Racing Tornadoes

I pretty much had the coolest day ever, per the title of my blog, you may have guessed what took place. Oh, but it was so much cooler than the title could ever let on. So...I'm in Oklahoma, Dewey Oklahoma to be precise. I am out here with some friends that are shooting a movie on a ranch. This ranch is huge. It consists of hundreds of acres of prairie, a few thousand cattle and an old western town that has been built for he enjoyment of the owner. This morning as we were about to begin shooting, the sky went from being clear to turning pretty dark...we decided we would still try to shoot what we could- we got out 3 horses to use for the filming and shot a few scenes. The moment we finished shooting a torential downpour started, no sooner had that started then we got news that two tornadoes had touched down one town away from us. In the midst of that exciting news, the thunder and lightning also chimed in. As everyone was running around putting camera equipment away or going for cover...we still had 3 horses to deal with. Horses don't like bad weather, they spook easy and can be difficult or dangerous to ride. We still had to ride them two miles back to the stables the were staying in. Considering how close the tornadoes were, we didn't know weather to book it to the stables or stay close to a big building and just tie the horses up outside...as you can guess...we opted to race the horses back to the stables, have someone follow us in a car and pick us up to bring us back to the safe zone. Lloyd, me and my friend Paul hopped on the horses, and ran them as fast as we could through sheets of rain, loud thunder and lots of lightning back to their stables. It was such an adrenaline rush!!! I think this may top the list as one of the coolest things I've ever done. It was straight out of a movie:)

My brother, Iraq...

This is something my brother wrote and sent to me a few weeks ago. I have been wanting to post it..it's so good. He is in Bahrain, Iraq. I don't know when he will be coming home, but I am so proud of him:) If you read this, pray for him...thanks:)

I lay asleep in a peaceful paradise, and within an instant I am pulled from that state of relaxation and thrown into reality with those feared words .."Next Watch Bitch." I glance at my watch hoping there is a mistake, 0300 right on time. Stumbling out of my rack as if I where in a drunken state I wonder why I volunteered for this kind of a job. While most guys my age are still out bar hopping, I am getting ready for the long day ahead of me. I finish lacing up my boots and head to the mess deck for a quick cup of Pointless coffee, caffeine no longer affects me. I suppose it's the flavor I am addicted to. I scramble up to the pilot house and begin my work.
As the distant clouds begin to glow the stars slowly fade, God once again reminds me of his glory on the 0400 to 0800. Its not long before the turquoise water fills with DHOWS (the fishing vessels of local countries) and these inexperienced mariners begin their fishing.What makes these people so special, to be given all this attention of the United States ? It doesn't take long for the answer to sail by. A DHOW with 5 men on deck glides through the water. All giving us thankful smiles and their signature wave with both hands in the air, I then realize that these helpless people depend on the coalition forces for their survival. It isn't just a fight against terrorism, but it's a fight for humanity. This is operation Iraqi/ Enduring Freedom.

Maine...The Land of Remembered Vacations...

Ok, so again, old post. However, I still feel this way. The irony of this whole post and Maine, is that shortly after I started pining to be in this amazing state, and plotting my move. My brother Andrew (in Iraq at the time) lets me know he will be stationed there when he returns from Iraq. He is there now and has been for about 1 year or so. I think it's kind of funny, the timing of it:) I'm still a little jealous.

I want to move to Maine. This thought struck me as I was driving around the other day, and a car with a Maine license plate pulled in front of me. As soon as I saw it, I thought "Who lives in Maine?" I mean, it's probably one of the least thought about states right? So un-thought of, I wonder, is it still a state? Anyways, I decided I would follow them because I thought, to have come from Maine, they have to be pretty cool and I wanted to talk to them...well, they ended up going exactly where I was going anyways. Sad story, once we got there, there was no parking, so we both went our separate ways:( Here are some facts about "The Pine Tree State," possibly my future home:)


Eastport is the most eastern city in the United States. The city is considered the first place in the United States to receive the rays of the morning sun.

In Wilton there's a cannery that imports and cans only dandelion greens.

Maine is the only state in the United States whose name has one syllable.

Maine is the only state that shares its border with only one other state.

Bath is known as the City of Ships.

Joshua L. Chamberlain born in Brewer received the only battlefield promotion to General during the Civil War. He was also the last Civil War soldier to die of wounds incurred in the War.

The White Mountain National Forest covers nearly 800,000 acres, the forest covers a landscape ranging from hardwood forests to the largest alpine area east of the Rocky Mountains

Aroostook County at 6,453 square miles covers an area greater than the combined size of Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Approximately 40 millions pounds (nearly 90 percent) of the nation's lobster supply is caught off the coast of Maine.

Maine produces 99% of all the blueberries in the country making it the single largest producer of blueberries in the United States.

Maine's earliest inhabitants were descendants of Ice Age hunters.

Portland was first temporarily selected as the state capital. In 1832 the capital was moved to the centrally located site of Augusta.

In 1641 America's first chartered city was York.

Acadia National Park is the second most visited national park in the United States.

West Quoddy Head is the most easterly point in the United States.

Augusta is the most eastern capital city in the United States.

Mount Katahdin is the state's highest point at 5,268 feet above sea level.

Togus was the first Veteran's Hospital in the United States. The facility was founded in 1866.

An unsuccessful attempt at establishing a permanent English settlement in the New World was at the location now known as Popham Beach. Sir George Popham led the expedition in 1607.

90% of the country's toothpick supply is produced in Maine.

Portland is the birthplace of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Senator Margaret Chase Smith stood up in the senate and gave the famous Declaration of Conscious speech, speaking out against the McCarthy era. Senator Smith was the first female presidential candidate.

Author Steven King is a resident of Bangor.

Former President George Bush has a summer home in Kennebunkport.

Freeport is the home to the L.L. Bean Company.

The skating scene in the movie "The Preacher's Wife" was filmed in Deering Oaks Park in Portland.

The chickadee is the official state bird.

Maine lies farther northeast than any other state.

Maine's nickname as the Pine Tree State comes from the pines that once dotted the state's forests.

With a total area of 33,215 square miles the state covers nearly as many square miles as the other five New England states combined.

The state flower is the white pine cone and tassel.

The coastline boasts so many deep harbors it is thought all the navies in the world could anchor in them.

Maine lobsters have won international fame for their flavor and contribution to the culinary world.

The Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport houses numerous historic buildings and marine memorabilia.

Fort Knox erected in 1844 is a state historic site originally built to protect the Penobscot River Valley from British naval attack. The fort was constructed from granite from nearby Mount Waldo.

Numerous lighthouses dot the Main coast including Fort Point Lighthouse at Fort Point State Park in Stockton Springs and Grindle Point Lighthouse on Isleboro.

The Sailor's Memorial Museum in Isleboro features displays depicting life at sea.

Located in Thorndike Village, the Bryant Stove Works and Museum displays an eclectic collection of antique cast iron stoves, parlor heaters, roadsters and touring cars. In addition, the museum features antique layer pianos, pipe organs and music boxes, calliopes, nickelodeons, and hurdy-gurdys.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was considered the most influential poet of his day. The writer was born in Portland, on February 2, 1807. His most popular works include "The Courtship of Miles Standish", "Evangeline" and "Hiawatha".

The nation's first sawmill was established near York in 1623.

York became the nation's first incorporated city in 1642.

The first ship build by English colonists in Americas was launched on the Kennebec River in 1607.

The first naval battle of the Revolutionary War was fought off Machias in 1775.

Maine was admitted to the Union as the 23rd state on March 15, 1820.

Maine's blueberry crop is the largest in the nation.

The honeybee is the official state insect.

Maine contains 542,629 acres of state and national parks.

Edmund S. Muskie became the first Democratic United States senator ever elected by popular vote in Maine. He was also elected governor for two terms. He was born in Rumford.

Eastport is the only United States owned principality that has been under rule by a foreign government. It was held from 1814 to 1818 by British troops under King George following the conclusion of the War of 1812.

Maine's government entities are comprised of 16 counties with 22 cities, 435 towns, 33 plantations, 424 unorganized townships and 3 Indian reservations.