Symbol of Freedom--Gone

Its true... Seven months of flaming red bristles protruding from my chin; vamoose. The Obama Freedom Beard is gone, but what it represents is not... The decision was not an easy one, but just as wearing a flag on your lapel does not signify patriotism, growing a goatee does not necessarily represent freedom... however, I can't think of a better symbol of freedom than a goatee...

Here is your last look-
Your welcome mother.

Winds of Change

So ECT lost the District contract for my job which means that after October I would have to be employed by another contractor if I wanted to keep my job at the refuge... Well ECT has offered to create me a position in New Smyrna. I would be the only ecologist on this side of the state and they have lots of work for me. Things have kind of gone stale here at the refuge and I have pretty much plateaued in terms of professional development... so I am seriously considering selling my soul to consulting to take my career to the next level... plus I am only guaranteed one more year at the refuge after Oct anyway. I don't really have any more details, but it is somewhat reassuring to have options. This place has been interesting. I have learned a lot about myself and the universe. Many of those lessons have been humbling and many have been enlightening... i need to reflect...

For you

The rains have come. I picked these for you.

Somebody Woke Up on the Wrong Side of the Hive

Remember that scene in Tommy Boy when Chris Farley and Dave Spade got pulled over by the police and jumped out pretending that they were being attacked by bees? Well that sort of happened to me this morning. Right as I was going through the security check point at KSC a bee stung me on the neck then fell further down my back stinging me several more times. I reached back and the bastard stung me on my hand too. I proceeded through the check station, pulled over and jumped out of the Triz flailing like I was having a seizure on the dance floor at Market Street on 80's night... the coast was clear. Then about an hour later I got back in the Triz and Mr. Bee was chillin on my shoulder. I tried to fling him out the window but missed... Thankfully though, I never saw him again... The throbbing pain sort of made me laugh; certainly woke me up.

Trizzy Rolls 200 K

At 7:29 last night The Triz rolled into his 200-thousandth mile. I have to admit I drove around the block an extra time because I couldn't stand the suspense (and I knew I would be furious if I would have missed it rolling over the next time I drove)... Oh the places we have been together... It has been 11 years. While many like to joke about Trizzy, poking fun at his rusted out fenders, leaky roof, mat of dog hair covering his interior or his "Bush, Gore, IZZO" bumper stickers, many of those miles were driven for those jokers. I don't want to get too sentimental because this isn't his obituary... oh no... In the last month or so I have been seriously considering "upgrading" (as you haters like to say) but one option fell through and I just couldn't go through with my second option. The thought of driving The Triz to a scrap yard and walking away makes me sick to my stomach. So for now we will keep on truckin'...

Congrats Triz; you the shiz!

Insight from Unexpected Sources

so lately i have been trying to listen and observe more than think. I have heard a few one liners recently that are so basic, some maybe even cliche, but they have resonated with me... what surprises me the most is that i would have never expected to find comfort in the words of some of those who spoke them... I am not sure when i started to think i couldn't learn something from everybody, but it is definitely time to scale back on that... i am going to make this a running post because these things are happening all the time (but now i am listening)...

"Success is getting what you want, happiness is wanting what you get" - F. A.

"Being happy with yourself is probably the most important thing you can find in life" -S.H.

"We have much in our lives that is dull, frustrating or even painful, which makes it ever the more important to thrive in those moments that allow us the vibrant feeling of truly feeling alive. So keep your head up kiddo and don't let the nasty things in your life bleed in to the things that make life worth living" - C. S.

Lost...

It's hard when you realize that you have lost your way. It's harder realizing that the path that led you astray can not lead you out of the darkness.

"People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone" - Audrey Hepburn