End of an Era and a Dream

When I was a kid, I loved to read science fiction (still do) – Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clark, etc. – and my dreams were fueled by trips to the moon, trips to Mars, trips to the stars.

When I was in high school, I (and the whole nation) was thrilled by President Kennedy’s challenge to land a man on the moon by the end of the decade.  My childhood dreams were renewed and refueled.

I cheered and cried when our early astronauts broke new barriers or were killed in training situations.

On July 20, 1969, I sat in the wardroom of the USS WILLIAM H. STANDLEY (DLG-32) and watched man’s first step onto the moon.  We had just returned from Vietnam that day, Betty was in Nashville and pregnant with our first son, and I had the duty on board.  Those shaky black and white TV images stirred my soul again.

The space shuttle program brought a new reality to space travel, one that made sense.  Yet, in the early days of the shuttle program NASA was talking about the next big jump – a trip to Mars.  Boyhood dreams were going to come true.

Unfortunately, those dreams have been greatly dampened by the policy decisions of our current administration.  We no longer want to dream big.  We no longer want to follow the longing in the human soul to see what is around the next bend.

So, it was with sadness to watch the landing of the space shuttle Discovery today.  I believe there will be two more space shuttle missions before the program is completely shut down.  After that we will be earth bound, at least for a long while.

The Discovery spent more time in space than any other vehicle.  It will find its long term home in the Smithsonian Museum.

If you didn’t see it, here’s a video of a little bit of history – one that may signal the rapidly approaching end of an era of dreaming and exploration.

Monday Video–Twilight Landing in LA

I love to fly.  If I could have afforded it when I was younger I would have taken flying lessons to get my pilot’s license.  So, I love to watch flying videos.
Here’s a unique video of a plane making an approach into the LA area at twilight.  It’s a good overview of the city – they even name the areas you’re flying over.
If you’re a flying buff like me you’ll enjoy this.

Sunday Reflections–Ride to a Spot

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

We worked again with Maritsa and Evan yesterday.  After some initial ground work with the horses they mounted up bareback.  We took the out to the round pen, tied up the lead rope for reins and they rode around the pen again.  They did much better and are beginning to build some muscle memory in their hands, arms and feet.

They were doing well enough that I wanted to challenge them a little.  I picked a spot and told them to ride to that spot.  I told them to keep their eyes, mind, their whole focus on that spot and they were to get the horse to that spot no matter what happened.

The learning for them was that when you ride it’s important to know where you’re going.  It’s the difference between being a rider and being a passenger.  Horses know when your mind wanders and you lose your focus – you become a passenger.  When that happens they get antsy because they feel we’re not in charge.  They’re much happier when we’re a rider and keeping our mind and focus on where we’re going.

My life as a Christian is a lot like that.  As the writer of Hebrews says, we have a “race marked out for us.”  It’s important for me to keep my whole mind, heart and focus on the race marked out for me.  I have to throw off anything and everything that hinders me, causes me to lose my focus.  Sin is the biggest hindrance to staying on the race course.

Or, as we told the kids, God has laid out a spot for me and it’s my job to keep my focus and ride to that spot.

Friday Scary–Need to be Vigilant

No Friday funny today.  I studied Islam years ago and even read the Koran from beginning to end.  I was concerned then and I’m even more concerned now.  Check out this picture:

Yep, that’s the Statue of Liberty with a burkha on.  The picture comes from a web site I ran across today titled “Shariah 4 America.”  If you want to check it out, here’s the link:

http://shariah4america.com/NewYork/The-Islamic-Demolition-of-the-Statue-of-Liberty

Take a moment and read the text, but I have to point out the last two paragraphs:

Due to the scale of the task at hand, it is highly likely that rigorous safety checks will need to be employed before the demolition of the Statue of Liberty can commence; thus as a temporary measure, it is proposed that a large burkha is used to cover the statue, thereby shielding this horrendous eye sore from public view as well as sending a strong message to its French creators.

Post demolition, it is recommended that a minaret be built as a fitting replacement, allowing the glorification of God to be proclaimed daily as well as act as a powerful reminder of the superiority of Islam over all other ways of life. (Similar to the proposed mosque close to ground zero in New York – this is my addition).

I know some will just write this site off as a bunch of kooks, but I take it seriously.

Radical Islamists intend to spread Islam to the entire world, either through military conquest, terror, or through our politically correct tolerance.  They are commanded by the Koran to do so.

We need to be vigilant.

Touching–Portraits of the Fallen

While I’m getting my colonoscopy today I’ll share this video I ran across two days ago.  It’s touching to me for several reasons.  One, it’s about fallen servicemen whom I respect so much – and their families too.  Second, it’s about oil painting which I love to do and someday may get back to.  Finally, I love people who love what they do and you’ll see what I mean.

Hanky alert.

PS: I’m home and the initial visual results from my colonoscopy were all good.  There were a few small polyps that were removed and will be tested, but the doctor said it’s unlikely they will be cancerous because they were small.

Going Where No Man Has Gone Before

Tomorrow I’m having a colonoscopy.  In case you haven’t had that experience it’s when a camera crew takes a trip up into your colon to make sure everything is OK.

It has nothing to do with the prostate cancer, it’s a routine exam recommended every 10 years and I’m due.  In fact, it was originally scheduled for December 29 but I had to reschedule it because that’s when my prostate surgery was scheduled.

All of today I’m on a liquid diet.  Coffee and tea are OK, but no cream.  Jell-O, Popsicles and Gatorade are OK as long as they’re not red, purple or orange in color – not a favorite gastro color I guess.  And then there are those liquid diet favorites – beef and chicken broth – yum, that sets the saliva glands afire.

Then tonight I start that wonderful process of Spring cleaning.  For taste purposes I’ll leave it at that.

So, to keep my mind in a good place here is some colonoscopy humor (I apologize up front for being so crude) …

Supposedly, these are real comments made by colonoscopy patients (darn, all the good ones are taken)…

1. "Take it easy Doc, you're boldly going where no man has gone before!"
2. "Find Amelia Earhart yet?"
3. "Can you hear me NOW?"
4. "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?"
5. "You know in Arkansas we're now legally married."
6. "Any sign of the trapped miners Chief?"
7. "Hey! Now I know how a Muppet feels!"
8. "Hey Doc, let me know if you find my dignity."
9. "You used to be an executive at Enron didn't you?"
10. "Could you write a note for my wife saying that my head is in fact not up there."

In case you don’t have insurance, you can always go to Mexico for your colonoscopy…

Finally, a joke that sums it all up…

All the organs of the body were having a meeting, trying to decide who was the one in charge of the body.

"I should be in charge," said the brain, “because I run all the body's systems. Without me nothing would happen." 

"I should be in charge," said the blood, “because I circulate oxygen all throughout the body. Without me you'd all waste away." 

"I should be in charge," said the stomach, “because I process food and give energy to all of you.  Without me you would starve.”

"I should be in charge," said the legs, “because I carry the body wherever it needs to go.  Without me you would be stuck in one place." 

"I should be in charge," said the eyes, “because I allow the body to see where it goes.  Without me you would all be blind." 

Finally, the rectum said "I should be in charge because I'm responsible for waste removal."

All the other body parts laughed at and insulted the rectum. So, in a huff, he shut down tight.

Within a few days the brain had a terrible headache, the stomach was bloated, the legs got wobbly, the eyes got watery, and the blood was toxic. 

Finally, they all decided that the rectum really is the boss of the body. 

The moral of the story? (scroll down)

The a..hole is usually the one in charge.

(Once again, sorry for the somewhat crude post.)

Time to Make Mistakes

This past Saturday Evan and Maritsa came up again to work with the horses.  We got them up on Sugar and Morgunn bareback again.  However, this time we took them into the round pen.

We tied up the halter lead rope so they could use it like reins and, after some basic instructions on how to turn the horses, we let them go by themselves in the pen.

The whole point of today was to give them some basic instructions and let them make all kinds of mistakes with some gentle correction in a way that was safe for them and the horses.  We’ll do this again for several Saturdays and, when they get more comfortable with what they want to do, we’ll graduate them to a saddle and bridle.

Morgunn braking for a poop.

All in all they did pretty well for their first time going solo.