Our Snazzy Camper: The Pictures

Nothing like the warm welcoming light from a fishnet clad leg to welcome you back to the camper.

 

We set up the 10×20 awning in case we needed shade from the shade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yep, our very own pool.  It even has a deep end and a shallow end.  Who needs pool volleyball when you can play pool ladder ball or pool bean bag toss while watching the fire?

 

 

 

Ice in your mixed drink anyone?

 

 

 

   Yep, we’re roughin it.

 

 

 

 

 

  The master suite.  (Yep, there’s a full bathroom behind that curtain.)  We did decide the television hiding behind the bench was a bit much.  We’ve replaced it with a digital flat screen

 

 

www.braindebris.wordpress.com

Ink Blots and Tan Lines

Any fan of old movies has, more than once, witnessed a mustached man with an accent ask a blond woman with an airy voice and an abundance of cleavage for her opinion of the meaning of stains on pieces of cardboard.  I’m not sure what the answers were supposed to say about a person, but I do believe you couldn’t go wrong by saying, “butterfly”.

It seems the new form of ink blots are tan lines.  Camping for 10 days has given me several opportunities to witness tanning and conversations about tanning.  As my eavesdropping has informed me, tan lines speak volumes about a person and bystanders are more than willing to interpret the message.  If you are ever asked by a mustached man with an accent to interpret female tan lines, here are some answers that should keep you from the straight jacket:

1.    If her tan lines do not line up with the swim suit she’s wearing, she owns more than one suit.  She’s obviously too skinny and we don’t like her.  (Chubby women own one swimsuit and had to drink copius amounts of martini to endure the humiliation of shopping for it.  We don’t own two.)

2.  If she looks tan but there are no tan lines, she either has regular appointments at the tanning salon or she sunbathes nude.  Either way, she’s got money to spend on tanning and she’s too skinny.  We don’t like her.  (Just try to pry these clothes off my body in the name of tanning.  I dare you.)

While I’m sure the list goes on, it got me wondering what my tan lines say about me. 

    Impressive aren’t they.  That’s the whole show folks.  I’m tan no where else.  As if I would subject innocent campers to any more of my body than neccessary! 

Yes ladies and gentlemen, this is the extent of my tan lines.  Notice the lovely hue to my toes (which are painted patriotically with flags).  Should I choose to wear dress pants with open toed shoes I’ll be set.  Above the lovely criss-crossed pattern reminiscent of being sizzled on the barbeque grill, I have one shade of pink topped with a ravishing shade of red (it will turn brown eventually!).  What the picture doesn’t show is that the red stops there.  (Yep, wearing capris.)

Now what do you think I’m supposed to do with this?  If I sunbathe nude for awhile do you think it will even out?  Ya. Right.  On both the evening out and the nude part. I could just wear those sandals and capris for the rest of the summer.  How fashionable.  The worst part will be listening to the chuckle when the nice lady who puts flags on my toes sees them.  It appears they are the chuckle that keeps on giving. 

So given that people have definite opinions of a person based on their tan lines, what does this say about me?  My toes are the only thing skinny enough to warrant make-up and pampering?  I secretly desire char grilled steak, medium rare?  I prefer to go with: she spent ten days on a lounge chair reading trashy romance novels while sipping pineapple juice and Malibu Rum

www.braindebris.wordpress.com

Our Ten Day Camping Extravaganza

After spending nearly two decades as Scout leaders (camping on little pads and eating food cooked by 11 year olds) my husband and I decided to find grown up camping friends (defined as those who sleep in beds and drink alcohol around the campfire).  While researching pop-up camping trailers, we came across an online club forum for people who want to get together, camp, and share their love of tent trailers:  The Great Lakes Pop-Up Club.

The first time we met with the group our camper was still being built (a 2007 Jayco 12HW).  They were camping at a state park not too far from our home so we decided to join them for the Saturday evening potluck.  We decided ahead of time to drive by the group slowly and if we heard dueling banjos or if anyone had a snake wrapped around their neck we would take our tray of brownies and keep driving.  Thankfully, they were all just people who liked to camp and we’ve since spent many enjoyable weekends sharing campfires with them.

Every year, members from five states descend upon a campground and this year it was our state’s turn to host the Rally.  We decided to make it our vacation and reserved a site for ten days.  It’s our longest camping trip so far and packing for it has made me reflect on those people who build big houses after their kids move out.

When the boys were little, camping consisted of a tent, sleeping bags, and a cooler full of hot dogs and marshmallows.  It all fit in the trunk of the car.  Three kids and a dog in the back seat, stop at White Castle on the way to the campground, and you’re good for the weekend.  You would think now that the kids are grown, provisions would only take 1/2 of a car trunk.  Nope.  The leg lamp alone takes 6 square feet.  Yes, the leg lamp.  Camping isn’t what it used to be folks!

 As I sit at my trailer table, next to the leg lamp, I am blogging at my computer with a wireless card and my cell phone and digital camera are sitting next to me.  (The flat screen tv hooked to adjustable rooftop antenna is only a few feet away.)  Above the 3 cubic foot refrigerator, the ice maker is churning out ice to keep our 3 coolers nice and frigid.  The aroma of coffee is scenting the air while the convection oven/microwave is cooking muffins.  Fortunately, it’s cool enough to have the windows unzipped because the air conditioner will freeze you out and my hair is wet from just showering in my camper bathroom.  It has been cold at night surprisingly so I’m glad we have heated mattresses.

Yes ladies and gentlemen,  this is what camping has become.  I’ve gone from the whole family and all the gear fitting in one vehicle to pulling a trailer with a loaded SUV while my husband follows behind in the pickup.  When non-campers say they don’t enjoy the outdoors I just have to chuckle.  I’ve got better accomodations than I’ve had at many hotels!

(It was my intent to include some pictures but I can’t get them uploaded.  I’ll include them in another post.)

 www.braindebris.wordpress.com