The Real Plague Carriers

I'm sick. ...Again.
I went for several years without even a yearly physical, and yet this year, since starting my new job at an elementary school, I've been about four times... in about three months. And I'm sick again.
I went 23 years without any allergies, and in the past two months I've had two added to my medical record.
I'm now convinced that it wasn't rats who carried the plague, it was children.
I feel like I have Typhoid Mary in my class.

Solo camping

So it turns out I do have something interesting to write about.
Last weekend was my first adventure in solo camping. So as anyone who has ever met me knows, I get cold very easily. As in, I'm a total wuss, and when the temperature drops below about 70F, I start shivering. For a girl born and raised in NH, that is just unacceptable. ... And pathetic.
Anyways, When I had a three-day weekend and was in desperate need of a break from reality, I decided to test out my new sleeping bag-- I've had the same sleeping bag since I was about 10, and while it is still fully functional, it is not a cold-weather bag. Since winter lasts like 3/4 of the year where I am, it made sense (after more than a decade) to finally upgrade to something a little less summery. This might also have been prompted by the overnight trip we took the middleschoolers on this summer at the camp I worked at-- one of the younger girls had the same sleeping bag. Don't judge me; I needed a new one.
So I decided to test out my cold-weather gear. My dad has some property out in the middle of nowhere. For those of you who have ever been to NH, you may scoff at the phrase, thinking that it encompasses the whole state, but no, this is in the middle of nowhere by NH standards; as in complete with bobcat, bear, and roads that don't even exist, according to my GPS.
I tried to convince my dad to go with me, but he was off on another hunting trip, so I had the choice of going alone, or bailing. I went.
The few people I told thought I was kidding. Like I said, I get cold easily. I wore sweatshirts in the Kalahari desert. No kidding. And this is November in NE.
I got there after dark, set up camp (in the dark, in the woods, by myself. Shut up, I'm proud of myself) and built myself a little fire. I tucked myself as far down in my new sleeping bag as I could go, and thus passed the first night.
I got woken up by mergansers splashing in the lake, making a total racket. Day one spent reading, watching the critters, hiking, cooking over another fire... it was lovely.
Another night, another day like the first. I not only survived the chilly nights, but it was such a beautiful way to spend the weekend after the stress of the week. Plus when you're so far out that you can't see a single light from civilization, the stars are unimaginably beautiful.
...And I just really like building campfires.

Shameless Plug

So I haven't posted in months, it's true. This was started (and intended) as a public travel journal, and ended up being a "this is my life" sort of thing. Lately, my life hasn't been interesting enough to write about. It happens. So what does one write about when daily life is too boring?

Well, you can now follow my socio-political ideas over at "What's Wrong With This Picture" (subversiverants.blogspot.com) or for something less weighty, you can read up on ideas for fun, food and fix-ups at "Try This At Home" (fixthis.blogspot.com).

Unless I start traveling again, or at least start leading a more interesting life, odds are this one won't have much to say, but I'll do what I can. Until then, enjoy some of the other brain-leakage! Who knows, there might even be a good idea or two in there somewhere.