Labor Day with a Bear

I've mentioned a time or twenty that we have been really busy. I knew we had a LONG weekend coming up, which would be sandwiched in between some very busy weeks for us. So, we decided at the last minute to take a trip with some friends.

We went to the mountains only a few hours from home. I almost didn't go because I got hit with a nasty cold on Thursday night. I felt horrible and even begged Eric to stop the car on the way there Friday night and leave me on the side of the road.

He decided to keep me and thankfully, I felt better Saturday morning and was able to enjoy our time.

All O wanted to do was ride the chairlift up the side of the mountain. If she asked us one time, she asked us a hundred. We finally gave in and rode to the top of the mountain. It's such a special place at the top. Complete with a gift shop packed full of Gatlinburg memorabilia. I don't think there is any other place on earth you can purchase a Smoky Mountain back-scratcher or Black Bear shot glass.

Well, except at the 97 stores at the BOTTOM OF THE MOUNTAIN.

Speaking of Black Bears (we were, weren't we?)....

Guess what we woke up to Sunday morning??

As Eric was going to work out, he met this guy on the stairwell. He started saying, "Go on. Get out of here." (scary, huh?)

It didn't work, though.

Not sure why.

What he was after was the trash. A particular Subway bag, in fact.

Subway isn't my favorite, actually. I mean I wouldn't stick around for it while someone is flailing their arms and yelling, "Shoo. Go on. Get out of here".

Little Caesars Crazy Bread, maybe. But, not Subway.

But, that's just me.

Anyway, we watched him (her?) for awhile and took pictures and videos and such. It was exciting.

The most important news about the whole thing was that not even a man-eating bear kept Eric from his workout. Once the bear turned his back, Eric ran in the workout room and locked himself in (because bears can't break through locks, you know?) Turns out the trashcan the bear found the most pleasure in was right outside the room Eric was in.

So, he was trapped.

And, we were worried about him.

After a loooonnnnng while and the bear finally had his fill, he leaves. We ran to tell Eric the coast was clear and he could come out.

His response?

I'm not finished with my workout yet.

I'm pretty sure I'm not that dedicated.

But, I AM competitive.

So, I decided to go ahead and run .... along the road ..... surrounded by woods ..... which had BEARS in them.

I thought of Meredith and her bear bell. So, I did the next best thing and kept jiggling my keys.

I think it worked :)