Interesting...

I saw a green meteorite on the way home from Houston tonight. It broke up before impact. Very cool.

I looked up what compounds it could have in it to burn green, it was probably copper.

Subverting the Trope "Big Dumb Heroes"

A few prefaces to this particular adventure: During High School I was in a cross country team with some really good friends. One of these friends was named Mike. He and I were a few of the ‘slightly crazy’ group of kids that I hung out with. He introduced us to street racing in Dallas, where the ultimate rush of running from the cops was tantamount to bliss. So with this in mind, I’ve been staying Mike’s house here in Kauai. We usually are reigned in by more sane friends of ours when we look like we’ve decided that fun is better than safety or good judgment. Unfettered, we decided to go for a hike.

Hanakapi’ai is supposed to be a 4 miles in, 4 miles out relatively difficult hike. Knowing this, we started at about 3:00pm on Tuesday, but in trying to find a parking spot found several neat caves that we wanted to check out before embarking on the main hike. Waves and wind had hollowed out large caves in semi-circle fashion. Some of them went several hundred feet down below sea level and had nice little stagnant pools of salt water at the bottom. After a few pictures, and 30 minutes of poking around in some holes in the ancient igneous rock faces, we head out on the main trail.

Kauai is beautiful. Pictures can’t do it justice, come out and do it yourself. With a lot of energy and a lust for adventure, Mike and I half-jogged through the trails greeting other hikers as they funneled out of the trails. Several amazing views of the ocean and some neat beaches from over 1000 feet up (which we climbed in the first half mile) were breath taking. We came upon a beach that had a protected pool behind a big sandbar and I jumped in while mike took a smoke break. We started heading toward titular falls, and checked down our responsible side. “It’s getting late yeah?” Mike remarked. “Aught we to turn about?” I quipped back, thinking that a good recourse to hiking at night. “Nah, there’s supposed to be something cool at the end of this trail, lets keep going.” Mike said with finality. I didn’t argue, as ‘something cool’ stuck out to me like a side quest in a Zelda game. We crossed the river several times, hopping about on the river rocks with ninja-like balance (mine after much training, Mike’s inherent in his asian-ness) and made good time upstream. In the distance we saw a massive cascading waterfall from the top of an impossibly high cliff. I was getting excited, further locking my responsible side away in the dark corner I usually keep it in. We saw a straggling couple and asked what time it was. 5:00. Plenty of time to make it to the falls.

Another half an hour or so and we’d arrived at (and I am not exaggerating or just using superlatives) the most beautiful spot I have ever seen or been to in real life. Water fell (uh, duh) from what must have been close to 1000 to 1500 feet off of a sheer cliff to settle into a bowl of pristine, clear, fresh rain water. It was cold, and it was refreshing. We took a lot of pictures, jumped in, and felt the falls on our head and swam around a bit.

Energized, we went to the task of getting out of the valley before dark. After deciding that going down a much less traveled trail to cut through on the right side of the stream, we found familiar markings on the trail and realized we were making great time. We stuck to our blazingly fast trail only to find ourselves blazing our own trail. The trail had terminated into nothingness. We had to keep our pace up, and finding a trail would be the best use of our quickly being scratched and bruised bodies.

We found no trail. Quickly darkness began enveloping us as we made our way toward the beach one painful foot at a time. For every time Mike fell several feet into an unseen ditch, I’d find the thorniest bush or tree and throw myself longingly at it. We soon were relying more on the moon for light than the waning sun. “Mike, I’m glad that its you and me in this situation, most people would be freaking out.” I calmly remarked. “I need a cigarette.” Mike said, for about the third time since we started churning through the dense tropical underbrush. “Lets just keep heading towards the beach, that’s where we’ll see the main trail.” I reassuringly let out. We trudged forward. Many times one of us would exclaim “It’s the trail!” only to follow it for a few meters and find we were had, once again. Never letting the adventure devolve into frustration, we kept our chins up. We could see the beach! After many cuts and bruises we’d made it back in sight of where the real trail should be. I celebrated by falling into the river and dowsing my camera and iPhone. Mike celebrated by slipping on the same stone as I and dropped his lighter. We’d thought of camping out for the night at the beach before, but fatigue had run its course on our minds, and we decided to press on. Being that the Moon was shining from the Southeast, we were completely in the dark as we went north and east up the cliff side, leaving us with no recourse but to use a Mike’s cell phone as a flash light. This is not as easy as it sounds, as after the leader gets over a particularly difficult area, he has to stop and shine the spot so the follower can get over it. When trying to make good time, this is not very conducive.

After what was another hour of night walking on a slippery high-incline trail, I’d started cramping and Mike had started dying energy wise. He wanted to stop for a bit, and I couldn’t or risk cramping up entirely. We were the perfect team. I convince Mike to keep going and we trudge up, around and back down the mountain ridge. Two hours and fifteen minutes after sundown we finally make it out of the hellish hiking trail. We walk the 10 minutes up the road to where Mike parked and settle in for the long road home, to find that more than the lighter went into the river when Mike slipped. The keys went as well. A perfect end to a perfect night.

The fear of no fear.

I'm struggling with something.  And yes my title is a conundrum and a contradiction.  

All my life I have been striving to fear nothing (and well, if I have to take accountability for myself, succeeding.)  For the first time in my life I'm asking if this is actually a good thing.  

Yes yes, the Fear of God.  I don't consider this to be a phobia or something to 'EEEEEEEKKK!!!' at.  My relationship with God is of whole respect and love... This is where things get fuzzy.  SHOULD I be afraid of God? I recently heard a sermon by Mr. Smith that was about our 'Dangerous God.'  It was quite inspiring and thought-invoking, and it left a taste in my mouth that meant I needed to do some thinking.   The point of this post -I must point out- is not actually what Mr. Smith was talking about, but a lot of the premises were there to get the cogs churning.  

Does a certain phobia of what God can and will do to you incite further obedience? In my most recent (before all this incessant pondering) ideals this type of fear would only result in knots in necks, useless tears, and nothing more.  Do people follow God out of terror? Is God leading people solely out of their own fear in some specific and isolated cases? Is that what some people need for motivation? Should I pity them? (at this current juncture, I truly do.)  

Can one not follow God simply to be on the good side? To side with those that most perfectly fit your inner need to love, make people happy, instruct, take instruction, and emulate the hero? (Christ) Can this not be your underlying motive for following God?

All of this thinking gets a bit difficult when I try to apply it to people around me.  Why is such-and-such in the Church of God?  Why is he not?  They both know the truth.  What decisions were made about your internal moral character that made one go one way and one the other?  What about God's calling echoed differently in each persons psyche?

I have some studying to do.  And in the first time in a while its not on someone else's suggestion.

Life is good.  I can't sleep due to having this cough/sneeze/sniffle/headache.  Might as well enjoy myself.

New Poast

So I got a new car, and I'm really enjoying it.  Its a 350z, and its orange. 

I love it.  I've already determined that my old rims wont fit due to some little dingus on the disc brake. 

I'm going to Colorado to visit my Mom, step Dad, sister and brother in law -and- (most especially) my little niece and nephew for Thanksgiving.  Boy do I have a lot to be thankful for.   

Family is odd, everyone says that when you have a good family it truly is a blessing.  And I think that saying never carries enough weight.  Why, every time I see my niece do I think "I would protect her with my life without hesitation" and when I see pictures of my new nephew do I think "I need to be a better person so he looks up to his Unca Chuckie"? I believe its something God built in.  Maybe.

I love my family. 

The best part about a blog that no one reads is...

Its like a sounding board with no sound.  I can put some of my more personal and retarded thoughts on here without too much fear that the wrong people would read them.  (is that secretly what I want?)

So with this in mind,  I think I'm slowly becoming cynical.  Or emotionally unavailable, or something.  Laziness has always been a part of my life.  Not that I just sit around all the time (which is happening more often now with the advent of Wrath of the Lich King) I stay active for the most part, but things that require my attention don't get done.  Laundry is a good example, or cleaning my room, or even fixing my car. (fully.  I get it to minimal operation status and leave it be.  There are probably 5 major things that need fixing on my car, but it still drives fine.) 

Cynicism on the other hand has not been part of my life.  Really ever.  I did go through a bout of loneliness and depression in middle school when I was being picked on daily, but who couldn't say they've been through something similar?  Real cynicism, like expecting to be disappointed in everyone,  or expecting the mundane to happen even when you try your hardest to live an interesting life is what I'd say I've been getting a taste of lately.  

I've been places and done new things to keep me off balance.  I've gone away on a whim to a tropical island by myself, no plans.  I've been to a 3rd world country just because I've never been there.  I've tried to scare myself stupid once a week on average.  

More.  I need to do more.  And I can't do that in a relationship.  I can't have someone worrying about my safety while I'm climbing radio towers in a wind storm, or petrified that I'll go to jail for sneaking into a water tower that is under construction.  I would feel uncomfortable with someone I care about being vexed that I just learned that front wheel drive cars are indeed easier to do a full 360 turn in, and continue driving down the road.  I don't need the added burden of someone turning to me and telling me to take my anti-malarial like the nurse told me to.  The thought of a girl crying over me not coming home because I need to look danger in the face needlessly makes my heart constrict my throat just a bit.

I really just want to be alone, and that hurts.

Is it freedom I want? Or do I need someone who is as crazy and irresponsible as me?  *shudder* I really dont think I'd be with me were I a girl, so maybe thats not what I need.  

I think everyone wants to be a superhero.  I am struggling though, with one thing that this wish of mine betrays.  I want evil in the world, for the sole selfish purpose that I can oppose it. Why would I want that? Am I trying to show off? I don't tell anyone about half of the stupid things I do, so I'm not yet convinced of that.  (not putting that one down for an instant though)

It wouldn't be fair for me to get into a relationship with me like this. (well, another relationship) I've been in one where I showed no real interest and just kind of let her break it off.  I also went out with a girl and left it completely open ended. I just stopped calling her.  My interest level is declining more and more rapidly with every girl I involve myself with, and I can't for the life of me figure out why.  

I'd like to say that its because I broke it off with the only girl I've ever loved and was loved back, and I'm in regret.  I don't really feel that this is the case.  I had a good year and a half after I broke up with her when I feel like I could've hopped into another relationship and put the emotion and love and work into making it last.  Its only been about a year since I started feeling that its not worth it, and I think we stopped dating about 3 years ago.  Is the fact that I bring her  up an indication of anything? Or am I just bringing it up because thats been the closest thing to success with a girl I've ever had?

The introspective side of me has started to wax cool as I'm writing, and it all seems like whining.  I'm debating not publishing, but ctrl+a delete is more work than clicking 'publish post.'

I'd also like to say that this isn't the direction I was going with this post when I started.  I wanted to end with something like 'And so, in conclusion, the sign up chart for the make-out-with-you-and-never-call-back is in the kitchen, next to my sandwich maker.'

-Notsocontentbutcontentwiththat

Updates? Who'da thunk?

Ok, so an immense amount of craziness and coolness and WoWness has happened over the last few months.  Namely, Ret Paladins were GODS for a week and subsequently nerfed to the ground, I went to the UK and Kenya, my job rocks, and life is looking up. (Not that life doesn't look up normally, it just seemed the thing to say)

Wrath of the Lich King is out and I'm enjoying my play again.  I am having a lot of fun running around and seeing the new area.  Consequently, I have yet to step foot in a new instance.  All in good time I suppose.  My tier 5 and 6 equivalent gear doesn't look to be replaceable any time soon, and there are so many cool quests to see and people to kill.  

Thus far, my favorites have been around the Nexus instance, there is something about a great dragon battle that entices me.  

I have heard that there is a mod out there that has an arrow on your screen for where to go for your quest, and pathing for the most efficient ways to all the quests.  I feel that would take all the fun out of the game, maybe even replace that 'new game smell' with something a little gayer.

My little Ret Pally is still quite adept at killing things, with the advent of Divine Storm and some tweeks to the crit system (some of the crit damage has been moved into a DoT for some of our abilities) we come out better than 2 months ago, just not as amazing as we were a few weeks back.

ARUBA BABY!!11!

insert----I have been meaning to post this for a while, I just never remember to when I have ye 'ole laptop on.  Well, heres Aruba.

Yes, the last of the ‘ABC’ islands for me to visit.  I find it kind of ironic that I saved the most well known of them for last.  ABC = Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, all part of the Dutch Antilles. 

 

BEST TRIP EVAR?

 

Well, being that I went with Karl, Marshall and Zach (Marshall’s buddy) I couldn’t help but have had a great time, not even mentioning that Aruba is amazing.  This has been the most fun I’ve had in ages.  To start with, the 2^nd day on the island, we booked a something called ABC Jeep safari.  If anyone reading this goes to Aruba DO THIS.  It was 80 bucks for 8-9 hours of solid fun.  I think my favorite part is that I got to drive one of the Jeeps (actually a tank of a land rover defender) in some pretty amazing off-roading conditions.  We started out by stopping by the northern most point on the island (by the way, Aruba is only 9x19 miles) at a ‘California Style’ lighthouse.  Very splendid view as we were really high up.  Afterwards we drove through a really nice housing area, to show off some of the bigger houses on the island.  One of the houses had a ‘pool house’ that was its own plot and address.

We dropped by a quaint church that was nearly 300 years old or something, which I really could care less about except that we had to go off-roading to get there.  From there we rambled down the dirt roads to a ‘fort’ which was actually a gold refinery built like a fort so that pirates would think twice before coming near it.  It was really cool, built right into the side of a huge rock formation.

After we had our fun throwing rocks, we went to something called the ‘natural pool.’  That was far from the most interesting thing, except for the fact that we had to climb over a mountain with the truck to get there.  These land rovers are big, heavy, turbo diesels that have as much torque as a medium sized semi-truck (it feels at least) And an extremely heavy frame, lowering the center of gravity substantially.  I’m even sure as of this recounting that driving that thing over huge rocks and dizzying heights was my favorite part of the whole tour. 

We got to the natural pool, me right behind the lead car with the tour guide in it, and our third truck way back still climbing down the side of the mountain.  There were about 20 trucks all lined up outside of the pool, and naturally even more people in this pool with snorkels.  I was less than impressed with it, though my feelings toward it would probably have been much more positive had there been enough room to swim in it without someone kicking you in the face.  I did find a cool eel though.  We climbed up some even steeper rocks on the way back out of the place, putting a huge smile on my already smiling face.

We ate lunch at an ostrich farm.  Yeah, weird…I know. After avoiding the pork ribs and chowing down on some chicken legs, we got to feed some ostriches out of our hands. The guide that walked us through the farm told us all about how good they are to eat or something, even if their meat is supremely expensive.  I’m not sure if ostrich is clean.  Anyhow that was pretty fun and interesting.  Did you know that an ostrich can sustain 45 miles an hour for an hour? Also, their feet reminded me of a velociraptor.

Caves have always been very fascinating to me, and what awesome do-everything-in-the-world tour wouldn’t be complete without going into a cave?  Got some shots of bats flying and such, and saw some 1000 year old cave paintings.  Very neat.

We went from there to the Natural Bridge, which actually fell in 2005, but they had a smaller ‘spare’ off to the side that was an equally impressive bit of geology.  Sadly, the whole area was full of human trash piled about.  Kinda makes me mad that anyone would come to such a beautiful place only to throw their corndog wrapper in the sea. 

The last stop of the day was someplace called Baby Beach. It was a small protected cove with lots of people swimming and sunning.  They had some good hamburgers and beers there too.  What a day!

 

At night out on the beach we saw the aftermath of something I have wanted to see in person for a very long while.  A leatherback hatching!  Baby leatherbacks climbed out of the sand, and flap flapped their way to the ocean and we were about 3 minutes late. Luckily, one straggler was just emerging when I arrived and I got to watch him flap flap all the way down the beach. I know I’m not going to sound too manly saying this but….SO CUTE.  Ok, now that that is over with….

 

Zach and I were both already certified divers, and we couldn’t bully Karl or Marshall to get certified while they were down here.  This led to it being only me and Zach having one of the coolest dives ever! I had thought that you had to be in the ‘advanced’ certified category to dive wrecks, but I guess they don’t care much in Aruba.  We went to go see the ship called the Jane Sea.  It was a freighter that was used by drug smugglers to haul their shipments around the Caribbean, and was subsequently caught and seized.  They sank it out in 65’ to 100’ waters (it was on an incline, and the ship itself was 200’ long)

I have to say that I felt more like a little boy floating there, 90 feet under water looking at this huge vessel in all its sunken glory than I have in 10 years.  My eyes were wide with surprise and awe as we swam through a common area, a kitchen, and bunking quarters.  There was just something about being there, underwater, watching the whole ship alive with coral and fish swimming all about (and me there personally able to interact with it!) that was hugely amazing to me.  It was probably only my 5^th dive ever, but I have a feeling that I’ll remember this one as my favorite for a long, long time.

The second dive was a ‘lazy man’s dive’ i.e. a drift dive.  You go with the current.  We got to see all shapes, sizes and manners of fish, coral, and everything in between.  I was hoping that the small cut I received from maneuvering through the tight quarters of the Jane Sea would attract a shark or two, but no such luck.  I saw a cool yellow spotted moray eel, and Zach found a confusingly bright cobalt colored shrimp hanging out on the top of a coral outcropping.  Parrot fish, sergeant majors, grouper, and barracuda all about.  It was a great day, made all the better that it was a personal, cheap, fun guy that took us and only one other couple.

 

A few days on the beach, hanging out with some girls that Zach met filled some of the week as well, we actually came to be good friends with Jen, Katie and Sara.  They were from Connecticut or something.  They were kinda our ‘Aruba Buddies’ for the trip.  We went out to a big dinner with them one night, and then on to the famous senior frog’s in downtown.  We had a lot of fun cooking for them and them for us. 

 

Friday, we tried our foot at wind surfing!  I can now wind surf on a cursory level.  Learning the basics was actually easier than I anticipated, (I was thinking this would be like learning to snowboard, something that I did not have an easy time with)  and maybe that’s why I was probably the one who liked it most. (Gotta set those sights low!) Right after wind surfing, we went to something called Jolly Pirates.  It was a cruise on a Brazilian two-masted schooner with an open bar for two hours.  Definitely recommended.  This was a ton of fun.  We motored out of the port and then put the sails out and went up the coast.  Sailing has always been one of my interests, but I’ve never really acted on it.  I think this trip will put a bit of a fire under me to go out and learn to sail on a personal level.  The best part of the whole thing was the rope swing.  You get to jump from the prow of the ship out into the crystal cleat Arubian waters.  We did that for about 30-45 minutes, then put the sails out and sailed back to the harbor.  We watched most of the amazing sunset that day from the trapeze on the prow of the ship.

 

That’s most of the high points of the trip, and I give a big thumbs up to Aruba.  Take at least a week.