With everything else that has been going on (and that includes my recent bent on social commentary) now is a good time to remember what started this blog: A soup can. More than one person has told me that in today’s age of debit cards money is less physical and more virtual. Because of that, change is not something they come by very often. I have tried to make behavioral changes so that cash is used in lieu of plastic. An added benefit is that the companies I frequent do not have to pay usage fees.
Presently my can count is 2 1/2. Two soup cans and one evaporated milk can. The latter thanks to the baking of my seasonal pumpkin pie. As you can see in the photo, the cans are under observation for safe keeping.
My first mud run with my friend Chuck Schoonmaker and his family.
A rough last few months had the site on life support. Neither Chris nor I had time or inspiration to move outside these thin walls. I guess it never occurred to us that a simple push or punch would relieve us from the congestion. As my friend Josh McTiernan has always told me: “Just write.” How is it that the things we “know” are the things we forget? A failed philosophy of individual exploration trips on over its own ideas. But pulls itself back up an moves onward.
The job of the pilgrim.
I would like to say we have codified our philosophy and have moved on from our humble beginnings. The sad truth is that as small as we thought our idea was it still lacked vision and a plan. So while we maneuver through our own mistakes and ignorance there is only the art of “doing”. We will write. We will photograph. We will share positive to invoke change. Beyond that the road is unknown but the effort is not lost.
There are many things being experienced and considered.
But while we wait, here are things that have happened:
* I took the GRE. Top percentile in Qualitative. 4.5 out of 6 on the essay. 19th percentile on Qualitative. How do you get into graduate school with that? Math has humbled me.
* My first mud run with my daughter. Started writing about it. I will finish it.
* 13.1 trail run in Pelham, AL with my friends Brian and Philip. Another experience worth sharing. It will come.
* My wife attended a youth counselor seminar in Atlanta. Some great theological inspiration…even for this agnostic.
* My friend Josh returns from Kazakhstan. He was in the Peace Corps. His story is quite enlightening. Another share moment.
* I have learned a lot about addiction. But I have so much more to consume.
I guess you could say the “changing” and “charity” has been a bit more introspective. While I watch others help out Haiti, the homeless and other areas I try to remind myself of those small dots and that beating the self up serves no purpose other than building the wall. The checklist is a work in action.
Chris and I appreciate all who visit this humble site. We hope inspiration can be found amidst the mess. More-so we hope you take the time to share with us what is going on in your world. Yes the internet is littered with sites much like this but maybe this will be the one that changes the one. If you don’t try you fail.
For anyone who is interested, I have contacted SoSA (Society of St. Andrews) to volunteer time in the farms of Florida, gleaning food for the hungry. This is a group that works in a good number of other states (here). If you are at all interested in spending time to help let me know. When they contact me with availability I will share it on the site.
With South Carolina being another state to glean in I will probably be requesting times there as well.
A few other projects being worked on are below. As you can read, Chris is very busy.
I have sent out an email to some friends I think can offer their services or direct me to ones who can for a chili cookofff I would like to host in December. Proceeds would go towards the Second Harvest of North Florida and the West Chatham Food Pantry. My plan is to ask for a $5 donation and 5 cans of food. The food collected will go directly to Second Harvest. My first order of business is to get some chefs. Let me know if you can help.
I am trying to frame a Pop Warner Scholarship Fund so we can help pay for at least one child to play Pop Warner Football. Listening to Fred Taylor’s retirement speech today, where he spoke of his grandmother scraping together $60 for him to play, has further inspired me that this will be a worthy effort.
Chris is working to coordinate a food drive at Wake Technical Community College with other like-minded campus groups.
Chris is working to coordinate an event for Veterans Day. This could include acquiring a flag that has been flown over the state capital and presenting it to the oldest living veteran in North Carolina.
Chris is working to set up a $500 scholarship fund on Wake’s campus.
The $1 Facebook Friend Fund never got off the ground and with Chris now off Facebook I am carrying the standard. I know the one-click donation link will help (or I hope it will) and it has not been forgotten. Also, please don’t forget to keep those BoxTops. Remember, I will come and get them.
I AM BWF 