En Garde! (Or Not)

I love days when I feel like I have a serious reason to be tired. I like feeling fatigued because of hard work, a day with blood, sweat and sore muscles. Today was one of those days. My normal job tasks and chores can't be done, because there is a group in camp this week who'd just undo everything I did (which was yesterday: a giant exercise in futility). So today I hopped onto other tasks. After our meeting this morning I did some inventory for Matt W., then headed out into the far pasture with Hampton to do some fencing (by fencing I don't mean the kind where you yell "En Garde!" and then perry. perry thrust. I mean the kind that is used to keep livestock within a confined area) where the horses keep getting out. I have never put up fence before and this is what I can now tell you: it is hard ass work. The spools of fencing weigh about 80 lbs to start with, and walking one along through the woods and trying to unspool it is not too much fun. As it was nearly 80 out today I was wearing capris...not good pants to fence in. The lower half of my legs are red and scabbed from the briars and trees I was pushing through. I managed to hit my thumb with a hammer while nailing in a staple, which did cause me to curse loudly. I also used a chain saw for the first time in a long time today...all in all it made for a pretty sweet experience. Any time work makes me feel a little more bad ass I'm all for it.

I also got my first try running the giant swing and managed to also be injured my first go. I was stopping kids (from behind, where the edge of the platform is not met with just air but is pretty even with at least some ground) and they were going faster than I expected so when I grabbed the chains to stop them they lifted me up and out and I fell really, really hard on my left side. (Good thing it was left; if it'd been my right chances are my shoulder would have completely popped out for the 3rd time) I laid there for 5 seconds to get my bearings before I got up. My hip hurts like crazy. Ouch. Sweet bruises for the day? check. Scared the crap out of Matt K doing it.
Finished that with enough time to do another two hours of fencing. I can't really lift my left arm very well it's so tired. Anyway, I'm going to bed. I loved today. I like you, tired for a reason.