Re: [Paddlewise] scary

On Thu,  7 Sep 2000 17:48:33 -0400 (EDT) B00jum! <snark_at_tulgey.org>
writes:

	<<snip>>
 
> Has anyone else received bizzare/silly camping gifts from your
> friends/family that they we're convinced would be useful?
> 

Oh, yeah....
Drawing names from a hat for gifts at an office Christmas party a
"deer-in-the-headlights" type person drew my name one year.  At the time
I was paddling WW and my gift turned out to be a PERSONAL SURVIVAL KIT
....yeah, right !  This thing was about the size of your outstretched
hand and had all sorts of cutie devices constructed into and onto it. 
Vital items such as a plastic 2X magnifier glass to start fire, a battery
powered blinking Red Rescue light w/ audible electronic siren, stubby
pencil w/ note paper, 1 band-aid, 5 pieces of toilet paper about 2"x2", a
12" piece of kite string, a plastic mirror about 1/2" diameter ...I
could, but won't, go on with the list.  This thing was an absolute joke. 
Barely with a straight face I told this person that my paddling survival
kit now consisted of 4 ways to start a fire in ANY kind of weather and
now this device.  I think my attempt at satire was wasted.

Anyhow, a couple weeks later at a campout after a day on the water, I
hung this thing around my neck by its frilly little yellow string, and
eased my way back into the campfire circle.  Someone finally asked what
it was, and man, we had more fun passing that thing around and acting out
possible scenarios of possible use and mis-use of that thing.  All in
all, a bizarre gift that was well used and enjoyed, but just not for its
intended purpose.

BTW the consensus was that I snore louder than the audible electronic
siren.  So I now have an extra survival trick in my arsenal  ....take a
nap, and just wait to be rescued.     8->
...adieu  ...Peyton  (Louisiana)
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not
to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************