This Girl!

I'm driving myself crazy over this girl. I literally dream about her...more than I should really.  I don't have her number. I don't know where she lives.  Rarely do our paths cross. I know enough to know that she is all I want to know about.

• She is stylish.  
• She is smart. 
• She is funny.  
• She is her own person.  
• She owns who she is.  
• She is gorgeous.  
• She has this face.

The main problem is that she hasn't spent a half a second losing sleep over me.  She doesn't dream about me or think about me.  She doesn't know me.  She hasn't bothered to and I don't think she ever will no matter what I do.

That makes me sad.

You know, you build someone up to a point where the idea of who they are is almost always better than they really are.  I am 100% sure I am doing that.  I know there are problems, issues, realities that I simply don't know and am not aware of.  I get that.  But through the rose colored glasses that I see her, she is something else. 

DINNER

That is the name of my imaginary restaurant.

Concept:

• One big table that would seat about 20 people.  
• Family style seating.  
• There would be up to 2 seating times per night. 
• Fixed menu each night and would include 3 courses. 
• Reserve seats in advance for the dinner you feel like eating. 

The Menu:  I have worked on a few dishes that I would feel comfortable scaling and doing in larger quantities.  I want to be able to provide a variety of meals that range from family friendly to selective up-scale dishes.  Each night would be priced differently but a flat fee.  Some would be an all you can eat style some would be served 'as is.'

• Herb Crusted Pork Tenderloin on Rosemary Polenta topped with a sweet raspberry sauce. 
• Pan Fried Balsamic Lemon Peel Chicken with risotto. 
• New York Strip with whipped potatoes and roasted asparagus.
• Homemade Lasagna of freshly made pasta and red sauce. Fresh baguettes.
• Macadamia crusted Ahi with a mango salsa.
• Breakfast at DINNER! Eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, french toast, grits, hash browns.
• Grilled TeryiakiPork Tenderloin on coconut rice and grilled pineapple, sauteed leeks.
• Roasted Sage Chicken with scalloped potatoes and green beans. 

I would bake fresh breads and make my own dressings and desserts. Or I could open dessert up to a local sweets maker and have them sponsor it. Coupons, gift bags, etc.  

I also thought it would be fun to sell the leftovers for people that wanted to take what was left home.  Waste not.  I also wanted to make some cookies each night to send home with each party. A little something to remember me by.  Or maybe the Reeve hand dipped cherries and mints.

Anyone have any thoughts?

What a Long, Strange Trip It's Been

I'm gonna start this post with a title that young people won't get.  That is sort of the point of this post.   BTW - It is a Grateful Dead song. Go use the internet to figure it out.

I've had a rough week emotionally. My age, even though I feel youthful and young, apparently is something that is becoming quite obvious to younger (than me) people.  It is troubling because I don't feel like these people should be labeling me as "old."

My problem is, while I am ONLY 33, it obviously looks different from some younger eyes.  What these people don't know is that I don't FEEL 33, I don't act 33, and I don't like being 33.  I liked 23 much better.  I still feel 23, a bit wiser for sure but I am still a carefree, fun-loving fool.  Maybe I am just scared to embrace it.  I mean, I listen to talk radio...I don't know how that happened but I guess my age is showing in more ways than one.

Here are the things I remember that have scarred me in the past few days.

1) I subbed and taught some 9 year olds in Sunday School.  They kept telling me I was old.  I had to explain that I was still younger than their parents. (thankfully)

2) A girl I work with told me I reminded her of Phillip Seymour Hoffman from Along Came Polly.  FML.

3) Tonight at Karaoke some kid brought a guitar and asked if he could sing a song about transforming into an Indian. (feather) The DJ told him no but he could sing. I was right there and said that he should sing a song from The Doors. Jim Morrison seemed to have a thing for them. It went like this.
Kid: You mean 3 Doors Down?
Me: No The DOORS, Jim Morrison? Light My Fire? The End?
Kid: I don't know who that is.
Me:Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii, really?
I didn't know if I should punch him or myself or just beat him with his won guitar.

4) Separate event at Karaoke. 4 girls probably 18ish, I'll go +/- 1 year, are at the DJ booth trying to pick a song.  I ask one of the girls, "What song are you going to sing?"  She looks at me and says, "Sir?"  Time out. WTF?  Did I just get Sir'ed? So I ma'am'ed her back and she just got more confused.

5) Some girl on Twitter said (to someone else, not me) "it is no wonder you are 25 and single." F. I'm 33 and single.

6) A couple of days ago I was trimming my facial scruff and I noticed for the first time in my life I had 3-4 gray whiskers.  I freaked out a little inside. I wasn't expecting that...for about 15 more years.

In the midst of all this, for the past few weeks I am using this app called Tinder.  The fact that you have to look it up or don't know what it is should be reason enough...  Basically you look at a profile and like them or pass.  If a person you like also likes you, you are notified of a mutual interest.  This is what I hear happens because in the few weeks I have used it, I have liked PLENTY of girls on there in all age ranges, I have yet to have a match. I am a little embarrassed to admit to it but whatever.

So there you have it.  I'm gonna go make some references about the 80's since none of them were born yet.

Les Miserables: The Breakdown

As I watched the movie for a second time tonight, I realized that probably the biggest reason I love the story so much is because I can relate to each of the main characters so easily.  I see their plight and I am moved. (It helps that the accompanying musical arrangements are so moving.)  Music goes a long way to make the story more meaningful, at least to me.

Valjean:  I think for the most part I am a good, caring person but at the same time I am not perfect; there are things I have done that I would wish to escape from.  You run from the past, creating new opportunities.  You struggle to make the right decisions as life comes at you.

Fantine: I have hit some hard times.  You do what you can to scrape by.  You feel slighted and people have done me wrong in my mind.  Maybe it was "just business" or a by-product of an uncontrollable bad situation but it still messed up life.  You pay your debts as best you can and hope that is enough.  Sometimes people come to bail you out.

Javert: Do we not all feel a sense of duty?  Haven't we all been so blinded by that "duty" or by taking that hardline approach that we aren't able to see what is fair and reasonable past what is "right?" His unceasing discipline to law and justice are admirable and sometimes in life that is all we want for people.  I hope they get what is coming to them.

Cosette: Dreamy, aloof, blindly optimistic even though you know you are being kept in the dark.  Suddenly you see the light and your focus becomes clear.  There is meaning.

Marius: Oh my have there been times where I was struck to the bone in a moment of breathless delight!  I have felt that longing, the angst that comes from loving someone and only want the best for them and to be with them.

Eponine: It always seems like On My Own is a theme.  Unrequited love.  Never getting back what you put out.  Never the bride, just the dude facilitator for others to find their happiness. That hurt of not being loved the way you wish you could be loved.

I have spent a little time as each one of them during my life.  I have felt their pains and struggles.  I have walked in their shoes...or bare feet as it were in some cases.  I love the musical so much. The story is magical, emotional, meaningful.

Thanks French Revolution and Victor Hugo!

On Gun Control - Potential Enhancements

I'm just spitballing here. I own a gun, I am a reasonable person, so I am throwing out some ideas that could potentially help.

I mentioned a couple of ideas in my last post that could help as well.  This included written and field testing to ensure people know the laws and can effectively operate the firearm they are purchasing.  I also suggested a requirement to possible join a properly formed and certified militia that would help in these training processes and address the issues of safety, proper storing and use of firearms.

Here are a few other ideas that I am not opposed to.

States could give their teachers the option to conceal carry a firearm for their protection and the safety of their students. Additional funding could be provided as well for armed security or law enforcement at each school.

Gun control could be more like cars. Guns could have a title with them. So when you sell a firearm to someone, the title is transferred as well.  There is documentation of the sale/purchase.  I line of ownership can determined, traced and followed.

There could also be a potential governing body, probably the ATF, that would house a central database for these transactions.  Laws could be put in place if guns are sold improperly.

The background checks could search deeper than they do.  There could be something similar to the No Fly List for guns or the sex offender registry.  A place where people can go to see if who is on that list. This would be effective for people at gun shows who are selling guns privately.

I understand that this won't solve the problem. Aliases, fake IDs, dishonest people could all find ways around this. Look at Mexico, they have tighter gun laws than we do and yet criminals and cartels, all the people you don't to have guns, somehow have them.  But we can take steps to try and do something.  I don't think any reasonable, responsible gun owner wants innocent people to be slain, by any weapon, especially guns.

Gun Control - What Can Be Done?

Here are some of my thoughts on the Gun Control issue from the past.  As always I have kept an open mind and heart to the whims and rhetoric of both sides of the issue as events occur.

http://presidentcalebreeve.blogspot.com/2008/12/guns.html

http://www.lp.org/issues/gun-laws

http://creeve.blogspot.com/2008/04/virginia-tech-and-gun-control.html

What has happened today, events just this year, and also in the past years, have been terrible, atrocious, and horrific. I do not condone them. I am pained by the actions of these people who commit heinous acts of violence, especially towards innocent children. My heart hurts for the loss of life.  I love children.  It is so sad to me that someone could do something like this.

This person was obviously disturbed.  As have been the people who have committed these violent acts in the past.  I have yet to see a responsible, level headed, gun owner go on a shooting rampage and kill dozens of innocent people.  To me, it is similar to drunk driving.  There are people out there who are responsible when they drink.  They have a designated driver, they call a cab, they limit their consumption.  It is the same with gun owners.  Some, unfortunately and tragically, decide to abuse the powers they have been given.  It is so with guns and these mass shooting we have seen recently.

I don't think guns should be outlawed entirely.  That is not what needs to happen.  I think a better screening process and training could be put in place.  Something similar to a driver's license could be issued that needs to be renewed annually or biannually.  It would list what guns you own.  A test would look at different factors relating to gun laws. i.e.

• What are the local laws that regulate gun use in your Town, City, State? 
• Knowledge about what federal laws regulate gun ownership?   
• Can a person demonstrate that they can use a gun properly? (I think a field test should be necessary as well.)

Or maybe another option is that in order to own a firearm of any kind you must belong to an official militia.  This militia would be governed by laws created by congress and enforced by the ATF or another responsible government entity.  It would not be something where meeting the qualifications is nearly impossible but something a reasonable person can sign up for.  They can assemble for regular meetings, trainings and where local issues could be discussed.  It also satisfies the literal definition of the 2nd Amendment.  In addition, there may come a time when we have to defend ourselves FROM our own government if there is ever severe oppression.  The 2nd Amendment speaks to that as well.

It is for these reasons I argue that guns should not be outlawed completely but well regulated in a manner that doesn't create an impossible set of requirements but shows dedication, appreciation and respect for weapons that can cause such tragedies as the one we have seen today.

Believe - Real Salt Lake

As you may know I am a big time Real Salt Lake fan. I have been involved with the team on several levels.  I was a marketing intern in 2008 and got to be on the field for the MLS All-Star game. I have been a part of some of the fun stuff they do as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_ukrWaCZ1A

I am going on my 3rd year of being a Season Ticket Holder. I have 2 of the best seats in the stadium. Seriously. They are amazing! 

So many things are going right with the team even amidst the personnel shake up happening. (Which I don't foresee being a hiccup to the upcoming season.) Attendance is growing; selling out games on the regular! More and more season ticket holders are joining the ranks.  We even have an anthem that we sing.  It gets the crowd (and the players) PUMPED!

For the next level I think it would be fun to bring 2 great traditions together. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the RSL Believe Anthem.  Wouldn't it be fun to get in the Tabernacle with the organ blasting  it while the choir sang their hearts out?

I do.

There is nothing wrong with what we have currently but maybe we need a few more verses to bring it all together.  Now I don't profess to be a master lyricist by an means but I wrote a little verse that may be suitable. You tell me.  If you don't like it or think you can do better, go ahead and comment with a verse of your own.  I will compile what I get and we can put it to a vote.

Here is what I came up with:

In the heart of Zion a Lion has been found
Rally the Battle Cry
Royal the Army retreat will never sound
I am Salt Lake for Life

In the meantime, I will work my connections to get the performance bit worked out. You know, my connections...with MoTab and old Tommy Monson. My grandma is a widow so... (Tongue in cheek people.)

The Election Reaction

There is probably a need to talk a look at a 3rd party in this country. Not a crazy one with a singular issue but a robust encompassing party that can do things better than left or right, red or blue.  I call it, The Coalition.

http://presidentcalebreeve.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-decision-2012.html

Writing is Therapy.

Sometimes all you can do is write because the words are the only tangible thing you have to make sense of what is going on in life.  Sometimes I write because if you spell it out and let the thoughts flow onto the screen it will help put the pieces of the puzzle together or bring blurry frames into focus.  So you write the words down in hopes that it helps.  Then you feel embarrassed when you post them for anyone to see because it is cliche and really, why would anyone care?  But you do it anyway because maybe it will kinda make you feel better for doing it. I don't doubt the therapeutic benefits of spilling the ink.  My first instinct is to write a poem. The words don't come out any more.  I feel like I have written it before. Its all the same crap in a different order.  The themes haven't changed.

But I want to write.

At times I look back.  Actually, its not that I look back.  It is more that I feel the empty, that hole, that missing.  I feel and recognize the void in my life that should be filled with an undying, deeply meaningful love for a wife I don't have and children that I desperately want.  I'm lonely. I'm tired of being lonely. I hate being good at being single. I'm really good at it. I can be alone. I am used to it. But my tank is on empty. That little orange light seems to be getting brighter with every day that passes.

It makes me sad.

I look at myself and wish, not that things were better, but that they were different.  I am too old to not have babies.  I am too old to not have spent years in love with a girl that makes me smile every time I see her or hear her voice or look at the ring on my finger.  I feel old.  I am old.  Maybe not old by the standards of the world around me or my life expectancy but by my own expectations. But I have spent too many years alone in bed with no one. No cold feet touching my leg, no covers being stolen and waking up freezing. Too many years waking up with nothing and no one. 

It wears me down.

Tupac - A Tribute

When I was in High School the guys I was friends with were into classic rock.  I listened to a lot of Pink Floyd, Zepplin, The Doors, Grateful Dead when I was with them. We would rock out and learned a great deal about that era of music.

But when I was on my own, for some reason, I somehow became enchanted with rap. I got involved with it.  It talked about places and a life I didn't know anything about growing up as a young, faithful Mormon living in suburbia with a mom, dad and 4 sisters.  Gangster rap and that lifestyle was something totally alien to me. 

I remember listening to the Beastie Boys while I sat outside of my sister's closed bedroom door.  It was the mid 80's so I couldn't have been more than 7 when License to Ill came out.  I remember being in 3rd grade and 2 Live Crew dropped Me So Horny on the radio waves.  But while riding the bus to school, I heard the unedited version.  It was filthy, something I wasn't used to.  I blushed. 

My next experience with rap was when MC Hammer blew up in 1990.  Please, Hammer Don't Hurt Em was the first tape I ever bought.  On New Year's Eve 1990, we had just moved to California and our parents surprised us with a visit to our old house which hadn't sold yet. So I was in the basement of that unsold house in Medfield Mass, radio on, listening to the countdown of the top 40 songs of the year. All I had hoped for was that U Can't Touch This was #1. It was! I was thrilled.  Shortly thereafter, Vanilla Ice got huge and I bought that tape.  The first 2 albums I had ever purchased with my own money were rap. I was 11. 

I got a job in 1994 at Thrifty's selling ice cream.  I worked with a dude there, I can't remember his name, but he made me a mixed tape full of local Bay Area rappers that I had never heard of before. Luniz, RBL Posse, and others.  Rap was growing on me.

It wasn't until my Junior Year in High School when I realized how much I liked rap.  Dre, Snoop, Ice Cube, Too short, E-40, Mack 10, ...the west coast rap game had me. The east/west rap war was real to me. I chose a side. I was throwing up the Dub because I felt affiliated somehow.  Sure I was just a skinny suburban white kid in one of the wealthiest places in the USA.  What did I know?

When 2Pac came out with All Eyez on Me that was it. It had everything I needed. The beats and sounds were right on the money. Tupac's delivery was uncanny. He spoke from the heart.  I think I connected with rap because they were speaking from the heart. They were emotional about the life they were living, the situations that were surrounding them.  I liked rap for the same reasons I like Les Miserables, Pink Floyd's ablum, The Final Cut, and ended up listening to Dashboard Confessional.  That raw sense of feeling was what captured me. I know that sounds crazy but I think its true.

I listened to that 2Pac CD (yes, I was now buying CDs) relentlessly. I had my favorites: Ambitionz az a Ridah, California Love, How Do You Want It, Life Goes On, No More Pain and 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted.  Those were the jams for me.

Then, Sept 7, 1996, 2Pac was shot in Las Vegas after a Tyson fight.  I heard about it on the radio before school.  Seven days later he died.  I was sitting in my car, Wild 107 was on with the Dog Pound morning show.  They made the announcement that he died.  I couldn't believe it.  I sat there in amazement. How could he not pull through?  What had just happened?

Things got real. I felt the loss. I sat there in my car for several minutes processing it. Looking back at it, I didn't realize how big of an impact his music had on my life.  He was a John Lennon or Marvin Gaye to me; he was my Elvis.  I got out of my car, I was late for class.  On my way I happened to walk by the flag pole.  There was Old Glory, hanging there, limp in the morning air.  I stopped, looked at the flag for a few moments.

I lowered it half mast, secured it and walked to class. I don't know if anyone noticed it that day. If they did, I'm almost 100% sure they didn't know why the flag was at half mast.  But that is a memory for me that doesn't really fade with time.  Sentimental? For sure.

As my high school days came to a close yearbooks got passed out.  I remember signing people's books with Pac's quotes. "Remember me smilin/with Gs in my pocket/have a party at my funeral/let every rapper rock it."  It would be fun to see the different inscriptions I left for people. 

So tonight being the anniversary of Pac getting shot I thought it appropriate to send some love in his direction.  He may not be a role model in many sorts, but his passion and drive are something to admire.

I still love rap. That mid-90's era is the golden age of hip-hop.  I know that the message isn't a great one most of the time but I can appreciate it for what it is and not what it celebrates in many instances.  Thank you Tupac for your contributions to the music world and to some great memories.  Rest In Peace fool.

Mexican Vacation

Here are a few pictures from the week I spent with my family in Real Del Mar, a little private community north of Puerto Vallerta.
       Notables:

•  Had a solid 30+ hours of pool/beach time
• Saved my neice from drowning
• Golfed in Punta Mita
• Spent a day in Sayulita, a small little surf town
• Took 2 bubble baths

Summer Weddings and Other Highlights

I have been in California the past couple of weeks/ends for my mom and dad's weddings. (They married other people, not each other again.) I just thought it would be nice to share a few of my favorite photos from the trips.

 Watching Snow White and the Huntsman with my sisters in Carmel.

 Just a little piece of a gorgeous yard at my mom's place.

 Dallas, brother-in-law, handling business like a boss. 

 Putting green and 1st and 10th holes at Roundhill Country Club.

 Ribera Beach below my mom's house where I go sea glass hunting.

 Behold my sheaves! What an array of glass!

 I thought the drop of water in the flower was sweet looking. The flash made it sparkle.

 At the Giants game on a sunny afternoon with Krista, Kara and Chris.

 The Monterey Bay Aquarium. The sea turtle. Life is better with turtles.

 A via of San Francisco from the south coming up the 101.

 A quality Father's day picture if you ask me.  This guy still loves his only boy and I love him back.

Little me on my first birthday. 

You can see more of pictures like theses on Instagram. Follow me @calebreeve

Birthday Wishes

Its not my fault that I like awesome things. I have exceptional taste and I won't apologize.  My great taste ranges from women to suits to bacon.  I am willing to sacrifice at times, I am by no means a slave...I will eat a Hot N Ready pizza...or just not eat. I can slum (not you ladies) and I do for the most part, mainly because I don't have the deep pockets required to get what I want when I want it. 

This also poses a problem when it comes to birthday presents and other gifts.  I don't NEED a lot of stuff. I make due with what I have. Needless to say though, there are some wants in my life.  Things I won't get for myself because I can't afford them or can't justify the purchase, like the Adidas outlet...all of it.

So I ask for these things and usually do not receive. Totally understandable.  But in spite of high prices and an expectation that I won't get this stuff it won't stop me from asking. I stand firmly behind the thought that: 'You can't expect to get a better deal if you never ask for one.'  People aren't just going to give you stuff for no reason, especially if they don't know what you really want.

So here is the list of things I am digging on and would like everyone to get for me. :)

1. The Blendtec Blender. Its only the hottest blender in the game! Are there other blenders who have a  YouTube Channel dedicated to blending things from rakes to iPods?  Did you know it makes soup? It cooks it with friction from the blades. That is intense. Oh yeah, it makes ice cream too.  Sometimes the have them at Costco on sale.

2. Kitchen Aid Pasta Attachments. There are a couple to choose from. One is simply a pasta roller that squishes and flattens the pasta dough. It comes with an attachment that cuts the dough either into flat, fettuccine-like noodles and spaghetti and then there is a different one that makes spaghetti and other shapes.

3. Metal Detectors.  Ever since I was just a wee lad I have had a fascination with these things.  Never have I owned such a powerful tool that could detect metals, potential valuable thingy-ma-bobs, with simply a wave of a magic device.  Its basically a dude version of a magic wand. "Oh look here, I just found a gold watch." I want one. BAD.

The Epic Tale of Manventure

It was decided that in the spirit of Survivor Man and Man vs Wild, me and a couple buddies would go off on an adventure into the wilderness. We traveled with very little, just a back pack.

We did a little research and found an area up American Fork Canyon that would be suitable for our trip.  The deal was that we wouldn't take any food or shelter with us.  We would fish, hunt, build a refuge for ourselves.

And so It began.  We found a place to park and started up a trail. Then we left that trail and wandered into the wild.  We had a good idea of where we were going...or at least were we needed to be. Through some seriously rough terrain we scaled the mountain side.  Legs getting scratched, losing our footing, braking branches, we climbed.  It was very frontiersman of us. After over an hour of hiking we came to our first lake.

Deciding this was a good place to set up camp we searched for a place to build a man shelter.  Upon finding a suitable place,

we began construction.

And did a pretty awesome job. 

We built the shelter and set up camp.  Shortly after we headed back to the lake to see if we could catch some dinner.  After a couple of hours and the sun beginning to fade we had caught 6 small fish.  It would have to do.  We built a fire with flint and tried to figure out a way to cook the fish with out pans or utensils of any kind. (We left them at home, remember?)

We butchered the first fish but got the knack of it and ate.  We settled in for what would be, for me at least, a rough night of little to no sleep.  The ground is not comfortable, especially for side sleepers like me.  I tossed and turned and it was terrible. 

Once daylight came we decided to pack up and head up a few miles to the next lake.  No of us knew how hard it was going to be...especially me. On an empty stomach, little rest, and 8000 feet up I found about that my body wasn't prepared for the hike.  *Foreshadowing*

At the beginning of the trail, things were fine.  It was gorgeous.

We followed pretty close to the river.  The vertical increased and we went higher and higher, steeper.  As we were about 2/3 of the way there I could feel my body wearing out.  Kyle went ahead while Taylor and I lagged back.  Then Taylor went ahead and I lagged back. I was struggling more than I thought.  I took several long breaks to try and catch my breath and let my heart catch up to my feet.  At this point, my mind was fighting my body just as hard as my body was fighting itself.  I was only a few hundred yards from the summit but I couldn't go.  It was still early in the day and I figured that if I could just rest for a bit I would make it.

My body had BONKED. I leaned on a rock, wiped out physically and mentally.  I could lift a foot. I closed my eyes and waited, hoped my body would recuperate so I could reach the top.  About 10-15 minutes into my resting, I opened my eyes and saw a ground squirrel.  The only thing I could think of was, "We need to eat that."

I pulled out my gun, cocked it back and click. nothing. Dud bullet.
Ejected that bullet and got the next one in the chamber pulled the trigger and click. NOTHING! Another dud!
At this point I'm hoping the little bugger sits around for a 10 more second while I try for a 3rd time. Click. BOOM! HIT! Its squirming around and get up to it, writhing in wiggling almost falling off the cliff.  I pull out my knife and I stabbed it in the throat.

Meanwhile Kyle and Taylor had been up top scouting the area looking for shelter, fishing the lake and seeing how viable the new spot would be.  They heard the shot and figured it was a "come rescue me" shot.  I see them at the top of the ridge and I have the squirrel in my hand and I yell, "I killed this!"

They replied with, "There aren't any fish in this lake."  There wasn't a good place to build a shelter either.  At 8800 feet up the trees were scarce and the lake was simply just made of mountain snow run off.

With that news we decided we should head back to our old camp site and regroup.  But first I was still delirious and unable to function properly.  The kill had made things brighten up but I was down for the count.  Suddenly I remembered that Kyle said he had a baggie of trail mix. SALVATION!

We were all pretty worn out and destitute at this point.  We each ate a couple handfuls of trail mix which tasted glorious!  I drank some water, got my wits about me and we started down the trail we had just hiked up.

The way down was much more enjoyable.  Once we got back to the lake I had to skin and gut the squirrel.  This was a first.  I smelled awful. Flies came almost immediately.  How did they know and where did they come for so quickly!  By the time I was done, this is what we were dealing with.

 

 We started another fire and cooked this little thing.

There was nothing delicious or filling about that little bit of squirrel but when it was all said and done, we needed the nourishment it provided. We went back to the lake when we finished our afternoon naps.  Fish were jumping but they wanted nothing to do with anything we were throwing in the water.  It was super frustrating for us since we didn't have too much trouble the day before catching fish.  Tonight though, we were shut out.  It got dark and we went to bed pretty quickly.

The next morning we packed up our gear and decided to head out. We followed a trail that looked like it would get us back to where we needed to be.  It didn't.  We had to back track up a dirt road to another trail that took us to the right place.

 The after effects were mainly scratched legs and arms.  It was a fun and trying experience.

Kicking...The Bucket List

There are few things I would like to do in my life; some of them sooner than later. I haven't fully figured them all out but but I have come up with a few that I am confident enough to write down and make official. I may be doing this wrong because I think some of these things may be unattainable and just wishful thinking but If I did them at some point in life I would be really happy. So feel free to help if you have any hook ups in any of these departments

In NO Particular Order:

Go Helicopter Snowboarding
Be on TMZ
Throw out a First Pitch at Fenway Park
Run for Public Political Office
Own and cook at my own little restaurant
Host a Radio show
Slap a grown man in the face
Visit Lake Como in Italy
Own a boat
Attend the Superbowl
Drive a race car at a proper track
Create an APP designed for Apple and Android

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I haven't ever had a list like this before so I can't say I have knocked anything off of it before. But I have to start somewhere and I think this is as good a place as any.

Your Thoughts? What's on your list?