Thanks to Tracy and Emily I knew of a few places to go experience while in the Seattle area. We started off the day with Pike Market. That was really cool. We got there while some of the produce stands were still getting there booths ready and the seafood vendors were icing down the fresh catch. Coming from a landlocked state this is not something you get to witness very often. It smelled amazing in the market. There were floral vendors that had many different varieties of flowers. It was beautiful to see all of the different colors in the market. From flower vendors to produce, the variety of color was astonishing. None of these pictures do justice to the diversity of color.

Today was filled of quite a few things I have never witnessed, experienced or have seen before. It was great. I could never live in 'The City', but the diversity is humbling to experience from time to time. We went on the Coast Guard Base in Seattle. This is the first weekend of Seafair, which is a big event in this area. We were told there will be some big Navy vessels in this next week, along with an air show. We didn't get to see any cruisers, carriers or destroyers yet, but we got a really cool tour of a cutter. The USCG Midgett is a 374 ft. cutter that does mostly law enforcement and drug trafficing missions. The ship was named after the Midgett family, which has a LONG lineage of Coast Guard history. There have been over 170 members of the Midgett family that have been enlisted in the USCG. In 1974 (the year the USCG Midgett was launched) the Midgett family had a family reunion aboard the USCG Midgett, and there is a framed picture hanging in one of the portages on the ship. One last thing I noticed in the port was the Alaskian Cruise ships, just calling my name. I have always wanted to go to Yellowstone and Alaska. After Tracy and Emily took there cruise, and they showed me the pictures they took, I have had an evergrowing yearing to get there and experience Alaska. In time I am sure I will make it.

I also got to witness glass blowing for the first time. That was extremely interesting to me. Any form of an artistic talent amazes me. The pieces in the gallery/shop were magnificant. What a talent!!!

I also made a new friend, Penny. I never have seen a penguin in person before. They always looked so much smaller on National Geographic. I was impressed. They sure are friendly little creatures. It was a little bit warmer today so I'm sure he was pretty hot with all of the fat that penguins have.



I'm sure that everyone has moments in their life that just sink deeper than most. Today after we left Pike's Market we were walking to the waterfront and a gentle man approached me. His fingertips were so dry there were cracked. He spoke very softly and looked me in the eyes. It's not just a look that anybody will give you. It wasn't a glare or a stare but this look that goes way beyond your eyes. Not a look of desperation but of comfort. It caught me off guard at first, but as soon as I felt the depth of his eyes, I knew why I stopped to talk to him. I try not to be rude to homeless people. In all honesty, I think some of them have life figured out. No financial responsibilities, not much stress, just the animalistic part of life. Where to find shelter, food, water and the social needs that every human has. I wouldn't say that I envy them, I feel envy is an emotion that usually does not harbor a positive attitude, but I can tell you that I can learn quite a bit from some of them. Whether it be street sense or just a simpler meaning of life, I believe that we can all learn from one another.

I have been a desolate soul before and am not afraid to admit to that. I think knowing where we were or came from can give so much light on where we want to go, what path in life we want to choose for ourselves. If we never examine the past how can we ever plan for the future?

My experiences today took me back to a class I took last fall. I may have talked about this before. Last semester was definitely a changing point in my life, in so many ways. Going back to college made me open my mind and really look more at the bigger picture. Global Environmental Issues was probably one of most favorite classes I have ever taken, for several reasons. For starters, the course material was most interesting to me. Instead of having to buy a $80 or $90 dollar textbook, Dr. Farley choose Collapse by Jared Diamond. A $17 textbook taught me more about life than a $100 dollar textbook. The book talks about several colonazations or tribes and how the outcome of their history was. They 'take home message' from the book was if we never examine our history or past, how can we ever make our future brighter with a more positive outcome. Now, mix the course material with the instructor, and you have nothing but a plater for success and cultivation of the mind. Dr. Farley is one of those instructors that will toss a thought out there and let you teach yourself, learn from those sitting around you, or if no one speaks up will put more things on the plater, and just let the class discussions go in whichever way they go. All within reason that is. It truly was an amazing class. It made me think more about life outside of the narrow halls that some peoples minds wander through.

Don't be afraid to look to new horizons, new thoughts, experiences...try diversifying your life. You never know what you may like or find interesting until you try. And if you don't, well so be it. To each there own, but at the very least, no one can ever say you didn't at least try. I beg each and every one of you, deeply from within my heart, if you have blinders on to take them off and look around you. Truly look around, even at the same things you have seen for a large part of your life. Change your perspective, you viewpoint, where you stand when you look at it, and think, just stop and think about it in a different light. You never know what you might see. Even if only to change you thought patterns for an instant, step out of your everyday box if you feel you are in a 'pattern' of life.

God Bless to each and everyone of you, my fellow brother and sisters. Peace be with you!!

I have been very blessed this week to be smack dab in the middle of beautiful majesty. I have always felt my soul belonged in the mountains. When I used to truck, I would always feel this sense of overwhelming comfort every time I went through mountains. It didn't matter whether it was the Appalachians, Rockies, Cascades or Sierra Nevadas. This calming deep feeling of fulfillment has filled my soul, almost as if Mother Nature is saying 'Welcome home my son, rest your soul.' The Northwest isn't much different than the Rockies but it does have a little bit different feel to it. Nothing bad, just different. There is about 5,ooo feet difference in elevation, but I'm not sure that I can attribute the change to that factor. Maybe it is because I haven't made it to Colorado for two years now and the experience isn't burnt deeply in my soul as it once was. It really isn't that relevant, whatever the case is.

The water is so prestine and clear, you can see to the bottom, no matter how deep it is. It is amazing. In some of the photos from earlier this week where we were jumping off of the bridge and swinging on the rope swing, that water was at least 15-18 feet deep. I tried to swim down and touch the bottom but didn't make it. That bridge is 2.5 miles from the Academy. Running down there right after class and jumping right in is more refreshing than I can describe. It is truly an amazing feeling, feeling each and every pour, almost get nourished with pure spring water. I'm guessing the water temperature is around 60-65 degrees. I would just jump in and sit there and tread water for 20-30 minutes, feeling the blood pump through my body. The cold water constricts your vessels, elevating your heart rate. You can almost literally feel the toxins leaving your system, leaving you feeling so nourished and refreshed.

Yesterday we went and did a little sight seeing in some nearby communities. The upper water fall is from Snowqualmie Falls. I need to do a little bit of reading on the history of the falls. There is a hydrogenerator by the falls, so I am assuming that the community of Snowqualmie may get a portion of the electricity from there. It was beautiful. If you notice in the photos, for scale, the spa in the upper left hand of one of the photos. I'm not exactly sure how tall the falls are but the look pretty tall.

The photos of the bottom water fall is Franklin Falls. The trailhead to the falls is just down the freeway from the exit to the Academy, within a 15 minute drive. It was another beautiful short hike up to the falls. There is an I-90 bridge that is just above the falls. We went down and climbed some rocks to get to some hidden spots. There were little falls all the way up the trial. I learned a little lesson today. Whenever hiking, wear your trunks. You never know where you can just kick off your shoes and dive right in. There were so many little 4-10 foot pools that would have been awesome to dive into right off of the rocks. The river has cut a pretty deep channel into the valley throughout the years so the walls are pretty steep.

There was one place that where the water had eroded the rocks away in such a manner that they resembled water slides. The rocks get slippery when wet and you can slide right down then into a pool.

Standing at the bottom of Franklin Falls today was a very humbling feeling. The falls don't look very tall but the force of the fall creates a mist that hits you in the face and just feels incredible. Just standing there, peaceful quite surrounding with the mist and wind blowing straight into you, cleansing your soul and enriching you.

I hope that all is well with everyone and summer is starting to calm down. I wish you all the best and don't be surprised if I don't come back home.

Now I know what you all are thinking, looking at these pictures Jeff, you sure don't look like you're working very hard while you are on a military trip. Well, I will be honest, this year isn't that physically demanding. Everything we are doing is classroom stuff and we have the afternoons and weekend to go do what we would like. These classes do require studying and paying attention but I have to admit, they are not a class that you have to devote all of your free time to. So, what do I do when I have free time in the mountains? Play and soak up as much of nature as I can. This stream is just inside the gate when you pull off the main drive into the Fire Academy. I couldn't believe how clear this water is up here. You can see all the way to the bottom and it's at least 15-18 feet deep. It is absolutely beautiful!!! The other pictures are of the road that leads into the Fire Academy. This is my new road course for running. It's 2.5 miles from gate to gate. I ran down and back last night and then this afternoon after we got done jumping, swinging and swimming I ran back to the Academy. It is one of the most peaceful places I have ever ran, which I have to be honest, isn't that many. So easily you can get lost in your thoughts, just observing nature and soaking it up in every pore. All of you sensese are hightened to the extreme, not in a nervous way but in a way that hits your soul to the depths, makes you feel at one with everything around you and being grateful to God for every beautiful ounce of what you are experiencing. It truly is amazing. Almost undescribable....

Make you sure appreciate the wonders of the outdoors and every blessing in your life. I hope everything is going well with everyone back home. If I should not happen to come back in a month, would someone please forward my mail to North Bend, WA. I would appreciate it.

For the next couple of weeks I'll be out of town. I have finally gotten my mountain fix for a couple of more months. I hope that these two weeks in Washington will suffice until I can get to Colorado in September. Flying over the mountains today was one of the most magnifcant sights I have seen in quite some time. It was absolutely breathtaking to see!! These are a few pictures of the Washington State Fire Academy. It is a pretty impressive facility. I have to say if far outranks the academy I went to, and that was a first rate academy. I can't wait to spend some time hiking and just being outdoors. I wish I could have been able to fit my kayak into my duffle bag but I don't know how I would have carried a 12' duffle bag onto the plane. I'm sure they would have caught onto that one. Some of the other pictures I took the other day when I was out at Wilson Lake kayaking. It was my last day before I had to leave for a month so I spent that morning getting back to nature. The bike trials at Lake Wilson are pretty impressive I have to say. They were pretty challanging for me. I can't wait to get out and ride them again and do some camping when I get back home. Hopefully I will have three others that will be joinging me. I'm looking forward to it that's for sure.

Once again, my sister has bamboozooled me. Tracy, Emily and Jonas came back for the weekend, but I had to leave before they got there. I'm really looking forward to finally getting to see them in a month when I fly back into KC. That weekend will be well deserved and can't wait to see everybody that weekend. I'm really looking forward to it.

This weekend I was introduced to a killer Blues' band out of KC called Levee Town. If you ever get the chance, check em' out. They really know how to put on a show and have some amazing talent amongst all of the members. You can even find some of there stuff on Youtube. Well worth your time.

I hope you all are having a wonderful summer and making the best of it. Get out and let the Sun shine on your soul!!

Lesson learned

Right after school was out a friend of mine and his wife moved back to Topeka. I was looking forward to a good weekend of hiking a new nature filled trial and doing some camping this past weekend. I met Chris and Andrea in Manhattan and hiked the Konza Grassland and camped at Tuttle Creek area. I have found a new fondness for eastern Kansas. There were so many outdoor activities in the area. The air was so thick this weekend you could almost cut it with a knife. It sure made for a nice sweaty hike. Riley was pretty hot but she found a nice stream to swim in and cool off a couple of times. I really enjoyed the weekend. It has pretty much wrapped up my summer. I have to reiterate, this has been a VERY memorable summer. Filled with good people and good times, the lake with several friends, the field trips, the musical, the camping and hiking, and can't forget the canoeing. It has been a blast!!! I truly appreciate and thank everyone for this summer.


As I was cleaning the kennel this morning I started thinking about things. I remember when I was in high school, I told myself, when I could afford it I wanted to buy a nice Ford 3/4 diesel pickup. Well a couple of years ago I got one. I nice, shiny, 2001 F-350 extended cab Superduty diesel. Just what I was wanting. I searched from Houston to Chicago for this thing. I finally found a huge dealership up by Omaha that had all sorts in stock. I went up there that weekend, test drove I bet, almost ten of them. I told the salesman EXACTLY what I was wanting. Color, cloth, trim package, mileage, everything... I finally found just the one I wanted. I had searched quite some time for this thing, talked to numerous dealers, searched the internet and car lots in multiple cities. That pickup was pretty nice. By far, the nicest vehicle I had ever owned. I drove it all the time, washed it every week and kept it pretty clean. Other than my one little escapade in the Plainville lake (which took a backhoe to get me out) that thing was baby'ed. Well then I started seeing what the upkeep, liscensing, and taxes cost. Let alone the $250 dollars a week I was spending in fuel just to get back and forth from work. I started rethinking.
I had always wanted this pickup. Dreamed about it for years. Just exactly what I had wanted for years.

I finally realized that what I had wanted all of these years was not the most practical for my situation. I learned a hard lesson during the course of this whole adventure. Think out what you want before you go and try and find it.

I have come to the point in my life that I have learned to want everything that is in front of me. I have so much to be thankful in my life. I have wonderful family on both of my parents sides. I have been blessed to have some amazing people come into my life. I have outgrown the stage of 'wanting what you can't have, and not wanting what you can have.' I have learned to be very thankful for what is in my life while it is there. I have a heart-felt appreciation for the opportunities God has allowed me to experience.

There is a quote I once read about a little bird. The little bird would lay in the cold dark night, beak clattering, shivering, saying once the sun came out he would build a warm nest for the coming nights. When the sun came up the next day, he basked in the warm sun, falling asleep finally warmed by the rays of the warm sun, not thinking about the next night when the sun would go down. He fall asleep warm and happy and didn't think much past that thought.

I guess what I am saying is that I have learned to take care of the things that have been placed in front of me. Not 'wanting' or 'wishing' for things that are not practical for my life. Trying to be the most realistic and makinig due with what I have been blessed with. I try not to take things for granted when I am face to face with them. I don't want them when they are unobtainable. Taking everyday and making the most of it makes for a very enriching life.

I say to you, all of my brothers and sisters, never forget to cultivate your mind. Take what is in front of you as it may not be there for long. All of our days are numbered on this Earth and may happy souls sing and dance in the heavens above!!

I wish you all Love and may peace be with you...



P.S.-I really miss Tracy, Emily and Jonas. I hope to get to see you all when I get back. Love you guys!!