A Journey only in dreams

A few weeks back, I had heard of a couple of 17 year old brothers, in defiance of father and in pursuit of adulthood and the romance of aviation, who took to the skies in an 85 horsepower piper cub from Basking Ridge, NJ, only to find themselves 6 days later in San Juan Capistrano California. From the second I heard of this story, I was captivated. I just picked up the book today and am through page 57--if only I could read this much for school assignments.

Beyond reading about two boys who share with me back in the 60's the same love for aviation that I have today--It became not just a thought in the back of my head, but a journey I must make. Certainly this is about seeing the country from 500 feet, following highways as cars pass the slow yellow thing buzzing above their sunroofs, and about noting the state of general aviation in America. This is about the "mom and pop" airports in the middle of texas, where flights in and out are a weekly, not daily occurance. This is about roughing it, carrying little more than a wing full of fuel and the clothes on our back...to discover ourselves after four years by the bay. I will do this with donations--all benefits differentiating from minimal flight expenses will go directly to one of the greatest causes I know, the Wounded Warrior Project.

Planning the flight will be an adventure itself--and I sit here today, wondering how I am going to get over the Rockies. I would rather not go down through El Paso following I-10, where the elevation is 4,500 feet...but altitude mixed with summer weather does not mix well with a piper cub, which can be thought of as an airplane with little more than a really powerful lawnmower engine. We shall see...

Josh Hamilton: I am second.

Don't let anything or anybody hold you back from your dreams. This guy had everything going from him, and then in an instant--had less than nothing. 99.9% of people that have gone through what he has gone through would never persevere in the way he did.

Take a minute and watch this, and remember the power of perseverance.

THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD

This is not a blog about hating those that don't believe in the war, or disrespect the military, our duty to our nation's defense, or the Government. This isn't a blog about the protesters who day in, and day out, forget that the reason they are able to stand outside the white house, or on the side of the road of funeral processions for fallen men, is because of the soldiers, marines, sailors, and airmen who day in and day out carry out their devotion to the defense of this free nation. Freedom in this world is so sadly taken for granted most by those who oppose the work required to obtain it. Every single day our freedom is on the line. Every single day, men and women stand the watches, fight the fights, and put their own bodies and lives on the line to make sure that tomorrow, you are able to wake up and have the choice to prosper, to better yourself or those around in whatever manner you choose. Not all of the men and women overseas are comfortable, or happy, or well-rested and well motivated to do what they do. But each and every member of the United States Armed Forces is committed, with both their heart and mind to do their duty for the betterment of this world.

This video and this speech does full justice to the warriors who everyday put country above self. Please take a few minutes to watch it. Every now and then even those in the military need a reminder or two. I couldn't be prouder to be a member of the armed forces, or prouder of everyone here, and in the United States Military.

Rivalries

Rivalries are formed everyday--I am pretty convinced they don't ever fully go away.

Some of the best rivalries in sports:

1.Army/Navy (people not associated with either will never fully understand)
2.Agassi/Sampras
2.Yanks/Sox
3.Ohio State/Michigan
4.Oklahoma/Texas
5.Tiger Woods/Himself and the Media
6.Oregon/Oregon State (The Civil War)
7.Auburn/Alabama (the Iron Bowl)

Lemme repeat myself:
Great Rivalries NEVER DIE.Proof Below

Top 5 Songs

Everybody has to have a top 5 list on their blog right? Here is my top 5 songs of the month of March, by play count.

1. Young London - Angels and Airwaves. One of my favorite bands of all time, Blink-182 front man Tom DeLonge's "side project", but sort of has become his main project. This song pumps me up.

2. Wheels - Foo-Fighters. No explanation necessary on one of the greatest bands of all time.

3. Miles Davis & The Cool - The Gaslight Anthem. My favorite band of 2009/2010. These boys have the best lyrics of any recent band and some of the best musical talent out there. I can't say enough about these guys. This isn't even there best song. I can't help but bob my head to most of the songs these guys play. They are the garage band who accidentally became famous through their massive amount of talent and musical ability. There sound is 100% original as well--even though some say they sound a lot like The Killers.

4. Up All Night - Unwritten Law. This has probably been on my Top 5 since like, junior year in High School.

5. Funny The Way It Is/Live in Europe 2009- Dave Matthews Band

Quote of the Week

Since baseball time is measured only in outs, all you have to do is succeed utterly; keep hitting, keep the rally alive, and you have defeated time. You remain forever young.
- Roger Angell

Equanimity.

What can we learn from Buddhism without being Buddhist? How can you apply it to everyday life...better performance throughout the day, better well-being. I thought it was interesting to read about.

A performance company, Tignum AC, which provides psychology training, team-building, and performance coaching for top athletes, elite military, corporations, and organizations around the country uses the idea of equanimity in their teachings to relay the importance of a positive mindset.

So what is equanimity? Buddhist monks believe that when something happens to you or when you encounter an event or challenge you have four options:

1. You could be unaware that anything has happened in which case you would surely not be able to do anything.
2. You could be aware of what was happening and move away from the challenge (retreat).
3. You could be aware of what was happening and move towards the challenge (attack).
4. You could be aware of what was happening and be non-reactive (equanimity—no reaction by choice).

By far, the most enlightened and powerful response is to be aware of the event or challenge and yet to not react. From this position, you are detached enough to enhance your awareness while increasing your options—because you see them all as possible. This position of chosen neutrality is extremely powerful, since you can never be a victim or a hostage. Instead, you become calm, confident, efficient, and composed. You become the master of your own destiny.

Pretty cool stuff.

--Tignum AC--