So, I’m laying in bed on my back, having just spent the entire week in a sunnier locale than my own, learning how to plug the holes in my “system”, and augment in the extreme my income and knowledge base. There, that was a long-winded diatribe, no?
My wife and I have just this evening finished a weeklong training conference that will almost certainly catapult our graphic design business into a high orbit. This is for us wonderful news, as we were not sure that this training was a sure thing. Baring a complete collapse of our national economy in the next 2 years or so, we will have all the finances we need to purchase a more appropriate location, and all the goodies we need to get ourselves bugged out of Dodge before TSHTF, if TSHTF, that is.
Whew! I am relieved in the extreme. We were part of a group of 23 folks from all over the USA who took a course on marketing. Some of us are self employed, others are unemployed, others work for companies, but all were looking for a new, profitable beginning. It looks as though we’ve found one, and a very good one indeed.
Upon returning home, we will begin to dig in, setting up the total package that will enable us to garner highly profitable customer bases to finance our concerns well!
So, if you have a company that you’d like to see obtain hugely increased profits, give me a nudge. I can help. We’ve seen 400% increases inside of a year. Nothing to look askance at.
All for now,
Ciao,
Panchito
Friday, March 25, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
Lately...
So much happening,
So much goin’ on,
Seems like it never slows,
It never goes,
Never leaves me alone.
Political intrigue,
Apocalyptic creeds,
Lascivious “needs”.
Global, tribal, multi-cultural greed,
All in the name of everyone’s religion.
Piling up death all around us.
We’ve gotta protect,
Against the other man’s thinking.
Can’t trust that he won’t run us down.
Blood’s gotta run in the streets like a river,
Or we’ll never be happy, never be in charge.
I’m getting over myself,
Or so I think…
I think I’m finally over myself,
And then I think…
I stop and smell the coffee,
Check the tea leaves,
Toss the dice,
And what do I find?
It’s not about me,
But everywhere I turn
I just turn up again.
It’s not about me,
But every time I look in the mirror,
There I am again.
Won’t you just leave me alone?
You’re not me, clone.
You’ll never be me.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
The Brotherhood of Those Who Planted Trees
Quite some time ago, I was privileged to be part of an amazing experiment in a different way of life. I was a part of an intentional Christian community for the sum total of 5 years. I was further subdivided into a small group of, mostly, men, who were basically the work crew that support the entire experiment. I say experiment because that is one way to look at it.
The Highway Missionary Society (HMS) (later known as the Servant Community) was an attempt, sometimes successful, sometimes not, to live more like what is described in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles in the Holy Bible. The Church, at least for the first few centuries, lived a very shared lifestyle, taking in those in need, sharing with one another their material resources, and worshiping and eating together in homes in the Middle East and generally around the Mediterranean basin, etc. So how was HMS LIKE that? It was a ministry that existed to serve, existed to give, existed to bow to King Jesus, and we shared our money as if it belonged to all of us, sort of. Actually, that was the verbiage used, but in reality the only money I EVER held in my hands the entire time was the grand sum of $4 US. That aside, I was blessed to be there, mostly (we won't go into that right now).
I have recently witnessed a barrage of remembrances coming at me via Facebook from several of my brethren from HMS, good memories, and that has brought a healing balm to my soul. I think that God allowed this rehash of goodness at this time for the purpose of healing wounds. Not everything was roses (with a nod to Mr. Rosas) during my tenure at HMS/Servant Community. You've heard the old saying, "If you work your fingers to the bone, what do you get? Bony fingers." Well, I think another possible answer would be bloody fingers. And then there's, "All work and no play..."
So, in the interest of further healing, I bring you a short-list of the good stuff of late:
Skipping grouse, Micheals story, Kings Table or the weekly Sunday pancakes. Treeplanters are serious consumers of large quantites of food.
The Highway Missionary Society (HMS) (later known as the Servant Community) was an attempt, sometimes successful, sometimes not, to live more like what is described in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles in the Holy Bible. The Church, at least for the first few centuries, lived a very shared lifestyle, taking in those in need, sharing with one another their material resources, and worshiping and eating together in homes in the Middle East and generally around the Mediterranean basin, etc. So how was HMS LIKE that? It was a ministry that existed to serve, existed to give, existed to bow to King Jesus, and we shared our money as if it belonged to all of us, sort of. Actually, that was the verbiage used, but in reality the only money I EVER held in my hands the entire time was the grand sum of $4 US. That aside, I was blessed to be there, mostly (we won't go into that right now).
I have recently witnessed a barrage of remembrances coming at me via Facebook from several of my brethren from HMS, good memories, and that has brought a healing balm to my soul. I think that God allowed this rehash of goodness at this time for the purpose of healing wounds. Not everything was roses (with a nod to Mr. Rosas) during my tenure at HMS/Servant Community. You've heard the old saying, "If you work your fingers to the bone, what do you get? Bony fingers." Well, I think another possible answer would be bloody fingers. And then there's, "All work and no play..."
So, in the interest of further healing, I bring you a short-list of the good stuff of late:
Skipping grouse, Micheals story, Kings Table or the weekly Sunday pancakes. Treeplanters are serious consumers of large quantites of food.
A Trip To A Not-So-Dark Isle
There is an island, somewhere in Michigan where I was recently privileged to visit. I am withholding the name of said island to protect it's secrecy. At any rate, suffice it to say that it is really far up there and situated in one of the Great Lakes. There, that narrows it down for you.
So, three of my brothers, as well as some friends, celebrated my illustrious father's 85 birthday while we were there! He's an amazing specimen of humanity, my Dad. For even now, despite his official status as an old fart, he seems to be able to run mental rings around the rest of us! Pretty amazing. The poor guy was very worried prior to our departure from his house, due to his belief that I didn't want him to drive. The truth of the matter is that I have just as much confidence in HIS driving abilities as I do in my own. I had mentioned that I was going to bring up my 4x4 for the trip, and he made it clear that that was NOT what he wanted to ride up in. In the end, my truck had a dead battery, and I drove a mini-van, which we left in HIS garage. We went up in my dad's 4-door sedan, of all the crazy things. Dad has made this trip many, many times and has always done so in one of his sedans, despite the at times, 4-wheel drive conditions, somehow????
At any rate, the weather was incredible, the sun shining most of the time, the trees blazing in all their glory, and the air crisp and refreshing. Ah, Michigan, I miss you.
The cabin in which we stayed is part of a very large piece of property, with miles of lakeshore to call it's own, and some really beautiful woods, fields and ponds as well. The local wildlife includes, at times, white-tailed deer, black bears, cougar or mountain lion, wolves, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, bobcats, beavers, ruffed grouse, woodcock, and many others, making that island on of the most wild in Michigan.
So, three of my brothers, as well as some friends, celebrated my illustrious father's 85 birthday while we were there! He's an amazing specimen of humanity, my Dad. For even now, despite his official status as an old fart, he seems to be able to run mental rings around the rest of us! Pretty amazing. The poor guy was very worried prior to our departure from his house, due to his belief that I didn't want him to drive. The truth of the matter is that I have just as much confidence in HIS driving abilities as I do in my own. I had mentioned that I was going to bring up my 4x4 for the trip, and he made it clear that that was NOT what he wanted to ride up in. In the end, my truck had a dead battery, and I drove a mini-van, which we left in HIS garage. We went up in my dad's 4-door sedan, of all the crazy things. Dad has made this trip many, many times and has always done so in one of his sedans, despite the at times, 4-wheel drive conditions, somehow????
At any rate, the weather was incredible, the sun shining most of the time, the trees blazing in all their glory, and the air crisp and refreshing. Ah, Michigan, I miss you.
The cabin in which we stayed is part of a very large piece of property, with miles of lakeshore to call it's own, and some really beautiful woods, fields and ponds as well. The local wildlife includes, at times, white-tailed deer, black bears, cougar or mountain lion, wolves, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, bobcats, beavers, ruffed grouse, woodcock, and many others, making that island on of the most wild in Michigan.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Late Night Ramblings
Yep, it's late. Today I became friends on Facebook with a lovely young lady, sprung from the Peoples Republic of China. She's been here for most of her short life, and is an animated little thing. I am honored to be her friend, and look forward to more amusing moments in her company. So, thanks for the friend thingy, girl! You know who you are...
It's late. I have to work tomorrow, weather permitting, at the above mentioned individuals' abode. My bud and I are remodeling the basement, which was a disaster area, and is quickly becoming the place to go. We're good, you see...
The boy, pretty boy that is, is over at his potential squeeze's house at present, watching movies. Such an odd thing, to watch your boy becoming a man. We are mistaken for one another on the phone now. I was speaking with the wife unit today, and heard the other boy in the background. I asked her, "Who is that speaking?", to which she replied, "The boy, the younger." So the younger one is now sounding like he isn't himself now, as well. What is the world coming to when you can't even recognize the voice of someone who has lived with you all their life?
Anywho, just thought I'd throw something up here.
I just checked out the blog of a young girl for Latvia. She has just finished art school, studying mostly fashion design. The girl is really good. Her name is Arta, or at least that is how she signs everything. Check her stuff out on DeviantArt, it's nice. She seems to have inspired me to do more painting. A series of large character sketches, perhaps????
Ciao,
Panchito
It's late. I have to work tomorrow, weather permitting, at the above mentioned individuals' abode. My bud and I are remodeling the basement, which was a disaster area, and is quickly becoming the place to go. We're good, you see...
The boy, pretty boy that is, is over at his potential squeeze's house at present, watching movies. Such an odd thing, to watch your boy becoming a man. We are mistaken for one another on the phone now. I was speaking with the wife unit today, and heard the other boy in the background. I asked her, "Who is that speaking?", to which she replied, "The boy, the younger." So the younger one is now sounding like he isn't himself now, as well. What is the world coming to when you can't even recognize the voice of someone who has lived with you all their life?
Anywho, just thought I'd throw something up here.
I just checked out the blog of a young girl for Latvia. She has just finished art school, studying mostly fashion design. The girl is really good. Her name is Arta, or at least that is how she signs everything. Check her stuff out on DeviantArt, it's nice. She seems to have inspired me to do more painting. A series of large character sketches, perhaps????
Ciao,
Panchito
Friday, November 5, 2010
Blessed Lake
Good friends from days gone by,
It brings a teardrop to my eye.
A pot of soup gets passed around,
For a mere month they'll be in town.
They've lived their life in a far off land,
And been amazed at the movement of His hand.
I have to smile at the change through time,
We're getting shorter with every ringing of the chime.
Their kids are grown, married off and gone,
Yeah, time flies away like a bird without a song.
You glance away, a moment gone and then,
They switch from little ones to your very best of friends.
So twenty years of living the call,
You can see in their eyes that they're in for the long haul.
They're beautiful, the image of Your face.
They're beautiful, bless their feet and bless their place.
May their house be filled with blessings for the rest of their lives,
A place to find salvation and a rest from the strife.
It brings a teardrop to my eye.
A pot of soup gets passed around,
For a mere month they'll be in town.
They've lived their life in a far off land,
And been amazed at the movement of His hand.
I have to smile at the change through time,
We're getting shorter with every ringing of the chime.
Their kids are grown, married off and gone,
Yeah, time flies away like a bird without a song.
You glance away, a moment gone and then,
They switch from little ones to your very best of friends.
So twenty years of living the call,
You can see in their eyes that they're in for the long haul.
They're beautiful, the image of Your face.
They're beautiful, bless their feet and bless their place.
May their house be filled with blessings for the rest of their lives,
A place to find salvation and a rest from the strife.
They're beautiful, the image of Your face.
They're beautiful, bless their feet and bless their place.
They're beautiful, the image of Your face.
They're beautiful, bless their feet and bless their place.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
A "New" Style of Cookstove
Tomorrow, I'll be putting together a video on my experiment on constructing a wood-chip burning cookstove. Check it out at my other blog, Survive magazine, on blogger! Click here...
http://survive-magazine.blogspot.com/
http://survive-magazine.blogspot.com/
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