Date: 2008-06-15
From: One last week of work!!!

To: The Trail, Finally!!!
Miles today: 0.0

Wow! I never thought this week would come. My last week before I hit the trail. I am so much more than excited. Only those who hike can know how excited I am. I got to take a day off today since I have worked 3 weeks of pure stress and also some Saturdays. My boss said to take the day and relax. Well I am taking the day but I have to finish getting things ready to be able to leave work so I will be doing some work today but it will be a LOT more relaxed than it has been for a long time.    I have to tell you my "snake" experience this weekend. You all know I like snakes, right? Well, I live in a house in the middle of the woods which I love dearly because I like being in the woods. I also like wild animals, but I tend to like them in their own environment and like to keep my house free from allowing them access. We were doing some work outside and some cleaning on Saturday and were in and out of the house a lot. Earlier a long black snake was seen in the yard and I just watched it and figured at least there would be no mice around. Later on that evening I was in the office getting some things done and my husband walked out to the kitchen for a drink. I heard him making a wierd noise and then a yell for me to come here that told me he was in panic mode. I went out to see him pointing to the floor by the kitchen. There lay a nice specimen of a black snake on the floor. He could hardly speak as he does not share my love of reptiles and was promptly trying to ask me what to do. It was near the door and started to go up the screen door. I think the poor thing was more scared of us and wondered how he got into this situation. He(the husband) ran out the back door to get something to work with and I tried to see if I could get it before he came in. I hear him shouting "Don't you dare pick that up!" He knows me all too well. He came in with a shovel and tried to get it on the shovel to put it out the door. I opened the door and he scooped it up and kind of threw it out where I was. Nice, huh? I do give him credit though, he really doesn't like them and it took a lot for him to even put it on the shovel. I took it's picture and we relocated it into the woods. Hopefully it will just keep the mice population down and not try to visit indoors again. We now have to make sure there is not a hole somewhere because we have copperheads in the yard too and I wouldn't want to have one of those visit indoors!   I am packed and have kept repacking to get things just right. My pack feels like it weighs a ton! I sent my first maildrop this morning and have then next one ready. My daughter will be joining me that next week and I am looking forward to that. I am kind of apprehensive about hiking alone since the last time I hiked the trail I had a partner. I know I can do this alone, I just have to continue to convince myself that it will all be ok. I keep waking up thinking what if.... I get hurt and am alone; what if I run into a bear or a snake I can't get away from; what if I run into some wierdo along the way???? I know there are not that many hikers where I will be, most have gone on ahead. But I will make it. I know how to survive in the woods and can take care of myself. I guess it is the normal pre-hike jitters.    Well I better get this day going and finish all this work so I can head out on Saturday and enjoy this long awaited hike! See you on the trail. Shuffle