Brutal Attack

So.  Cam is gone, right?  Right.  That leaves the duty of checking/feeding the chickens to me.  A sweet friend offered to take care of it for me, but I thought, no...I can do it.  I just don't like to.  So, on Wednesday morning, in my pjs, I went to the coop.  All was well...I gathered the ONE egg (ugh), checked for snakes, and grabbed their water pails to be refilled.  I filled them up, and lugged them back out there (those dudes are HEAVY).  As I was setting them down, up struts Mr. Rooster.  I looked at him, ignored him, kept walking, when out of nowhere, he jumps up and starts wildly kicking my leg!!  I, of course, scream, and exit as promptly as possible, thinking, "stupid rooster".  Well, today was chicken day again.  I got up, and while giving myself a pep talk, walked out there early this morning.  I threw some scratch, grabbed the three eggs (improvement) and got the water pails.  As I was leaving, who saunters up but Mr. Rooster.  Ugh.  I warily look over at him while hustling to the gate and he charges me!!  This time I was armed and I warded off his blows with the water pails, swinging wildly in a panic.  But, in my head, I knew I had to face him again.  I filled the pails, and made my way back out to the coop.  I stood at the gate trying to gauge his mood before entering, took a deep breath and went in.  I made it inside the coop, deposited the first water thing, and turned to get the other.  There he was.  And he was strutting his bald chicken butt towards me.  Maybe he saw the fear.  Maybe he smelled it.  But I took off.  I was screaming "NO!"  Then it happened.  He charged me again.  I started kicking him.  He upped his charges.  It was a battle of wills.  I couldn't kick fast enough (P90x training failed me), but I was screaming like a banshee.  I mean, really, if there was anyone outside on my street, they heard my screams.  I was yelling, trying to move, but I couldn't because he had me cornered.  I was kicking wildly (I wear rubber boots) thinking, this stupid thing is going to DIE.  But I think he was made of rubber.  He just kept popping up closer than he was was before I kicked him.  Ugh.  I gave one last hard kick and RAN TO THE GATE.  He charged the gate (if you haven't seen this...oh my.   They run and jump with their legs parallel to the ground kicking with those scary looking claws) just as I shut it.  I just left the second water in the middle of the yard and hooked it back to the house.  My heart was pumping, I was about to cry, and I admitted defeat.  I called the sweet friend, and I am relieved of chicken duty.  Brutal way to start the day.  And to think, I haven't even had my coffee yet...