Seven months from the first time it happened, Kelly shifted in her seat, expecting it. The first time, it was fast, fleeting. From between the shutters of her bedroom window, it seeped in like the rolling blue smoke from the end of a cigarette. She blamed it on the old house. She blamed it on an overactive, unmedicated imagination. She blamed it on her father. Twice since then, it came back. The second time it was in her bedroom again. Like a sly little fox, it crept in once more through the painted shutters. It snuck in unchecked, past the [...]

Since I'd began the recruitment process, it's been about seven months. I've done the aptitude, fitness tests. I've had the interview. I've been waiting now for nearly 8 weeks to be granted a date for a medical exam. From there, I assume I'll advance to whatever the next steps might be. Last night, I found the below video through the CAF subreddit. It couldn't have come at a better time.       [su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBLnz2pT9Tc"]     From the time I finished up my interview and breathed a 'I think that went okay' sigh of relief, I've been left with [...]

Today we took a short stroll onto a trail which by my count should be all but overcome by the new houses going up in the latest big bulldozing. A shame really, so we try to get out to enjoy the trails while they're not yet over run by people. So, we packed up our new field manual - a good carry-along book on tree identification. I'd been interested in expanding the knowledge I have of tree species beyond 'that's a Maple' for some time, so I thought to grab a few pictures of leaves and bark to help me [...]

Let's start out by saying flatly that I'm no press-pundit with credentials to actually mean anything. I've got just over 30 years on this floating ball of rock and, in that time, I've seen enough to know a few things. Not many, as my wry mother would be quick to remind you, but a few. I've been asking around as news of more sabre rattling comes through the headlines and main links on reddit. It gets to the point that I'm not really sure if they're just yammering at each other, or if there's any military weight behind it at [...]

A night later, I wake refreshed but still confused. Not down, as I've kind of been these past few weeks as I attempt to 'clean my room', so to speak, but still actively trying to figure this out. My wife's words really shook me up - that's a great thing and a reflection of what a positive influence she has on me. "You're looking for genuine experiences." Yeah, I think that's the ticket. As I embark on another workweek, the meditation will be focused on this. Evacuating the senseless, meaningless interactions, items and belongings and really pegging down the stuff [...]

Expect this post to be somewhat scattered. For the past few weeks, I've been reeling around the idea of starting some sort of group, club, camp or some other establishment for boys and fathers. This is so far the outcome - a very upside down mind. After Go-Ruck is about when it began. I know this will sound like some kind of ad or otherwise, a paid-for review but the Challenge awakened something inside of me, and I haven't really been the same since. Almost like I unlocked a part of my connectedness to my true human form, the Challenge [...]