What Independent People do on Independence Day

We go hiking! Beautiful day today up on the Soldier Mountain Ridge. Such an amazing area that we both want to explore even more. Happy 4th of July!

 

Cabin Creek Lakes Trail

On Friday we went on an awesome hike up Cabin Creek, just south of our cabin. This is a really cool hike if you haven't done it before. The trail head is on Alturas Lake Road in between Alturas Lake and the Valley View Cabin road. The hike is relatively easy until the last half of a mile, which is quite a grinder. Well worth it though as you can see below.

 

Fisher Creek Loop - Still Awesome, but a little burnt

Ben, Kenton and I hit up Fisher Creek Loop this week. We were able to do it on a Thursday so we had it all to ourselves. Normally there are tons of people everywhere. The forest is completely charred after the fire, but the trail remains one of the best rides in Idaho. There are a few down trees on the second uphill (single track portion), but other than that, the trail is mostly clear. We took some pictures so you could see what it looks like after the fire.

 

Hanging out with Kenton

My brother Kenton is in town for a week, so we have been going out and having fun every day. Yesterday we went on an amazing hike up the ridge to Soldier Mountain. I've never been up that far so it was a real treat for everyone. We also got some great downhill runs in on the mountain bikes. Here are a few pictures:




 

A view of the Ten Mile Range, lots of snow on the mountains.





















Lots and lots of snow. This is what I was going thru for miles.
















Me starting out from Waterton Canyon, the beginning of the Colorado Trail.



















Some cool rocks at Long Gulch in the Lost Creek Wilderness.









A huge meadow in the Lost Creek Wilderness

News from the trail

Hey everyone I have made it to Frisco, Colorado! It has been a amazing past couple of days. It has also been a grueling past couple days. I have been walking about 10-12 miles everyday, which seems about right for me. My pack feels rather light now and I have been hiking at about the same pace as I do normally hiking with just a day pack on. My pack is weighing in at about 40 lbs which isn't too bad, it doesn't feel to bad now. It is very nice to wake up in the morning and know that the only thing you really have to do that day is just walk around in beautiful scenery all day and then camp in a amazing place. It seems a very simple, free of hassles existence and I enjoy it greatly. The only thing is it is freaking COLD at night. Two nights ago I camped on Georgia Pass which is the first time I got above 10000 feet. I got snowed on that night and the temperature dropped to 20 degrees. It was very uncomfortable. I was shivering in my sleeping bag, with all my clothes on, including my rain gear. It wasn't a very enjoyable night to say the least. The next day at timberline I encountered huge snowfields, they would have made a pretty good ski run, you could mostly detour around them and then pick the trail back up on the other side of them though. Descending the pass was another story though. Up in timberline the sun was able to melt the snow, in the trees on the north side the sun does not hit the snow and melt it. I battled through waist to chest deep snow all day. It took over 3 hours to walk 2 miles and that was just the worst part, there was roughly another 3 miles of snow to wade through till I got out of it all. Needless to say snowshoes would have been nice. The next day I got here to Frisco were I got a hotel room and am going to rest for today and then press on to Leadville. However the White Cloud Mountains, which is the next mountain range that I go over, have a lot more snow on them than the Kenosha Mountains that I just crossed. So I will have to determine if I can get through them. Any way I have been having a great time and taken many good pictures. I'll try to post them later. Hope every one is having a good time and I'll see you all in a month or so.
Ben

Soldier Mountain Sunset & Mountain Biking down Couch Summit Trail

I just had to share a few pictures since it has been a few days since I posted. The storm system going through Central Idaho right now is absolutely amazing. Especially when you mix in a little sunset like in the picture below. Amie & I took this last night on our way home from a Birthday Party.

This is a picture of me bombing down the Couch Summit Trail. REALLY fun downhill for those of you in to that sort of thing.

CT update

So here I am only a few days into my hike and I have been taken down by a really bad blister on my left foot. My boot was rubbing on my heel and rubbed out a pretty nasty blister. So I am back at my Dad's place for a couple of days to let it heal before I set out again. I talked to a orthopedic guy who specializes in shoe fit and he gave me a couple supports to put into my boot that would prevent it from rubbing, but the main problem is my back is out of alignment, and that is playing hell on my walking. Carrying a heavy pack is probably not the best thing for it either, carrying a lot of weight is what helped to screw it up to begin with, not to mention the stuff that happened to me over in Iraq. So after my foot heals back up I'm going to head back out again to see how my back feels and then make my decision about what to do from there. The few days that I had out were wonderous though, and I had a good time being out in nature, by myself. It is kind of a bummer to get stopped so quickly into my trek, but hopefully it will be the only snag I experience. Any way hope everyone is doing fine and I will update again when anything new comes about.
Ben

Glen Canyon - The Visuals

While I'm sure they weren't on any illegal drugs, Ben & Jen did get some awesome visuals while in Glen Canyon. Here are a few pics for you all. Thanks Jen!

Glen Canyon

Ok so I don't have time to write a big blog entry, but I would like to take a few minutes to talk about my recent trip to the Glen Canyon National Recreation area. The Lawellin clan got together for a week and rented a houseboat down at Lake Powell and had a wonderful time down there. We rented a couple canoes and checked out a bunch of the little canyons back there. We spent most of the time in the Escalante river arm scouting out the various canyons and enjoying the beautiful scenery. It was really great. The temperatures were a bit warm, especially in the middle of the day, but it wasn't to extreme(at least for me). Now that, that trip is over I am about to take off on the thru hike of the Colorado Trail. I take off this Friday the 26th and intend on finishing on the 14th of July. I am doing it mostly solo, but some friends and family out in Colorado will hopefully be able to hike with my on the weekends. So stay tuned to the Idaho Rocks blog for updates on my progress and I'll try to post some pictures here and there. Any way take it easy everyone and wish my luck.

Ben

Camping on the Big Smokey & South Fork of the Boise

The water flow this year is absolutely huge. I've already been talking about it, but we took some more pictures this weekend of the South Fork of the Boise. I've posted a picture of this same location previously on this blog. Here you can tell how much more water is flowing.

The South Fork of the Boise River

Big Smokey Creek Canyon - Hike to Skillern Hot Springs

The way a weekend should be spent

Enjoying a beer around a fire. Nice way to end off a day of playing up the Big Smokey Creek canyon.

The View of Soldier Mountain from Aly's backyard

Yet another beautiful picture of Soldier Mountain. This one is from my sister's back yard.

Little Smoky Creek Area

Amie and I took a trip over Couch Summit yesterday and went on a bike ride. It is so nice over there right now, and we didn’t even see one person the entire time! We parked in one of the camp grounds right when you get over the summit. Then we rode our bikes out to Warswick Hotsprings and checked that out. The springs are overflowing right now, and since there is a bunch of snow melt, they aren’t very hot currently. Once that snow melt is done, they will be nice though! I’ve included a few pictures below. One thing I don’t have for you right now is a picture of the Black Bear we saw! He ran across the road and then ran up the hill. We got some pictures, but none really worth sharing.

This is a picture of Little Smoky Creek - Much bigger than normal.

This is a picture of Amie sitting above the hotsprings stream.

This is a picture of the Little Smoky Creek Canyon. Beautiful!

The View of Soldier Mountain from Mormon Reservoir

Amie and I went hiking out by Mormon Reservoir today. I thought this picture was cool because of the wildflowers on the ground, and Soldier Mountain in the background.

Eye Level with Soldier Mountain

Beautiful Picture of Soldier Mountain I just had to share. This was taken from some of the property for sale out by the Golf Course. Excellent opportunity for investment (and views), so don't forget to contact Amie if you know of anyone looking.

Camas Centennial Marsh

I wanted to take the opportunity to share some pictures Amie and I took last weekend. We drove out to the Camas Centennial Marsh, just outside of Fairfield & Hill City. The Marsh is HUGE this time of year. Especially with all the extra water we are receiving.

This is a picture of both of us near the top of the mountain we hiked up. You can see the Soldier Mountains in the background, and the Camas Marsh below.

This Picture is from the top of a mountain we hiked up. As you can see, the Marsh is HUGE this time of year. The big "island" in the middle is where you normally drive to. The road going out to it is completely underwater though.

Camas Creek Canyon

Another picture for your viewing pleasure. This picture is of Camas Creek. Notice that the river is HUGE! This Creek is normally just that… A creek! I’ve seen in many times where there isn’t even any water running through it. It is bound to get higher too. I’ll send more pictures if it does indeed rise.

Gooding City of Rocks

I had to take the opportunity to share some photo's from our recent hikes to Gooding City of Rocks. This is such an amazing place that not many people actually know about. If they do know about it, they don't take the time to check it out! I've included a link that has some great information on this area. You can also check out this map that will show you how to get there.















Cool leaning Hoodoo Structure.
















Amie in front of a Waterfall at City of Rocks. Spring time is about the only time of year you can experience the water flow.

Beautiful Soldier Mountain

I just had to share this awesome picture of Soldier we took about 2 weeks ago. THIS is why I love living where I live! For those of you looking for a great Real Estate investment in our area, the lots I recommend are just at the base of this fabulous mountain. Plus, they are right on an 18 Hole Golf Course, and one of the only areas in Camas County close to commercial zoning for tourist activities. Contact Amie if you want more info on that.

Shoshone Falls

Based on all the recent fuss about the waterways in our parts, we decided to check it out for ourselves. If you haven't already seen for yourself, both Shoshone Falls, and the Falls below Magic Reservoir are amazing! There is so much water! I've never seen this much water running personally. And based on how much snow is in the mountains, we haven't even seen the beginning of it. - This is a picture of Shoshone Falls. We took Golf Course Road to check it out instead of going to the actual viewing area. If you squint, you can see that it was a LONG wait to use the public road accross the canyon.

Camas County - Where are we headed?

On my drive home from work today, I heard an interesting segment on NPR regarding New Urbanism Design and Theory. As I was listening to the commentator, I couldn’t help but think of Fairfield, and the current design process we are going through in Camas County. If you aren’t familiar with the New Urbanism movement, it goes something like this: New Urbanism Designers are involved in new development, urban retrofits, and suburban infill. In all cases, New Urbanism neighborhoods are walk able, and contain a diverse range of housing and jobs. New Urbanism supports regional planning for open space, appropriate architecture and planning, and the balanced development of jobs and housing. They believe these strategies are the best way to reduce how long people spend in traffic, to increase the supply of affordable housing, and to rein in urban sprawl.

Needless to say, I like the thought. I’m interested to hear everyone’s comments on it as well. So far the last public meetings haven’t really seemed to focus on any of these issues. We seem to be debating more what specific plots of land can and can’t be used for. In my opinion, that is silly. Who cares what color of the map my property is on? Instead, I feel we should be focusing more on a “community plan” that would outline specific building requirements, and processes to go through in order to build in our community. If someone who owns land up Soldier Creek can build a sustainable community that supports the local economic base, while also creating jobs and a greater Camas County overall, I say go for it. Just because his land might be zoned A-80 (or whatever) doesn’t mean that his land is best suited for A-80. Instead, as a County, why can’t we say, “we’ll look at any ideas IF they meet the following requirements”.

One more point I would like to make is this. I’m not a professional planner, and I’m certainly not a professional developer. However, I do know what I like and what I don’t like. I know what attracts me to certain places, and I know which places I’m not attracted to. I like areas like Hyde Park in Boise. There is a great mix of commercial and residential development in a small place. When walking through Hyde Park, you get the feeling of going back in time. It is peaceful and very much feels like a community should. On the other hand, I don’t like areas like Blue Lakes Boulevard in Twin Falls. Walking on Blue Lakes is almost unheard of, and the feeling of sprawl is almost unbearable (apologies to those who have a different view). I have a feeling that when the Twin Falls P&Z sat down to discuss the future of Twin Falls, they decided to “Zone” all of Blue Lakes as Commercial. Now look at what we are left with! I would much rather see our community head in the direction of Hyde Park or Hidden Springs, and steer away from something like Blue Lakes.

Here are a few links to check out. Please let me know your thoughts on this topic.

NPR Segment – http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5338974 (click on “listen”)
Congress for New Urbanism - http://www.cnu.org/index.cfm

Hidden Springs - http://www.hiddensprings.com/community/tour.asp (community close to us)

Fairfield Sherpa

Luckily the local Sherpa's in town are very helpful.

Fairfield Flooding

Driving through the Camas Prairie right now, one would think they were in a completely different place. Where there has been feet upon feet of snow, there now lies lakes, rivers and streams in every direction. Camas Creek runs west to east and is normally nothing more than a small trickle, if anything at all. But right now, the river is at least an eigth of a mile wide in some spots!



All over town there are lakes, and streams. Heath & Amanda's place has been submerged for 3 weeks already, and we refer to his backyard as "Lake Norton". Heath dug a ditch all the way from his back yard, down the alley behind his house, and to a storm drain he found. When that wasn't enough, he had to rig up a set of HDPE pipes and a 1/2 HP pump to get it out of his yard. The water is leaving slowly, but their backyard still looks pretty much like it does in the picture below.



It is simply amazing the changes that this area goes through throughout the seasons. Soon the lakes and rivers will dicipate and we will be left with green fields and camas lillies once again.

Boise, Idaho - Please Stand Up

For those of you uncertain about the local Boise Idaho Real Estate market, have no fear. I just read a post by Eileen over at Rain City Guide (one of my favorite RE Blogs), where she talks about the top 10 Markets in the country where Real Estate values should continue to grow. Who was at the top of the list? None other than our very own Boise, Idaho! I’m not surprised either. If you think about it, Boise is still an affordable place to live, and very desirable as well. Median home prices are still in the 100’s to 200’s, plus there are plenty of jobs and other things bringing people to Boise. I don’t know about you, but a city where you can leave your Condo on the 15th floor, drive for 5 minutes and be at the base of hundreds of hiking trails is unheard of! I have a friend who wakes up some mornings, goes kayaking, and still makes it to work by 11am. Oh, the beauty of Idaho!

Modern Diseases - Truth or Fiction?

I'm posting this blog in hopes that whoever reads it, actually clicks on this article. This rather short article pretty much sums up my views on modern healthcare and disease. The modern system is broken. We are a society focused on treating symptoms and not actually preventing any real disease. Please take the time and read this article written by Dr. Gary L. Tunsky. After reading it, please post a comment and let me know your thoughts. Does it really sound so crazy that we should focus on being healthy instead of pumping out bodies full of crap every day?

http://www.newstarget.com/019330.html

Today I Begin Again

It’s March 20th. There is 3 feet of snow in my front yard, and it is officially the “Mud Season” here in Fairfield Idaho. And while today is the first day of spring, you would never be able to tell by visiting my small town. Especially seeing as how when I left my house at 9am this morning it was snowing, and when I returned this evening at 6:30pm I find not much has changed. And even though the skies are grey, and everything around my house is brown and black from mud, it doesn’t seem to get me down. It seems more like a blessing in disguise. The lightly falling snow and the mellow sounds of Amos Lee playing in the background make me content.

I’m sorry I haven’t been writing more. My goal is to change that. It isn’t that I haven’t been Blogging. I just haven’t been paying enough attention to my original and most fun project of all. - idrocks.com – Indeed it does. Expect more frequent posts, and updates to the site.

If you do want to check out some of the other things I’ve been working on, please be my guest:

CamasWeb – Community Website project for Fairfield. This isn’t really anything I’ve told anyone but Amie about, but it was an idea we were throwing around. Kind of a place for people to get community news, have forums, classifieds, news, etc… Let local businesses use the site. Who knows.

REIdaho – The beginning of a Real Estate Blog. Amie and I both have really been in to Real Estate lately, and we are learning a lot. Stuff we would love to share as well. With inspiration from other people doing the same thing, we have decided to document our travels in this arena. For a while the site will be pretty stagnant I imagine. Mostly just me posting, and getting all the content in place. But as we put more time and effort in to it, eventually we hope to make it thrive.

Just Laws

Here is my latest and greatest English essay. Let me know what you think.
Just Laws?
Laws never made men a whit more just, because the men who make the laws are for the most part not just either. A just law maker is one who operates using their conscience; unfortunately many people use other things to pass judgment. What makes a conscientious man more just some might ask? The answer is nothing. A person might have a conscious, but that does not mean their conscious will necessarily benefit the greater good. A great many people make decisions using their conscious every day, which does not mean that they have made the right decisions. In the law makers mind they may have made a ‘good’ law, but it might not necessarily be the ‘right’ law.
Thoreau says that men are inherently good. If they are inherently good then they would be governed by their conscience. Their conscience would steer them on the path of righteousness. With their conscience steering them on the right path then they will be able to make the correct choices, pass the good laws, do the right things that will benefit society. However peoples conscience is merely a extension of their beliefs and values. What they believe will influence their actions, this creates a conflict of interest when it comes to passing judgment on a law or a particular action that could affect others. What this person decides might not necessarily be for the good of everyone. What the law makers want and what would be the most beneficial to everyone is not always the same. A law maker might make a law that includes the majority and excludes the minority, according to their own conscience. A different person might make a law that is completely different but with the same problems. A law maker can also make a law that might include a minority group and exclude the majority and other minority groups. Examples of this would be affirmative action, where people that belong to minority groups get preference in jobs, schooling etc. Over a person who belongs to the majority. The reason for this law is to ensure that people from all walks of life get the same opportunities at the getting a good job as everyone else. In theory this law would work great. However in reality many employers will hire a less qualified minority over a better qualified non-minority, just to remain in compliance with the affirmative action laws.
Another example would be the Housing Urban Development (HUD) laws. These laws are too ensure that people with low incomes can have access to quality housing. While this law is great and extremely beneficial to people with low incomes, people who make more money than is allowed under the HUD laws cannot get housing through the program. In towns where the majority of the housing is HUD housing, it makes finding a place to live very hard for average income or single people. A good example of this is the town of Mountain Home, ID. The HUD housing apartments are the most numerous and the best quality in the immediate area. For military members that are looking for housing it is extremely difficult to find it. The only options available are to either settle for lower quality housing at a higher price or make the commute to the next population center 40 miles away. In the end it comes to paying more for less either way. Most people who live in the town make more money than the HUD program allows to qualify for housing, so it excludes a large majority of people from finding affordable, quality housing. This is one example of a law that is not just. While helping out one group it excludes another and does not help them. The person or persons who where the driving force behind it probably used their conscience and where of good mind when creating the law, but they did not think what the consequences would be for the majority of people. Or they just didn’t care and excluded the majority on purpose. . If they believe that HUD laws are just and fair to everyone, then they will support those laws and try to get them passed. This will benefit the low income people, while it will oppress the middle class people who cannot afford the high income housing and do not qualify for HUD housing.

It is sometimes difficult for law to create justice because law is created by law makers and law makers us their conscience to create laws. By using their conscience they apply their own beliefs to their work. This can be applied to any organization such as corporations and governments too. An organization is really only as great as the people that belong to it. If a corporation is full of people with good intent and are conscientious then they will generally do the right thing, making good decisions for their employees, customers, the environment and countless other factors that make up a successful company. On the other hand if a company of schemers and people whose conscience does not play a part in their dealings then the company will have dealings similar to what happened with Enron. Or the people involved with Saudi Oil. Conscience must start from the top and hopefully have a trickle down effect. If for example the President is a conscientious person and this reflects in how he or she (it will happen) makes policy, administers the Executive, deals with foreign governments and all the rest of their responsibilities it will encourage and reflect on the rest of the government to act responsibly and do the right thing. Not just in the professional aspect, but in personal life as well, since personal life at least for well known people is just a visible as their professional life these days. Would the President being conscientious guarantee justice though? No. For starters one person’s idea of justice could differ from the next person. For a psychopathic murderer one person might want the death penalty, while another would want imprisonment and treatment. Same crime, different justice. The laws that people pass might not fit another persons idea of justice, just their’s. However if a person was conscientious enough to consider all angles of what their law or course of action might cause then they could know what the causes of what they are doing. It would be impossible for one person to do this though. A group of conscience minded people together could figure it out though. That is why laws in the American government system are put to a vote. Hopefully with enough conscience minded people together they would be able to make a law that works for everyone. Thoreau says “No man with a genius for legislation has appeared in America. They are rare in the history of the world”. This is proven quite true in the current government.
Thoreau’s idea of not belonging to any incorporated entity or government would be the perfect form of conscience minded justice. Without anyone to make any rules or laws for the society that a person inhabited their conscience would govern themselves. Dispensing justice where it is due, at the whim of their own conscience. This would work great if every one had the same idea of justice and if people where truly inherently good. In the perfect world this would work great, but not in reality. People are always looking for at what is on the other side of the fence, wondering if the grass is greener on that side. Well it looks greener maybe they could just go take some from their neighbor and bring it back to their side. Well their neighbor doesn’t want to give up their greener grass and stops the person from taking it. Something happens and they dispense their own form of justice on each other. That’s where laws come in to dispute these problems. It is in people nature to want something better. It is really a survival instinct from the cavemen days. Back then they had to fight for just the basics to survive so it was bred into human beings to fight for what they want. So because of this people are not inherently good.
In conclusion Thoreau’s idea that laws never made men a whit more just is correct. Laws are created by mankind, and the people who make the laws are not just, so they cannot make a just law. Law makers create laws using their conscience, their conscience is swayed by their beliefs and values so everything they do will have their interests in mind, not really the interests of every one. People are supposed to be inherently good, but human nature disproves this making Thoreau’s belief in that not true. Laws never made man a whit more Just.

WHISTLER

The day has finally come and past. The fabled trip to Whistler-Blackcomb. This trip started over 6 months ago in the hot dusty deserts of Iraq. A dream of one man who thought "What am I gonna do with all this money? I'm going to go skiing. I'm going to go to Whistler." From their the planning took off. Asking friends and family if they wanted to come. Many said they wanted to come. Many said hold on let me check. Some said they would come. In the end it was no I can't make it. Would have made it a lot easier if they had replied sooner. Could have saved about a grand, but whatever. In the end only two people stood out from the rest of the masses and calmly said "Yes Ben we shall brave the barbaric Canadians and join you in the fabled fantasy land of Whistler, British Columbia!! Through our powers combined we shall slay the beast known as Whistler-Blackcomb!!!" Little did we know what this mythical creature had to offer. I decided to go during the peak time when the beast would distracted by hordes of other skiers and snowboarders. Thats right during New Years. I found a base of operations from which to unleash our campaign on the mountain and the bars. A small but exquisitely furnished condominium known by the code name "Marketplace Lodge". At a key point in the "village" this stronghold would play a huge part in recovery, storage and nourishment operations. It also served as a excellent place to stage out of before the frequent assaults on either of the two 8,000 foot monsters. Come the 27th Day in the 12th Month in the Year of our Lord 2005 the three intrepid adventurers went forth and began the journey to Whistler. Flying to Seattle the City of Rain where they met up with a late arrival in the pack of Snow Slayers, from there we traveled by train to the fortress city of Vancouver and from there by bus to the city in the clouds, Whistler.

Here we go again
New skiing stuff again
Skiing down the avenue
Gonna show these Canadians a thing or two
ooooh hoh oh oh oh oh Hua!

Exiting the bus we quickly took in the surroundings noticing the over abundance of snow and the beautiful people. Making our way to the field operating post in the 'MarketPlace Lodge" was no easy task. Carrying our Weapons of Mountain Destruction slowed our advance to a near crawl, but we eventually rallied up at the entrance to our room. The room was decked out in splendid furnishing and had a good observation point overlooking the mountains. Would be very effective in determining what kind of snow we would be up against in the coming days and nights.

Jump up, buck up, shuffle to the door
To be a super skier,
You gotta be hardcore

The next day a full fledged assault on Blackcomb Mountain began in earnest. At the crack of 1245 we hit the slopes like a rolly polly. Ice and poor visibility degraded our navigation systems forcing members of the group to move slowly and retire early. The initial attack on Blackcomb was not successful, but the future was bright. That night the crowds where out in force slowing the nourishment process and the consumption of the adult beverages. It was a early night. Not that, that kept everyone from sleeping in late as hell. The next day the elite Spec Ops Recon team advanced relentlessly up the snowy face of Whistler Mountain. This 7,160 foot monster had thousands of acres of terrain to conquer and they where up for the job. After a morning of laying tracks in fresh snow they where met by the Ninja assassin known only as "K-le", while secret agent "Da Boss" took part in a top secret training exercise. The trio decided to begin a offensive on the legendary Harmony Bowl, hearing rumors untouched powder devils and steep formidable slopes. Many acres of powder where layed low during the foray that will live on as the Wait in the Lift Line. Surely songs will be sung of its tragedies and triumphs.

Oh when I go home people they will ask me
How did you spend your vacation boy?
How did you play?

I'll reply as I stare them in the eye
Skiing, Riding every day

That evening the evil Canuck air played biological warfare on a member of the team. GrandMaster B of the Wilson Clan was layed out by a sinister germ. Down a member the group pushed on undaunted. Finding sustenance at the exquisite Mongolie Grill and parting at Tommy Africa's (which has nothing African about it). Taken down a notch by the night operation, everyone crawled out of bed with head aches and need for greasy food. Only I 001981 was able to muster up the strength to strap on the Weapons of Mountain Destruction and take a couple of runs at Whistler Mountain. Taking a double black diamond from the Harmony Ridge I vanquished a whole division of powder demons. However I was beginning to feel the effects of the germ warfare as well and had to retire early. Getting back to the 'MarketPlace Lodge' I took a much needed nap. That night we acquired raw fish product wrapped in rice and seaweed. It was delicious and free. Suffering from fever and the onset of the Ebola Virus, GrandMaster B and 001981 where regulated to couch and sleeping duty, while K-le and Da Boss went out to enjoy the New Years festivities.

Oh when I go home people they will ask me
How did you spend you vacation boy?
How did you play?

I'll reply as I'm flying
sick and dying

Still under the weather the next day it was a day of relaxation. Ninja assassin K-le was called off assingment to go on a other more urgent mission known only as "work and school". That night Fondue was had in mass quanities and proved to be a boon in the recuperative effects. Massive quanities of tea where also consumed which where the key to health. That night 12 inches of snow fell on the mountains. A emergency action message was sent out by higher headquarters calling for immediate operations to take place. Still feeling not operational GrandMaster B and Agent Da Boss remained in the 'village' to look for suspicious activity, while 001981 fought the ski battle of a lifetime in the 7th Heaven Zone and Blackcomb Glacier of BlackComb Mountain. After a test fire of the Weapons of Mountain Destruction on the Jersey Cream, 001981 heard reports of untouched powder amongst the cliffs and hidden glades of the 7th Heaven Zone. Spying a likely target 001981 zeroed in for the kill. Trying to get a angle on the target ( a long extremely steep straight away of virgin powder with small cliffs and kickers in its midst before giving way to glades) required much traversing and hucking off a small cliff to get in the right position. Screaming down the hill at exponential speed 001981 slashed through powder of incredible depth with wide sweeping arcs. Coming up to a cliff 001981 hunkered down and leaned back, hitting the cliff at Mach speed. Flying through the air to land perfectly amongst a large heap of powder demons. Stamping hard and hanging on 001981 vanquished them with a double slash mark of his Line Mike Nick Pro Model WMDs. Speeding along our hero fought bravely down the rest of the mountain to the Lift Line. This battle played out numerous times throughout the day with sometimes the powder and trees getting the upperhand and 001981 suffering coldly. The balance of power went both ways through out the day, with the battle raging all over BlackComb mountain. Drop Kick Murphys are coming out with a battle ballad about it soon. At the end of the day 001981 was the victor, skiing triumphantly to the Apres ski.

Not to be out done though, Whistler Mountain seeing its sister was in trouble, knowing that it could not survive another onslaught from 001981, sent its Australian Sirens to make sure that he did not ski again.....They plied 001981 with the high octane Molson Canadian and said hello to the arch enemy of the ski day....Jose Curevo.
Blurry images
Dancing
more blurry stuff
Where are my glasses?
small dorm room
bunk beds?
Blurry
001981 was way to hung over the next day as he stumbled home after his latest mission. "No skiing for me today" he thought. The mountain had won, through devious means, but thats what mountains do. The next day the crew left Whistler-Blackcomb behind, with its mountains of powder and beautiful people. Maybe next year they will return for another attempt to conquer its majesty, but for now they are going home.

001981 OUT

Retro = Cool

Hey, if you haven't already purchased yours, make sure to while supplies last. The newest in cellular and retro cool technology. The Retro-Cellular Handset!

http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electronic/7830/

Quote of the Day

I thought this was an interesting Quote for us all to consider. Whether you are Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Buddist, or an Individual, it is important to note why much of the world is at war with one another. In fact, some could argue that beliefs, are the only thing that cause war.

"What weighs nothing and yet is powerful enough to start a war? A belief." Unknown

Airman's words fly shop into chaos, improve productivity

A recent slip of the tounge by a young Airman First Class (we will call him Airman Topo Map) slipped the normally peaceful 366 Logistics Readiness Squadrons Air Terminal Operations Flight into utter chaos. On Monday afternoon a certain Staff Sergeant (we will call him Sgt. Chuck Taylor left shoe) asked Airman Topo Map how close he was to getting his flightline drivers licsense. At the time Topo Map was surfing the internet and looking up some phat' scores on his home team. (Cuz dats whats we do back in da crib ya know) Without even looking up from the screen he replied "I'm workin on it". SSgt Chuck Taylor left shoe responded by telling him "It sure doesn't look like it, you need to be working on it instead of looking at this crap"
"Hold on man"
"What the $#@# did you just say!! In my office now!!
"Ok oK in a second man"
"I SAID IN MY OFFICE NOW YOU WILL NOT DISRESPECT ME!!"
At this point Topo Map got off his ass, and proceeded to get a quite complete chewing of the hind quarters by SSgt Chuck Taylor left shoe, TSgt Belt Buckle and MSgt Doritos Bag. Afterwards a harsh silence fell over the entire shop and people vacated the scene like cockroaches. Now a new sense of edginess has fallen over the shop, with rumors of harsh punishment to come for infractions and laziness. When asked later about the incident SSgt Chuck Norris left shoe replied "Damn kid, just lucky we weren't in Iraq or I would have instituted some wall to wall counseling."
"Yes jolly o we need to bring that back" said Pippin
"Shut up Pippin"
A1C Topo Map had this to say about the incident "Well you know I was workin on it, but not very hard, I know I disrepected him but he didn't need to yell at me like that. I mean I'm just a dumb airman. Maybe next time a NCO tells me to do something I'll do it then and not be a moron."
Mr. Real Mckenzies came forward with this statement "I think this is what this place really needed. It been a long time since there has been a real good chewing of the posterior around here"
"Right 'o' chaps" said Pippin
"Shut up Pippin"
Since then workers make themselves busy through out the day, not wanting to be seen sitting around. The same forklift has been checked out and washed at least 5 times today. Training gets done on time now.
"Sgt. Chuck Taylor left shoe struck me a usually a quite kind of guy, didn't really expect him to get loud like that, don't want to piss him off no way." said SrA Lord of the Rings DVD
New to the Air Force Airman Basic Obe Won Kenobi thought "He is my supervisor I hope he doesn't freak out on me like that."
"I'm glad I had such a impression on the airmen, this way they are acutally more productive. You would be amazed what taking away someones weekend or making them stay late will do. But seriously what do I care I'm out in May... yeah. Hell yeah." Said SSgt Chuck Taylor left shoe.

Christmas Gone Wild

If you think you have seen it all on Christmas, think again. This is an example of "Taking it too far". You have to admire the people that did this though:

http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000263069055/ - Click on the picture series to view Clark Griswold times 2.

Attention all Birds!

ATTENTION ALL BIRDS

Official Department of Homeland Insecurity Memo:

Due to a heightened state of alert concerning the bird flu virus, the Department of Homeland Insecurity has determined that birds will no longer be offered unrestricted access to United States airspace.

As of January 1, 2006, all migratory birds will be required to arrive at international airports where Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) personnel will check for proper travel documentation and clear the birds for entry into the United States, provided they are not carrying undeclared fruit, which is even more dangerous than bird flu.

All birds wishing to enter this country will be required to carry passports, proof of immunizations, and entry visas. Birds who do not have visas will be charged (ducks will be billed) a flat $250 entry fee which must be paid three separate times, at three different government offices, after standing in three different lines as per standard INS regulations.
All undocumented birds shall hereforth be deemed "terrorists."

Birds entering U.S. airspace without proper authorization will be escorted by military aircraft to the nearest landing facility.

Birds("terrorists") that approach the Pentagon or White House will be fired upon with bird-seeking air-to-air missiles. All such violence will be televised by Fox News in a glitzy special entitled "Terror from above!"

The Department of Homeland Insecurity is requesting that all hunters and N.R.A. members assemble on the U.S. / Mexico border and shoot anything that appears to be flying. This includes UFOs, which are required to be videotaped with low-resolution video cameras held by people experiencing epileptic seizures.

Birds attempting to illegally cross the U.S. / Canada border in order to gain entry will be rounded up by volunteer bird watchers armed with high-powered binoculars and delivered to Tyson Foods' Guantanamo Bay Division for interrogation at the hands of experienced bird torturers. (Torture photos will be posted online by Dick Cheney.)

Parrots that unquestioningly repeat everything they hear may be offered jobs as reporters covering the White House beat.

Birds who attempt to impersonate chickens will be eaten by Morgan Spurlock.

Birds whose migratory patterns are disrupted by this Homeland Insecurity action will be offered assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), which is standing by with five thousand tons of ice that was never delivered to hurricane Katrina victims and still hasn't completely melted.

All bird houses owned by U.S. citizens must be registered with federal officials under Chapter IV, Section 8 of the Patriot Act.

Citizens caught harboring undocumented birds in undeclared bird houses will be deemed "enemy combatants" and subjected to the whims of Tyson Foods foul interrogators.

All birds made of white meat are hereby requested to report to their nearest INS facility for processing into Chicken McNuggets.Questions about these policies should be directed to the U.S.
Department of Agriculture's food pyramid website, which has the same answer for everyone: "Drink more milk."

Thank you for your compliance,
- The Department of Homeland Insecurity, Multiplication Division

Authored by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger.
http://www.NewsTarget.com/013054.html

Quote of the Day - Special Edition

This Quote of the day is for Ben. Since he thinks they are "Super Cool".

"Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you are right." Henry Ford

still rockin' on

Well.....hmmmm haven't written anything in a long time. Have I had any adventures lately, that can even become to compare with my posts from Iraq? I mean you can't really top the streets of Iraq in terms of sheer adrenaline. Nothing like an IED to get the heart pumping, or to know how big the line between life and death is. (About this big _______) Most of my posts are usually stories that deal with my life or tied to it some how, not deep philosophical stuff like Bryan and his "quote of the day" (which are usually super cool yeah). I think my time over there has really given me a new outlook on life. I sure appreciate things a whole lot more, (hot women, cold beer) but just not appreciating things. Over there I was the Lead Guntruck Commander. What I did was control the convoy in all terms. I was the master of my domain. I spotted the IEDs, the gunmen on the sandy knoll, I set the pace for the convoy, I lead from the front. I noticed everything. I still do. It is called hyper alertness. I'm not looking for IEDs or the such, but when I see something I truely see it. It is really just paying more attention to my surroundings. It surely makes enjoying the outdoors a whole cooler experience. So I'm still rockin' on. I really have enjoyed my time back. It took a little getting used to, but at least I'm not wigging out every time a car comes speeding at me from a intersecting road any more. Camping, hiking , what have you its been great. I would really like to thank my family and friends for being so supportive while I was deployed and since I have gotten back. Thanks for listening to my slurred stories and just being there for me. Trust me you haven't heard them all. Well bring on the Snow and lets go tear up some Freshie!!

Whistler your next!

The Death of Compassionate Conservatism

I had to share this with everyone. This comes from a Christian magazine, but applies to everyone. They make a VERY good point.


Hearts & Minds - The death of compassionate conservatism
by Jim Wallis

Last week, I spoke with other religious leaders at a pressconference in the U.S. Capitol, urging the House ofRepresentatives to oppose cuts in social services in theirbudget bill. When it was over, we walked to the rotunda to offera prayer for our nation and its leaders, that they would do theright thing for people in poverty. Suddenly, we were face toface with Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and took theopportunity to deliver our message directly to him. He listenedpolitely, but offered little response.

The House is scheduled to begin debate tomorrow on its budgetbill, which includes $54 billion in cuts. On the table are cutsof $9.5 billion in Medicaid - by requiring co-pays for pregnantwomen and children for the first time; $8 billion in fostercare, child support enforcement, and aid to the disabled; and$844 million in the Food Stamps Program, which would prevent300,000 people from receiving food stamps. Forty thousandchildren would be cut from reduced-price school lunches.Lawmakers intend to follow these with a further cut of $70billion in taxes that will primarily benefit the top 3% oftaxpayers. The message from Congress is that in response toHurricane Katrina, we're going to cut services for the poor, cuttaxes for the rich, and increase deficits for our children and grandchildren.

These plans for deep cuts to social supports, paid for by taxcuts for the wealthiest, are contrary to the national prioritieswe need to protect our most vulnerable citizens. We need strongmoral leadership in Congress, especially during this time ofwar, record deficits, rising poverty and hunger, and naturaldisasters. Cutting food stamps and health care that meet thebasic needs of poor families is an outrage. Cutting socialservices to pay for further tax cuts for the rich is a moraltravesty that violates biblical priorities. The House leadershipseems to be saying they literally want to take food from themouths of children to make rich people richer. If this ideologyand politics of rich over poor prevails and our leaders fail togovern from a set of moral values, then the religious communitymust conclude that compassionate conservatism is dead.

As this battle for the budget unfolds, I am calling on membersof Congress, some of whom make much out of their faith, to startBible studies before they cast votes to cut services that willfurther harm the weakest in our nation. They should focus on thegospel imperative - what Jesus tells us about our obligations tothe "least of these." Some of them have heard the slogan "Whatwould Jesus do?" Now they should ask, "What would Jesus cut?"Budgets are moral documents, and they reflect our nationalpriorities and values. In the name of social conscience, fiscalresponsibility, equal opportunity, protecting our communities,and the very idea of a common good, the upcoming budget voteswill be closely watched by people of faith.

I urge you to read the alert that follows, pick up your phone,and call your member of Congress. Tell him or her to showpolitical will in standing up for the least of these, as Jesusreminds us.

------------------------------------------------

Call Rep. Simpson now, toll-free:
(800) 426-8073 (Thank you, American Friends Service Committee).
The House of Representatives will vote on this immoral budgetproposal as early as Thursday of this week, and a one-minutecall from you and others could mean the difference between a"yea" or a "nay" vote from Rep. Simpson. Dialingthe number above will get you to the Capitol switchboard. Whenyou reach an operator, ask for Rep. Simpson, andwhen connected, say something like:

"As a person of faith from Idaho, I urge Rep.Simpson to vote "no" on this immoral budget billthat cuts $54 billion in vital services to vulnerable people,including Medicaid, foster care, food stamps, and child support.These cuts will hurt survivors of Katrina and countless workingfamilies. Along with proposed tax cuts for the super-wealthy,these are the wrong priorities at the wrong time."

Since Sliced Bread!

Have you ever had a great idea on how to change America for the better? Have you ever wished there was a way to get your idea across and really try to make a difference with it? Well, now there is a way! Maybe. I came across a company that really intrigued me with what they were doing. The company is called Since Sliced Bread (http://www.sinceslicedbread.com/) . They are asking anyone and everyone to submit their ideas for a better America. Not only that, they really want to implement the changes that are submitted. The catch? Thousands of people are sending in their ideas, and only one will be chosen. The upside? If you are smart/fortunate enough to get the winning idea, they will pay you $100,000 dollars. Fire up the motors and start submitting!

Slow it down a bit - Follow your dream

The world is a crazy place, and moves at a pace similar to that of a honey bee. The harder you work, the more you are rewarded. The more money you make, the happier you will be. Can we all agree this is true? Do we all believe in this “system”? Personally, I would like to think not. I would like to think that we have it all wrong. That our current system of work for money, get paid. Don’t get paid, don’t have enough money, get stressed. And since the majority of us don’t seem to have enough money, instead we spend our lives stressing out about it, and possibly not living the lives we were meant to.

Last year I was inspired by a group of people that happened to pass through my small town. They were camped in the park across the street from my house, and on the side of their trailer was painted a large logo that read, www.10mph.com .

What these people were doing was amazing. They quit their corporate jobs to pursue their dream. They decided to throw “conventional wisdom” out the door, and pursue what was in their hearts. Not only that, they decided to include the world, and hopefully inspire them to do the same.

If you haven’t already, check out what these guys are doing. They are well on their way to completing their documentary about America. I think you will enjoy reviewing their trailer.

Click here to learn more