Geeks Go Camping aka Things Not To Do the Last Week of October

So, when it was 80 degrees out and sunny at the end of October, I thought, what better idea than to take the family camping. Last time Jai and I went camping it was way too hot out and I got chigger bites all over my feet so we only lasted one day. This time, I was sure I had chosen the perfect time of year.   So we packed up the Honda Fit and drove up to Fort Pillow State Park.  The park doesn't take reservations for camping, so we were a little worried we would drive up Friday night and not be able to get a spot.  

This was not, however, a problem.  When we arrived on Friday night it was 45 degrees and raining, so needless to say, the campground was empty.  We were the only family camping in the 35 site rural camp ground, because we were the only people stupid enough to think we wouldn't freeze to death.  (we are from the north so we like to think we can handle the cold much better than these southerns we will around now).

So we set up our little tent (on a pile of mud) and hunkered down for the night.  I had brought a bunch of blankets and 2 sleeping bags, thinking we would zip the sleeping bags together and snuggle Zuul warmly in between us.  Turns out our sleeping bags don't zip together.  So I thought we would just lay one on the bottom and one on the top.  Turns out sleeping bags don't work so well like that.  So while I was under half and sleeping bag and a pile of blankets with Zuul warmly tucked into me Jai was freezing to death.  Every time I tried to cuddle into him to keep him warm (I could tell he was cold) he thought I was cold and covered me more with what little blanket he had.  Needless to day, when we got up in the morning he was a little ticked I had insisted on doing this whole thing. 

It had rained the night before so Jai had to dry tiny twigs over the propane stove to make a fire so we could be a little warm.  Also, for some reason, our stove takes 45 minutes to heat water so on top of being cold Jai was super cranky because he could not have his coffee. 

 

 While Jai made fry cakes and I stoked the fire, baby Zuul was all bundled up in her carseat staying warm. I made her a terrible hat and despite being horribly made, it was super warm for her so I felt better about dragging her out to the cold. 

We also warmed her by the fire (super good parenting if you ask me).  Don't worry, child sleepwear is flame retardant.

We also let her sit in the car with the heat on for a few minutes while Jai filled out the paperwork for out campsite that should have been filled out the night we arrived.  We ran into a park ranger later that day and he did not say anything so I think we are in the clear.

 

After breakfast we bundled up Zuul and went out in search of more dry wood for the fire so we did not all freeze to death.

 

 

Super Jai held the baby and dragged wood around all at the same time.  Listen as Jai tells you who he really feels about camping in 30 degree weather without a coat.

 

 

Note: this is not a campground I would feel comfortable taking Zuul to when she can move on her own.  Our campsite sat right on the edge of this ravine and there were more straight down drop offs like this all over the place.

 

 

 

So, after breakfast we bundled up for a hike to the camp museum.  We ran into the park ranger on the way and he was surprised we were walking.  After a 2.5 mile hike with the baby we started to understand why most people drive.  However, it was really beautiful and we were glad to get to see the sites.

 

 So, after about 1.5 hours of hiking down a road, we made it to the museum. The sign on the door said it was closed but we went in anyways, because we are rebels

Zuul had been in the ergo carrier for a long time so I let her out to roll around amongst the history. 

So also joined a civil war battalion. 

And fired a really big cannon.

 

So, we decided that it would be faster to go home via the wooded walking trail as oppose to taking the road.  The road curved a lot and the trail was more of a straight line.  We plotted out our course and took off into the woods.

 

 We hiked down mountain sides

 Under trees

 Took a break, because its hard climbing up and down mountains and across steep crevasses with a baby strapped to your chest, fearing the whole time you are both going to fall to your death.

 This scary stairway for particularly scary for everyone

 

 But we made it back down to flat ground.  However, that tree sure looked familiar and we had been hiking through mountains for hours and forgot to pack a lunch.  Turns out we had gone in a big circle and were only about 50 yards closer to our campground than we had been before we left the museum. 

When we finally found the road it was tears of joy.  However, it was still a mile more of a walk home, but at least we did not have to worry about getting turned around in the woods again.  We made it home in time to break down camp (that's right, we only lasted one night) and drive over to the fall festival at the camp ground.

 Zuul took her first hay ride.  Had I known it was going to be a 2.5 mile ride at 30 mph, I might have reconsidered.  Jai also thought we were going around the parking lot and was a little worried when we disappeared down the road.

We entered Zuul into the costume contest.  It was really unfair to enter a baby.  Babies are always cute no matter what they are wearing.  Baby in a mask, who can beat that?


Nobody, so "Baby Zoro" won first place.  I didn't explain to them that she was Super Zuul.  I was in rural Tennessee with a baby dressed in devil horns so baby Zoro was okay.

Second place was the second youngest kid, and they gave her and Zuul a giant pumpkin full of candy.

 

So we took a few minutes to go down the side and take a few pictures before piling in the car and going home.  It was a fun day but everyone was super tired.  We would all like to go back to Fort Pillow again, but maybe when it is a little warmer.

 

 

How to Raise a Geek

How to Raise a Geek in Eight Simple Steps

Step 1: you need an awesomely geeky moniker.  We went with Zuul.

Let's be honest, there isn't much hope for Zuul to escape geekdom.  After all, her name comes from a pop culture Ghostbusters reference.  One day, while laying on the couch thinking pregnancy was the worst idea I ever had, I told Jai that his crap lousy baby was making me sick (we have seen Blades of Glory too many times and now use crap lousy way too much) and he said "There is no baby...only Zuul."  Since we didn't know if the baby was a girl or a boy, and because we had to call it something, Zuul stuck. 

Step 2: Books, lots and lots of books

There are a ton of really great kids books out there to help you introduce your child to geek culture. 

First, to teach them all about SciFi:



Jai makes sure to explain to her what was happening in each episode pictured



Then, because every good geek has to know their tech: 



Goodnight Ipad, goodnight doom.  Goodnight bird launching over the moon.

This one is great for introducing them to topic in science, math, and myth:

C is for Caffeine and R is for Robot

 And, because it's never too soon to start SAT prep:

But where, you ask, is Star Wars ABC? 

Well, to be perfectly honest, I was super geeked when I saw that on the shelf, C3PO and R2D2, what would be better right?  But my glee quickly faded as I saw that A was for Anakin, and I'm sorry, but as far as Zuul will ever know, there were only 3 Star Wars movies, and Anakin wasn't in any of them.   And, well, if that had been the only issue, I might have still gone with it, but there was just too much episodes I-III for me to allow my child to read it.

Step 3:  Dragons, lots of Dragons

Zuul's room, which is really just a pack and play in the corner of our room, is filled with pictures of dragons and unicorns and castles.  When she has a room of her own (when finally find a job and we buy a house which could mean she will be in our room until she's 13), it will be decorated in dragons.



The pictures currently in Zuul's "room"



Part of the reason we decided to have a baby when we did (I was 9 months preggo when I graduated law school and studied for and took and passed the TN bar with a newborn at home) was that we wanted to make sure she was born in the year of the dragon.  Yes, we are so geeky that having our babies Chinese zodiac be a dragon was pivotal to our child having decision. 







 

Zuul and Scorch

Step 4: Encourage Geek Appropriate Careers

So far we have helped Zuul narrow it down between Rocket Scientist and Super Hero.  It's never too soon to decided a career path.  College admissions can to competitive, so best to start preparing now.



Step 5: Teach Them Space is Awesome



Make sure you give them lots and lots of time in space.  Zuul spends time sleeping in space, playing in space and generally fighting off alien invasions.  She loves to watch the planets go by and attack the rocket ships.  When she is older we will continue to teach her to love space through shows like Star Trek, Farscape and Firefly, because space cowboys are the greatest.

Step 6:  Surround them with geeky toys

Okay, so Jai bought these Dr. Who actions figures for himself on a trip to New York City.  But I am sure when Zuul is old enough he will be happy to pull them down off the shelf and play with them with her.  What is cuter than a two year old running around with a Dalek yelling, "Exterminate, Exterminate?"  Nothing.  Absolutely nothing.  

The ugly doll is another must.  They are soft and cute, but just a little weird.  What better way to teach your little one that different and weird can be cool.  I saw a baby hugging one of these years ago and I know my baby had to have one (or three).  

And, in case you feel we have been neglecting the super hero/comic book aspects of raising a geek, Zuul has cat woman and batman barbie dolls waiting for her when she is ready for that little girl doll stage of life.  (That is of course assuming Daddy lets her take them out of the box).

Step 7:  Make Sure They Have Lots of Time to Think Deep Thoughts

Zuul likes to spend a few hours contemplating really deep thoughts every day.  You know, really absorb that calculus we've been reviewing, or figuring out how to accomplish faster than light speed space travel.  Making sure you give your little one lots of time to solve the problems of the universe is important.

Step Eight: Model Geek Behavior In Your Home

Studies show time and time again that children learn best by parents modeling appropriate behavior.  Your baby looks up to you, so make sure to be as big of a geek as you can at all time.

We always make sure to be as geeky as possible at every opportunity.  So, just follow these easy steps and you too can raise and awesomely geeky kid.  Don't worry, one day they will thank you.