Camping! One of my favorite things to do in the summer! I think I like camping so much because as much as I despise the heat and sweating, EVERYONE in the camp ground looks just as gross as you and we all just deal with it. Seriously, don't bother trying to look cute. Everyone is literally in swimsuits and/or pajamas all day long. We all smell of campfire/sunblock/bugspray/lake water/sweat/ and food. Once you have accepted it, there is no going back and you just have fun. It is very liberating to not care. 

Anyway, Kyle and I decided to take Louie for his very first camping trip out at Metamora-Hadley state park, which is only about an hour away (because Michiganders measure distance in time, instead of miles). We had a late start, so when we got there Friday night it was pretty dark, and Louie had no idea what was going on-so of course he pissed on every single tree on our site. We quickly made dinner and a fire, cracked open some woodchuck, and all three of us relaxed. We managed to fit Louie, the both of us, and the majority of our crap in our little tent. We also brought Tony Spark (my Chevy Spark), so we had the smallest car in camp (people stared). 

Because we could not really leave Louie alone, we skipped the boats and swimming and took him on a nice 5+ mile hike in the surrounding area. We also spent a lot of time sitting on our butts reading, and we cooked ALL the meals! We walked along the beach, and around the entire camp a few times. It was really, really nice to get away for one weekend with my guys, and I think Louie is a huge fan of camping, he looked all sad when we were packing up to leave. 

Once the warm weather hits and stays, the itch to get away for a few days is soon to follow. Kyle, my brother Mark & his girlfriend Mariah & I, all decided to sneak off for a weekend of camping at Metamora campground in Michigan. Only a mile away from the city and it is like being in a different world. The trees are the same, but instead of smog there is a lake. Residents have piles of firewood and fruit for sale in their yards, on an honor system. Oh and street signs are not always a given, so smartphones are welcome.

Friday night we were restless and ended up staying awake until the wee hours of the morning, drinking and enjoying a campfire. Saturday morning, Mark was up before the crack of dawn renting us a boat to take out on the lake and there is where we pretty much stayed for the most of the day. Coming from a cozy, but stifling hot house in the city with no air, I welcomed the 10 degree difference in the temperature. I also had no problem jumping into a lake highly populated with fish and snails. I honestly would have loved to go on a run or a hike in the six-mile trails in the park, but I had no fellow runners in the group, so I may have to recruit Kyle for a jog up there in a few weeks.

Now that I have had a taste of vacation, I honestly cannot wait until the wedding is over so Kyle and I can go somewhere, or at least stay home and get to know sleep a little better. Life is just crazy lately, and I am inhaling heaps of coffee to keep up.