We Are Safe and Secure Now!!

If you've not seen the news recently, let me tell you the great news. There has been a monster roaming the streets of our country for a while and the monster was captured yesterday. Withour country struggling with the Middle East, Korea, domestic terrorism, pedophiles, poverty, violence in our schools and on our streets and more, the last thing we need to worry about is an evil creature only imaginable in some George Romero movie walking free. But, like I said the "creature from below" is in the custody of our law enforcement officials and not able to hurt anyone again.

This predator I'm referring to is the vile pile of dog squeeze known as Warren Steed Jeffs, the polygamist! If it weren't for the courageous and persistent efforts of the FBI and countless other law enforcement officers, I'd still be balled up in the corner of my bedroom tonight, shivering like a wet kitten on a cold winter night. The thought of a grown man choosing to take multiple wives that have agreed to be with him is horrific. I know marriage is a religious union and that the government has this seperation of church thingy-ma-jig, but I don't care. I want all the resources necessary used to keep these people off the street. They are as big a threat to this country as....well, homosexuals and Presbyterians. If we continue to worry about "violent" criminals and those that actually violate other rights through force or fraud, these people will continue to live their lives the way they want to, while minding their own beeswax. That's just not acceptable! Someone or something has to stop it and thank God, today that someone was the FBI. Good job guys.

Now I know that Warren Jeffs is accused of marrying off young girls to older men too, but he's not accused of murder. What I mean is, he's not accused of "really" forcing anything. The parents of these underage children should be the ones punished for that, not the moronic chap conducting some ceremony. It is a warped, disgusting, selfish and cruel act to marry a child, especially if it's against their will. Unfortunately, they may not have a will if they don't know what's going on, because of their age. But that's where I'm saying, it's their parents that should be strung up by their finger nails and beat with a rubber hose.

I have yet to see what the age of the girls are, but want to keep in mind certain truths. We've got a problem with children having sex today at younger and younger ages. These are willing kids for the most part, not molestations. Also, in many cultures it is and always has been customary for the parents to arrange marriages. (Given todays divorce rate, this may not be such a bad idea.) Also, in some cultures, including ours long ago, it is normal to marry at around 14. Gross! But for all I know, the news or FBI may be talking about 16 yr. olds marrying 22 yr. olds. That's still on the parents back though.

The beginning of this post was chock full of sarcasm, but I want to make my point clear. Spending so much money, man-power and time chasing an adult that has chosen to take on multiple partners seems incredibly stupid, given the opportunity cost. What could that money, man-power and time have been used for instead? Maybe something that would really have an impact on our country. This guy was on a top 10 list with Osama bin Laden. Do his alleged crimes really make him one of the United States top 10 most wanted? Maybe the top 23, but top 10...I don't think so.

Backpacking in Wyoming IS all it's cracked up to be

As I write this, I can hear raindrops that sound as large as grapes, pellting my roof. Not so secretly, I wish they were frozen raindrops the size of grapes. For those that don't know, I remove dents from cars without painting them and hail damage is good for my piggy bank.

Now back to our scheduled program...

Two weeks ago, I considered backpacking an activity I'd participate in if there was nothing more exciting to do. Well, two friends asked, no, begged me to go with them to Wyoming for a five day trip into the Wind River Valley. I couldn't bear (ha) to see them grovel like little children at their age, so I commited myself to carrying a 45lb. backpack across the Continental Divide twice.

Actually, there were five of us, but I only met the other two for the first time at the Salt Lake City airport the day before our wonderful adventure started. They were both from Knoxville, Tennessee and were more than experienced campers. I was actually worried at first. Not because next to them I was going to look like I failed my remedial camping class, but because they were both Boy Scout leaders. My personality mixed with my old friends works out quite well, but I wasn't sure that my non-PC humor, social and political beliefs and germaphobic tendancies would fly with these guys if strung out over five days. Luckily for me, they were more like wolves in sheeps clothing. Normal, down to earth and above average cool guys that know how to start a fire with Fritos and catch fish with rocks. That's what they were.

We anxiously started our fisrt day of hiking with packs full of food, tents, sleeping bags and bear mace. Yeah, they've got grizzly's in them there hills....from what I hear. The only disappointing thing about this trip was not getting pictures (HELL, not even seeing) of big game. A weasle was about as big as it got. Our first campsite was just below a huge glacier on Pylon Peak (12, 378 ft.).

The second day consisted of a three hour hike up towards Texas Pass. This is where we crossed the Continental Divide. It's also where we should have put our request in the suggestion box to change the pass name to You Could Die Here Pass. This thing was insane. More likely, we were insane for doing it. The ascent took 3 hrs. because of it's length, which was about 2 miles of climbing over boulders on about a 30% grade. The descent however was approx. 1/4 mile in length, but at about a 45-50% grade. It consisted of not much more than huge Rocky Mtn. boulders dropped from the side of the mountain into pebbles and sand. Hmmm? Climb and jump down a boulder field with 45 lbs. on my back or take a chance sliding on the skree (sand and pebbles) laden trail straight into a boulder. I opted for option numero uno.

That was probably the toughest day, but well worth it. Had I planned the trip, it would have been quite different and that' s why I'm glad I didn't. I've got a lot more to tell, but am saving those stories for "in person" narration only...for effect.

We saw some beautiful scenery, had a lot of time to reflect and even more time to just be thankful I'm here. I'm looking forward to doing something similar again someday and hope it involves company as good as this trip did.

In the meantime, I do have a little trip planned to Biloxi, MS this weekend to see Amy! We've been apart for almost a solid 3 weeks now and it's sucked. She's even directed me to bring my running shoes. I think she's back in da game.

PS- I'm having trouble posting pics, so check back to this post later.

Good Vibes Flowing Here

Thanks for the posts that have just come in. I just checked 'my very own blog' for the first time and found some props and good advice. And to think, all I really did was join a new cult. I've been a member of others before (paddlers cult, cyclist cult, freaky Libertaians cult, etc.) and I've thought of bloggers in this way for a while. (hear my synisism) This would be a great place for a misunderstanding, so let me clarify. I've got nothing against cults, that's why my Poster Name is Idrunkthepunch. Amy could elaborate on that more if she wanted, because it's in reference to another cult we're both members of. Maybe one day I'll feel entreprenureal and delve into the industry myself. I'd enjoy, and think I'd be good at, being CEO to the masses that flock to Macon in hopes of aquiring a treasured spot among my followers. BUT, I think I need more experience on the "ground level" before setting my sights so high.

(now i see why people spend so much time here. i can't believe that my first significant paragraph in Bloggerville was what you see above. well, i'm not changing it now. but consider that my bar....and no, it won't get much higher.)

I'd love to write more and be a little more serious, interesting and entertaining.....but, I'm in the middle of packing for my first ever multi-day backpacking expedition. After seeing Broke Back Mountain, some friends and I decided it'd be nice to go somewhere we'd never been before. That's a joke. No seriously! Because I have been where we're going before. haha Okay, I'll stop goofing off and wasting the minutes your so kindly dedicating to me (instead of your boss) and get to my short explanation of where I'm going.

Two of my best friends (one married and one engaged) and two guys I don't know and I are flying to Salt Lake City, then driving to Wyoming to backpack through the Wind River Valley. This link gives you a good idea of what lay before me. http://www.visitsublettecounty.com/destinations/windriverrange.htm

So, I've got some final errand to take care of and some last minute lists to go over before I settle down for a long summers rest.

I look forward to having some good stories and maybe some pictures (which I'll need the assistance of my wonderful girlfriend to upload) to share. Wish us safety. We're living the dream Heath. (one last attempt at some Broke Back humor. sorry.)

tt

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