I went camping with my buddies Angus, Jim and Lisa from Sunday to Thursday up at the Pinery, near Grand Bend. I had a wonderful time .. you forget just how serene it is to sit by a campfire, listen to Led Zepplin, and roast hotdogs. (Marshmallows are overrated.)
The tent I had borrowed from my parents was on its last legs (or poles.) I didn't even think it would go up. I was prepared to sleep in the car, but Gus had heard enough of my whining and took to the tent poles with his trusty knife and a roll of duct tape that Lisa's mother had assured us we would need. I can't count how many times Angus' previous employment at House of Knives has come in handy. On the other hand, duct tape needs no introduction. After 45 minutes of paring, gouging, and stabbing, and one busted knife being laid to rest, the tent was erected (huhhuh, I said .. ahh, forget it) and my 'say-die-yesterday' attitude was subjected to some well deserved ridicule. The zippers on the front didn't work either, but we lucked out and only experienced a small amount of rain, none of which made its way particularly deeply into the interior of the tent. I am sure the sorry state of the tend was more due to the last 4 times I've borrowed it, rather than the 10 some-odd years it served our family camping trips.
On Wednesday, Angus and I headed into Grand Bend so that Angus could see his friend Chris Bellsmith play Buddy Holly in the Grand Bend production of the Buddy Holly story. The theatre seats 600 people, and the shows have been sold out, so this wasn't no small-time rural theatre gig. It was pretty exciting to sit outside, listening to the closing numbers, sitting outside the theatre. I had made the 40 minute walk from Grand Bend to the theatre to meet Angus when the show wrapped up. One elderly gentleman was talking with Chris after the show, but before Chris had removed his makeup. I have to admit, he made a good Buddy Holly. The gentleman very much enjoyed the show, despite the music being "rock and roll", and asked Buddy Holly (er, Chris) a few more questions before Chris scooted back to remove his makeup so that we could get going. When Chris came out, he rejoined the conversation, at which point the old man asked if Chris was part of the show. Confused, Chris explained that he was. The old man proceeded to mention the fine chap with the big glasses (you guessed it) he was speaking two just one minute ago. It took us 3 minutes to convince the gentleman that the Chris standing before him was indeed the chap with the big glasses he was speaking to only a minute prior. Very amusing.
Angus and I partied with the cast of The Buddy Holly story that night, and stayed over in the perfromer accomodations run by the theatre company. It was a small series of tiny two bedroom suites in a cottage-type building. These rooms were the bare minimum, held together by love and dada-ist inspired carpentry. The place was named "The Bates", even by the owners. Suffice to say, I didn't try the showers. David Lopez, to my surprise, was also in the show. He's a very nice, cool guy who was a year behind me in my high school. The entire cast was comprised of some of the funniest, nicest folks I've met in awhile. I love that about theatre people; they always like to meet new people and have fun with them. I had a great night, the highlight of which had to be whens somebody pulled out a toy motorized hampster who sang "Just a Jiggalo." while dancing in his tux.
That about sums up the parts of camping which didn't involve the sun, the beach, beer, or tripping over some people doing it wild-style on the beach. (I would've shouted "Get a room!", but alas this was a campsite. And besides, how was I to know that "Can I join in?" wasn't going to work?)
I'm working again, tho I don't know to what extent. Going in on Tuesday. Today I am schedualed to kick all my friends' asses in Risk 2210, and tommorow I'm going to my parents to try to figure out which pedal is the gas.
Okay, thats all for now. Class dismissed, Garret out.
Posted by garret at August 31, 2003 12:54 PM