New TV Shows Drying Up As Strike Sets InNov 8, 5:26 PM (ET)NEW YORK (AP) – It seemed the new TV season had just started, then, suddenly, the stream of new episodes threatened to run dry.For the most part, you can relax for the rest of the month. Even with TV writers on strike, most of your favorite comedy and drama series have episodes on tap throu

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A Camping Experience 

 

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.  And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.  And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.  And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.  And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.” – Genesis 1:1-5

A couple of weeks ago, on a Friday night, I had the spontaneous notion and opportunity to go camping at Norris lake with my friend Chris K.  Having a rather late start, we rushed to gather our gear and ended up arriving at the somewhat reclusive backwoods campsite a little after 9pm.  The only illumination that we had was from the very faint glow of an already set sun along the top of the tree line on the opposite shore across the lake.

I left the Ford Ranger parked with the headlights beaming down the rocky and eroded ruts that carved a path leading to the campsite.  There was no way that I was going to attemp to take my 2-wheel drive down that path, much less risk making it back up, so we just carried our gear the remaining 40 yards and immediately setup camp.  After sparking up the lantern, pitching the tent and unloading our gear, Chris bagged up the remnants of a beer-laced fish-fest from the makeshift fire pit left by the previous visitors, then we proceeded to gather whatever firewood we could scrounge up.

Having recently watched several episodes of “Survivor Man” and “Man Vs Wild”, also both loving the outdoors, we were somewhat excited to be roughing it and ready to test our own skills at starting a fire.  After trying some dryer lint, tree bark, and dried grass as tender, we eventually got it going after about 15 minutes with the paper wrapper from some of the canned food we took.  All I can say is, “Thank God for cigarette lighters!” and “Don’t journey into the wilderness without one!”

After shortly relishing (and roasting ; ) over our now insanely blazing fire, we decided to test our patience by fishing off the bank for about an hour.  There was no action from the fish whatsoever, and it wasn’t long before my eyes crept away from the end of my fishing pole and became affixed on the seemingly millions of stars up above.  As my eyes became more adjusted to the surrounding darkness, it seemed that more and more stars just continued to pop out, further illuminating the firmament that infinitely hung over our heads.

The are really no words that can truly describe the view, accept that it was simply astonishing, and that I was immediately struck in awe by the unfathomable beauty of this amazing part of God’s creation.  Having previously read about and also having seen pictures of the Milky Way, I was finally able to visibly grasp the dusty trails of our immense galaxy first hand.  My eyes slowly indexed through the clusters, in a connect-the-dots fashion, trying to peice together the shapes of constellations that I might recognize.

Overwhelmed by the shear magnitude and incomprehensible depth, I began to think a little deeper about how little we humans truly know, how little we know about space and the universe, and how man has never really been able to number the stars.  I also began to look back on some of the Scriptures that I’ve read, such as…

“And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.” – Genesis 1:16

“He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.” – Psalms 147:4

“Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.” – Hebrews 11:12

I then began to ponder on an article that I had recently read on a little know phenomenon in physics called “sonoluminescence”, where (in layman terms)... sound is channeled through water to create light.  And then it finally dawned on me… “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.  And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”  All God had to do was speak, and it was so!  I then began to look back on the times throughout my life when God simply “spoke”, in a still small voice, to let me know that everything is alright, and that everything is safe and secure… in His hands.

As we all get older, we start to see patterns in life emerge, trends or fads fading in and out, waves of things that seemingly reoccur as history unravels.  Looking back on some of the things that I have experienced in life, and then looking back to the day that Jesus Christ saved my soul, I knew deep down in my heart that life… has just been getting sweeter with each and every passing day, and that it’s all because of the Love of Jesus Christ and what He has done for me!

Back to the camping.  As I sit there still struck in amazement and continually gazing skyward, Chris seemed to consistently ramble on about the typical daily gossip.  I knew that the overbearing boredom of not getting the first nibble on his hook had worn out his patience with fishing.  So, we both began to talk about the beautiful sky lingering overhead, the stars and space, and for a brief instance, it seemed that we were both sharing some strange but humbled philosophical connection as we both sat in complete silence, overwhelmed by the vastness of our surroundings.

Having been really good and close friends with Chris for over 13 years now, he was more acquainted with the person that I had been for the first 10 years.  We had done a lot of crazy, illegal, and sometimes cruel things together… before I was saved.  I began to try and witness to Chris about Jesus Christ, how that He had changed my life since I was saved, and how He has given me an indescribable peace within the void of my heart that could only be filled by His love.  Although Chris is a very loving person, his heart still seemed to be somewhat hardened, and his sarcasm towards the topic of salvation revealed to me that maybe he still just hasn’t had the personal experience that is required with every individual to lead them to Christ.

After trying to drop a few seeds, it was beginning to get late, and since the fish seemed to already be sleeping, we gathered our poles and tackle and then retired from the shore.  The campfire had died down quite a bit and was now producing a comfortable and pleasant warmth to counter the cool breeze that was gently blowing in through the secluded cove.  While relaxing by the ambient glow of the fire, my eyes would occassionally drift back towards the stars that continued to shine brightly above.

At first, I thought that Chris might have been getting hungry, but the faint purring and meowing sound was actually coming from a solid white cat that had somehow found it’s way through the dense and darkened woods to our dimly lit campsite.  It had no desire for any attention and defnitely wasn’t in the mood to play.  Maybe it was just lost in the darkness and trying to cry out to it’s owner, or perhaps it was just restlessly wandering around, taking an early morning stroll through the wilderness.  With several houses less than half-a-mile away, I was almost certain that it hadn’t simply been abandoned or deserted by some cruel feline hater. 

As we decided to turn in and call it a night, we made sure that our food was secured away from any scavaging critters.  We then put out the lanterns, zipped up the tent, and tried to get comfortable on the uneven ground that could easily be felt through the thin fabric and insulation of our sleeping bags.  This is when the “roughing it” truly began, because when it boils down to it, there is nothing like a good night’s sleep on your own bed, especially one with memory foam.

After getting an unexpected decent night’s rest, I was awakened by a gradually warming beam of sunlight that found it’s way over the treeline just behind the tent and by the sound of fish flipping in the lake, just 10 yards away.  As I continued to lie there and procrastinate, Chris also awoke and immediately started fishing again, since our luck the previous night was pretty much non-existent.  It was still only 7am, and although I had set my alarm on my cell phone for 7:30am, I went ahead and got up, stretched, and ate a bowl of cereal to get motivated.  I then began my 9 mile journey driving back towards civilization so I could get a signal on my cell phone to call into work that morning, while Chris continued to fish off the bank back at the campsite.

As I arrived back at the campsite, nearly 40 minutes later, Chris was still ardently casting and reeling in an amatuer attempt at luring in the big one.  I was eager to join him because the fish were still flipping all around us and the early morning fishing there has always been more promising.  Starting at the furthest end of the cove and the creek head that fed into the lake, I worked my way back, going through about 5 different lures before I ended up parking it on bottom next to Chris with the nightcrawlers that surprisingly lived through the night.  About thirty minutes passed by, and after patiently waiting, Chris suddenly got a bite and reeled in about a 4 pound catfish.  We were both excited at this point and now the competition was on!

Well, a couple of more hours passed by and Chris was already up to catch number 4, Jason still at zero.  But that was quite alright, I was there enjoying the peace and quite, and was quite happy that I wasn’t chained to the desk that morning.  Chris ended up letting the catfish, the 2 stripped bass, and the nicely sized bluegill go because neither of us had any ambition to clean them or take them home.  As it was drawing closer to noon, the sun was quickly starting to warm up the atmosphere around us, and the temperature had to be in the upper 80’s or lower 90’s. So, after hastily packing up our gear, we decided to jump into the lake and cool off for a little while.  The water felt fabulous and the temperature was perfect, not too hot, not too cold, but just enough to subdue the radiant heat that was steadfastly beaming down from the sun.

Swimming has always been one of my most cherished pastimes.  I can still remember back to the day when I was 5 years old like it was yesterday, and my step-father threw me in close to Norris dam with a life-jacket on and taught me how to swim.  The pure feeling of weightlessness and being suspended in a large body of water provides a type of relaxation unlike any other.  Neither of us really wanted to leave that day, and honestly, I could have been perfectly content with floating around in the peacefullness of Norris lake all day.  But, the day was still young, and we both had things we needed to do back at home.

Although the time seemed very short, it was still very rejuevenating in the spirit, and we were truly reminded of how much there is to enjoy in life, especially in the great outdoors.  When we left that afternoon, the campsite was much cleaner than it was than when we had first arrived, having bagged up and carried out all noticable materials from the industrialized world with us.  Hopefully, as other’s get the opportunity to experience the subtle beauty and tranquility associated with our parks, lakes, forests, and wildlife reservations, they will learn to appreciate and respect this vast ecosystem that God has given us all to enjoy during our temporary pilgrimage here on Earth.

 

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Ok, its back everyone the Friday night gaming night We are planning the first night for August 3rdPlease post in this thread what games you have(multiplayer) and we will have a poll on Saturday night to choose what the game will be for our first night.Also for everyone that plays on August 3rd with the rest of the dads, we will be giving

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LIHome411.com, Long Island’s local source for home improvement contractors is building a bridge from Long Island, New York to New Orleans, Louisiana.

To mark the upcoming two-year mark of Hurricane Katrina’s landfall and subsequent destruction, LIHome411.com announces a commitment to support The Phoenix of New Orleans (PNOLA) by raising money, materials and equipment to help the massive rebuild effort in New Orleans.

The founders of LIHome411.com will be traveling to New Orleans in August to bring donated materials and to spend a week working with PNOLA, gutting and rebuilding homes and restoring public areas.

LIHome411.com’s goal for this partnership is to raise $1,000,000 for PNOLA and New Orleans. This equates to just over $1.00 from each of the 921,000 households that the U.S. Census counts on Long Island. Cash donations can be made via check made out to PNOLA and sent in care of LIHome411.com at 43 Libby Avenue, Hicksville, NY 11801. Donations via credit card can be made online at www.lihome411.com (please click through our link to PNOLA’s site). Donations of building materials and of new and used tools are welcome; please email pnola@lihome411.com or call 516-558-0760 to coordinate these donations. A list of other items accepted for donation will be displayed at www.lihome411.com. All donations on behalf of PNOLA are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

About LIHome411.com:

The mission of LIHome411.com is to make professional remodeling and repair easy for Long Island homeowners, by connecting them with prescreened professional contractors in 60 categories covering all aspects of home improvement.

Visit www.lihome411.com or contact Tom or Bob at 516-558-0760 or email pnola@lihome411.com.

About The Phoenix of New Orleans:

The Phoenix of New Orleans (PNOLA) is a federally-recognized 501© 3 non-profit organization devoted to rebuilding and recovery of Lower Mid-City, a centrally-located 120-block neighborhood in New Orleans. PNOLA was founded by Tulane University medical student Paul Ikemire as a rapid response to the decimating effects that Hurricane Katrina and the flooding that followed had on Lower Mid-City, a neighborhood already struggling to overcome socio-economic hardship.

Visit www.pnola.org or contact Sarah Ralston at 504-342-4399 or saraheralston@gmail.com.

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Long Island General Contractors: Your home improvement project managers

Whether and when to hire a general contractor, and which one you hire, are among the most important decisions you will make for your Long Island home building or home remodeling project.

What is a General Contractor?

A general contractor is a specific type of contractor. Architects design the plans for major renovations, additions or new homes. Specialty contractors handle particular jobs such as cabinet or countertop installations. A Long Island general contractor manages the entire project, working with architects, and often hiring and supervising specialty contractors as his subcontractors. A Long Island general contractor, as project manager, will also obtain permits and coordinate the associated inspections to keep the project on schedule.

When Do You Need a General Contractor on Long Island?

A good general contractor will ensure that your home, addition or renovation is completed with the quality you expect, on time and within budget. If you are undertaking major renovations, it is wise to consider hiring a Long Island general contractor. If you are knowledgeable about local Long Island building regulations and obtaining building permits, handling legal paperwork and hiring, managing and paying subcontractors, and have flexible time for these activities, or if you plan to do much of the work yourself, you may save money by acting as your own general contractor.

When and How to Hire a General Contractor

If you decide to hire a general contractor, start well before you want your remodeling project to commence. Contact as many Long Island general contractors as possible – you want to get at least 3 estimates. Also, you will learn from each conversation with a prospective Long Island general contractor, which will refine your plan by helping you select and eliminate specific options, materials, etc. By talking with general contractors, you will able to not only obtain a bid from them, but will also be able to assess their knowledge about local Long Island regulations, their competence in the building process and their approach and perspective on your particular job. This is important – having a good ‘fit’ between you and your Long Island general contractor will help ensure you are pleased with the final job.

Check out http://www.LIHome411.com for all your home improvement needs….

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I got a very interesting chain email today:

At age 8, your dad buys you an ice cream. You thanked him by dripping
it all over your lap.

When you were 9 years old, he paid for piano lessons. You thanked him
by never even bothering to practice.

When you were 10 years old he drove you all day, from soccer to
football to one birthday party after another. You thanked him by
jumping out
of the car and never looking back.

When you were 11 years old, he took you and your friends to
the movies. You thanked him by asking to sit in a different row.

When you were 12 years old, he warned you not to watch
certain TV shows. You thanked him by waiting until he left the house.

When you were 13, he suggested a haircut that was becoming.
You thanked him by telling him he had no taste.

When you were 14, he paid for a month away at summer camp.
You thanked him by forgetting to write a single letter.

When you were 15, he came home from work, looking for a hug.
You thanked him by having your bedroom door locked.

When you were 16, he taught you how to drive his car. You
thanked him by taking it every chance you could.

When you were 17, he was expecting an important call. You thanked him
by being on the phone all night.

When you were 18, he cried at your high school graduation. You thanked
him by staying out partying until dawn.

When you were 19, he paid for your college tuition, drove you to campus
carried your bags. You thanked him by saying good-bye outside the dorm
so you wouldn’t be embarrassed in front of your friends.

When you were 25, he helped to pay for your wedding, and he told you
how deep he loved you. You thanked him by moving halfway across the
country.

When you were 50, he fell ill and needed you to take care of him . u
thanked him by reading about the burden parents become to their
children.

And then, one day, he quietly died. And everything you never did came
crashing down like thunder on YOUR HEART. If you love your dad, send
this to all of ur frnds.If you don’t…
then shame on u.”

Not very heart warming for us dads is it. I call this the mommy conspiracy.

I got to thinking that this is very cynical, sure that some people are like this but children thank parents in many ways, a look, a shared moment of laughter, a small hug, a moment when you sit together and not say a word not as many ways as they can drive you up the wall granted but they do thank you in small ways.

For example this blog, i intend to keep it running till my son is twenty one. During his teenage years he will hate it I am sure, but he will be thankful when he is a man when he can understand better.

Children are just little people, then they grow to medium people, then to big people and our jobs are to guide them as best as we can during the good times and bad never to judge to harshly and always ready with a grand dose of love to soothe away everything.

One day your child will say “Thank You” and that is all the thanks you need to hear.

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My Swofford he loves the water. He will find any excuse to play in even a small bit of spilt water. Maybe it is the call of his blood, we are South Pacific Islanders perhaps we have saltwater in our veins.

One sad thing about living in Fiji (a third world country) is that we don’t have special swimming classes for babies. So I am trying my best to teach him how to swim but all we end up doing is having heaps of fun splashing and making lots of noise.

One of his favorite things in the world apart from pools and the sea is the hose pipe. On hot days (which are pretty common around here in the tropics) we blow up (Swofford does his fair share with the pump…no lazy boys in my house LOL) the swimming pool and I give him the hose and sit down and watch him have fun, what better way to laze away the sunny afternoons eh?

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When I leave for work in the morning, there is a broken hearted toddler in my house. He will wail and cry. I have to shamefully admit that those tears and that inconsolable toddler fills me with great joy and at the same time great sadness.

It saddens me that I cannot stay and play all day long (I really look forward to the weekends). It makes me happy to be loved and needed by a child, by anyone, those tears and my little boy calling out for his father is an indicator that maybe I am doing my job correctly.

After awhile, a short walk with his mother and a few soothing words from me he will stand at the gate and scream out his goodbyes untill my car is well and truly out of site…..another heart breaking moment.

Why society has conspired to keep me from my joy I will never know, this is why FLOOR TIME (see my time and tide post) is very important to me. I do not want my son to ever be able to say that I was emotionally unavailable to him or that he felt that I never loved him enough. All my emotions are invested in that sweet, handsome (and funnily enough always sticky) young boy.

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You may be wondering doesn’t Swoffords Dad just have the one son? Then why has he posted a picture of this cute little girl?

Well truth be told this cute little girl, is actually my son. I am going to explain everything. It is my family custom, a tradition of the Lauan people, that the male children do not cut their hair untill their sixth birthday. It is my wifes family custom to cut at one.

So being the nice guy that I am I allowed her to cut it at one, and then we grow it till he is six. Fair is fair after all.

So now people are saying he is a little girl. I can imagine people teasing him about how he looks like a girl. So to counteract that I have decided that from today i also will not cut my hair till my son does. It will at least make him feel a little better about having long hair if his old man has the same.

Now I leave you with a few photos of his long hair and his beautiful mother.

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www.lfpress.com (my local newspaper) Brad Neamtu remembers reality setting in as he was wheeled into St. Joseph's hospital in London after cutting off his fingers and a thumb with a circular saw."All of a sudden Dr. (Robert) Richards was looking down at me and I was looking up at him and he just put his hand on my arm and he said, 'W

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