Training Hike #4 Done

A short hike on a beautiful day to the junction of 8A and 8B in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve. 5.5 total miles and a handful of Captain Crunch. Only three weeks til the Grand Canyon backpacking trip! The process of gearing up has been the most challenging. We are finding some great new gear that is very tempting because of its light weight. So we're trading in some of our more ancient hiking gear for less weight and more comfort. Expensive but well worth it and this hobby is one of the few splurges we have. We'll take every advantage to extend our hiking careers.

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Hawaii Cruise 08

Hawaii Cruise Blog Day 1 12.23.08: Phoenix to LA We left a half an hour late from home, which isn’t bad considering our history with departure times. The drive to LA was reasonably uneventful except for a few close calls with delayed braking action. The Doubletree hotel in San Pedro was a nice stay and the price ($145 incl tax) through hotels.com was excellent. I recommend this hotel for a cruise departure. The Port of Los Angeles was different than I imagined. It wasn’t quite as gritty as I though it would be. It was very clean. The sailboats and motor yachts lined up in the slips were expensive and expansive. Day 2 12.24.08: All Aboard the Golden Princess The boarding procedure seemed less chaotic than when we did the cruise out of Brooklyn, NY. The bag drop off was very disorganized but the long term parking arrangement for our car was convenient. Inside the terminal the gate agents operated with the usual efficiency. We breezed through security a...

Here I Am

This song brings me peace. I wrote this during one of the tough days of parenting. I love my daughter and enjoy the many great days we have together (like the hugs I've been getting lately). Some days are hard though and when I face these challenging days and can't take another step, I find rest in the shade of this broom tree. Here I Am Written by Michael Shelton 7/20/07 Isaiah 43:2 NIV Here I am. My path has ended at this rocky shore I can’t see a single stepping stone The water’s rushing over all my hope Here I am. Here I stand Here I am. I need Your help to make the other side Lord; give me the will to press the fight You whisper “Just take one step at a time.” “Here I am. Take My hand; believe and you will see.” Chorus "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you…” Here I am. I’m only looking straight ahead at You. The crashing waves have faded from my view The things You said have all be...

Grateful for Today

I'm reading a book by Marcus Luttrell called Lone Survivor . I can only give it 3 of 5 stars because he uses lots of profanity and has Texas/George Bush idol worship going on which detracts from his otherwise excellent writing. However, I did find some excellent nuggets in the book. I enjoy books about the military especially about the elite special forces of the world. Luttrell was a U.S. Navy SEAL and his account of BUD/S is the best account of special ops training that I've read. I never had the privilege of being part of an elite special ops team like the SEAL, Beret, and Ranger soldiers that I've met but I wanted to very badly. Instead, my path led to some elite assignments in the army infantry and as an army helicopter pilot and I'm grateful for those days. Good times. Forever memories. Luttrell recounts his encounters with navy captain Joe Maquire, a decorated combat SEAL. Maquire's advice to the trainees ring true for me as the parent of a teenage...

Life Notes in the Margin

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