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Wedding Woes
ei34
member
Tuesday
ei34
member
in Wedding Woes
How is everyone today?
Re: Tuesday
Other than the lice scare, pretty ssdd. I think it's going to be another dragging week.
I just finished reading The House by the Cerulean Sea. It was a lovely book. Truly, the story is about found families. It also happens to have a queer romance in it, without being a Romance book, which I really enjoyed. I don't have anything against Romance books, they're just not a genre I seek out.
I read it b/c the lovely event I went to before Covid is finally making a comeback. Basically, it's a book club. Everyone reads the book, then local musicians and poets make new music/poems/other visual media based on the book for an evening performance. The event was one of my favorite things to do pre-Covid and I was afraid it was never coming back. They started slowing hosting again about a year ago, but it wasn't book based, more thematic, and it wasn't every month. This is the first one where they've had a book again, and I'm so excited.
I have an acquaintance from college that has moved back here for a professorship at our alma matter. I invited her. I can tell she's seen the message, but no response. It'd be nice to have a new IRL friend, but I'm not trying to force anything either.
Otherwise, SSDD. I have work to do, but it's not work I want to do. I want other work to do.
Today was a blast of reality. I did not even look at my work phone while I was out, and logged in at 8 this morning to see basically back to back meetings for the entire day, ten million emails, and teams is flashing all over the place. And of course there's still a pile of stuff that I need to clean and now my MIL is here. Oh, and H got a flat tire while I was gone, so I have to rush out of work at 5 so we can go pick up the car from the shop before they close at 6, because they're not that far, but on the other side of a bridge that has nightmare traffic during rush hour.
I think I'm going to set up my tent in the backyard and go hide.
We were really lucky with water! There were water sources at least every 3-4 miles, so we didn't have to carry more than one full bottle at a time. I was thinking about taking my bladder; I'm so glad I decided not to! It's true that every ounce counts.
I just use a Jetboil, but I make my own food rather than buy the pre-packaged b/c it's $$ and most aren't any better. Except for the desserts, I'll usually carry the cobbler for the "you reached your campsite" reward. The Kerr pasta and rice sides are easy to carry and light (plus they can usually be crammed into weird little corners and crevices for packing protection) and cheap, then I usually carry a pack of tuna or chicken. They're all in flat packaging and light. You can also find a ton of recipes online to make your own too, but I found the Kerr packs and tunas easier to pack. I like to make protein balls to carry for snacks along the way, b/c they'll smoosh flat and still be tasty. The white gas tanks are super light and just take up space.
I just hung my pack up in the trees with rope, but that was when I had exH with me and he was taller. I'm not sure I can hang high enough to keep bears away, but he just throw a rope over a sturdy looking branch and use the pulley system to hang it up. We did it always, b/c racoons are also looking for stuff they can steal.
My favorite thing to carry is deodorant wipes, so I can wipe myself down really well to sleep at night. They stopped making my favorite brand, but as long as it's unscented, it's such a nice touch and again, cram those suckers in there. And get a walking stick, at least one, if you don't have one. I'm surprised how much they really help. I've used one and two; I prefer one but if it's a strenuous hike, 2 really do help a lot.
I need to just collect my nerves. There is a tool out there that runs by satellite. It sends a text message when you click it, to chosen people at an agreed time, with a prearranged text to check in. If you don't click it, it doesn't send and THAT'S the emergency, b/c you weren't in communication. Trail folx are usually nice and not much to worry about, but I'm just overly cautious. I have at least 3 female friends that backpack out frequently and they've never had issues.
Ugh, sorry, I get to blabbing when it's a passion of mine.
Nothing new here. I’m seeing Snow White tonight and hopefully that’s good. I mentioned that I tried the disney +, max, hulu bundle for $16.99 a few months ago. Thumbs down on that. That hulu is NOT the regular hulu. At first I looked for “what we do in the shadows”. Nope. Not part of that bundle. Ok. Kardashians? Also no. The other day I searched “deli boys” and it also wasn’t part of the bundle. I didn’t really use disney+ and always forgot about max, so I’m back to the regular (and better) hulu.
If you need me, I have 7 eps of the Kardashians to catch up on. So don’t need me.
@VarunaTT, That sounds like a book club on steroids! Such a neat idea.
@MyNameIsNot, I'm glad you enjoyed your hiking trip!
I happened to catch an ad earlier this afternoon that there is going to be a True Crime themed cruise next year. 4 nights/5 days going from Miami to the Nassau, Bahamas. That's one of my favorite genres. Tempting!
I'm going to add that book to my read list Varuna, thanks! I too enjoy a book that has occasional romance scenes without being a romance book.
I think you should think about getting back out! We were on the southern end of the AT in March, so obviously lots of thru hikers out, but I was surprised by how many of the hikers we encountered were women travelling alone, or women who intended to do the bulk of it alone. We camped with a mother daughter duo one night, but the mom was only going for about a week, while the daughter was heading to Maine. It was still pretty early in the trail, but we could start to see how groups of solos were already forming. I think you might find it's pretty safe if you pick the right route.