My head is about as clear as a puddle of mud right now. I can't seem to think. So I thought maybe I'd write to clear up my mind. excuse my freewriting.
I love Lisa Penn. I love my family, and I love my friends. These things I know. For the past 6 months everything I love is 800 miles away. I think that is a problem. It's a problem I didn't anticipate. However it's very real, and it has to be fixed. Either I have to stop loving what/who I love, or I have to get close to them. This isn't working. This isn't right, or even healthy.
Something I have noticed: In the past two weeks I have had three people call me a masochist. Thinking about it. I guess they are right. Where it came from I can only speculate. I have so much on my mind, my spirit is so heavy. Extreme physical exertion takes my mind off of how much my overall situation sucks, and places it on how much the pain makes me want to quit, and makes me determined to overcome. To take the next leap, to do those 30 extra sit ups.
I just want to be with Lisa. Nothing else really matters. Just getting back to the base of good friends and family where I can be near Lisa should help though.
The urge to quit and walk out of here is strong. However, I want to do so with some justifiable reasons. So I'll put what I cam think of down here. Maybe I'll mix in why I want to be a firefighter. Ok, first I am 21 years old and bored out of my mind. I get an average of 1 call per week. This is not enough to keep my skills sharp. I am an EMT and I am not doing EMT work. break. I need to start a career as a firefighter. Firefighting is what I want for a career. break. When I accepted this job I had no Lisa Penn, and I had zero earthly chance of getting her. God intervened and I have her now. I need to be with her. break. ok so maybe the following aren't good reasons but they are real reasons. I don't fit in down here one bit. I am slowly losing it. being down makes me crazy. Brandy Ivy cannot be worked with. Period. break. I don't make enough money to reasonably think about taking a very special girl's hand in marriage.
Well Thanks for reading if you did. It helped. I have less of a desire to smash my head against my cedar wardrobe now. :) cheers.
-Andy
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Thoughts from today’s walk…
The massive stump still showed the chainsaw marks. This tree had once been a great Red Oak tree, towering probably sixty feet above the lush forest floor. I had seen it. I had appreciated it. It was a beautiful, grand tree. Each year I make my pilgrimage to East Texas to see John and family. Since my first year I had noticed that tree. It was always back in the “jungle” of John’s property. It wasn’t ever out in the open field, groomed and on display. Last November when I was hear however, this great tree had toppled over, only recently at the time. It lay there, half buried in it’s own debris, already being reclaimed by the forest floor. Since then somebody must’ve cleaned the stump up, explaining the pseudo-clean chainsaw job I saw before me as I stood there, surrounded by the dense, lush flora of East Texas. What I believe brought that tree down was not a lightning strike, not a hurricane force wind, or even a Texas ice storm. I looked around at the smaller oaks and soft woods growing around; They were all laden with beautiful vines, crawling up the trunks and hanging heavily from their limbs. It was impressive, really, to see the canopy-like effect that was created by so many green things lacing from here to there and back. It was beautiful. But I know that is what caused this Red Oak to fall in the end. Those vines are weeds. Parasites. They choke the tree with their ever-tightening clutch, they starve the tree of water and sunlight alike, and the grow increasingly heavy on the outstretched limbs of the tree. Sure they are beautiful, but deadly. I couldn’t help but think how similar that is to our lives sometimes. Things that look good can take over, and eventually break us. That tree, had it been groomed and placed in a weed-free environment, presumably would’ve grown to be much, much larger. It’s main thing was being a tree, not a vinery and Poison Ivy display rack. Pretty as it can be, it eventually led to this tree’s downfall. Now the tree couldn’t do much about it. But we can. As Christians, our “main thing” is to further the kingdom of Jesus Christ, King of Kings. There are things that present themselves as important, that really have no impact on eternity. Now, there are necessities that have to be taken care of for our bodies obviously, but when we get to focused on material things, having fun, or even “non-issues” in the religious realm, we are contributing to the demise of our Christian selves (alienation from intimate fellowship with Christ and an ineffectiveness as a Christian). Things will build up. But we’ve got to “clean house” every once in a while. As often as possible for that matter! Keep the Main Thing the main thing!
On a slightly different note, I was looking at the tree rings of that great oak, and noticing how beautiful they are! I think it’s awesome how in nature, even death has it’s beautiful points. But anyway I was looking at the rings. I thought about counting them, but didn’t. Suffice it to say, that tree had been there for well over 150 years. I love looking at tree rings. It’s natures’ open history book, really. I saw the early years there, near the center. They looked rough. But then they got wider, then narrow. I guess it’s silly but I couldn’t help but think that during some of those years the tree must’ve really hated life. It looked rough. The lines were less than a millimeter apart I’d say. The bountiful years showed rings as far apart as 2 cm. But during those narrow years that tree must’ve hated life. But then it made it through, made it on to the bounty years. That tree showed 5 or 6 bouts of 8-25 year hard times. Droughts probably. Maybe it was times when it’s custodian let kudzu strangle it? Heh. Who knows. But it made it through. And looking on that tree was proof. Just like looking at a history book. We can apply that to our lives I think. I mean, as long as I am in God’s Will, I am invincible until He’s done with me. It’s a comforting thought. There may be times that life seemingly stinks. But push on and get through to the next bounty time, and Thank the Lord all the time!
Well. I’ve gotta run now. Later!
On a slightly different note, I was looking at the tree rings of that great oak, and noticing how beautiful they are! I think it’s awesome how in nature, even death has it’s beautiful points. But anyway I was looking at the rings. I thought about counting them, but didn’t. Suffice it to say, that tree had been there for well over 150 years. I love looking at tree rings. It’s natures’ open history book, really. I saw the early years there, near the center. They looked rough. But then they got wider, then narrow. I guess it’s silly but I couldn’t help but think that during some of those years the tree must’ve really hated life. It looked rough. The lines were less than a millimeter apart I’d say. The bountiful years showed rings as far apart as 2 cm. But during those narrow years that tree must’ve hated life. But then it made it through, made it on to the bounty years. That tree showed 5 or 6 bouts of 8-25 year hard times. Droughts probably. Maybe it was times when it’s custodian let kudzu strangle it? Heh. Who knows. But it made it through. And looking on that tree was proof. Just like looking at a history book. We can apply that to our lives I think. I mean, as long as I am in God’s Will, I am invincible until He’s done with me. It’s a comforting thought. There may be times that life seemingly stinks. But push on and get through to the next bounty time, and Thank the Lord all the time!
Well. I’ve gotta run now. Later!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Gotta laugh to keep from crying :
Andy’s Backpacking Glossary:
Cloudburst: What starts approximately 5 minutes before you unroll your tent. (Note: normally these will last at least until you are completely soaked, and will cease about 1 ½ minutes after you finish setting up the tent.)
Lake: What forms underneath and around your tent as you are setting it up.
Perfect Campsite: The ideological pinnacle of outdoor recreation. A place shrouded in myth, with all the primitive allure of the famed Fountain of Youth. The drive to find said campsite is inevitably enough to drive a man to pass up perfectly good campsites, in search of the perfect campsite, until the Cloudburst forces him to accept a completely mediocre campsite.
Bedrock: What is directly beneath wherever you want to drive that stake. You are not the first to bend three stakes in a row, stubbornly thinking the next one will surely break through, whilst giving the steak the savage beating of the century with whatever hard object appears at hand.
Cloudburst: What starts approximately 5 minutes before you unroll your tent. (Note: normally these will last at least until you are completely soaked, and will cease about 1 ½ minutes after you finish setting up the tent.)
Lake: What forms underneath and around your tent as you are setting it up.
Perfect Campsite: The ideological pinnacle of outdoor recreation. A place shrouded in myth, with all the primitive allure of the famed Fountain of Youth. The drive to find said campsite is inevitably enough to drive a man to pass up perfectly good campsites, in search of the perfect campsite, until the Cloudburst forces him to accept a completely mediocre campsite.
Bedrock: What is directly beneath wherever you want to drive that stake. You are not the first to bend three stakes in a row, stubbornly thinking the next one will surely break through, whilst giving the steak the savage beating of the century with whatever hard object appears at hand.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
March
Hey y’all! I hope all is well in your worlds. I thought I’d give an update. Things are going well enough down here in Big Bend Texas. I can’t complain, that’s for sure! God is good, all the time! I was off work today. Spent the day indoors as the weather was nasty outside. My house is all sparkly clean now though! I’m listening to some music, enjoying the evening. Chillaxin. :). I’m getting settled in right nicely. I made myself a smoothie for breakfast, had BBQ for lunch, and had soup for dinner. On that note, crock pots are awesome! Put stuff in after breakfast, and have a tasty meal at dinner. Love it! Just don’t forget salt! I am loving life, really. But I won’t deny I’m missing my friends, and my family.
Through an odd serious of events, I am actually off of work until Thursday morning. :-/ I feel like I should be excited. I actually am kind of wondering what in the world I’m going to do with all the time. If I can’t make some money working for Chief’s other business, then I guess I’ll head into the National Park and wander around for a few days. The stars here are unreal. Big Bend is actually one of the top-rated destinations for star-watching in the nation. (Not surprising considering the nearest sizeable metropolis is over 200 miles away). I have to say, I love it here. It’s an odd community, comprised mostly of people retired or hiding from the law. It seems like everybody either smokes like a stack, or drinks too much. The “small town politics” I’ve been warned of, to me, appear to be nothing more than people making something out of nothing. I miss family and friends, and I wish everyday I could be in Colorado Springs. However, despite all of that, I love it here. You’ve never seen such a uniquely beautiful place. The smell of the desert after a light rainfall, the sound of a dozen birds exchanging songs, the distant mountains contrasting with the nearby buttes in the early morning sunshine, and the smooth brush of the warm wind on your face. Ah yes. Mountains will always be my home, but I love it here. The sunrises and sunsets can’t be beat. Almost every evening is nicer than the previous. Today was the exception. It was so warm yesterday that I slept with my door open. About midnight though, I was awakened by the wind. It was slamming by screen door! The bad weather didn’t stop until just a couple hours ago. However, I enjoyed the day. I spend the day cooking , cleaning, reading, and listening to music. I also drove up to the park got my pass receipt incase I end up going in through another entrance. I have a federal lands pass, so it’s free to go into the park.
I think I’ll enjoy the park this year, until my pass expires in November, then I’ll buy an annual pass of the neighboring park, Big Bend Ranch State Park. They have some pretty cool mountain bike trails I’m dying to try out. Also, they allow fires, unlike the national park. Both parks boast an extensive four wheel drive road matrix. Some of them look pretty fun. But I’ve got the national park pass now, so I’ll enjoy it. The Chisos Mountain range is contained entirely in the national park (the only park that can boast enclosing an entire mtn range). The Chisos are mountains, by any definition. They are obviously different than the Rockies, but they are still mountains. I’ve done the main hike to the south rim, which is an impressive 500ish foot cliff, overlooking the vast Chihuahuin desert. The weather in the high country (7000 ft) is still a bit unpredictable, maybe a bit chilly. Also, the Chisos basin is currently flooded with tourists. So I’ll likely stay away from that area. The desert has plenty to offer, and I’ve plenty to learn about it. Later on, in the summer months, when it’s 120 degrees down in town, that’s when I’ll retreat to the cooler temperatures of the high country.
I’ve been here a little over a month now. I still love my new mandolin! It’s such a joy to play. I went up a few Sundays ago to “the porch” and jammed for a few hours with the locals. It was great fun had by all. I learned some new songs. “The Porch” is the local hang out spot of Terlingua. As I was walking up, one local described it to me as “the pit of Terlngua”. Haha. It was very enjoyable. The one thing that detracted from the experience was all the stinking cigarette smoke. Everybody was smoking! What’s worse, everybody was smoking cheapo cigerettes. That smoke just gives me a headache. It was a good time though, for sure! I haven’t been back up there for 3 weeks now. For one reason or another, I just haven’t made it back up there. Hopefully I’ll get back up there tomorrow. Its kind of funny because now whenever I meet someone new, chances are fairly good they say “Hey you’re the Andy who plays the mandolin! I’ve heard you’re really good!” I even had one gentleman request that I play on his album he’s releasing this summer! Heh, crazy. I enjoy playing the mandolin, but I still manage to get frustrated at what I can’t seem to get. I suppose that’s good though. Gives me a goal.
I suppose you are wondering how the EMS /Firefighter job is going, huh? Well, it’s going well. I’ve been to Wildland Firefighting school, as well as a Pediatric Advanced Life Support class. I went to the PALS class more for the CE credits that anything, as any ALS is still outside my scope of practice as an EMT-B. This summer, however, I’ll be getting by EMT-Intermediate. At that point I’ll be allowed to do all sorts of ALS stuff. It’s pretty cool down here. Because of our remote local, our medical directors give us a lot of leash on our protocols. I can do as a Basic that a Paramedic in the city wouldn’t get to do. On the flip side, we don’t see a high call volume. In fact I’d call it a low call volume. I had probably half a dozen medical calls, two trauma calls, and two fire calls since I’ve been here. Not a whole lot. But each time I go out, I learn more. So far, I have had zero textbook calls. The real world is considerably different than the classroom world. It’s not a bad job though, I have to admit. I mean I don’t actually even work, as you’d normally think of it. I go into the station for 3 hours a day and do chores. I’m on call 24 hours a day for 4 days straight. So while I may spend the day around town, doing my own thing, I’ll get a call at midnight, and be all business. It’s happened. In fact, so far no calls have come at a “convenient” time. First call came while I was in the shower. Subsequent calls have come during meals, during meal times, and during sleep hours. I’ve yet to have a call while I’m already in uniform at the station, completely ready.
I’d like to pause at this time and say that Beethoven’s music is amazing. Among the most relaxing music I’ve listened to today.
I ordered my camera gear a few days ago, to replace the stuff I had stolen in October. I preordered the t2i, along with some prime lenses. I’ve missed my camera immensely since I’ve been down here, however I think it’s been good, because I’ve not stopped looking for pictures. Not having a camera, I still am able to think about how I’d capture and compose different scenes. Now that my camera is on backorder, though, I can hardly wait. I love photography. I’m ok with making money from it, but I’ve found that I’d rather it just be a simple outlet. There are people out there who are far better at it than I, and I am totally fin with just learning from them, and developing my own approach without the pressure of customer satisfaction.
I need a motorcycle. Actually that is only on of the “I needs” on my “I wanna” list. I find that no matter where I am in life, my “I wanna” list grows no shorter. While I believe a little discontentedness is good, to spur improvement. I really need to learn to be content, like it says in Philippians. I have some means to see the country I live in, I need to exhaust those. But a motorcycle is the one thing I really really really want. With a motorcycle comes another degree of liberty. Kind of like when you got your license and started driving by yourself, except better.
I’m not sure who all reads this, but I hope you have a good day! I better make my way into bed now. Thanks for the prayers! I need ‘em.
-Andy
Good times.
Through an odd serious of events, I am actually off of work until Thursday morning. :-/ I feel like I should be excited. I actually am kind of wondering what in the world I’m going to do with all the time. If I can’t make some money working for Chief’s other business, then I guess I’ll head into the National Park and wander around for a few days. The stars here are unreal. Big Bend is actually one of the top-rated destinations for star-watching in the nation. (Not surprising considering the nearest sizeable metropolis is over 200 miles away). I have to say, I love it here. It’s an odd community, comprised mostly of people retired or hiding from the law. It seems like everybody either smokes like a stack, or drinks too much. The “small town politics” I’ve been warned of, to me, appear to be nothing more than people making something out of nothing. I miss family and friends, and I wish everyday I could be in Colorado Springs. However, despite all of that, I love it here. You’ve never seen such a uniquely beautiful place. The smell of the desert after a light rainfall, the sound of a dozen birds exchanging songs, the distant mountains contrasting with the nearby buttes in the early morning sunshine, and the smooth brush of the warm wind on your face. Ah yes. Mountains will always be my home, but I love it here. The sunrises and sunsets can’t be beat. Almost every evening is nicer than the previous. Today was the exception. It was so warm yesterday that I slept with my door open. About midnight though, I was awakened by the wind. It was slamming by screen door! The bad weather didn’t stop until just a couple hours ago. However, I enjoyed the day. I spend the day cooking , cleaning, reading, and listening to music. I also drove up to the park got my pass receipt incase I end up going in through another entrance. I have a federal lands pass, so it’s free to go into the park.
I think I’ll enjoy the park this year, until my pass expires in November, then I’ll buy an annual pass of the neighboring park, Big Bend Ranch State Park. They have some pretty cool mountain bike trails I’m dying to try out. Also, they allow fires, unlike the national park. Both parks boast an extensive four wheel drive road matrix. Some of them look pretty fun. But I’ve got the national park pass now, so I’ll enjoy it. The Chisos Mountain range is contained entirely in the national park (the only park that can boast enclosing an entire mtn range). The Chisos are mountains, by any definition. They are obviously different than the Rockies, but they are still mountains. I’ve done the main hike to the south rim, which is an impressive 500ish foot cliff, overlooking the vast Chihuahuin desert. The weather in the high country (7000 ft) is still a bit unpredictable, maybe a bit chilly. Also, the Chisos basin is currently flooded with tourists. So I’ll likely stay away from that area. The desert has plenty to offer, and I’ve plenty to learn about it. Later on, in the summer months, when it’s 120 degrees down in town, that’s when I’ll retreat to the cooler temperatures of the high country.
I’ve been here a little over a month now. I still love my new mandolin! It’s such a joy to play. I went up a few Sundays ago to “the porch” and jammed for a few hours with the locals. It was great fun had by all. I learned some new songs. “The Porch” is the local hang out spot of Terlingua. As I was walking up, one local described it to me as “the pit of Terlngua”. Haha. It was very enjoyable. The one thing that detracted from the experience was all the stinking cigarette smoke. Everybody was smoking! What’s worse, everybody was smoking cheapo cigerettes. That smoke just gives me a headache. It was a good time though, for sure! I haven’t been back up there for 3 weeks now. For one reason or another, I just haven’t made it back up there. Hopefully I’ll get back up there tomorrow. Its kind of funny because now whenever I meet someone new, chances are fairly good they say “Hey you’re the Andy who plays the mandolin! I’ve heard you’re really good!” I even had one gentleman request that I play on his album he’s releasing this summer! Heh, crazy. I enjoy playing the mandolin, but I still manage to get frustrated at what I can’t seem to get. I suppose that’s good though. Gives me a goal.
I suppose you are wondering how the EMS /Firefighter job is going, huh? Well, it’s going well. I’ve been to Wildland Firefighting school, as well as a Pediatric Advanced Life Support class. I went to the PALS class more for the CE credits that anything, as any ALS is still outside my scope of practice as an EMT-B. This summer, however, I’ll be getting by EMT-Intermediate. At that point I’ll be allowed to do all sorts of ALS stuff. It’s pretty cool down here. Because of our remote local, our medical directors give us a lot of leash on our protocols. I can do as a Basic that a Paramedic in the city wouldn’t get to do. On the flip side, we don’t see a high call volume. In fact I’d call it a low call volume. I had probably half a dozen medical calls, two trauma calls, and two fire calls since I’ve been here. Not a whole lot. But each time I go out, I learn more. So far, I have had zero textbook calls. The real world is considerably different than the classroom world. It’s not a bad job though, I have to admit. I mean I don’t actually even work, as you’d normally think of it. I go into the station for 3 hours a day and do chores. I’m on call 24 hours a day for 4 days straight. So while I may spend the day around town, doing my own thing, I’ll get a call at midnight, and be all business. It’s happened. In fact, so far no calls have come at a “convenient” time. First call came while I was in the shower. Subsequent calls have come during meals, during meal times, and during sleep hours. I’ve yet to have a call while I’m already in uniform at the station, completely ready.
I’d like to pause at this time and say that Beethoven’s music is amazing. Among the most relaxing music I’ve listened to today.
I ordered my camera gear a few days ago, to replace the stuff I had stolen in October. I preordered the t2i, along with some prime lenses. I’ve missed my camera immensely since I’ve been down here, however I think it’s been good, because I’ve not stopped looking for pictures. Not having a camera, I still am able to think about how I’d capture and compose different scenes. Now that my camera is on backorder, though, I can hardly wait. I love photography. I’m ok with making money from it, but I’ve found that I’d rather it just be a simple outlet. There are people out there who are far better at it than I, and I am totally fin with just learning from them, and developing my own approach without the pressure of customer satisfaction.
I need a motorcycle. Actually that is only on of the “I needs” on my “I wanna” list. I find that no matter where I am in life, my “I wanna” list grows no shorter. While I believe a little discontentedness is good, to spur improvement. I really need to learn to be content, like it says in Philippians. I have some means to see the country I live in, I need to exhaust those. But a motorcycle is the one thing I really really really want. With a motorcycle comes another degree of liberty. Kind of like when you got your license and started driving by yourself, except better.
I’m not sure who all reads this, but I hope you have a good day! I better make my way into bed now. Thanks for the prayers! I need ‘em.
-Andy
Good times.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Changes
So I know it's been a while since I've updated. Sorry about that. A lot has changed. I now live in the small community of Terlingua Texas. I work as a full time EMT. In January I went up to Lander and got my Wilderness EMT certificate, then on Sunday I moved down here to start on the new job. I'll be volunteering as a firefighter for the community also. They're sending me to wildland fire school next weekend. It's really neat too, because of out remoteness, we have an unusually large scope of practice. There are a number of drugs I can administer as a basic, without even calling med control. I'll be trained up to EMT-I this summer, and as an intermediate here, I'll get to do more than most paramedics in the country get to do. So needless to say I'm excited about that. Today I got to drive the Ambulance around, which was cool. Lately I spend my time filling out paperwork for the new job, going over protocols/procedures, and acquainting myself with the community and how the various equipment works.
It's very different down here. But it's good. I've met some really neat people. The pace is definitley a lot slower down here, and I know I'm going to love that. It's a very diverse community. There are people into music, people into building stuff, people into art and photography, people into backpacking, mtn biking, hiking, dirt biking, river running, rock climbing. you name it. The desert here is beautiful. The morning view of Big Bend Nat'l Park can hardly be beat. Right now it looks like I'm going to be renting a local firefighter's guest house. That will be nice b/c it's just a few hundred yards from the station. Once I get settled into a place, it looks like I'll have plenty of time to read, play my mandolin, write, compose, get into the Word, exercise, learn spanish, etc.
I've posted some pics to my facebook, if you care to look. Also I'd just like to take this opportunity to say "never say never". I thought I'd never leave Colorado. I live in Texas now. I thought I'd never live in the desert. I love the desert, it's stinkin awesome!!!! I thought I could never be a firefighter, look at me now. I swore I'd never get into country music. Brad Paisley now holds many slots in my playlists. And I never thought I'd actually get a chance to spend two wonderful days with a wonderful girl. sighs. God is good. All the time.
I can't wait to see what God has for me here. I'm so glad to get out of the big city. But I miss some people obviously. Miss one person really bad ;). I thank y'all for your prayers. The next few months of my life will define me. Love ya!
-Andy
It's very different down here. But it's good. I've met some really neat people. The pace is definitley a lot slower down here, and I know I'm going to love that. It's a very diverse community. There are people into music, people into building stuff, people into art and photography, people into backpacking, mtn biking, hiking, dirt biking, river running, rock climbing. you name it. The desert here is beautiful. The morning view of Big Bend Nat'l Park can hardly be beat. Right now it looks like I'm going to be renting a local firefighter's guest house. That will be nice b/c it's just a few hundred yards from the station. Once I get settled into a place, it looks like I'll have plenty of time to read, play my mandolin, write, compose, get into the Word, exercise, learn spanish, etc.
I've posted some pics to my facebook, if you care to look. Also I'd just like to take this opportunity to say "never say never". I thought I'd never leave Colorado. I live in Texas now. I thought I'd never live in the desert. I love the desert, it's stinkin awesome!!!! I thought I could never be a firefighter, look at me now. I swore I'd never get into country music. Brad Paisley now holds many slots in my playlists. And I never thought I'd actually get a chance to spend two wonderful days with a wonderful girl. sighs. God is good. All the time.
I can't wait to see what God has for me here. I'm so glad to get out of the big city. But I miss some people obviously. Miss one person really bad ;). I thank y'all for your prayers. The next few months of my life will define me. Love ya!
-Andy
Saturday, November 07, 2009
The United States of America
My mind is so full right now. I’ve had something I’ve wanted to write for a while. So now is a good time For a long time, I’ve considered joining my fellow American Patriots in the Armed Forces of the United States of America. That’s right. United States of America, all spelled out. I’ll spell it again. United States of America. I’m proud to be an American. When I read those four words, four centuries of epic history come to mind.
At the beginning there were the oppressed folks that came to this New Land to start their lives anew. It wasn’t an easy thing for them to do. Granted, for some it was compulsory. For many, though, it meant leaving family, friends, a much loved land, and crossing 3000 miles of high seas to reach a land where they were guaranteed none of these things, only an opportunity to raise be loose of the yoke of tyranny. Some came for the adventure, and the allure of uncharted places, full of dangers and problems still to be met. Some came for the chance to share their faith with others. Still others came for the gold, the silver, the pelts, and the fortunes to be made in this New World. Things that I can see they all had in common: a dissatisfaction with the status quo, and what I would call “grit” (a.k.a “guts”, “balls”). People who were happy enough where they were didn’t come in the early years. Others who stayed in the Old World may have been unhappy with the status quo, didn’t have the grit and determination to make it over here.
So, there we are around 1700 with a people who had come to experience this ideology called “freedom”. Not soon after arriving, all found that freedom was not free as it sounded. Already, many had died protecting freedom in various areas. By 1800, our founding fathers had managed to put the ideal of freedom into words. Men who believed in it spilled their blood to defend it. Our founding fathers settled in on a way of organizing, governing, and ensuring national sovereignty for such a free people. Over the next century, trials came, big and small, and were overcame. Ordinary people with great minds and initiative started the industrial revolution.
Lands that have felt the crushing force of an evil empire closing in have found themselves being backed up by the USA. The USA has always been there for freedom. Cuba, Britain, all of Europe. In the latter half of the 20th century to present it is debatable whether we’ve been successful. Somalia was a failure as near as I can tell. Iraq is an experiment, so is Afghanistan. The success of the “freedom” ideal is hanging in the balance. But, those are far away places, and, sadly, I have a feeling most of us don’t really care. You have to open your eyes and see, though, that really, America is an experiment. God gave this generation a rich heritage. It’s now up to us to see what with it. Our great grandfathers and grandmothers proved it could work. Again, they knew freedom wasn’t “free” like it sounds.
One problem today is that I believe many of my generation believe freedom is “free”. Another problem is that, after getting home from WWII, the parents of the baby boomers somehow forgot to convey the price they had paid to keep the world from speaking German. America got comfy. We were no longer the ones striving to procure a greater good, because we were happy with the status quo. We allowed our individual rights to systematically disappear after each national disaster. Now, in my generation, people are waking up (I hope) to see that this nation is in fact hanging in the balance. Our education system got so screwed up and against GOD that now people think right is wrong and wrong is right. Christians got lazy, another big problem. So now hear I am, wanting to join the military and serve my beloved country. However, I struggle with many things. Is that really the best way I can serve my country?
The fight to bring about the USA was fought on more than one front in the beginning. Some fought with hot lead and blood on the open cornfields. Some fought with a pen in a hot muggy room, stamping out the Declaration and later the Constitution . Then there were all the moms back at home who supported their men and brought up their families to respect an Almighty God. It seems that any freedom that can be gained through bloodshed can be lost in ink. The fronts are the same. Both are still very real.
If I were ever to join the military, it would be because I love my country and freedom, and really for no other reason. I’d just ask America “please, this freedom I’m sacrificing for, defend it. Be a citizen. Make sure the freedoms I’m fighting for aren’t taken away on the home front by the tyrants that sit in congress. We are still a country where the people govern. Take the reigns and do your part. Be a respectable person, vote, write your senators.” While writing this I want to just stop and thank all those troops in the service currently. They overcame this fear of dying in vain, and went. Wow. Mad props. Thank You from the bottom of my heart and I’ll do my best to do my part.
I really stink at putting my thoughts on paper, I know. Now I’d just like to take a moment and write some good old quotes.
“We already run the misfits outta our country. We sent 'em back to England.” –Matthew Quigley
“talk soft and carry a big stick” – Theodore Roosevelt
"Courage is being scared to death... and saddling up anyway." -John Wayne
“peace through superior firepower” - ???
One last thought, on the Marines’ website, they say one of their duties is to “defend the Constitution of the United States”. They can’t do that alone. Tyrants in Washington are attacking that document more than Afghanistan I dare say. K. well. ‘night. Go write your senator. And if you don’t believe in God, please some to the realization that you’ll never find peace until you find Him.
At the beginning there were the oppressed folks that came to this New Land to start their lives anew. It wasn’t an easy thing for them to do. Granted, for some it was compulsory. For many, though, it meant leaving family, friends, a much loved land, and crossing 3000 miles of high seas to reach a land where they were guaranteed none of these things, only an opportunity to raise be loose of the yoke of tyranny. Some came for the adventure, and the allure of uncharted places, full of dangers and problems still to be met. Some came for the chance to share their faith with others. Still others came for the gold, the silver, the pelts, and the fortunes to be made in this New World. Things that I can see they all had in common: a dissatisfaction with the status quo, and what I would call “grit” (a.k.a “guts”, “balls”). People who were happy enough where they were didn’t come in the early years. Others who stayed in the Old World may have been unhappy with the status quo, didn’t have the grit and determination to make it over here.
So, there we are around 1700 with a people who had come to experience this ideology called “freedom”. Not soon after arriving, all found that freedom was not free as it sounded. Already, many had died protecting freedom in various areas. By 1800, our founding fathers had managed to put the ideal of freedom into words. Men who believed in it spilled their blood to defend it. Our founding fathers settled in on a way of organizing, governing, and ensuring national sovereignty for such a free people. Over the next century, trials came, big and small, and were overcame. Ordinary people with great minds and initiative started the industrial revolution.
Lands that have felt the crushing force of an evil empire closing in have found themselves being backed up by the USA. The USA has always been there for freedom. Cuba, Britain, all of Europe. In the latter half of the 20th century to present it is debatable whether we’ve been successful. Somalia was a failure as near as I can tell. Iraq is an experiment, so is Afghanistan. The success of the “freedom” ideal is hanging in the balance. But, those are far away places, and, sadly, I have a feeling most of us don’t really care. You have to open your eyes and see, though, that really, America is an experiment. God gave this generation a rich heritage. It’s now up to us to see what with it. Our great grandfathers and grandmothers proved it could work. Again, they knew freedom wasn’t “free” like it sounds.
One problem today is that I believe many of my generation believe freedom is “free”. Another problem is that, after getting home from WWII, the parents of the baby boomers somehow forgot to convey the price they had paid to keep the world from speaking German. America got comfy. We were no longer the ones striving to procure a greater good, because we were happy with the status quo. We allowed our individual rights to systematically disappear after each national disaster. Now, in my generation, people are waking up (I hope) to see that this nation is in fact hanging in the balance. Our education system got so screwed up and against GOD that now people think right is wrong and wrong is right. Christians got lazy, another big problem. So now hear I am, wanting to join the military and serve my beloved country. However, I struggle with many things. Is that really the best way I can serve my country?
The fight to bring about the USA was fought on more than one front in the beginning. Some fought with hot lead and blood on the open cornfields. Some fought with a pen in a hot muggy room, stamping out the Declaration and later the Constitution . Then there were all the moms back at home who supported their men and brought up their families to respect an Almighty God. It seems that any freedom that can be gained through bloodshed can be lost in ink. The fronts are the same. Both are still very real.
If I were ever to join the military, it would be because I love my country and freedom, and really for no other reason. I’d just ask America “please, this freedom I’m sacrificing for, defend it. Be a citizen. Make sure the freedoms I’m fighting for aren’t taken away on the home front by the tyrants that sit in congress. We are still a country where the people govern. Take the reigns and do your part. Be a respectable person, vote, write your senators.” While writing this I want to just stop and thank all those troops in the service currently. They overcame this fear of dying in vain, and went. Wow. Mad props. Thank You from the bottom of my heart and I’ll do my best to do my part.
I really stink at putting my thoughts on paper, I know. Now I’d just like to take a moment and write some good old quotes.
“We already run the misfits outta our country. We sent 'em back to England.” –Matthew Quigley
“talk soft and carry a big stick” – Theodore Roosevelt
"Courage is being scared to death... and saddling up anyway." -John Wayne
“peace through superior firepower” - ???
One last thought, on the Marines’ website, they say one of their duties is to “defend the Constitution of the United States”. They can’t do that alone. Tyrants in Washington are attacking that document more than Afghanistan I dare say. K. well. ‘night. Go write your senator. And if you don’t believe in God, please some to the realization that you’ll never find peace until you find Him.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
A winch for the Explorer, Part 1
Today my Dad and I finished mounting the new winch on the Explorer. We also did the initial "wire rope stretch" that Warn recommends. The weather was relatively pleasant today, so that made it extra nice.
You might ask, "Winch, when did that happen? When did you decide to get a winch?"
Well my friend, I was hoping you would ask. Read the (epic) story here!
You might ask, "Winch, when did that happen? When did you decide to get a winch?"
Well my friend, I was hoping you would ask. Read the (epic) story here!
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