The end of that first, long cold night

After supper and reflections, we realized that the cold had been doggedly prying its way into the trailer with leg ups from the wind. There would be no relief from the dropping temperatures except for a huddle in bed, a bed which didn't exist yet. We fumbled through the mound of retailer bags and found the new blow-up mattress and linens. The mattress pump had a charge and an inflated form soon emerged which would lightly separate us from the uninsulated floor. The linens seemed inadequate so the old arctic sleeping bags were added to the growing heap. Every 'man' and cat to himself now. Our bodies were the only heat source in bed for the first shuddering ten minutes but sleep would graciously end the torment for both of us in time.

Funny thing about those cats; they never were very social at bedtime ... until that night. Within an hour, they became purring, tunneling, heat-sinking long lost best friends. Don't let anyone ever tell you that two cats make up for a two dog night but we still appreciated the extra heat contributions. All four of us ended up with noses barely peeking out of the covers, all emitting steady plumes of condensate into the frigid night air.

No window shades came with the rat trailer so the cats were up as usual at the very first dull stripes of light to climb up over the mesas. As cats do, they were then compelled to awake us, their miserable palace eunuchs. Only half-awake, I tried to drag each of them back under the covers but they bested me. Mark, as always, was the first to concede to their demands and performed a frenetic gig as he slipped back into his icy clothes. The cats glared accusingly back and forth between him and their water dish which was now frozen solidly right to the bottom. Determined soul that he is, he set up the new camping stove on the scaggy kitchen counter and touched off the butane. He had to have coffee this morning, period - some rituals must not be neglected for any reason. The side benefit would be real liquid water for the cats. I remained in bed, awake but not willing to come out until my breath ceased to form clouds. Eventually the solar gain through the windows and the pathetic heat coming off the camp stove made that wish almost reality and I joined the trio.

Pen and pad were found to inventory the list of needed items which the night had explained to us in very clear terms. It was obvious that a long run into town was necessary before we dealt with one more night. While the high desert will usually offer above freezing temps during the day, it will bring well below freezing temps at night in the winter.

Items scrawled down: a better heat source, small propane tanks to supply it, panel nails and caulking to nail down the wind-friendly paneling, my favorite mylar bubble sheeting to cover the single glazed windows and blank off the unused parts of the rat trailer. Check if the new composting toilet and propane refrigerator had arrived at the shipping terminal. Hardy foods that may not object to light freezing every night, forget the greens for now. Water, yes, water would be nice to have on hand, too.

A new and dependable water source was certainly a priority. The natural spring which we had hoped would sustain us proved to be a floating mausoleum of long dead critters now. We would have to find another more sanitary permanent source of water. That new-fangled cell phone did not have a signal this far out but, once in town, Mark placed a call to the well-driller who had repaired our grazing well up on top of the mesa the Fall before. He would be out at week's end with the rig. Awesome luck, an immediate touch of civilized dignity so soon!

Or so we thought.

Next likely post: 2 or 3 days from now

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Humor of the day (courtesy of 'the tomato man') :

During these serious times, people of all faiths should remember these four religious truths:

1. Muslims do not recognize Jews as God's chosen people.

2. Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

3. Protestants do not recognize the Pope as the leader of the Christian world.

4. Baptists do not recognize each other at Hooters.