Best Intentions...

Sometimes good ideas just don't pan out.  We're currently on vacation in Breckenridge and stopped in Frisco for some essentials.  We drove by Dillon lake and I decided I wanted to get a picture.  I loved how the mountains and the sky looked and the lake was partially frozen so I was hoping I might be able to capture something special.

We parked by the marina and my wife and daughter wisely stayed in the car while I made my way out to the "right spot" to take pictures.  There was some clutter all around the pier so I decided to venture out a bit onto what looked like snow and dirt where the waters of the lake had receded.  Wearing my trusty Gortex laced Merrills, I started out over patches of snow, ice and dirt.  Unfortunately those patches of snow were really very thin layers resting on top of about a foot or so of Rockie Mountain mud.  Ok, so perhaps this wasn't one of those "times that try men's souls" but I wasn't about to be denied a great picture because of ankle deep mud.

After hopping, skipping and jumping to a dry spot I finally got to my perfect destination.  I quickly got off some shots from a couple different angles.  I tried getting several multiple low angel shots, at different exposures so I could practice with my HDR.  I didn't want to spend too much time there because I figured the women folk would be getting antsy.  Confident I got what I wanted, I headed back to the car, scraping and dragging my feet through fresh snow in an attempt to remove all the mud.

Well, long story short (I know, too late), we got back to the room and I immediately began processing my pics.  To my dismay I failed to ensure that I had taken multiple pictures, not just at different exposures but also at different focus points.  All the low angle shots had out of focus foregrounds.  So for all that effort and perseverance, I was only able to manage the pano you see above.  I don't think it's entirely a bad picture but it wasn't exactly what I was hoping for.

So I guess we just need to make the best of a situation.  And even though we try to overcome obstacles in life, things may not always turn out as we had hoped.  Even the greatest ball players strike out from time to time.  That's no reason to quit.  There's always next time.  :-)

Southern California Sunset...

I would never presume to think I could possibly capture the magnificence of a California sunset but I hope what I've shared provides just an inkling of how beautiful those sunsets really are.  Now don't get me wrong, I love living in Colorado and feel quite at home among the majestic mountains but there's something about California sunsets that goes beyond words.  I can sit for hours just looking out over the ocean, watching the sun slowly sink below the horizon and feel completely at peace.  God has an amazing way to make you feel so small compared to the grandeur of nature and yet so much a part of it all.  What a blessing...

Taking the High Road...

I sometimes wonder at what point, when we aspire to "take the high road", does integrity become shame?  Hey folks, I don't pretend to know the answer.  That's why I'm asking.  As far back as our childhood we've been challenged with "taking the high road", to be a better person, when we feel that things are working against us.  Kinda goes back to the whole "turn the other cheek" thing.  How many times do we have to be slapped in the face until we decide to say "enough"?

I really don't know the answer.  There are times when I think I'm "taking the high road", avoiding confrontation, trying not to sink to someone else's level.  After a while I feel this imbalance inside me.  I can only attribute it to a conflict I feel between my desire to turn my back on another person's misplaced aggression and my need to maintain my personal integrity.  I know myself well enough that my knee-jerk reaction is to pop someone when they've hurt me and I've spent years trying to overcome that.  But, man, there are times, after taking so many punches to the chin that I have to say enough is enough!  Remember that classic line from "The Untouchables"?  "They pull a knife, you pull a gun.  They send one of yours to the hospital, you send one of theirs to the morgue."  LOVE it and in most cases I tend to live it.  I know, I know, I'm working on that. 

Sorry folks, no sage advice here.  I think that answer will be different for each of us.  I just know it's something I need to think about and pray about when the situations arise.  There are so many questions I have for God but to be honest, if he only answered one, I think this would be it. 

Lord, help me find that high road...

Focus...

I was originally planning a rant on the comings and goings of Kim Kardashian and similar media whores, the entertainment moguls who promote them (thank you Ryan Seacrest) and the mindless millions that deify their virtual existence.  But recent events have steered my ship of discontent towards calmer waters. 

I was incredibly fortunate this past week to meet a long lost uncle and cousin I never knew existed until about a year ago.  On the heals of that event, I had an epiphany in regards to the wonderful people in my life who have provided inspiration, strength, compassion, love and friendship.  It really got me thinking, "why the hell do I want to dwell on the life of an insignificant, misguided person when I have such gifts in the family and friendships I have?"  And for that matter, why would I care about the drama and pettiness that exists much closer to me in my day to day life?  It's amazing how easy it is to lose focus on what's important in our lives. 

Maybe I'm rehashing old ideas from previous rants but this is something that bears repeating.  I have an incredibly large and wonderful family.  I have my Colorado and Nevada family.  My Portland and California family.  My Idaho and Montana family.  There's also my 14er family, my Brat family, my Facebook family and even my Texas family.  There are so many more folks that make up my circle of influences.  When I sit and meditate on it, it's incredible to realize how vast it is.  There are folks I've known for years, those I've known for months, even those I've only met once, yet they all are treasures in my life.  For all the random crap that makes up my day, it doesn't remotely measure up to all the gifts I have in the people in my life. 

I apologize to not only you, my dear friends, but to myself, for allowing myself from time to time, to slip into this coma of down right mean-spirited pettiness and resentment.  I truly need to keep the "eye on the prize" when it comes to how I embrace each and every day.  I have so much to be thankful for and so much to rejoice over. 

Here's to all of you, my family!

Reminds me...

 

Ok, I have to admit, I had seen a similar picture of the one above and it blew me away so I wanted to see if I could do the same thing.  Whenever I learn something new, my go-to technique has always been to copy someone else.  I try to see if I can follow the same steps they took and see if I can come close to replicating what they've done.   If I can get close, my next step is to tweak whatever steps I took, to modify the process so that I could call the end result my own.  

It was funny, when I was taking this picture today, I had to lie flat on my back and point my camera straight up through  a grove of beautiful Aspen trees.  The funny thing about it was as I was doing this, I immediately had a memory of living in Hawaii as a small boy, lying on cool, green grass, staring up at this magnificent blue sky.  To this day I'm not sure I've seen a sky so blue.  I actually laid there for a while, just enjoying the view, comparing it to my childhood memory.  Even as I started to notice that I had a bunch of prickly branches, weeds and leaves poking me in the back, I really didn't care.  It seemed that for once in a long time I actually took a moment to show some child-like appreciation for my surroundings.  

Sometimes I miss my youth.  Not that I want to relive anything.  But I do miss the simple, carefree moments of life.  Perhaps today's experience was God's way of keeping me a little young at heart.  I hope He does the same for you...

You've Had a Wonderful Life...

Listen to me, this is REALLY important.... Are you ready?  Ok, here goes...We are ALL George Bailey!  What's that you say, John?  Has the bar opened a little earlier than usual?  Nope, afraid not.  Just stating a clear and honest truth.  All of us, no matter what our upbringing, no matter what our personal experiences, we've all had a wonderful life.  Some of you will nod "yes" and close out this blog.  See you next time.  Now, for the rest of you that think I'm full of an excessive amount of shit, I'm willing to go to the mats on this one. 

Now, I'll admit, comparatively speaking my life has been pretty ok these past 49 years.  Sure, I've been divorced, had some financial troubles, some emotional set backs, as well as family drama, whatever.  Yes, I've even considered suicide on two separate occasions in my life.  Blah, blah, blah.  But it's also true I've never experienced the death of a loved one, never personally experienced a violent act of aggression against me.  But I do have my share of emotional baggage, some of it carry on, some of it I checked at the counter.  But you know what?  I've survived all that bullshit.  And you know something else?  If you're reading this, you've survived YOUR bullshit as well.  You've overcome.  You've persevered.  Whether you think so or not, there's a part of you, that survivor, that overcame ALL that garbage that nearly destroyed you. And look who you have become?  This amazing, wonderful, inspirational person that we love, respect and admire.  More so than you could POSSIBLY imagine. 

This is probably the part where I lose all you cynics. I imagine many of you are choking on the "wonderful, inspirational..." part but whether you believe it or not, you are all those things and more.  Many people have come before you, have been faced with the same hardships you've faced and gave up.  They're gone.  They packed it in.  But not you!  You survived.  Something inside you said "NOT today".  That's why you're here now, reading this.  That alone is enough to earn my respect and admiration.  You may not feel like a hero but you are.  For all those who survived hardships in life, you've inspired others to endure theirs.  Remember the line from the movie?  "Harry didn't save the men on that transport because you weren't there to save Harry."  If you weren't here now, how would others be inspired to endure the hardships of life as you have? 

So, whether you believe it or not, you've had a wonderful life.  Your ability to survive and grow from life's experiences has cleared a path for the rest of us to follow.  Your spirit and your strength feeds the rest of us on our journey through life.  My love, thanks and admiration are yours, always...

Daughters...

I think daughters are God’s promise that life will always be filled with new and exciting discoveries of joy.  For every moment I think I’ve seen or experienced it all, my beautiful Sam shows me something new and wonderful.  I certainly can’t take credit for the woman she has become but I thank God that he’s given me a front row seat to her beautiful story that plays out before me each and every day.  For all daughters young and old, please know that you own the heart of your father, no matter where he is.  And for you, fathers, cherish the blessing that God has provided you with his most precious angel.