Summer Fun

Paddling on the San Marcos river

I Was Just Trying to be Healthy!

We finally had rain!

Today’s Exploit:

Last night I went for a walk. I was going to see if a two-track along a fence line met up with a road on the other side of the property. 

Turns out it did. I had to wade through cows a few times, but mostly they’re noisy and smelly and only dangerous if you get between them and their babies who are rarely more than 3.123 feet away. Therefore, not something that is likely to happen. 

I walked and walked, and talked on the phone a bit, and walked some more. Then I came back to our main road near the gate guards. I talked to them about weather, and maybe their granddaughter - the one that they bring up every time I talk to them. 

Then I decided, Hey I still have some light, I’ll do another loop on this new path I’ve found.

About halfway into another loop I realized that this thing is about 4 miles long, and then I have another mile to go to get back to the rig. That means that I have 40 minutes of light and 3 miles to go (I have a very hard time walking faster than a 20 minute mile pace). And I’ve already done nearly 5 miles. Also, my toes are starting to chafe, my back is aching from actually standing with my shoulders back and I am very aware of that place where my shorts are touching my skin. Thankfully that ant bite finally stopped hurting.

Oh well, what can you do? Turning around to go back will take just as long as continuing forward. 

I got to the main road and picked up the pace, because packed gravel and dirt is far easier than cow cratered mud and scrub. The wind was nice and cool and the bugs were out. In force. Naturally the wind was aiming straight into my face, and the bugs were small. 

I walked through about 15 swarms that I could not see until they were pelting into my face and making their way down my shirt. 

The last mile and a half was spent spluttering and waving at the air in front of my face in an effort to divert the bugs around me, when I wasn’t doing that I was trying to brush them off every surface that they could possibly land on. 

I somehow managed to make it back to the rig before all the daylight was gone, scaring a couple whitetail deer and a couple unknown ungulates that were a bit larger (not that this means much, the deer here are minuscule). They were about the size of normal deer, but I could only see legs, the rest of their bodies were against a dark backdrop and I didn’t have enough light. 

The bugs had a large role in getting me moving, and I walked a total of 21002 steps and approximately 8.898 miles. I don’t want to move today because I have sneaky little chafe areas that walking normally or awkwardly does not relieve. Also my blisters think it’s funny to give me a nice twinge every so often, to be sure I don’t forget them. Good thing my job requires very little movement, I suppose.

I Was Hit By Lightning

I think the rain might be never-ending. I don’t like it because it floods the road and I can’t run. It would be fine, but I didn’t bring an extra pair of shoes and putting on clammy shoes is gross. And blistery.

Today’s Exploit:

I WAS HIT BY LIGHTNING!

Ok, so maybe not so much me as the rig that I work on.

But it hit within 20.376 yards of me. And that's way too close for comfort.

During one of the, seemingly daily, storms we were expecting a light rain, with most of the violence of the storm passing on either side of us.

However, the storm had other plans and took us all off guard. 

I was standing by the DD’s desk and talking to Reed. 

Suddenly there was a blinding flash and dragon roaring outside.

The dragon made the electricity flicker and one of the computers go SNAP!

While I was watching the computer to see if I needed to hit the floor to avoid shrapnel the dragon flamed and roared again.

And then some rain started.  And by “some” I mean “a torrent”. 

Matt ran back inside and yelled that I needed to check my equipment because they lost the monitor and the rig computers were down.

I didn’t really want to go outside, because the dragon was probably hiding behind the door, but I did anyway.

The lightning killed one of my computers and confused my signal receiver.  I had to make the other computer pick up the slack (and now it is running extra slow). And we had to call for a backup signal receiver because the computer would crash every time we started the demodulation program. 

Then the truck bringing the backup parts wouldn’t drive down the rig road because he was afraid of getting stuck.

Eventually we got things patched together enough to finish the job, but it’s sketchy.

The Texas Bug Experience

I have a trainee. Some things he picks up really fast. 

But sometimes I’m left scratching my head in complete awe at how dumb he can be.

Today’s Exploit:

I have been having bug experiences this year.

Everyone has been telling me about how Texas has tarantulas EVERYWHERE! AHH!

But I haven’t seen a single one in 4.12 years in this oven.

Until last week.

Since last week I have seen about 17, Followed 2 around, watched the DD harass one with a stick and probably ran over 2 in Starla because they moved the wrong way when I tried not to squish them.

I have also learned how to catch them in a plastic cup, but I haven’t tested that lesson yet.

In other news I have seen a 7.863 inch long, poisonous centipede and an unknown millipede of the same length. Both were about as big around as one of my fingers. 

Exhibit A: The poisonous one. It has long creepy legs.

Exhibit 2: The unknown one. It has a bazillion short creepy legs.

The Long Wait at PJ’s Marathon

It’s snowing! And snowing, and snowing. 

Today’s Exploit:

My family took some pictures while I was running, and then jogging, and then mostly walking my marathon:

We're just waiting

"This is boring, why do we have to wait?"

See that pink and blue speck? That's PJ in dire need of sunscreen.

Waiting some more, this is taking forever!

Look it's blue - Oh rats, not her. More waiting.

Do we have to wait until she gets here? She's taking forever!

Finally!

The Big Update

I have acquired a new follower while I was away. Huh.

Also, the new version of Blogger is strange. 

Today’s Exploit:

It is hot here. Yesterday when I walked out of the trailer to go for my run I felt like I was stepping into the oven after baking some cookies. Texas likes to try to knock you off your feet every time you step out the door. 

In other news I have been running, swimming in the river with big rocks and scraping my knees, running, exploring San Marcos on my bicycle, running, writing English essays, running, being frustrated with school, running and baking in this horrible oven of a state. 

How long has it even been since I last posted? Probably years.

I am getting ready for my second half marathon, I will be running with my friend Catherine. It also means that I will be seeing my buddies Eli and Cavan and escaping the inferno for the moderate temperatures of Washington. Yay!

The Results are IN!

I try to be polite and people think I’m laughing at them.  

Today’s Exploit:

So, my failed countdown ended 17 March.  It started out with a song and a bang.  And it kept on singing some maddening 80s songs that faded in and out as the dude with the speakers played leapfrog with us.  At one point it started to fizzle and that last mile seemed endless.  But then the last half mile was an all out sprint for the gates to popsicles and medals.  

I placed 184th with a time of 2:37:07.5.  Cupcake placed 183rd with a time of 2:37:07.4.  

Cupcake didn’t want to finish, but I told her if she didn’t I’d post all of her most hated and nerdy photos for everyone to see.  So she finished.  And we had popsicles and she wore her medal for 3 days straight.  She even slept in it, I think.  

I was going to post some pictures today, but my camera cable is hanging out at home with my newly-set-up sewing machine.  

Some day I will display all of my efforts of Thursday night.  I spent ages on making silly skirts.  Cupcake even wanted to wear hers to work, but I told her it probably wouldn’t wash well.  I also forced her to wear a nerdy hat because I thought it would be super sunny.  

PS.  The kids who cheered for everyone until they were hoarse, and then handed out medals were super-awesome.

Suspicious Activity: Walking

Countdown:  One more day gone, and I’m still not ready.

I discovered, or rather re-discovered the comic Cyanide and Happiness today.  It makes me laugh.  

Today’s Exploit:

I like to pace when I talk on the phone.  

Or clean, but that’s only in my own house with no one else around.

So, here, I pace.  I walk in circles around the room or lay upside down on the bed and walk my feet up and down the wall and around the corner.  Or the ceiling, if I have a bunk bed.  

But usually I go for long walks on the beach in the moonlight.

No really.  I go for long walks.  But the beach tends more to a dirt road and the moonlight is the glare of the rig.

This activity usually gains me little to no attention.  Once in a while the roughnecks comment on my walks.  But usually they only notice my runs because that’s when I wear shorts.

When I arrived at my current and most lovely rig to meet with Dirty Herb I decided a walk was in order.  I wanted to talk to my parents.  

So I took off down the road.

I walked and avoided the wind and talked and walked some more.  

Then a car came grumbling down the road.  So I moved off into the lovely green clover that was the side of the road.

The car stopped.  

I said hello.

The man asked me where I was from.

I told him.

My parentals thought I was being snotty and said, “Hello, Wyoming?”  

I talked some more with the man and the lady watched.  

Then they drove away.  

So I walked some more and talked some more and tried to avoid the wind.

Then another man came down his driveway and asked me who I was and where I came from.  

Then he backed back down his driveway into his garage.  

Next came the lady who flew past me to talk to the gate guard at the rig.

You see, they thought I was mighty suspicious walking along the road talking on my phone.  They thought I was casing the joint.  And telling my friends about the loot they had hidden under their couches.  

So, now I don’t go walking in the night.  I’m afraid next time they won’t ask questions first.  I’m afraid they’ll get out the big scary guns that every one in Texas, except me, owns.  I think they might shoot me for talking on my phone and walking down the lonely road at night.  

The end.

PS  I told Dirty Herb about this and he laughed.  He couldn’t believe that anyone could be suspicious of little ole me.  Specially since I have short hair now.  

Guess that makes me look even more innocent.  

Huh.

The Little One

Today is the start of my new countdown.

65 Days to go until St. Patrick’s day, which also happens to be the day of the Seabrook Lucky Trail Half Marathon.

Today’s Exploit:

My little entourage still runs with me.  It’s not always the same three dogs, but it has always been three in the group.

The little one is the only one that is consistent.  

This dog follows me for just over half a mile, gradually getting further and further behind.  Then it sits in the middle of the road and waits until I start back.  

When I come back into view it stands up and takes a few more steps toward me, then it prances in place until I get there.  

I greet it and we continue back down the road to the rig with the little one slowly falling behind.  

We’ve repeated this process 4 times so far.

Speed Bump

I’m having a soup craving.  

Today’s Exploit:

The road to this rig is the worst I’ve ever encountered.

It is paved.

It doesn’t have many potholes.

It isn’t flooded.

It is relatively level, though not very wide.

It does, however, have 3.5 of the largest speed bumps I’ve ever encountered.  

Poor Starla hates me every time I decide to go to town.  I hate me too.

One only spans half the road, so I can go around it.  One is 4 feet across, so going over it is not exceedingly painful.  One is semi-tolerable if I take it at an angle.  

The last one is a doozy.

The last one gets me every time, no matter how fast or what angle I attempt to cross it.  

Starla cries, and I curse and cringe.  

It is a good thing I don’t “need to” go to town often.  Because that bump sure puts a damper on things.  I have been trying to only go when I’m starving because I have nothing else in the fridge.

Ruined with Cheese

It’s raining buckets and buckets of water.

I am now living in a swimming pool.

Today’s Exploit:

The other day, after two long stressful days with little to no sleep, I really wanted a hamburger.  

Really.

So I drove the 48 minutes to the nearest town only to discover that their restaurant was closed.  

My option was the gas station, or the everything-and-then-some convenience store.  

I chose the everything-and-then-some place, because they made hamburgers.  I went in and ordered one.  A hamburger with lettuce, tomato, pickles and mustard.  Then I went and got a cup of grapefruit and some cranberry juice and waited.

They called my number and I picked up  my order and went to find a table.

I opened my burger to find the worst possible scenario.  

They put CHEESE on it.

I was so exhausted and irritated that I couldn’t take it back and have it fixed.  So I pouted and ate my grapefruit.  

Then I took the defiled burger outside and fed it to the poor dog that was hanging around hoping for some attention.  And some food.  It looked like it hadn’t eaten anything but a bug in the last 7 months.  

The poor thing was so excited for some food it nearly knocked me over trying to get to the second bite.  But it was patient enough with me to let me stick my hand in it’s mouth to retrieve the paper wrapper it stole in its excitement.

While I went and washed my hands the dog cleaned up any scrap of food I may have dropped.  

Except the tomato.  

I Blame the Bulls, Okay?

I found some new measuring cups that I need.

And they come in the non-traditional/odd sizes as well.  And they’re actually not orange, for once.  

Also, Happy October.

Today’s Exploit:

The other day I ran 6.6 miles.  

Ok, I only actually ran 6.1 of those miles, but still.

It only took me 75 minutes from start to finish.  

And 6.6 miles is a long way, I normally only run 4.2.

And I spent a longer time walking where the bulls were right next to the road.  

I’ve never been that close to them, and I’ve heard stories about how they can be mean.

I talked to them.

I told them to go on with their business and ignore me.  They did a better job of that on my way back.  

I think I like cows better, they tend to run away from me.  That means that I have more room, and it’s less smelly.  Mostly.

Moving Day

I want my next steel toed boots to have red sequins all over them.  Red sequins are way better than pink with orange and blue stitching. 

It’ll be difficult to find something more gaudy and heinous than the ones I have.  But I’m going to try.

Sadly, so far the closest I’ve found is some red daisy vine-y things stitched on the sides.

Today’s Exploit:

I’m moving right now.

No, really.  

I’m packing all my junk into a really big truck, I’m loading Starla onto a dolly to pull behind it.  And then I’m hitting the road.  

I’m driving 7.2 hours, at least, in the hugest truck anyone’s ever let me drive.  

Scary.  The only other big truck I drove was an small engine at the Forest Service.  And I only got to pull that out of the garage.  I drove it a whole 16.7 feet.

And I can’t see behind me.  I don’t like not being able to look in the rearview mirror.  I don’t trust those side ones.  They always tell you they’re morphing things out of perspective, and then expect you to know exactly what’s going on.  

Wish me clear skies and light traffic, so that I can make it on time to get my key.

Fevered Delusions

This is my favorite song right now.  

Today’s Exploit:

This morning I woke up freezing.  FREEZING.  In Texas.  In the summer.

At first I just thought they turned down the AC and I’d be fine in a minute.  

After an hour of shaking violently enough to rattle my teeth I decided that I needed to go outside to get warm.  I could tell something was not quite right because my skin was warm to touch, but I was still shivering like I was in an earthquake.  But my main focus was getting outside so that I could be warm again.

So I went out and sat in the sun.  

Normally just walking outside makes me feel like I’ve been slapped in the face with a shot of steam, but today it took me a full 4.87 minutes to feel warm.   

About when I started to feel warm I also started to feel like I might be sick and wanted some privacy.  So I stumbled behind the trailers and across the road.  After tripping over a rock and my own feet 17 times I made it.  That was when I realized that I had a good chance of losing consciousness and privacy probably wasn’t at the top of the list of things I needed anymore.  

So I turned around and shuffled back to the trailer where I scared the socks off Enrique, the other MWD.  He helped me to the couch and gave me drugs to help my fever, and then he made me sleep on the couch the rest of the morning so that he could make sure I didn’t get any worse.  

Starla’s Hissy Fit

I love Texas, I love Texas, I love Texas.

It’s my mantra.  

Sometimes it changes to I love my job, I love myjob, Ilovemyjob.

Occasionally it’s a little hysterical.  Specially when I have to put the tool together at noon, in 104 degree direct sunlight.

Today’s Exploit:

Yesterday I stopped for “coffee”.  You remember that time I looked for apartments?  Yeah.  That stop.

I did my search and drank my smoothie and packed my computer back up with my list of places to visit ready at hand.

I got in Starla and put the key in the ignition.  I got Timmy-the-GPS ready with the first address for apartment hunting then turned the key.

Starla:  Chug, chug, click click click

Me:  No, Starla.  Please start.

Starla:  Click Click click

So I rerouted Timmy-the-GPS for the nearest garage, then I went across the street to the gas station to be sure.  

Luckily there was a garage right across the street.  

I walked over and begged the mechanics for help.  So they came over to try to jump her.  They were very nice and didn’t make me call a tow truck, and Starla did start with a jump.

So I drove her over and got her registered for the car doctor.  But now she’s back to purring.  

Thankfully.

Surviving the Monsoon

Yesterday a roughneck asked me if I was on a diet, because I looked skinnier.  

How can they tell these things when I wear a monkey suit that could almost fit 2 of me?  

Today’s Exploit:

After my trip, I cut Myrtle back to 3.2 little-bitty sprigs of green.  I checked on her all the time and fussed like a mother hen.  My poor chickies were jealous, but they’re tough.  They’re still alive, right?

She was hanging in there, maybe getting a smidgen bigger.  And I was relieved.  I finally started to relax a bit when the storm came.  

It was a Thursday night, I was getting ready to go dancing when it started sprinkling.  It was nice.  It’s been dry for ages.  So I mostly ignored the fact that it was raining and went to the studio, where everyone complained that I didn’t bake anything.  Spoiled brats.

While we danced it rained more.  Someone noticed that a real storm with lightening and thunder had begun; they opened the blinds so that we could see.  

The next time I danced around it was POURING and gushing and there was water everywhere.  

I’d forgotten about Myrtle and the chickies.  

I went home in the rain and got drenched when I ran into the supermarket for a snack.  After watching the lightening for a while I went to bed listening to the thunder crack.  

I’ve missed real thunder storms, with lots of rain and big booms and flashes that make you glow if you don’t look away.

The next morning was sunny again.  I went outside to soak up the rainy smell and wake up.

And there was Myrtle. 

Drowning.

She had 2.72 inches of water above the dirt level in her pot.  I tipped her a bit so that the water in the base could run out.  It didn’t help.  So I, very carefully, tipped her so that the water in the top could drain some. 

Then I put her in the sun to dry out a bit.  

But the sun was still soggy from all the rain.

And then I got the call.  I had to go to a rig.  10.62 hours of driving.  Poor Myrtle.

We got to the rig and I stuck her in a nice window, but the box is rather cool and doesn’t have much air-flow.  

She was soggy for another 7.3 days.  

But she made it.

That Myrtle’s one tough cookie, I mean mint.