The Cost of Barbed Wire

Well yesterday started early and ended late well past 2am. At any rate the fence guy, Mike came to finish the Alpaca fencing.The wind warnings did not stop the work and all was going along rather well...I on my own laying the barbed wire along the edge of the fence to keep the coyotes from digging under the fencing and killing the very delicate Alpacas. The roll is very heavy and one would think it a two person job, well now I being the very stubborn girl that I am decided to do this task on my own, knowing full well it might and will take twice as long as it would otherwise. I know the battle has just begun, within about 20 feet I had blood coming from the freshly severed middle finger, the only place on my gloves with a hole. Now I have picked blackberries for many years and suffered the pain, but whole cow the pain of a clean deep cut from a barb is like no other. I keep going not bothering to stop, I keep bleeding and wiping off the blood on my shirt. By the time I make the first 200 feet I am hot, tired and a bloody mess. I am rewarded with yet the task of nailing the wire to the fence post....I am pleased knowing the evil coyotes will have their paws bloodied in the same manner that my hands are..I sink into the muck and now have water gushing into my boots...This is new as my boots the day before were water proof, I suspect that the barbs have riddled the rubber full of holes. Okay blood , holes, wet feet and wind BUT no rain. hah! I pull the rig on the corner and put the comealong to full use, tight is right and I start to get the barbs locked into place. A huge truck pulls up and two men ask if I need help, I smile, sweat poring down my face and say no, I'm fine thank you. Several hours later they will come by to check on my progress. I have to laugh as it appears that they do not or can not believe I am out there in the first place.I continue down the driveway with the wire and I am now forced to stop as darkness is upon me.... Mike has been kind enough to leave a small tool that hooks to the wire and to the comalong and tighens wonderfully well..Maybe too well as I have had to loosen the wire along the driveway in order for to fit right. At least the roll is now light enough to pick up and I will not give myself a hernia. I finally feed in the dark and make it into the house. After removing my boots the two pairs of socks are very soaked and my feed appear as if I was in the bath too long...I could only wish as at least I would be warm if that was the case. Anyway I try to warm up and finally I get into the shower still I can not get warm enough....Never mind the stinging of my battle wounds or the black berries stickers that have entangled my hair as well as the small thorns that I have acquired throughout the day...I will spend the next hour trying to get them out. I pour antiseptic over the open still bleeding wounds and yelp..... All seems well until this morning when my deepest cut is red and angry as well as pulsating with agony....The cost of barbed wire. I am half way done and look forward to completing the rest come Monday when it is suppose to be not raining. At least the hot wire will not be a challenge, my favorite part of the fencing process..... As I entertain my mind with all the ways I imagine the hot wiring doing in something or someone in... At least we are kind enough to put warning signs informing all those city folks that this is an electric fence, yellow with zapping symbols, this warning is placed every 30 feet or so....Yet in never fails that someone will not beleive it or they will try to see if the tales about hot wire might be true...I wonder if MYTH BUSTERS have tested these tales.