Faun Weekend

This past weekend dear Faun came down for our last chance to see each other before I run away to the wilds of Montana again. We escaped suburbia hell (a.k.a. my hometown) and went to Eureka Springs where we stayed in a cute bed and breakfast, which was cozy and luxurious (mmmjacuzzi). We had a wonderful time! On Saturday we went to Lost Valley State Park (near Ponca, AR) to go hiking and enjoy the autumn woods. It was quite busy when we got there, but we decided to try it out anyway and just ignore the other humans. Not too far down the trail we ended up wandering out into the woods to go exploring away from all the people (the best kind of hiking). What a good decision that was! We scrambled over rocks up a creekbed and found a few really cool little waterfalls and bluffs. We played and explored and giggled and didn't worry about a thing. It was a beautiful day, the forest was lovely and we were having so much fun I didn't want to leave. Eventually we headed back, made our way to our room and took a nap before going out for the night. I think the hike wore us out too much though (or something ;-), as we weren't good for much more than dinner and a few beers. It was enjoyable nonetheless, to observe the nightlife.

On Sunday we slept in and lazed about before going out to wander the town. I tried to enjoy Faun as much as possible, as I knew it was the last day I would see him for several months at least. By the time we made it back to my abode, I didn't want to let go. I had enjoyed getting to spend so much time with just Faun without any distractions. The whole time we've known each other we haven't had the opportunity of spending a lot of time together, at least not in the default world. So, it was wonderful being able to just enjoy being together. It was wonderful to know as I was falling asleep that he was still going to be there in the morning. It was wonderful not having to watch the clock or even think about the clock. Having the luxury of an entire weekend with Faun without having to worry about anything or anyone else made it that much harder to say goodbye. Le sigh. I am very excited to get back to Montana, but now there is one more thing I will miss about Missouri...

Rabbit Weekend and Eagle Bluffs

It's been a good weekend. I've really enjoyed getting to hang out with dear Rabbit again, I forget how nice it is having a good girlfriend around! We've had much greasy restaurant food, a good round of frisbee golf in which we all demonstrated our super awesome frisbee skills, much imbibing, lots of gabbing (I don't think I've ever heard "wtf!?" said more than during this weekend, in regards to Owl's recent announcement), some game time (we beat Wolf at Outburst, and he of course kept his title as Scattergories champion) and lots of laughter of course. I'm hoping to catch them again this evening as she'll be headed out tomorrow while I'm at work.

This afternoon I went out for a hike with my hiking buddy to Eagle Bluffs. We took a trail around some of the wetlands and watched the ducks, identified a few. Then we went down through the woods to the river and walked up it aways. We identified some trees and I think I could say with confidence that I can now identify cottonwoods, and possibly ash trees as well. It was nice exploring a different area, since I almost always go to the forest. It was warm and beautiful and perfect. I even got a little sunburned. Springtime makes me so happy!

This is the beginning of my last week in Como! I'll be busy for sure...

Great Hike and Lovely Willow

Now here is a lovely looking sunny day....too bad it's only 20 degrees. So that leaves me sitting inside wasting time on the internet and wishing spring were here. I've had enough of this winter! Cabin fever has set in and while hope remains that I will not become permanently crazy, I am still feeling rather wily.

I had the opportunity to enjoy the nice weather yesterday by getting out for a hike at Three Creeks. I had been wanting to go back out there for quite a while. It was one of the first places Owl took me when I first came to CoMo and I had only been back once with Rabbit and Wolf last summer. I had been really wanting to explore it more. I went with a friend and his lady, who turned out to be not quite hardcore hiker material, but she endured it rather well without complaint. Along the way we ran into a fellow hiker who was looking for the cave I had been wondering about. (The cave that Owl and I just happened to have a little romp in ;-). I couldn't recall exactly how we had gotten there and it wasn't on the provided map. So, he invited us to come along with him to find it (he had one of those fancy GPS dealios) and me being the adventurous type, was all for it. My friends agreed and off we went! It didn't take us too long to find, although it took us a while to problem solve our creek crossing, but we made it without getting very wet. My friends ended up heading back before getting to the cave. I was sorry they had to miss it, but maybe another time. It was just as cool as I remembered, although we stayed out considering this is the time of the year when the bats are hibernating (don't want to disturb them). Then I helped my new found friend find a cache, as apparently he's into geocaching. We quickly found it, wrote in the logbook, took a few pictures and were on our way.

So this guy....we ended up talking during the whole hike. It was really enjoyable! We seem to have a lot in common, at the very least we both really enjoying hiking. I felt like we made a good connection, and that makes me happy. Making connections like that with like-minded folks doesn't happen too often, so it's always a really great feeling when it does happen. We both were interested in going hiking together again, so we exchanged information. Woo hiking buddies! I'm VERY excited about this, it's been a while since I've had a good hiking buddy. While I enjoy going by myself at times, it can make a hike much more enjoyable if the company is right. I talked with Willow later in the evening and she claims it is serendipity.

Speaking of Willow...I very much enjoyed our conversation we had last night. Lately we've been able to relate to each other quite well. We've both been in some very similar relationships over the years, it's actually a little odd how many. Sometimes it's as if we are the only people we know who can relate to us and understand us as well (if that makes sense...) Talking with her always makes me miss having awesome women around me, good, strong, loving and compassionate women who give a damn. So, thank you Willow for being so awesome! I miss you babe!

Appalachian Trail

This is what I'm talking about...how awesome will this be? WEEE!!

I've been reading bits and pieces of The Complete Walker IV, I've been joining hiking and backpacking groups and I've been doing more research. It just gets me more excited....

The whosat and howyoudunnit

I have been totally unmotivated to blog lately. There's been stuff to write about though.

• Pine's visit last week that included wandering around downtown, cooking dinners, long serious talks and a long walk down the trail, playing with our toys (hoop, poi, devil sticks, trampoline) during a beautiful 70 degree day, relaxing and a lot of enjoyable conversation and bad puns. I'll have to admit though there were a few times I could've had a bit of time to myself.
  
• I finally taped my hoop! (red and purple of course). I'm so happy to finally have it done and it seems to work better taped. The only problem now is I'm a bit worried about scuffing it up.
  
• Pine very kindly gave me a pair of his practice poi after we had so much fun playing outside. I learned my first move today: the 3 point weave, woot!
  
• The health food store in town finally called to ask if I was still interested in the job I applied for, so hopefully that'll pan out. I've had some issues figuring out my work schedule between two jobs, so now it'll get a little more complicated but that's okay. I need to save some money so I don't mind working more.
• I talked with Owl and found out that he is not coming home like I always felt he was going to. That was the final push I needed to move on, although it did bum me out for a while. I felt it physically, not just in my heart. Something changed. I no longer have a desire to be with him and that feels really, really good.
• After Pine left and after I talked with Owl, I was quite down for a little while. I was finally able to get in touch with Rabbit and we had a long, refreshing conversation. It was kinda depressing talking about how crazy the world is and how frustrated we are and how we feel so out of place. Although I always know Rabbit's around and feels the same way I do about things, I neglect to remember that when I start to feel really alone. So it was uplifting and made me feel better.
• Last night I actually went out, can you imagine? Me going out on a Friday night? Ha. It was different and I'm glad I did. I went to a party at a coffeehouse that an artists' collective was throwing. There was art on display, several musicians, some slam poetry and even some hip hop. It was pretty cool! I wore a rather bohemian hippie outfit and brought my crochet along. I hung out with a few people I knew (mostly from work) and talked with a few I didn't. Later I went to a party, then met someone at a bar, then back to the party. It was alright. It at least served to remind me why I don't go out much.
• I started on a Burning Man list...all the things Pet and I need to talk about. I'm excited already :-)
• This afternoon I went out to a wilderness area for a long hike. It was awesome, good weather for a hike. I almost got myself lost (it's a good thing reading the map wrong didn't hurt me too bad), but was able to backtrack just fine. I saw a lot of forest though, I can never get enough forest. I still had enough light to go outside when I got home and play with my hoop and poi a bit.
  
• I left this last bit of news for the end, it is the most exciting. When I was talking with Rabbit, she asked if I would like to go on the Appalachian Trail with her and Wolf. I said yes! Actually I think I said "hell yes!" Her and I were talking about how frustrating this modern world is, its ridiculous status quo and how it's so effed up that one has to follow all these crap rules of society and not do what you really want to. So I guess you could say this is a "fuck society and let's go do what we really like doing" thing. And of course it would be ridiculously amazing, a crazy ass challenge but one so worth taking on. I mean come on, how often do you drop modern life for six months at a time to walk over 2,000 miles? So, hells yes bitches, I'm taking on the Appalachian Trail. Of course we are leaving ourselves plenty of time to plan and prepare as this isn't going to take place until the spring/summer/fall of 2009. I'm fucking excited as hell.

So yah, that's what's been going on.

Exploring Rocky Fork and Friend Time

The past few days have been absolutely beautiful, so I have been making sure to take advantage! I want to enjoy this weather as much as I can before winter comes. So on Saturday, I had a wild hair to get out and explore some. A good friend of mine had told me how cool it is out at Rocky Fork, which is where Rabbit, Wolf, Owl and I would always go swimming in the summer. I had only been as far as the swimming hole, so I wanted to wander farther and see what I found. It was so nice! I didn't get out there until 3 or so, but it was a good time. The light was perfect, the sun kept me warm and I still had plenty of time for exploring. I found all sorts of great little nooks and peaceful spots. It was so nice to just be able to wander about wherever I fancied to go, mostly off the road. I took so many photos, so I'll just let those do most of the talking. I really enjoyed the time alone, although I do love going hiking with friends.

Yesterday evening I went walking on the Bear Creek Trail with Rabbit. While she ran, I wandered about listening to and watching the birds, picking a lovely autumn bouquet and just enjoying the crisp evening. We walked together some and had some good girl time. I don't think either one of us has totally realized that Rabbit is leaving so soon! I'm trying to get in as much time with my beloved Rabbit as I can. I won't be able to see her again until next summer, which seems entirely too long! I'm already looking forward to visiting her and Wolf though, we've already made plans ;-) After our walk, we went back to her house and hung out with Wolf all evening. We played a game of Outburst, us girls against Wolf, and we won, despite the fact that I wasn't even paying attention half the time because I was a little out of it...ha. I love those guys!

Also, yesterday I finally got to catch up with my dearest Willow (a.k.a. Alpaca Son). It was so nice! I am so grateful for her, and so happy that we understand each other so well. Relationships like that are the stuff of a good life. It's such a huge part of being human!