammed the door shut and panicked. How could I trap him. I couldn't just let him escape. Although I was proud of him in a way for being able to wiggle out of the glue and get out of the trash can. So I just opened the cabinet and let him run back under the fridge. 

So, I've got two confirmed kills and haven't seen any mice for a day and a half. Maybe they've found a new home. Maybe they are scheming a way around the traps. Maybe they are in peanut butter rehab learning how to avoid the lure of fresh roasted peanuts for the safer cat food. Either way, I'll be ready with my traps cause I know my two felines will be of no use. And that's the craziest part of the whole story. My yard is littered with skeletal remains of mice, moles, voles, chipmunks, snakes, rabbits (although no heads have yet been found) and squirrels. There are fresh dead things almost every day on the deck, porch or driveway. I've even had nightmares of a Poltergeist type situation where small skeletons pop out of the lawn and steal my children. 

That makes me wonder though if perhaps there is a deal my cats have made of which I am unaware. Why else would I have to trap the mice?  Why else would they wait until the mice are in the traps to play with them? Maybe there is something to that union idea. Maybe I should have adopted cats belonging to the indoor mousers union. I guess I'll never know. 

 

And I Ran...

I was working at University of Maryland this morning (with Gary Williams) on an UnderArmour commercial. I was involved in dressing some very muscular athletes and wetting them down to make them sweaty. They were jogging in place and doing push-ups to pump themselves up before each take (testosterone city!) and I began feeling very antsy. I wanted so badly to work out right then and there. Of course the cashmere sweater and wedges I was wearing prevented me from going at it right then, but I was very inspired to exercise by the time I was off work (which was only 5 hours after I went in). So I came home, checked email, facebooked for a few minutes and talk on the phone. The urge to move was still there so I got on my workout gear, dusted off my weights and did a nice 30 minute strength workout. 

It was nearing time to pick up the kids so I thought I would first walk my old running route before heading up to school. I power walked up and down the first hill and felt invigorated.  I continued walking up the second hill and as I got to a nice flat spot I began to jog. It felt pretty good so I picked up the pace a little. Before I knew it I was running. Wow, it was great to feel the pounding of my feet on the pavement, to feel the wind in my ears, to get into a rhythm of pumping arms, breathing in, breathing out, step, step, step. 

I thought I'd just go a few blocks but there was no real pain so I kept going. I continued to run past my turn around spot and kept on running. I figured I'd get to the upcoming hill and take it back to a fast walk. But at the base of the hill I still felt great so I charged it. I made it all the way to the top and then some. Then, I felt a little ache and slowed it down.  I turned around and walked back to the school. I was sweaty, tired, winded and sore and I felt terrific. 

I'm probably going to pay for that run tomorrow in aches and pains in my knee. Judging from the way it feels now I'm going to need a little ibuprofin and ice tonight. But no matter what it feels like now I feel renewed. It's been 5 months since I've been for a run. 5 long months. I'll take a few days to recover before I try again. I'll strengthen it a little more and take some bike rides. But I'm definitely running again. 

 

Thoughts on Love while Missing Frank...

Did you ever wonder why we get so lost in love stories? Is it because we wish ordinary life were so exciting? Does anyone really ever fall in love like they do in the movies? Probably not, and that is why we keep going back for more. If it ever really happened that way to us, we wouldn't need to keep watching the next one. No one wants to see their own lives rerun. 

But real life is not the same. It's better. Who has the energy anyway for the way it is when you first fall in love?  Or is it lust? Really, we think it's love at the start but that's not what love is about. Love is discovery, knowledge and trust. Those cannot be gained in hours or days. Love takes time and insight. Then the real deal happens. I think the best passion is gained only after time. Looking back upon my greatest love affair (the one I'm still in) I can see how it has only gotten better with time. When someone has seen every side of you, every emotion good and bad, and they still stand by you, that's real. When everything you do and say is a result of your consideration of your mate, that's true love. When good thing and bad happen to me, I immediately think of sharing them with Frank. I know he'll laugh or cry with me, praise me or give me an idea what I could do to make it better. And that's better than any movie I've seen or book I've read. Although, I guess I'll keep watching and reading. And still I'll know that in the end, I've got the best story out there.

Just say no to Wampler

I got a call today from Wampler and Sons.  They are a local home improvement contractor. The very polite woman was offering someone from the company to come out and give me a free estimate on our next remodeling project. Great. I have another company coming tomorrow. It would be good to get some other estimates. I was ready to set it up for sometime this week. I told her my availability and she wanted to know if my husband would be there as well. I told her he would be out of town. She thought maybe we could set it up when he returned. It seems it's company policy that both spouses be present as they give a lot of information. I guess little ol' me couldn't understand the big words and numbers the contractor might use.  I told her he would not be back until December. "OK," she said, "lets set it up for then." "Uh, no. I have others coming out this week and would like to get something done sooner." "Oh, sorry no can do." I said I'd have to use someone else and she said, "OK." and hung up. 

What? Excuse me? What year is this! I was so pissed. I tried to call back to tell her to tell Mr. Wampler and his chauvinistic sons that I do not approve of his policy nor will I ever use his company or recommend them to any one. I am quite capable of getting an estimate. I am certain I would be able to relate the necessary information to my spouse. I was so fired up I think I scared the kids a little. I did get over it quickly. Unfortunately the woman must have known I was calling back and she didn't answer the phone. Chicken Shit!   

So when I run the world... estimates can be given to a wife home alone, holding down the fort in her capable hands. Sheesh!

Rudeness on the Trail

I have recently started biking the NCR trail again after a long span of bicycle neglect.  I thought since I can't run anymore I would try dusting the cob webs off the bike and see what a little exercise felt like. It felt pretty good physically. Mentally though, it's not what I thought it would be. 

I noticed the first few times I was out how unfriendly most people are. So I decided to do a little tracking the last time I was out. I tallied how many people I passed face to face (those I passed on the way don't count as I can't see their faces) and kept track of how many smiled, nodded, waved or greeted me in some way. 

 

At first I was delighted. I got smiles, waves and hellos from the first five people I met. Then the numbers got dismal. I noticed women more than men will completely ignore the fact that another human being is in their midst. Male/female couples seemed to be the friendliest. Groups of women seemed to be the least friendly. I don't know what is in the tree branches when I pass some women but it sure must be interesting. So often, just as I am peddling near enough to make some sort of greeting, they look up in the trees. 

I went 7 miles north and was very disappointed to count less than half of my fellow cyclers and pedestrians  greeted me in some way. And by greeting I don't mean I am looking for a "Hello! How do you do?" All I really need is a nod, a small raising of the lips into a partial smile, a grunt would even suffice. We're all out there to enjoy the beauty of nature while we get a little exercise so why can't we be friendly in the process?

On one outing, I had the kids with me and I recognized a passing biker as a friend from my childhood. I called to her and we stopped, moved out of the way of passing cyclists and joggers and chatted a bit. One burly biker coming toward us stared and shook his head as if we were somehow ruining his ride. We were not in his way and on no way did we slow him down. And yet, he still thought it necessary to glare at us and pass judgement. So, of course, I yelled out as sarcastically as I could, "Sorry we ruined your ride!" My friend was mortified at my boldness. Then she related a story in which she and her friend were riding along chatting and a rider came toward them and asked if they could talk a little louder. Voices do carry at some points on the trail, but when did having a conversation while exercising become a crime? 

I could understand wanting uninterrupted exercise time if you're training for a race or if you are really hard core. But, I don't think the NCR trail is the place for that. It's a flat wooded trail friendly to walkers, joggers, bikes, strollers and horses. It's not exactly a trip trough the Tour de France route. There are tons of little kids and families, old people, young couples, people on their lunch hour getting in a walk. It's a casual place. And should be a friendly one. 

Fortunately I don't let the rude ones keep me from coming. I'll still take my 14 mile rides and soon make them 20 mile rides. I'll still take the kids out on the weekends and evenings for a ride to the ice cream shop. 

So if you see me out there, ignore the branches overhead and give me a little nod. 

I know, I know, it's been a while...

I have been very busy. Well, sort of. I did get a facebook page and that eats up a lot of my time now. So I am going to make an effort to get back in here and start blogging again. Lots of interesting things have happened to me lately so I should have quite a bit to blog about. One of which is my awesome new computer. I had gotten one too many viruses on my old PC and I just couldn't take it anymore. Not to mention, Frank has the laptop in Louisiana and I didn't have his as back up anymore. Now I have an iMac. It's fantastic. And, I can iChat with my beautiful husband. That's the best part about it. It's easier to miss him when I can see him a few times a day. So, it's good to be back in the blogsphere. I hope you enjoy what is to come.

Stay tuned.