Quotes and thoughts ...

On Circumcision ...

Abraham's part of the Covenant was simply to get circumcised.  No heavy emphasis on religious works, or sacrifice, or being good ... simply to get `cut'.  And if done at a very early age - probably wouldn't even remember it.  That's it?  That's all?  I can do that.  All God requires is some sign that we are his.

I thought further ... hmmmmm.  That's cutting a very precious part of one's body.

And when I thought further - it hit me.  Whoa.  God cut a very important part of his body, for us.  He sent a very precious son, Jesus, to get all cut up for us.  That's why physical circumcision is irrelevant to salvation in the New Covenant - because it isn't about cutting our skin - but his.  Cut up and cast outside the camp.  It was his pain, not ours.  All we need do is receive.

On Daughters ...

I thought the experience of training a Golden Retriever would help in the raising of children. 

I was wrong.

On Living in Northern Idaho ... (8/2007)

"Twenty-eight miles is just too far to drive to hunt big game.  I think I'll hunt closer to home this weekend.  Gosh it's great to live in Northern Idaho."

Dot Georgia, on `cold' (early winter, 2006)

          I hate it went it's cold but no snow.  It's just a waste of cold.

Dot Michelle, on `nursing homes' (Summer 2006)

        An resident asked her, "Does anyone get well enough to leave this place?"

October 10, 2005

I'd rather have a good-looking wife at home, than an ugly one who likes to hunt.

October 4, 2005

Chukar hunting is great sport.  Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep are the ultimate adventure.

 

17 November, 2004 ... on Joggers.

You may or may not jog, for PT, or whatever, but if you do, don't ever become a jogg-ER.  I was driving near city limits the other day (scouting for geese) and came around the corner on a road in open fields, to find a jogg-ER, pulling down his pants and taking a dump, right there, side of the road, in front of God, city, houses, and all. It was too disgusting to take in.  I drove on, dismayed.  Oh, God, for all my faults, let me not drop that low.  Even if I jog, let me never become a jogg-ER.  There's got to be some other way.

We ran into some jogg-ER-types while bighorn sheep hunting on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River.  But they didn't get there the same way we did.  Jogg-ER-types float or fly in.  They pitch their tents and then gather round and drink wine and eat cheese.  (Nothing against wine and cheese.) Often these people have too much money - and they because of it think they are better than everyone else.  They are easy to spot – they have all the right gear and garb (nothing against gear and garb).  They look down on the very people who guide, outfit, provide for and protect their asses (oops, butts), in places far away from home.  Their own speech betrays them.  But, for good or for bad, they went quiet and moved aside when we walked through their camp - and in that I am satisfied. 

22 October, 2004 ... Names have meaning.

While climbing up Climbers Trail in the Seven Devils mountains last year, one of our guys, Scott, was dragging a bit behind.  Brian was waiting for Scott at Goat Pass; I was several hundred yards beyond.  Brian radioed that Scott spotted a mountain goat coming up behind him on the trail, and it was gaining on him.  A bit later Brian radioed that Scott was a bit worried he'd get run over.  I radioed back ... "just tell him to get pictures!"  Just as Scott got to the pass, he had to scamper up the rocks to get out of the way, and managed the photo below. 

So, when you see a name like `Goat Pass' ... be prepared to let the goat pass.

 

October 21, 2004 ... On Forest Fires ...

So, the next time you're at Big Creek, go to the airfield.  At the south end is an out-house.  (Can't miss it at the southeast corner - it's almost in the way.)  Go in, sit down, and on your left is a poster admonishing us to help prevent of forest fires.  When you're done (reading the poster), look to your right.  There's a poster on the opposite wall showing the benefits of forest fires.  I sat there just long enough to be confused.  After reading the second poster I was left thinking - if fires are so good - why don't more people start them? Maybe we should have a start forest fires program.  (Fires have sure produced some fantastic elk and sheep territory in central Idaho.)  Ah, but the door is on the left, so I see the prevention poster last as I go out.  I will refrain.  The forests have become far too complicated.

October 20, 2004 ... On Wolves ...

The wolf thing in Idaho has gone from crisis to tragedy.  Now we have elk-less forests and jobless outfitters and guides.

 

October 2, 2004 ... On the Forest Service ...

If the forests can no longer be logged, and if forest fires are not to be fought, then disband the Forest Service, turn over trail maintenance to the outfitters, and give us a return on our income taxes.

September 11, 2004 ... One Big Fire Ring ...

The Indian Creek drainage, along with others in the Middle Fork, has experienced serious forest fires over recent years.  Indian Creek Camp Ground has been burned several times, relatively recently.  The headwaters, which we visited earlier in the year, experienced a really hot fire, and looked like one big fire ring in places.

On our bighorn sheep hunt on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River we ended up spending a couple nights at the camp ground at Indian Creek.  Upon arrival I was curious that there weren't any fire rings.  There were some pits, but they were from burned trees from a forest fire(s) that had tipped over, pulling up earth, and after they were finished burning, left only a hole.  Additionally, there was considerable fire wood.  I supposed it was due to the fact we were toward the far end of the camp ground.  On the first morning I collected rocks, arranged them in a nice ring, and build a good camp fire.  After a while the Ranger came by and informed us that camp fires are not allowed in the Middle Fork Corridor.  Campers must bring in fire buckets, and take out their ashes.  We played dumb, which we were, toward the fire thing and perhaps a half dozen other violations were were in danger of being cited for.  The ranger was very gracious, not only not citing us - but also in  providing us with a bucket and shovel for disposal of our fire. 

After finishing breakfast and otherwise enjoying our fire, I loaded up the unburned wood, embers, and ashes into the bucket.  I was thorough, and thus left a sizeable hole. To fill the hole I used the surrounding soil, which was essentially ashes and burnt stuff from the forest fires.  Ashes for ashes.  One big fire ring.

On Grocery Stores ... here