I’ve been back from the lake for a few days now and it still feels like I am there. My clothes still smell of campfire smoke, my boots show the scorch marks from a small grass fire, the sound of the waves are still in my ears and I’ve got this contented smile on my face. We kept our lake tradition this past weekend of leaving behind a little more than we brought. The casualties from the brutal wind were one tent and one screen house. In blatant disregard of the burn ban, we started a campfire which quickly grew into a small grass fire that consumed a quarter acre of the campsite and one small tree. During the frivolity, a camp chair was broken and then sacrificed on an open flame along with a pair of Will’s Nikes. As I watched the shoes burn, I thought to myself “from ash we cometh and to ash we returneth, and in between we hold the sweaty feet of strangers.”
It was a learning trip. I learned that a 60 mile per hour wind snaps fiberglass tent poles like matchsticks. I learned that a camp fire can melt metal. I learned that its not the size of the tent, its how you use it. I learned that I have a “strange snoring pattern”. I learned that dry grass, when propelled by high wind, will burn at the speed of sound. I learned that while the dry grass burns at the speed of sound, your friend’s inaction should be not attributed to shock or fear, but to a pause for thought while he considers his “inventory of available options”. I learned that it is possible for it be seventy degrees at 8 AM with thunderstorms and twenty degrees at 8 PM. I also learned that the frost point for snot, in one’s own nose, is also twenty degrees. I learned that while cooking hotdogs over an open campfire, the term “wiener roast” can take an extremely painful and literal meaning. I also learned that the term “fire crotch” doesn’t necessarily refer to Lindsay Lohan. I learned what burnt pubic hair smells like.
When I’m at the Lake, I always try to plan for the next one. I want each experience to be better than the one before. Here a few tips as a reminder to myself, and you gentle reader, for a better camping trip:
(1.) If one intends to bring canned food, bring a can opener. This helpful tool will make camping life easier. There is no fun in breaking into a can of baked beans with a butter knife and mallet, and another note, repeatedly throwing that can against a tree or attempting to break it open against a cast iron skillet like an egg doesn’t work either. Bring a fire extinguisher. Fire is an ever present danger on the camp site, particularly when you leave a juvenile delinquent in charge of said fire.
(2.) Bring rope, duct tape and every tent you’ve ever owned. In the event of a wind related malfunction, it is possible to mix and match the poles, the wind flaps, the stakes and even the tents themselves into one gigantic nylon disaster that I have dubbed the “frankentent”. (Copyright and Patent Pending).
(3.) If only two people camp for one night, don’t bring food for twenty people camping for a week. This invites waste and over-indulgence. Do not assume that your party will eat for the entire trip and don’t assume that an entire battalion of paratroopers will land on your camp site and ask for cheeseburgers.
.
On a serious note, it was a great trip. We sat around a hot camp fire and talked about our big plans as we looked into a moonless sky that reminded us just how small we really are. We should be reminded of that from time to time. Man has a tendency to build its problems into things which appear much bigger than they really are. We attach great importance to trivial matters which are best left to fools even at the expense of what really matters. The lake is a centering experience. The lake doesn’t care how much money you have or how important you think you are. It laughs at life’s problems by making you work for the basics of heat and shelter. There is no time to worry about your mortgage or your portfolio or your job. The lake is rewarding because it presents small problems that I can solve in a matter of minutes. If I am cold, I build a fire, if I need shelter, I erect a tent, several tents in our case. Finally, the lake gives me a chance to take pause and reflect on where I’ve been and where I’ll go next. The lake encourages introspection and awe. Each time I sit on those shores and look at the beauty of those stars, they seem to wink at me as if to say, we know, we’ve been watching you every day and we knew you’d be back. And each year I come back, if just for one night, and am better for the experience. A simple experience, of good conversation, a camp fire, one bottle, two cups and one of the best friends I’ve ever had. I can’t wait to do it again!
Trialdawg.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Hawaii...
Wasn't a paradise today back in 1941. I've thought about Arizona, Oklahoma and Pearl Harbor all day long. The last time I checked, 2008 was included in infamy.
Trialdawg.
Trialdawg.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Now Let's Talk Football
Ok, I have heard the shouts of Texas fans all week long. Both in person and in every available media. I get it, you’re upset and you have every right to be. But, I do have one quibble with your logic, and I think that is a strong term to use in such a convoluted situation that is college football. Your claim that Texas should be in the Big XII Championship because they beat Oklahoma is well taken, but with one exception. The college football rankings are a weekly affair. They are a snapshot each week of which team is best. In October of this year, your team was better. Your team was ranked ahead of the University of Oklahoma and every other team in the land. The problem is, we don’t decide who plays in the Championship based on how good a football team is in October, but in December. Oklahoma righteously redeemed their season in November while Texas stumbled. And not be unkind, but Texas always stumbles down the stretch, including the previous two years to Texas A&M. One week does not a season make. The final rankings are what count, not the first ones, just ask Georgia and not the ones mid-season, just ask us, but right now, we’re the better team.
Now that I’ve dispensed with that foolishness, here are my predictions for today and next week.
Florida will beat Alabama and here is why. Alabama has a great defense, one of the best in the country. Florida also has a great defense, but has an offense to match. Furthermore, Florida has as good a scoring defense as good as Alabama’s. Therefore, I give Florida the edge.
Oklahoma will beat Missouri. I am not exactly going out on a limb here. Oklahoma has a powerhouse offense that can pass the ball. Missouri is terrible against the pass. This is based on their lack of a pass rush. Oklahoma has an offensive line, led by Loadholt, that should blow holes in the line which will mean we can run the ball as well. Edge, Oklahoma.
Oklahoma and Florida will play for the National Championship which will be a fantastic game. Oklahoma had better come prepared, if our defense doesn’t come to play, we’ll be in big trouble. Remember kids, defense wins championships!
Sam Bradford will win the Heisman Trophy. Colt McCoy will finish second and Tim Tebow will finish third.
Texas will play Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl. Texas will mop the flubber with the Buckeyes. The AP poll may vote Texas Number 1 in the final poll.
Regardless of how any of this plays out, it will be awfully fun to watch. I can’t wait for bowl season!
Trialdawg.
Now that I’ve dispensed with that foolishness, here are my predictions for today and next week.
Florida will beat Alabama and here is why. Alabama has a great defense, one of the best in the country. Florida also has a great defense, but has an offense to match. Furthermore, Florida has as good a scoring defense as good as Alabama’s. Therefore, I give Florida the edge.
Oklahoma will beat Missouri. I am not exactly going out on a limb here. Oklahoma has a powerhouse offense that can pass the ball. Missouri is terrible against the pass. This is based on their lack of a pass rush. Oklahoma has an offensive line, led by Loadholt, that should blow holes in the line which will mean we can run the ball as well. Edge, Oklahoma.
Oklahoma and Florida will play for the National Championship which will be a fantastic game. Oklahoma had better come prepared, if our defense doesn’t come to play, we’ll be in big trouble. Remember kids, defense wins championships!
Sam Bradford will win the Heisman Trophy. Colt McCoy will finish second and Tim Tebow will finish third.
Texas will play Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl. Texas will mop the flubber with the Buckeyes. The AP poll may vote Texas Number 1 in the final poll.
Regardless of how any of this plays out, it will be awfully fun to watch. I can’t wait for bowl season!
Trialdawg.
Email and Economics
I spent Friday sick in bed, but through the haze of Nyquil, I got to watch a large portion of the automakers’ second day of testimony on the hill. I was annoyed by what I heard, and by the fact that they pre-empted the most interesting testimony for a thirty minute sentencing hearing for O.J. Simpson. After ten minutes of that banality, I turned it over to Cspan and resumed the hearings. After I finished, I started work on an email that I sent to several Legislators. I have attached part of the email.
Dear Sirs:
I have a few comments on the present debate regarding the proposed automotive bailout. I’ve just finished watching the second day of testimony by the Chief Executive Officers from Ford Motor Company, General Motors and Chrysler. I am left with but one conclusion. There is a reason that Congressmen are in Congress rather than running a business somewhere. None of you have the first clue about running a business or macroeconomics for that matter. I am convinced that Congress’ involvement in this affair is going to kill the auto industry and here is why.
The Misunderstanding
1.) Your body fundamentally misunderstands the root cause of the problem. It isn’t that no one wants to buy new cars anymore. It isn’t that people can’t afford new cars anymore. Most folks pay off a car, and trade it in and start paying for another one. The monthly payments are very close to what they’ve been paying all along, but perhaps for a longer term. The problem is that banks stopped lending to car buyers as they had in the past. If people can’t get the financing to buy a new car, they can’t buy a new car and all of those shiny cars and trucks sit in the showrooms. Commissions aren’t paid, inventory swells and the demand for more inventory drops, which in turn, causes the automakers to cease production, which puts thousands of auto-workers on layoff. Right now is a great time to buy a vehicle, great deals are out there, if you have cash to buy. Most folks don’t.
2.) Because of this misunderstanding, Congress has attempted to tie financial bailout money to a promise that automakers will make more “fuel efficient” and more “eco-friendly” models. Cars are made to sell. As much as the population likes to talk about “going green”, individuals don’t want “green” cars. They are expensive, underpowered, undersized and difficult to refuel. Americans want big cars in which they can transport a family of five and feel safe. They do not want to be stuffed into an aluminum soda can with a top speed of 60 miles per hour. And while we’re on the subject, General Motors already has a Hybrid SUV from Cadillac and its sales numbers are abysmal because no one can afford them.
The Consequence
In essence, your body said to the automakers, we’ll give you the money, but only if you promise to build more fuel efficient and expensive vehicles that no one will buy and that no one can afford. I’ve always said that Congress should allow them to go bankrupt and then reorganize under that protection. Congress should give them a line of credit during that reorganization period. It worked for Delta and it worked for Chrysler over twenty years ago. In the meantime, we’ve already bailed out the banks, who haven’t released one red cent in the form of new loans to consumers. Your body should have put some conditions on that money, as in a certain percentage must be leant to consumers instead of being used at the bank's discretion. (A critical error on your part).
The Real Solution- Don’t put the Green Engine Before the Fuel
I think that what I’ve pointed out here is simple. I’ve always believed that in order for the economy to truly function, more folks from the middle class must have more discretionary income, and more access to credit. We need to keep inflation under control, and the chief thing we can do is curb this Country’s reliance on oil. We should be investing in wind farms to power entire cities. We should be converting fleet vehicles for cities and towns to burn ethanol and natural gas. This would cut our dependence on oil dramatically. Finally, set up fueling stations that can actually dispense the fuel that new “green cars” will run on. As our demand for oil goes down, so will the price of oil. Congress does have the right idea, but you are going about it backwards. Once more, you are going for the easy and politically popular option rather than the one that has a real, long lasting solution.
Respectfully,
Jason D. XXXXXXXXXXX.
We shall see if my missive helps. If it does, you will all owe me big time.
Trialdawg
Dear Sirs:
I have a few comments on the present debate regarding the proposed automotive bailout. I’ve just finished watching the second day of testimony by the Chief Executive Officers from Ford Motor Company, General Motors and Chrysler. I am left with but one conclusion. There is a reason that Congressmen are in Congress rather than running a business somewhere. None of you have the first clue about running a business or macroeconomics for that matter. I am convinced that Congress’ involvement in this affair is going to kill the auto industry and here is why.
The Misunderstanding
1.) Your body fundamentally misunderstands the root cause of the problem. It isn’t that no one wants to buy new cars anymore. It isn’t that people can’t afford new cars anymore. Most folks pay off a car, and trade it in and start paying for another one. The monthly payments are very close to what they’ve been paying all along, but perhaps for a longer term. The problem is that banks stopped lending to car buyers as they had in the past. If people can’t get the financing to buy a new car, they can’t buy a new car and all of those shiny cars and trucks sit in the showrooms. Commissions aren’t paid, inventory swells and the demand for more inventory drops, which in turn, causes the automakers to cease production, which puts thousands of auto-workers on layoff. Right now is a great time to buy a vehicle, great deals are out there, if you have cash to buy. Most folks don’t.
2.) Because of this misunderstanding, Congress has attempted to tie financial bailout money to a promise that automakers will make more “fuel efficient” and more “eco-friendly” models. Cars are made to sell. As much as the population likes to talk about “going green”, individuals don’t want “green” cars. They are expensive, underpowered, undersized and difficult to refuel. Americans want big cars in which they can transport a family of five and feel safe. They do not want to be stuffed into an aluminum soda can with a top speed of 60 miles per hour. And while we’re on the subject, General Motors already has a Hybrid SUV from Cadillac and its sales numbers are abysmal because no one can afford them.
The Consequence
In essence, your body said to the automakers, we’ll give you the money, but only if you promise to build more fuel efficient and expensive vehicles that no one will buy and that no one can afford. I’ve always said that Congress should allow them to go bankrupt and then reorganize under that protection. Congress should give them a line of credit during that reorganization period. It worked for Delta and it worked for Chrysler over twenty years ago. In the meantime, we’ve already bailed out the banks, who haven’t released one red cent in the form of new loans to consumers. Your body should have put some conditions on that money, as in a certain percentage must be leant to consumers instead of being used at the bank's discretion. (A critical error on your part).
The Real Solution- Don’t put the Green Engine Before the Fuel
I think that what I’ve pointed out here is simple. I’ve always believed that in order for the economy to truly function, more folks from the middle class must have more discretionary income, and more access to credit. We need to keep inflation under control, and the chief thing we can do is curb this Country’s reliance on oil. We should be investing in wind farms to power entire cities. We should be converting fleet vehicles for cities and towns to burn ethanol and natural gas. This would cut our dependence on oil dramatically. Finally, set up fueling stations that can actually dispense the fuel that new “green cars” will run on. As our demand for oil goes down, so will the price of oil. Congress does have the right idea, but you are going about it backwards. Once more, you are going for the easy and politically popular option rather than the one that has a real, long lasting solution.
Respectfully,
Jason D. XXXXXXXXXXX.
We shall see if my missive helps. If it does, you will all owe me big time.
Trialdawg
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