He's Never Heard the Song Before, but He Still Got the Metaphor

It was great to see so many good friends last night at the Trek fund-raising dinner at Memorial Church of Christ in Houston. Trek means so many things to so many people, and I have been privileged just to be a part of that ministry/experience. My goal now is to do what I can to make sure that others are able to have such an experience.

After writing my own version of War and Peace yesterday, today I'm giving you entertainment of the visual variety. If I told you that in just one video I could give you an acoustic version "Everyday" by the Dave Matthews Band, "Bathtub Gin" by Phish, and a series of weird antics from Trey Anastasio, would that interest you? If so, I have just the video for you, my friends.

Enjoy.

He's Waiting In the Wind and Rain, I Simply Haven't Looked

My dear readers, I come to you in need of a little help. Tomorrow night, I've been asked to give a short talk/speech at a fundraising dinner for Wilderness Trek.

I was given the following prompt/suggestion:

1. How has Trek changed your life?
2. How have you seen Trek change the lives of those around you?

So, for those of you who have been on Trek or know someone who has been on Trek, how would you answer those questions?
I have some thoughts on those topics rolling around in my head, but if there's anything I've learned so far in my 25 years, it's that I usually learn the most by shutting up and listening those around me.

Yeah, Sure, I'll Tell My Story Again

I've often been told that I'm guilty of seeing too many Seinfeld parallels in real-life, but today, I'm absolutely sure of the connection, and this scares me.

Let me explain...

I grew up going to Wilderness Trek in Salida, Colorado, and worked there for 3 and a half summers during undergrad and my first year of law school. About two years ago, Outside magazine named Salida on its list of "Best Places to Live". Now, my intermittent summer home has received another national shout-out, this one coming from the Gray Lady herself, the New York Times.

"The Outdoors Life, With No Attitude" by Rachel Odell Walker.

This is where Seinfeld comes into play, my friends. Observe the following exchange:

GEORGE: Ah you have no idea of the magnitude of this thing. If she is allowed to infiltrate this world, then George Costanza as you know him, Ceases to Exist!

You see, right now, I have Relationship George, but there is also Independent George. That's the George you know, the George you grew up with -- Movie George, Coffee shop George, Liar George, Bawdy George.

JERRY: I, I love that George.

GEORGE: Me Too! And he's Dying Jerry! If Relationship George walks through this door, he will Kill Independent George! A George, divided against itself, Cannot Stand!

That's it exactly, ladies and gentlemen. National Salida is on a collision course with provincial Salida. The small, quiet town where I would pickup a burrito at Patio Pancake Place, look for outdoor gear at Headwaters, and avoid an instant contact high from Salida townies is on the highway towards becoming Aspen-lite.

P.S. I also enjoy how the slideshow in the article refers to Bongo Billy's, a local coffee-shop, as "Bong Billy's". That's what we might call a "Freudian Slip", my friends.

Corporation T-shirt, Stupid Bloody Tuesday

Congratulations to Mr. Andrew M. Tuegel for correctly naming "Folsom Prison Blues" by Johnny Cash as the Monday Song of the Day. Because I'm feeling generous on this Tuesday evening, I'm giving you the Man in Black singing "Folsom Prison Blues" to the inmates at San Quentin. I'm sure Chuck Manson loves him a little Johnny Cash.

Wait, that didn't sound quite right. Just enjoy the music.

Moving on to stories that don't involve Charles Manson, I'm proud to give a little publicity to one of my favorite endeavors in the entire world, Wilderness Trek. Mr. Edd Eason, the Executive Director of Trek, has once again set up a deal with Coffee With a Cause so that $3 dollars of every bag of coffee purchased through Coffee With a Cause will go directly towards supporting Trek's scholarship programs.

If you thought I was going to write about Trek and not post a picture of the hideous beard that I grew during the summer of 2006, well, you're just confused my friend.

Current Reading
Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and The Lost Heroes of Seal Team 10 by Marcus Luttrell with Patrick Robinson

We've Been Living Life Inside a Bubble

Congratulations to Mr. Joey Halbert for correctly naming "Writing to Reach You" by Travis as the Monday Song of the Day.

Normally when you visit the friendly confines of Running Down a Dream you are not confronted with an atmosphere that resembles a Middle Eastern bazaar, but that does not mean that we are not willing to schill for a great cause every so often.

Those of you who have known me for a few years are aware that I worked at Wilderness Trek Christian Camp during the summers of 2003, 2004, 2006, and 1/2 of 2007. The ministry of Trek holds a special place in my heart, and if you have had the opportunity to visit Salida, Colorado, I'm sure it has a special place in your heart as well.

That's why I'm proud to let you know about an opportunity that I recently became aware of to help support Trek as well as that nagging coffee addiction.

Trek has partnered with Dallas-based Coffee With a Cause to raise the funds needed to provide scholarships for deserving students and to keep the cost of Trek as low as possible for all participants.An order will give you a freshly roasted bag of coffee with your name on it for only $10.95, and $3 dollars of every bag goes directly to helping the ministry of Wilderness Trek.

The coffee-deniers among you (coughmysisterKatiecough) will likely scoff at the notion of purchasing the vile brew, but come on, this one really is for the kids.

It's Been Raining for Hours, There's Water Everywhere

2007: Part Deux

July:

• 14: The kids from Memorial C of C in Houston compare me to the evil German camp counselor Lars in Heavyweights. I'm strangely honored.
• 20: Honestly, eating spam is not that bad for a few weeks each summer.
• 26: Lightning and I are almost tragically united.

August:

• 15: I call out Bear Grylles and somehow still survive to this very day.
• 16: Michael Vick: Federal inmate and covert operative for Al Qaeda.
• 22: Anchorwoman begins its rather brief run on Fox. The residents of Tyler exhale as one in response.

September:

• 4: "Battery Hut, Battery Hut, Battery Hut!!!"
• 7: Matt Phillips, we salute you.
• 24: Mike Gundy and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: Just a Couple of Guys Keeping Things Crazy.
• 27: If you are a Texas Rangers fan, hope must spring eternal.

October:

• 1: If you don't think this is yet another opportunity to bring up the GSP Sing Song win streak, well, you just don't know me that well.
• 7: I manage to send the Baylor Bear football program to even greater depths of despair.
• 19: College football fan arrogance at its finest.
• 25: The 3rd Anniversary Post.

November:

• 8: The Trinitarian Opposition to the Evil Empire.
• 13: Ruminations on the phenomenon that is Soulja Boy.
• 15: Take it from me on this one: Always try to remember who's alive and who's dead.
• 28: The Sports Guy's date with destiny.

December:

• 5: Take this quiz and help determine the fate of the free world.
• 10: The best piece I've read so far on the 2008 Presidential election.
• 13: Happy Mitchell Report Day!
• 17: Gus Johnson's status as a liar is still up for debate.
• 19: Anton Chigurh v. Jason Bourne for all the marbles.

I May Talk in My Sleep Tonight

• As I speculated a few days ago, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case of Heller v. District of Columbia on appeal from the D.C. Circuit Court. An exact date for oral argument has not been set, but this will be one of the most eagerly anticipated cases in recent years from our highest court.
• There must be something about a 2007 Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player award that makes you lose in the first round of the playoffs. Alex Rodriguez was announced as the A.L. winner yesterday, and shortstop Jimmy Rollins of the Philadelphia Phillies won the award in the N.L. Then again, an N.L. MVP has not played on a World Series champion since Kirk Gibson with the Dodgers in '88, and an A.L. MVP has not featured on a team winning it all since Willie Hernandez with the Tigers in 1984.
  
• Finally, I have been catching a ton of flack from friends and foes for my decision to wear the following shirt as a joke at a "Round-Up" themed Wilderness Trek fundraiser.

• I'm pretty sure I do not need to direct you to my location in the photo, but for those of you who are a bit slow with context clues, I can be found on the left clad in garb that would bring a tear to the eye of Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin, or anyone that possesses any indicia of fashion sense. I must reveal that the shirt was proffered to me as an opportunity to "stand out" at the event. I'll tell you this: It was all that and more.