Last fall I did lots of things outside. We moved into the new house, and I took a trip to New Hampshire to take an outdoors bushcraft course taught by Mors Kochanski. And while I have done a bit outside during the winter, it's been awfully cold and we've both been awfully preoccupied and busy. I expect to get out a lot more this spring (what, with today being the first day of spring), and I intend to take a lot of photographs.
This morning I visited an endodontic specialist to have a check up on a molar that's been bothering me (that's an understatement). It seems that I need to have a root canal. I have had one before, and they're not that bad. Root canals are adventures. As long as you get to have good medication, a root canal can be invigorating. It is also good to have a positive outlook on a root canal. This is precisely what I am desperately trying to convey to you through the fog of codeine tablets and sweat and the moaning that I am currently making. I expect to have the surgery in a couple of weeks. It'll be okay until then. The pain comes and it goes. I will get ibuprofen tomorrow and all will be well.
A couple of days ago, I signed the papers for a new position within my company - a promotion of sorts. In a few days I will be working out of a new department, and in a new capacity which fulfills the dreams of a career path that I have been trying for over the past few years. Suffice it to say, this is the best career news that has happened to me in years.
It's times like this though I always like to recall the Zen Story about the farmer and the horses:
The situation we always live in is like the wise Chinese farmer whose horse ran off. When his neighbor came to console him the farmer said, “Who knows what’s good or bad?”
When his horse returned the next day with a herd of horses following her, the foolish neighbor came to congratulate him on his good fortune.
“Who knows what’s good or bad?” said the farmer.
Then, when the farmer’s son broke his leg trying to ride one of the new horses, the foolish neighbor came to console him again.
“Who knows what’s good or bad?” said the farmer.
When the army passed through, conscripting men for war, they passed over the farmer’s son because of his broken leg. When the foolish man came to congratulate the farmer that his son would be spared, again the farmer said, “Who knows what’s good or bad?”
Here are some interesting posts I made late last year about my course in New Hampshire:
- Bushcraft Course with Mors Kochanski - Theory, Fire and Kit
- Bushcraft Course with Mors Kochanski - Driving Down to New Hampshire
- Bushcraft Course with Mors Kochanski - Shelters, Theory and the Survivo-9000
In anticipation of my bushcraft course, I tried to figure out a simple and fast way to put up a tarp shelter, without having to tie it to any trees, with only the help of a single tent pole (which could be a stick, a paddle, or a walking cane): How to Make a Tarp Shelter - A Tutorial
While I ended up bringing a nice re-handled Mora knife, I soon learned that a laminated carbon/stainless blade was a great idea, but a poor blade in practicum. Of course, I wouldn't have learned until I tried. Next re-handling that I do will be with a full carbon blade: Mora Knife Handle.
I brought down some nice beef jerky on my trip. That was a good snack - Making Beef Jerky In an Oven.
That's all!
Cheers,
Mungo