The Great Mouse Hunt

Did you know that you can make flax seeds into granola? I didn’t. I want to try it but I can’t find flax in the middle-of-nowhere.

Today’s Exploit:

We have mice.

It appears that we have many of them.

We saw 3 in about 10 minutes the other day.

That is when the hunt began.

Matt and George and Reed take turns with the BB gun, they have set out a multitude of sticky traps and all the doors are blocked with towels to keep them out of bedrooms.

They do this because the mice seem to like to cuddle with me.

They managed to shoot one and catch another on a sticky trap. 

Another got caught in a sticky trap when they were all gone.

It was so sad. 

I hate sticky traps.

So I took the trapped mouse outside and dropped a brick on it so it wouldn’t have to struggle and eventually starve.

I didn’t like it.

I almost cried.

And there was no one there to give me a hug.

They Plague Me

I have been reading Terry Pratchett continuously for the past 2.475 months. I still have many books to go before I finish them all. Yet there are nowhere near enough of them left.

Today’s Exploit:

Another mouse is in our trailer. It was on my bed again the other night. I yelled at it and flailed around trying to throw it off my bed and into never-never land where it will live it’s life in rodent heaven and never want to climb on my bed again. 

Today I did laundry and washed my sheets to cleanse them of mouse filth.

Ew.

Also, today, George told me that he saved my life last night without me knowing it. He shot the mouse as it was making a dash for my room. Then he shot it again as it tried to escape from it’s spot under the stove. 

I’m not sure which makes me more nervous. The mouse or George.

At least it didn’t come and run around on my bed again. 

My sheets won’t last very long if it keeps doing that, since I have to wash them vigorously after being touched by the horrible, horrible monster. 

I think that this is one situation in which I would welcome Oni, and not hate her when she tries to sleep behind my knees. 

A Zoo Visit

I left my plants with my sister, hoping that she would water them. Since I was really nice and watered hers twice while she was in Wyoming.

She promptly tried to kill Myrtle, and I had to have her shaved.

Cupcake calls her a rebel now.

Today’s Exploit:

I went to the San Antonio Zoo with my sister. 

Cupcake likes flamingoes. 

She tried to be a butterfly. 

Butterfly and baby

Did you know butterflies like sweet tea and sunglasses?

She also thought it would be funny to take pictures of me with animal butts. 

Hippo Butt

Rhino But

There's a Zebra Butt hiding behind the fence and next to that charming hut

And we were stalked by the same three immature college boys, and no matter how we tried to get ahead, or behind, or take a different route, they were ALWAYS THERE!

The Trials of the Riverwalk

The person that invented the seasonings for the Long Grain and Wild Rice mix was a genius.

Today’s Exploit:

One of our adventures over Spring Break was a trip to San Antonio, or rather, two trips.

The first trip involved searching for running costumes, huge crowds and sore feet.  

The second was because we missed the Alamo’s open hours.  

First trip:  

We walked all around the Rivercenter mall looking for a good had for Cupcake to wear for the race.  And I looked for a St. Patricks day shirt to be my costume.  

When she found her hat we decided to attempt the Riverwalk itself.  We didn’t realize that being Spring Break it would be so completely packed that being knocked into the river was a probability, not just a possibility.  After fighting the people for 30 minutes and failing to find the desired ice cream parlor we gave up, found the Alamo 3 minutes after it closed, got lost, found the mall and got a shirt, and then went home with sore feet.  

Try II:

The next day we tried again.  First on the list:  the Alamo.  We made it with about 2 minutes to spare.  We also spent most of the time walking around the grounds looking at the Live Oak trees.  We’re not sure what the difference between Live Oak and normal Oak is.  Also we saw lots of cabbage and bark-less trees.

First success!

Then we headed back into sure madness, to find that the Riverwalk wasn’t quite so packed.  Hallelujah.  We also managed to find the ice cream shop and an Irish pub that sold Bangers & Mash and Strongbow.  

Complete success!

The Mouse House

Countdown: 16 days.

I watched “Drive” a couple weeks ago.  I was more bothered by the blood and violence than a 3 year old.

Today’s Exploit:

Last night I walked into the trailer.  Rather, this morning I walked into the trailer.  

I was greeted by two mice having a lovely time playing chase in the kitchen and laundry hall.  

I stood and watched for a few minutes before taking off my boots and hat and heading their direction to get ready for bed.  

They waited until I was in the kitchen before hiding.  

Later, when I was doing dishes, they came back out to play some more.  Right next to me.  They acted like they owned the place.  

And they played around the sticky traps that the guys had set up.  I’m pretty sure they were taunting the person who decided to buy them.  

When I went to bed I discovered that the little monsters had left a gift on my face mask.  Also one chewed part of the earpiece of my headphones for my iPod.  

Mice.  

Ah, well.  Let the Chicken Boys deal with them.  I’m going to live next door.

Now, That was a Cruel Joke

Countdown: 17 days *whimper*

I am currently addicted to Every Word on my Kindle.  I made it to level 8 once.  I think I may have jumped up and down and done a happy dance when I finally beat level 7.

Today’s Exploit:

I am living in a trailer with 5 guys and a Jeana.  

I’m pretty sure these guys were raised by chickens.  Have you ever smelled a chicken house?  Also, as chickens have no fingers, they never taught these people to wash dishes.  

Another likeness:  when they get together in the living room/kitchen/office they squawk and squabble and screech as loud as they are able.

As for the joke, we were told that we’re getting a new trailer out here.  It, evidently, is for the girls.  Thus, cleaner living for us and more room for the chicken boys.  When the trailer arrived the punchline was revealed.  The trailer with 2 rooms and 1 bathroom is for the directional drillers*.  Not for the people packed like sardines into a smelly rat house.  (They really did see what they called a rat today) 

So, we’re all stuck together.  Me, 5 guys raised by chickens, and a Jeana.

Fridge space and couch space are premium items here.  Snooze you lose, and all that jazz.  Better not hope to get that space back if you get up to get some water.

*A breakdown.  

Right now we have 8 trailers here:

-2 for the rig crews, that’s 6 to each trailer

-1 for the toolpusher, 1 person in that one

-2 for the company men/clerk, that’s 2 to each trailer

-1 for the DDs, 2 persons in that one

-1 for the Mud Engineer, 2 because he’s got the H2S guy rooming with him

-1 for the rest of us salty little fish (8)

PS. Happy Leap Day

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.

Supermaaan! Whoops, Supertuurrrrtttllleeee!

I just finished week 7.  Wahoo.  

While I was dancing one of the guys asked me what I do.  

Me:  I work on oil rigs

Him:  I thought you looked like you had strong shoulders.

Actually it’s the P90x, but thank you.

Today’s Exploit:

At the zoo, our almost-very-last stop was to see the tortoises.  I am amazed at tortoises.  They’re so huge.  And lumbering, and huge and green.

Also, the flamingos were in the same enclosure, quacking at us.

But this turtle.  He knew how to live right.  He ignored the others drawing attention in the corner, and the ones curled up together by the fence.  

He was superman.  Tanning, no flying.  Yeah.  It must have been a pretty amazing dream.

A kindred spirit for Cupcake.  She did that a lot while she visited me.  I cooked while she baked herself to a crisp.

But I sometimes sleep like this, too.  When I forget to turn the AC down, or when I’m at the rig where the AC is turned to full-blast-freeze-your-toes-off during the day and to bake-at-350 at night.  Seems counterintuitive to me.  It also means that I don’t sleep much.  And the sleep I get is spent like this, with weird dreams.

The “Duck” Boat Ride

I played frisbee last night.  Does that make up for not doing plyometrics?  I think it hurt worse than the plyomentrics.  I am sore from my shoulder blades to my heels.  And I have to do pull ups today.  Ouchie.  

By the way, this is week 6!

Also, last night there were some dogs at frisbee.  One wanted to chase the frisbee the entire time, one licked the sweat off anyone who would stand still long enough, and one ran laps around the field the whole 2 hours.  

Today’s Exploit:

We were sitting in the Devon Roughneck Pavilion watching the geese and ducks and kids chasing them when we noticed the pedal boats.  They were great big swans.  Gigantic.  

For as big as this thing was it didn't cast much of a shadow.

One of us commented on them, then we promptly forgot.  We were distracted by the too-sweet lemonade and the cotton candy.  We each had as much as we wanted.  The Cupcake put it away to take on the plane with her.

After a few minutes she decided she wanted a picture with her cotton candy, for posterity or something.  

She took a huge bite, like she was eating a chicken leg.  And I took a picture.  Then I started recording her as she attacked the fluff as though she’d been starving for years.  It was hilarious and rather disturbing, considering how terrible cotton candy actually tastes.  

After that she decided we had to get tickets for the pedal boats.  Probably because she just ate half a ball of sugar fluff.  So we got one.  And they only let us play within a very small perimeter, but it was enough and our “duck”, as Cupcake kept calling it, didn’t like to turn left. 

We could really spin those circles to the right. 

We went forward and backward and in circles.  We tried to play chicken with other “ducks”, but they were all to chicken.  

We stayed out there the full 30 minutes.  Actually we were out for 32 minutes, but no one complained.  Then Cupcake talked the kid helping people out of the boats to take a picture.  

And then we went home so she could pack.  

The End.

Cupcake and the Statues

I find new fun things on my computer nearly every time I use it.  I think I might have to try out the business card template today.

Also, I’m going to play Ultimate today.  I’m so excited.  I haven’t played in ages!

Today’s Exploit:

The other day, Cupcake’s last day here, we went to the zoo.  

We saw a baby elephant.  It was only 1 month old.  

"I love you mama"

And a baby chimp playing and showing off for a small crowd.  And baby ducks and geese.

Just so you know, I'm about to fall off this platform.  That's why I'm embarrassed

Turns out the baby ducks and geese are the most rare at the zoo because the catfish eat them.  Yikes.

And Cupcake had to have her photo taken with all of the animal statues we found.

She didn't even cringe at the bird sculputres

Yee haw?

I have a whole lot of these pictures.  With lions and tigers and bears.  

And elephants and giraffes and turtles.  And monkeys.  I think her favorite part of the day, besides learning that flamingos quack like ducks, was posing with the statues.  

And maybe attacking her cotton candy.  But I think I’ll tell that story another day.

I Just Knew They’d Steal Me If I Slept There

I’m ready for my vacation, can it be 25 April yet? Also, do you think they’re still hiring penguin trainers at the zoo?

Today’s Exploit:

My last call to go to a job went something like this:

Me: Hello?

Jared: I need you to go to a rig in southeast Texas tonight.  (Damn)

Me: That’ll be an 8 or 9 hour drive. (They don’t let us drive after 11, and it was 4)

Jared: Well, you’re the only one available, so drive as far as you can tonight and finish the trip first thing in the morning.

So I did. I drove and drove and drove until 11. Then I found a hotel and slept for 4 hours. Because I was too keyed up after my check-in and worried about waking up on time in the morning.

I checked out and got in my car and called the Journey Management people. Then Jared called.

Turns out I could have slept in. They didn’t need me until the afternoon.

Then in the afternoon I arrived and got the shack all set up and called asking where everyone else was. They didn’t need us until the next night.

When they finally needed us we found out that they didn’t have beds for all of us. The extra trailer was paid for by the company that was leaving.

The DD told me he’d figure it out, but I was scurrd. He couldn’t find a phone number, and I was sure that if I fell asleep in that trailer they’d come and hook it up to the truck and drive off, with me rolling around in the bed or on the couch.

I’m pretty sure they have to go inside to do electric stuff and make sure everything is secure, but I’d been up for about 37 hours (in addition to spending 2 nights in hotels) and wasn’t really thinking rationally.

So I slept in my car for 2 hours, until the clouds went away and the sun hit me and my car was instantly 485 degrees.

That was when I gave up and went inside, and hoped that they wouldn’t drive me away. Because having an AC is far more important that worrying about the ramifications of getting back to the rig without my car.

Walk the Dog

The other day I went to the beach. I was called to a rig, but when I arrived I was told they didn’t need me to be there for another two days, at least. So I went to Galveston Island. I walked on the beach and watched surfers and picked up bits of shells.

It was a lovely day.

Today’s Exploit:

While at the beach I saw many, many people run by. The sidewalk and the street are about 15.8 feet above the beach level, so I mostly saw them while driving and sitting in my car.

I’d found a nice place to park and sat on the passenger side of the car to change my shoes. I was admiring the area and watching people when I noticed one particular jogger. He was an older man. He wore ordinary clothes and was not particularly distinctive except for the fact that he looked a bit lop-sided.

I watched for a few seconds trying to discern the reason for the unbalance. At first I thought it was some sort of pack on his back, and that he was on a VERY long run. But the pack was lumpy and mostly over one shoulder, so I didn’t quite believe that scenario.

Finally he got close enough for me to see his “pack”.

He’d placed his dog…HIS DOG…over his shoulder. It bouncing around and hanging on for dear life. And it watched me as the guy ran by. I tried hard not to stare too hard, because I’m pretty sure the dog was begging me to take it for a normal walk, at least until the run was over.

And I was too slow with my camera to get a picture. I saw they guy again, on his way back. The dog was over his other shoulder watching the world go by. I took a video with my phone, but it was too pixilated to see any definition.  Here is a photo to show you a bit of the indignity that the dog suffered.

Picture from here.



Penguin Trainer

I am fascinated with my heart rate right now. I check it about 56.3 times a minute. I check it when I do laundry, when I do dishes, while I’m reading, and as I walk across the room. It is amazing how quickly it changes and the amount it changes. I’ll probably be wearing my monitor continually for the next 2.31 weeks. At least.

Today’s Exploit:

So today I was pondering the fact that I don’t much like my job this week. It’s been very boring. I’ve spent more time reading, watching movies, and playing with my phone than actually working. I even was reduced to STUDYING for entertainment. I took tests for FUN. Eek!

I also was reminded how office people are lacking in common sense. I don’t want that to happen to me. So I don’t want an office job.

The first idea I came up with was the zoo. I wouldn’t be in the office, I’d get to learn about all the animals, and it sounds fun.

Then I contemplated the circus. It’s big, it’s shiny, it probably only has an office for the ring master.

Ooh, ooh, ooh, then I decided I want to fly a helicopter. That would be AMAZING! I could go anywhere and see all sorts of amazing things. I disregarded the fact that I wasn’t particularly happy the last time I was in one. How they jump around and drop suddenly, worse than rollercoasters (which I HATE).

But then I remembered that I’d probably have to talk to people. Over the radio. And I don’t like talking to people. And I don’t like talking over the radio at all. And I’m not sure if they’d let me drive a helicopter because I wear glasses, or contacts. Depends on how I feel that day.

So I decided to go with the zoo. But then I remembered all the people that go to the zoo. And I hate crowds. I almost had a panic attack in a room with 7 other people. So I amended that to working at the zoo, where the only people I have to talk to are the penguins.

I suppose the circus could still be an option, but I’d probably have to be the elephant trainer and work from backstage.

PS Dad: Today you should make Chicken Alfredo! Yum!

Dog Magnet

When I went home my mom spent ages torturing me about how she was able to watch So You Think You Can Dance. It’s pretty much my favorite show. And I’m always working while it’s on.

Last night I broke down and did some “illegal” streaming on the work internet. In one of the episodes I caught a quote that I liked a lot.

“I found dance as an outlet, now I want to use it as an exit.” -Tyrell Rolle

I thought it was very clever, and very interesting.

Today’s Exploit:

Today on my run I went longer than I usually do. Little Buddy had disappeared with the company man, but somehow sensed that I was going and followed me. We had gone about two and a half miles when we came to a driveway. Little Buddy was about 30 feet behind me because she likes the advantage when I turn around.

I saw a shape, and heard a bark. Then I heard some scrabbling behind me and when I turned Little Buddy was gone and two big dogs were loping down the road .

I started of on the way back to the rig. The big dogs followed. I turned and tried to get them to go home. Three times.

One finally stopped following, but the other stayed with me all the way back.

When I got back Little Buddy decided she was a little more bold and barked at him. I started walking to cool down but was interrupted by barking and yelping. Frankie came out and threw rocks at the dogs to get them to stop fighting.

I continued with my little walk with Little Buddy on one side, and the other dog following behind. Every so often they’d have a little scuffle for attention.

Currently I’m thoroughly sick of both of them.