Time

Yesterday, I asked my dog what time it was.  He said he doesn't know what 'time' is.

I asked a bird to wait a minute and I would refill the feeder for him.  The bird asked, "What's a 'minute?'"

The Need to Conquer the World

One of my favorite passages by Steven Pressfield appears in "The Virtues of War," Mr. Pressfield's novel of Alexander the Great.  I'm posting it to my blog so it's always here for quick reference.

We dine this evening, my officers and I, on a terrace of teak overlooking the river. The talk is of an incident earlier today. My party had been crossing that quadrant of the camp that abuts Oxila village. One of my pages, a bright lad named Agathon, was striding ahead to clear the lane, when he came upon a troupe of gymnosophists taking the sun in the public way. These declined to vacate for my passage. An altercation broke out between the boy and several vendors, who took up the cudgels on the renunciants’ behalf. A crowd gathered. By the time I arrived, a full-blown incident was in progress. The nut of the quarrel was this: Who was more worthy to possess the right of way – Alexander or the gymnosophists? As I reined in, Agathon stood in spirited exchange with the eldest of the wise men. Indicating me, the lad declared, “This man has conquered the world! What have you done?” The philosopher replied without an instant’s hesitation, “I have conquered the need to conquer the world.”

Where does discipline come from ...

I read Steve Pressfield's blog this morning in which he discussed his experience with marathon running a few years back.  Interesting article.  Discipline always comes to the forefront whenever I consider extraordinary athletic achievement.  I do believe I am very disciplined.  I also believe my level of discipline is more an extension of my athletic career than my military training.  I played sports not to make money.  I played because I loved to -- still do -- and with the intention of being the best there was.  You can't be the best at anything without discipline.

All of us have some athletic experience and interest.  That interest varies from one to the other.  Even Mom is committed to swimming every day.  That commitment to get in the pool and do laps develops discipline.  Six months ago, I said I wanted to ride in the Tour de Tucson in November.  Don't need to do it, now.  By November, I will have bicycled the 80 miles or so from Tucson to Maricopa -- maybe not back, but I'll get there!  I know I will not be able to make the trip without the discipline to get my body -- my heart, my legs [and my butt] -- in shape to make the trip.  That will take discipline.

I'd encourage you to define a physical regimen for yourself and commit yourself to it to develop discipline.  Once you have it, you can apply it productively to every aspect of your life.

Catching the Wind of God's Breath

Sunday morning, Mom and I always take our 'power hike.'  That means at least five miles, more likely 10 miles through the Sonoran Desert.  We left the house this morning at 0930 with the intention of walking to the Redemptorist Center.  We agree that the 'worst part' of our journey -- what a poor choice of words -- is always the first half mile from the house to the gate into the Saguaro National Park.  As we walked up the street this morning, we chanced upon a couple who actually live within a stone's throw of the house.  They were photographing a very large rattlesnake in front of someone's home up the street.  After the snake made his way into the stone wall, we all proceeded up the hill.  He asked us if we had ever seen 'the windmill.'  We told him, 'no.'  He tried to give us directions.  Tym -- yes 'Tym' with a 'y' -- and his wife Ursula turned back after we got to the top of the hill and before we entered the free desert.

Marie and I followed our normal course toward the Redemptorist Center, but when we got to the large wash, we decided to turn left, instead of our normal right toward the Center.  About a mile later and several excursions off the beaton track into the open desert -- yes, I carry a compass, and Marie and I are becoming very familiar with our area of the desert -- we found the windmill.  Extraordinary to think that someone, some time -- I'm guessing 50 to 60 years ago -- constructed this windmill to water his livestock.  I'm sure it was horses, not crops.  I'll follow up later when I complete my research.  The current Aermotor logo says the company is from Texas, but it started in Chicago. 

Bottom line: here we are, in the middle of the desert along an unfrequented wash, and we come upon this windmill that someone constructed sometime for some reason. 

In the simplest of terms, he captured God's breath in the Sonoran Desert.

Man's Best Friend

Senator George Graham Vest won a court battle and the hearts of dog lovers everywhere when he paid his famous tribute to the dog during the 1870 Burden vs. Hornsby court case in Warrensburg, Missouri.  Here is the speech Senator Vest delivered on that special day.

"Gentlemen of the jury, the best friend a man has in this world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter whom he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us -- those whom we trust with our happiness and good name -- may become traitors in their faith. The money that a man has he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it most. A man's reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads. The one absolute, unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world -- the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous -- is his dog.

"Gentlemen of the jury, a man's dog stands by him in prosperity and poverty, in health and sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow, and the snow drives fiercely, if only he can be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer; he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounter with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens.

"If fortune drives the master forth an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him to guard against danger, to fight against his enemies. And when the last scene of all comes, and death takes the master in its embrace, and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by his graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even to death."

If you want to play .... play

A week ago when Marie was in Maricopa waiting for Lyla's arrival, I started going down to the park on my bike after supper with my basketball.  Marana constructed an awesome park with BBall courts, tennis courts, etc. just 1.5 miles from the house.  I went down this evening.  Within 5 minutes, I was playing horse with a Marana high school sophomore player.  Five minutes later, I was in a 2v2 game with three Marana players.  Me and the fat kid lost 21-16.  Fair enough.  Then I heard them talking about 'smoking' and I don't think they were talking about cigarettes.  Without lecturing, I told them if you want to play, play.  If you want to be a dope, do dope.  I left on my bicycle.  They were respectful enough.  I'll be back tomorrow looking for the same kids.  This time, I will lecture.  By the way, one kid knows who Shane Battier is, and one kid thought he knew who Dick Vitale is.

Why I Watch the Stars

Because they have always been there.