20 September 2011

Our first night apart in almost two years...

Yes, believe it or not, Kelly and I have never spent a night apart in almost two years.  People laugh when we tell them this because it seems to foreign to them that we've spent every night together since we were married.  What can I say?  We've never really had a reason to be apart.  But, the time had to come sooner or later, and it came in the form of the annual excursion into the mountains to shroud myself in camouflage and attempt to sneak within 40 yards of a thousand pound animal with antlers.  It really gets the heart pumping when a bull elk stands a stone's throw away and bugles at you...oooweee!  That part is thrilling enough, but the real challenge is getting an arrow to actually stick itself into said beastie.  When that happens, oh boy, it is a feeling that is pretty awesome.  Too bad I've never felt it, which is something I hope to rectify soon.

So, here I am completing this post on Tuesday the 20th, come to report on the momentous event that was our first night apart.  First off, I am sad to admit that I did not stick any big antlered animals with an arrow.  Didn't really see any honestly.  Oh well, such is life.  But, as to the night apart, I think my experience was less comfortable than Kelly's.  Kelly slept in a nice warm bed with several pillows next to her to form a replacement me for one night.  She reported to have slept very well actually.  Me...not so well.  Reasons why: a) it rained all night, and in a tent even a light rain sounds like a torrential downpour, b) I slept on the uneven ground (done it before, so this shouldn't have been a big deal, but...), c) the two people who shared the tent with me couldn't hold still on their cots and moved around loudly all night long.  Needless to say, it took about 11 hours of laying on the ground in order to get 6 hours of actual sleep.
Morale of the story...either sleep on a cot yourself, or bring ear plugs to block out the noise.  Or stay home with your wife and sleep in a warm bed, something I plan to do for upwards of 360 days of the year from now on (there will be a few hunting trips in there even if it means getting less sleep than if I were surrounded by angry howler monkeys).

11 September 2011

September showers bring October...

Kelly loves thunderstorms.  She says Idaho doesn't have enough of them.  I have to agree with her.  We do not have enough thunderstorms.  That is why whenever we have one, she seems to get this excitement about her.  She soaks it in like a kid at Christmas.  Her eyes light up with every crack and roll of thunder. 
So today, when it rained for almost an hour straight (an oddity in Idaho, even though it was kind of come and go and not straight sheets of rain) and the thunder rolled through the early afternoon sky, she was happy.  I was happy because it rained enough that I didn't think I would have to water the lawn for a few days.  Save money on water bill...check!  (Bills are not fun.  We should do away with them.)
The whole point of this post is...thunderstorms make Kelly happy.  When Kelly is happy, that is a good thing.  It makes me happy.  There is a general happy feeling throughout the house (which is still waiting for its first official guest at the Hotel Stelly, it could be you!).  Therefore, we should have more thunderstorms in Idaho.  Somebody please call the proper authorities and put in our order.  Thank you!
And if anyone knows what September showers bring in October, I would love to hear their thoughts.  I couldn't think of anything inspiring.  Bummer, I know.