Another day closer to spring

[cjsmith]

What a pretty day outside! The completely gray sky of this morning has turned mostly-blue and sunny. This reminds me of something I'm not going to be able to procrastinate forever:

I am going to need a camping and backpacking buddy.

I am guessing he or she will be hard to find. The requirements list is long. My ideal camping buddy would be physically about as fit as I am, plus or minus a little; local; someone who actually enjoys the activity; someone who has time for it; a friend of mine, or someone who could become a friend; completely unattracted to me; not likely to quit when new lover or baby comes along; fairly self-sufficient and grown-up and ideally somewhat trail-wise.

In other words, most likely a straight married childfree friend of mine who likes camping and whose husband does not.

Somehow I don't think there are large numbers of these running around. I sure would like to find one though.

Comments

[lkeele.livejournal.com]

I guess I don't count as local -- I'm in Egypt, Ceej is in California (though they DO both have palm trees....) and I also don't have any time. You know, since I moved here, people have been *so nice* that I now own half the city an invitation! No time to pay them back for their hospitality! :-P

I'm sorry to hear about your toe. I've had severe feet problems before -- you just don't realize how much you take basic mobility for granted until every step hurts. I hope it heals, though.

localities and feet

[shadopanther.livejournal.com]

I guess I don't count as local -- I'm in Egypt, Ceej is in California

Right, the first leg in a backpacking trip for you & CJ then would probably be by jet.

My urban home (as opposed to my camping "home") is at the southern tip of SF Bay, California. I've met CJ in person a while ago at a Tues night social here in the south bay. How long have you been in Egypt?

I'm sorry to hear about your toe.

Thank you for the sympathy.

I've had severe feet problems before -- you just don't realize how much you take basic mobility for granted until every step hurts. I hope it heals, though.

Exactly! I would not have guessed that a problem with the first joint in my big toe (counting from the foot proper) would cause so much trouble. I would not have thought that it would have a domino affect to cause my knees to be sore and increase the frequency of my back getting out of proper alignment. --- I hope it heals too. I'm not sure it will though. My podiatrist thinks it's the beginning of arthritis and that he can't heal it, he can only try to recommend what to do so it might not get any worse (ie: straight leg calf stretches to strengthen my arch and $500 orthotics).

-- Shadopanther

Re: localities and feet

[lkeele.livejournal.com]

How long have you been in Egypt?
About six months. We'll stay here at least two years, probably four, and possibly more than that.

I would not have thought that it would have a domino affect to cause my knees to be sore and increase the frequency of my back getting out of proper alignment.

OOoooh yes. I remember. :-P Your feet hurt. So you walk funny 'cause it hurts every time you take a step. So it throws your balance off, and that hurts your knees, your back, and your whole body!! Bleh.

Yeah, orthopedic shoes, if they help, may be worth investing in. Darn that big toe! Too bad they don't know exactly what's going on there. (I've never heard of arthritis confined to a single to or finger, before!)

Re: localities and feet

[shadopanther.livejournal.com]

OOoooh yes. I remember. :-P Your feet hurt. So you walk funny 'cause it hurts every time you take a step. So it throws your balance off, and that hurts your knees, your back, and your whole body!! Bleh.

Exactly that! (Fwiw, it feels good to hear from someone who's been through it.) [I am tempted to ask how your feet are now & what originally happened -- but I think maybe I should email you on that instead of taking more space in CJ's journal. ...Unless of course, CJ is interested too. CJ, your preference?]

Too bad they don't know exactly what's going on there. (I've never heard of arthritis confined to a single to or finger, before!)

My podiatrist's first thought was that it was "just due to the way [my foot] is shaped". I disagreed. I never had any problem with it before April 2002. However, several (7?) years ago I did have a terrible bone bruise on that foot after I slipped off the wooden rolling desk chair I had been sitting cross-legged on. The chair back bars came right down on my foot, the rest of me came right down on top of the chair back bars. I suspect it is possible that the problem metatarsal may have been pushed out of alignment then but was not a problem until now (after very gradual bone spur growth -- that is even now, just the start of a spur at the toe joint end). It's arthritis in terms of being a joint imflamation... but I do not want to believe that there will be no way to fix this. (A shot of cortisone in the joint is not the answer in my case. It didn't help and was extremely painful.)

It is annoying how old injuries can come back to haunt a person. I figure I am fortunate that it is not worse than it is. (Even if it was one of the factors that canceled my summer 2002 backpacking plans with poetgrrl.)

-- Shadopanther

Re: localities and feet

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

but I think maybe I should email you on that instead of taking more space in CJ's journal. ...Unless of course, CJ is interested too. CJ, your preference?

I'm enjoying reading. If mail is more convenient for you two, go for that, but don't leave this journal space because of me.

Bone alignment issues... hmm... how do you feel about chiropractors?