SoCS: A Trail of Instructions

It’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday and Linda Hill is asking bloggers to do this: “Write instructions for anything you know how to do. As detailed or as rambling as you’d like.”

Really?

Write instructions for something I know?

Gah!

I’ve spent a few hours this week writing instructions for a Human Resources manual. I’ve spent a larger number of hours on this beast since the beginning of the year, assisting colleagues around the state who operate in the same position. It’s what we know because our job demands that we know.

However, that’s not what I’m going to share on a Saturday morning. Frankly, I’m not that excited about writing instructions other than the most simplistic.

Such as…

How to Eat Chocolate

1. Buy your favorite chocolate from the grocery store.
2. Take the chocolate home.
3. Unwrap the chocolate.
4. Take as many bites of the chocolate as you are willing.
5. When the chocolate is gone, go back to the grocery store and follow Steps 1-4.

Or…

How to Sleep

1. Put your pajamas on.
2. Go to bed, laying in whatever prone position feels good.
3. If the cat wakes you up at 5:00 on a Saturday morning for a feeding, do as it begs and go back to bed.

I know how to do these things. Easy and laid back.

That’s how it should be – not the kind of instructions that require a calculator and a pot of coffee.

Then again…

I do have one more set of non-simplistic instructions with photos. You don’t have to add or subtract or think too hard, just enjoy the journey.

Biking with a Friend

1. Make sure the weather forecast does not include rain or snow on the day you plan to bike.
2. Pack up biking necessities – Helmet, extra clothes, water bottles, suntan lotion, bug wipes, plenty of healthy munchies for fuel.
3. Get up early, get dressed, eat a good breakfast and don’t let the door slap you on the backside on your way out.
4. Check tire pressure on bike tires. Fill if low.
5. Load up the bikes and the gear.
6. Drive to your favorite biking location.
7. Unload the bikes and gear.
8. Go to the restroom, if available. It might be a long ride.
9. Hit the trail and enjoy.
10. Stop to admire the scenery and take lots of photos.
11. Stop to eat muchies and drink water.
12. Stop again to use the restroom.
13. If it’s an all-day ride, stop for lunch and coffee/tea.
14. Use the restroom.
15. Back on the trail, keep going.
16. Stop several more times to view the pretties and take photos of a four-point buck along the trail.
17. It’s getting really hot, so drink more water.
18. Where’s the restroom?
19. Finish biking the trail, end up at the car.
20. There’s the restroom.
21. Load up the bikes and gear.
22. Turn on the A/C, drink more water.
23. Stop on the way home to test some beer.
24. Arrive home, unload the bikes and gear.
25. Take a shower, you stink.
26. Bask in the glow of a wonderful day with a wonderful friend on a wonderful trail for the entire week.
27. Share a few of the many photos on your blog.

On the Green Circle Trail. It starts with a boardwalk

Bridges are for Joey and getting across the water

He stood there for the longest time, munching on grass, not afraid of two hot chicks on bikes

Boardwalks and trees make for lovely views

This guy never moved.

Art on the trail.

No, I don’t. I use restrooms.

Nice place for lunch and they have restrooms.

Biking along the Wisconsin River.

One path, two bikes.

I forgot to put something about trail hazards in my instructions. Oops.

Thirty miles later, we were plenty thirsty.

We shall return again, one day.

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Stream of Consciousness Saturday is the brainchild of author Linda G. Hill. Every Friday, Linda provides her followers with an inspiring blogger’s prompt. It can be a word or words and sometimes bonus points are involved (my favorite). Linda asks us to write without editing, other than correcting spelling errors.

Just go with the flow.

Like a babbling brook, ambling stream or running river. Click HERE if this type of writing floats your boat or helps with your decision-making. This week’s prompt is “leaves.”  Use it as a word, or find a word with “strain”in it. As always, use any way you’d like.