Modern Conveniences Arriving Daily...

Through hard work and plenty of rod orders, I've been fortunate enough to have saved enough money to stomach two shared expenditures for the benefit of Trout Camp.

Both are conveniences that we could have all gotten along without, but their additions make camping life that much easier and comfortable.  No more hauling 250 feet of extension cords, charging batteries at home or borrowing items to handle odd jobs and projects when they arise.

The second little convenience gem that was a splurge (but definitely worth it), and you might not have even known that this little gadget existed, was the Aquacube from Mr. Heater.  The technology / design is Australian Outback born and licensed to Mr. Heater for US distribution. While my home built shower rig worked perfectly, it did involve preheating the water, refilling the canister and the occasional pumping to maintain pressure.  This baby does all of that (on its own) and then some!

I'll post a video review of the unpacking and such of each item when it isn't so frigid cold outside!  I'm very eager to see the Aquacube in action.

Fluffy White Flakes A'flyin'

Will an Intelligent & Mature Adult Please Take Their Place at The Podium?

     I've struggled over the past several days with my frustration regarding recent events and the political and media circus that a carnival fortune teller could have predicted would happen.  For some, this may not necessarily be what you wanted or expected to read on our TC blog.  What I'm about to say may be the opposite of your opinion...I may even lose a few subscribers as a result, but I respect that the decision to leave us is your right and I wish you well!

     I believe we can all agree that what we've witnessed is simply horrible!  The magnitude of the tragedy is surreal and truly difficult to comprehend.  My heart and prayers go out to those that lost a loved one, regardless of their age as a result of this senseless act of violence.  Things in this world are sometimes just overwhelmingly unfair, unexplainable and most often leave us shaking our heads in pure disbelief.  As humans, mature adults, with the ability to rationalize, we strive to find reasons for everything we encounter.  And, in situations such as these, we are quick to point fingers, form opinions and contemplate actions of prevention.  It is what we do...we want the best for ourselves, our family and especially our children.  (For most of us)  We are charged with the role of being a responsible parent and the safety and security of our children is paramount.  When we are faced with a tragedy of this magnitude, we are quick to seek prevention solutions, but first and foremost...we must understand why such evil exists in our world to begin with!  Eliminating the cause is the best act of prevention.  The following is an email newsletter that explains it all better than I could hope to.  I pray that you will spend the time to continue to read this lengthy post to its end.  And after reading it, come to the same conclusion that I have...we must realize that no political puppet, no law or series of laws, no restriction or safety net will save us from our fate if we fail to change the way we relate to one other and with nature.  Our purpose in life must evolve from the constant egotistical reminder of "ME" to a loving, caring and compassionate sense of community and "WE"!  Through this realization, we begin to understand our true purpose and eliminate the despair and depression associated with the emptiness of the illusion of a pointless existence.

How Do We Stop The Violence?

December 16, 2012 at 9:00 am · Filed under Articles

More and more youngsters are succumbing to drugs, depression and horrendous acts of violence. What has brought about the crisis our young generation is facing? Kabbalah explains that it’s their desire that’s in crisis, as they can no longer fulfill it with what we try to give them

As I go to read the news online, the headlines hit me once again. A 20 year old stepped into a school and opened fire, killing 28 people, 20 children, 6 teachers, his own mother earlier and himself. What could lead a young person with a bright future ahead of him to commit such a desperate act? Meanwhile, a dear friend’s niece clings to life in a hospital after swallowing a bottle of pills in a suicide attempt. Depression among teenagers has reached epidemic proportions.

What is happening to our youth? Shouldn't teens be too young to be overwhelmed by feelings of despair and hopelessness? There are many countries in the world where despair would be understandable – countries where unbelievable hardship, poverty, starvation and violence are the daily reality. But this is the United States – many of these kids come from affluent, loving homes where they have every advantage that money can buy. 

At the other end of the spectrum, we see a growing number of people who are stuck in childhood – even into their 20s, 30s and beyond. They might trade in their Hot Wheels toy cars for the real thing and get involved in more expensive “games,” but they are still children who rebel against assuming any type of responsibility in the adult world. We see the impact in areas as diverse as the breakdown of American families, the record number of bankruptcy filings, and the trouble businesses are having hiring responsible, mature workers.

Although it’s hard to admit, both youth and adults are facing a social crisis, and no one seems to quite know why. Talk show hosts have become millionaires by expounding on these problems and interviewing “experts.” Politicians push their proposed social reform programs, and communities pass more and more laws in an effort to control behavior, but these are all knee-jerk reactions to the problem. In order to affect real change, we must find the source of the problem.

The wisdom of Kabbalah explains the roots of today’s increasing social discord, showing a common thread behind all the unpleasant phenomena that we are witnessing.

Identifying the Source

In order to identify the reason behind our youth’s behavior, we first have to examine our very nature and see how it evolves. Kabbalah maintains that the motivating force behind all of our actions is our desire to receive pleasure. In other words, every action that a person takes, no matter how small, is prompted by some desire for some pleasure.

But there’s more: This desire for pleasure continuously evolves within humanity, propelling us to constantly seek new kinds of pleasures. This evolution started with our most basic desires: those we must fulfill to survive, such as desires for food, sex and shelter. In other words, ages ago, having a good meal and a roof over one’s head was the ultimate bliss.

At a later point in humanity’s evolution, new kinds of desires emerged – social desires. These desires emerge due to the fact that people interact within society, and they include desires for wealth, fame and power. We have evolved through these social desires for thousands of years, actualizing every possible combination and aspect of them. From this perspective, film stars, sports idols or politicians are all “manifestations” of the social desires that evolve within humanity.

But today, Kabbalists explain, a new kind of desire is emerging within humanity, one that we can neither fulfill through our bodies nor through other interactions with each other. This desire is still hard for us to define, and we don’t really know how to fulfill it – it is the desire to realize the purpose of our existence.

While there have always been individuals in every generation who wondered, “Why am I here?” now is the first time in history that this question is awakening in masses of people, and demanding to be answered.

The Price of Dissatisfaction

So how does this relate to the crisis our younger generation is facing? Because they are at the peak of the evolution of desires, they inherently sense that money, fame and power will not lead them to true happiness. This doesn’t mean that the kids of today have no desire for anything; on the contrary, they have a huge desire: they just don’t know how to satisfy it.

It’s quite simple: If I really want a puppy for my birthday, I’m not going to be happy if you give me a new set of clothes. Even if the clothes look really nice on me, they simply won’t match the desire I have within me. For our youth, it’s like that with any kind of pleasure. They go from one desire to the next at lightening speed, and continue to find themselves unsatisfied.

By the time they are teens, many children are disillusioned and cynical about their parents’ ability to show them how to be happy. They don’t see why they should work hard to achieve the goals that adults set for them. On the other hand, they don’t know what else to strive for. To us, it may look like today’s kids are lazy, but their lack of motivation is really an expression of hopelessness. In extreme cases, their despair is so painful that life itself seems pointless and suicide seems to be the only answer.

To cope, many teenagers adopt a “Life is short; eat dessert first” attitude, spending their time chasing after any pleasure, as long as it is easy to obtain. The result is the “perpetual child,” unable to maintain a family or work relationship once it requires real effort. These kids are also vulnerable to the appeal of drugs, alcohol, and get-rich-quick schemes, since all of these promise intense pleasure for virtually no effort.

Other teens react to their sense of emptiness with anger, lashing out at parents and a society that have been unable to provide them with a meaningful purpose for their lives. Often their very upbringing has been so distorted by the current competitive materialistic society that today we are raising more and more youth with mental illnesses and disorders, who live their lives shifting between depression, fear, anxiety and anger… and sometimes this anger erupts in horrendous violence, such as with the Newtown school shooting.

Answering Their Needs

The younger generation’s inability to understand and fulfill their desires is the very source of their problems. Without guidance from previous generations, teens are groping in the dark as they try to find ways to satisfy this nameless desire within them.

In order to help our children, we must let them know that there is a reason for the emptiness and confusion that they feel. We need to show them where they fit into humanity’s general course of development – and let them see that they represent the final phase in the evolution of desires. And we have to provide them with a way to develop and fulfill their desires.

Kabbalah can help us provide such guidance by giving youth a tangible understanding of the purpose of their existence. And once our children know what their purpose is, they will be motivated to go after it. Apathy, anger, depression and despair will give way to the same passionate energy toward this purpose with which their parents and grandparents pursued the “American dream” – the quest for money, honor and fame.

Our children will be able to go places and achieve states of unbounded happiness, but we must provide them with the tools and guidance for their journey. By so doing, we will save them a lot of misery, allow them to find true happiness, and hasten everyone’s way towards the true purpose of existence.

–by Riggan Shilstone

Think the media and government has the correct bead on the inner thoughts of the parents of those fallen in tragedies such as these?  Read below:

Guess our national leaders didn't expect this, hmm?

Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado, was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee's sub-committee.

What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful. They were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert!

These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness. The following is a portion of the transcript:

"Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers." "The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field.

The villain was not the club he used. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart. "In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA.

I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent."

"I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy-it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room.

Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. "I wrote a poem that expresses my feelings best. This was written way before I knew I would be speaking here today:"

Your laws ignore our deepest needs,
Your words are empty air.
You've stripped away our heritage,
You've outlawed simple prayer.

Now gunshots fill our classrooms,
And precious children die.
You seek for answers everywhere,
And ask the question "Why?"

You regulate restrictive laws,
Through legislative creed.
And yet you fail to understand,
That God is what we need!

"Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, soul, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and reek havoc. Spiritual influences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact.

What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties.

We do not need more restrictive laws." Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts.

Political posturing and restrictive legislation are not the answers. The young people of our nation hold the key. There is a spiritual awakening taking place that will not be squelched! We do not need more religion. We do not need more gaudy television evangelists spewing out verbal religious garbage. We do not need more million dollar church buildings built while people with basic needs are being ignored.

We do need a change of heart and a humble acknowledgment that this nation was founded on the principle of simple trust in God!" "As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, He did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right!

I challenge every young person in America, and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA- I give to you a sincere challenge.

Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone! My daughter's death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!"

Do what the media did not... let the nation hear this man's speech.

Verification of this letter as truth can be found here:
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bldarrellscott.htm

The Firepit Steps & A Tour Around TC

I took a trip up to camp this Tuesday night and arrived around 11pm to perfect sleeping weather.  It didn't take long before I was comfortably snoozing in the camper.  Stacking the two bunk end mattresses recycled from the pop-up to trailer project and the foam mattress that is the seat/bed in the banner creates an extremely cozy memory foam arrangement that eliminates nighttime tossing and turning.  Leaving a couple windows open gave just enough cool air flow to make me disappointed that I couldn't sleep here every night!

As a creature of habit, I followed the usual schedule of waking early, returning the camper beds back to seating, driving to the local greasy spoon for breakfast and then returning back to get some work done.

My hopes were to get quite a bit done, but that didn't happen!  In the end, I was able to install steps from the firepit to the camper.  Descending the hill from the usual seating arrangement surrounding the fire ring is now made much easier and safer via notches cut into the hillside.  Step risers were made with brick pavers (we've got plenty) that eventually will settle into the earth and become a permanent part of the place.  On a future trip, I'll likely carve a level trench in the ground for additional bricks to be laid as a path from the wood steps of the shed-mahal to the firepit.  A nice level walkway would be nice and shouldn't be too much of a problem now that the tree stumps and roots have been removed from that area.

When the chainsaw comes back from our local repair pro, it'll be put to use removing the tree that is near the shed-mahal's roll door ramp and the tree blocking the path to our new target area as well.  Then there is the pile of tree branches and scrub that needs to be relocated to the abyss too.  That outing will be a busy day of wood working in one fashion or another.

I'll keep you posted...

Project Lists! What Project Lists?

     There's a certain level of satisfaction that comes with having to really concentrate to create a project list of things left to do at camp.  A big contrast to the days (not that long ago) where the pen would run out of ink before the list would be finished.  Those lists weren't all that bad as they provided an excuse to be on the property with purpose.  Sometimes, fidgety feet are merely looking for a reason to move.  Having a good purpose makes moving productive!

     This past weekend, having been absent for nearly a month, the need to return to the top of the mountain was strong.  Of course, making the trek to just "be there" wasn't enough, so a reason was found to make the trip productive.

     The mail man had recently delivered a second flag to pair up with our Gadsden and this presented a problem.  To solve it, I chose to return to "Plan A" and prepare the materials necessary to construct a flag pole.  Using two lengths of chain link fence rail, I was able to position the top of the pole just about 16' in the air with the bottom of the two flags flying just over 10'6" off the ground.  The base is 36" below ground level and held securely by packed soil.  Just in case we decide to later move it, I opted not to use concrete.  Forgive me for not providing the background for this new flag as I had with the Gadsden Flag.  Armed with a genuine interest of learning the truth, you'll find a way to perform the research on your own.  A sincere warning though, liberals have plastered the internet and many websites with untruths and rhetoric.

     With the new flag pole installed, the need to have a holder on the exterior wall of the Shed Mahal was eliminated.  The "Plan B" pole and holder are now in use at my home holding the new flag's twin.

     After spending a deliberate amount of time concentrating on things that are yet left to complete at camp, I was able to come up with a short list:

• Hardwood floor installation, first floor of the Shed Mahal.
• Brick Stairs leading from the North side of the fire pit patio down to the lower level and toward our Banner Camper.  
• Removal of the wood/scrub pile along path leading to the outdoor shower stall.
• Construction of an outdoor hand/dish washing station.
• Construction of a shooting bench.
• Replacement of the deck's coffee table with pressure treated lumber.

     The first item is obvious.  The beautiful hardwood maple flooring that was given new life c/o Millwork Design Solutions would look so much better installed over top of the 3/4" OSB that is currently the shed's first floor than taking up space in the loft as it is now.  I'm fairly sure that I've got enough material to cover 3/4 of the first floor.  The last 1/4 will be 1/2" rubber flooring and be positioned just inside the entrance and roll doors.  The only way to be sure is to begin the project and find out.  I've got the pneumatic stapler and all necessary installation tools left from the bamboo flooring installed in my home's front room.  Several boxes of staples and the underlayment and we should be set!

     Item number two, the brick stairs, is a matter of necessity.  We soon discovered that the quickest path between the two areas occupied most of the time had us descending 10-12' down the embankment on the North side of the fire pit.  It is not so bad with appropriate footwear, but "some" of us insist on wearing flip-flops at camp.  The detour down our excavated road to the lower level isn't that much better because of erosion ruts.  We've got a pile of brick pavers just waiting for a purpose.  I've found one!

     The pile of scrub along the fire pit which is filled with tree branches and old stumps formed out of convenience, but now that things are starting to really come together at camp...it just looks unsightly!  A day with a chain saw, pruning shears and a rake will eliminate it.  What can't be burned will find its place in the abyss.

      I believe that the last three items will be built at my home and likely early next year.  It sure doesn't hurt that the temperatures will likely cooperate over the next month or so.  I'm looking forward to being cold and not cooking alive!

     Here's the video recap of my trip to camp.  I hope you enjoy!

Range Time @ Trout Camp

Tuesday evening, I arrived home from work to find my buddy Steve D. waiting for me in the drive.  We loaded his belongings into the back of the Mountaineer and headed down the highway and at just about 11:40pm we pulled into the lower level of TC.  It was extremely comfortable and cold!  Finally, the season had changed to the point that the SUV could be unloaded and the camper opened and prepped for use without being swarmed by bugs and sweating my butt off!  I read the thermometer inside the Banner, a cool 50 degrees! Sweet!

And is most often the case, with Jennifer absent the night sky was wide open and without any light pollution from the moon.  This time, the milky way was positioned East to West and directly overhead.  Steve called it a night early and escaped to the warmth of sleeping bag hoping to drift off before my snoring began.  I stayed up and enjoyed the shooting star display for another 20 minutes and turned in at 1am.  With the windows open in the camp and two layers of sleeping pads beneath two layers of sleeping bags, I fell asleep within minutes.  It was the most restful night sleep that I've enjoyed in a LONG time.  Seriously, I'm pretty sure I woke up in the same position that I fell asleep.  Camp is awesome in the fall.  I can't wait until winter!  

Anyway, Steve and I scrambled up to camp on a mission.  We carried with us a small arsenal of firearms and ammunition.  The goal was to relocate the target backstop to the new location I had prepared a couple weeks prior and then shoot a myriad of firearms until we ran out of ammunition.  

Within an hour, we had the new backstop in place complete with packed clay filler, a pile of lumber and stumps and the green door (old one) in front.  I placed a series of flags from 23' to 60' and we practiced our aim through most of them.  The back stop needs a little more TLC before I'm completely happy with it, but for the most part it is exactly how I envisioned.  I'd like to add some wood wings, angled additions, on either side and then fill the entire backside area with as much silt and clay that I can collect from the lower level drive and drainage ravines.  Those ravines have really filled in with all the loose clay and soil of the driveway due to erosion.  So there's more than enough to get me to my goal.  The more dirt I can pack behind it the safer it will be.  While I really enjoy shooting, safety is first and foremost.

Enjoy the video.  The best part being the very end where I lay down the law to an unruly flying frying pan via 17 rounds of 9mm!

Last minute decision...

This past Sunday afternoon, halfway through my work day, I decided to ask my son Nick if he'd like to take a quick trip to camp with me?  He agreed.  It was a spur of the moment decision.  I hadn't even packed the car or had a list prepared to know what to pack for that matter.  I'm happy to say that in spite of this prime example of lack of preparation on my part, that the car was loaded and we were on our way by 6pm.   The 30 minutes of loading was the quickest I had ever done and I was mildly surprised that I hadn't forgotten anything!

The big decision was where to eat.  I was thinking that we'd head straight past camp and hit the local pizza joint in town, but Nick was more inclined to eat at Applebee's.  He likes the dinner for 2 for $20.  Steak, mozzarella sticks, mixed veggies and fries was on his mind.  I ate the grilled chicken/shrimp combo which was inconsistently served as usual.  This time my meal was cold, last time the potato wedges were hard as rocks and overdone, the time before the shrimp was few and hard to locate...I guess I haven't learned, but I want to eat the meal that is in the menu photo SOOOO bad! One day I might even get it served to me?!

Anyway, we arrived at TC just as the sun set and the dim blue light of the moon was setting everything a glow.  The sky was clear with no clouds to be seen.  Funny, the weatherman predicted thunderstorms throughout the evening?  Setting up camp in the cold is so much more enjoyable than the alternative.  Within 15 minutes we had the bed made, the battery installed, the windows open, the fans running and blowing in the cool night air and the project supplies situated around camp so that my early start the next morning would go smoothly and quicker.  I made a trek over to the shed and while opening the roll door was startled by the noises coming from the ferns and brush just off the lower part of the ramp.  I trained my light in that direction and watched a huge rabbit bounce off into the darkness.  PHEW!  Much better than watching a bear or coyote approaching!

Nick and I fell asleep around midnight and I was up around 7AM to install our new camp flag, the shower's water delivery system, cut the grass and put two jack stands on the underside end of the camper.  This didn't take long and before we knew it everything was packed into the Xb, camper was closed and locked and Nick and I were at breakfast.  We made it home by 2:30PM.  I enjoyed hanging out with my little buddy and having company on this quick trip.  Camp is now ready for this holiday weekend, fun and the festivities!