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To Make Up For Not Posting Wedding Photos, Here Is My Sunday At Chena Lake

Rachael and I packed up sunscreen, books, and the dog and headed to Chena Lake where nothing would stop us from being lazy and quite probably sunburnt.

Our first spot was noisy and crowded because everyone and their dog wants to go to Chena Lake when it's super sunny and hot. We left there, drove around too much and were unhappy with every other choice, lamenting the "wonderful" spot we had given up, then decided that we would try the other side of the lake. Which required walking right by a trail that had been closed due to bear sighting.

Rachael: You don't surely expect me to walk all the way over there? Where a bear could maul me and no one would even hear me scream?
Valette: Yes.

Our new spot was very nice and sunny and quiet and we were only interrupted once when Lacey decided she had to kill a Retriever that came to say hi. I got her back by throwing her into the lake a few times.

My dog? Does not like to swim. At all. If I happen to be in the water with her she will splash over to me and then try to climb whatever part of my body is out of the water. Like my face. With her claws.

When I went into the water she feared for my safety. Did I not know of the demon boaters that would steal my soul? The Golden Retrievers who would rip out my jugular if she was not there to defend me?

Too bad she wasn't afraid of the leeches, because they are what finally did me in.

Rachael: Are you serious?
Valette: Yes. A leach just bit my leg.
Rachael: OHMIGAWD THERE'S ONE ON YOUR BUTT!
Valette: Get it for me.
Rachael: OH HELL NO.
Valette: I can't see it! Just pull it off!
Rachael: EEK!
Valette: Get it before it bites me, dammit!

Rachael: I cannot believe you made me touch a leech.

Rachael was sure these red alien spores would hatch and take us back to the mother ship for some good old-fashioned anal probing. Just so long as leeches weren't involved.

After an hour or so of not being thrown in or attacked by rogue dogs or evil boaters, she got very calm and even lied on the blanket with me a little bit. She was still alert and at attention for the evilness that abounds around recreation lake parks, but the sun and the water and the blanket was kind of nice, she supposed.

And did you know? The water is cool? And is good for cooling down black puppies who get hot in the sun? And is good for drinking while cooling down at the same time? Amazing.

I didn't want to leave.