#EveryDayinMay - Tuesday Ten From the Trail

Time for the Tuesday Ten, a little meme hosted by Crystal over at Straight On Til Morning! This week, I'm sharing ten things from the trail - reflecting on my first overnight experience backpacking. This ten seems to make a great slice of life post for my trail experience as well!

Ten Things From the Trail

1. Walking ≠ Hiking. You guys. You guys. When I set out on this trail, which I anticipated as a moderately difficult walk through the woods, I had no idea that I would spend so much time staring at my feet that I would have very little time to actually, OH I don't know, notice the actual wilderness all around me. While it wasn't very hot, I was a sweaty mess from the exertion it took to simply not fall on my face.


2. Trail maps are not enough. While the map is important, it doesn't replace being astutely aware of your surroundings. This is rather difficult, however, due to the constant staring at your own feet that I mentioned above. The trail we were on was either littered with huge rocks and fallen trees, or pock-marked with horse hoof impressions that had dried in the mud, leaving behind huge holes of doom. The blazes (marks on trees to lead the way) were not always abundant. We had to be ever watchful. Basically we were like Sherlock Holmes of the forest.


3. There is nothing more lovely than a cool breeze. It's amazing how revitalizing that little breeze can be when you're trekking up a mountain with a heavy pack strapped to your back!


4. Having a dog along on the trail that runs back to wait for you every time you stop to catch your breath is almost as nice as that cool breeze. While The Husband almost always took the lead on our hike, and Lily stayed right by his side, Grimm would double back and wait for me, or simply stop along the trail until I caught up. It brought a smile to my face every time. There was so much about the hike that made me think of years ago when my sweet Daisy was younger and loved being outside in the fresh air; it was a comfort to have Grimm by my side while I process all the losses that equal up to not having her in our lives anymore. He may be a spitfire of energy and constant silliness, but much about his faithful personality reminds me of her, and that comparison warms my heart, especially now.
   


5. I'm stronger than I believed. With 25 pounds on my back, I climbed my way to the top of Snake Mountain, terrified a snake would jump out from under a bush with ever step I took. Snake Mountain may not be very tall or daunting to most people, but I hiked it, and I'm proud!


6. There are no snakes on Snake Mountain. At least, none that wanted to sink their evil little fangs into my fancy space-age hiking boots. Although, I do wonder if my elephant-like tromping through the forest scared away every possible threat I might have encountered. 


7. The Ouachita National Forest is beautiful, and inside it lies a maze of so many criss-crossing trails that you could literally hike for days and days and never see them all. Definitely worth visiting. I know we'll be going back soon.


8. Camping along the trail is nothing like parking lot camping or even the yearly Ranch Rudolf camping I'm accustomed to. Everything is darker. Sounds are louder. With one side of my body pressed against our tiny Kelty two-person lightweight tent, I felt as if there were nothing between me and the packs of hungry bears and wolves that most certainly were roaming the darkness.
   
   

   

   The Husband demonstrating remarkable tent building skillZ.

9. You will be exhausted at the end of the day. Forget reading. Forget writing. Forget staying awake because you're sure the bears and wolves and boogiemen are out there waiting for you to drop your guard. Eventually, your eyes will close and you will sleep so soundly that when the sun rises and you open your eyes again, you won't believe it's morning already.


10. I love backpacking. I love the quiet work of one step after the next carrying you forward. I love that everything you need to survive is swaddled carefully on your back. I love the thrill of navigating through trees and ridges, of feeling lost and completely in the right place simultaneously. I love the smells and sounds (except for those weird killer bird/coyote nighttime sounds, lets be real). I love it all. I already have my pack repacked and ready for the next free weekend, so I can grab my gear and take off for the woods. Backpacking has bitten me, and I am all the happier for it.

#EveryDayinMay - A Hot Mess

Click the image to visit this week's Poetry Friday host, Violet Nesdoly

I think I will stop planning my blog posts. Every time I do, life sneaks up and taps me on the shoulder, raises one eyebrow and shakes her head.

"Oh no," she says, "Not that. This. This is what matters today."

And she pushes today's special at me, shoves it in my unready hands, turning to wander away without asking if I wanted what she had to offer, before watching how I react.

* * *

Even then, when I realized the moment had come, when I knew what I wanted to write about today was gone -POOF- like a wisp of smoke, the tendrils thinning and fading without apology, I knew at the same time that she deserved more than some old poem I found on the internet and posted in memoriam. Even though I had some great ones. Even though those poets said what I felt with words so much better than mine could ever be.

She deserved more than someone else's words.

She deserved mine. 

* * *

The truth is

she was a hot mess

that filled up our days

with brown fur tumbleweeds

and late night

dashes through the streets

calling, "Daisy! Daisy!"

as she ran,

triumphant

in her escape.

Life with her was

a tail-thumping,

full-faced drool of a lick.

Soda cans went flying,

trash bags spontaneously

gutted, sandwiches missing

from plates left alone

one second too long.

A devoted foot-warmer,

couch potato partner,

vegetable scrap

dispenser.

A devoted friend.

There could not be

one second too long

spent beside her brown-eyed gaze;

the one she always gave me 

before gently huffing and

resting her head on my lap,

as if to say, "Oh human,

I love you

but you are a hot mess."

© 2014 Kelly Mogk

#SOL14 - Puppy Love

First: Happy Ides of March! This will be my first time in a few years to not post about the Ides on the 15th, but something has come up that is a little more important than my love of the Ides!

One week ago yesterday, I was running around work like a complete crazy woman, attempting to finish up all the last minute details that needed attending before Spring Break was in full swing.

The Husband was road tripping to Oklahoma to meet up with the amazing people that are responsible for bringing our newest little love into our lives.

At the end of the school day, I made my normal rounds through the computer labs and library to turn off all the computers. My principal and a couple teachers were in talking with me, everyone excited to be headed off for a week of relaxation. The library door opened and in walked The Husband. In his arms was my sweet, big new boy -- Grimm! After many puppy snuggles, I loaded him up in my car and drove him the rest of the way home. He slept the whole way, all curled up like a roly-poly.

My gorgeous guys!

Grimm took no time at all making himself at home. He is headstrong, brave, smart, and always on the go. He is learning how to wait at the door before coming in or out, wait to be told "okay" before eating his meals, and is learning to walk beside me without a leash. It definitely helps that he loves his treats.

He also loves to sleep. In odd positions.

Last night I had my first training "aha" moment with him. A few days ago I started working on shaping with Grimm. I had read that shaping (as opposed to luring or other training methods) is a great way to let your dog think their way through problems, so I figured -- why not? I want to build a strong bond with Grimm, and I think this will be a fun way for us to grow a relationship.

We have three cinderblocks stacked side by side to make a small platform on the porch that we used when we were teaching Lily to stay. I walked over to it and when Grimm followed, I clicked (and treated) that behavior. I repeated this a few times and then the next time we went over to the platform again, I just waited. He put a paw on the blocks, so I "clicked" on that. Then two paws, then four, then he sat - each time I "clicked" on the new behavior. Then I walked around and kept returning to the blocks and each time he followed me around and got up there and sat right away!

Grimm on the run with Lily close at his heels!

I'm not going to lie, I was pretty much thinking -- "Wow, so this shaping thing actually works??" Then he got too smart and when I walked away he didn't follow me, he just stayed right there watching me and waiting for me to come back to him, because obviously I had shown him that if he sat there long enough I would bring him a treat. Smart dog! I should have realized that with each time I left the platform, he stayed there a little longer -- guess he was also working on shaping my behavior!

At this point I realized that I could either click for him staying there and shape our way to a long stay (maybe??) or reset and get him back to hopping up onto the blocks. I clicked and rewarded for how long he stayed, then said okay and he hopped down and trotted over to me. I learned SO many things from this 10 minute session playing this game with him! Number one: time to buy a book on shaping - I know a little, but I need to know so much more! This little guy is going to easily outsmart me at every turn.

So I definitely have a lot to learn, but it's easy to enjoy the process when I'm staring into this precious face.