The Kindling Wood

It's time again for the office shuffle, and myself and some others will get packed up and moved to another location. Why? Man, we could not take Why.. We just know it is for the good of somebody, not sure who. I think about how I've gotten used to the current spot and what I will be giving up, and spend way too much time worrying about that. My brain is way too powerful for this kind of thinking, and then I finally start to get it..
This is the kindling wood for my brain. This is the time I spend on Craigslist looking at gear I don't need, the time I spend worrying about politics that I can't change, the time I spend worrying about futures that are out of my control. It's like some big fire in my head that sometimes goes low, and perhaps almost goes out when I watch too much television. It's building back up now, the thought of change and the possibility of losing some part of me that is important, and my mind resists, stoking that fire and then looking for the big cordwood, the big tough problems in life and family. It comes to me then that I am surrounded by great people and life is full and the fire is burning as high and as hot as ever. Christmas is coming, surfing is going great, and music is full of possibilities. The desk, the cube, the office life, well that is just a place to sit down and rest from the big important things. Besides, I already got the best words from a country song: it ain't like I've never been here before, I'm just here again...

Chillin' With The Boys

I finally ended up driving to the campground Saturday morning, cold and rainy the whole way, wondering what good could come of this. My brother and Dad were hanging out there already, most likely huddling around the heater in my Dad's old camper trailer. It looked like the whole weekend was a wipe and then it cleared up around noon. Then four of us went for a long hike around the park and during that time we found that my Dad had been just about any place in Florida that you could imagine. It turned out to be the perfect weekend to sit around the campfire and we did a whole lot of that. It's interesting how things change when there is no television, no internet and nothing much else to do. Of course, the one difference was that everyone had smartphones and even while having the old-fashioned fireside political talks, each of us was checking our email, so perhaps it was not quite like the good old days, but it was close enough!

The Next Adventure - Tomoka

Today I'm heading on another adventure after working a short day. My brother and I are heading up to Tomoka State Park, which is right on the salt water, near the ocean, but in the woods. It's definitely a Florida kind of spot, not at all pretending to be up in the mountains. We're meeting up with the guys in the extended family, or at least the ones that are still going after seeing the weather report. The weather this weekend is not for sissies, at least Florida sissies. Cold and rainy is the expectation and I think most of the guys have less than fond memories of our last trip, early on this year when it went into the 20 degree area. Yes sir, I should certainly find something to write about this weekend! But, hanging with the boys and being the voice of reason while I hear all about how Obama has messed it all up, that should be worth the price of admission alone...

Spending the Holidays in Florida

Even after a lifetime, Florida seems like a strange place in the wintertime. I went surfing last weekend and while the air was cold enough for a sweatshirt, the water was still 72 degrees, which felt like it was helping keep me warm.
This morning I went out for the paper and the air temp is in the 70's, almost muggy warm. That is supposed to change as I'm heading out on a camping trip in what might be cold, rainy weather.
I look around at the Christmas decorations and think I'm really going to need that Charlie Brown Christmas music to get things going. One year I bought that album with the Jazz piano group playing that song that they must really get sick of being asked to play. It's really odd that I love that whole package, the song and the little cartoon special. It seems so minimalist now, but the idea that I sat as a kid and watched a show about a kid being depressed at Christmas, makes me feel that even way back then we knew that we needed to get back to the spirit of things.
Charlie Brown had the snow and the ice skating, but even in Florida, without all those trappings, Florida, the land of the Christmas Palm tree, we still know what the celebration is really about.

Some Days You Need a Reason To Smile

I don't know why, bad dreams or what, but I just woke up with a frown on my face this morning and the thought "another day, another dollar". What I needed was something to pick me up. The newspaper isn't here yet, the coffee doesn't taste right and there were dirty dishes in the sink...but then I open up iPhoto and all is forgiven. If I ever wondered for a minute why I take so many pictures, I now know why. They always have the ability to put a smile on my face, and this one did it for me today. If you were missing that smile, I hope this shot helps you as well!

Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway

It's strange how we pick what we are afraid of. Like me, I'm scared to death of roller coasters and can't think of a single reason to get on one, but real life threats...well those things can be different......
My body stiffened as I listened to the words of my newly found friend. Was he kidding or was I getting ready to do something really foolish? I was kneeling down on the ground by my truck, waxing up the board I had just purchased from him. a 10'6" Mickey Munoz tuflite longboard, it was the monster longboard I always wanted to try. Perhaps this board contained the right amount of volume and curves to get me on the wave on some of the tough off-shore wind days. Today just happened to be one of those days and I had traveled 1 1/2 hours to meet him at a beach I never surf at. It was head-high and only a few guys were out. We stood there for a bit, debating going out here or driving an hour to a better spot. I just couldn't wait an hour and even though those waves out there were not inviting me to bring this huge log out and play with them, I just had to try it out then.
So, it was while I was waxing and getting pumped up about going out that I heard the words behind me: "My God, I don't think that guy even sees the shark in the face of that wave with him."
I sat back on my heels and thought, "It all boils down to if you feel lucky, punk."
I stood there for another 10 minutes and never saw a shark, went out and got stoked on two head-high waves and hauled ass back to shore...I can't really say why my heart was racing, but I gladly then drove an hour to another spot where they never heard of sharks.....

Finding Peace

"Because Daddy would rather spend it on his bimbo!"
Words overheard while working in the yard, wishing I had my iPod and was listening to some good tunes instead of the neighbors. It has been a real eye-opener, watching the woods around us turn into McMansions. Watching the dirt road get paved and then watching the parade of fancy cars for the big parties, and then watching the For Sale signs go up, soon becoming "Reduced" and "Pre-forclosure" and then finally hearing the arguing couples.
The downturn in the economy has been a favor to me, showing me what was real and what was pretend. My family, the mountains and the beach, those are all real and they stayed the same, regardless of how much money we have or things we possess. I've decided to invest in the one thing that matters besides that, and that is my health.
I said "Good Morning!" as I saw my neighbor walking her dog the other day and she just glared at me. I don't blame her, I just wish she could take a trip to the mountains...