"Running Naked With iPhone: Day One" by At Random / LJWorld.com

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Running Naked With iPhone: Day One

Take away modern technology: house, car, microwave, cordless phone, newspapers, radio, television, computers, but don't take my iPhone since it allows me to take pictures and utilize it as many of the other convenience functions as soon as civilization is within reach.

I had the opportunity recently to be stripped of many 'necessities' when I went on a camping trip with a friend, his mother, and my son. We decided to camp in a spot where one, as a seasoned camper, had gone for several decades - we went to Timber Creek, Colorado.

Timber Creek is one of several campsites available to the public at Rocky Mountain National Park, located in the Kawuneeche Valley and surrounded by the Never Summer Mountains. (Boy, did they have the latter right!)

We arrived late Sunday afternoon (July 26th) and were greeted with a solemn reminder of how ravaged this area has become by pine beetles.

Timber Creek, a once forested campground, had been stripped of its ambiance and left a wasteland.

Machines had arrived on site as soon as snowfall ended in early summer and removal of the aftermath of the devastation had begun. Everywhere around our site were huge piles of pine carcasses - some in small pieces usable for firewood, but most were simply saw dust.

Sky-reaching centenarian pine trees, which previously directed eyes upwards to stars, heavens, and mountains, were now gone - the campsite was barren and battle scarred. One lone tree, silhouetted against the descending darkness, held the promise of a quarter moon waning from behind.

Cold rain fell as three pods for tents were secured and we moved quickly, in silence, to build a fire. (watch for "Running Naked With iPhone: A New Day" tomorrow)

By Ronda Miller

August 3, 2009

At Random

From the Citizen Journalism Academy

Discussion

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3 August 2009
at 9:56 p.m.

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tangential_reasoners_anonymous (Anonymous) says…

By the time we rolled into the campground, it seemed that everything had gone just about as badly as it could have…
dead battery, at departure
cold, rainy day upon arrival
wet camping gear
Timber Creek, now timberless

… and, then, everything began to unfold better than it ever had before.
3 August 2009
at 10:02 p.m.

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justbegintowrite (Ronda Miller) says…

We were excited and tired by the time we arrived. Boy, what a shock to our system. The cold, cold rain certainly added to the despair. That and being hungry and tired. What a day!
3 August 2009
at 10:19 p.m.

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RoeDapple (Anonymous) says…

Still need to know more about dead battery=swarms of chicks, tange! You could sell that kind of info!

And camping out is definitely good for charging up the batteries, Ronda!
3 August 2009
at 10:35 p.m.

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tangential_reasoners_anonymous (Anonymous) says…

OK, it was a seven-year-old battery, and it's time had come.
(Luckily, it died within blocks of Ronda's house, rather than the open road.)

I had barely wrapped my head around its demise, when I looked up to see a girl who could have been my daughter offering her assistance. Neither of us had jumper cables, so the point was moot.

As I was coordinating a remedy with Ronda, I was approached by several other women, across the age spectrum, including one who could have been my grandmother… heartening gestures on that disappointing morn.

Since none of us had cables, we were left only fables… and the irony of carting our *dead* battery across Wal-Mart as electricity danced from our shopping cart.
3 August 2009
at 10:41 p.m.

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liggyon (David Lignell) says…

“… and, then, everything began to unfold better than it ever had before.”

I like conflict in a story as much as anyone, but this Beatle mania is just too overwhelming. (Wait, I meant this beetle malaise is just too depressing.) And given the current economic strife…I'm looking forward to better moments in nstallment two, “A New Day.”
4 August 2009
at 7:16 a.m.

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justbegintowrite (Ronda Miller) says…

Don't mention the word “current” around us, David. It is an electric word and makes my hair stand on end.

tange says, “heartening gestures on that disappointing morn.” - he doesn't have a daughter; I would consider this stupid and disheartening and frightening.
4 August 2009
at 7:24 a.m.

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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

(Did she just forget to sign out and sign back in?)

4 August 2009
at 7:29 a.m.

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justbegintowrite (Ronda Miller) says…

I think she signed out never to be seen again. :)
4 August 2009
at 7:31 a.m.

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tangential_reasoners_anonymous (Anonymous) says…

Well… following that recent, lovely afternoon spent in east Lawrence, I'd like to think that I have a “daughter,” of sorts.

… and your mother is right. Don't approach strange men in parking lots. You never know when one might turn out to be an Internet stalker… er… stalkee.

… and… redheads… to be avoided at ALL costs.
( Oh, if only I'd followed my own advice…. )
4 August 2009
at 7:43 a.m.

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RoeDapple (Anonymous) says…

The car will not start,
The time getting short,

“It's time to go now”,
She said with a snort,

“I'll be there soon,
I'm trying to fix!.”

But when Ronda got there,
tange surrounded by chicks!

All's well that ends well,
Vacation was fun,

When it wasn't raining,
They did see the sun.

When asked what they saw,
When they went where they went,

Ronda coyly replied,
“We spent all our time in tent!”
4 August 2009
at 8:18 a.m.

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justbegintowrite (Ronda Miller) says…

Roe, not quite, “We spent all our time in a tent!”, but some of our better hours were spent there. I learned a lot about trust, body heat, the protective abilities of a tent, and that other people at the same campsite don't want to be awakened with hysterical laughter in the wee hours of the morning.

I will be doing a “poetry” blog where people can write their vacation experiences in poetic format soon…don't steal it, man! ;)
4 August 2009
at 9:36 a.m.

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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

…that other people at the same campsite don't want to be awakened with hysterical laughter in the wee hours of the morning….

There you have it ladies…your excuse for never going camping. Just explain, “When I go on vacation I get in a better mood, start clowning around and am prone to fits of laughter in the middle of the night. Do you really want to have to pack up the tents in the middle of the night and find a new campsite?”

I know I can recall the fun of unexpected storms in the middle of the night and the discussions between two newly weds on their first camping trip at a family reunion in a two man pup tent rented from SUA suddenly trying to make sure nothing was touching the sides of the tent using one old style flashlight..which as you know is pretty much impossible when you have two sleeping bags, etc. and the only place you can sit upright in dead center…and that is only one of you at a time unless you've scooted all around which messes up all your work…you know the feeling.
4 August 2009
at 9:51 a.m.

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justbegintowrite (Ronda Miller) says…

Luckily our tent was roomy enough to stand and move around inside. I know tange's mother had to crawl into hers…backwards, and my son is 6'5” and had a three person tent that he had to sleep fetal position to fit inside. The tents must be made for children…or aliens….. ;)
4 August 2009
at 10:11 a.m.

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Logan72 (Alia Ahmed) says…

Wow, Ronda and tange, what a trip. This is exactly why I always doing my camping at a Holidome. :~)
4 August 2009
at 11:45 a.m.

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justbegintowrite (Ronda Miller) says…

You'll enjoy what's coming, Alia….it gets much better (stated by someone who generally camps out at hotels as well!).

4 August 2009
at 12:25 p.m.

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Logan72 (Alia Ahmed) says…

I hope so, Ronda. So far, it is only confirmed my opinions about camping trips. :~) I know many people enjoy them but it's not my idea of fun.
4 August 2009
at 12:32 p.m.

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justbegintowrite (Ronda Miller) says…

Alia, it wasn't mine either. Someone mentioned trusting the people you go with who are experienced (in my Camping 101 blog), and I found once I just let go (which is very difficult for me to do) and allowed things to be taken care of by the 'expert', that I had a wonderful and relaxing time.

My son took it upon himself to be the fire person and got up early each morning to start the fire and he was up late tending to it. (Maybe the army needs a fire starter!)

Tange was the tent expert and organized the items that were essential to make our trip carefree and comfortable, his mother assisted in helping cook and gathering fire wood. And I ran rampant without a care in the world like a wild child - I did most of the cooking and organized the medical supplies beforehand! It took more preparation than I am used to in vacationing - I made potato salad, cole slaw, etc., in advance, but we had a restful time all in all.
4 August 2009
at 1:19 p.m.

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tangential_reasoners_anonymous (Anonymous) says…

( By 'expert' she means 'flunky' )
4 August 2009
at 2:54 p.m.

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Logan72 (Alia Ahmed) says…

tange, Ronda knows how valuable flattery can be.
4 August 2009
at 3:44 p.m.

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justbegintowrite (Ronda Miller) says…

Alia, now if tange (and all other men) would learn that little feat that women so naturally know! ;) Mothers, teach your sons the power of flattery.

Actually, my son is terrific about saying the 'right' thing and seems to have been doing so from the time he first could talk. I remember pushing him through a grocery store one time and he spotted all the flowers and flowering plants. He was only a couple of years old, but he said he wished he could give all of them to me. Sure made my heart sing.

I recently sent a fishbowl photo of myself taken with my iPhone to each of my children. It was a hideous up close shot of me from a very bad angle, and the message that accompanied it was, “I'm watching you!” My daughter responds hehehe, you look horrible, and he responded about how different beauty looks from differing angles. The young man has command of the female language. ;)
4 August 2009
at 4:10 p.m.

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tangential_reasoners_anonymous (Anonymous) says…

( Actually, I'm trying to cure her of that… it ain't honest. )
4 August 2009
at 4:36 p.m.

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schula (Anonymous) says…

Hey everyone! I am giving you the rest of the week off! Have a great time — I will check in with all of you while I am having a staycation.
4 August 2009
at 5:22 p.m.

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justbegintowrite (Ronda Miller) says…

schula, thanks so much for the extra days off this week! I can use it to catch up on some much needed tasks. See you tomorrow evening!

tange, it is honest in the heart of a loving human. Not wanting to hurt someone's feelings couldn't be a more honest sign of love and caring. Women, agree?

4 August 2009
at 5:58 p.m.

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tangential_reasoners_anonymous (Anonymous) says…

( They're all in cahoots. )
4 August 2009
at 6:39 p.m.

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Logan72 (Alia Ahmed) says…

Well, tange and Ronda, it's simply the power of reframing and knowing that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.
4 August 2009
at 10:56 p.m.

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justbegintowrite (Ronda Miller) says…

What she said! :)