If you will direct your browser to thedaver.net, you’ll see the new site (you can also click the blog image below).  If you want to subscribe via RSS/Atom subscribe, use the RSS link at the bottom of the page or click the tree at top.

The new site is still being tweaked, but is up and running with a few new posts.

Here’s the skinny, along with links to help if you so choose:

First, we are going to spend time with the kids from the BCC (where I’ve been before) and will be doing Christmas/VBS/etc. for about 65 kids.  To help the BCC kids, you can pick up some clothes and toys for a specific child and send your gifts along with us on the trip.  There are some special instructions on how this works, so here is a document from Buckner which details all you need to know:

Information to purchase gifts for the children at BCC

Secondly, we are going to a small village in the country called Kitale (I’ve never been.)  There is an orphanage there called “Seeds of Hope,” and we will be providing Christmas for about 110 kids.  Since we couldn’t fly that many presents over (there are only 8 or 9 of us going), Buckner is accepting monetary donations which will be used directly to buy Christmas gifts in Kenya.  The money won’t be used for any other reason.  Here is a link to donate money to the “Sees of Hope” Christmas event:

Make a donation to the “Seeds of Hope” Orphanage for Christmas

So, if you think you can spare $15 or $25 or $50 or whatever, or if you want to go to Target or Wal-Mart and shop for a needy child, I can’t think of a better way to share.  If you know me you know it’s not in my character to solicit money from any one, but having been a part of something so amazing, I thought I’d give you an opportunity to participate as well.

If you’re not sure what route to take, or if you have questions, email Jessica Garcia at “jgarcia”AT”buckner.org” (replace “AT” with @, silly.)

- The mountains/rivers/streams/views/trees were even better than I had hoped.  See a small sampling of photos below.

-It can get COLD in the mountains in October at night.  Say, in the high teens, low 20’s cold.  On Thursday night we crawled in our sleeping bags at 7:30 p.m. just to stay warm, and didn’t come out until 9:06 a.m. the next day (when the sun finally hit our tent.)  By the way, it snowed just a bit on us.

-  According to Jeff’s watch, we hiked a total of just under 30 hours.  My best guess is we covered around 35 to 40 miles in all.

- I’d say just about half of the trip was uphill.  Sometimes BIG uphill.  If you want to get up in the mountains, you have to uphill (words to live by.)  I held up OK physically, but there were times I just wanted to sit down and cry.
-  No bears.  Good and bad on that point.

-  Going off-trail is fun, and a bit nerve-wracking.  Same for boulder-hopping.

-  A good map and, as in this case, a good guide book are indispensable.

- It’s a bad thing to over-pack when backpacking.  It’s probably worse to under-pack.

- 5 days without a shower stinks (get it?)  3 days without brushing my teeth was a conscious decision.

- Mountain stream water, in October, is cold.  Too cold for swimming.  But it’s beautiful!

- Following mountain rivers to their headwaters, and the lakes that reside there, is a very, very rewarding thing to do.
- My friend Jeff is still quite the liberal, but the kind of liberal I like.

- I love backpacking and camping!  Why don’t I do this more often?

Now for some photos:

As I said, you gotta go uphill to get in the mountains.

Part of Canyon Creek, in a calm moment.

Panorama of Lower Canyon Creek Lake (several photos stitched together in Photoshop.)

Forbidden Lake: a really great place, but hard to get to.  Worth the scrambling and bushwacking.

Boulder Creek Lake (one of several little “ponds” that make up the Lakes).

Lower Canyon Creek Lake from the south end.

I’ll post more thoughts and photos on the trip soon.

Now, I’ve never been to the Trinity Alps.  In fact, I only heard about them this summer while reading a book loaned to me by one Vella Karman.  But they sound great, they’re not far from Jeff’s place, and, as I mentioned, I am due.

Here is a glimpse of what I hope to experience:

Lots of wilderness, lots of solitude (except for Jeff, but he’s OK), lots of hiking, and lots of lakes, cirques, cairns, sugar pines, talus slopes, boulders, granite shelves and sunsets.

We plan on backpacking 4-5 days, covering 30-40 miles.  Jeff is a runner and fitness-oriented person.  I’m George Costanza.  Hopefully I don’t slow him down too much.  Regardless, it should be fun.  Be sure of this, however: come Friday, I will be officially UNPLUGGED for the following 8 days.  No work, no email, no Photoshop, no video editing, no website…nada!

As I said, I’m due.  Wish me luck.

New York Times - September 30th, 1999

“In a move that could help increase home ownership rates among minorities and low-income consumers, the Fannie Mae Corporation is easing the credit requirements on loans that it will purchase from banks and other lenders.

The action, which will begin as a pilot program involving 24 banks in 15 markets — including the New York metropolitan region — will encourage those banks to extend home mortgages to individuals whose credit is generally not good enough to qualify for conventional loans (i.e. - sub-prime loans - DA). Fannie Mae officials say they hope to make it a nationwide program by next spring.

Fannie Mae, the nation’s biggest underwriter of home mortgages, has been under increasing pressure from the Clinton Administration to expand mortgage loans among low and moderate income people and felt pressure from stock holders to maintain its phenomenal growth in profits.”

As we now know, this move didn’t turn out too well.  In fact, the author of the article thought it might turn out poorly as well:

In moving, even tentatively, into this new area of lending, Fannie Mae is taking on significantly more risk, which may not pose any difficulties during flush economic times. But the government-subsidized corporation may run into trouble in an economic downturn, prompting a government rescue similar to that of the savings and loan industry in the 1980’s.

‘’From the perspective of many people, including me, this is another thrift industry growing up around us,'’ said Peter Wallison a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. ‘’If they fail, the government will have to step up and bail them out the way it stepped up and bailed out the thrift industry.'’

I’d say ole Pete Wallison nailed it.

Please don’t think I’m blaming St. Bill on this.  I just want to call attention to the fact that this massive financial upheaval is far from being the result of our current president’s tenure.  The fact is, Washington has screwed up, and has been doing so for years.  Collectively, Washington has led us down this road.  The fact is, Congressmen/women may be really smart, but they do really dumb things.

I hope they figure things out.

However, a new dawn is breaking. I hereby resolve to get back on my feet…er, keyboard…and do thedaver.net justice. I must warn you, however, there is precious little material to work with at the moment. Work! It’s all work, all day, every day. Yea, though the summer has ended I walk through the valley of Photoshop, Adobe Premiere and Apple Final Cut Pro, and I fear all marketing material. (Sorry, a touch blasphemous, methinks.) Point is, not much going on right now except the rush to get things done. What makes it all so difficult is the fact I really don’t have a clue how to do what I’m supposed to do. Thankfully I am surrounded by people much better than myself, people who do the heavy lifting.

But! I haven’t quit thinking, for goodness sakes. Here are some thoughts to share, to hold you over until I can really sink my teeth into a topic.

- I was given a book lately, “Chasing Daylight.” It’s about seizing your “divine moment” and living the life of danger and adventure that God calls us all to. After reading page 46, the single worst page of writing I’ve read in many years, I’ve decided I would rather eat shards of glass than continue reading this book. Maybe I’m just in a bad mood.

- I’ve been watching the political election/convention drama. Here’s an obvious fact: Both parties, the Republicans and the Democrats, are a bunch of liars, swindlers, fabulists, deceivers, shysters, and much worse. The candidates, the advisers, the strategists…they all comprise a cabal, specializing in the craft of making noise favorable to themselves and harmful to the other, the truth be damned. Aided by their enablers, MSNBC for the left and Fox News for the right, the political/media machine has begun it’s assault upon the good people of this country in earnest, acting smart but excelling in the asinine. God help us, and please pass the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones.

- Sarah Palin was pretty awesome, however.

- Favorite moment of the Olympics: The German weightlifter who won the gold medal and held up a picture of his recently deceased wife. Watch the drama here.

- Olympic sport I enjoyed the most while understanding it the least: Field Hockey.

- If you like to read, and I know you do, and you like the craft of writing, you might like this guy. I read every article he writes.

- Hurricanes are bad, bad things (well, not intrinsically bad, they just create bad situations.) But, when a hurricane causes a family you know to evacuate and come stay with you, and a friend of that family comes along and makes everyone homemade gumbo…well, that’s a good thing. And it was.

- It’s nigh impossible to find a lovely rent house on the edge of the city with country views and a couple of acres of wooded land and a stream and a fence and a landlord who allows pets…all for $800/month. Really, it’s just not happening.

That’s all for now. Please don’t give up thedaver.net just yet. I’ll try to redeem myself.

Over the years my job in the summer has shifted quite a bit.  I spend much more time in the office (booo!), much less time with kids (boooo! boooo!) and much more time talking to parents about their little prides and joys (eeehhhh.)  Basically, I’ve become the vice-principal of camp.  If a kid acts up, I usually deal with it.  If little Johnny punches little Billy in the face because Billy took Johnny’s Kooky Pen, I’m called in.  If Suzie refused to clean her bunk area and throws a hissy because Sally made fun of her hat which is painted purple and has pieces of trash glued to it, I’m the fixer.

I’m not the first line of defense: that would be the cabin counselors, followed by the “top staff.”  But more often than not I get the call, the nod, the invite into the madness that is 7-year old boy social dynamics, or, worst of all, the hideous, murky, unfathomable miasma of 13-year old girls and their parallel, twilight zone universe.  Weird thing is, though, I kindof like it.  I like sitting down with little Billy or Suzie and trying to understand them, hearing them out.  Usually the misbehavior is brought on by some twisted tale involving invaded personal space, touched toys, bad looks, whispers, cutting in line and farty noises.  Sometimes, though, you get the truly sad stories, stories of neglect and anger and wrecked homes and moms and dads who hate each other.  Breaks my heart at times, but also puts me in a position to say some kind words and try to help.

Beyond being the vice-principal, I’m busy with lots of other stuff.  It is probably all too boring to lay out, so I’ll pass.  It’s hard to stay caught up on the news, but I try.  Here is what’s been happening lately, and some thoughts:

• Tim Russert died.  I liked him.  He was about the only political news guy I could stand, and seemed like a really nice guy.
• The country of Zimbabwe is descending into chaos due to rigged elections.  The story of Africa continues.
• 800 or more people died in a ferry accident in the Philippines.  What’s to say?  Tragedies, by definition, are tragic.
• George Carlin died.  And…?
• Gas prices continues to soar.  It stinks, but it is what it is.  Oil (gasoline) is “non-renewable” and we’re bound to run out someday.  (Still, over $5/gallon for diesel?  Ouch!)
  
• Barack Obama and John McCain are starting to go at it.  Please, wake me up when it’s over.  I know there’s a need for politicians, but does the process have to be so…sad?
• Roger Federer is on his way to winning Wimbledon again.  I love Roger Federer.  Really.  I do.
  
• The Celtics won the NBA championship.  And, in more exciting news, a man from Chicopee, Massachussets, won the annual World Rock, Paper, Scissors championship.  Rock beats scissors every time.

I’m sure there is more going on, but this is about all I can manage.  As I said, I’m very tired.

Tim Russert died the other day, June 13th, suddenly, and has left behind a stunned community of viewers, co-workers and others who knew him. I’ve spent a little time reading and watching what others are saying about him, usually said through strained voice and teary eyes, and I can’t help but be truly impressed by the fact that not one person, not one, has had anything remotely negative to say. Everyone who knew him genuinely seems to have respected, admired and loved him. You get the sense that Mr. Russert was a force of humble personality, unaffected enthusiasm and true passion. I’ve been impressed by how effusive the praise has been, and I’ve wished, more than once, that I had more of the qualities he seemed to possess. Probably the best quote I’ve heard about him was “he was the best Tim Russert he could have been.” That’s pretty high praise.

I know this is a pretty random topic, but as you get older perhaps you tend to sit up and pay more attention when someone public dies before their time. As I said, I liked Tim Russert and I’m sad he’s gone.

Read more about Tim Russert .

There is a group called “Code Pink” protesting a Marine recruiting center in Berkeley, California. I’ve been keeping up with the story for a while. It’s official now, though. They are crazy.

I want to live closer to my friends in Dallas, but I also want to keep living in the country. Moving to Dallas would, I’m sure, shorten my life.

Sometimes I want to quit my job, sell all of my stuff and just head out the door. Sometimes I don’t. Nothing stopping me, though. Mmmmm…….

I bet Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are tired. Not as tired as I am, though, of hearing about their race for the nomination.

Speaking of politics, if the Democrats win the White House and Bill O’Reilly were to suddenly be cancelled, would Keith Olbermann cease to exist?

Why is it that, at a time like this, when my job is making me exhausted, I can’t sleep? I get home, sometimes in the wee hours of the morning, and just lay there watching infomercials and “Planet of the Apes.”

Technology is great, but I think I hate it. We have recently added IP phones to our office, which means modifying all of DNS records, and our MX records for email, and our internet provider, who is using multiple T1 lines to accommodate our IP phones and dedicated lines for data amongst our three distinct office sites. Of course, our VPN settings have changed as well, although supposedly we won’t need them with our dedicated lines. We might use DSL as a backup in case the T1 QOS isn’t met. And I hardly need to mention that our internet gateway settings have changed since our internet access is now routed remotely. We also need to add new A records to our DNS settings, because we’ve also mover our website host server. This means a whole new IP number for DNS record with Network Solutions, which, of course, trickles down to everthing website related. Hopefully our nameserver update has propagated by now….I’m so glad I got into the summer camp business. (I don’t know what any of this means, by the way.

I’ve grown to really like sushi. And, I’ve learned to eat with chopsticks. Except rice. That’s crazy talk.

My 25th high school reunion is coming up this summer. I don’t think it’s possible that I could care less. I hated high school (except wrestling.) Scariest wrestler of all time:

Ok, that’s it. I have to get back to work.

1. A bicycle can’t stand alone because it is two-tired.

2. What’s the definition of a will? It’s a dead giveaway.

3. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

4. A backward poet writes inverse.

5. In democracy it’s your vote that counts; In feudalism, it’s your Count that votes.

6. A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.

7. If you don’t pay your exorcist you get repossessed.

8. With her marriage she got a new name and a dress.

9. Show me a piano falling down a mine shaft and I’ll show you A-flat minor.

10. When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds.

11. The man who fell into an upholstery machine is fully recovered.

12. A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blownapart.

13. You feel stuck with your debt if you can’t budge it.

14. Local Area Network in Australia: The LAN down under.

15. He often broke into song because he couldn’t find the key.

16. Every calendar’s days are numbered.

17. A lot of money is tainted. ‘Taint yours and ‘taint mine.

18. A boiled egg in the morning is hard to beat.

19. He had a photographic memory which was never developed.

20. A plateau is a high form of flattery.

21. The short fortuneteller who escaped from prison was a small medium at
large.

22. Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.

23. When you’ve seen one shopping center you’ve seen a mall.

24. Those who jump off a Paris bridge are in Seine.

25. When an actress saw her first strands of gray hair she thought she’d dye.

26. Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead to know basis.

27. Santa’s helpers are subordinate clauses.

28. Acupuncture is a jab well done.

29. Marathon runners with bad footwear suffer the agony of defeat.