Bureaucracy - Where a Little Power is a Dangerous Thing...

Today I went to get a library card. Seems simple enough.

I took the long walk around the park, listening to a talk radio podcast, enjoying a sunny Southern Mississippi afternoon.

It was 4:07 PM local when I walked in and asked politely to apply for a Library Card.
I had my Military ID card, a copy of my orders, along with another half dozen forms of ID on my person.

The librarian decided that the sweaty airman didn't have the right "documents". I needed "proof" of where I was living.

She didn't ask for my driver's license, or any official document, instead I had to walk back home and grab a hand written PO Box from on base, something that I could have easily made in my sweet RV trailer.

What I saw from her was that it was near closing time, and she didn't want to do anything.

What she probably doesn't understand is that the reason have such a low opinion of public employees is because of exactly what she did, using the little bit of power she had to make my life harder instead of just doing her job once - which in reality would have made her life/job easier since I made sure to stay right up until 5 pm (closing time), even though she turned the lights out at 4:50.

I saw the same thing at state agency when I worked there, folks who were great people, but when they were having a bad day or dealing with a difficult customer, they would use there little bit of power to make that person's day, and by extension life/job, harder just because they could. It isn't about customer service, it's about being unhappy in a job, and exercising the little power they have to impress the customer with their lack of power.

So how do we remedy this?

First and foremost by down sizing government. Can you or I affect the size of the Federal Government? Absolutely not. That said we can affect our towns and counties. Show up to city council and/or county commision meetings. If they aren't committed to down sizing, run or volunteer your buddy to run. When the economic crash happens, and it is going to happen whether in 6 months, 6 years, or 20 years, it's inevitable; it'll make it that much easier for your community to adapt and overcome.

Keesler AFB FamCamp Review

So, about two months ago I started a new gig as an AGR and about a month ago I received PCS orders to Keesler AFB for Tech School. And thus began my journey to the family camp.

Finding the camp? Trust your GPS until you see the signs for the family camp, then trust the signs!

Being the frugal fellow that I've become, even before I go my tech school orders I started talking with guys in the shop about how to do the DITY PCS, and how the process itself worked.

Then I bought a travel trailer for $4000 off of Craigslist, an old Honda 250 Enduro motorcycle, an old Honda 700 watt generator, and loaded up my old 3/4 Ton Suburban (notice a trend yet?) Hooked up trailer and proceeded to drive across the US.

I wish I had pictures to share, the drive itself was beautiful. I went through Moab, for the first time, on the way, and it blew my mind with how uniquely beautiful it was, but I digress...

The Family Camp is surrounded by off-base housing less than 3 miles from the Pass Road Gate.

Back to the Keesler Family Camp. First it is out of the way, located next to an amazing park, Hiller Park, and across the street from direct access to the Back Bay. Bring your boat/kayak/canoe/fishing pole!

The park features lit tennis and basketball courts, a softball complex, a half mile track that circles a community garden, not to mention the ponds and fishing access.

That is to the North and East of the camp, but less than a block from the driveway to the camp.

In the neighborhood as well, there are several churches on Pass Road, lots of food, the beach is only about two miles away, and there's a Biloxi City Library Branch right around the corner as well.

If you're coming down for a temp PCS school or your family is staying behind for a while before following you down, don't be afraid to use the family camp as a staging area. It's safe, convienent, and in a great spot.

I'll post pictures soon.

Everyday Carry - CamelBak Backpack

EDC Pack

I was issued this pack back in 2006. It sat, more or less, unused until I retired from coaching in 2010. I started riding my bike 8 miles each way to work and it became a fixture in my life. As my Go Bag, First Aid Kit, Suitcase, Get Home Bag, Lunch Box, Mobile Office, and Hydration Solution it did it all for me. 

I logged over 750 miles walking/hiking in Rhode Island according to my GPS App, all with at least 25 pounds in the bag. It has held it's shape, the stitching looks new on the entire pack, and nothing has failed on the pack, snaps, buckles, or zippers.

To give you an idea of the usable space inside I carry a large water proof Plano 1412 Shallow hard case inside it, with a change of clothes, mole skin, suture kit, aluminum splint, duct tape, Katakyn Filtration kit, and some fire starting materials. There are the Maxpedition Fatty and Pocket kit bags in there. Another Waterproof Hard Case from Outdoor Products that has my serious first aid supplies in it. A pair of Vibram 5 finger shoes. A hammock with bug net, 50 feet of 550 cord, and three carabiners. There are always a half dozen cliff bars in there as well. I do my best to cycle through those, but every once in a while I'll come across a really old one to gag down. 

Do I have too much redundancy in the pack? Absolutely, but here is my reasoning. I am used to carrying a heavy pack (minus water) if I ever have to rely on that bag to get me home it gives me three options. Cache things I deem unnecessary at the time (either in place or along the way, share with friends going a different direction, barter along the way. 

Pros and cons to the pack itself. Pros, bullet proof construction, MOLLE straps all over it that aren't noticeable until you're inside 10 feet. Great use of space. The hip belt does a great job of taking weight off your shoulders. Big plus, the Hydration Pouch is insulated well enough that if you fill the bladder with ice it keeps your water cold for a full 12-15 miles of walking on warm days.

Cons: The shoulder straps could be a lot more ergonomic. A few more interior pockets would make it easier to keep organized.  

I was recently issued an Urban Assault Pack from CamelBak that replaced the old MULE. I'll have a review up on it soon.

Thanks for reading. Feel free to ask questions or comment.

Blogs I'm Reading

I've had a bit more time on my hands here in the desert, so my reading has picked up. There are a couple of blogs that I have been reading, and getting a lot out of, over the last month. I wanted to thank the individuals responsible and say something brief about each one.

The Survival Podcast - But Russ, this isn't a blog. No, but Jack Spirko is worth finding some time for. He's that buddy we all have, and go to when we need help with something out of our wheel house. If he doesn't know, he knows a guy who knows the guy to answer the question. Lots of gardening, perma-culture, thoughts on how to kill your debt, and other useful knowledge. If you commute, or have an hour a day to fill give him a try.

Mr. Money Mustache

Zerohedge.com - It may well be tabloid financial coverage with an agenda, but the site is brutal in it's disgust with all sides. Governtment, corporate behavior, and especially Goldman Sachs. I've picked up a lot of knowledge and understanding from the site. Worth reading by itself, the comments. Smart, snarky, and mean girl catty comments.

AmericanMercenary - www.randomthoughtsandguns.blogspot.com Due to my time with the geniuses from the Hudson Home for Wayward Boys, I take a dim view of most Army types, Charlie, Ron, and Manny aside, of course. AmMerc is thoughtful, thought provoking, and brings a depth to most of his postings that is rare. His fictional short stories are really useful at what he's trying to convey.

Good Life Farm - goodlifefarm.wordpress.com I worked with Sarah's mom and got to meet Sarah through her. I've always felt her a kindred spirtit in the slow food and enjoying life sense. Though we differ on some views, her recipes are fantastic and I think of her as that cool older sister I never got to have (even though she's younger than me) she's just very hip 40's classy kick ass.

Start Here - My Mission Statement

I'm on the wrong side of 35, bald as my razor will get me, and happy to say that I'm learning and growing more than any time in my life.

I want to share my vision of me and where this little blog is headed going forward. I love gardening, tweaking my EDC (Everyday Carry) Kit, libertarian thinking, growing food for my friends and family, the outdoors, learning, shooting, cooking, and basketball.

From this day forward, I'm committing to talking about those things, and trying to make this a place for learning and growing.

Let's see where this grows.

All the best,

Russ

Federal Timber Dollars Drying Up Expose Addicted Counties and Failed Federal Policies

Federal Timber Dollars Drying Up Expose Addicted Counties and Failed Federal Policies

http://apne.ws/Itzl6l

The environmental lobby used the spotted owl to destroy the western timber industry by shutting down vast stretches of National Forest from logging in the 1990’s. Twenty years later we learn that it wasn’t the logging that was killing off the owls, but instead it was their larger, more efficient and adaptive cousin the Barred Owl. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/The-Spotted-Owls-New-Nemesis.html

The spotted owl is destined for relegation to the same list as the Dodo bird. Extinction happens. I’m not happy about it, but part of nature is the survival of the fittest. Sadly the same isn’t true for the federal government. Speaking of which, since we now know that it wasn’t really logging killing off the spotted owl, we’ve opened the forests back up for logging right? Not at all, instead the very tax base that used to support those communities, loggers, saw mills and the trucks that shipped that would all went silent within a few years of the spotted owl being placed on the Endangered Species List. (By the way now the Forest Service is organizing kill teams to shoot barred owls.)

Ah, but don’t fear, the good folks in Washington DC felt your pain, and sent PILT money. Payment in Lieu of Taxes, or PILT, was designed as federal to help those communities make up for lost tax revenue. Some counties knew that the gravy train wouldn’t last forever, while others after being decimated by the loss of industry and brain drain of the best and brightest to bigger cities decided to become structurally dependent on the PILT dollars, as if they would never end. Recently, elected officials in the federal government have realized that there are no votes of consequence in these rural counties, and thus the federal dollars (borrowed money) can be used in places where it might actually buy votes that could swing an election.

Today the grand jails, and paved roads that used to be dirt cannot be maintained on the backs of the locals alone. Do I feel for the local communities? Absolutely, I was living in Corvallis, Oregon in the late 90’s and watched the mill town of Sweethome die a slow death each time I drove through on my way back to Idaho for monthly Guard Drill.

So why write this post? Simply this, we’ve all been spending PILT money. We have borrowed from our grandchildren to finance our current lifestyle. I’m as guilty of this as anyone, but I still feel the responsibility to prepare for life after PILT.

The federal government is borrowing $0.40 of every dollar we spend right now. Should interest rates rise just to 6%, that number goes well above $0.50 within a year or two. At some point all of the federal budget will have to be cut. (Unless of course we point to Greece, saying that austerity doesn’t work…) How will your state, your county, your town, your kids’ schools, and your family weather that coming reality?

Things I Learned in Providence

Thoughts on My Year in Providence

Rhode Island marked the ninth state I’ve lived in, and I’ve learned a lot about myself while I was here.

I learned that I really enjoy walking. Over 800 miles according to my GPS walking app.... I learned that a lot of folks here in Rhode Island view walking anywhere as the past time of the mentally ill… So even in the rough neighborhoods, people looked at me oddly and more or less left me alone.

Except, that is, for the Brown University Police. Apparently middle aged white dudes outfitted in North Face gear pose an especially insidious threat. I found myself assuming the “position” against a tree while needing to justify taking pictures of old buildings on the day I re-enlisted back in the Air National Guard. The irony was not lost on me.

I learned that the food scene in Providence is pretty fantastic.

I learned that the downtown area between the mall, Brown, and the Dunkin’ Donuts center is amazing on foot.

I learned the hard way that GroupOn more or less sucks.

I learned that a “Gagger” is not some sort of term from the adult entertainment industry, but rather Rhode Island’s idea of a chili dog. I believe that if you were blind drunk a gagger might just taste like heaven.

I learned that 15 miles is a long walk for a cheese burger.

I learned that wherever someone lives if they expect to meet friendly, helpful, and kind people you will. I’ve been lucky enough to meet and work with amazing people.

I learned not to get too close to Leprechauns. I also almost got in a fight at Wal-Mart with a Leprechaun in the self-checkout lane at Wal-Mart – because I went to stand in line at the register instead of waiting outside the queue. My guy Max was there to see this… 

I learned that everyone truly does equate Idaho with potatoes, and no one harbors ill will when you say Idaho, pity sometimes, but never ill will.

I’ve learned that sheep jokes don’t work too well outside of Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana.

I learned that people really don’t make eye contact in the east when in public.

I knew I had one of the best friends in the world. I learned I had the best – best friend in the world.

I learned that distance not only can make the heart grow fonder, but can be an amazing way to fall deeply in love with someone.

I learned that one man’s idea of a mountain is another man’s idea of a foothill.

I learned that home truly is where the heart is.

To My Best Friend

The story that is told is that my mom went to his dad, father of 6 boys and coach of my little league baseball team, and said, “My son needs a friend.” To which his dad offered up his second born son and said, “Adam will be his friend. “

It’s been so long that I don’t remember exactly how our friendship formed. So cemented in my heart is that friendship that it is just inconceivable to me that it could ever cease to be, a bond so deep that I think of him as my brother.

He is the best man I have ever met. And I have known many good men.

While I have spent two decades with my head in the clouds chasing dreams and deep thoughts, he became a big oak tree in meadow. Planted, rooted, deep and strong – raising a family and building a life.

He has helped me move more times than I can remember, and each time we always had fun. Well, I had fun at least.

We have had our adventures, shooting, off-roading, and camping. There are details of a certain camping trip that I will take to my grave and keep from his wife. Thinking of that story, one that I have told and retold to other good friends, the story of “Just think positive” still makes me laugh out loud.

He baptized me into a new faith, and he has always lived his religion better than any man I know. His imperfections he knows, and works hard to balance them. I went from “knowing” to hoping as I lost my faith in God, in religion, but he’s never lost his faith in me.

I know that it’s been hard for him to see me stray from a path we both thought we’d walk together. Unlike so many of the self-anointed, he has walked the path beside me, lovingly as a servant of Christ always seeking to serve, never to judge.

Should I have a son, he will carry my best friend’s name, and hear often of what he must do to live up to his namesake.

He saw me come back from war a different man. I was lost for several years in my own mind, still fighting to come to grips with who I had become. Though I pushed him away, he never went too far. Just about every week since that time he’s invited me to church in a way so kind and humble that my weak way with words can’t do justice to.

He was the best man at my wedding. I think that he was happier for me on the happiest day of my life, than I was. That’s who he is.

When I went to Rhode Island to provide for a family I didn’t yet have claim to, he mowed their yard, put training wheels on bikes, and gave my wife peace of mind that all the money in the world couldn’t have bought.

I seek his counsel before that of old men, Doctors, and other wise men I know. I value his counsel and advice more than he will ever know.

When we are both gone my children will still know his story. I don’t know of a better gift that I could give them.