A tribute to: Love Your Legacy

Hiking news:  I was reminded of the Tahoe Rim Trail and the PCT recently.  I've still needs to get to 8 miles a day on a treadmill ... Dreams need to happen one at a time for me now. :)

It's looking like the AT Train Station, NY to the Delaware Water Gap idea is not as great an option after all.
I'll start in the South about the same time (Tax Day 2020) and walk North to the Roanoke area.  Arrive somewhere near the Wedding and then continue North after the wedding.

Self: Hey!  Nice to see you .... hear you walked into town just for the wedding. ???   
Self Response: Ah, Yep!   Walking out after too.
(the joys of self talk and entertainment).

There's a 200 mile section in Virginia that I've charted for over 7 years now.  I believe it's calling me to begin there and save some driving for later. 

Being 6 hours from that part vs. a couple of days makes logistical sense.    As for Maine back to Virginia, that will be interesting.  HYOY. :)

*******

Word
(Power) Detached

adjective

1. separate or disconnected.
2. 
   

(Force) Removed

verb

past tense: removed; past participle: removed

1. 1.

   take (something) away or off from the position occupied.

*******

Beautiful closure:  Thank you Rena.
Love Your Legacy

I'm finding blog pages that end. 
Chapters that have closed in my life.
People who deserve to be out of the lime light
or off the merry-go-round.  They "HAVE TO" let it go. 
While all an all, they "Get To" move on and forward.

My friend Rena did a very nice job in her final blog.
I was moved.
Knowing her only by group dinners, Body-for-life weekends, bowling three games in Knoxville TN, in friendly, family teams of 5 ... I can tell, it was from her heart. 
I learned to lighten up my competitive edge when having family fun time.  In all honesty, lighten up in any family time would be a start and I fully know that.

I have many reasons to continue doing what I do.
Detaching from some things and removing myself from others.

Music note: 
Singing and Git Fiddling are calling me.
Harmonica or Jew's Harp might be part of the tools I carry as well.

I'll be playing again to limber up the finger joints soon.
  
Just being the Odd American Dad.   Dodd.

*******

As for my Learjet experiences and future dream: Plane Rental

https://businessaircraft.bombardier.com/en/aircraft

They serviced a corporation or two that I was a part of at one time in life.  Other peoples corporations.
Only I can choose how much wealth is too much wealth and no one had to give me permission on how wealthy I can become. 
Same is true for all of us.
Rules will appear or stay the same when I finish my hike.
I desire to grow into the person I need to be to read and follow rules for my life's journey after.  

I trust everyone is doing that, following rules and playing within the guidelines along the way.  Expressing joy within the grey areas and loopholes that are always built in.

So for me, what is my Legacy?
Hopefully one that finishes in peaceful triumph.

Emerson writes: "Nothing can bring you peace but yourself."

and Author Unknown pens these words:

"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather skid in broadside, chocolate in one hand, red wine in the other, thoroughly used up, totally worn-out and loudly proclaiming.

WOW!  WHAT A RIDE!

I'll try to keep it between those two guardrails.
Peace and WOW!

Moving Forward.

~ Kindle

Everything was an Overhaul - tap tap tap :)

Hiking update: My hiking spreadsheet is starting to look like a Parcheesi Game board.

As long as it does not become the game of SORRY! :)

************

(My apologies if this picture cannot be seen or is in violation of some sort.  I'm just using it as an example of my dreams yet to be fulfilled)

Goals at end of Hike:    Be my own Boss. 
A Jim Rohn Type:  "Happy Taxpayer"
An American Entrepreneur: Keep everything legal, play by rules. 

Since I've looked into the eyes of a CFO before they became a business felon.  I've seen "the Look".  It's interesting for sure.
More on that later and maybe it will make sense.

I'm seeing it in some others though these days.
I'm selective and not exclusive today.

Words for the day:
(Power) Selective

adjective

1. relating to or involving the selection of the most suitable or best qualified.
2. 
   

(Force) Exclusive

adjective

1. 1.

   excluding or not admitting other things.

**********

Life and Heightened Awareness lately: I've noticed transitions.
From A School to B School to C School
Each was in transition into the computer age.
Everything I seemed to be stationed on was in Overhaul.
Awesome experience for a "fixer of things".
Electro-Mechanical Technician is the title I like to use but nothing was out of reach to learn by experience and cause.

Became a certified Crane Operator during my USN time to view life from my Dad's eyes.  He never wanted me to follow his example but to learn from it.

Apples to Trees, falling has to happen.   I guess the distance traveled can only happen if outside influence/others help or the hill is steep where the tree resides.

He was a Pro.  I dabbled just to get the view "from the Cat Bird Seat" and the life & material safety responsibility feeling he must have had.

My son respects the nature of work that I've performed.  He's had his fair share of "days on the floor" and "fun times" of certification.

With some vocations though come dangerously humorous moments.

"Tap tap tap" was one for me and I'll share it here.  It's lengthy.

*********

Place yourself in a control room.  Any one. 
Chemical Plant, Paper Mill, Co-gen Facility, Boiler Room ...
Now in that room was generally "Favorite" screens built to show what ever process you desire to "monitor" and I use the word loosely cuz the "system" does a very good job of keeping most things out of chaos when "Lightning" strikes.

I'll use that because it was a frequent "issue" for a Co-generation power facility built on the shores of Lake Ontario.

The "system" is designed to bring EVERYTHING to a safe handling point for inspection into "the cause" of the interruption.
Federal Law mandates a call ASAP to "the Grid" - status report.

I've not made those calls at THAT facility but I've been present when our "Smoke stack/Antenna for a Lightning Magnet" was hit twice when I was the Plant Electrician.

Lightning Shakes the building. 
Safety valves on the Heat Recovery Steam Generator lift.
Battery Power kicks in and everything gently mellows to a hissssss.
And that is where the tap tap tap story begins.

Safety Valves that needed commissioning.

My first power plant from dirt to full load.
High Pressure/Super Heated Steam Safety Relief Valves.
(I'll just say a Safety Check: @1975# lift)  
So: Control room screen says 1975# but no valve lift. 
Local is gauge is 1973# 
Commissioning Crew leader: then we "Tap Tap Tap"
Commissioning Crew agreed and ONE from the power plant "trainees" had to be on site to verify.  I got the short straw gig.

Walk to TOP of boiler at supposed 1975# (local 1973#).
Squatting next to Crew by the Safety Valve, he pulls out his 6" left handed adjustable metric Crescent hammer and hits the valve. 
Tap tap tap ... tap tap tap. 

Radio down: No lift.  Gord Head. Bump it up 1#

Radio up: Don't call me Gord Head.  1976 and holding.

Tap tap tap ... no lift. Local? 1974.

Radio down: No lift. Gord ..... steam  valve lifts 

Analog dead on.  Digital needed "tweaking"

Once the valve reset and our ears noticed a considerable difference in volume activity the Road Crew looks at me and says:
"Cool Huh?"

I nodded yes.  

We made it back to the Control Room to gather our next attempt.
Yep, the Control room Screen needs to match the valve and local gauge exactly at lift off.
Time to "bump it up" to limit and allow the "In House Technician" set the digital pressure to match lift off.

The technician had not had his fair share of beer that day and was shaking a bit.  That's my guess.
I went up with him to see if what I learned in Foxboro Contols School made sense in a live practical setting and not the classroom.

Tap tap tap did not need to be performed but making the screen in the control room be EXACTLY was performed on the fly to then be tested a third time with everyone in the control room as witness.

So, the rest of the story ... Our in house controls specialist did, with shaking hands, set the pressure switch to indicate exactly 1975# when the safety's lifted.

After the sound quieted the Second time for me, I looked him in the eyes and said: "Cool Huh?"
I can say his response was lets get down now!I cannot describe the feeling of a Super Heated Steam Vessel at 1975 psi deflating to a safer but still higher than normal operation pressure.  But I have experienced it twice.  It was Cool both times.
P.I.D. Controls 4-20ma 

Now for the rest of the story ... different story that I started with.
Since Rentway is no longer, what I share about "MY experience" is just that.  Mine.
Rent way was what it was.  A rent to own corporation.
My loving wife understood the corporate mail "system" as she was hired to handle weekly and daily corporate mail flow.

Sadly, the one that was trying to become the shark became the minnow, they were swallowed up by R.A.C.

I can say, my lear jet experience(s) were before the crash at the end of the corporate learning curve for their ... and I'll be kind ... Intelligence and Greed.  Telecommunication technicians are an awesome family.  Harley's. Fun and Laughs.

A Rented Corporate Lear Jet ride between Tampa and Erie altered my life one day. My second flight was the best though.

I will never have that look the CFO had when calculating a 1500 telecommunications (pre year 2000) store expansion into parts of the South, Midwest and EAST Coast during that flight to Erie.
Technology that was placed in service then is still being used today.
I do have one corporate partner in mind though in my future.
He was on the same flight as I.  My second, his first.
Thank you GTE (before they became Verizon).
The second time for me was just as nice as the first.
I could look my son in the eyes after the experience and say:
Cool Huh?

~ Kindle

Dust cloud behind an F-150 (an Ah Ha morning)

Today's post took longer to place out there cuz it is coming from my heart as I sit here today,
Thursday, November 7th, 2019 @ 13:53 if it matters.
(Posted at 16:42 or so - all's well fore and aft, stem to stern.)
Sound and Security Fresh Air Snipe from way back. lol :)

Words
(Power) Balanced

adjective

1. keeping or showing a balance; arranged in good proportions.

(Force) Extreme

adjective

1. 1.

   reaching a high or the highest degree; very great.

But before all that: Hiking blog housekeeping

Two Pictures, a verse and exact thought,  stop time and got my attention.  Some detail look time for me.

Took a deep look into each of their eyes. I made a vow to love them and thanked God for entrusting their care to me in being their Dodd, Friend, Hey! "who's the man in the Mirror?" look too. :)  

Numerology buffs: I actually noticed 3 tenths before the distance was achieved.
The time and cal burnt were as they appeared.  I just picked up the book I was reading cuz it was in a good stopping point & to stop walking.  lol  Triple 1 and Triple 5.  And a 15???  I'm very thankful for today's lesson.  :)


My walk today was stretched to 3.5 miles and I've yet to transpose the BioStrap to the iPhone app. 
I'm already planning my stealth use of "tronics" in the wilderness.
Albeit, I will use it every chance I can and be out of ear shot of others.  I want all who enter the wilderness to experience the wilderness.  Not a Appalachian Trail Video Game.  My adventure in video shared with my wife.  "Crikey! There's a Ruffled Grouse that just scared the shit out of me cuz I was watching the deer too closely!"

Also, as I saunter I will think fondly of all my fellow service women and men.  All walks of life and all titles within to include Army Sailors.  I didn't knew they existed until I was attached to a group for a bit in overhaul and shakedown.

Veterans day tribute is being (3 in the can) type of process for me.
I'm dozens of topics set for release day by day as I need to process but today was impromptu.  Like the Shakespearean performance of two of the best in our time as seen HERE.  Should be hopefully my last political thought on any of this Hindsight coming year for me.

I shared 2nd place in our hometown Shakespearean Festival.
Merchant of Venice.  A Street.  Act 1, Scene 2  I enjoyed drama and the stage.  Glad my whole family at one time enjoyed what it was like to be cast behind the curtain. 
Magic that cannot be explained from the viewers viewpoint.
Attica Central School Graduate. 
I took to the stage to help process being bussed out of school one day and then watch one of the 3 channels news to see why I had to stay home.   Yep, before google process there was newspapers and 3 channels.  Jeff Foxworthy got it right ... we're gonna miss Flipper cuz the Presidents on all 3 channels.

We'll settle on OUR format of communication and level of PACZ.ninja ingenuity. Find Me Spot or what ever is better to keep me tracked in the woods.  "Guinness" Pig human subject available for this sauntering experience.  (or is it Guinea?) I need logistics help!   (He smiles knowingly) :)
Transitions:  Wow.  Looking back, I've been blessed with being involved in one of the many transitions in life. 
Lately it's "Back off Boomer" or something like that.

I believe I left off with a Brooklyn greeting or send off. 
(I believe I've heard it expressed both ways).
Life viewed from the alleyways of this country and world are a little crude near the wharf.

As for the F-150, dust cloud behind title?
I had three passengers in my care the first time I drove at night down some back roads a drunk is advising you to drive down to get home.  It started in the city at closing time.  Responsibility for life.

(Picture Painting: I was the 16 year old)
16 yo w/ drivers permit can "legally" drive 3 others with drivers licenses "if" they are drunk law or guideline only if not caught?
2 vets, 1 disabled.  2 front seat with me, 1 in the bed with the tire seat.  Late November / Early December Lake Erie Snow Belt.
Piers to city apartments, then burbs to home after the sub-burbs.
All made it home safe. 
I learned that things don't just happen, things happen just.
Responsibility for life comes at a young age.  Been driving from age 12 on shorter trips when called upon.  About the time Ray Steven's "Gitarzan" was the rage on the juke box.  The other patrons chipped in to let me learn shuffle board bowling and before that, softball sized bowling machine as can be found in Vegas at the Pin Ball Museum.

I'm reading: for my own survival the code from what my older cousin taught me from his Purple Heart experience(s) from Nam.

#1 Know you enemy (or friend)

#2 Plan your escape

#3 Be familiar with your equipment

Sailors are easy to spot ... especially county boys trying to figure out some things and seems to always needing angelic support ... which was often and totally welcomed.

Thoughts of Vlog or YouTube or 'What not' is happening. (Being off line for these past several years has allowed a slow, calculated, younger viewpoint assistance if I am to become a better man at the end of this mountaintop and valley journey)

In it's time for sure, but for right now I need to stay close to my beliefs and within my freedoms control.  Build the foundation of my new core belief(s).  The Pixar movie did help. Inside Out. :)

Work and words on lines forgotten can still be found ... out there.
That's why I am ok with this format and my turtle like speed.
As I've been instructed: If you do not desire to read it in the next days news, refrain from posting. 

Got it and did.  I think I did at least.

I'm good with guidelines and will stay within my rights as a citizen of this AWESOME COUNTRY. 
As I've heard it said: "What a Country!!" ~ Smirnoff. 

More to follow as I loose some stories going forward.

~ Kindle McGuinness 
Gut to Glory tour! lol
Hindsight 2020 Ah Ha!
Adventure is Out There Red Balloon Yee Haw good time!

Love you all who care to follow along. 
I'm gonna do my best to be brighter and wiser and a bud.
Pass it to the left hand side always.  ;)

Right Place - wrong time, or was it an unplanned disturbance in the force?

Word
(Power) Accepting

verb

gerund or present participle: accepting

1. 1.

   consent to receive (a thing offered).
2. 
   

(Force) Rejecting

verb

gerund or present participle: rejecting

/rəˈjekt/

1. dismiss as inadequate, inappropriate, or not to one's taste.

******

Getting to the trail is an adventure in it's own self.
I guess the same could be said of life.  Some things are in our best interest to Accept and others we need to Reject.

Ever been somewhere you did not expect to be but was there?

Fate. Coinci-God-ly. Sucks to be me, type of thing? 
The President's office set up a short trip to KY that day I was set up with an appointment in the VA, in the morning. 
He can visit all he wants, it's his country too.  The VP seems to be here at least every month.  I find out by passing the news playing on the shit show tube. 
BTW: Dirctv is off - Working the Jar System.  :)

NFL is on my phone now!  Whoot!  Football on your phone! 
(the Manning commercial is what, 7  years old?)
Hey!  I'm catching up to the times, only 7 years back!

Heightened Awareness is a big issue REVEALED to me. 
Didn't realize it until I was in the middle of a drill of some sort recently.  Now that I can understand.  Buy why did I need to find this out during a "drill"?  29 years later?

Most of the ones "gleefully" participating in the drill were eager to be of service.  Hey, it's a big deal when the Commander in Chief shows up in your small town. 

Most were not born when I was involved in my unteenth one for service.  I'm getting older.  That was a cool experience though.

When drills are a part of your life for numerous years, one can sense the "Heightened Awareness" as others vibe it.

My Heightened Awareness needs to be tweaked a little.
"Monday" - that was an elevated comfort level.  I remained calm thru out but still pissed that my time was a little wasted cuz of it.

So, now that this "trinket" is known. 
I did not have to be at their morning brief.  Didn't care I can guess.
Yet still, a part of me was woke. Time to work on my focus then.

I'll soon have a different focus where I am at, which is everywhere.
Find a Chill-ville.  Saunter thru it with a smile and not a smirk.

Well, my new normal days have pain.  I can be grumpy. 
Rejecting that the pain is there, doesn't help.  Masking it does little good as I then over work or injure myself more.  Ain't happening again.  I'm on a lighter workout routine instead. Not popping pills.

Like right now, left side, C1 - eye migraine with the head ache.
Could be shingles too as it seems to appear after I get elevated.
Slept wrong.  Time to stretch and go mow for the last time this season.  I always enjoy the last mowing in November. 

Then this week will be:
Maintenance the machines and get ready for the Spring.
Should have to only mow twice before the hike.  Typical me.
Planning 2 seasons ahead.  Maybe I'm a farmer and didn't realize it.
Naw: 3M manager for too long. 
Planning seasons of work flow, 1 to 2 personnel not hundreds.

As for mowing in the Spring and Summer, might need to budget in a local grass cutting work crew.  

Waiting on the new rules to appear for the business season I will arrive in at the end of my hike.       Reading and following rules,
Adapt as the rules change, perform the changes.  Stay in compliance.  Teams of people making sure compliance is met.
Such a simple art form yet practiced by so few it seems.
Maybe the money then will trickle down ... some day ... somehow.

One other thing for sure: I'm accepting angelic protection, always!.

Iroquois Indians have a saying:

The Fish Rots from the Head First.

I'm trying to not fester, fester, fester, rot, rot, rot. 
Curmudgeon is not my first, last or middle name.  Self: Make it so.

********

LOOK AT THE BIRD!

********

Three little birds sat on our back feeder, told me that I don't need to worry.  The more I resist the change, the more I will stay the same.
As others would say: the kids are alright. Letter Be.
Walking feels GREAT!

Cool.   This Too Shall Pass.  Ok.  Go.
Don't let the domino you knock over, shoot you in the face. :)
Success happens with a shot to the face? 
I Don't know, I just like it.
68 million other people think something too.

WTF 2020!?  (Walking Thru Forests) soon. 
2020 Hindsight Journey.  (A True Blue Moon Year).
7 or 8 moons on the Appalachian Trail - (insert "cause" here)

Considering a some time near Tax Day Start and near or after Birthday / Election End.  What ever rules I'll need to follow starting in 2021 will be available for me to study with a clearer mind and a focus for our planet. Maybe even shave my head AFTER the wedding planned.  Gotta be mindful of the moment.

I trust to not have stepped on toes or upset anything in life. 
I'm just working through my lessons unaware of feelings and protocol lately.  Apparently it has a label and a Guideline book.  I'm now finding techniques for me.  Reading from beginning to end the first time. 

Jumping in the middle (trying to trouble shoot me like a circuit) I was and I Am encouraged to find out why. 
Both accounts and view points.
My research was "enlightening".
Highly Motivated somewhat Spiritual actually.

Starting to sound good to the point of feeling right.  For me.
No BS.  Just finally a life. 
This way I can fulfill a request from someone off the street:
"Fuck You! Get a life!"  Might have been a Brooklyn street.

~ Kindle

Election Day here in KY - Losing an ass

The words this Gubernatorial voting day:

(Power) Patriotic

adjective

1. having or expressing devotion to and vigorous support for one's country.

(Force) Nationalistic

adjective

1. having or expressing strong identification with one's own nation and vigorous support for its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations.

*********
A great day to vote.  May the best Goober win.

*********
Working out the logistics for my present body and it's frame.

I'm a Veteran.  Partially disabled from my service.
Fully disabled from doing meaningful work in my skilled profession(s).  Skills take many forms and it always sucks when taken away.

Been told by many that my choice of vocation should no longer be considered.  I finally agree.  I try from time to time to perform the tasks I used to perform and it just is painful.  I wore myself and my arms out.

Typing is beginning to become an issue so Voice to Text is my next "trial by fire" event to take on.  Throwing myself to the wolves.
(Actually, I'll read the manual .... it will get me close enough to fail)

We shall see how that goes. 
I'm confident that technology today is better than it was when I used to set up computer stations.
I'll figure something out and test it good before long.

*******

The I-95 song has been stuck on an endless loop lately.
the jukebox version:

August Campbell & The Spur Of The Moment Band - The I-95 Song (Stereo 45rpm)

Fits my mood for the moment of thought.

Going through some memories of the N-SSA and my Dad.
Flags and Bullets ...
Bar rooms and jukeboxes ... 
Alleyways and wisdom ...
How it all ties into the division of the day ... 
Solution seeking exercise by tossing things of no value or at least of perceived time period value ...

As for the stuck song;
I understand that if I play the Intel, 4 note jingle, the song will stop.

Interesting ...  It helped.

I-95 Song asks the Question:
Born or worked at it your whole life? 
Unwanted skills for sure ... Majoring in Minor things.
I guess it really doesn't matter ... 

Being "the rest of my life" is the change.
so: like doing 50 crunches before coffee was a daily change for the rest of my life, not being an a s s h o l e  daily would be a change for the rest of my life ...  Smart ass is part of that. 
No Ass would be best. 
I'm told that with the walking I've done so far, I've lost my ass so I am ass less.  That's close to no ass.

Be the change I desire to see.
The only one who can make the change
(to stop working at it) is me.

Moving forward ...  :)
 Ellipses. An ellipsis is a set of three periods ( . . . ) indicating an omission. 
Each period should have a single space on either side, even when adjacent to a ... smile.

Delaware Water Gap and a Wedding! Whooot!

I'm thankful that I've taken the days (weeks, months, years) it has taken to mentally read each turn on the trail from one end to the other,  twice recently and several times in the past.

I can see at least 3 to 5 more mental note trips will be just part of my pre-trail trial.
Found some type-o's and mis-hits. 
Bad and outdated false positives.
"i"s crossed where "t"s should have been dotted type of thing.

Woke up to smiles and Mister Rayyyy Monde..... Steee .... Vins songs playing in my head:

Well, when you get a haircut, you'd better go back home

When you get a haircut, get a barber you have known

Since you were a little bitty boy sittin' in a booster chair

'Cause you might look like Larry, Moe or Curly if a stranger cuts your hair

From the: I have returned album (1985) if wondering.
https://genius.com/Ray-stevens-the-haircut-song-lyrics

*********

Word
(Power) Significant

adjective

1. 1.

   sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention; noteworthy.

2. 
   

(Force) Important

adjective

1. of great significance or value; likely to have a profound effect on success, survival, or well-being.

*********

Back to Hiking:  Delaware Water Gap.

Of the 2,190 miles of trail, 28 miles are within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. 

Automobile from there to Roanoke : 6 h 12 min
(413.3 mi) via I-81 S

Stumbling upon a method I'm going to use while hiking, I'll have no fixed mileage for the first 15 days.  Go as I feel.  Trial before long term commitment.  Give the body a good go for it.  Shake Down Cruise.  Then dance, dance, dance.  Like Steve Miller the rock star - Fly like and Eagle. 

I have wrestled with this start as I'm not fearful of stopping but concerned about my "Snap Crackle Pop" noise maker body.
I can ease into it for two weeks and give an honest report to my family at my daughters birthday party.  I like parties with balloons.

As the universe would have it,
(and ifs you have been reading along, the universe conspires to do us all well),  my first "Life Plans to take me Off the Trail for Significant reasons" diversion happens.
All good and Co-inci-Godly, fir sure.

It's very important.  Not like a job interview important or a 60 minutes or Colbert taping important.    Family Important.

Birthdays and Weddings, I can think of few things more important.
My nephew is committing to Holy Friendship for Life with a woman who is going to be his best friend for a long time.

I'm happy for them both and honored that I can be there to witness the event.   Yep, they have what it takes, each other.

********

It will give me also a fair assessment of my body and the effects of the trail.  Prefect timing in a 2020 year, path back to happy taxpayer adventure.

My new found method allows for me to speed up or slow down my pace from 8 or less to 12 to 15 to 18 + mile days.  On the fly, each morning and as the conditions dictate. No Stress Hiking.
I should not miss Being There.  Like Chance: I like to watch but hiking is a participation sport.

Start Trip: Walk about 2 weeks with Zero's in the woods and Near-o's in towns along the way in the beginning.

Test "My Method", my body and my support team.
All of this will be a good test.

Getting a ride by a relative from somewhere along I-81 & back might be arranged easier as long as I agree to have a shower before the ride from the trail and that will be arranged. :)

Still, there's Greyhound and Amtrak or Enterprise Auto.
So many options and those first two weeks are quite a ways away.

All is well and moving forward.

~ Kindle

Sometime the end of April or Early May - I'll be near here, the Delaware Water Gap.

Even getting a ride to Java to help Mom git to the wedding if needed and then back out on the next run to NYC.
A week or so: figured in for fudge like events too.

I'm allowable and take it as it all happens.  :)

(Chicken, Grain, Fox, Farmer, Boat .... yep, kinda like that)

Row your boat, gently ..... merrily .... dream like.  lol

Picture below is a link and is from:https://www.nps.gov/dewa/planyourvisit/appalachian-nst.htm

Fixing a hole were the rain gets in, Fire in the same hole, scorching my edges

Words for my day:
(Power) Purposeful

adjective

1. having or showing determination or resolve.

(Force) Desirous

adjective

1. having or characterized by desire.

*********

I'm fixing a hole where the rain gets in.  It stops my mind from wandering .... where it will go.

*********

Ever been on the leading edge of a fire hose?

I guess that can be taken wrong.  Not getting hit with water but being the one controlling the waters flow and direction?

Just standing in a parking lot pressure testing lines or being 'slid' into the mouth of the inferno?   I have "LIVED" to do both.
Partially because I had Zero choice.  The Team picked me as #1.
I must have pissed off a lot of guys along my travels.  Well, in boot camp, inner rank complaints get dealt with group support.

I've done my share of MY OWN push ups till I puked in both the freshly cleaned group floor of a barracks & I've done my fair share for others, in the rain, on the grinder, in a low lying area of a parking lot near a (purposely?) plugged storm drain.
I know the drenched clothing helped with the added weight but the polyesters of the day (Flame retardant) did not breathe - and pass out was normal to witness.
Don't let your ship mates drown!  Don't let your ship mates drown!

I understand the moment was to impregnate the mantra or slogan we were supposed to accept and adopt.  Honor, Code, Brainwash.

Why do I write this?  Cuz it woke me this morning and I'm doing a dream blog of sorts to sort it all out.

42 years almost to the days I left the fields to be "sheep for slaughter" in the big cities of this world.  Chicago Airport, San Diego and TJ, Great Lakes, Norfolk, London, Amsterdam, the Isle of Wight and numerous ports of call in the Med and North Atlantic.

Alleys, homes of strangers, homes of relatives - great food!
(my friends were 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation immigrant young men).

We seemed to have one thing in common on that ship, we all flunked somewhere in the schooling process of the USN at the time. Even an ex-Navy Seal who almost finished.  A Flunkie.
Not me, a friend of mine who is passed. 
The son of an Ideal Toy Research and Development Engineer.
A bored young man who so happened to have trouble find him...
Me.  lol
To my friend and shipmate Mark Geddis.  Rest in Peace.  
You were a great man and I'm better having known you.

*******

The Nav does not toss out anything until it is used up, the "minions" were the same.  A line item statistic.  Place known types together and it "CAN" work.  Be sure to keep good records and weed out the bad apple before the whole barrel gets the rot.

I say: anyone becomes the average of the 5 they hang with.

By the neck or by the seat of their pants in a squirrel suit glider.  The 5 we hang with.
We all have and do influence each other. 
I trust your 5 are building you up and not taking you down.
I'm doin what I'm sayin and following my own advice too.

~ Kindle

 ******

Fire stories ... and fearless.

I must continue to share a realization,
I just realized thru writing this out, I wanted my fathers experience.  Wow.

He was a Volunteer Fireman - I just wanted to know how it must have felt to him to put out a fire for others.

He was a Crane Operator - I got certified in all things dock related to include being in the seat of "you hold more power in your hands now than your ass can pay for".  I've had moments his eyes have experienced and we could talk for a few moments about things he was not too proud of or cared to remember.

I also got to experience the spray of salt while working on a Weapon that was going through "Rock-n-Roll" good times. 
Un-charted Chaos. A little city in it's own self. Clicks. Mafioso.

Dad spoke to me of things to be aware of ... I just could not place the skills and information he spoke of into my being until the "people of the streets" learned me some.  I did not have to pass along the info to my Son, he learned in the back alleys of his journey.  Being close to home, it was semi-monitor-able as life bit him up some.

I know I shared some of my Dad's wisdom with my Daughter.
She has done her share of push ups in a mud hole, while sick.
She also got the Poor Person's University classes ... Military.

I'm proud of them both and of the mother who bore them into this realm.

We all understand being burned, stung and chomped on by the sharks, snakes and vipers.
Nuff said. 
Dad warned me and I caught on as quick as I needed to.
Hopefully those lessons will appear in fable like stories before they are gone to folklore.

Word.