Band of Brothers

(Myself, Doug, Tony, Kieth, Rodger, Dad, and Kent) (Missing for a few years: Brian)

This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.
Shakespear's - Henry 5th Act 4 Scene 3

In the interrest of self expression I present my moose hunting part.
For one week we share a cabin and a forest.
For the rest of the year we share a memory and a passion.
And we dream of next year.

"Black Donkey down!"

Perfect life

Life has meaning, yet so often it seems to not make sense. Two roads diverge, and often we cannot control which way we go. Life has pains, and life has pleasures. It can feel like we are stuck on a sailboat when there is absolutely no wind, or it can feel like a roller coaster without the safety bar.

There is so much we cannot command.

However, we can select our attitude. We can embrace the paradoxes and live here now, or we can dream about never-never land and never really live. We can get disillusioned about how things are not what they should be, or inspired by what things possibly could be.

Part of the problem is that we are looking for the perfect system, or the perfect organization. This carries an implicit assumption that “If we make the system really good, then the people don’t have to be good.” In reality you need both in balance; ”Good system-good people.”
SO this is our charge, “accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, hold on to the affirmative and don’t mess with Mr. Inbetween.

Blog of the Day

Here is another blow-me-away blog that I was delighted to find. Kyle Lomenda never told us about his poetic side.

Kyle, keep posting.
PS- hope you didn't mind the touchups I made to your band picture.

Post pounder

This Blog is leaving me blank... I have stared at the computer for about five minuts with nothing to say. And then it comes. From bordom come brilliance.
There is so much potential in a blank piece of paper or a new blog. From this souce comes new ideas, or new ways of looking at the world and making sense of it all. The other blogger gives you perspective.
There is also so much waste. Too many blogs are useless ramblings; an excuse to type.
But we should not give up reading and writing, even though so many are dumb. Because maybe one will be revolutionary. Maybe one will change someones mind, or pick them up a few notches from their melancholy stupor. Or simply enrich their day with a reflection, giving purpose to the onslaught of menial tasks.
Then there is the thing that I never expected. Something I mocked once. The blog is a window into the soul of the other person you rub shoulders with every day. For Example: Derek Wilson has a new side to him that was eclipsed by his "Comedy Central" persona. My understanding of the man has grown. There is a new layer to the onion.
That is why I like reading all of your blogs. Most of you scaliwags in the community are doing some deep writing with your regular columns. (Nigel does not want te be part of the internet culture, so the only way we could get him to start posting was to call it a column rather than a blog.) Keep it up. Post. Post pound. Let your thoughts out. Release them to the wilds of cyberdom, and watch them roar.

Swamped

Raey at the river.

The water is just above freezing.

Next years RA/SRC rookies can look forward to their own aquatic initiation.

For the last few months my office door looked uninviting. Unfortunately there are six weeks of self-imposed solitude left. Some of you have wondered where I am. Wondered whether I still love you? Well, I'm in there...killing a giant. A Masters thesis is not supposed to be your life's work, but it sure seems to take up your entire life.

Honesty time... I'm scared. You know how busy the next month is at college. I have to defend my thesis mid march, and I am still working on chapter four. That means two chapters to finish and then a mountain of editing and formatting.

Insomniac

There are some nights when
sleep plays coy,
aloof and disdainful.
And all the wiles
that I employ to win
its service to my side
are useless as wounded pride,
and much more painful.

Maya Angelou

Please, Pray for me when you walk by my closed office door.

And, if you want to give me a shot of encouragement, call out with the words that will keep me going..."Francis...It's all worth it... It will help other people...and after you can go fishing!"

Quest for Fire

That last post has inspired me to throw this question out there. Give us a quest. Name some challenge to complete. Define your idea of a hero's action today. Make it an attainable goal. In otherwords, don't make it something like "finalize a treaty insuring lasting peace in the middle east." But what could we accomplish today, or over the course of the weak, or the semester that would leave the world better than it is?

Who will inspire us with a need. Who do you see that needs a hero? What have we been identifying for years with the phrase, "someone should do something about that."

So please, leave your suggestions here, and I will see what we can do.

Insecure or Inspired

What would it be like to chum with heroes. Imagine living with Olympic athletes, prolific writers, deep thinkers, profound lovers, entrepreneurs, community activists, or future martyrs. Would you feel insecure, or inspired?
Would you want to join them in their pursuits, or minimize their contributions. Would you be for or against them?
This question may unlock the inner attitude that keeps us from courage. "If I feel awkward around greatness, then others will to, so it is best for me to remain mediocre." This is human nature, but there is also the responsibility placed on all our shoulders. Leave every place you go...Better than you found it.
Gordon Hamilton says it well..."I might be unnerved by that circumstance, but I just choose to be courageous. I put it on like a long coat, or like a good actor. Then, soon, I discover that what I am pretending has become reality."
What great deed is there for you to do? What feat is calling out for a champion? If a burning bush has chosen you...and turned your staff into a snake to prove it...Do you have the courage to pick up that snake and accept the job? Neither did Moses...but he did it anyways...and the world has never been the same.

Icefishing with Keats

I spent Saturday icefishing with John Keats.
Here is what he said...

"She dwells with Beauty-Beauty that must die;
And Joy, whose hand is ever at his lips
Bidding adieu; and aching Pleasure nigh,
Turning to poison while the bee-mouth sips:
Ay, in the very temple of Delight
Veiled Melancholy has her sovran shrine,
Though seen of none save him whose strenuous
tongue
Can burst Joy's grape against his palate fine:
His soul shall taste the sadness of her might,
And be among her cloudy trophies hung.
-John Keats- 3rd stanza of "ODE ON MELANCHOLY"


The image of a trophy room full of people hanging on the wall was not lost to this hunter. I am resolved to make melancholy breathless in the chase, and ultimately leave her skunked.