10.31.2007 ubiquitous

Today I built my first fire of the year - and a grand conflagration it was!

Truthfully, I have always been rubbish at lighting viable fires, even though I enjoy burning stuff.

I've been on the river three whole years and it seemed like I learned nothing - every winter the learning process started right at the beginning again. Hard to believe I was ever a Campfire Girl!

I really hated sleepaway camp though.

When I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and sat down with my kindling and matches this morning I was sure that it would be a smoky, messy failure - but no! Within a few short moments I had a merry twinkling and then a nice cozy boat!

Holding out until Halloween meant that there were several days of shivering with hot water bottles, but it was worth every second of the wait!

A few weeks ago I was at Bacchanalia and one of the fellows furrowed his brow and said On Saturday I was walking down the river. Did I see you ... washing.... a boat??

Um, yes.

Why?

It is, um, mine.

He blinked in astonishment - clearly I do not radiate the sort of wholesome outdoorsy energy prevalent in my fellow boaters!

Nor do I wear the correct uniform. The day I scrubbed the hull I was dressed in a pin-striped skirt, black turtleneck, and of course, the ubiquitous sunglasses and lipstick.

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