TheDaver.net

If you are still seeing this version of the daver.net, you’re missing out on all the fun.  I’ve launched a new blog site - still at thedaver.net - but because of the way certain RSS feeds (and similar) work, you may still be landing here on this, the old daver.net.

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.

I will be returning to Africa in December.  I can’t possibly tell you how excited I am to be returning to see some of the kids I’ve fallen in love with over the past 4 years.  Since it will be a Christmas trip, we are providing gifts to the children.  I know that some of you have pitched in to help in the past, and so I thought I’d put some information on thedaver.net in case you wanted to help again (or for the first time.)  Let me just say (by way of a “sales” pitch) that I have never, in my life, been so moved spiritually or emotionally as I’ve been when distributing Christmas gifts to these kids.  Please know that ANY donation, be it money or clothes or toys or whatever, has a direct and immediate impact on a child’s Christmas, a child who, by the way, has practically nothing in this world.

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.)

I’m back down from my little adventure to the Trinity Alps.  Here are some thoughts/details on the trip:

- 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.

I am due.  Really, really due.  For some time off, I mean.  I haven’t enjoyed REAL time off since…March?  So, here’s the plan: I’m leaving on Friday, via jet plane, for San Fran.  There I will meet up with my “through the years” best friend, Jeff Coleman.  Together we will head up Interstate 5 (”the 5″ is how I believe true left-coasters would refer to it) to northern California (NorCal) and one of the largest designated wilderness areas in the U.S. - the Trinity Alps.

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.

At the risk of becoming overly political (something I hope to never allow), let’s take a moment in this time of financial turmoil to remember the Bill Clinton years:

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.