Gone Country?

This weekend we embarked upon another Cub Scout camp out. Growing up in rural Texas and as the granddaughter of a cattle rancher, I consider myself kind of "country," but not a full-fledged redneck. But, oddly, even though I'm a sporty gal, I never camped growing up. And, I find I'm still getting used to it.

The trip was great and the weather was idea. Mosquitoes were bad, but that's to be expected after Hurricane Ike really. The scouts always have fun activities for the kids during the day. The only bummer was, thanks to an outdoor burning ban, we couldn't build a campfire and that really took away from things in the evening. So, we all crashed early, and when I couldn't sleep thanks to a neighboring tent's snoring orchestra, I got a ton of reading done by flashlight on a book I've been enjoying.

But, here's my burning camping question, because I know a few of my readers are camping enthusiasts. What is your stance on camping showers? We were only there one night and, in my experience at Texas state parks, the facilities are, shall we say, less than desirable? I typically use them only for potty visits. With just one night there, I can deodorize and brush teeth and save myself the trauma of showering in a disgusting shower and clean up when I get home. But, while I was there, I noticed a mother of four in the evening there frantically scrubbing down kids and trying to get them showered before bedtime.

I found this odd. You'll subject your kids to showering in a really disgusting shower to clean them up before sleeping on the ground? Do you "keep clean" in the same way as at home when you camp out? Or, do you, like me, do the bare basics and throw on a ball cap to hide your grudginess until you can get home?

And, while I'm discussing going country, I have some "Country" to share by way of CD. Growing up in my tiny Texas hometown, it would be impossible for me to not be a country music fan. Well, "NOW That’s What I Call Country" arrived in stores this fall and features today’s hottest country hits from Sugarland, Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban and many more.

This CD features 20 hit songs from the superstars of country music, including 15 Top-5 singles. NOW That’s What I Call Country is the first country music project for the successful NOW That's What I Call Music! series of compilation albums. In addition, the CD will also unlock free downloads from other new up-and-coming country artists.

The first person to email me gets this CD for free! Here's a link to the CD online where you can see the playlist and get in on a special ordering offer if you order today as well!

The lowdown on the camp ground...

OK, let's see if I can give you a very brief recap of my camping trip this weekend. (AS IF I can be brief? Mwah, ha, ha!)

1. My daughter did not get eaten by any alligators. (Although we saw many, many, many!) Nor did she jump off of a cliff.

2. I almost jumped off a cliff when the raccoons opened our cooler and ate my healthy snacks. (I swear, I'm not making this up! They went straight for the grapes.)

3. I went half insane between the hours of noon and 3 p.m. (Think hot and humid temps, no A/C and NOTHING to do but sit around with a bunch of guys listening to sports talk or nervously watching young boys (including my son) try and whittle sticks for the first time with pocket knifes.

4. No fingers were missing when we left the camp out from the aforementioned knife work. Thankfully. And luckily.

5. I learned that just because it is deemed the "family camp out," does not mean that any of the moms actually GO--only that some of the other siblings in the families may get shuttled off with the Dads and sons. (There was only one other mother there. She was an attorney. And very proud of her status in the "gated" section of our 'hood. Enough said.)

6. Camping is damn tiring. Although, I think I actually slept better on a cheap air mattress in a tent than I do on my fancy new pillow top mattress.

7. I am less of a fancy, and more of a sporty kind of chick, generally speaking. But, having to ride a bike at odd hours of the early morning to the nearest bathroom bites big ones. And, no, I'm not a "squatter."

8. I can't squat, but I can miss a shower for a day. But, come day two, and I get a little grumpy...and my HAIR gets even grumpier! Thank goodness for baseball caps!

9. I don't miss wearing make up though. Not for one second. (Big shock...)

10. It doesn't matter how old you get, or whether or not you have diabetes, a toasted, melted smore every now and then is good for the soul.

Stay tuned next for AI Haiku for this week...