Monday, September 13, 2004

I don't do pajamas...

...because they just get in the way.

This blog will be a chronicle of observations, opinions, and occassional predictions by a middle-aged American male trying to figure out what works, what doesn't, and where to go from here.

I am conservative in the Burkean mold, with an accent on not breaking what doesn't need fixing. I do not give as much weight to the 'divine plan' as Burke did yet cannot conceive a healthy society that rejects out of hand even the possibility of deity. Look up at the desert sky on a moonless summer night. It's not an accident...

I don't believe that statist solutions for personal problems are ever viable. I believe that our failed public education system is the single greatest domestic threat to our freedom, followed closely by judicial activism and the explosive growth of the litigation culture.

Pessimist/optomist? Call me cyclically cynical. I wake up ready to have a better day; who can ask more than that?

"Three Rounds Brisk" as a title springs from the writing of Patrick O'Brian. If you saw the movie "Master and Commander" and liked it, I highly recommend the entire Aubrey/Maturin series.

Welcome aboard.


4 comments:

TmjUtah said...

Rick:

When people think of surveyors, the see the tripod, the vest, the flagged stakes, and maybe the rod.

They never see the literally thousands of 2" x 2" wooden hubs in 6", 8", and 12" lengths driven to define the project. Or the eight pound hammer. I have never worked inside but my knees (and other more embarassing parts) let me know it was time to hang it up last winter. Past time.

I did surveying because I could. With the passing of optical instruments in favor of GPS as the primary field tool of the craft a lot of my expertise became obsolete. I am taking nothing away from the professionalism of GPS surveyors - its just that the psychology of operating a theodolite/total station is different from "following the bug" on GPS equipment. Not better, not worse, just different. We all make our choices, and I decided to try something else.

ambisinistral said...

I've signed on too. good luck with this project and your career change. Now I'm off to forget the woes of the world and watch some Monday Night football.

Catherine Johnson said...

Congratulations!

It's beautiful!

TmjUtah said...

Thank you all for stopping in. You are too kind.

Dennis, no epic sea battle is complete without at least one guy stumping back and forth behind the guns in thirteen inch heels. I'm surprised we don't see more about this in the history books.

Michael, thank you for the link. I have you up on my meager blogroll.

Knucklehead, I wish I could help you out. I stick with strung consanants whereever I can.