Like Us On Facebook

Check Out My Website

www.betsybitner.com

to read more about my humor essays and mysteries

SUBSCRIBE

 

LIKE THIS

 

 

Tags
.357 Magnum .44 Magnum 46ers Adirondack Adventure Festival Adirondack guides Adirondack Mountain Club Adirondacks Adirondak Loj ADK air mattress Amazon Ann Patchett Appalachian Trail arachnophobia bacon bears Beaver Brook Outfitters beavers Becoming an Outdoors Woman Betsy Bitner Big Mountain Deli bobsledding BOW BOW Brad Pitt camp fire Camping camping clay pigeons cold Comforts of Home crickets crickettes curling deer Dirty Harry Disney World dock spiders Don Draper Elysian Fields Epic equipment essential edibles Euell Gibbons fear of wildlife field dressing game firearms firearms Fish Tales FishTales: The Guppy Anthology Fly Fishing food food Food & Wine magazine Glock 9mm Gravity Guppies half-gallon challenge High Peaks hiking hiking hippos Howard Johnson's Hudson River hunting ice cream Inside Jon Krakauer L.L. Bean Lac du Saint Sacrement Lake George Lake Placid Lake Placid Lake Placid Club leprechaun Man of La Mancha Mark Trail Martha's Melvil Dewey Minne-Ha-Ha Mount Jo Mt. Van Hoevenberg Mysteries North Creek North River Northville-Placid Trail Orlando otters Outhouse Races Outside Outside magazine pistol Polar Plunge polar vortex port-a potty pot of gold Quentin Tarantino Rachel Ray rainbow Riparius shotgun Silver Bay Simply Gourmet SinC sleeping bags Sleuthfest snowshoeing spiders State of Wonder Summer Fun SUNY Adirondack super soakers survival skills swimming tent Thelma & Louise trapping U.S. Winter Olympic Team unicorn venison white water rafting Whiteface Lodge whitewater rafting wildlife wine Winter Winter Carnival Winter Fun wolves
Powered by Squarespace
What's the Point?

Okay, so we know how I’ll benefit from this endeavor. I’ll gain experience in the great outdoors that will help me write a better book set in the Adirondacks. But you, my dear reader, may well be asking, “What’s in all this for me?” Hopefully you’ll gain a little knowledge, have a few laughs, and vicariously enjoy a sense of adventure. Think of it as a modern-day Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, where you get to sit comfortably at your computer screen – much like Marlin Perkins watching from a safe distance behind some bushes. I, on the other hand, will go out into the wild, ala Jim Fowler, and do all the heavy lifting in an effort to entertain you.

            Well, on second thought…

« Happy Camper Is An Oxymoron | The Inside Scoop on Howard Johnson's »
Thursday
Aug162012

Take It Outside!

I try to spend as much time as possible inside because, well, it means I’m not outside. Outside is where it’s cold or hot or wet or dark or buggy or … you get the idea. And some of my favorite activities are best done inside. Like sleeping, eating watching TV, playing computer games, reading and, of course, drinking, which is a very versatile activity because it can be done in combination with the others. Except for maybe sleeping, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t tried.

 

 

 

 Staying inside has the added advantage of not requiring any fancy equipment like snowshoes or grappling hooks or pfd’s (not to be confused with pdf’s). All I need to be happy is some good food, some wine, a remote, my laptop and books. Lots of books.

Books allow me to experience the world without ever having to leave my comfy chair. And certain books, Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air and Into the Wild come to mind, clearly validate my decision to avoid nature as much as possible.

 

 

I also love magazines because, as much as I like to read, and I like it even better if the stuff I’m reading has pictures to go with it. Not to mention that reading magazines doesn’t take a lot of time, which frees me up to do as much eating, drinking and sleeping as possible. And with so many different magazine titles, there’s sure to be one to suit all tastes and interests.

I have my favorites. Food and Wine, naturally, is at the top of the list. House, House & Home, House Beautiful and TV Guide all appeal to my chosen lifestyle. The phobia collector in me appreciates Prevention, while Self appeals to my narcissistic side.

You have to be careful, though. Clean Eating is not about finishing off the leftover pizza in your refrigerator to make room for the cake. And Do It Yourself is not a handbook for parents looking for ways to get children to do more around the house. I’d subscribe to Wine Spectator if it weren’t for the “Spectator” part, which implies it’s about watching other people drink, thereby missing the whole point.

Recently, though, I came across a magazine that gave me chills just looking at it. It’s called Outside and its tagline is “Live Bravely.” Needless to say, I’m not a subscriber. But there was something about the in-your-face danger of its attractive cover that drew me to it, even though I knew it wasn’t right for me, much like the way men are drawn to the Kardashians.

I was intrigued by the cover story that promised to tell me how to endure my worst-case scenario. But the title “Could You Survive?” was written in a typeface so large and bold that it was clear the editors doubted my abilities without ever having met me. Okay, they may have a point.

It turns out, though, their idea of a worst-case scenario (avalanches and shark attacks) differed wildly from my idea of a worst-case scenario (a low battery warning on my iPhone during a power outage or finding out the DVR is full when I go to record the new season of Boardwalk Empire).

The article then goes on to give 27 tips that can save your life. Well, here’s a tip for those smug Outside writers who are so busy living bravely they don’t know when to stop: that’s 26 more tips than you need. The number one tip that can save your life is: Stay home. (Okay, supposedly most deaths occur in the home, but wouldn’t you rather slip in the bathtub than get mauled by a grizzly?)

 

As I continued to leaf through the magazine with articles about fitness routines and adventure vacations, not to mention ads for mountain bikes, GPS systems and hiking gear, I began to feel like a lazy lump of flesh who wasn’t worth the expenditure of energy my muscles required to hold the magazine much less the effort of the writers to write it. It was almost enough to make me want to pick up the latest issue of Travel and Leisure – which would be the perfect antidote if it weren’t for the “Travel” part.

 

 

References (16)

References allow you to track sources for this article, as well as articles that were written in response to this article.
  • Response
    Great Information, it has lot for stuff which is informative.I will share the post with my friends.
  • Response
    Lifeguard classes near me
  • Response
  • Response
  • Response
  • Response
  • Response
    Response: Omaxe Dwarka Delhi
  • Response
    DLF Andheri Mumbai presents exquisite 2, 3 & 4 BHK luxury apartments, defining opulence and modernity. With contemporary design and premium amenities, these homes offer a lifestyle of unparalleled elegance. Located in the vibrant heart of Mumbai, residents enjoy the convenience of nearby amenities, making DLF Andheri a prestigious address for ...
  • Response
    Omaxe Ghumar Mandi Ludhiana, experience premium quality office spaces, retail outlets, and food courts. Offering a blend of sophistication and functionality, these spaces cater to discerning businesses. Elevate your brand with new facilities in the heart of Ludhiana's thriving commercial hub.
  • Response
    Response: DLF Privana
    DLF Privana South Gurgaon, discover opulent living. offering 4 BHK ultra-luxury apartments. Situated in a prime location of gurgaon, these residences redefine elegance with spacious interiors, modern amenities, and breathtaking views. Immerse yourself in a world of comfort and style, where every detail reflects the pinnacle of refined living.
  • Response
    Response: Omaxe Kaushambi
    Omaxe Kaushambi Ghaziabad ,explore unparalleled business opportunities. Offering prime office spaces and retail shops, this commercial hub is a strategic investment for thriving enterprises. With modern amenities and a central location, Omaxe Kaushambi defines the epitome of convenience and success for businesses in the heart of Ghaziabad.
  • Response
    DLF Tulsiwadi Mumbai presents luxurious 2/3 BHK apartments, embodying urban elegance and contemporary design. Located inside the heart of Mumbai, those houses offer an ideal mixture of comfort and fashion. With world-class amenities and a prime location, DLF Tulsiwadi is the epitome of modern living in the bustling city.
  • Response
    Response: Omaxe Plots
    Omaxe Plots Amritsar is a mixed-use development that offers retail spaces, apartments and plots. Spread across 250 acres, this township is designed to provide luxurious and convenient lifestyles to residents, while also offering businesses a prime location to thrive. This Project offers a variety of residential options to suit every need ...
  • Response
    Home Depot is the best store for home improvement tools, get chance to win $5000 with home depot survey at homedepotsurvey.co
  • Response
    Response: IPL 2024 Schedule
    Finding IPL 2024 Schedule? So in this blog, you can read first 21 IPL Matches Schedule with date and place. Don’t Miss a Moment of the Action!
  • Response

Reader Comments

There are no comments for this journal entry. To create a new comment, use the form below.

PostPost a New Comment

Enter your information below to add a new comment.

My response is on my own website »
Author Email (optional):
Author URL (optional):
Post:
 
Some HTML allowed: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <code> <em> <i> <strike> <strong>