Mule Withdrawal Cured

I was getting cranky these past few weeks.
I couldn't figure out what it was all about. I tried hiking harder, walking further, and trying to get into some good books...
Nothing seemed to work.

Something was missing. I had an ache, a need, a want...
But I couldn't nail it on the head.
I was cranky, irritable, short tempered, tired, difficulty sleeping, listless, ...
in short I wasn't feeling very good.

What was bothering me so much?

Yesterday morning as I was putting water in the stock tank, Badger walked up and made his silly mule noise at me.
I smacked myself in the head.

IDIOT! I said to myself.
DUMMY!

You've been suffering from MWRS.

And what is that?
Mule
Withdrawal
Riding
Syndrome

I looked down at the ground. The ice was melted, slushy sloppy snow was under my feet. The driveway was muddy and sloppy. The sun was shining brightly and the warmth caressed my face...and well. I wasn't cold!
Perfect.
Wonderful.
Awesome.

Badger let out another pitiful mule bray.
He must have been suffering too.

So I had to.
I just had to.

I needed the Cure.

One does not realize exactly HOW much they miss riding until the bad weather, ice, and cold keep you from it for weeks.
I'm so glad that I recognized the symptoms.

I don't think MWRS is fatal.
But it sure can be hard on those who may live with you.

Making plans

It is time.

I said I'd do it, now I need to make the plans to make my words come true.
I promised myself when my father died, that I'd go back to the land he loved so much and go with my camera...and me. Plus his memory.

I'd go back to the Big Island where so many happy childhood memories still bounce around. Those days seemed endless to a child. I'm sure that the month flew by with alarming speed for my father and mother.

I accompanied dad in October of 2001. We stayed for two weeks and had a wonderful time. He was 83 years old and the roles had been reversed. I was the 'parent' and had to organize every minute of our day, including naps.

He was the child.
It was his job to curiously [and madly] ask me every five minutes of a road trip~~
*Are we there yet?*
or
*I gotta go, where's a bathroom?*
*I want some candy!*
*I'm hungry!*

It was my first return trip to Hawai'i since 1973. Things had changed. I now drove, dad did not.
He was legally blind and a bit frail.
He could be wonderfully irritating [I may not have thought it at the time, but in retrospect, he was quite funny in an odd way].

This was his gift to me, although I did not realize it at the time.

It was a gift of memories to carry with me forever, even after he was gone.

We stopped at a restaurant to eat one afternoon after a road trip. I'd read reviews about the place and it looked a bit local, but inviting.
We walked up to the doorway were the entrance split into two directions.
To the left a bar.
To the right an open dining room.

There was music and voices in the dim lit bar, some laughter, some in what sounded like Hawaiian speech.
Dad grabbed my arm, and in a panicked voice said, *We have to get out of here before we get mugged! They'll see we are white and tourists, they sound native to me, ...maybe toughs!*

Despite my assurances that we would not get mugged, dad insisted. In fact he stalked off and went back to the Dodge Neon we rented and got in, refusing to get back out.

So our trip went. We had adventures.
We had talks.
We 'connected' with each other like this father and daughter had never done.
We laughed, we reminisced.

And one day while sitting in the shade at the Old Kona Airport Beach State Park, dad said to me.
*This is where I want to be, god forbid I die. Here, right here. Everything comes together right here. Memories of you children, my love for your mom...the happiness we had in Hawai'i.*

I looked around. Surely dad was a very young 80'ish fellow, but I would follow his wish, for his heart never left Hawai'i since the first time he saw in in January 1965.
And so I promised him...

I looked at the place we loved to sit and watch the waves. Our favorite place.
Could I remember this tree?

Could I recall this rock with the crashing waves?


Well, I do recall the fun we had.

So now it is time.
Time to return.
...as promised.

Let's go for a walk...

These are rare words out of my husband's mouth.

Rare, rare, rare.

I can count the times on one hand in our time together he has simply suggested a walk for the sake of walking.

I know it hurts his knees and now it is even worse since he suffers from Plantar fasciitis.

Of course there was another reason, he wanted to walk his coon hound pup, Dot.
[I of course call her Dottie and have been exercising her]

But he is her master and she really does mostly have only eyes for him.
I volunteered to come along [with camera of course!] and keep him and Dot company, even though I'd just returned from a rather hard hike in the deep and softening snow.

He claims to be a 'tough guy' and can sometimes be a bit gruff towards his animals. But I think they see through him.


He isn't such a 'gruff' fellow. I think he's rather tender when no one is looking.

It was rather comical to follow along with the camera yesterday. I stayed far enough away that I hoped Dot would listen to her Master and not pay attention to me.


That wasn't always the case. Dottie would run like mad to me and then run like mad back to Rich.
She was so happy to have two humans to play with, I think.

I had to wipe the smirk off my face when 'Dot' wouldn't 'come' when called one time. My husband turned to me with a look on his face.

I squatted and called out to Dottie, she came barreling in to me.
I shrugged.

To be out with my husband any time is simply a joy. More so when we can take a short hike together.
No matter what the circumstances.

Time well spent with each other and our animals.

Creek Song

This is why I go down to the valley nearly every day....

It is for the beautiful creek song...

Beauty and the Beast

On February 5th Morris and I stumbled upon the fresh deer kill by coyotes. The coyotes fled as we walked up on the scene.
Morris was scared and pretty nervous. In my opinion he had shown good common sense for a 12 lb dog.

20 days have passed and one would not even know that this had taken place in our creek bottom.
The skeleton is gone, it disappeared sometime within the last 5 days.

Since this trail is on one of my regular hiking paths, we went this way again today.
The sun was out and even though the temperatures were quite chilly, the sunlight felt good. Once we dropped below the ridge, it was quite pleasant.

I was pretty sure that I'd be able to find some interesting ice or frost formations with the recent melt and cold we'd been having.
On we went, Morris and I, down the steep trail. Me, slipping and sliding, grabbing onto berry briers and thorn bushes as I made my way down the 'critter' trail.

Morris hasn't been accompanying me on the last few hikes because the coyotes are in season and are fairly territorial this time of year. But the poor fella really begged to come along once I put on my camera pack and coveralls.

He is good about obeying me and sticking close by.

As I peered into the bottom of the creek from the high bank, I was greeted by a hissing noise.
Oh hello Mr. or Miss Opossum!


Brave Morris stood directly behind my legs and peered between them.

He wanted absolutely nothing to do with the 'possum. And frankly, neither did I.
Some folks have claimed that 'Possum are cute. I suppose they've never been on the snarling end of one.
It is rare to find one out in the daylight.
I was pleased that I'd brought my long lens.

This was the 'beast' according to Morris, who was curious but not curious enough to get as close as I did.

Further on down the creek we found the things we had set out looking for. Morris, a good place to roll in something smelly.....

Me, some interesting frost and ice.

Marriage of the Hedgehogs

Happy Hedgehog, a toy of Morris's, and a character in the The Big Adventure series has finally found Happiness in a female Hedgehog named Harriet.

They met this summer apparently [the toys don't talk with me!].
They were happily married in a little Hedgehog Chapel and have announced the addition to their family...

Harry, the little Hedgehog.

I imagine he is going to be appearing in future books with Morris.
One must really limit the activities of these toys.

The Cavalier is Possessed

I had no idea that cars can become 'possessed'. The Cavalier has been acting strangely lately.

Of course it didn't start with me, but when my hubby borrowed it to drive to Madison and back one day. He said the dome light wouldn't shut off.
I drove it the next day and it was just fine.

Then a day later I noticed the dome light had come on and didn't fade as it usually does. Hmmm.
That night all seemed fine. Except now the dome light did not come on when I opened the passenger door at night, but it did when I opened a back door. It wouldn't shut off unless I opened and closed one of the front doors.
Hmmmm.

Another week goes by and nothing special happens.
Until last night.
When I hit the bumps on Hwy 56 outside of Romance on the way to work, I noticed the dome light came on. Okay, that was interesting. But, since it was daylight I never gave it a second thought.

When I started the Cavalier to come home last night the dome light came on and then faded away until I put the lights on.
Blink.
Dome light on.

I pulled over and stopped at the wayside.
I opened and shut the driver's door..dome light off.
When I turned the corner in Genoa and flipped my brights on....
Dome Light.
This is beginning to piss me off.

Hit the brakes, Dome Light.
Go from Park to Drive, Dome Light.
Dim to Bright...Bright to Dim..., Dome Light.
Shut off the car,
Dome Light dims and goes out.
Start the car, Dome Light on...and off.
Bump=Dome Light.

Finally I gave up and just drove home with the light on which was not pleasant at all.

The car is possessed.
[Obviously it is a short?]
Or???

Anyway, tonight...I take the truck.