I never really thought of myself as a baseball player...

The world can be a sucky place, and many people strive to avoid the suck. This is likened to a baseball game wherein people view the purpose of life as not striking out. And it makes sense.. if the purpose of life is to avoid pain. Don't go up to bat, don't swing, don't strike out. There are times we've probably all felt like that or done that. But it is limited and incorrect. The purpose of life is to hit that ball. It is to run bases and slide hard into second. It is to swing for the fences and clear the bases. It is to get a base hit over the pitchers head. Singles, Doubles, Triples, and Homeruns are only available to those who are willing to stand up at the plate, swing, and strike out. You never will hit the ball from the dugout. And that's where so many of us get caught up or astray. We live life to avoid striking out because we have been taught, or assumed, or believe, or interpreted that striking out is a bad thing. Well.. #1 on the all-time strike outs list, with 2,957, is Hall of Famer Reggie "Mr.October" Jackson. A 14 time All-Star, a 5 time World Series Champion (2 times World Series MVP).. his number retired as both a New York Yankee and an Oakland Athletic, the man clearly swung his bat; a lot. And now.. the crunch time. Every time we swing the bat, we learn. Every time we strike out we are one swing closer to that next hit. Swinging is not a bad thing, it's how we learn. Whiffing through the air is not a failure but a success. As is often the case with many things in life.. it's all how we frame it and how we view it. We are often so quick to attribute failure to our actions, or failures to act, when in fact it's all part of moving towards hitting that ball. Everything that has occurred to this point has yet again been preparing you for the next at bat and the choices you make will teach you and guide you to modify your swing. Even sitting in the dugout and watching teaches you a few things, and there is sometime when we do get benched and sit a couple out, but ultimately we are to get to our spot in the rotation, shake it out in the warm up circle, and then step up to the plate. Hit or miss we're where life occurs. So swing away, they're all cheering us on.

Hans Gruber was here..

Hans Gruber was here..
Originally uploaded by maplemusketeer

The other night I ended up on a roof in Vancouver as the last bit of the fireworks festival was happening. I turned off the flash and set the camera down with the auto-time going. Got a couple but this is my favorite because as soon as I saw it I thought about Hans Gruber. For those of you not familiar with the name.. it is the first big appearance of one Alan Rickman who most everyone knows nowadays as Severus Snape in the Harry Potter movie series.

But back to Hans Gruber. Hans was the antagonist opposite Bruce Willis' character back in Die Hard. Yes no numbers after that title. Die Hard the first. It is a classic movie. And Alan Rickman is in another one of my favorite movies as well and that would be Quigley Down Under starring Tom Selleck. Come to think of it... other favorite Alan Rickman movies would be Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves with Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman, and Christian Slater (as Will Scarlet) and Galaxy Quest with Tim Allen.

There ya go.. amazing how the mind wanders from one photo to another. Oh we of the wikipedia/internet age. ;)

Temperate Coastal Rainforest

Temperate Coastal Rainforest
Originally uploaded by maplemusketeer

It's been much too long since I've written or posted.. such is life eh? Seasons for creativity, seasons for observation, seasons of business and ones of time....

All in all.. life goes on and it's in a positive progression.. i guess progression automatically indicates that.. otherwise it'd be regression eh? ;)

Make the most of your moments and be thankful for what we have left... ever heartbeat one less to live.. every breath one that'll never again be breathed.. and every smile a new creation

Foresty Goodness

rCarmanah 104
Originally uploaded by maplemusketeer

Yesterday we went on an adventure to Carmannah-Walbran Provincial Park... so good...
2% of BC's remaining old growth forest is this park.. out of the way, green, good, glorious..

Such a good place.. next time I want to spend more time ;)

in other news.. finals time for term 6.... soon the Xmas break.. and then one more term before I graduate from college... getting there.. slowly but surely.. and it feels fast looking back ;)

Season's Change

Oct 22 007
Originally uploaded by maplemusketeer

And so must I.. ;)
October.. almost done.. term 6 well underway.. term 7 all that remains between here and being done school. So close.. so very close. ;) Perhaps this is the last time I see the leaves turn in Victoria.. make the most of it.. and enjoy the colours and the times.. for they are fleet and passing.

Don't Get Down

Stand Tall... Pursue your purpose ;)
Originally uploaded by maplemusketeer

Stand up straight and keep on going. Sometimes ya might feel a bit worn and battered.. but the sun will shine again. ;)

Sinking Like a Sunset

Sinking Like a Sunset
Originally uploaded by maplemusketeer

Summer draws to an end.. and Term 6 is just around the corner.. I look forward to being done school sometime and having time to write and ponder in such ways once again.. but that time is not yet ;) LOL So now I will go and enjoy this next term.. the only Term 6 I shall probably ever experience.. and appreciate the friends and fellows who surround me and this season. :)