A fitting poem. . .

Nothing Gold Can Stay

by Robert Frost

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

Nate Note

Great lives, like nature's gold, all eventually pass away. Greatness by virtue, is the hardest hue to hold. May we each take our turn and pass as we must. . .as nature's gold.

Remembered. . .

Joyce A. Adams Ahlstrom Osborn Evans Oct 31 1921 - Nov 08 2008	[Return to Obituaries]
A Legacy of Love Joyce A Adams Osborn Evans, age 87, passed away Saturday, November 8, 2008, in Parowan, Utah. She was born October 31, 1921, Parowan Utah, to Will L and Lizzie Watson Adams. "Joyce never established nor ran an orphanage like Mother Teresa, nor did she try to eradicate AIDS like Princess Diana, nor improve literacy like Barbara Bush, but she touched many lives, one by one, throughout her whole life. Much of the world may not know who Joyce Osborn Evans is, but those of us who knew her were touched by her love in countless ways." Survived by husband Daniel Evans; children, Bill (Jone) Osborn, Manhattan Beach, CA, Bonnie Barber, Lehi, UT, Mimi (Marc) Lauper, Hacienda Heights, CA; thirteen grandchildren, thirty-four great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren; and brother, Karl (Karole) Adams, San Jose, CA. Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 15, 2008, at 11:00 a.m. at the LDS Parowan 3rd Ward Chapel, South Main St, Parowan, UT. A visitation will be from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. prior to the service, at the Chapel. Interment will take place at 3:00 p.m. in the St. George City Cemetery, St. George, UT. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Joyce Adams Osborn Evans Memorial Fund, Utah Shakespearean Festival (435) 586-7880.

Car struck then star struck

I'm driving home on I-15 north between 45th and 35th south when traffic suddenly slowed up. I was drive my stylish 92 Mercury Topaz which had no trouble stopping. Unfortunately the pick up truck behind me with the 18 ft closed trailer was much heavier and unable to stop in time. My seat was knocked flat and my car jumped forward a foot or two. Being in Utah, no one stops to let us over to the side of the freeway. . . about 10 minutes later we both get safely on the shoulder. The driver of the truck comes over and asks me if I'm OK.

We waited for 40 minutes and the UHP never show up. The driver comes over and askes what we want to do. I suggested we exchange information and let our insurance hack it out. I get looking at the guy and I think to myself he looks like he would be an MMA fan. He had a beard and a shaved heard. He looks like he could be an MMA fighter. . . wait a minute! He IS a UFC fighter!

"Are you into MMA at all?" I ask.

"Yeah, I'm _____ ________, are you into it?"

"Yes! I'm a huge fan! Your a great fighter!"

"Yeah, it's always great to meet a fan, not like this but. . ."

"Hey, it's cool - any chance I get to meet a legend. . ."

"Are you going to the fight this weekend in Vegas? [Lesner vs. Cotour] You want me to hook you up for some tickets?"

"Oh man! I would love that but I have a funeral this weekend. . ."

"Give me a call and I'll hook you up. In fact, I'm driving an octagon up to Layton for a fight, that's what's in the trailer."

We exchanged a few more pleasantries and a man hug. He was such an awesome guy and a gentleman! I have seen him fight several times. He is a class act in and out of the octagon.

There is my fifteen seconds of fame. . . well used!

goodreads, good. . .

I recently signed up on goodreads because a bunch of friends and family were already doing it and I wanted the cool gizmo for the right sidebar on my blog.

It has been great getting all the emails from those friends and family showing me what they have read, how they rated the book, and any comments they shared. This has brought into sharp reality how little opportunity I get to read. The irony is, I read all day at work. . . just not books. I also write all day too, another irony for an aspiring author and NaNoWriMoist. I do fit in an occasional Reader's Digest article or Bathroom Reader page, but not a full blown novel.

Nevertheless, I too shall soon be filling your inbox with emails outlining my literary conquests! Titles such as The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, The Body of Liberties (1641), and The English Bill of Rights! So take that! All you folks who get to read an endless parade of fun novels, I say. . . I'm jealous.

Keep up the goodreads. . .and I'll catch up when I get a life.

Somethin' neat...

I don't normally do unpaid ads as my post and I don't even own this yet, but I think the concept and the product is so cool I wanted to share. . .

BEHOLD! the Amazon Kindle 2.0

PS. If anyone is searching for a great Chanukah gift for me. . .

Sand Dunes

Sand Dunes

by Robert Frost

Sea waves are green and wet,
But up from where they die,
Rise others vaster yet,
And those are brown and dry.

They are the sea made land
To come at the fisher town,
And bury in solid sand
The men she could not drown.

She may know cove and cape,
But she does not know mankind
If by any change of shape,
She hopes to cut off mind.

Men left her a ship to sink:
They can leave her a hut as well;
And be but more free to think
For the one more cast-off shell.

Nate Notes

I have many fond memories of trips to the sand dunes with my family and as a scout.

"Life always finds a way..."

Michael Crichton died on Tuesday at age 66.

He was an author of many novels but best know for Jurassic Park and Rising Sun. He also wrote the hugely popular ER. He has the distinction of being the only writer to have a chart topping movie, television series, and novel at the same time.

Hats off to a great mind and author who has gone the way of the dinosaur.

30 things I am pleased about myself

I need a pick-me-up session. I am going to list 30 things I have done of which I am well pleased.

1. I am an Eagle Scout
2. I am a Vigil member of the Order of the Arrow
3. I am a Silver Moccasaine graduate
4. I am a Coup Trail graduate with Honors
5. I am a member of the Polar Bear Society at Camp Loll BSA
6. I worked at Camp Sherwood Forest BSA for two weeks
7. I worked at Camp Steiner BSA for six years
8. I worked at Camp Bear Lake BSA for one year
9. I was the Camp Medic & Search and Rescue for three years
10. I swam two miles in Scout Lake (snow melt lake in the Uintas) five out six years and one mile my first year.
11. I was a lifeguard at Scout Lake for two years
12. I was a plank owner and cadet for two years in WHS Naval JROTC program. 
13. I was Cadet Commanding Officer and a Luitenant Commander my senior year and was rung out with the rank of full Commander
14. I recieved the U of U Naval ROTC Distinguished Leadership Medal
15. I recieved the US Veterans Leadership Commendation Medal
16. I recieved the Veterans of Foreign Wars Leadership with Distinction Medal
17. I recieved two Distinguished Unit Awards
18. I recieved two Outstanding Cadet Awards
19. I was Color Guard Commander with Color Guard Service Award (Three Gold Stars)
20. I was Drill Team Commander with Drill Team Ribbon (One Gold Star) with two drill manuvers named after me
21. I designed and implemented the Gator/JSTU 7  program and was Commander my senior year
22. I was a fencer for two years, foil and sabre
23. I served a two year mission to the deaf for the LDS church
24. I married my wife RED
25. My daughter Havalah
26. My son J-Bo
27. My daughter Tzifardeah
28. I married my wife Sharon
29. My daughter Pookah
30. My son Gid

Wow I feel better. You try it...

Inspire, not require. . .a call for real Men

In the last couple of posts I have been promoting the need for women to honor and obey their husbands. I have outlined the why and some of the hows. . .now it is time to examine what kind of husband inspires his wife to honor and obey.

In today's society there is a dearth of real men. Most boys are wondering what a real man is, what he does, how he becomes one. For most, being a man is related to a driver's licence, sexual conquest, drinking, sports, age, etc. . .you can list em'. But all these things smack of macho more than manhood.

I need to give credit where credit is due. . .I got most of the principles and ideas I will share from a book I read years ago, Raising a Modern Day Knight by Robert Lewis. In this book Mr. Lewis outlines the best definition of manhood I have come across. He also shares why and how to establish rites of passage for boys; to teach and reinforce the principles of real manhood. Without further ado, a real man. . .

Rejects Passivity - Hey guys, we tend to be passive, and passive aggressive. Most of the time it is small stuff. . .

Whatcha wanna watch tonight?
I dunno, whatever.
Comedy or romance?
Uh, whatever you wanna watch is fine.
Give me an idea!
Ok, what ever movie you want to see, lets watch that.
Aaaaagh!

Although this will drive your women nuts, this is not the stuff I'm talking about, I'm talking about the big stuff.

Honey, our son has been really aggressive lately. . .what should we do?
I dunno, whatever.
Well, how should we handle this?
Uh, whatever you wanna do is fine.
Give me an idea!
Ok, what ever you want to do, lets do that.
Aaaaaagh!

I'm not saying you should always have or know the answer to every big issue that comes up, but you do need to get off your butt and work to find the answer/s. Engage! Be involved! Muster mind, manpower, and resources! Be a companion in finding solutions and resolving issues. REJECT PASSIVITY!

Congratulations, you have taken your first step into real manhood. Next, a real man. . .

Accepts Responsibility

"The price of greatness is responsibility." - Sir Winston Leonard Spenser Churchill

Accepting responsibility is about being accountable -- accountable for the choices and decisions you make and their consequences. A real man is accountable to his God, to his conscience, to his wife/wives, to his family, and to his role in the world at large.

You should own your victories and your mistakes and learn from them both.
Leads Courageously

Women need security and stability. In the absence of leadership, a woman will step in to fill the void. Don't be that void. True leadership consists of searching for wisdom to know the right, having the will to choose it, and finding the strength to make it endure (10 points if you can figure out where I got that from). Search and find the right vision for you and your family, share that vision, and be courageous in leading your family in pursuit of that vision.

Seeks the Greater Reward

Discipline is a mark of manhood, putting off what you want now for what you want most. Doing what is hard to achieve what is best. Saying no wrong and yes to what is right.

I believe real men inspire the confidence of their wives and family. It becomes a delight for your wife/wives to honor and obey you.

I'm going for it this year. . .