Still A Hero

I paid a visit to the grave site of my main character in "Ain't Dead Yet", Porter Rockwell.

It is not odd that his grave site is still commonly visited or that he is still popular locally even after over a hundred years since he passed away. It isn't even odd to always see flowers left at the base of his head stone. Porter is a hero to many of us. Paying a visit seems like a small price to pay for our thanks for what he did and what he means to some of us.

Today, stuck between the headstone and the plaque honoring his pioneer efforts, someone had left their guitar pick. Apparently even with the musicians, the ol' gun-slinger's still hip.

Rockwell Rocks!

Pretty on the Trail

Saw this on the trail hiking Saturday morning. I loved the contrasting colors and the morning rain still dripping off.
Thought I would share.

Crossroads

Crossroads is what most people call it. A point where two or more paths come together in one's life and the following of any direction will carry you in a direction distinct and separated from the others. Its a powerful and descriptive metaphor. I find however that the real thing is just a traffic jam in the making.

I have been sitting at a crossroad in my life for a long time now. Every time I start down one of those roads, I seem to just end up at the same crossroad. More like a French round point, if to continue the roadside imagery.

It's tough. It's scary. It's unimaginably expensive in terms of emotions.

Which is the happy road? Happy for who? Does happy matter?

I don't know. But I guess as long as I haven't abandoned the car, I still have a choice to make.

God, help me be wise.

Sunset Peak

To The Summit

I never shared here, but I accomplished my goal of hiking to the top of Sunset Peak in Big Cottonwood Canyon- my most favorite place in the world- on August 15th. The peak reaches to 10,644 feet. the trail begins at around 8,600 feet.

It was tough and hot but I made it along with my wife and one of my sons.

Sometimes goals are actually climbing mountains.

I perceive, therefore, it was, is, or something.

The first day of school was yesterday. All the kids began their respective schools and grades. This year they spread out over four schools. One began High School and another began her Jr. High experience, the other three all progressed to the next grade.

The changes come quick nowadays. The clothes, the language, and of course, the size. Both my older boys sport shoes into which I can nearly fit both of my feet! It's hard to believe they actually came from those cute little things at the hospital just years ago. I find it amazing how quickly it all changed.

Even more amazing still is how it all of a sudden became Fall. It's still August, yet with the sights of school kids and talk of football games this Friday, it all feels different. I thought the air at the baseball game last night had a slight chill, the sun hadn't felt so hot during the afternoon, and I'm half expecting to see the leaves changed when I venture out this morning.

Why? Sunday was very much Summer. Just one day before we were talking swimming pools and how hot the summer has been. Can it really turn on one day? Is perception really that important?

I perceive that it is.

These Kids These Days

My wife and I explained to the kids how in the old days, when you played a video game- like Pitfall for example- you only had so many lives. If you got lucky and additional lives were awarded to you, one could play for the 2-3 hours it would take to complete a game. Run out of lives in the process and you had to start all over again. From the very beginning. (Cue evil music.)

Games today, as we have learned through the child raising years, have checkpoints. And if you die, you just go back or "spawn" at the last check point and continue. No enduring boring level 1 for the billionth time just to die once arriving at the oddly swinging vines and missing your timing for the billionth and one time.(Cue evil music once again) This new way seems like cheating to me. To be able to just die and pick back up where you were is without consequence, without... without... Well it just doesn't seem right!

Not right, maybe cheating, but obviously better.

Blog readers, I have sinned. I have left my blogging ways and have been really, really bad about updates.

Fellow writers, I have sinned. I have like taken almost the entire summer off from writing on any kind of consistent basis and have fallen off the creative wagon.

I am sorry and I am in the process to remedy this situation.

But as I have learned from the kids these days, I don't have to start all over. I just need to "spawn" at the last check point and go at it again.

So...

Spawning.

(Cue happy music)

Yummy!

Oreo chocolate dutch oven cake . If you haven't had one,I'm sorry.

Donut Falls

Really disappointed that there were no real donuts at the end of this hike.

Trailmate

Call me simple minded if you must but I still get happy to see wildlife, even deer, anytime I do.
This girl allowed us to borrow her backyard on the way to Donut Falls.

Snow in June

Went for a cruise to check on the lake for some family fishing and found enough snow to get stuck.

Today!

Irrelevant

Mountains stand alone.
Oceans stand apart.
Rivers flow continuous.
Plains stretch out endlessly.
Each is solitary but each has their relevance.
The mountains collect the snows to water the summer.
The oceans create the storms that snow on the mountains.
The mighty and not so mighty rivers flow to refill the oceans.
The plains turn melted snow to crops, returning what’s left to the river.

I stand alone.
Unused, unneeded, and unclaimed.
I am irrelevant.

Resolute

A dear lawyer friend once told me, out of good old fashion friendly advice,
“Goals are important to set, for sure, but continued failure will never suffice.

“My friend, one may aim for the sun, knowing no chance to ever get burned,
Some think that simply setting an impossible goal is worthy for one to yearn.

“But” he went on astutely, “I think that it’s foolish; the wisher greatly deceived.
For never will he feel the true success of experiencing that challenge achieved.

“I have, therefore, divined a plan to realize my goals each year without fail.
You, because I like you, may join me and celebrate in your success’ as well.”

He leaned forward so that he could whisper his plan, the key to personal Victory
“Each year” said he “I resolve to exercise less, gain weight and watch more TV.”

It's in the Blood

My Raiders put up a fight but again lost today. They finish with a record of 5-11. It makes the seventh straight year with at least 11 losses, an NFL record.

Although reaching a new level of suckage, I cannot abandon my team. There is something that keeps me aligned to the Silver and Black that I am afraid and yet proud will always be with me.

I have no hometown. I attended ten different schools. I have no lifelong friends. The Shield, the word Raiders, and my belonging to the unofficial Raider Nation is the closest I got.

It not just football; it's my Heritage.