i'll think of a name later...

The Propsal 8/15/07

2007-09-06T09:02:00.001-07:00

Ok, I've had a few requests for pics from The Proposal so here they are:
Basically the gist of the day was that I sent her on a mini scavenger hunt that ended at the training tower (i know, hopeless romantic). She was surprised at the beginning since I told her we had no plans for the day. But I'm pretty sure that after I gave her a secret envelope and ran out the house she had a good idea of what was going on. Anyway, the ultimate goal was to get her to the training tower in San Marcos where I would use the 100' aerial ladder on Truck 1471 to climb to her. I know it's fire-geeky but I wanted it to be unique and surprising and i figured how many people have access to a fire truck?

We have pictures from the both of us because she is a smart girl and took her camera.

I needed a head start so I could get down to San Marcos in time.

One of her clues was at a dentist office in Escondido (don't ask why a dentist office). The ladies in the office insisted on taking her picture. Not just with her camera but with their camera too. They told her they would hang it in the office. Weird.

The guys waiting for her to arrive. Originally the plan was to have Truck 1471, Engine 1411, Medics 1491 and 1496, and Chief 1403 all parade in code 3 lights and sirens and circle the tower where she was standing. Unfortunately, the moment she pulled in everyone except the truck went out on responses.

Her final clue was at the indoor rock climbing place. She had to climb up a boulder to retrieve the clue. She likes that kind of stuff. All outdoorsy and what not... From there she drove to the training tower where I was waiting.

Bill escorts her to the top of the tower.

I roll in on the truck (the lights and siren are on)

I think the rest is pretty self-explanatory.

Thank you again to all the guys for taking time out their day.

Oh yeah, she said YES!!!

Cabo San Lucas

2007-08-02T15:45:00.000-07:00

As usual its been awhile since the last blog. I've been waiting for my comments section to get up to 100 like desi and josh promised but... well, it didn't happen. I don't know who I'm more disappointed in: desi and josh or a society that would produce such incompetence. I mean seriously, is it that hard to post a hundred comments? Anyway, in spite of their laziness I've decided to post some more pics. Maybe this time they'll get off their butts and take it a little more seriously... we shall see.

It has been very busy the last few months. Alot of work as usual, but also alot of fun things too. Here are a few recent random pics with explanations:

In June, Lauren went to a resort in Cabo San Lucas (that's in Mexico, Aaron. You should know that) with her family. I flew down and surprised her.

This is the creepiest thing in the world. It's a paper mache statue with REAL HUMAN HAIR! Gross.

Todos Santos

This is called the Sky Pool. It sits high above the resort. Sorry for the blur, I didn't have a tripod. I'm sure desi will have something to say about it...

We went fishing one day. Lauren caught a Dorado while I kept myself busy vomiting.

Ok, as usual this is taking me forever and I need to go into work soon. I'll just end here and this will be a Cabo specific blog.
Next time will have more random pics.
OUT.

Random Pics 9

2007-06-15T08:26:00.000-07:00

Ok so it's been awhile... here are some random pics from the last few months... and yes I know there's a girl in some of them... : )

Sailplane ride over Hemet

Lake Mead

Lauren and me

March Field

2007-04-20T14:43:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday dad and I went to the March Field Museum to have a look at the planes. The last time we were there was about 15yrs ago so alot had changed. A very fun and educational way to spend a Saturday morning.

Dad getting crazy...

Here I am strafing Nazi infantry in my cargo plane. Those little buggers are tough to hit...

I got sick on the simulator. But I landed the plane safely and that's what really counts.

Oh yes... that's a real SR-71 Blackbird.

Current/Recent Reads:
- I Corinthians
- Psalms
- "Flyboys" by James Bradley (about our WWII fighter pilots vs. the Japanese, great history, we owe those veterans alot)
- "Ghost Soldiers-The Forgotten Epic Story Of World War II's Most Dramatic Mission" by Hampton Sides (the story of the men from the Bataan Death March, their internment and their rescue by Army Rangers, really a good read, the movie the Great Raid is about the rescue)
- "The Avengers" by Rich Cohen (the story of Jewish partisans under Nazi occupation and how they chose to fight back rather
than face certain death)
- "The Passion of Jesus Christ" by John Piper (50 reasons why Jesus came to die)

Current Music:
I don't know why but I haven't really been listening to alot of music recently. I really enjoying the silence as I drive to work. If I have it on it's usually at home and usually electronic or worship. Oh! Today on iTunes I found Cloud2Ground which I really used to like but only had on cassette so of course I never listened to it because, I mean, who listens to a cassette anymore? So I bought it because I only buy from iTunes when I have a prepaid card and today I just happened to have a prepaid card because I found $34 dollars in change in my locker at work and used it at the Coinstar machine. It's great. I bought some other songs too including "Remind Me" from Royksopp which I like because it's on that Geico commercial when the caveman is in the airport on the moving sidewalk and he sees the billboard with his picture on it. I like that he has a badminton racket in his bag. That's so great. I also got some Rita Springer and Plankeye's greatest hits.

Current Film:
Not much of this either. I have some old John Wayne's that I'm casually drifting through. I usually will watch about 20min or so while I eat so it takes about a week to get through a movie. I like John Wayne. El Dorado is one of my favorites.
I also have the 1st season of 24 on DVD that I borrowed but haven't started yet. I hear it's great, I'm just not sure I want to get addicted at this point.

It is raining right now. I absolutely love the rain. I think I'll go outside now and enjoy it. Thanks.

Also, I found a website that has the written lyrics of almost every song I could think of. It's probably a good idea to know what the words are to songs stuck in my head. Here's the address (i don't know how to do links):
http://www.songmeanings.net/

2007-04-20T09:20:00.000-07:00

The man who needs no introduction...

2007-04-17T20:12:00.000-07:00

From Donald Miller's "Searching For God Knows What":

"I know this makes God sound like a terrible narcissist, but.....the most selfless thing God could do, that is, the most selfless thing a perfect Being who is perfectly loving could do, would be to create other beings to enjoy Himself. Even Jesus says his glory comes from the Father, which I take to mean that even Christ, a perfect Being, was valuable because God loved Him. And I realize that this sounds weak and codependent, but what if a person isn't supposed to be alone, isn't supposed to have glory on his own, but rather get glory from the God who loves him? What if, in the same way the sun feeds plants, God's glory gives us life? What if our value exists because God takes pleasure in us?"

Surprise

2007-04-13T23:54:00.001-07:00

It's getting late but I'm sure Desi will be here to surprise me any minute now...

2007-04-13T23:28:00.000-07:00

From Larknews.com

In Mexico's 'mime alley,' everyone's a critic

TIJUANA — Las Noticias, the daily newspaper of Ensenada, called it a "sublime performance, worth bringing the kids." But it panned another, saying, "don't waste your lunch hour on this one."
The subject: American church human video performances, which have become a staple of local entertainment. In "mime alley," stretching from Tijuana to Juarez, local residents have become connoisseurs of the performances. Youth groups usually have no idea they are being critiqued, but residents of mime alley flock to city squares, or to poor neighborhoods near U.S.-funded orphanages, where human video troupes tend to perform.
In Tijuana in June, a full crowd is on hand to watch a city-square performance by Sheboygan First Assembly which was favorably previewed in the local paper. As the kids finish the drama and the song fades, people applaud.
"Much nuance, an original take on the standard human video theme," says one mother pushing a stroller, when questioned by a reporter. The youth group, flush with success, fans into the crowd to hand out Spanish-language tracts, but most locals aren't interested in the salvation appeal, leaving the kids bewildered.
"I thought we nailed it," says one teen actor.
At a human video performance by a Baptist church from Texarkana, the neighborhood crowd is less approving.
"Even the climax was flat," says one, shaking her head.
"Yes, but the make-up was good," says another.
One man gives the ultimate insult: "Solo uno mas Champion," or "It's just one more Champion."
Border town newspapers run Guides to Free Street Entertainment. This year Winston-Salem Christian Center was touted as a best bet, based on last year's performances; the papers say to avoid other churches which "disappointed" last season. After the youth groups leave, the paper is full of brisk reader exchanges about which evangelistic mime performance was most "artistic" and "compelling." •

Today

2007-04-13T22:44:00.000-07:00

Wandered around a bit today. Didn't really have a plan so I just headed east up into the San Jacintos, had lunch at the little roadside cafe in Garner Valley, and then down the other side into Palm Desert. Did a little 2 mile hike into Tahquitz Canyon to a waterfall. It's on indian land so of course it costs money: $12.50! A nice little hike though, and the cool water was great for wading. Got back into town and played golf on the xbox with dad. Then went for my massage (free on birthdays!) and then to LAfitness to swim a little bit. Now home, dinner, blog, bed. Here's a few pics from the exciting day:

More Grand Canyon

2007-03-25T22:33:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more pics from the Grand Canyon a few weeks ago...

Random Pics 8

2007-03-25T22:03:00.000-07:00

Daydreams...

2007-03-15T22:14:00.000-07:00

Anza Borrego

Joshua Tree

Lake Havasu

Channel Islands National Park

San Gorgonio

San Jacinto

Arizona

2007-03-11T19:29:00.000-07:00

Went out to Arizona for the weekend and took Kim and the kids up to the Grand Canyon. Also stopped by the Arizona Snowbowl for a little cardboard and trashbag sledding. Just got home and work tmrw so here's a few quick pics:

the obligatory beginning of the drive photo. SpongeBob wasn't all that stoked to be going.

Random Pics 7

2007-02-28T15:14:00.000-08:00

The impact of power...

Climbing the ladder...

Josh came to Desi's 30th birthday party dressed like a coach...

This is for Desi and Rose...

Snowboarding

2007-02-26T20:22:00.000-08:00

So I am thoroughly exhausted and sore. Went to Snow Summit today with Mason and Helena for my very first snowboarding adventure. It was a beautiful, sunny day. I don't want to brag but I think I did pretty dang good. After a rough start that is. The guy in the board shop told me to skip the bunny slopes because I could learn just fine on the mile and a quarter long "beginners" summit run. Well that guy must have won some cash from his buddies because I listened to his advice. It took me almost an hour and more falls than I could count but I made it down that stupid hill and headed straight over to the bunny slope. I spent most of my day there learning to turn and gradually going faster and faster. By the afternoon I was ready to tackle the summit run again. And I did ok. I went down it another 3 times and on the last run of the day I only fell 4 times. Thats got to be some sort of record or something. All in all it was a good day and I am happy because I did alot better than I thought I would. But I am aching and sore and tired... Here's some pics. MasonHelena have some more that I'll download later.

Mason took these but my lense cover was only partly open so... Me on the summit run, with a fall at the end.

...

2007-02-21T23:40:00.000-08:00

not too much going on... work alot... work tomorrow... and saturday... then i get 6 whole days off! Mason and Helena invited me to go snowboarding on tuesday. that should be interesting. i'm glad it's going to storm again the next few days. i like weather. hopefully the snow will hang around until tuesday.

"why does he smile when he wants to frown? why does he stiffen when he wants to melt? maybe one day he won't. maybe one day he'll break down and have a flood of words that explains why and what he feels in response to what you do. and he'll draw you in and wrap you in his words."

in the 2 weeks i've been a member of LAfitness I've gone a total of 2 times. not that i don't want to go more. i haven't had alot of consecutive days off and on the one-days i have little motivation to do anything active. and of course by not going and excercising i just feel more unmotivated and blah so the problem just compounds. but it's a nice place. i'd like to start swimming laps and playing racquetball. i run every once in awhile but my formerly sprained ankle still occasionally hurts and dissuades me. coincidentally, escondido just had another fire in the same building where i sprained my ankle, and another firefighter fell in the very same hole in the floor and broke a rib.

here is a picture of our aerial ladder on a recent fire. now that i'm assigned to the truck again, hopefully this will be me soon.

"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever." Ps 30:11-12

"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these" Matt. 6:28b-29

i like the name lily. it's a good name.

escalator

2007-02-16T17:30:00.000-08:00

i thought this was funny...

Oregon

2007-02-13T18:10:00.000-08:00

Last October was the end of an era. Due to their mounting years and declining health, my aunt and uncle decided to sell there ranch and move into town. They have been on the ranch outside Mitchell, Oregon for over 40 years and I have been going there for visits as long as I can remember. Aunt Barbara is an excellent cook and Uncle Lucky would take us "out back" to hunt ground squirrels or feed his "pet" deer. Not that all the deer were his pets. Every season he would hunt for a buck so that there would be food for the winter. We were lucky enough to be there when Uncle Lucky got this years buck. (Sorry for the gruesome photos). Shooting guns is one of the highlights of the trip. But those days are gone. They now live in a house in Prineville. My dad and I made a very quick trip up there for a final visit in the beginning of October. (Some of the pics were taken with my dads camera and the date is wrong)

The house that they built themselves

Going out the feed the deer

Aunt Barbara and Uncle Lucky

Uncle Lucky's Unlucky Buck(y)

the one-armed lady

2007-02-13T16:58:00.000-08:00

So every morning when I'm driving home from work I pass this billboard and everytime I think "why doesn't that lady have an arm?". I mean, absolutely no offense to amputees, but you don't see alot of ladies on billboards with just a nub. Especially a billboard that is advertising someplace that is supposed to be fun. Unless they are trying to say "you may not have an arm but you can sure have fun here!". (At this point an obvious segway would be to look at how our backward society views the "abnormal" or those with disabilities and how that image is generally not something that inspires people to have fun or go to a casino... but I'm too shallow for such a serious topic.) Anyway, the other day I got off the freeway to investigate further. As it turns out, the one-armed girl actually has two arms but the black gloves can't be seen from a distance. Talk about a disappointment. Oh well, she'll always have one arm to me...

The end of an era:
In their infinite wisdom the chiefs have decided to shuffle the shifts around for no viable reason. Evidently it's a bad thing for a crew to enjoy working together and, consequently, do their job well. This is a pic from our last day as 2C. Everyone is going to new crews and new stations. I'm back to Station 1.

Spring in the Grand Canyon

Random Pics 6

2007-02-04T20:27:00.000-08:00

A few local pics:

Winter on Tamarack Beach - Carlsbad

Oceanside Pier

Oceanside Harbor

This is a Serbian Orthodox Church in San Marcos. A very beautiful building with a priest that looked like he wanted to fight me when he saw me taking pics.

Go to iTunes and check out the Radiant Worship podcast by a guy name Richy Clark. It's a daily recording of "spontaneous" worship. He doesn't have the best voice, and it's not the best sound quality, but I really like it. He basically plays the piano for 15 or so minutes and sings whatever is in his heart. Sometimes he sings loud and his voice cracks. I really like "I Hope".

Other current podcasts include:
-National Geographic Atmosphere (check out "Soaring Over Yellowstone", it is amazing),
-Dog Whisperer video clips
-Strong Bad E-mails and More!

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer."
Romans 12:12

(And except Desi and Aaron, thanks to everyone else for the picture taking encouragement)

Random Pics 5

2007-01-30T20:37:00.000-08:00

Here are some more random pics:

Downtown San Diego

San Diego Harbor

My buddy Ted skating downtown.

Winter vineyard

Seagulls

Lake Henshaw

Starry Night

The Grand Canyon in winter.

Mt. San Jacinto 10,804'

2007-01-29T20:59:00.000-08:00

So I went on a hike today. I hadn't actually planned on climbing Mt. San Jacinto for the 7th time, I just kind of started walking that way. Accessed via the Devils Slide Trail so 16 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 4,324'. 5hrs up and 3hrs down. Slow going at times because of the snow and ice. Used instep crampons most of the way up and all the way down. Due to the time and the cold I didn't stay on the summit very long. Thermometer showed 34 degrees and it was windy too. Not really any good pictures from this trip. It was too cold to stop and get the camera out. I made it back to the truck just after dark so it ended up being a long day. But a good day nonetheless. Here's some pics:

Driving

Suicide Rock with the Diamond Valley Reservoir in the back.

I can't remember ever seeing a coyote in these mtns.

I like Albertsons "PoorBoy" sandwiches!

Looking down on Palm Springs/Coachella Valley

Towards Temecula

Random Pics 4

2007-01-26T17:12:00.000-08:00

So the last 3 highpoints were already covered in the black hills postings so there's no need to repeat them. I've been super busy with work but I have a 3 day coming up so I hope to get out on monday for a good hike and maybe some pics. Here's just a few quick random pics of local stuff.

"The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous
and His ears toward their cry."
Ps 34:15

"Look at the birds of the air:
they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not of more value than they?"
Matt 6:26

Highpoints Part 4

2007-01-23T15:41:00.000-08:00

Summit #6

Mt. Whitney, California 14,496.811' 8/5/06

Mt. Whitney is not only the highpoint of California, it is also the highest peak in the lower 48 states. Although it is a long and strenuous hike, it is all done on a well-maintained trail and no technical climbing skills are required. It is also a very popular hike and normally requires a permit to climb during the peak season. However, I found that if you go by yourself it is no problem to get a permit. The weather for my hike was perfect. Clear and sunny in the low 60's with only occasional clouds. Nights however were a little cooler around freezing. Although many people are able to do this hike in a day, I am not one of those people. I chose to spend the night on the trail in order to acclimate. Regardless of a persons physical condition, altitude sickness is always possible and I didn't want to risk it. The best way to avoid it is a slow ascent and hydration. Both of which I did. I have to say that I felt great on this hike. No serious headaches or fatigue which I honestly was expecting to have based on past experiences. God really helped me out on this and kept me healthy and energetic. Not to say the hike wasn't very tiring though. The hike itself is about 22 miles roundtrip with an elevation gain of 6,750'. I camped at the trailhead Thursday night, hiked the 6 miles to Trail Camp on Friday, summited early Saturday morning and then hiked back to the truck Saturday afternoon. All in all a great trip that I definitely plan on doing again. I have alot of pics to show so this might end up being a long blog. Sorry.
To try and save time I'm just going to list the captions here and you'll have to match them:
1) the peak from Owens Valley
2) the Whitney Portal
3) looking up trail
4) entering the John Muir Wilderness
5) looking down trail onto Lone Pine Lake
6) a waterfall
7) Bighorn Park
8) Mirror Lake
9) looking down on Bighorn Park
10) a stream
11) flowers and stream
12) Consultation Lake
13) my campsite
14) Trail Camp
15) sundown
16) sundown
17) sunrise
18) sunrise
19) sunrise
20) on the trail to the summit
21) Trail Crest (2.5 miles to go)
22) on the trail to the summit
23) view west from the crest
24) view west from the crest
25) view west from the crest
26) the summit
27) the summit
28) view north from the summit
29) on the trail
30) on the trail
31) end of the road

Highpoints Part 3

2007-01-20T16:50:00.000-08:00

Summit #5
Humphreys Peak, Arizona 12,633' 5/15/06

I did this peak during a week long trip into Arizona that included Crown King with the family, the Grand Canyon, Sedona and numerous other sites. This strenuous hike is only 9 miles roundtrip with an elevation gain of 3,500' (that means 3,500' in 4.5 miles). It was a beautiful day with rain clouds in the west but sunny and warm on the peak. Flagstaff sits in the shadow of this peak and the trail begins out of the Arizona Snowbowl. A very rewarding hike with 360 degree views. Here's the pics:

This is a view of the mountain from Meteor Crater about 60 miles away.

several false summits

Highpoints Part 2

2007-01-18T20:15:00.000-08:00

So that last post was a little depressing.
Summit #3
Black Mesa, Oklahoma 4,973' 2/19/06

The easy hike follows an old jeep track for 8.6 miles with an elevation gain of 775'. As you can see the "summit" is very flat and uneventful however walking a short distance to the edge of the mesa brings some great views. Because the highpoint sits in the corner of the state the views include Colorado, New Mexico and Texas. At almost 40 miles Black Mesa is actually one of the largest mesas in the world. Nothing too exciting happened. It was a nice sunny day with a cold wind out of the north. I stayed up there about an hour and left when about 20 loud boy scouts showed up.

The intimidating south face.

The Summit.

A view back down the trail.

The Edge.

Summit #4
Mount Sunflower, Kansas 4,039' 2/19/06

So I did a walk/run down off the mesa because the day was flying by and I had about 200 miles to drive to get to Kansas before dark. I made it with no light to spare and was glad I brought a tripod for the pics. The highpoint is a drive-up and is only a couple hundred feet from the Colorado border. It is on private property but the owners are gracious enough to allow visitors. Here's some pics:

Uncontrolled exuberance at reaching the lofty summit.

Oklahoma City

2007-01-18T15:55:00.000-08:00

So after the Arkansas highpoint I started heading west again. The next highpoint would be in Oklahoma, which is where the wind comes sweeping down the plain. One non-highpoint stop I did want to mention though was in Oklahoma City. After a long and slow drive (because of the weather), I stopped in OK City for the night and the next day decided to spend some time downtown where I came across the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum. It is on the site of the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Bldg that killed 168, including 19 kids, and wounded over 800. This was seriously one of the most amazing museums I have ever been in and what I thought would take about an hour took over 4 hours. Very solemn. Photos aren't allowed in the museum itself but below are a few pics from the actual site and the memorials that have been set up. If you ever happen to be in that part of the world I highly recommend this stop (regardless if you think McVeigh did it or not).

A message left by USAR Team 5

This American Elm tree was in the direct line of the blast and is still alive. It is called the Survivor Tree.

I thought the quote on the wall with the Christian church in the background was interesting.

George Cain assisted with the recovery in Oklahoma City and later became one of the 343 on 9/11.

Highpoints

2007-01-14T18:28:00.000-08:00

I really like lists. I like making a list of things I need or want to do and then marking completed items off. The most common lists I make involve chores around the house. I almost never complete those lists. Granted I don't complete alot of my lists. But it's still something I like to do. I'm sure I fit into some psychological profile but I don't know what that is. Anyway, one of my many current lists involves reaching the high points in each of the 50 states. This is actually a very possible feat however for me it will likely take many many years. (And I'm not sure yet what I'll do when it comes time for Alaska. Not only is Mt. Mckinley extremely physically demanding and dangerous, it also requires several weeks and almost $10,000. But I'll cross that bridge when I come to it). The majority of the highpoints are very easy and sixteen of them are actually drive-ups. The hardest part with those ones is actually finding them. The highest highpoint is obviously Mt. Mckinley at 20,320'; the lowest is Florida's Lakewood Park at a whopping 345'. As of right now I have completed 9 of the 50, which I guess isn't too bad since I decided to do this only about a year ago. By the way, probably my main inspiration for wanting to do this was a book a friend gave to me called "To The Top" by Joe Glickman and Nels Akerland. I like it because they are two reasonably normal guys, not considered "professional'' climbers. It's a good book with alot of cool pics. Anyway, the next few posts will be some quick recaps of my first 9 summits in the order I climbed them. A few of them were already relayed in my Black Hills postings.

Summit #1
Guadalupe Peak, Texas 8,749' 2/9/06

In February '06 I went driving for a few weeks. In a nutshell I went as far east as Arkansas to visit my grandparents, then north to Denver then back to the southwest then home. Lots and lots of stops on this trip but I don't necessarily want to blog about the whole roadtrip (that would take forever), just the highpoints.

My first highpoint stop was in Texas. If you've ever driven across Texas you know that for the most part it is a pretty flat and uneventful state. The Guadalupe Mountains are in the west on the border with New Mexico and are actually established as a national park. They are a desert range with forested and verdant higher elevations and canyons. The hike itself is 8.4 miles roundtrip with an elevation gain of 2,950' which makes for a fairly strenuous walk. The weather was clear in the 60's with a cold wind on the summit. Here are a few pics:

View from the south. The actual peak sits behind El Capitan.

A fun section of the trail.

Another section of the trail.

Looking back down trail.

Looking down on El Capitan

The Summit. The stainless steel pyramid is a tribute to the air mail pilots who pioneered a route through the mountains.

Summit #2
Mount Magazine, Arkansas 2,753 2/17/06

I visited my grandparents in Texarkana for a week or so then continued north for the highpoint of the natural state. This highpoint sits on a bluff overlooking the Arkansas Valley. Not really a hike, more of a casual walk. About a mile roundtrip with an elevation gain of 225'. The actual highpoint itself is called Signal Hill and it sits in Mount Magazine State Park. There is no view from the top as it is surrounded by forest. But some of the views from other spots in the park are rather beautiful. Temperatures were in the mid 30's with some wind and drizzle.

The Summit.

2007-01-10T23:10:00.000-08:00

So this is one of those many times when I want to post something but I don't really have anything to say. Nothing too exciting is going on. I've been looking into a security system for my house. I'm always waiting for the morning when I come home from work and find my computer and camera and b bed gone. This is on my mind even more now because on Monday two of my neighbors houses were robbed. And not only that but one of the neighbors was home and had a knife put to his throat. That's a pretty big deal for small town T-mec. My house sits empty for such long periods it would be nice to have some sort of peace of mind...
I'm looking forward to this storm that will be hitting the Southland tomorrow and Friday. They're saying the snow level may get down to 900'. That should be very fun...
Here are my currents:
Soundtrack: Mazzy Star - ''Fade Into You", The Corrs - "When the Stars Go Blue" (although I like the Tim McGraw version too, I like this one more), Eric Clapton - "Wonderful Tonight", Phil Wickham - "Shining", Chris Tomlin - "How Can I Keep From Singing" (although this is a CT song I really like the way it's sung by Romolo at CCM), Josh Turner - "Would You Go With Me?", Sara Evans - "Suds in the Bucket", Jason Morant - "We Lift You Up".

Books: Donald Miller "Searching For God Knows What", occasional reading in Wayne Grudem's "Systematic Theology", just finished the 3rd book in "The Last Jihad" series by Joel Rosenberg (very good and exciting) and I'm at various completion levels of about a dozen other random books.

Bible Reading: verse-by-verse through the Psalms, Romans and Exodus (not as consistent as I would like, pray for me)

Podcasts: John Piper, National Geographic Video Shorts, The Onion Radio News, Wild Chronicles

Mileage: zero

Upcoming Travel: nothing planned

Blah, Blah, Blah...

Sorry I don't have much to write about.

SomeRandomStuff

2007-01-07T19:02:00.000-08:00

So last week I get home from a 48 and I have a surprise waiting for me. My sisters, Kim and Lori, took it upon themselves to paint the interior of my house. It is something I had been wanting to do for awhile but probably never would have done on my own simply because I have no clue about style or matching or stuff like that. Well, I might have somewhat of a clue but, as those who live alone know, it's really hard to get motivated to beautify something when you're pretty much the only one who see's it. They painted the living room and kitchen/dining and down the hall and they did a really good job. It was nice of them to not only pick out the right colors but also do all the work. Good sisters.

So a couple shifts ago we were up most of the night running calls and around 4:30 or so we decided we were hungry. The only place open at that hour is Oscars so that's where we ended up. Of course the drive thru is the way to go.

A little while ago I told you about the donut shop fire I had. This is the group photo I just got from someone elses camera.

Lake Henshaw with Hot Springs Mountain in the background (highest peak in SD county @ 6533')

Friday Night, YEAH!!!

2007-01-05T20:41:00.000-08:00

So it's Friday night and what better way to spend it than sitting on the computer posting stupid blogs.
Here's some pictures of me from before the surgery:

The Truth

2007-01-05T20:03:00.000-08:00

So some people may be aware that there has always been a certain point of contention between myself and one Desmond M. Starr Jr. You see, when we were in the 3rd grade we met at Boys Brigade, which I think was supposed to be like a Christian version of the Boy Scouts or something. Anyway we met there after Desi's dad forced him to come talk to me. He had to be forced because I was so intimidating. Now BB was held in the gym at RCC and at some point one evening Desi and I ended up challenging each other to a foot race across the gym floor. Not really a big deal until you remember that we were in the 3rd grade and such a race was of great importance. It would prove for years to come who the dominate partner in the friendship would be (just a casual glance at the years to follow proves the winner). This is where the point of contention comes in. For some reason, probably because of all the self-esteem brainwashing he got from the public schools and being allowed to watch PBS, Desi has come under the delusion that he won that race. He has gone so far as to tell the story to others with such grandeur and flamboyance that some people have also been persuaded to believe he won. I'm here to tell you that is simply not true. And I have proof. I present to you photographic evidence that I clearly was the leader. That's me in the Levi's and white Pro-Wings. Notice that not only is my planted foot ahead of his but I am also well into my next step whilst he lazily completes his last. Now some may argue that this picture wasn't taken at the finish line and Desi may have gotten a second wind. Well that's a load of hooey! I was there and I saw what happened and I see no reason for further discussion or debate. The evidence has spoken. Thank you.

The Black Hills Trip, Days 6,7 & 8

2007-01-04T19:25:00.000-08:00

So my New Years pretty much sucked. Whether it's because of my diet or lack of exercise or job or a combo of everything, I pretty much am always sick. I'm used to it and just have to work around it. But whatever I caught this time dropped me like 3rd period French (i don't know where i heard that or what exactly it means so i'm very sorry if it's bad). The point is I was sick. I felt it on New Years Eve day when I checked my temperature at work and it was 101. That would have been a clue to most people to go home. But no I couldn't do that. I didn't want some poor guy to have to come in on the holiday and miss the chance to get sloppy drunk. What can I say? I'm a sweetheart. So I stayed at work and we ran a bunch of dumb calls and by the next morning (and after 4hrs of interrupted sleep) I was topped out at 103.1 and ready to fall over. The next four days are a long sob story of chills and aches and delirium and mucus the color of used motor oil that I won't bore you with. So long story short, I'm on antibiotics now and starting to feel better so thanks for asking. And now, without further adieu, let's get this blasted black hills trip over with...

The Black Hills Trip - The Final Days

So I got back to Denver in the evening and we went and got dinner at Illegal Pete's while Rose put the kids to bed. The next morning we would leave for the North Country once again. The good thing about my getting to explore the area first is that I was able to filter out the dumber stuff and get the fam straight to the good stuff, which of course is a huge priority when traveling with 4 very patient bundles of joy. It was also good because D & R are the kind of people that don't really mind not knowing exactly where they're going so I got to surprise them with stuff. I like surprising people. After a donut breakfast we hit the road. I went a little different path this time because there was a stop I wasn't able to hit the first time that I knew everyone would like... Carhenge! Basically a bunch of old American-made cars stuck in the ground to resemble Stonehenge in England. This place is in the middle of Nowhere, Nebraska and was without question one of the coldest stops we would make. All in all though, well worth the drive and definitely worthy of a revisit on some warmer day.

Inspired by the cars we got back on the road and continued on our way. I just realized we didn't really do anything else that day. Other than drive I mean. And stop at playgrounds. And McDonald's. You may be surprised to learn that traveling with 4 kids, as opposed to solo, is a little different. That night we stayed in Hot Springs, SD and prepared for the next big day. (I know there is probably stuff I'm leaving out but Rose already blogged on all this so why repeat it all? And I'm getting tired so I'm gonna' start speeding things up here)

The next day we awoke to clear skies and a bit warmer temps. We drove up through Custer for coffee then went for a "hike" around Sylvan Lake. A really pretty spot. That wore the kids out a little and we drove on to Mt. Rushmore. After a museum visit and a decent lunch we loaded up and continued up to spend the night in infamous Deadwood, SD.

Deadwood is a really touristy "Old West" town based on the popular HBO series and built entirely around a somewhat disturbing preoccupation with Wild Bill Hickock. It's also where gambling is legal so all the old buildings have been turned into Vegas style mini-casinos. It actually is a pretty cool town with alot of history and some really great buildings. We stayed at the Hampton Inn which was a very nice place and allowed the fam to get a larger suite. After the buffet we said good night and I took a walk downtown. One of the casinos has an exhibit with one of the real Magnum P.I. Ferraris and Herbie! Two of my favorite cars growing up. They also had a 007 Aston Martin, a Jeep from MASH and the sweet Trans Am from Smokey and the Bandit. And you can see it all for free! Definitely a trip highlight.

Ferrari 308

Herbie

So the next day was pretty much just a mad dash for home. No major stops. Very few pics. I can tell you though that there is not one freakin' Mcdonald's between Deadwood and Denver that has a playland. How stupid is that? We drove the whole 9 or so hours and Uncle Tim started to get a little cranky, but we made it back to Denver in one piece. The next morning I was at DIA by 7 and on my way home for a nap. All in all, it was a good trip and I'm grateful I got to see alot of new things. And, although they all had their moments, the kids really weren't that bad. Ok thanks, good night. (anti-climactic?)

The Black Hills Trip, Day 5

2006-12-31T10:06:00.000-08:00

So I left Cheyenne in the morning and started south towards Denver. It's only a few hour drive and I wasn't due until the evening so I made a little detour up to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park.

front gate

some of the higher peaks

elk

snowy trees

Up Next...
Travelling with the Starr family.

Benny Hinn - Let The Bodies Hit The Floor

2006-12-30T22:36:00.000-08:00

I know this video is already on the aaron and brad blogs. This was just a test to see if I could learn how to put video on mine.
On one hand the video is very very funny.
On the other hand the video is very very disturbing in light of the fact that these people are being deceived by a weirdo.
Millstone (Matthew 18:6)

The Black Hills Trip, Day 4 continued

2006-12-25T21:06:00.000-08:00

So Day 4 was a long driving day. All in all about 7,000 miles. I left the highpoint and headed southwest. Next stop: Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming. I used some of the lesser highways and ended up cutting the corner of Montana through some really beautiful ranch land. Lots of wildlife including some deer and antelope that were playing, cows and even a red fox. Also an old church with nothing around for miles. It was a nice drive. Anyway, got to Devils Tower and walked around it. Very, very cool. And even though the weather wasn't that great there were still climbers on it. It would be really cool to climb. If I knew how. I continued driving as the weather got worse and it began to snow a little. I really like weather. Probably because I'm not used to it. Spent the night in Cheyenne and headed back towards Denver the next day. (and I realize some of the pictures are crooked but I don't feel like editing them so cry me a river and get used to it heckler)

The church in the middle of nowhere.

Devils Tower. You can just make out a climber middle left (white helmet) and a few more near the top.

The base.

The drive to Cheyenne.

Cheyenne at night.

Random Pics 3

2006-12-21T20:22:00.000-08:00

Happy first day of Winter! Here's a few random winter pics until I have time to continue with the Black Hills saga.

The San Jacinto mountains last winter.

The Palomar Observatory last week.

Icy branches on Palomar Mountain.

The Black Hills Trip, Day 4

2006-12-16T11:55:00.000-08:00

This was another very long, but very exciting day. I was off to the highpoint of North Dakota, White Butte at 3,506'. It's actually on private property but the owner allows passage for a little donation. The hike itself is really more of a casual walk with a few steep parts. Only about 2mile roundtrip. The view is incredible.

The Approach

Looking down at the truck from the summit.

On the summit. It was very quiet, very peaceful and very cold.
Hightpoint #9, only 41 left!

The Black Hills Trip, Day 3 continued

2006-12-16T11:11:00.000-08:00

So after my great hike I got back on the road. As usual on my trips, I had more goals than time and I needed to make it to North Dakota for the night. My next goal was, of course, ND's highpoint. I made a few more stops that day as I drove out of the Black Hills and into Rapid City (Taco Bell!!!), up through Sturgis, then back into the wide open Great Plains for the long drive to Bowman, ND. One of these stops was the Geographical Center of the 50 states which is about 32 miles north of nowhere and dramatically marked with a barely discernable red stick in the ground. It was definitely worth the extra 45 or so miles of dirt road travel. So I made it into ND after dark had a great nights sleep and awoke early to tackle the final "peak". Here's a few boring pics from the rest of Day 3. I'll start another post for Day 4.

The Geographical Center. You can just make out the red stick in the distance.

The National Cemetery north of Rapid City.

Not the least bit tired.

My Last Dramatic Performance

2006-12-15T07:36:00.000-08:00

So in the last play I was in I cussed in front of the whole church.

It was maybe 6th grade or so and Desi and I and a few other friends got stuck in an "outreach" drama play musical thing called "Crisis at the Crossroads". It was through some community theater group and we would go to various churches and youth groups to perform. Now I am naturally not a performer. I'm not now and I really wasn't then. I'm not sure why I was involved in this other than because I was a follower and Desi was doing it. Anyway, the setting of the play is at the gates of Heaven. Saint Peter sits there with Guard Angels around him and various people walk up and try to gain entrance into Heaven. I was a Guard Angel (which was ironic considering the Guard Angels were supposed to be tough and I was the skinniest one there and it probably looked kinda funny to see a kid with Gandhi arms sticking out from the billowy white robe trying to be tough). So I was a Guard Angel. Desi was a rich man who approaches the gates with his trophy wife and daughter and offers Peter money to get in. I think he actually said "look at me, I'm loaded" as he holds up a wad of cash. He doesn't get in and I forcefully lead him off stage to Hell. So anyway at the end of the play the other Guard Angel and I would dramatically quote some verses from Revelation and the lights would dim. On this particular day we were performing at a local churches special all-day Saturday "we're gonna take this valley for Christ so we need to get the kids pumped up with drama and music" youth jamboree spectacular revival things. You know, where the kids come in and listen to music and special guests and get worked into an emotional frenzy and then make pledges that will never be kept but it makes the adults feel good about doing something for the Kingdom. One of those things. Anyway, shortly before we are to perform I find out that the other Guard Angel is sick and that now I not only have to dramatically quote my verse but then his verse too! Now this wouldn't have been a problem had I a little time to memorize the line. But no, we're on in 10 minutes. So everything goes fine with the play. Desi still ends up in Hell but we get to hear an excellent Christianized version of Whitney Houston's "The Greatest Love Of All". Now it's my turn. I say my own line without a problem. I pause. I began his line. I get maybe 4 words into it. My mind goes blank. Completely blank. And what's the only thing I have the presence of mind to say into the microphone in front of God and those eager youth? "Oh crap''. Yep, I said the word "crap" from the pulpit. Can it get any worse? I obviously was very embarrassed but I didn't realize the gravity of the situation until after the play was over and the director came up to me and said these exact words: "Tim, I didn't know you cussed". I didn't know I did either. But she told me I did and she also gave me the distinct impression that I completely ruined the entire play with my faux pau. The souls that had planned on getting saved that afternoon were now lost... So, I'm pretty sure that was the last time I was in a play. Not that plays are bad. If there is anyone out there who is currently in a play I'm sure you'll do fine : ) My only bit of advice for you is this: if you happen to forget a line, don't say crap.

The Black Hills Trip, Day 3

2006-12-14T21:55:00.000-08:00

So today I had a goal. The highest point in South Dakota is Harney Peak at 7,242'. The hike itself was nothing major. Including a few side trips it was only about 10 miles round trip with an elevation gain of roughly 1,600'. This was seriously one of the most awesome hikes I've ever done. I honestly didn't do much research on the trip so I really didn't know what to expect. But what I found was sooooo beautiful. The peak has an old stone lookout tower that just made the summit all the better. This section of the Black Hills is basically just several huge, distinct piles of granite and Harney Peak is the highest. Trivia: Harney Peak is the highest peak east of the Rockies on mainland North America. Other highlights are the Cathedral Spires and Little Devils Tower. Pics below:

The road to the trailhead (the Needles Highway)

Harney Peak from the summit of Little Devils Tower.

Cathedral Spires from the summit of Little Devils Tower.

Approaching the summit.

The view from inside the tower.

Highpoint #8

The Black Hills Trip, Day 2 continued

2006-12-12T11:30:00.000-08:00

So after my spelunking adventure I continued north, deeper into the Black Hills. I think it was around this time that I stopped at a little restaurant in Custer and had the best buffalo burger ever. Next stop was the Crazyhorse Memorial. It is basically a gigantic rock sculpture that was started in 1948 and is expected to be completed sometime in 2237. Seriously, it was started 50+ years ago and they don't even have the head done yet. And they expect to do a horse too?! It probably didn't help that the first couple decades only one guy worked on it. Anyway, if you go, your $10 per person (or $20 per car) will get you unlimited top-notch VIP access to the exclusive, highly sought after... Gift Shop! The only other way to see the blasted thing any closer is to pay more money and take a bus up a road. Of course the road is only a couple hundred yards long so the view isn't that much better. So anyway, I left the Crazyhorse Memorial feeling thoroughly ripped off. Here's some pics:

So, with the light beginning to fade I rushed on to Mt. Rushmore (ha). Unfortunately it was getting late in the day so the pics didn't come out all that great. I'll post more when I post about my return with D & R a few days later.

The road to Mt. Rushmore has several tunnels that were purposely cut so as to frame the mountain as you drive towards it.

That night I slept in the truck on the side of a road and dreamed about the next days big hike...

Really Quick...

2006-12-11T22:03:00.000-08:00

Got off a 48 this morning and decided I needed to relax a little. So I went exploring out in the desert. I found a really cool slot canyon and went for a bit of a walk.

The Black Hills Trip, Day 2

2006-12-11T19:37:00.000-08:00

Have you ever seen "Calamity Jane" with Doris Day? She sings a song about the Black Hills and that's what was in my head when I awoke on day 2. It's a great song but I only know the chorus and after you sing it in your head 37,000 times it gets a little annoying. I left Hot Springs enroute to my first big stop: Wind Cave National Park. It's called Wind Cave because the first natural opening was discovered by a guy whose hat was blown off when he stuck his head over the hole. The natural entrance is just big enough for a person to squeeze through and you can feel a cool breeze coming out of it. Now the cave is accessed through a revolving door and down 300 stairs. Wind Cave is currently the worlds 4th longest at over 121 miles but that number constantly gets bigger with ongoing explorations. The only way to get in the cave is on a tour. Here are some Wind Cave pics:

My ideal vacation home.

Coming Soon... the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mt. Rushmore

The Black Hills Trip, Day 1

2006-12-08T16:24:00.000-08:00

Long story short: In early October I took a road trip. Like most single bachelors my age I decided to go where the action is: South Dakota! This trip also doubled as a visit with desi and rose and the kids. I flew into Denver, rented a big Suburban (free upgrades are great) and headed North. A few of my destinations included: the highest points in Nebraska/SDakota/NDakota, the Black Hills with Mt. Rushmore, Wind Cave NP, Deadwood, Custer, Devils Tower and numerous other highlights. Basically what happened is I drove around for a week or so and saw what I wanted to see, then I drove back to Denver, picked up the Starr fam and drove back to the North and showed them some of the most interesting places. I just realized that this blog might end up being long so I'll divide it into several parts. Anyway, here it goes starting with day one. These first photos really aren't that exciting because, let's face it, Nebraska really isn't that exciting.

Here is the obligatory photo of my rental. Nice huh?

Welcome to Nebraska (notice the bullet holes in the sign).

Panorama Point 5424', Nebraska's highest point.

The Great Plains, the incredible vista from the highpoint.

Scotts Bluff NM is a place I had always wanted to visit because I remember reading about it in a travel book when I was a kid. A little disappointing. It's basically just a hill in the middle of the Plains. I'm not sure how it attained NM status.

Here is where I ate dinner in Hot Springs, SD. It was an old 19th century that's converted into a bed and breakfast with a little trendy restaurant and coffee house downstairs. I ordered the portebello mushroom burger which I assumed would be beef with mushrooms on it only to find out that the burger itself was actually a huge slimy mushroom. It wasn't terrible, but I didn't finish it... Anyway, it was a cool little place that I'd like to return to one day.

Bad Tired and Good Tired

2006-12-06T13:27:00.000-08:00

So regarding my work there are two types of tired: Bad Tired and Good Tired. I'll address Bad Tired first because, unfortunately, that is the most common. Bad Tired is what happens after you wake up at midnight for a lady who has been "feeling weak" for FOUR DAYS and gosh darn-it it just won't go away so I think I'll call 911. Or the supposed man who says he has had a headache for a full hour now so he tells his wife to call 911 because the Advil doesn't seem to be working fast enough. Or the woman who called 911 at 2:30AM because she was barefoot in her yard and she thinks she cut her toe on a sprinkler head and then you look at her toe and she has ABSOLUTELY NO OBVIOUS OR PALPABLE SIGNS OF TRAUMA and then you look at her and say "you seriously want to go to the hospital?" and she, of course, says "yes" and you roll your eyes and take her on a $600 ride at taxpayer expense. The examples are endless. And yes these all happened, and continue to happen, every day and night. The point is: these are examples of things that bring about Bad Tired. Bad Tired is the tired you get when you have to wake up for a stupid reason. Now the antithesis of Bad Tired is, of course, Good Tired. Good Tired is what you get when you wake up for a perfectly good reason. For example, waking up at 1:58 this morning to be first in on a working commercial structure fire with flames shooting out through the roof. That results in Good Tired. It was a donut shop. Once we got inside the windows began popping out providing good ventilation and the fire was out quickly. But there's something about having flames rolling over your head...
Here are a few pics that our EMT took. Sorry they're a little blurry. And crooked.

These first 3 shots are of the second-in engine preparing to enter with a back-up hose line. We are already inside.

Dan doing his engineer thing.

Cutting the back door.

Exciting!

2006-12-04T21:05:00.000-08:00

So... today was exciting. I went to the dentist and got a filling! Then I went to the chiropractor and got my back cracked! Then I went to the masseuse and got masseused! Then I did some chores around the house! Then I took photos of Keith and Lori and Eli! Then I played cards with the Starrs! Then I came home! You can tell how exciting my day was by the persistent use of exclamation points! A good exclamation point can accentuate the excitement of any topic! Here are a few completely random pics!

With Hannah near Sedona, AZ!

A bird on the summit of Mt. Whitney!

Hermits Rest at the Grand Canyon in January '04!

Road kill in the Mojave Desert near the Providence Mountains!

A salt farm in the Mojave Desert near Amboy Crater!

With Emma on 16th Street!

Texas

2006-12-03T07:17:00.000-08:00

So here are some pics from my most recent trip to the seemingly endless state of Texas. I have an aunt and cousin in Fort Worth and my grandparents are in good ol' Texarkana. My parents and I drove out for Thanksgiving and also for my cousins wedding. 1571 miles one way and we drove straight through both ways. Oh yeah, it's a long drive.

Grandma and Grandpa's House

A typical scene. My family has some excellent cooks.

Cousin Chris and his new lady, Leslie.

The fam (not sure what the grandmas are looking at).

At The Firehouse

2006-12-02T12:58:00.000-08:00

Recently my sisters brought the nephews and niece for a visit at the firehouse. My buddy Mitch took them for a ride in the fire engine and mom got to sit in the captains seat.

Random Pics 2

2006-11-08T15:40:00.000-08:00

A High Sierra lake

Desi teaching Owen that when you pump gas you don't want to park to far away because the hose just might not reach

In the White Mountains, Eastern California at ~12,000'

Oklahoma City National Memorial - the time the bomb went off

A church top in Denver

Some Random Pics

2006-11-03T13:44:00.000-08:00

My truck at White Sands National Monument, New Mexico

Arizona sky

A church in Cheyenne, Wyoming

My mom, David and I on the Log Ride, Knotts Berry Farm

Desi's scooter when it was still working
(I got like 3 feet of air that time)

I like my job

2006-10-27T11:29:00.000-07:00

So i worked emergency callback yesterday because we sent a strike team up to the esparanza fire. We were actually next up to be sent to that fire but we never got assigned (long story). Anyway, i was a little bummed because i still haven't been able to go out on a strike team yet and we were so close to going on this one. Oh well. The good news is that instead of wildfire i got to be involved in fighting 2 commercial fires. The bad news is that i fell through a hole in the floor and sprained my ankle but that's another story. Here are some pics from the bigger fire. It was around 1:30 this morning. A commercial building where they do chrome plating and stuff. Lots of hazardous materials in the building so we didn't go inside. Fun nonetheless... That's me in the middle pic pulling hose.

Mt. Rushmore

2006-10-19T13:07:00.000-07:00

So here are some pics from Mt. Rushmore last week... I went exploring in the Black Hills of South Dakota for a little while. It was nice.
I beat you Rose...

Mt. Muir 8/5/06

2006-10-15T16:29:00.000-07:00

giving it a try...

2006-10-15T15:24:00.001-07:00

i'm going to try to become a blogger. i don't know what i'll say. it may end up being alot of pictures. we'll see how it goes...

2006-10-15T15:17:00.000-07:00