It's What We Expect

The NASA Mars rover Opportunity is 9 years old. It was only supposed to last 3 months.

Are we surprised? Maybe a little, but I remember when it outlasted it's expectancy years ago, I had the thought of hoping it would last forever.

9 years in comparison to 3 months= Forever.

We do this a lot.

Remember when 100,000 miles was the death mark for cars? Now, people buy cars at 200,000 hoping it's good for a few (meaning 3-5) more years. A lot of cars are doing it nowadays.

We all have hope to get more than what others expected. We have hope that, for us, the laws of the universe will be ignored. We hope that our luck is better than the average bear.

Sometimes it is. Sometimes it ain't.

I doubt JPL counted on the rover to last beyond the three months but are happy to use it beyond that time barrier.

Likewise, we should expect out of our investments, our efforts, and our endeavors only what we put into them and what logic dictates they should return. But be prepared, sometimes we get extra mileage.

Use it wisely.

Alone

A day spent alone,
Just like I wished it to be.
Where did they all go?

Ain't Dead Yet- Another Peek

“You wouldn’t know anything about three dead bounty hunters left in Judge Drummond’s office, would you?”

Brigham set back in his chair, holding the correspondence in his hand and peering over the top of it at Porter.

Porter shook his head with a slow side to side, giving the impression he was actually giving it some thought. Without another word, he tipped his hat and headed out the door.

Excerpt from AIN'T DEAD YET, a fictionalized story about Orrin Porter Rockwell by Mike M Jensen.

French Expectations

27 years ago yesterday, I arrived in France.

Via a train ride from Geneva, across the countryside of France, I arrived at the small fishing town of Martigues of  La Provence.

 I remember being picked up at the small train station by my roommate and a local couple. They drove me in one of the smallest cars I have ever seen, through the tiny roads that lead down the hillside and across the town, over the bridges, and to my apartment. They all spoke French, and although I had studyied before arriving, I was amazed in the speed and ease of how they spoke French- even if they were French. I would learn later they also had a Southern accent that I had never even imagined existed and had not prepared for.

 Nothing was how I imagined it. Nothing. And that is when I realized that no matter how much you think you understand something, no matter how prepared you think you are; when dropped in the middle of something you have never experienced, a place you have never been, or meet people you have never met: it's all going to different than what you expected.

 But all that being said, it's OK. It's good to be surprised from time to time.

Brakes and Family

Just when you think you're all independent and all growed up, life tends to throw you a curve ball.

For the last several months, years really, my life has been like batting against Barry Zito. Curve ball after curve ball after curve ball.

Yesterday, my brakes failed on my truck on the way to work. On a down hill, in traffic, with expired tags, heading into downtown, on a freaking cold day, after I had broke off the door handle, already late to arrive at work, when there was no around to call for help or assurance.

Fortuneatly, I hit no one and no thing. The snow built-up in the gutter, quick thinking, and a truck that really doesn't like to move anyway, all helped to get the vehicle in control and stopped (along with gears and manual use of the emergency brake).

I babied it back home.

I began to physically check the brakes by removing a few of the wheels. I became informed by the property managment that I could not work on the vehicle on site. "Button it up now." I did.

Distraught, I called my dad for something, anything, maybe even advice.

He gave me peace of mind.

"Can you drive it down?"
"Sure."
"Do it, but be safe."
"It's just brakes, dad."

After a 140 mile drive (still with little brakes) the truck is resting at his place. Safe from appartment life, tow trucks, and impoundment.

It might sound like so little to others, but being able to rest from the worry for a few days is worth gold to me and my breaking ball (baseball reference), swing and a miss life right now.

When all else fails, it's good to know that family is around.

Now I just need to wait and sit back on that coming fastball and drive it over the wall.

Thanks dad.

And We Thought We Had It Bad

I basically grew up in Northern California, so it's OK that I make fun,- especially of those in Southern California!

Apparently, it's cold in LA.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6t-EjrtD3U&feature=youtu.be

Utah Weather

 Thursday High 45, beautiful, warm. I called it gorgeous.

Friday, 18" snow by noon. as much snow in one day in a number of years. Tomorrow: Low of -2.

Gotta love it!

Don't End the Story with the Book

A few years back, I read the book FINN by Jon Clinch. It is a prequel to Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn. It had been recommended to me by my sister.
It was a good read but disturbing in some ways.

This many years later, I still think on that story. Part because I think of Twain stories on a regular basis but also, it's just a story that rolls around in my head. A story that just won't rest.

Today, via Twitter, I was able to be at the same time that I knew the author was online. I got to finally tell the author "in person" that his story still bugged me. He responded, "Good".

He's right. We should seek and read books that don't end with the closing of the back cover.

Take the story, lesson, or emotion with you.

This Year, Not Next

I Climbed that mountain. On a whim in September, I got up early one morning and walked my big ol' butt on up to the top. It wasn't easy. It wasn't quick. But I ascended the 4,000 feet to reach the summit at 11,750 ft. I still enjoy that feat becuase on why I did it.

I told myself that I would not spend another winter looking at that mountain, telling myself that "next year" after the snow melts, I would do it.

Now when I see the snowy cliffs, I say "I did that." It feels good. And for a chronic procrastinator such as I am, that's a mountain climbed in and of itself.

Meeting the Utes

“Meeting up with Utes ain’t ever boring, that’s for sure.” Porter quipped to the dog.
The animal acknowledged his voice with a quick lick about his snout but kept his head strained around Porter and his eyes fixed toward the voices.