#i didn't get to take any excedrin because that and ibuprofen are on my no no list

[muzzlemouths]

MUZZ! I hope you're feeling better u w u (This is a threat, you'd better be. Or else.)

I AM!!

I slept for a while longer and guzzled water like nobody's business and now I can do things like walk places and be in lit rooms.

[frogsandfries]

I have a migraine.

I cannot take Excedrin because I am now allergic to ibuprofen NSAIDs (less allergic to naproxen but really, what does that actually mean).

There's no made coffee because I keep forgetting.

At least I got the comforter out of the wash into the drier in the same day.

The puppy hasn't been out since his bullet sprint last night because I didn't know there were other harnesses in the house that he hadn't chewed through.

He won't stop SHRIEKING. It is awful without a migraine. I can't size the harness because I'm in fucking pain and pain eats up my patience and he won't just. Fucking. SIT.

My sister is, understandably stressed about money. The mortgage is expensive. The utilities add up pretty quickly. She can't get to work consistently; she doesn't seem to have or be able to use any PTO. And I quit my job, which on the one hand, she's grateful she doesn't have to hear my brain seize up into a mass of stress and anxiety, which I'm sure is a load off. On the other hand, understandably, I'm not earning money so I'm not contributing to the financial goals of the household.

I found a driving school that I should be able to work with because I really can no longer afford to go without and I need a driving instructor who isn't feeding my anxiety by instructing me anxiously.

I still have to get over to the DMV, whether it's just for up-to-date ID or for a driver's permit or for work. All of it. With some proper ID, I can definitely get some cash flow going on.

Anyway, I've gotten fuck all done today because I'm just in fucking pain. I'm going to try one more time to take the dog out before I just call it and go to my office.

[lskazalski]

Festival Season Advice

It is officially festival and camp season again. I’ve been to a lot of festivals over the last 30 years or so. I am also a Girl Scout outdoor educator and the daughter of an Eagle Scout who has been camping since I was a toddler.

A bit of practical advice – feel free to take it for what it is worth:

- Pace yourself.

- Get enough sleep.

- Stay hydrated. Seriously. Drink LOTS of water, even if you aren't thirsty. If you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated.

-Bring sunscreen (50 SPF baby sunscreen works for face and body, so you don't need two products) and USE IT. REAPPLY OFTEN.

- Bring and wear a hat (I usually bring a knit cap, even in summer it can get cold at night depending on location, and a ball cap or cowboy hat) and at least one bandana. Sun, rain, or cold can be brutal. Depending on the site, you may not be able to wash your hair for a couple of days. Bandanas can be used for LOTS of things (washcloths, dipped in water they will cool you off, bandage, sling...)

-Get as much information about the site as possible ahead of time. This helps you pack appropriately.

-Minimize your electronics. You will most likely not use them much, if at all.

-Bring a pen and notebook to take notes for workshops. I like to keep all the notes from a festival in one notebook, at least until I can transcribe or scan them.

-More people end up at the Medic Tent for sunburn and dehydration than anything else. REALLY.

-Treat your clothes with Permethrin and let them air out well. That will keep off the bugs (especially ticks). This treatment will last through a couple of washings and does not stink once dry.

-Plan to graze and nibble rather than have big meals, except maybe for supper. Cheese and crackers, sandwich stuff, fruit, hummus, granola. Eat reasonably healthy food or your guts will fight back. If you have a touchy system, think about bringing bottled water to drink. (If a site is 'primitive', figure on 3 gallons of water per person per day for drinking, cooking, and washing. I add an additional gallon per trip by rule of thumb.) Workshops tend to get in the way of regular meals and everyone's schedule is different at festivals.

-Wait to do the grocery shopping (other than for pantry items, spices and the like) until you get close to the site. No need to waste ice.

-WOMEN OF CHILDBEARING AGE: Even if you don't expect to menstruate, bring feminine sanitary supplies. Festivals often throw menstrual cycles out of whack. Even post-menopausal, I keep a couple of pads in my comprehensive first aid kit - they are useful for wounds and serious burns.

-Make sure you pack plenty of any over-the-counter medication you take semi-regularly (Ibuprofen, Excedrin, Imodium, Benadryl, allergy meds, etc.)

-If possible, get your doctor to write you a paper prescription for any prescription medications you take, and keep it/them in a Ziploc in your glove compartment. I can't tell you how many folks I've had to send to urgent care because they forgot their meds, or didn't bring enough meds, or dropped their meds into a mud puddle, or misplaced them somewhere in the tent, or maybe they were in the pouch they lost two nights ago at the drum circle.... These folks didn't really need medical attention, just a way to get more of their routine meds, but needed to pay for an urgent care visit for a doctor to write the prescription. *Nicole James*

-Pack your clothes in extra-large (2-gallon) Ziploc bags, one bag per outfit. Even if it doesn't rain - and it has rained at nearly every festival I've ever been to - things get damp. Dry clothes are not only more comfortable, they prevent hypothermia. Also, packing in the Ziploc bags helps keep things organized. Bring at least two extra outfits to keep in the car and plan on layers. Bring comfortable clothes - and sparkly extravagance, too, if that is your thing.

-If you have sarongs or tapestries, bring them. They are useful as curtains (shade can be important) and decor as well as for clothing.

-Bring extra batteries and/or rechargeable batteries for anything battery driven. Use solar powered lanterns etc., whenever possible.

-Whenever possible, make sure that there is more than one use for anything you bring. For instance, baby wipes are great for waterless wash-ups and makeup removal (if you do makeup) and save lots of water. There may be showers but conserving water is a good thing!

-Give yourself a day to decompress, come back to mundane life and do laundry before you go back to work, if possible. For that matter, leave your house in good shape so you don't come home to dirty dishes or laundry.

-My checklist looks huge. The thing to remember is that I don't pack big amounts of anything. I repackage most items so they pack smaller. The small tubs that I use for the maintenance and kitchen tubs are the size of shoeboxes. All of my gear fits in the cargo area of a 2004 Forester (small SUV), leaving room for 4 adults. I can pack for 4 adults for 4 days in that car using a rooftop carrier for clothing and sleeping bags, etc. and still have room for people.

-My daypack is an 18-quart (small) hydration pack that holds a 2-liter water bladder.

-I do not use everything I take every trip, but Daddy always told me that it is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. I've found this to be very true.

If you are interested in more information, feel free to message me. I have a comprehensive camping list; too. Here is the link: