Last day at CMW until next July

"And remember, no matter where you go, there you are."
                                                    -Confucious


          We woke up nice and early to work on the finishing touches for the Arts and Crafts building and the trail to Halfway to Heaven. We did so much work on that place, we replaced about five doors, scraped windows (and needed lots of elbow grease), and cleaned out of the wazzoo! This morning, we're just finishing up the whitewashing for these rocks.
           Suddenly, it's already time for us to leave.. but we decided to stay a little longer so that we could take multiple pictures at Halfway to Heaven. After all that work, we had to use the trail at least one last time. ... Soon, we were in the car and on our way home.
            .... But what would a trip be without a healthy detour? We stopped in Alamogordo at an awesome playground! Ahhh I love the moments where I can embrace my inner child. Too bad I'm getting too old to do that for much longer.... NO! I will always be a child at heart, and when I'm old and wrinkly the little kids will look at me like I'm crazy because I'll be the only grandma still climbing up the playground steps, if my hips will let me, that is. ;)

The Final Touches

" Some people want it to happen, some wish it to happen, and others make it happen."
                                                                          -Michael Jordan


          For my project, we finished up the last few things. We whitewashed all of the rocks such that they would be very easy to see. I was planning on weed whacking the plants (with our newly donated weed whacker) in the new archery range, but we accidentally forgot the gas for it. It isn't that big of a deal that we didn't do it this time because it is something that will need to be done every year.
           After finishing the painting on my rock boarder, I helped Runner whitewash her trail. I didn't realize how long that trail was until I was holding a cup of paint in one hand and a paint brush in the other for what felt like forever. Soon, we got it finished (for the day), and then hiked up to my range to have a little fun. We placed the wooden pallets  (that were nicely donated as well) down, brought up all of the archery gear, and shot some arrows for a little while. In the future, I might need to add some sort of contraption behind the targets that would catch the arrows because behind the target line is huge fallen-over tree, we've lost a few arrows already. Which stinks because we just barely got them!
          Horrah! The work for my project is finished! Gold Award, you'll be mine very soon! :)

"On the road again.. I can't wait to get on the road again"

"Live for the moments you can't put into words"
                               -anonymous

       Finally, we get to go back to camp! Jazzy and I have been counting down (as always) until this day. I am so happy, we're back at CMW and we have two girls (new-ish to our troop) who have never been to CMW..... So, we went on a hike! A pretty long hike! We went up Escondido canyon, over the hill, and back down the other canyon. It did take a couple hours and much of it was spent taking amazing wildlife pictures and throwing mud clots across the small watering hole.
       Camp is always so amazing. One of my favorite parts about camp is spending time with the CMW alumni and learning old traditions from them. This time, however, it is just our troop trying to get as much work done as we can. We even get to sleep in the lodge with the fire going.  I can't wait to get back to work and finish our projects!

Going home, ALREADY!!

" The longer I live, the more my mind dwells upon the beauty and the wonder of the world."
                                                                   - John Burroughs   

        Wow, I do have to say that we had a very productive, labor filled weekend, over labor day weekend. (tee hee hee) Sorry, I am huge fan of puns. ... Anyway, today was filled with our usual cleaning up and getting ready to leave. We hiked up Runner's new and awesome trail, several times. Even though we missed the sunrise, it was amazing! The beauty here never fails to enlighten me.
        The drives back from camp are always a lot quieter than the drives up. I think it's because we're usually so exhausted that I just sleep most of the time. I'm so glad that I don't have to drive. I'll leave that up to Runner. Although, I do feel guilty that I did sleep and she was struggling to stay awake by herself. I'll make sure to keep her company next time. Well, I'm back home, and I already can't wait until we get to go back in a couple weeks. Man, Camp Mary White, why did you have to steal my heart such that I can't stand being away from you? It really makes life frustrating, and school hardly tolerable.

Just Clearing some dirt....

"A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work.
                                         -Colin Powell

      The most difficult part of my project was done yesterday. Thank goodness, today is a lot more lax. I'm mostly just helping out with clearing out the Arts and Craft's building.

       On my project, I finished up the rock boarder and Ninja and I cleared a line of dirt (about 25 feet by 10 feet) so that it would be flat and the targets would be able to stand. It went by quickly. I used the branch cutters to get rid of the sharp plants. I'm basically done for now. I just need to do the finishing touches, later. 

Getting to work...and falling in love!

"Love comes from the most unexpected places" ;D
                                   -Jose Feliciano

         Today, I met my future coffin mate. Yes, I said coffin mate! I found the singularly most beautiful thing in the world and demand that I be buried with it. His name is Mr. Post-Popper. He is a wonderful contraption designed to pull rebars (among other things) out of the ground. And oh baby, does he work like magic! A job that I expected would take several hours of digging, pulling (the rebars... and my hair), and replacing dirt, only took about half an hour and about 10% of the effort. Thus, I met my new best friend, and finished the first part of my project. We (Rip and I) were showing him off to everyone, which made the job take even longer than it could have. 

          Then I went off, hunting for a location that would be the new archery range. Criteria that the location needed: slightly uphill; rectangular shape, long and wide; not too rocky or bumpy; and not too much plant life in the way. I checked out a couple different locations until I came across one that had the potential for perfection. I got a roll of crime scene tape and marked off where the range would be. I then cleared the area of all of the trash, which was so much more than I expected. Then we (my team and I) started collecting rocks, by the wheelbarrow full, and brought them back to the new range to make a rock boarder around the range. Today, we lined up over 100 feet of rocks.  Now, I am so tired, which is good because I'll fall right asleep. 

She'll be commin' round the mouta-..... wait, why aren't they here yet?

"Never take life too seriously, nobody gets out alive anyway."
                                                 -anonymous




       Finally, it's time to step out of reality and into the magical world of Camp Mary White. It's been so very long and we are all so anxious to arrive. I'm so happy that we can finally get there. I was beginning to think that it was going to be an impossiblity because of the rain issue, but I'm glad to say that God graced us with enough moisture to return to this second home of mine. I got a new camera (that can go underwater!), and I am so excited to take so many pictures!
      Mornings before camp are always hectic. As usual, I find myelf rushing out the door and then I still find myself at the destination with a whole list of things that I forgot to bring. After we loaded up all of the gear, furniture, and people into the vehicles, we were on our way. We (Ninja, Runner, and I) got magical rings of awesomeness and too much junk food which was masticated all to quickly.
      Soon, we were one our way, and incredibly (crazy and) excited to get to camp. We were gonna make it there with no trouble as we usually do, or so we thought. About five miles outside of Estancia, we blew a tire on the trailer that we were borrowing from a friend. You see, when Coach went to get the trailer at nine o'clock yesterday, she didn't realize the condition that the trailer was in. The tires were as bald as a bowling ball (except not really because they were tires). When we stopped to assess the damage, the tire was basically reduced to two walls and rim. So, Runner, DJ, and I went in Runner's car to Estancia. We found some mechanics, who fixed the tire (and did so much work) for only $40. They searched for a tire, and found one. It needed a little repairing, but was definitely still usable. They drove out to our trailer twice. Once to assess the damage, and the second, to fix the tire. One guy even drove out to Moriarty to borrow a lug nut wrench for the trailer. After that mishap was over, we were on a way again, and driving much slower. We were doing well....
       ....Until we saw the smoke... and the bits of rubber flying off of the back of the trailer (we were driving behind them so that we could watch for these possibilities). We called them so that we could tell them to pull over, or at least we tried. Because of the lack of cell service, we  were reduced to shouting at the top of our lungs, Runner honking on the horn obnoxiously, and rolling down the windows to wave our arms like maniacs. All of our attempts were rewarded with no success... until, we had driven into the other lane signaling to them with our awesome arm flailing that they needed to stop. We were about 6 miles outside of Carrizozo. This tire lasted until we got into the city, and since it was taking so long DJ decided that we would split. DJ and Coach went to find a mechanic and we went on to camp.
           Oh what a wonderfully magical drive it was, filled with singing, strange noises, and inside jokes. We finally made it to camp! When I stepped out of the car, I took a deep breath of the fresh air.... I was free. All of my stress, worry, negative emotions just went away with my exhaled carbon dioxide.... I am home.
           After unpacking and getting everything set up for bed, we went down to Muleshoe Ranch to eat and socialize with the others. It was so nice just eating (extremely delicious food) and sitting on the porch. Later on, Roadie wanted everyone learn the "Ninja Hug," which is a super exciting hug created by Ninja and I. It takes quite a bit of coordination for a wide range of reasons. You need to be able to balance on one leg, coordinate whose face is on the left and whose is on the right, start the hug at a reasonable distance such that you don't have to leap into the other's arms(which causes lots of falling over), and being able to move your head to the side far enough such that you don't hit your nose (or other facial parts) on the other person.... It really doesn't help that I'm so uncoordinated. I hit my nose on Ninja's shoulder and my eyes started watering.
         Soon, DJ and Coach arrived, dragging the terrible trailer behind them. Apparently, by the time they got to the mechanic, they blew another tire! The mechanics fixed the two tires, the axel, and the hitch... and only charged $40 (that's right, 40, again)! I think that somebody upstairs was supporting us on this journey, What with the presence of the number forty, twice; something really bad could have happened when those tires blew, but everyone is safe; and the fact that we were lead to two amazing humans that served as our mechanics.
          At the end of today I have two things to say: thank you for looking out for us, and some amazing mechanics are going to get some Girl Scout cookies in the mail. :)