(no subject)
I apologize in advance if occasionally throughout this post there are some groupings of letters that don't fit the content around them. There were a few times that I thought I lost my cursor to an unknown dimension and found myself typing before I realized I wasn't where I thought I was.
Early this morning I had a dream that I got a really unproductive phone call (static) from a young bachelor at church who is not even in my phone. For some reason I had programmed him in my phone as 'oosquai' which is actually the Aiel liquor from a Robert Jordan series. Once the static cleared enough to identify him, I remembered putting him in my phone that way. And then I almost missed getting coffee with another different young bachelor because someone had replaced my red allstars with a dozen pair of red toms- the ladie's fashion casual, and I couldn't find any other shoes. I considered just wearing the toms, but they didn't fit.
And yesterday I turned 34.
This is the first year I hesitated about posting my age, because I'm actually older than Jesus was, so it feels like some chances at greatness may have slipped away. But- as mother Theresa says, we can do no great things. Only small things with great love. And there, I have had more success, though there's room for improvement.
This year, I've conquered the art of cast iron cooking, after much trial and error.
I've discovered that I really enjoy fishing, though I thought I never would after the childhood trauma that was worms, death and catching my little brother. And even though it still involves some death, I think I just never saw the usefulness in it as a child, because we never ate our catch. To avoid beginning another reflection on fishing- I'll move on.
I have not really advanced in fighting ed., mostly because the guy I was working with had a baby- but I did find some decent fighting workouts in a men's health magazine that I borrowed from Mike and now can't find. I had photocopied the workouts so I could take them with me and not damage his magazine by sweating on it, so I still do the workouts, and I think I'm healthier for them. I hope I returned it and just forgot.
I still hope to advance in fighting ed. and may decide to do some research and find a space to work elsewhere.
I also kind of rediscovered bicycling, as I do every September, and then quickly undiscover it when I get a pilonidal abscess from it. :(
I became the heart of court advocacy when Peggy left, and then I exited the Willow for good when I came under review for dismissal. That was because I hurt the executive director's pride when I called her wisdom into question for some terrible decisions she's made. The Willow has declined by nearly half since she came on. I think it may just kind of die, which is sad. They also refused to let me get my things and would only mail me roughly half of my personal effects after two solid years of volunteer work. But that's a side note. I've given up on it.
Emily left the safety net of the shelter for some of the same reasons I left the Willow- only she wasn't under any kind of review, she just decided not to take it anymore. And we were wait-listing people for Free State K9, which wasn't the goal, so she started doing that full-time, and it has really taken off. Props to her. However, we do spend far more time at the farm than we otherwise would. But we couldn't have kennels in our apartment, so it makes a fine board and train facility.
We put together bug-out bags in case of emergency, and I am learning some basic survival skills. I've done most of the reading, so the theory is there, but my real-life experience is limited, so I want to expand it. I don't expect to ever have to bug-out with no notice, but it's handy to have what we need on hand ie: dry-goods, water, etc. in case we get snowed in or something. The bug-out bags are only good for the worst case scenario, though. Ideally, we'll never encounter that, but in addition to bug-out bags, I made a purchase this year that I really like.
I got the military modular 4-piece sleep set. The DOD ordered a bunch in woodland camo, and then when it came down to visual tests in afghanistan, they were too visible. So they went on sale real cheap, because many (though never actually put to use) were never used, but technically were 'used' because they'd been bought, paid for, shipped and declined. Go get one in woodland camo. There are many left for around $100.- It comes with a black stuff sack (piece 1) and an exterior green bag (piece 2) which is good for temperate weather, between 30 and 50 degrees. There is a heavier black bag (piece 3) which snaps into the exterior bag, which makes it good to -50 farenheit. I am unlikely to ever experience such extreme temperatures unless Emily takes me to the Iditarod. Then there is an exterior woodland camo bivy (piece 4) that snaps onto the exterior green bag, and is reported to be waterproof. I have not had a chance to test this, but it isn't waxy, oily, stiff, plastic or anything else that you would expect from a waterproof bivy, so I have to admit to being somewhat skeptical about that. I would advise using a groundcloth, which you should do anyway.
In the Summer we went to Colorado. I think this upcoming year I'm going to get a separate cabin or skip Colorado altogether. I would like to do something new and see some other kind of sight, though.
I rejoined CourtWatch (which is the program I got snatched out of to put in time at the Willow) after visiting my family for Thanksgiving. I get the drift that my parents feel bad about having been so freaky when I was first transitioning, but, eh.
My little brother had a baby this summer, and I've seen some pics, etc. but from what my mom says he refuses to acknowledge me. I don't know how much credence to give that, because she said the same thing about my sister, which my sister denies, but I don't -think- I ever hear directly from him either. I've texted his phone, and the messages I get back don't sound like him.
Many of our friends have also had babies- 3 boys in a row, and another on the way as of yet undertermined. Emily and I are still trying, but her mom just bought us a really bad-ass fertility monitor that should help aid in the process.
In the past couple of months- I've gained 20 pounds. I'm not too fussed about it, because I have been kind of slight, but have also had a kind of mystifying problem because my body wouldn't retain fat. Not the case anymore, it would seem. So this year- maybe I'll get chubby. That would be a newer kind of joy.
And finally- I've been nominated to the church council. It will come up for election in January, and while not everyone that has been nominated has always been elected- I don't foresee an objection that would prevent me from serving, so I look forward to that.
A couple of updates. Hazel died. She was remarkable. Rest in Peace.
And the couple that I married made it to their first year! I don't claim to take credit exactly, but I would feel like I'd failed them if they didn't.
Not all of this is in exact order, but I kind of tried to complete the details in chunks, which overlap. If you read this, you are invited to be part of my next year in review!
-Claven
Early this morning I had a dream that I got a really unproductive phone call (static) from a young bachelor at church who is not even in my phone. For some reason I had programmed him in my phone as 'oosquai' which is actually the Aiel liquor from a Robert Jordan series. Once the static cleared enough to identify him, I remembered putting him in my phone that way. And then I almost missed getting coffee with another different young bachelor because someone had replaced my red allstars with a dozen pair of red toms- the ladie's fashion casual, and I couldn't find any other shoes. I considered just wearing the toms, but they didn't fit.
And yesterday I turned 34.
This is the first year I hesitated about posting my age, because I'm actually older than Jesus was, so it feels like some chances at greatness may have slipped away. But- as mother Theresa says, we can do no great things. Only small things with great love. And there, I have had more success, though there's room for improvement.
This year, I've conquered the art of cast iron cooking, after much trial and error.
I've discovered that I really enjoy fishing, though I thought I never would after the childhood trauma that was worms, death and catching my little brother. And even though it still involves some death, I think I just never saw the usefulness in it as a child, because we never ate our catch. To avoid beginning another reflection on fishing- I'll move on.
I have not really advanced in fighting ed., mostly because the guy I was working with had a baby- but I did find some decent fighting workouts in a men's health magazine that I borrowed from Mike and now can't find. I had photocopied the workouts so I could take them with me and not damage his magazine by sweating on it, so I still do the workouts, and I think I'm healthier for them. I hope I returned it and just forgot.
I still hope to advance in fighting ed. and may decide to do some research and find a space to work elsewhere.
I also kind of rediscovered bicycling, as I do every September, and then quickly undiscover it when I get a pilonidal abscess from it. :(
I became the heart of court advocacy when Peggy left, and then I exited the Willow for good when I came under review for dismissal. That was because I hurt the executive director's pride when I called her wisdom into question for some terrible decisions she's made. The Willow has declined by nearly half since she came on. I think it may just kind of die, which is sad. They also refused to let me get my things and would only mail me roughly half of my personal effects after two solid years of volunteer work. But that's a side note. I've given up on it.
Emily left the safety net of the shelter for some of the same reasons I left the Willow- only she wasn't under any kind of review, she just decided not to take it anymore. And we were wait-listing people for Free State K9, which wasn't the goal, so she started doing that full-time, and it has really taken off. Props to her. However, we do spend far more time at the farm than we otherwise would. But we couldn't have kennels in our apartment, so it makes a fine board and train facility.
We put together bug-out bags in case of emergency, and I am learning some basic survival skills. I've done most of the reading, so the theory is there, but my real-life experience is limited, so I want to expand it. I don't expect to ever have to bug-out with no notice, but it's handy to have what we need on hand ie: dry-goods, water, etc. in case we get snowed in or something. The bug-out bags are only good for the worst case scenario, though. Ideally, we'll never encounter that, but in addition to bug-out bags, I made a purchase this year that I really like.
I got the military modular 4-piece sleep set. The DOD ordered a bunch in woodland camo, and then when it came down to visual tests in afghanistan, they were too visible. So they went on sale real cheap, because many (though never actually put to use) were never used, but technically were 'used' because they'd been bought, paid for, shipped and declined. Go get one in woodland camo. There are many left for around $100.- It comes with a black stuff sack (piece 1) and an exterior green bag (piece 2) which is good for temperate weather, between 30 and 50 degrees. There is a heavier black bag (piece 3) which snaps into the exterior bag, which makes it good to -50 farenheit. I am unlikely to ever experience such extreme temperatures unless Emily takes me to the Iditarod. Then there is an exterior woodland camo bivy (piece 4) that snaps onto the exterior green bag, and is reported to be waterproof. I have not had a chance to test this, but it isn't waxy, oily, stiff, plastic or anything else that you would expect from a waterproof bivy, so I have to admit to being somewhat skeptical about that. I would advise using a groundcloth, which you should do anyway.
In the Summer we went to Colorado. I think this upcoming year I'm going to get a separate cabin or skip Colorado altogether. I would like to do something new and see some other kind of sight, though.
I rejoined CourtWatch (which is the program I got snatched out of to put in time at the Willow) after visiting my family for Thanksgiving. I get the drift that my parents feel bad about having been so freaky when I was first transitioning, but, eh.
My little brother had a baby this summer, and I've seen some pics, etc. but from what my mom says he refuses to acknowledge me. I don't know how much credence to give that, because she said the same thing about my sister, which my sister denies, but I don't -think- I ever hear directly from him either. I've texted his phone, and the messages I get back don't sound like him.
Many of our friends have also had babies- 3 boys in a row, and another on the way as of yet undertermined. Emily and I are still trying, but her mom just bought us a really bad-ass fertility monitor that should help aid in the process.
In the past couple of months- I've gained 20 pounds. I'm not too fussed about it, because I have been kind of slight, but have also had a kind of mystifying problem because my body wouldn't retain fat. Not the case anymore, it would seem. So this year- maybe I'll get chubby. That would be a newer kind of joy.
And finally- I've been nominated to the church council. It will come up for election in January, and while not everyone that has been nominated has always been elected- I don't foresee an objection that would prevent me from serving, so I look forward to that.
A couple of updates. Hazel died. She was remarkable. Rest in Peace.
And the couple that I married made it to their first year! I don't claim to take credit exactly, but I would feel like I'd failed them if they didn't.
Not all of this is in exact order, but I kind of tried to complete the details in chunks, which overlap. If you read this, you are invited to be part of my next year in review!
-Claven