Looking back a little

I know you're supposed to look ahead when the New Year arrives, but this has been one of the few times we spent the Christmas holidays without both of our kids. Because of this I spent some time going through some photos and thought I would share a few with you. We missed them over the holidays, so you'll have to indulge me a little.

Here is a nice photo of Tyler on the summit of the Third Flatiron, near Boulder. We climbed it together last fall.


This photo of Noelle was taken on Dan's boat. I would frequently stay on his boat during business trips to Memphis.


Here is one of my favorite photos of Tyler, at his graduation. Behind him is my Dad the retired Dean, smiling.


This was taken near Chicago Basin on one of the small creeks coming down from Jupiter Mountain (in the background). Noelle and I were soaking our tired feet in the cold water.

Update on Tyler

Some of you have asked about Tyler. He arrived safely in Korea last week and sent us an email. As many of you know he will be teaching ESL in a Korean Jr. High school near Puson, Korea. He said he's met some of the staff at the school but is having trouble setting up email and getting phone service in his new apartment. We promise to keep you posted. We miss him greatly.

Ava Hail

Gabriel Rosetti, in his poem on the Virgin Mother, which he calls "Ave Hail," has lines in which he imaginatively describes her. What an important office she held! Yet, never rightly apprehending the truth about him until after the day of Pentecost; a sinning soul, needing redemption from her son very own son.

"Work and play.
Things common to the course of day
Awed thee with meanings unfulfilled,
And all through girlhood, something stilled
Thy senses, like the birth of light
When thou hast trimmed thy lamp at night
Or washed thy garments in the stream;
To whose white bed had come the dream
That He was thine, and thou wast His
Who feeds among the lilies.
A solemn shadow of the end
In that wise spirit long contained!
Oh, awful end! And thus unsaid
Long years when it was finished!"

What if God was one of us?

If Jesus came to reveal God to us, then what do I learn about God from that first Christmas?

Phillip Yancy uses word associations in his book The Jesus I Never Knew. As he thinks through this question the answers may surprise you. Some words that come to mind are; humble, approachable, underdog, courageous. How can you apply these words to an all-powerful deity? The Messiah did show up, but under what circumstances?

Alanis Morissette sang these words in the song, "What if God Was One of Us?"

"If you were faced with him in all his glory
What would you ask if you had just one question?
What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us."

God's visit to earth took place in an animal shelter and the King of Kings was placed in a feeding trough to sleep. Animals were there eating and probably smelling bad. A mule could have stepped on him. "How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given."

Reflections on God's grace

I was in Church last Sunday and of course the service was about Mary and Joseph. The pastor quoted Phillip Yancy who reflected on the wisdom of God; "It is remarkable that God would entrust the future of the world to two teenagers." Then I thought, "What's even more remarkable is that God became a child."

Why did the savior of the world become a child? Perhaps what God is saying in this is that we are really saved by Grace and nothing else, that we are able to do nothing to save ourselves.

Jesus said, "Peace, I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." John 14:27

Tyler leaves for Korea

Last night Tyler left for his new job in Korea. He's moving to a town I can't even pronounce much less spell, near Puson which is located on the South Eastern tip of South Korea. He's excited about the new position and sees it as a nice opportunity with longer term possibilities. Nancy and I drove him to the airport to say goodbye.


I didn't photograph the emotional part of this, the hugging, kissing, and tears. But when Nancy and Tyler were saying goodbye and hugging, I looked over at the lady from the TSA and watched her get a little emotional too. Love is a universal human emotion isn't it? We all experience it to some degree and understand it in others. It may not be proof of God's existence, but we still have to ask, "Where did it come from and who taught us?"

New currency

The treasury Department has issued a new dollar to reflect the state of the economy...

Grocery stores

During the holiday season I end up doing things I normally wouldn't do, like go to the grocery store. We were at Costco the other day having lunch at the sample tables and I got run over nine times. One supermarket has just come out with a brilliant new invention - a shopping cart that goes in the same direction as the customer! I have now learned how to cut down on the cost of food. I fill the basket, go in the express checkout, and keep eating until I'm down to eight items.

Also, you need to watch out for those doors at the grocery store. I'm sure the Albertson's here in Denver has one that's nearsighted.

Another leap of faith

On Sunday, Tyler is on his way to South Korea to teach ESL. We're obviously very proud of him and his accomplishments. He seems to be able to do anything he puts his mind to. However, some years ago, when he was in school at NAU, he sent this photo to us. We're glad he was successful on the jump. Evidently, his girlfriend took the photo and she is long since gone. Now, he is on his way to a new world and a new job in a strange land. Somehow, I think he will do just fine.

Parenthood

Sometimes I have the feeling that when God came up with the idea of children, he wasn't sure about it. But he didn't have anybody to show the plans to. So we got them! And, to illustrate this, sometimes things are a little backward. Children cannot understand why they have to go to sleep when Mommy's tired.

Seth is a really great Dad. Every time I've been around him I see a good Father. I know he's taught my grandson (pictured here) the value of a dollar. I understand the little guy wants his allowance in yen!

-17 below

Today's weather was cold! Brrrr. And, I mean cold. After Sunday's snowfall and a Canadian cold front blasting Colorado, we experienced some sub-zero weather today. I drove to the office to pick up my mail and it was COLD!! The radio said it was -17 below at DIA. The roads were treacherous but I made it.

Running around in Tucson

Noelle took this photo at the park in Tucson. We had a great time together in spite of the 90 degree weather. As a general rule, I would put him down, he would run off, I would try to talk with him, he would run off, I tickled his feet, and he would run off. I got plenty of exercise running after him. He did sit still for this photo.

There is only one beautiful child in the world and every parent has it, as well as every grandparent.

One more Grand Canyon photo

Roger sent me this photo of Chad, Val, and Dorothy running Pierce Ferry Rapids about 8 miles from Lake Meade. We had just run this difficult white water moments before they flipped. This area used to be covered up by the lake. Now, after 75 years or so it's exposed.

My post on November 30 has another photo of us on these rapids.

Daughters

We found out last week that our daughter is expecting again. It's going to be a girl! Until I was nine, I thought girls were just soft boys! Young sons are awkward. They evoke pity, not humor. At any rate she is due the end of April. Their family grows. Very soon, Seth (her husband) will learn that a family is a unit assembled to spend money the head of the family hasn't earned yet.

When Noelle was little she was around trucks and equipment from time to time, since she came to my office and the warehouse area fairly often. One Saturday the two of us were at King Soopers in Denver waiting in line to pay for some milk or something. The lady in line in front of us, was built like a truck. I'm sure nobody ever passed on her the right. In fact, I'm sure that when she got on a scale, she got two fortunes! At any rate, we're in line and this lady's pager goes off. Noelle said, "Lookout Dad, she's backing up!"

Tyler found this photo of Noelle taken right before an opera performance in Memphis with Opera Memphis about 6 or 7 years ago. For our young lady, this was a special time.

Girls are special though. I heard a story about little Beth who was sitting with some of the ladies of her mother's bridge club, waiting for her mother to finish getting ready for a game. One woman looked at Beth and said to the ladies, "Not too P-R-E-T-T-Y." Beth replied, "No, but awfully S-M-A-R-T." Don't try to fool 'em.

Thanksgiving in Prescott

Thanksgiving in Prescott was really nice this year. Even though I wasn't the center of attention, my grandson "Andy" was. So, I pushed him around. I think my grandson really likes his Uncle Tyler. And, he thinks Tyler's funny. Tyler gave him gifts. Tyler was patient. Tyler gave him gifts. Tyler was helpful. Tyler gave him gifts. Somehow I get the feeling that if Tyler were an astronaut "Andy" would want to know what Tyler was bringing him. Do you think he remembers who gave him all that Bronco stuff? Me. Tyler gave him a giant dump truck and thousands of giant Lego's, and other neat stuff.


Pretty soon Noelle won't be able to hold little Andy quite so easily. He keeps getting bigger and bigger!

Scouting the rapids

In the interest of safety it was critical that we checked out all the big nasty rapids in front of us. To that end, we commonly stopped and scouted each major rapid which lay ahead. Sometimes, the choices in front of us were slim, to say the least. Below, Jerry looks up river. There is a large hole behind you Jerry.

I got a peaceful easy feelin'

I will leave you with one last thought regarding our trip and then show you a few runs at Pierce Ferry Rapids. One of the last evenings on our raft trip, our trip leader Jerry (pictured below) recited some lines from an old Eagles tune. First of all, you have to know a little about Jerry and our circumstances. He has been battling cancer for quite a few years now and is regularly in for chemo treatments. In fact, he made this trip between treatments! Jerry invited all of us. It was after all, his permit that got us into the canyon. Thank you so much Jerry!!

Then, sitting around the campfire on one of the last evenings. Jerry said the following to us:

and I wanna' to sleep with you
in the desert tonight
with a billion stars all around
'cause I got a peaceful easy feelin'
and I know you won't let me down.

I'm sure this isn't what the Eagles had in mind, but the way I interpreted this was, he really wanted to be with us. And, none of us or God were going to let him down. Thank you Jerry. It was really great!!


Here is Jerry going into the second hole on Pierce Ferry Rapids. The first hole is behind him. It took a little bit of force to pull the front of Jerry's boat up like this.


Here is Trevor going into the big hole on Pierce Ferry Rapids. Believe it or not, he made it through. Others were not so fortunate.


This is our boat on Pierce Ferry Rapids at 12,000 cfs. Paul is rowing and I'm in front with Gary, on his left. Bear in mind this is an 18 foot boat!

Thankful to God

After my raft trip down the Grand Canyon, I talked with my good buddy Craig. He reminded me about how "alive" he felt on our last trip on the Colorado river. I had to agree. I have never felt so "alive" than on a trip like this. Besides the fact that your mind is going 10,000 miles per hour, every sensory element of your body is fully functioning and heightened beyond belief. You see, feel, and experience things every hour that literally take your breath away. It's as though God has let you into his back yard or his garden. I am so thankful God has given us so much to enjoy.

Sky Walk

On our trip down the Grand Canyon, we didn't miss the Hualapai Indian Sky Walk. Below is an artist rendering of the facility at the top of the rim. My understanding is they charge $60 to walk out on the glass bottom walkway.


Here is the photo I took from the boat in the river, a mile below the rim with my telephoto lens.

Pierce Ferry Rapids

Dave Stravers sent me this photo of his raft going through Pierce Ferry Rapids. He and his daughter Juliana are in the front while Trevor successfully negotiated the raft from behind. A few moments later Paul, Gary, and I went through. Val, Chad, and Dorothy weren't so lucky. See the next post.

How to flip a boat back over

Val's raft flipped on Pierce Rapids, now exposed for the first time in over 75 years since the water in Lake Meade is so low. In order to get this done, you first have to cut the oar off from it's tether. Dorothy's pretty good with a knife. Then you have to rig the boat so you can make the flip.


Okay, grab the rope and pull. If we lean back hard enough we can turn this thing over.


Pull hard, and lean back. You've got to lean back! Pull some more.


Keep pulling, keep pulling.... And one last umph!!


And that's all it takes. Notice the ice chest on the front of the boat... that's our lunch!

We flip the raft on 209

At the risk of boring you with too much on this Grand Canyon trip, I still have a few more stories to tell you. It was after all, a long trip. The second picture below represents the outcome of the rapids called 209. This one was simpler and much more straight forward than Tuna Creek. At 209, we were sucked into a big hole and the raft immediately flipped over, tossing all of us out and anything not tied down. All other rafts in our party missed it. The good news is, if there is any good news in this, rests in the fact that nothing serious was lost or damaged, save the beverages made in Golden Colorado, one of my neoprene booties, my water bottle, and Paul's "lucky hat." We managed to find a place about a mile down river to flip the boat back over. Much of our stuff was wet, but it all dried out, and none of us were hurt. We were just wet and very cold. Many thanks to Paul Muirhead for pulling me out with his Kayak.




Having suffered this humiliation, we hung our private stuff on ropes, strings, and branches. Thankfully, my down bag stayed dry. The bad news is, it was our turn to cook and do the dishes. Ugh. Looking back though, I can't think of anyone I would rather be thrown out of a raft with than Paul and Gary. They are terrific!!





Below is a photo I took of Parashant Canyon. I got up early one morning and hiked up this canyon for about a mile or so with Gary. It was a beautiful morning. The canyon was supposed to have some prehistoric worms in the rock somewhere. We could never find them.

Deer Creek Falls

Here is the video I took at Deer Creek Falls. Norm is doing something with his camera near the falls, so it should give you a perspective on the size of the falls.

Henry boys go for a swim

There's nothing quite like being thrown out of a boat into the river, and letting the water waves brush over you. There's nothing like it. So why do it? I shared a raft on the river with Gary Henry (left) and Paul Henry (right) pictured below. One of the more exciting moments of the trip was our encounter with Tuna Creek Rapids (rated a 6). Paul was resting up in the front of the boat with me after successfully running Hermit Rapids (rated 9) and Crystal Rapids (rated 10). He was letting Gary and I share in the rowing responsibilities. This time Gary was at the helm and we were clearly coming upon some new rapids. None of us thought it was anything big, so Gary tried to position the boat in the tongue and run these next rapids.

Unfortunately, at the beginning there was a huge rock just covered with water and an even larger hole behind it and mountains of backwash flowing into it. Before we knew what hit us, we went in sideways and the boat nearly flipped over. Paul and Gary went kerplunk, kerplunk, into the raging river. I managed to hang on while the raft was mercilessly banged around, and nearly flipped again. I didn't want to come out. I only know one stroke. If I go in over my head, I get one. I had no idea where Gary and Paul went, all I knew is that large rapids lay ahead, they were Tuna Creek Rapids (6), followed immediately by lower Tuna Rapids (6) and no one is rowing. Finally I was kicked out of this huge hole but into the main portion of the rapids. I made my way back to the seat in order to row the boat through it all, and there was only one oar!!! The hole we were in literally swallowed the right oar, breaking the rope that attached it. I did manage to keep it fairly straight through both rapids with one oar but I couldn't get it over to the shore. Finally, Dorothy came over on her kayak and helped me get closer and away from the rocks until Val and Chad got over in their raft and helped me untie another oar. This wasn't the wildest ride I had, but it was a good one.

The Henry boys survived, and were picked up by the others. When we used to live in Memphis, we had a pool. I became wary of people who used it. When I filled it, I put in ten thousand gallons. Later in the year I emptied it and took out eleven thousand! I can only imagine what the Henry boys did in the river that day and what I nearly did on that boat.


A few days later, Paul let me run Fossil Creek Rapids (6). He said if I could run 'em with one oar, I should be okay with two. We were all a little nervous about it though.

One of my favorite times during the trip was in the morning, sitting around the fire and eating breakfast. Everything was usually dry, for the most part, and we could laugh about the previous day. Pictured here is Val, Paul, Jerry, and of course the coffee pot, and I think that's Norms foot.

Sand is everywhere

Sometime during the trip Gary, Paul, and I began a conversation about sand and the simple pleasures of camping. I remember when my son came home from camp one year. He looked six inches taller. Then we washed his feet. I'm still finding sand in things from our trip. So, in honor of camping so many nights in the sand, I wrote this poem.

We camp in the sand, walk in the sand, talk in the sand,
And it's in my hair, in my nose, it's everywhere.
It's in my clothes, in my mouth, it's even North and South.
It's in my ears, and in my eyes, which really makes me sigh.
Sand is everywhere.

Sand is in my ham and in my spam,
So now it's in my teeth, which isn't really neat.
It's in the boat, in my totes, and in my coat, and on my floats.
It's in my shirt but I don't care, 'cause it's even in my underwear.
Sand is everywhere.

It's in my sleeping bag,
So at night I'm really sad.
It's in my cup, and on my fork,
which really makes me torqued.
It's on my plate, and in my eggs,
it's even on my legs.
Sand is everywhere.

It's in my shoes and in my socks,
It's in the water and the kitchen box.
It's on Jerry's head and even in his bed.
The only place it's not, according to the rumor,
is that dark place, in the groover.

Hiking Tapeats

Life on the Colorado River was interesting to say the least. Below is a photo of the trail up Tapeats canyon. One slip and a man will meet his maker on this trail. After a 200 foot climb up the sandstone, you follow this trail up several miles to Thunder River.

The hiking intensified that day. It was hot and the trail difficult. Not wanting to get her shoes wet, Dorothy got someone to carry her across the river. She was wise. Too bad her shoes didn't stay dry.

At Thunder River we were rewarded with a spectacular view. The river blows out of a hole in the side of the cliff with such incredible intensity. It then cascades down the side as a waterfall, literally like thunder. I was awestruck. Just to get perspective, note the large mesquite trees around the water.

Havasupai

Everyone has asked me if I saw Havasupai on this trip. Here is a photo of me taken near the Colorado River. We only hiked up about a quarter mile or so.


While I was here I took this photo of a Monkey flower by the side of the river. You could also seem some changes to the landscape since the recent flood raged through the canyon.

Vulcan's Anvil, Colorado River Grand Canyon

While rafting the Colorado River, we had to go by Vulcan's Anvil. It was a little ominous, knowing that Lava Falls (rapids rated a 10) was just about 1 mile ahead. I took this short video for your viewing pleasure.

Desert Big Horn walks through my camp!

Below is a video of a Desert Big Horn Sheep that came through my camp while river rafting on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon.

Jerry runs Lava Falls

Below is a video I took of Jerry running Lava Falls. He went first and I think this gave the rest of us some courage to stop talking and start rafting. What a switch.

Back from Grand Canyon River Trip

I'm back from my rafting trip down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. For all my photos click the photo on the right titled Grand Canyon. However, the trip was not without incident. Here are a few highlights...

1. The boat nearly overturned on Tuna Creek Rapids 7 (after successfully negotiating Hermit 10, Granite 9, and Crystal Rapids 10), but lost Paul, Gary, and one oar overboard, and I had to pilot the boat with one oar through the rest of Tuna Creek 7 and Lower Tuna 6.

2. Boat did flip over on 209 after encountering a very deep hole, all passengers out and swimming including me. Swallowed lots of water. Oars stayed on boat this time but lost drag bag with beverages, one bootie, Paul's sun glasses, and Paul's lucky hat.

3. Video taped a Desert Big Horn sheep in camp only 5 feet from me! (will publish more on this later)

4. Video taped Jerry successfully running Lava Falls first, giving the rest of us some courage. (will publish more on this later)

5. Successfully, and remarkably ran the new Pierce Rapid now exposed because Lake Mead is lower, however I witnessed Val, Chad, and Dorothy flip their raft over and swim for their very lives through a boiling cauldron of churning mud. It seemed like all of them lost at least one shoe.

6. Never found Paul's lucky hat.

The zoomer

Here's a photo of Kathy and Paul from a previous trip on the Colorado River. Notice the zoomer swinging precariously from the very top of the boat behind Kathy. Knowledge of the contents would leave most of you staggering at our haphazard method of securing it. No problems on this day.

Voting

I've decided to stop voting. It'll be great not to feel that I'm responsible for what goes on in Washington. You see, a public official is very often a man who has risen from obscurity to something worse.

The trick for a politician in any campaign seems to be how to win without proving that you are unworthy of winning. Think hard before you vote, there's a lot to lose.

Cooking again

Once again I'm cooking with Paul. What will we eat today? I'm guessing we'll wrap spaghetti around meatballs and call them "hot yo-yos"! Actually, Paul is a very good professional chef. Where there's smoke, he's cooking.


Here's the menu for today!

Breakfast: Eggs, canned ham, fried potatoes

Lunch: Design plate, hard salami, crackers, cookies

Dinner: Oriental can delight, brown rice, cabbage salad, fortune cookies

Words of wisdom

Boswell writes in Life on April 28, 1778 the following: "A man should cultivate his mind so as to have that confidence and readiness without wine, which wine gives."

He also wrote in the Rambler 6; "he, who has so little knowledge of human nature, as to seek happiness by changing any thing, but his own dispositions, will waste his life in fruitless efforts, and multiply the griefs which he purposes to remove."

Obama debate

The election is nearing and I thought I would make a comment on the first debate between Obama and McCain. During the debate Obama wouldn't call McCain by his name or address him as "Senator McCain." In fact he called him Jim at one point and acted as though he didn't know him. I found this to be somewhat disrespectful, since McCain always called him Senator Obama.

Harry Truman said once, "In most of my campaigns, I find it best not to mention my opponent by name because, by doing so, it just gives him the chance to get into the headlines."

Okay, so Obama is politically smart. But can he run the country?

Up, up, and away

This fellow continues to fly over our house on weekends. It's never a problem although you can hear the engine noise. I checked into the cost of these and they're $7,500 without wheels and $10,000 with wheels. Who needs wheels when you're in the air?

Government

Ronald Reagan said about government that "One way to make sure crime doesn't pay would be to let the government run it." He was right.

Reagan also is quoted in Bob Dole's book, Great Political Wit, "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'" And he said, "I think governments tend not to solve problems, only rearrange them."

And we think government can run health care? Fat chance!

Dinner is served

Tomorrow, Paul and I are cooking. I'm on Paul's cook team. I had to watch this video on washing hands, and cleaning things, and setting up the kitchen. They also had suggestions on peeing in the river.

The photo is Paul and Nancy from the Colorado River (another trip), but not in the Grand Canyon. Here is our menu for tomorrow:

Breakfast: Spam, eggs, pop tarts, canned peaches

Lunch: Layover sack lunch

Dinner: Taco bean stew, Spanish cornbread, almond brittle

We must be nuts!

I think we Americans compartmentalize too much. In acting out of our own interests in one compartment, we ignore the damage we cause in another as a result. Both Democrats and Republicans propose solutions with little thought to the consequences of the action. Examples of this are nationalized health care, the economic bailout, and getting out of Iraq before we're done, or maybe getting into Iraq in the first place.

James Boswell wrote from Great Britain in 1779 in Taxation No Tyranny the following; "We are told, that the subjection of Americans may tend to the diminution of our own liberties: an event, which none but very perspicacious politicians are able to foresee. If slavery be thus fatally contagious, how is it that we hear the loudest yelps for liberty among the drivers of negroes?"

We wanted to be free, but what are the consequences of that? While freeing the slaves was a positive consequence, the civil war was harder to swallow. What are we going to do next? I certainly don't want to give up any of my freedoms.

Jesus walks on water

At one point during Jesus' time on earth, he "didn't do mighty works, because of their unbelief." Contrast that with the story below.

Then Jesus walked on water. The fishermen on the boat thought he was a ghost and were afraid of him. He came to these confused, blundering men, and calmed the sea. But these handful of men who, in spite of all their failure, in spite of all their faltering, in spite of all their shortcomings, were true to the light they had received. They maintained their faith. It was to them Jesus revealed himself.

Think about it for a minute. The boat was about to go down and they had turned it against the wind, which is hard to do. Why? Because he said, "cross to the other side." They pushed the prow of the boat in the direction he said. He came to them when they were literally sick with fear and was cheerful. "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid."

Whatever difficulties we have found our way into, and we have generally found our way into more difficulties through disobedience to God than obedience, he is always there to help us out.

God's compassion

Matthew 9:36 says, "Seeing the people, He (Jesus) felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd."

Isaac Watts worked on the translation of the word "compassion." Knowing the word was insufficient, Watts took another word and wrote the following:

"Touched with a sympathy within,
He knows our feeble frame;
He knows what sore temptations
mean,
For He hath felt the same."

On a human level, this picture of God is that of a man who went into different cities, and into the villages, and looked at the people. What he saw made his whole inner physical life, as the sacramental symbol of the spiritual, move and burn. All of us know something about this; how in certain circumstances, in some great overwhelming fear we might have, or in some sudden sorrow, our very physical life, acting in harmony with our mental life, is filled with pain. "He was moved with compassion." He was moved to the agony of the physical by the pain of the spiritual.

What was behind it all? Going back to the translation we read. "He was moved with compassion." What is compassion? Feeling with, pain with, comradeship in sorrow, fellowship in agony, an "at-one-ment" so to speak between this King and those upon whom he looked, culminating at the cross for its outward expression. It existed in the heart of God long before the material cross was lifted up. And, it expressed itself in the suffering of the Son of God through all the years of his sympathy with man before he walked to that actual cross. He identified himself with the very issue of their pain, the very issue of their sin. Now, he identifies himself with your pain, and mine. That is compassion.

Rattlesnake!

Today Nancy and I went hiking on two brands trail. The weather was great. When we left the house it was 84 degrees in the shade! So it was probably over 90 on the trail. A couple of miles of hiking later and I nearly stepped on a rattlesnake! A runner had warned us that he saw a snake on the trail so we were on the lookout. About half a mile later and there it was. We made a wide circle around him and kept on going. Rattlesnakes seem rather common around here when the weather is warm. They come out and sun themselves.

On Hitchens book, Paines Rights of Man

I read Christopher Hitchens new book Thomas Paine's The Right's of Man. A quasi biography about Thomas Paine who profoundly influenced the thought of our founding fathers.

Hitchens says that part of Paine's purpose in writing the Rights of Man in the way he did, was to "reform or purify" the language of political discourse. Hitchens quotes Rudyard Kipling who writes a poem about a dying Norman aristocrat from the year 1100. He offers this advice to his son about Saxons.

'The Saxon is not like us Normans. His manners
are not so polite.
But he never means anything serious till he talks
about justice and right.
When he stands like an ox in the furrow - with his
sullen set eyes on your own,
And grumbles, 'This isn't fair dealing,' my son,
leave the Saxon alone.'

He also says that the Rights of Man, was an attempt to marry the ideas of the American and French Revolutions. The second part of Rights of Man was an attempt to take it to Britain. Considerable time is spent on the interesting debates with Edmund Burke.

A word of warning, Hitchens seems anti-Christian for some reason, much like Thomas Paine. His reasons have to do with a misunderstanding of the purpose of Christ entering the world and a basic acceptance of God's plan. He found it offensive. Perhaps Kierkegaard would help him here. The rest of the book was excellent.

Colorado Trail photos

Tyler gave me his photos for the Colorado Trail. Below are a couple that I thought were special. This one is of Tyler when they were on top of Mt. Massive. He was pleased because they got above the clouds. A rare event.

Not sure where this was taken, but it's an evening photo of some windblown trees, probably in the Ten Mile Range but I'm not exactly sure.

And of course, here is a nice photo of David his partner for well over 300 miles of the trail. I will get more of these to you later.