Utah

This is a panorama I took while in southern Utah last June.  We were driving from Capitol Reef National Park to Bryce Canyon National Park via Scenic Byway 12.  This view is from the Homestead Overlook in the Dixie National Forest.  The elevation here is about 10,000 feet, and the temperature was 50 degrees.  In the distance where you see red rock a few thousand feet down, it was over 70 degrees.  Crazy stuff.

I love to road trip, and going to Utah was the coolest thing I've ever done.  We hit all five National Parks in southern Utah and the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley in Arizona.  I've got photos of each on my facebook.

Unforseen circumstances didn't allow me to travel as much as I would have liked this past year.  In April and July, I went to the Red River Gorge in Kenutcky.  After several attempts were thwarted due to apocalyptic-type weather, we finally conquered Shenandoah National Park in Virginia back in May.  In August, I made my second trip to the Sleeping Bear Dunes in northern Michigan.  A hiking trip to Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine fell through.  

I have no idea what I'll be able to do next year, but I feel the need to head out west, for sure.  I'm not sure most Americans understand how amazing this land we've been blessed with truly is.  I highly recommend you get out and see some of it.  

Men Don't Follow Titles, they Follow Courage

You may recognize that line from the all-time great movie Braveheart.  After a stunning victory over the English, William Wallace was knighted by the Scottish nobility.  Immediately after the ceremony, the nobles predictably begin fighting over claims to the throne, and Wallace leaves.  Robert the Bruce, whose family really did have the rightful claim, follows him out and Wallace tells him that "Men don't follow titles, they follow courage."   Men followed the nobles because they were forced to due to serfdom, while men followed Wallace because he stood for something that was right (freedom) and acted boldly.  

Our society all too often over-emphasizes title, position, political party, race, gender and any other kind of label that can be attached to someone.  We judge people on shallow premises and outward appearances.  This kind of ignorance is a plague on our culture.  But when push comes to shove, people will follow real leadership, wherever it comes from, not just because someone has a piece of paper that says they are entitled to be followed.

Martin Luther King declared that he had a dream where people "will not be judged by the color of their skin, but the content of their character.".  Character really is the standard by which we should be known and understood.  The Scottish nobility in Braveheart were self-serving and arrogant.  They were despised by the people.  But Wallace was a true leader with the courage and selflessness to fight for right, and people revered him and came alongside him in battle.

I recently let a man's title blind me to the content of his character, and it led me to a place of disappointment and frustration.  For years I supported him based on the title in front of his name and a piece of paper hanging on his office wall.  I failed to assess his leadership accurately because I was looking at it through the prism of title rather than character and actions.  People will always surprise, deceive, and let us down, but if we honestly look for a man's true character rather than some meaningless legalistic label, we'll see more things as they really are and make better decisions in life.

The content of our character is the reality of who we are and how we will ultimately be judged.    

Post-game Browns rant.

This is the first time in years that I've come away from a Browns win frustrated.  Usually when they win, I'm astonished and thankful that it happened, no matter what it looked like.  The Browns had no business losing this game, and then found themselves in a position where they had no business winning it.

• Peyton Hillis is a juggernaut.  He is the most entertaining, electrifying running back in the league.  Nobody does it like this in today's game.  Getting around the corner, catches passes, running people over, hurdling!  He's a beast. 

• Delhomme looked sharp for much of the first half, but the decision he made on the first drive to throw the ball under-hand directly at a defender rather than throw it out of bounds like quarterbacks are supposed when under that kind of pressure is indefensible and a precursor to what was to come later.

•  I did not like the play call on 3rd and 1 inside the 10 in the second quarter.  That play call in that situation set Evan Moore up for that fumble.  The Panthers were going to play up on the receivers and that quick pass set him up to get drilled.  Just run Hillis in that situation, as long as you...

• Use your fullback!  Vickers has proven over the last two seasons he is probably the best blocking fullback in the league.  But when the Browns went for it on 4th and 1 at the Carolina 25, he wasn't on the field.  You'd think with a single back deep in the backfield that maybe they were going to pitch it to the outside, but they didn't do that either.  Vickers is nearly as important part of the running game as Hillis is, and he's one of the best players on the team.  

• If Holmgren wanted to bring in McCoy to learn from Delhomme, it's probably working.  There is much that can be learned from what Delhomme has done here.  However, they could've saved the 7 million dollars we're giving him to teach McCoy what not to do as an NFL QB and just showed Colt the game film of Delhomme's 18 interceptions last season and his 6 turnovers in the playoff game against Arizona.  Or just kept Derek Anderson around.  

• Three weeks in a row all the Browns needed to do is make a tackle at the end of a game to win, and rather than making the tackle, they are trying to strip the ball and end up giving up a huge play that costs them the victory.  It didn't today, but a few more inches right on the field goal and it would have.  Mangini looked angry after the game... and I hope it's because of this foolish tackling instead of the officiating that he was upset about.  The officiating isn't the problem if the D does its job.

• It was good to hear Mangini refrain from committing to start Delhomme next week.  Hopefully this isn't another goofy ploy to gain some kind of advantage over Miami, but an earnest reassessment that ends in starting Wallace next week and a return to McCoy when he is healthy.  We'll see.  

Browns-Carolina Preview and Prediction

The Browns are beat up at this point in the season with some key injuries on both sides of the ball, including the critical absence of Colt McCoy. Jake Delhomme will get the start for the Browns, with Mangini admitting his knowledge of his former team being a factor in the decision. However, this type of knowledge works both ways... the Panthers know Delhomme better than the Browns do (that's why they let him go this year). Luckily for the Browns, Carolina is the worst team in the league right now. Offensively, they are horrible, with key injuries on the O-line and a rookie QB in Jimmy Clausen. The Panthers are a little better on the defensive side of the ball, as you'd expect from a John Fox team. Statistically, they're much better against the pass than the run. Delhomme and his tendencies to gamble and freak out under pressure plays into Carolina's hands (OK, that plays into EVERY team's hands). So I would look for a ridiculous load for Hillis this week.

The Browns are big favorites this week, but I'm feeling cautiously optimistic. Fox is a good coach and I expect his team to play hard and throw lots of pressure at Delhomme. I suspect a few Browns turnovers may keep this one close into the second half, although the Browns should fluster the easily-flustered Clausen into a few picks of his own. PREDICTION: Browns 23 Panthers 13.

Thanksgiving 2010: The Year of the Black Bird

Today, it was left to me and my brother to fry a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner.  My brother John and I fried one up for a Super Bowl party at church about eight years ago (that lame Super Bowl with Oakland and Tampa).  From that experience, I learned that frying a bird is outstanding and that turkeys come with a bag of giblets rammed up into their cavity.  So this year, me and Jacob decided to fry one up.  After some debate and consideration of what the picky folks in my family would turn their nose up at, we decided to inject the great bird with melted honey butter and put a cinnamon rub on the outside.  For the record, I was skeptical of the cinnamon.

We used the peanut oil, but had to add a few liters of canola to it as we were short. It came to a boil more quickly than we had anticipated, so we slowly eased the bird in as it crackled and seared. The rule of thumb on frying turkey is 3.5 minutes per pound at 350 degrees. Once we put the bird in, it took a long time to get the boiling oil back up to 350. We pulled it out to take a look after 45 minutes and we were horrified at what we saw. The poor thing looked like a giant raisin. Blackened. Charred. I didn't want to take in the house. For you Lord of the Rings people out there, it looked like I was walking into the kitchen with the head of an Ork I had just slain. One by one the family would go into the kitchen and see for themselves if it really was that bad and return laughing.

Now, we did have a theory that it may not be thoroughly burnt and that the blackness was caused by the cinnamon rub (which, for the record, I was skeptical of in the first place). My brother John started carving the turkey and it appeared to me that the theory was valid. The meat looked good and tasted good. However, it didn't look like anybody was going to try it, so I grabbed a big piece of that blackened skin and ate it. And it didn't taste burnt, it tasted like that daggum cinnamon. My efforts to instill some confidence in eating the turkey wasn't effective. My family was thoroughly grossed out by this. My sister-in-law looked like she wanted to throw up. My brother said it looked like I was eating a bat. We did carve it up and get it on a platter, and I think everyone tried some. A few of the cuts I had were quite good.

It was actually pretty good, though. Everything was, as always. And the family got to have a lot of fun at me and the black turkey's expense.

Why we have Thanksgiving

There's no better person to speak to the purpose of Thanksgiving than our first President, George Washington.  He issued this Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1789.  It's not real long and not too hard to understand, so read it and read it carefully.  This is what its all about.  

 
"Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.


Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789."

The Donut Debate: Dunkin' Donuts v. Krispy Kreme

Tuesday, Dunkin' Donuts is celebrating it's grand opening here in Elyria, Ohio.  There has been a donut void in the community since Links and Sweet Cream went out of business years ago.  I think they have a great location (across the street from the college) and will do outstanding business. 

Comparing Dunkin' Donuts and Krispy Kremes is like comparing a Buckeyes win over Michigan with a Browns win over the Steelers.  Both are wonderful and cherished things, a blessing for which to be thankful and appreciative.  But we'll have this discussion anyways because this is my blog and I care about this.

Going into a DD or a KK is an experience.  The thing that immediately stands out when you enter a DD is the variety, a wall of donuts that sets the mind into overload considering all the possibilities.  Cake, powdered, glazed, cream-filled, jelly, crullers, frosted, minis, bagels, etc.  Anything you could ask for.  While the selection at a KK is more limited, KK offers you an added element to the experience... you get to see the process.   Watching the donuts ride the conveyor belt and then pass under the glaze waterfall, make the turn and then have someone hand you one, right off the line, for FREE, is something that everyone should experience at least once in your life. 

As far as product is concerned, I think KK has the edge in glazed and cinnamon donuts, DD has the edge in cream-filled and jelly.  Freshness is a draw, as both do an excellent job in delivering a fresh product.  KK has fewer stores than DD, but are available at Speedways and other stores and thus more accessible.

In my opinion, I have to declare Dunkin' Donuts my preference by the slightest of margins based on the strength of it's variety.  However, the true winners are you and I as Americans.  Where else in the world but in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave is there the freedom and opportunity to have this kind of choice?  Truly, we Americans have been blessed and should appreciate all that we have, taking nothing for granted.  Especially the donuts!

Browns-Jaguars analysis

Just a few observations from the game today...

1.  The Jags game plan on defense was to stop the run at all costs, and they did so.  Hillis is skilled enough that he made some plays in the passing game, particularly in the first half.  The Jags were daring the Browns to throw down field on their weak secondary, which leads me to point #2...

2.  If I hear anyone from the organization say "we're going to continue to develop the wide receivers we already have", I will scream.  They could not get separation and left McCoy running for his life against the constant pressure the Jags were bringing.  The line, especially the right side, did not hold up today. 

3.  Two weeks in a row the Browns have done nothing offensively in the second half until their final possession when they had to go no huddle.  McCoy excelled from the shotgun in college.  If you can't move the ball on the ground, why not go no huddle and speed up the tempo... several teams have done that against us earlier in the season with success. 

4.  The Browns secondary made a lot of plays today.  It's a shame their efforts were squandered by the "pound your head into the brick wall" offense we were running in the second half.

5.  I hate it when coaches waste their timeouts on defense.  A timeout or two would have been quite valuable at the end of this game.

6.  Injuries are a part of the game and are affecting every team right now, but Cribbs and Fujita could have made a big difference today.  The loss of Eric Wright on the other hand... 

7.  While it's tough to expect a kicker to make 50 yard field goals, Dawson making just one of the two would have made the difference today. 

Thoughts on the Browns game tomorrow....

I'm very interested to see how this game goes offensively for the Browns and specifically Colt McCoy.  The Jaguars will be by far the easiest test McCoy will face so far in his young career.  Jacksonville is decent against the run, but Peyton Hillis should still have no problems doing what he always does.  However, the Jags secondary is horrible.  I want to see if the offensive game plan will be to attack that weakness.  If the Browns wideouts can't get some separation and get down field this week, they're never going to.  I'm hoping to see more of Evan Moore tomorrow.  Josh Cribbs is out, but I don't believe that will hurt the offense much.  Special teams is a different story...

On the other side of the ball, I'm a little concerned that Scott Fujita is out.  He's just a really smart player that provides on-field leadership for the D.  I'm hoping Shaun Rogers is healthy enough to play every down this week... he is a force that blows up a lot of passing plays with his penetration.  Jacksonville's offense has been hot lately, with surprising production from the passing attack.  Getting pressure on Garrard will be key, but I still think they might connect on some big plays on our secondary.

Prediction:  Jacksonville is at home where they usually play considerably better than they do the road, but I don't think that will matter to the Browns, as the way the Browns play (running the ball, stopping the run) travels well.  This looks like a relatively high scoring, entertaining game to me, but the Browns will pull it out... Cleveland 27 Jacksonville 24.  

Top 10 Hikes I've Done

Today is National Take a Hike Day.  Not sure why a day that celebrates hiking is in mid-November, but whatever.  Hiking is something I've done a lot of, and while I didn't get the opportunity to get out anywhere today, I did put together a list of the Top 10 hikes that I've done...

10.  The Gorge Trail, Letchworth State Park, New York.  The Gorge Trail runs 7 miles along the north rim of the Genesee River Gorge, called the Grand Canyon of the East by some.  It's mostly flat and easy but offers a lot of great views and three major waterfalls.

9.  The Rim Trail, Grand Canyon.  It's crowded and paved, but it's still cool to look over your shoulder at one of the Seven Wonders of the World. 

8.  Delicate Arch Trail, Arches National Park, Utah.  This is a 1.5 mile trail that leads up to the most famous arch in the world.  The area is even cooler than the photographs suggest. 

7.  Old Rag Mountain, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.  A 9-mile hike that climbs 2400 feet to the summit of the Old Rag.  The top of the mountain is composed of granite boulders and requires use of all your limbs and muscles as you scramble to the summit. 

6.  The Lakeshore Trail, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Upper Michigan.  Possibly my favorite trip so far, the Lakeshore Trail covers 42 miles of the southern shoreline of Lake Superior.  Cliffs, coves, beaches, rivers, dunes. 

5.  The Devil's Garden, Arches National Park.  This trail through Arches NP includes many arches (including Landscape Arch, the longest natural arch in the world)  but offers much more than that. 

4.  Observation Point, Zion National Park, Utah.  This trail starts at the floor of Zion Canyon, begins to climb up the East Rim, goes through Echo Canyon, and then continues up to Observation Point and an astonishing view of Zion Canyon and many of its famous landmarks. 

3.  Navajo/Queen's Garden Loop, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah.  One of the most unique places on planet earth, known for it's hoodoos.  The Navajo Trail starts at Sunset Point, descends down through Wall Street and into the hoodoos themselves. 

2.  Angel's Landing, Zion National Park, Utah.  This hike climbs 1500 feet from the floor of Zion Canyon to the top of Angel's Landing.  You climb through Refrigerator Canyon, up Walter's Wiggle's to Scout's Lookout, and then scramble your way to the top with 1,000 foot drops on both sides of you at times.  I'm still shocked that the National Park System still let's people use this trail... you can check out a video of it here.  Angel's Landing Video

1.  The Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah.  An epic 16 mile hike we did in a 12 hour grind.  Over 60% of the trail is in the Virgin River as it cuts through the canyon.  As you progress, the walls get higher and higher, up to over 2,000 feet above and sometimes less than 20 feet apart.  Difficult to describe the epic nature of this hike with words or pictures. 

Specialist Salvatore A. Giunta, Medal of Honor Recipient

The President awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor to Salvatore Giunta today.  This is a real American hero, and there are many more like him that we as a nation take for granted.  I always make it a point to read the actual Medal of Honor Citation when the Medal is awarded.  I never feel more humbled and appreciative than when I read these (if you want to read more Citations of previous recipients click here Congressional Medal of Honor Society, I highly recommend doing it).  I posted Giunta's Citation below.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:
Specialist Salvatore A. Giunta distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action with an armed enemy in the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan, on October 25, 2007. While conducting a patrol as team leader with Company B, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry Regiment, Specialist Giunta and his team were navigating through harsh terrain when they were ambushed by a well-armed and well-coordinated insurgent force. While under heavy enemy fire, Specialist Giunta immediately sprinted towards cover and engaged the enemy. Seeing that his squad leader had fallen and believing that he had been injured, Specialist Giunta exposed himself to withering enemy fire and raced towards his squad leader, helped him to cover, and administered medical aid. While administering first aid, enemy fire struck Specialist Giunta’s body armor and his secondary weapon. Without regard to the ongoing fire, Specialist Giunta engaged the enemy before prepping and throwing grenades, using the explosions for cover in order to conceal his position. Attempting to reach additional wounded fellow soldiers who were separated from the squad, Specialist Giunta and his team encountered a barrage of enemy fire that forced them to the ground. The team continued forward and upon reaching the wounded soldiers, Specialist Giunta realized that another soldier was still separated from the element. Specialist Giunta then advanced forward on his own initiative. As he crested the top of a hill, he observed two insurgents carrying away an American soldier. He immediately engaged the enemy, killing one and wounding the other. Upon reaching the wounded soldier, he began to provide medical aid, as his squad caught up and provided security. Specialist Giunta’s unwavering courage, selflessness, and decisive leadership while under extreme enemy fire were integral to his platoon’s ability to defeat an enemy ambush and recover a fellow American soldier from the enemy. Specialist Salvatore A. Giunta’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Company B, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry Regiment, and the United States Army.

Loseapolooza: Our ongoing weight loss competition...

I used to weigh quite a bit, at one time over 280 lbs.  A few years ago, I got back into backpacking and hiking, losing a bunch of weight and keeping it off.  However, the last few months things got a little crazy for me and I let myself go a bit.  I mentioned to Zak Johnston recently that I was going to get back on track, and he decided not only was he going to do the same, but foolishly challenged me to a competition of weight loss.  Never backing down from such a challenge, we decided on a seven week period in which we would measure our weight loss (by percentage, since we are different weights).  Upon hearing of this challenge, Dan Ferren and Jacob Raven decided to join in.  Dan challenged me two years ago and lost in epic fashion (we started at the same weight and when I crossed the finish line, he weighed 35 lbs more than me).   To date, he has not made good on the wager and bought me ice cream.  Anyhow, we are two weeks in, and remarkably, Jacob has lost five lbs, a stunning achievement that has sent shock waves through the competition (although not good enough for the lead at this point).  Five weeks to go, but many challenges lie ahead, including the holidays and Carlos getting a job a Dunkin' Donuts (donuts are my kryptonite).  So far so good, though... feel free to leave a comment as to which horse you'd put your money on in this thing.       

You Play to WIN the GAME!

The Cleveland Browns and Eric Mangini found themselves in an interesting predicament this afternoon.  The Browns got the ball back with 1:35 left in overtime when Joe Haden intercepted the pass at the 3 yard line.  The Browns had two timeouts, and the Jets only one.  In the NFL, if the game is tied at the end overtime in the regular season, the game ends in a tie.  So the Browns basically had two options... 1.)  Run the ball three times, running down the clock and securing the tie, but giving you no real chance to win the game.  2.)  Try to get the ball downfield in an attempt to win the game, knowing that if you fail to do so, you'll stop the clock and give the Jets another chance to beat you.  So what do you do?

The Browns threw the ball on first down, ran it up the middle on second down, and attempted to pass on third down, but the play was busted and McCoy had to scramble to avoid being sacked in the end zone.  And of course, they had to punt and the Jets won with 0:16 to go.  Criticizing an NFL head coach is an easy things to do, and I do it all the time.  I enjoy it thoroughly.  But I don't fault Mangini for going for the win rather than sitting on the tie.  What good is a tie for a 3-5 team playing at home that isn't going to make the playoffs?  Go for the win.  If you get one first down, you probably do no worse than tie, anyways.  And if you have to punt, your defense still has a chance to stop them one more time or Folk could miss one more field goal and the game ends in a tie anyways.  I just can't justify playing for the tie in the Browns situation.  If the Browns were in the playoff hunt and could absolutely not afford to lose, then I could see it.  But a tie is really only okay in this situation if everything else has been done to try to win the game and that results in a tie.  I think most football coaches are way too conservative for their own good, and I've been pleased that the Browns have been more aggressive and creative in recent weeks.  It's paid off handsomely with some great wins that have boosted the morale of a team, organization, and fan base that desperately needed some signs of hope.