Enjoying Nature's Soundtrack

Valentine's Day came and went and well you can say I was blessed to spend it with Natalia and also to have found my love of nature again. Been trying to make hiking a normal routine lately going out at least once a week. Very fortunate to have found a local group that goes out regularly and learning new routes. With age I have found out it is the women that tend to be more active and get out. They kind of nicknamed themselves "The Sisters" and I find it fitting. Been getting in many hours out in the trails at good pace and having fun sweating at a good pace and rock scrambling.

Natalia had her 3rd dental appointment and it did not go well. I can guess the previous one where I was not informed until too late she suffered greatly. I have been talking with her and hope to give it another try. The alternative is very very costly. However, we have been having a great time at home playing and relaxing. She really loves relaxing and staying home. Been playing games as usual and showing her shows on TV that I grew up with. Also last week a kind designer of a card game that is part of my small board gaming group (Boardgaming With Kids) gifted us his soon to release game to play as he felt we would like it. That game has been a hit with the family.

"Strive not to be a success but rather to be of value"

- Albert Einstein

The weather has calmed down and last weekend we were expecting a massive storm. A storm touted by the news forecasters as the worse in 27 years. Well, we got a dusting. Natalia and I were prepared for the 3' forecasted. Winter is not yet over as we always are on alert until May. Until then we all enjoy this season and look forward to the next season. That is what makes living up here worth it.

"A man sees in the world what he carries in his heart"

- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Been reading quite a bit lately but the last few days I can't find a book of interest. My last book was Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates. I found this a great read and a fast one. I learned much from it and the book may be a "biased" so I would love to read a little more. But it does go to show the we must learn our history as it seems to repeat itself and the sacrifice if so many would be a waste. Also read Killing Jesus and found that book very informative. To wrap it us I was back n my sci-fi with the latest Ben Bova Star Quest Trilogy, Apes and Angels novel. Now trying to read Faust and the 3rd Miss Peregrine book but not feeling it.

Well, I hope to continue with my routine and in the coming weeks hope to stabilize my "job" and continue to serve. Never easy for anyone serving as we all have over our heads the possibility f leaving for an extended amount of time into a very uncertain future. That is the sacrifice very few of us make and so many never will understand or thank is for.

Snow, Snow and Hikes

Well, about two weeks ago Old Man Winter made its appearance here and dumped over 3 feet of snow and more in parts. Natalia has been sledding everyday here and so far we have managed to go late enough to not have anyone else bother us. I also went on snowshoeing in the Keller Peak area where snow accumulations was substantial. The biggest problem has been keeping Yuli in the yard as she has been able to walk over the fence since the snowfall and not much melt off lately.

My reading has increased this month and hope to keep up the pace as it seems weekly I run across a new book I want to read. I decided to read more Ben Bova and now he is another of my favorite authors. His writings I have found smooth reading and good stories. Also started reading on my EBook as I have found more books of interest online. However now I remember why I do not prefer to read in this format, as it sucks when the battery runs out and you have to stop reading. Games have slowed down a little but this week I have a few cool games arriving. Santorini arrives this week and I truly hope it is a hit with the family. Also this week I found a local game group in Redlands I may be joining to see if we click. Sadly the local game group up here fell apart and I clicked with all the people that would show up.

"I made up my mind ... That I would be governed by certain principles and among them I decree that women should not govern me neither should my passions of lust or anger, but I would be boss over myself my passions and my appetites..."

- Brighman Young

I have recently started hiking a bit more again and found a local group and hope to make it a regular thing. I feel I need to get back to my roots (old self) and find peace in nature. Last Tuesday I decided to just plan on a hike with the group but it was canceled last moment. However, I was already at the site and decided to go out anyways. After hiking down 8kms. to Hesperia on 173 I decided to keep going and just commit myself. I was in one of those moods to test myself. In short a cold river crossing in my underwear, a long hike up PCT and lost for about 2 hours finding a trail on the map and testing my common sense skills I found 173 again thanks to the sounds of gunfire of the range nearby. Just before dark I got a sight of my car. In the end almost 30kms hiked and very tired.

Natalia was taken in for emergency dental work and I was not informed until much later. Mad, but not a thing I can do. After all I am just a father in California. It angers me Natalia has so much dental issues as the other parent has not been concerned of her brushing and now we have found ourselves here. Not much I can do but pray. I can complain but from experience find myself loosing more moey in courts over false accusations and more threats of loosing my daughter. And, I hear of fathers that do not care have more priviledges than me. Money does make the system work. Just hope the future of our country is finding itself in a slow turnaround to common sense and values. Corruption needs to be minimized as it will never go away.

"Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean' "

My future is again uncertain as I am in the slow process of re enlisting with the US Navy and as usual worries in the back of my head of what may be happening worldwide. I shake my head to see all these "protestors" and "crybabies" lately. Why? They are not the ones putting their boots on and dealing with these problems. It is the very few Americans so many of us not pay attention to or care.