It's A Nice Place to Visit...

but I don't want to live there...

It is pleasant to have been to a place the way a river went. -Henry David Thoreau

Ahem.

I went.

I observed and half-heartedly participated. I enjoyed the company of my friend-family and filled my lungs with fresh air and campfire smoke. I laughed and sang and looked at the stars from the edges with the din of happy voices as background music.

My mind was elsewhere.

I was one of the first to hit my tent that night; I was anxious to have the time to myself. I liked hearing the noise coming from the top of the hill and while I expected to feel nervous and scared, I felt no real anxiety at all. I expected to feel sorry for myself and lonely but that's not what happened. I felt peaceful. What I didn't expect to feel was COLD. It was August in Misery for crying out loud. I only made it until about 3:45am when I bailed and slept in the van when I woke up freezing and in the fetal position from being so cold. I think I was actually saved from hypothermia by some muttering hasher using his car's lock/unlock [beep....beep boop...repeat]feature after stumbling around for a good long time trying find his tent.

So.

It was good to be out on the river with friends. Not caring how dirty or sweaty or silly we all got. Life is good and I am blessed.

80 miles, 8 runners....

River to River Relay....from the Mississippi to the Ohio River in a little over 10 hours. Dreaded it going in, was severely undertrained. Got a lucky break...my first leg (of three) was cancelled due to a mud slide. But it was a FANTASTIC day. Will do it again, and complete all three legs. Hopefully next year.

Me, Me and more Me....



Thats Kentucky behind us...



Me being a little cocky...should have saved the energy for the HILLS



Drive it like it's RENTED!!!




Good times. Reminded AGAIN was a blessing it is to be able to move my body.

Ha! And one last picture from the Green Dress Run. The guy on my left is from Wisconsin...and the one in the middle is a LAWYER here in STL. He got his dress online from some squaredancing outfitter. SO FUNNY.



And that statue behind us? Lewis and Clark I think, but regardless, by the next weekend it was completely under water up to the outstretched arm.

Snow + dirt + 50 degrees = SHOE SUCKING MUD

[Giggle] Played in the mud today.

Ran downhill in the mud, ran uphill in the mud. Ran sideways on mud. And busted my ass.

Jumped over a particularly large puddle and landed in the mud. And the mud ATE MY SHOES. BOTH OF THEM. I literally came out of my shoes. And walked uphill in muddy socks. Had to sit down to remove a handful of razor sharp *burrs* before I could put my muddy socks in my muddy shoes. And mud is HEAVY y'all.

And then we crossed a crystal clear creek. THREE times. Which is why in this picture, my shoes look partly clean on top.

There were two best parts. The sun poked out right before the hash started and I didn't have to wear gloves for the first time since, like, November.

And even better...there were I dunno...12 people at the run today. And I was the second YOUNGEST ONE THERE. Or all but one was older than I.

Fountain of youth, my friends.

Playing outside.

Find the time.

Day 8: Hash trash counts, right?

Looking for a good time? Google Hash House Harriers and a big city near you. Guaranteed you'll find a bunch of half-minds who follow a bunch of silly traditions and run for beer. All you need is a coupla bucks, some old shoes and a really good sense of humor.

Here's the deets from last night...

In spite of many hashers having heavy hearts, about two dozen frozen and shivering half minds circled to celebrate friendship, exercise, Dos Hixxies virgin lay *ahem* and of course, beer. While latecomer Halley's Comet got naked in Deavers parking lot, a toilet paper-waving Duzzy gave the chalk talk for our lone virgin who patiently waited until Duzzy used up ALL his flour to say he would not be running trail. Wanker! DMB…there’s your missing nomination!



At some point the hares vanished into thin air and left dazed and confused hashers stumbling around the parking lot looking for dots. In fact, several hashers were certain the hares were probably just sitting at the bar. But Pornogenic, with her keen eye, found the Biggest True Trail mark ever, so huge we could have tripped over it, and we were on our way. It was an okay trail, I suppose, with lots of light, not a single check, no TP, no hills and absolutely no sawdust shiggy. Definitely, just another shitty trail.

Our fearless leader, thick-skinned Meta turned the circle into a “Do It Yourself” exercise in Religious Advising. No one had a November birthday. No one could remember significant runs. No one zenned or got lost. No one is traveling to a foreign country next week. We sang several songs more than once. Pornogenic sang all her favorite songs.




There were several hashshit nominations, however they were all for DMB. There were at least four…the two I remember were for Mistaking Nurse Hashshit for Meta on trail (or the other way around) and for DMB trying to nominate someone else but, for once, not being able to come up with another nomination! They were voted on and since there was a four-way tie it was suggested that it be decided by trial by down-down. Since there was no plunger, nor other hashshit, DMB resorted to filling her own vessel and in the end, the hashshit went to ….DMB. And in true “Do It Yourself” fashion, the tune was, “Do My Butt” (do my butt, do my butt, butt, butt) And in true DMB fashion, she forgot her cranium gear and had to drink…AGAIN. We swang ‘ro and the few that weren’t frozen solid, commenced to the on-after for more beer and a chance to relieve Deavers of most of their salt and pepper shakers. Which more than likely ended up in Just Mindy’s purse, since PMS was not in attendance.



In a rare moment of seriousness we remembered a fellow hasher, R U Shittin Me, who was loved by many and will undoubtedly be long remembered for the warm hospitality he showed the Big-Humpers for their annual campout. We sang a few tunes, raised our vessels and hoped that when it was all said and done, that he finished his beer.

On-[to not getting arrested Sat.] -On,

ICHY

Day 3: And Plenty Of Sleep!

I slept for 9 straight hours last night.

That means I can party like a rock star tonight!

Saturday is a hashing day!

Oh, there will be pictures of azzchaps. Or assless chaps.

And speaking of someone who I'm sure has worn a pair or two, ....

KEVIN CHARNAS

Ima Hasher!!

Seriously, that was the most fun I've had in forever. Except for that trip to Idaho. So I'm gonna tease you and then put my throbbing head (hee, I said throbbing head!) back in the freezer.

I made the drive from home to Belleville IL via Collinville. WRONG! Made it just in time to be introduced to Dick Smith who dispensed with my "nerd" name and I took the customary Virgin name of Just Erin. As soon as the group heard "virgin" I was very quickly pounced upon and offered a beer and introductions were made. As someone who is horrible with names, I remember FeFe (Ironman, get it?), Meta Arsehole, AssBackwards,Hump Up the Volume, Pees like a Princess, Sexorcist, PMS, Postage Tramp and Cliff Bangher. I was told I was going to have to tell a joke, sing a song, or reveal a hidden bodypart...eventually. So I took them up on the beer. And got naked. (NOT nekkid...see prior post)

Is it possible that I could be seeing my pulse in my eyeballs? Ack, and I'm meeting Tori for a 2 hour ride in about 2 hours.

More later...or probably tomorrow. There were pictures...