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May 3rd, 2004

09:55 pm - sara's camping trip Big fun this weekend. Big fun. I went on a last-minute camping trip with five friends. This seems like the sort of excursion that could be a complete disaster, but amazingly it was a huge success. Everyone had an excellent attitude, which is certainly key. No one was incredibly concerned that we all needed to participate in the same activities at the same time--a possible source of strife. There was no whining, and lots of good humor and laughs. And the best part? The food was plentiful. Eating is always my favorite part of outdoor activities--work up a good salty sweat and then munch away on tasty nibbles. I believe that two new traditions have been begun or adopted after this trip: the first is a requirement of all attendees to bring along a "mystery food item" to share. Did I mention that the eating is my favorite part? This trip found us with bags of yummy trail mix (organic! cranberries!), delectable cookies, animal crackers (elephant!), pork rinds (I can't believe someone actually opened the baggie), apples, pears, more beer than could be consumed, and an absent bag of Cheeto's that was actually consumed before it's donors made it to the campground. They did replace the Cheeto's with some bananas, however. And who needs fake cheese bits when there's bananas around? Me, that's who. (I jest. Plus, they also brought Doritos--did you know that an entire SuperSize bag has your daily requirement of calcium?) The second tradition was suggested by our dear friend Sara (who did not attend, but did title the trip--see above). She sent us with a tin of SPAM, for some reason thinking it necessary for us to have such an item. She felt so strongly that after a night of drinking (see church), she arrived at our meeting place at 5 am to drop off the SPAM. Someone (not naming any names, mr. xetok) has decided that this tin of SPAM needs to travel. After it's excursion to Hell's Canyon, it is most likely headed to Italy next week. From there, who knows? Could be Indonesia, Chicago, France, NYC, Albania (?), Portland, London, Berlin, or San Francisco--all places to be visited in the next year by close friends if all goes according to plan. Of course, not all was perfection. There were two rattlesnake sightings by a solo hiker (seriously terrifying), some soggy swimmers fresh from the river full of nearly frozen spring runoff right before nightfall (they weren't complaining, but they looked chilly to me), one camper who kept tipping over in her thermarest chair-combo thingy (that wouldn't have been moi, oh no!), some sunburns (though none too serious), and some brain fry in a couple of us after approximately three hours in a topless Jeep at 65 mph (minimum) on a bright and sunny day. I love riding in the Jeep. Love. It. Wheeee! But yeah, brain fry was an issue. After coming home and getting cleaned up, I had a nice sorta fancypants supper with a couple of the campers where I eavesdropped on their conversation regarding Peace Corps (one returned volunteer and another just readying to head off into the unknown). I can't imagine making that sort of commitment, and can't imagine facing the sorts of things I found them talking about last night. Obviously, they're totally crazy but I sure respect them both for taking it on, and am glad that there are people who do the work done by Peace Corps volunteers (including the Personal Growth aspect as well as what they give to the host communities). However, they kept me up past my bedtime and should snoozeroo right now. Nighty night! Oh, PS: Turbo and I got the house! Not the blue one pictured below, rather one that is better with the seemingly bestest (though not promptest) landlord ever. Details and perhaps pictures to follow. Current Mood: tired Current Music: calla

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