A Week with the Silent Soldiers

It's been three years since Steve and I went camping last.

Well this past week we took care of that. Saturday the 29th, we had a family of gypsies squat in our home and since they didn't seem to be leaving any time soon, we asked them to watch all the dogs and puppies so we could take a short vacation.

(Note to the gypsies: I know how you don't like your business told, so I disguised you here)

We also had my youngest daughter and her new fiance' come visit.

Although the visit was way too short and there was a little more than average commotion with the gypsies and all, we had a great visit. I hope they have a long relaxing existence together.

This day and age it's so difficult to understand, let alone live the word commitment.

Sunday night we pulled out the telescope and took a look at Jupiter and it's 4 moons.

I don't have a camera that could have pulled off the moons.... but I did manage to get one clear (non-wobbly) pic of Ole Jup!!

Monday night, after 'bout and hour of discussing it, we decided on Longfork Campground. A gay owned and operated 86 acres in the middle of nowhere just north of Charleston WV. It's also a clothing optional facility which is just what we wanted and needed.

Tues morning we pulled out every bit of stuffed away camping gear we could find, a cooler here, a chair there.... pillows and a few sheets. Loaded the Jeep and off we went. Five and a half hours later we were pulling into our home for the next week.

As hard as we try, Steve and I just can't seem to put up a tent without getting on each others nerves. I think we focus too hard on it and somehow it backfires. Needless to say, however I will.... we shot each other a few of those "Why am I camping with you" looks, but eventually got the tent in place and our gear stored. Settled in... cooked our first meal which was flank steak with peppers and onions and a mixed vegetable stir fry.

I won't bore you with daily meals, but we ate well. Especially the shrimp and steak kabobs. By day three we were experts at boiled coffee and I'd have to say I miss it now.

Our first night up at the pool/hot tub was fun. Since it was middle of the week, there were just a few regulars hanging out (literally). Four... five... six... cocktails later we would all, flop back and forth from the HOT.. hot tub and the warm pool. Mind you the air temps were around 50 degrees. Steve after a while wandered off to tend the biggest campfire I've seen in some time.

The warmth of the fire on wet naked flesh was so relaxing. The flames were near 6 ft tall, which in hindsight was some sort of foreshadowing, because as the week moved closer to the weekend, more and more "flamers" started arriving. I guess I shouldn't be so hard on them, but they should realize how in a campground environment.... they do stand out.

What a great first night it was though. Happy people drinking and laughing and swimming and playing with fire.

Dawn came as shimmering light scattered throughout the tree tops and slowly worked it's way down the moss covered bark of those silent soldiers who protected us while we slept.

The chilled morning air a too sudden reminder that we were naked in the woods.

Naked and hung-over, but still smiling.

One morning this little fella dropped in to visit. I'm not sure of his "real"name, but I grew up calling him a Tobacco Worm, because that's what his kind would eat.

Any kind of bug or critter could have fallen from those trees, but NO... we had to have a tobacco worm visit us. I just imagined it was my dad saying Hey, and to keep certain body parts away from the fire if we were gonna drunkenly dance around it with no pants on.

86 acres covers quite a big area. Longfork has several primitive roads and a beautiful meadow that affords any day hiker a peaceful place to relax in the sun. On one of my many visits to this sun drenched oasis, I snapped these happy creatures just doing their thing.

A not so advertised part of the Camp is this old family graveyard. Some of the headstones date back to the early 1800's and later when I inquired about it, the owners told me how there's an entire family buried there who died in a house fire. They were so poor they couldn't afford funerals, so the farm family allowed them to be buried in their graveyard.

So poor were these people, that they only have rocks as headstones.

You can see the rocks behind the one headstone. There were around 7 graves with just stones.

Well, all good things must come to an end and Camping Au Natural was one of those things.

Our last day... the day before Labor Day, we flipped a coin and decided to take a chance on that 40% chance of rain. We Lost. The rain started early evening and by midnight we seriously thought our tent would be swept down the hill by mudslide. Fortunately we had already prepared most of our gear for rain, but we were never prepared for the 8 hour downpour we got.

Sometime around 1 am we abandoned our tent and headed for the bunkhouse. Steve and Tony, the owners had given us a key should we need shelter other than our floating and flooded neoprene cave. We grabbed the few blankets that hadn't been soaked and headed up hill for a drier location to finish the night, hoping our tent which we had secured to those silent soldiers, would still be there in the morning light.

Arriving at the bunkhouse we saw it was occupied, so we crept as quietly as two hikers who looked as though we had just emerged from mother natures womb, could. It was only 20ft or so from the jeep to the front door, but this was over rough stone and with bare feet softened by hours of rainwater.

We scoped our new shelter, apologized to the one tenant for our late intrusion and went back to gather our belongings. Four feet off the bottom step, I caught glimpse of the snake as it struck out at my leg. Where had this snake been when we crossed this very same path only moments before? I leaped back , just barely avoiding its fangs. It immediately recoiled, but by this time I had not only managed to be well clear of it, I had also managed to have possibly the biggest girly fit of my entire life.

Now with flashlight in hand and positioned squarely on this pissed off snake, I could see I had narrowly escaped being bitten by not only a 3 ft snake, but a 3ft Copperhead.

In the dark and the pouring rain I managed to find a stick, but assessing the situation I thought it best that I NOT hit at a 3ft snake with a 2 ft stick, especially since they can strike much farther than their length. We tried dropping a rock on its head, but only managed to piss it off even more. The snake decided we weren't worth the trouble and headed off into the darkness.

We got our blankets, got in the cabin and eventually fell asleep.

The morning came way too early.... still raining and much muddier than before, we headed back to our tent and proceeded to break camp. It'll take DAYS to dry out all our gear. Our drive home was just as beautiful as our drive to the Campground even with the sky a little overcast. We headed north to visit the Fairfax Stone. This Boundary Stone has several purposes, and one of them is to mark the spring that is the head water of the north fork of the Potomac River. Since I had spent my childhood at the mouth of the Potomac River, I thought it would be nice to see where the river came from.

I guess a dry summer made our visit a little anti-climatic, because it's suppose to be a spring. It was still nice to visit such a historical and prominent marker.

Leaving the Fairfax Stone we caught site of these wonders. An entire mountain ridge of windmills.

I LOVED it. Yes, there are organizations fighting to protect the view of the mountains... WHATEVER!!!! I'd rather see windmills parked up there than see those murdering coal mining companies destroying one mountain top after another. Lets not forget the factories that will one day block out not only the sun but that precious view those idiots are trying to protect.

If only we could get 50 or 100 of them across the river on MD Heights!!!!

We had to drive up a road that I swore led to someones Still to get this next shot. I based this on all the "Stay Out" and "Trespassers Will Be Shot" signs. Notice the tractor trailer parked at the bottom of the windmill to get the correct perspective.

We saw Saddleback Mountain going both directions and it's breathtaking whether in full sun or cloud cover. Somewhere up here is a ski resort.... not that we'd ever go.

So we made it home, some of the gypsies had left already and all our furniture was still in the same place. None of our puppies had been sold into the circus and the following morning when the neighbors were still talking to us, I realized having gypsies in your home could be a good thing.

Back to work for Steve and off to 12 piles of puppy poop X 5 times a day for me. Oh and lets not forget the laundry.... OH the Laundry.

I found myself pausing in our own back yard yesterday when I returned home form the grocery store. I stared up at our own silent soldiers. How had I forgotten them..... taken them for granted? I think we might camp at home next time. What a soul cleansing, revitalizing week it's been!!! I wish you all the same peace and tranquility that's consumed us these past several days.

Pupdates Galore!!!

First, let me say that Buddy's had a serious reprieve. Terry and Bob are taking him to a couple who train dogs who exhibit occasional aggressive tendencies. Actually they probably train dogs to not be so sensitive to the situations that get them all worked up. More importantly they'll hopefully train Terry and Bob how to notice each situation before it gets out of hand. Kudos to them both for taking this action. As hard as it is to make the decision to put an animal down, it takes more strength to commit to that animals rehabilitation.

YAY for Buddy!!!!!

Maddy, Our newest foster has been to the vet and, with the exception of hook worms, she had a clean check-up. The general consensus is that she's a Boxer/Boston Terrier Mix. Weighing in at a dainty 42.7 lbs.

They figure her to be about 1yr old and unsure whether or not she's pregnant at this time. It doesn't matter though, because we're having her spayed on the 9th. If she is with pups, well, as sad as it sounds, she doesn't need to be having unwanted babies.

I advertised her yesterday and now have the daunting task of filtering through all the replies.

From, "what's a reasonable donation" to "is she afraid of people who yell a lot".... WTF???!!!??!!

The donation question was legit, because as payment, I asked for a reasonable donation to be made to the BCHS. I figured it to be the cost of at least 4 large bags of dog food..... OR 4 large bags of dog food. (It's not rocket science)

Today I'll be turning her loose at the playground to see how she responds to screaming children.

I'm kidding here people....... I will take her though, and as hard as it may be... I'll even pretend to like it myself. I wouldn't want my disgust of inbred babies and chain smoking mothers to influence Maddy.

Maybe I should rethink this and have someone else take her.... LOL!!

Yesterday I did a home visit for two of Maggie's pups. Maggie was the Carolina Dog we fostered last January. She had the 10 beautiful puppies on Inauguration Day.

All the way to Baltimore for some of the best puppy kisses I've had in a long time. Roxy and Nona are now known as Olive and Leda.

It's funny how grown dogs can remember people and things from when they were babies. All of Maggie's pups used to chew on my beard. It started when I would nuzzle them with it while bottle feeding them. Well yesterday, they let me 3 ft in the door, before I had to get on the floor with them. Both of them at the same time grabbed for my beard. Now, mind you, it's sweet when they're puppies, but these two girls have gotten healthier and their teeth were a little bigger. I still let them do it.... I loved being reunited with them. I'm part of their pack and always will be.

Roxy/Olive was the only one of the puppies who used to crawl onto my shoulder. She was my little mountain goat, I used to call her. Well yesterday was no different. here was this 5o+lb dog laying across my shoulders..... I absolutely LOVED it!!!!

Kind of freaked out her owners at first, but they realized why she was doing it. "Mama had come home", so says Steve.

Anyhow, they're both doing Great and it was sad to leave them again, but they're more than happy in their home. They've two children, but one is just 1 yr old and a constant feeding machine for both pups. Why would they want to go anywhere else!!! :-)

So that's the Pupdate for today.

If anyone local can watch a mama dog and her 12 pups the first week of Sept, let me know. JCHS needs a temp. foster family. The lady fostering them now has to go out of town that week and if the unvaccinated pups are taken back into the shelter, they could end up contracting some airborne disease and dying.

Also, All4theanimals rescue is looking for loving foster families as well. Be a saint and turn YOUR sofa into a dog bed!!!

Another sad day

I'm not sure if any of you remember, but a little over a year ago we rescued a 2yr old Malamute named Takani from Freecycle.org . He was a handful for us... always chasing the cats, very alpha and ALWAYS had to be leashed. He could leap any size fence. A nice couple in Gerrardstown tried to take him in, but he turned out to be too much for them to handle.

A neighbor up the hill tried to make him hers and he not only escaped her fenced in back yard, but he bit another neighbors Daschund. (It was the doxies fault). Needless to say really, but he got returned again. I thought for sure, this dog would never get placed.

Low and behold a nice couple from down in Fort Valley responded to my ad. They had an elderly Mal and thought getting a new and younger one would ease the pain of their beloved Trooper when he eventually passed. Trooper would also assist in the training of the new guy.

Steve and I drove him all the way there and that day became the first day of the rest of Buddy's life..... So we thought!

Unfortunately, Buddy screwed that up. Apparently, he not only chases their horses, but attacked one of them. He's bitten the owner several times and just recently he caused a friend visiting them to get 15 stitches. AND, to top all that off, he's not even a Malamute..... he's a husky.

I didn't know. I was only going on what I was told when I rescued him. Apparently Huskies have a different temperament and aren't good in multiple dog homes, or around small animals that run...... or people who try to stop them from bad behavior.

So, today is a sad sad day. Today, Takani/Buddy goes to Rainbows Bridge. This evening he'll be put to sleep. After a year of working with him and having him consistently try to destroy everything and everyone around him, he's no longer safe to have around.

I'm sorry Buddy, I'm sorry that I let you down. I want to go visit him one last time, but I'm not sure if his new owners want me there. I got the feeling they feel I'm responsible... that maybe I lied about his breed and lied about his aggression. If they knew me they wouldn't think that, but if it helps to ease their pain, I'll accept the blame.

Had Buddy been that kind of aggressive... they'd have never met him, because I would have been the one to make the decision they're making today.

This evening, hug your pups.... hug them for all the good things they've ever done and hug them for Buddy. He doesn't know it yet, but he's going to a place where he can run free and get all the love he wants. Corsa bene, il mio amico, travel well.

Yes, I bitch A LOT

I was browsing the Anti-Gay website called Craigs List this morning and took a look at our local Rants n Raves section. Apparently there's some sort of uproar over the "Girls Gone Wild" bus that was parked in front of the titty bar, by the jail, next to the school in Martinsburg. Some local women felt it was obscene. Their little girls wanted to know WHY were those ladies holding their shirts up like that. Well rather than explain it to the kids, they chose to complain to have the bus removed. I guess they figure if it doesn't exist, it doesn't exist...... Idiots. Then there were those few complaining about being harassed by the local police. OMG.... stop smoking the weed and speeding and drinking while driving and the cops will leave you alone. Anyhow, I posted a Rant myself and I'm sure it'll get replies, but I could care. Here it is. Personally, I don't care that "Girls Gone Wild" had their bus sitting along the highway. Lets face facts here.... Martinsburg is a ghetto. You didn't see that bus in Charles Town or Harpers Ferry did you? Instead of complaining about it, use it as an opportunity to talk to and educate your children. Your daughters aren't going to grow up to be skanks because of a little raunchy advertising..... If that happens it will be entirely the parents attitude that caused it. As for all the complaining about the cops.... It's sad but true, there are a few officers out there who give a bad name to the rest. More sad and more true is the correlation between illiterate people and neighborhood trash. If you're going to bash the police for harassing you, at least do a spellcheck first. You'll come across more effectively and maybe.... just maybe, you'll get a little more respect. My complaint, as trivial as it is, has nothing to do with either of the two mentioned above. Why are there so damn many commercials about womens issues. "Do you feel dirty?" "Do you douche with vinegar?" "Do your menstrual cramps keep you from your normal routine?" WTF!!!!!! Why are there so many and why are they always on during dinner???? If women are "Suppose" to be so much smarter than us guys, you'd think they wouldn't need as many infomercials about how to stay clean or cover up those unsightly wrinkles. The fact is, many women are gullible and prone to believing someone cares about them, thus falling for the ads and buying their crap. I just wish I could go one evening without hearing how one little diet pill can make yet another grazing walmart customer beautiful, or how YAZ will cure your disorder. I'll end by saying this. Educate your daughters. Stop blaming everyone else for your inability to be a good parent. If you don't like the Titty bus parked there, organize a protest. Stop laying blame on elected officials... that's the cowards way out. If you don't want the police to notice you, then stop doing crap to get noticed. Don't wait until you're feeling picked on to talk to your police dept about the crack house out back of your home. Remember this, If you don't have a solution to the problem, SHUT-UP, otherwise you're part OF the problem. I'm turning my TV off.

Still kicking....

This post is more for my sanity than anything else. So much has happened in the last month plus that I'm afraid I may not be able to do it justice in one post, so I'll be working backwards to get it all written. Stay tuned.

We got Rats in the Cellar

I've always been a fan of quiet time with coffee, but up until now I never really understood why. I had just always taken for granted, those hallmarkesque moments with my coffee mug in hand. Now I make a point of rising with the sun just so I can be well on my way into cup three before the shrieking begins. OWWW.. OWWWW.... OWWWWW...OWWWWWW... Each step she takes from the bedroom to the kitchen is accompanied with what can only be described as the "Pay Attention To Me Howl" That's right... I know her feet hurt... I've been there.. I know, but the howling and shrieking has to be completely for attentions sake. I just don't understand the need for added Drama. Today, she refused to listen when I told her she needed to sit or lay down. So she stood about all morning..... fidgeting with tiny pieces of paper here, and folding receipts there and writing little tiny notes on little tiny pieces of paper that she would undoubtedly not be able to find later on...... Not be able to find and somehow lasso us into looking for. Meanwhile she'd be lying in her bed and pointing wildly into the air and yelling.... "listen to what I'm saying.... On The Cabinet NEXT to the empty pill bottles that I asked SOMEONE to put in the recycle bag days ago."

Tonight I sprinkled a half teaspoon of olive oil onto her salad. Halfway through dinner she informed me that she DID NOT want anymore olive oil on Anything. That it just tore up her stomach. I laughed and told her to eat it.... she needed oil to lube her old bones. For two hours after dinner she laid there and moaned holding her stomache like it was killing her.... popping tums like they were candy. When she finally quieted down I asked her if she was going to live... she just glared at me. I went out with the dogs for a walk later on and when I returned she was almost in tears ... saying how bad her feet hurt. Well, if she had listened to me this morning and stayed off her feet they wouldn't be causing her this much pain. Here's your ibuprofen.

The reason I'm here now is so that she can recover slowly and be recovered by the time I leave. If she forces herself to do too many things too soon, she'll only suffer a setback. I know it's hard to lay about all day and be waited on hand and foot, but she needs to do this.... Just this evening she dropped a mouse crumb on the floor while eating and made this big todo over it. Tom started to jump up and get it for her..... I told nim NO, to sit back down.... that we didn't clean up from under the highchair until she was completely done eating. My humor is so completely lost on them both.

Tomorrow is a new day. I'm putting her on the "new puppy pee schedule". Two hours in and an hour out. That's two hours either in bed or sitting idle in a chair. The hour out can be standing for no more than two 15 minute periods. The other half of that hour can be seated and working. I just gave the new schedule to them both.... It goes into effect tomorrow. Wish me luck......

Oh, I need to buy more Olive Oil!

Lifes Little Lessons

Day 4. I realize being sick and laid up in bed can be very aggravating and stressful to the person who has to lay there. I also realize that being sick can cause those same people to reflect more on the "bad" outcome of their illness. However, being the logically minded person I am..... I have to disagree with some of their conclusions. Cheerios will not cause your knees to hurt. Food in general is NOT the cause of your severe stomach cramps... especially when I'm feeding you two teaspoons of rice every hour. (Your stomach issues are because you're starving) During recovery the patient should listen to the person who drove 18 hours to take care of them..... RIGHT?? Is is against the law to tie the Mother-in-law to her bed? Is it immoral to suggest duct tape as a means of acquiring some silence and less argumentative complaining. I guess I just don't understand human thinking. Dogs are much easier to work with. Patient:

My Cholesterol levels are all screwed up." "One of the side effects of one of the pills I take is sore muscles and back pain, so I'm not taking that one anymore." "I do want to take more of my high blood pressure meds though, so double my next dose." "For dinner tonight I want tuna with boiled eggs and a little wedge.... I MEAN LITTLE Wedge of mozzarella cheese."

Me:

Here's your Dinner....

Patient:

"I'm not hungry.... my stomach hurts...." "hand me the scissors"

Me:

WTH????

Patient:

"It's cold in here... turn off the ceiling fan". "I can't lay in this bed anymore.... OOOOUUUCCCCHHHHHH "My back hurts.... and I'm hot now" "Are you two going to eat and just leave me to find my own?"

Me:

WTH????

I don't guess it's all that bad. The house is air-conditioned. Dash n Roux aren't allowed in the house, but they have a great patio to lay on. It's covered and all screened in. They come into my room at night to sleep. I'm gonna take them to the beach one day this week.... maybe tonight. No matter how aggravating certain situations are or certain people might be in the upcoming weeks.... I have to keep reminding myself that I can walk out and go for a drive. I can eat watever I want without stomach pain. I Can Poop. It's only for 11 more days and I will be headed back home. Just 5 days and 7+hrs from now Steve will join me here and I can take a break. I will say this.... If one more christian calls here and prays for her on speaker phone.... I may be ill. This much god and goodness has to be some sort of southern style torture. I need liquor...Anybody have any suggestions?!?!?!?