I am re-reading Becoming Enlightened by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and want to take time to reflect on each lesson in the book.  I love Buddhist literature because of its logic and simple truths are undeniable and inescapable compared to other moral or religious doctrines. I find purpose, meaning and that personal motivation to work hard each day to take advantage this gift of mind and body. Here are my notes and reflections on a lesson focused on the rarity and value of a human life and going about virtuous deeds.

Human life is precious. If you are a Buddhist, you believe it took a hell of an effort and many lives as lesser beings to be given this opportunity and it will take many virtuous acts to have the opportunity to be a human in your next life. If you are of a Western religion, this life is it. No matter your view, the opportunities provided with this life are the most important things you will ever have. I am lucky to have the freedom to pursue academic and spiritual wisdom every single day. To take full advantage of this life I should spend each day learning what I can to rid myself of destructive emotions, so that I can become more selfless and apt to help others.

Lately, I feel I’ve been distracted from spiritual practice and rationalizing it by focusing on regaining stability in my life and relationships. Yet ironically, mental clarity is needed to meet these challenges. The ability to stay virtuous and compassionate in hard times is vital to overcoming obstacles and alleviating suffering. My spiritual practices and beliefs are very different from most people and I want this body and mind to best use. I best serve myself and others by keeping the mind and body sharp; taking time out of everyday to read, meditate, act, challenge and engage myself in practice. I am tormented by my own analytical abilities and what some grasp in a bumper sticker, I will take days to comprehensively wrap my head around reflecting upon reading through writing, meditation and exploration.

I’ve read that there are four ways to mitigate a non-virtuous action; admitting it, regretting it, committing not to do it again and engaging in virtuous acts such as helping others. Unlike  my experience with the notion of repentance, there is less focus or dwelling on guilt and more on acknowledgment of regret and progressive steps to do better and serve others.

There is a subtle but important difference between guilt and regret. Too often do we claim words as perfect synonyms.  The notion of guilt takes a communal, punitive,  external approach to experiencing shame. Guilt is most often expressed when staring down  a gun barrel or guillotine. Regret is  a personal, internal experience  of accounting for one’s actions. Which is more effective? A  man who expresses shame or regret needs no gun, or external prompt to atone for his actions and does so by choice. A guilty man, when rid of the barrel, has yet to atone and has every reason to avoid doing so as it is tied to punishment.  Regret and shame alone are not as condemning as guilt, and leave opportunity for progress. So, a religious institution that relies on teaching that all are guilty (and to seek repentance in  fear of punishment)  might not be as effective as an instituition that instructs to feel shame and/or regret and to seek enlightenment. I love and recognize the power and importance of words.

I do not avoid responsibility but I do believe that focusing on guilt can more easily lead to other destructive emotions and far more suffering than the original infraction. This gives all sinners purpose and responsibility to themselves and their community. We will all make mistakes but need not dwell in guilt.

In order to perform virtuous deeds, one should prepare a good motivation in advance, with high quality execution dedicated to altruistic enlightenment and without regret. We take on many tasks and complete few, and fewer still we complete well. In order to do well, it is important to cultivate a strong motivation to wish to see something through with no other aim than enlightenment; to learn something. This echoes the chivalry of ancient knights errant, juxtapose a world that still thinks  Don Quixote a great fool.

I love my life and spending a little time each day to reflect on life’s many lessons just makes me that much more determined to get more out of  each and every day.

I’m a huge Burn Notice fan and created ebooks containing the plot summaries and voice over narration for every season. It makes for an awesome summer read. Here’s a sneak peak at Volume One of every voice over tip from the hit TV Show Burn Notice. I put this together in my spare time and triple checked every word from each episode. You can see the first few episodes for free and purchase a downloadable PDF version for $3.00. That’s  a great read for less than a fancy cup of coffee or even a used book.You can share it with your friends and family without restriction. I will be adding every season including the fourth season soon.

*Alternatively, You can always click on the donate button on the right and donate any amount you prefer and write me an email and I’ll send it to you.

What’s different about my ebook? There are many, great fan websites and pages dedicated to Burn Notice, but all of them, including Wikipedia are unorganized, full of errors and misquotes. This ebook includes the plot summaries for each episode followed by the voice over narration, which are all the useful tidbits from the show and all of it is accurate.

1.1 Pilot

Plot Summary

While on assignment in Nigeria, covert operative Michael Westen learns that he’s been “burned.” For a spy, it is the equivalent of being fired. A burned spy is blacklisted from all government agencies and resources; his bank accounts are frozen and his credit is trashed. Michael barely escapes Nigeria and wakes up, battered, in a Miami motel. In order to survive and fund his own personal investigation, Michael enlists the help of the only two “friends” he has: Fiona Glenanne, an ex-IRA operative who also happens to be an ex-girlfriend, and Sam Axe, a washed-out military intelligence contact who has been under FBI surveillance. He is also forced to deal with the family he went halfway around the world to get away from—particularly his mother, Madeline Westen, who could not be happier to have her son back in town.

Through former spy-turned-security consultant Lucy Chen–whom Michael helped learn the trade–he gets a lead on a small investigation job: a caretaker of an estate, Javier, has been accused of stealing valuable art from his employer, Graham Pyne. All evidence points to it being an inside job and Javier, with very little money to offer, has nowhere else to turn. When Michael begins to dig around, he quickly discovers that it was in fact an inside job: Pyne orchestrated the robbery and framed Javier in order to collect insurance.

Michael confronts Pyne with the incriminating evidence. When Pyne and his bodyguard come after Javier and his son, Michael is already a step ahead of them and has set up a trap at Javier’s house. After the smoke clears, Pyne has accidentally shot his bodyguard, and Michael has enough evidence to send both of them to jail for conspiracy to commit kidnapping. With the mounting evidence hanging over his head, Pyne agrees to clear Javier’s name and provide financial support to Javier and his son.

Meanwhile, Michael keeps trying to get in touch with his old government handler, Dan Siebels, who will not accept his calls. Deciding to get creative, Michael resorts to mailing Siebels a fake bomb in order to get his attention. The ploy works, and Michael finally gets to confront Siebels about the burn notice. Siebels believes Michael has probably been framed and there is nothing he can do to help him, but that he still has allies within the Agency. He tells Michael not to leave Miami, unless he wants an FBI manhunt after him. To top it all off, Michael returns home to find his door open and the floor covered with surveillance photos. It is not the FBI, but whoever it is, they have been tracking his every move. And they have left a message: “Welcome to Miami.”

Narration

Covert intelligence involves a lot of waiting around. Know what it’s like being a spy? Like sitting in your dentist’s reception area twenty-four hours a day. You read magazines, sip coffee, and every so often, someone tries to kill you.

[Michael Weston is Crammed in the back seat of a Mercedes sedan, pinned between two armed thugs and sarcastically making them aware that Mercedes also makes an SUV. The thugs think he is a CIA operative.] What do you say to that? No? Explain A lot of spies do not work directly for the CIA? A lot of good that will do.

[While getting the crap kicked out of him, caught off guard by a group thugs]Sometimes the truth hurts. In these situations, I recommend lying.

In a fight, you have to be careful not to break the little bones in your hands on someone’s face. That’s why I like bathrooms: lots of hard surfaces.

Southern Nigeria isn’t my favorite place in the world. It’s unstable. It’s corrupt and the people there eat a lot of terrible smelling preserved fish.

I will say this for Nigeria though: it’s the gun running capital of Africa, and that makes it a bad place to drive a passenger sedan into a crowded market.

If you’re going to collapse on a plane, I recommend business class. The seats are bigger if you start convulsing. Although once you pass out, it really doesn’t matter.

Most people would be thrilled to be dumped in Miami. Sadly, I am not most people. Spend a few years as a covert operative and a sunny beach just looks like a vulnerable tactical position with no cover.

I’ve never found a good way to hide a gun in a bathing suit.

When a spy gets fired, he doesn’t get a call from the lady in HR and a gold watch. They cut him off. They make sure he can never work again. They can’t take away his skills or what’s in his head, so they take away the resources that allow him to function. They burn him.

When you’re being watched, what you need is contrast, a background that will make the surveillance stand out. An FBI field office is full of guys in their forties. At most South Beach business hotels, it would be tuff to tell which middle aged white guy is watching you. So, stay in the place where everyone is a jell-o shot away from alcohol poisoning. If you see someone who can walk a straight line, that’s the Fed.

Need to go someplace you’re not wanted? Any uniform store will sell you a messenger outfit, and any messenger can get passed a security desk.

[While entering a luxurious mansion in Miami] With this much money things get complicated. Change a light bulb in a place like this, and a week later you’re on a speed boat to the Cayman Islands with someone shooting at you.

M y mom would have been a great NSA Communications operative. Drop me in the middle of the Gobi desert. Bury me in a God-damn cave on the moon, and somehow, she’d find a way to call me and ask me for a favor.

I don’t like stealing cars, but sometimes it’s necessary. I have rules though. I’ll keep it clean, and if I take your car on a work day, I’ll have it back by five.

Figuring out if a car is tailing you is mostly about driving like you’re an idiot. You speed up, slow down, signal one way; turn the other. Of course, ideally, you’re doing this without your mother in the car… Actually, losing a tail isn’t about driving fast. A high-speed pursuit is just going to land you on the six o’clock news. So you just keep driving like an idiot until the other guy makes a mistake. Again, all this is easier without a passenger yelling at you for missing a decade’s worth of Thanksgivings.

Sleep through an aerial bombing or two, and noise isn’t an issue. You just need some privacy and a bed. In a pinch, you can lose the bed. But the privacy’s important for projects like this one. With everyone X-raying and chemical testing their mail these days, a box of wire and pipe and batteries sprinkled with chemical fertilizer is a great attention-getter.

Whether you’re a coke dealer, a thief, an arms dealer, or a spy, you need someone to clean your money; which makes a good money launderer the closest thing you can get to a Yellow Pages for criminals. Even better, a money launderer will always take your calls burn notice or no burn notice.

Pilot Part 2

When you work as a covert operative, meeting new people becomes a real headache. Chances are anyone who wants to meet you is someone you don’t want to meet.

It doesn’t matter how much training you have; a broken rib is a broken rib.

I never run around the bushes in a ski mask when I’m breaking into a place.  If somebody catches you; what are you going to say? You want to look like a legitimate visitor until the very last minute. If you can’t look legit, confused works almost as well, maybe get a soda from the fridge or a yogurt. If you’re caught, you just act confused and apologize like crazy for taking the yogurt – nothing could be more innocent…

Cracking an old-school safe is pretty tough, but modern hi-tech security makes it much easier. Thing is, nobody wipes off a fingerprint scanner after they use it. So what’s left on the scanner, nine times out of ten, is a fingerprint.

Fighting for the little guy is for suckers. We all do it once in a while, but the trick is to get in and out quickly, without getting involved. That’s one trick I never really mastered.

Powerful people don’t like being pushed around. You can never quite predict what they’re going to do. Or have their washed-out special-forces, security guys do. Point is, blackmail does a little like own a pit bull; it might protect you, or it might bite your hand off. That’s why it pays to make sure you know what they’re thinking, and that means eavesdropping.

To build a listening device, you need a crappy phone with a mike that picks up everything. But you want the battery power and circuits of a better phone. It’s a trick you learn when the purchasing office won’t spring for a bug.

Once somebody sends a guy with a gun after you, things are only going to get worse. But like it or not, you’ve got work to do. For a job like getting rid of the drug dealer next door, I’ll take a hardware store over a gun any day. Guns make you stupid. Better to fight your wars with duct tape. Duct tape makes you smart. Every decent punk has a bulletproof door. But people forget walls are just plaster. Hopefully you get him with the first shot, Or the second. Now he’s down and waiting for you to come through the front door. So you don’t come through the front door.

People with happy families don’t become spies. A bad childhood is the perfect background for covert ops – you don’t trust anyone, you’re used to getting smacked around, and you never get homesick.

Thirty years of karate, combat experience on five continents, a rating with every weapon that shoots a bullet or holds an edge; I still haven’t found any defense against Mom crying into my shirt.

Airbags save a lot of lives, but they also put you out long enough to get your hands cable-tied to the steering wheel.

When you work solo, it’s about prepping the ground. Home-court advantage counts for a lot. You never know what’s going to happen. You prepare for everything. Most bad guys expect you to just sit there and wait for them, like those are “the rules” or something.

If you’re going to put prints on a gun, sticking it into somebody’s hand isn’t going to do it. Any decent lawyer can explain prints on a gun. But try explaining prints on the inside of the trigger assembly.

As a spy, it doesn’t matter if you’re helping rebel forces fight off a dictator or giving combat tips to a third grader, there’s nothing like helping the little guy kick some bully’s ass.

There’s nothing worse for a spook than knowing you’re being played. Someone is pulling strings. Who? Not some intelligence agency bureaucrat in a cubicle. This is someone with more style. Not FBI either, they’re not this creative and they don’t do surveillance on their own guys. This is someone who knows what he’s doing; someone who wants to send a message: Welcome to Miami.

1.2 Identity

Plot Summary

The episode opens with Michael trying to track down where the photographs that he found on his apartment floor were taken. After talking to his mother, Madeline Westen, he found out two government agents were in her home, and after checking the wiring, he finds a bug. He tracks the bug down to an abandoned house only to see two guys taking off in a car and their equipment left in flames.

Madeline refuses to tell her son anything more about the two men that came to her house until Michael agrees to help one of her friends, Laura, who got scammed and beaten by a con artist. Laura is able to provide only a weak description, but the fake certificate she has leads Michael to a copy shop, where he’s able to eventually trace it back to the master criminal.

Sam Axe finds that the con artist’s name is Quinten, and provides Michael with a brief background of Quinten’s run-ins with the law. Michael decides to use this information to attempt to trick Quinten into thinking that Westen is a fellow con artist. After their first encounter goes poorly, Michael pushes Quinten harder. Sam sets up some fake papers to make it look like Quinten’s partners are about to betray him. However, everything falls apart when a device meant to disable Quinten’s car is set incorrectly by Fiona Glenanne, and accidentally blows it up right before he steps inside.

Now that Quinten is scared, Michael is playing his cards carefully. He sends Sam & Fiona to play FBI agents and convinces Quinten’s partners to leave town. Meanwhile, Michael takes advantage of Quinten’s paranoia and convinces Quinten that he cannot go to the bank to withdraw his money because the police are watching him. Michael then cons Quinten into giving him full access to his bank accounts so he can withdraw the money in his place. Once he has the information, Michael proceeds to return all the money Quinten stole, along with providing his name to several “colorful” organizations.

After all of the money is returned, a thankful Madeline finally divulges all of the details about the two government agents. They came into the house and asked whether Michael had returned to Miami. She told them no because to her, “family comes first.” She then gives Michael a number the agents had given her to contact them. Michael calls the number and speaks with an anonymous voice, who congratulates Michael for his hard work, but does not provide any helpful information.

Narration

A surveillance photo can tell you a lot about the photographer. Surveillance takes planning. You have to scout the area. You need a place to sit and wait for the target for an hour or 10. Lots of chances to get seen.

You can’t choose your intelligence sources. (They) might be a heroin smuggler, a dictator… or your mom.

My mother’s understanding of my career changes with what she wants from me. One day, she can name everyone on the National Security Council. The next day, she thinks I work for the post office.

Not all bugs are the same. If it has got a battery; it’s disposable; short-term. If it’s wired into the house power, it’s a longer term thing. If it has a transmitter, you can figure out how close the listener is.

Once your surveillance knows you’re on to them, the clock starts ticking. They know you’re coming so the question for them is whether they can destroy their equipment and get out in time. The question for you is whether you can find them before every bit of useful information is turned into a pile of burning slag.

There’s a reason spies don’t have a lot of parties. Everybody’s got a history with everyone else.

Often, the best way to get intel is to provoke action; set people in motion. Pros know better, but they usually have to work with a few amateurs, and they panic. So you beat the bushes a little and see what flies out. Once your frightened amateur leads you to the pros, the work begins.

Con artists and spies are both professional liars. Cons do it for the money and spies do it for the flag, but it’s mostly the same gig. They run operations. They follow security procedures. They recruit support staff and issue orders.

When you go after a spy, you send another spy. The same goes for con artists. To catch one you’ve got to beat him at his own game; be a better liar than he is.

No matter how good your cover identity is, you’ve got to sell it and that’s not always easy.

Sometimes you have to decide just how committed you are to pretending you are who you say you are.

I don’t like running from cops, but it has its advantages: it builds your credibility with a criminal when you flee a crime scene.

Eavesdropping and fieldwork go hand-in-hand. You want to know what your target is saying, what he’s typing into his computer. But technology can’t work miracles: bugs don’t plant themselves. Fact is, even the fanciest equipment usually needs help from a good old-fashioned crowbar.

It’s always useful to disable a car remotely; a cell phone, some wire, you can ground the circuit on the electrical system with a phone call.

A good cover identity keeps the target feeling in control. You talk too much; drink too much just to let him know he’s got the edge.

Go after a group of people directly, and they pull together. They get stronger. Taking out a tight knit group is about making them turn on each other. You plant the seeds of distrust and watch them grow. Of course, sewing seeds of distrust is harder when nobody trusts you.

Sometimes a great plan comes together just a little bit too early.

You’ve been in the business way too long when you recognize the sound of a .45 caliber over a phone.

[Car explodes unexpectedly] That’s what happens when you wire a cell phone to a blasting cap in the gas tank instead of the electrical system.

Whether you’re in Moscow, Tehran, or Miami, club girls are a good source of information. Men say things to a beautiful woman. They give out phone numbers, hotel keys; they let down their guard. Getting information from a club girl means buying drinks. It’s no problem with an operational slush fund. It’s a big problem if you’re spending cash scrounged from your mom’s purse.

A hit-man is like a plumber, a dentist or a mechanic. Everybody is always looking for a good one.

Truth is, identity theft isn’t hard. A number and an ID is all you need to drain a bank account, and return a lot of money to some very surprised retirees. But why stop there? As long as you’re stealing someone’s identity, why not use it to contact some known terrorist organizations on unsecure phone lines; why not use it to threaten federal judges, and insult the local drug cartel? Most fun I’ve had in Miami.

1.3 Fight or Flight

Plot Summary

Michael’s landlord Oleg convinces him to earn 4 months’ rent by resolving the threats which keep his star waitress, Cara Stagner, stuck at home, scared-stiff. It turns out she was the sole witness to a drug cartel crime. Michael barricades Cara and her willful teenage daughter Sarah, in his mother’s garage, then approaches the cartel’s lawyer. All the while Michael’s ex-girlfriend, Fiona pressures him to pick up his hated father’s old Charger. Meanwhile, he leans on an Egyptian spy to help trace his burn notice.

Narration

International conferences attract spies for the same reasons hotel bars attract hookers. You can do business and drink for free.

Any high security function is going to have a lot of oversight; a lot of meetings, a lot of bureaucrats checking up on each other. In all the confusion of the big event, it’s easy for another bureaucrats to…just show up (posing as a bureaucrat). The important thing is to disappear before people can ask questions. If they do decide to ask questions, you just have to hope you’re in a building with a lot of hallways, a good service basement, and plenty of exits. But in the end, sometimes making an escape is just about being willing to do what the guy chasing you won’t; like jump off a building.

Asking my mom for anything is a lot like getting a favor from a Russian mob boss, he’ll give you what you want with a smile, but believe me, you’ll pay for it.

My father’s approach to machinery was similar to his approach to family. If you don’t like how something works, keep banging on it until it does what you want. If something doesn’t fit, force it and above all, make sure it looks good on the outside.

Convincing a bully to back down is usually just a matter of showing you’re not afraid of them. Of course, some bullies have guys with 357 magnums, then you change tactics. [Michael then changes to an accommodating tone and scrambles to escape.]

When faced with a superior force, you can do two things. You can retreat quietly or you can attack with as much fan fare as possible.

Outfitting a safe-house is about two things. You need to know if someone is coming and you need to know how the folks you’re protecting are going to get out of there if they do. And if you can’t be on babysitting duty all the time, you need to make sure that you know the minute something is wrong. A 35 dollar outdoor floodlight has a decent motion detector on it. Wire that to a cell phone and you’ve got a remote alarm system that will call you if there’s trouble.

I love commuters. Anybody who drives the same route to work every day; it’s like they’re doing the work for you. And a punctual commuter, a guy who is in the same place every morning at 8:36AM: it’s almost too easy.

Threaten any serious criminal organization and they’re going to do one of two things. They’ll send someone to make a deal or they’ll send someone to make a corpse. Either way, you’ve got something to work with.

When you go on the run, the first thing you do is lay down tracks in the opposite direction, but that only works if the bad guys find the trail and believe it’s for real; which means selling it. You need to put on a little show, make them feel clever. When you make somebody work to get a piece of information, they’ll believe it that much more because it’s hard to get.

Approaching a spy in the middle of a job, gives you a lot of leverage. They’re playing a delicate game and the last thing they want is someone coming in and smashing their delicate game with a brick.

Basic rule of body guarding: Never fight with the protectee around, mostly because if they happen to catch a stray bullet, you just lost your job.

Modern technology has made it possible to do sophisticated electronic surveillance with stuff from your local electronics store. It sounds more fun than it is.

Faking surveillance video has come a long way. It used to be that you’d spend days slaving over a VHS tape with a razor blade.

A drug cartel is a business. If killing a witness to protect a valued employee from jail time is the best way to keep making money, they’ll do that. If it looks like that employee is testifying to the FBI though, they’re just as happy to leave the witness alone and take care of the problem another way.

An alpha-numeric tracking code and a special access code name, it’s not much but it’s a start. [While reviewing a report from the Department of Home Land Security that offers a clue to Michael’s burn notice.]

After watching a Man Vs. Wild marathon, I noticed in his later seasons, one thing he always relies on is his para-cord. I’ve seen some para-cord bracelets on the web and thought it would be an awesome/ man-crafting experience and a cool thing to do with my girlfriend as we prep for a  Denali backpacking trip. She is far craftier than I, and quickly outdid me by making herself a belt using this technique.

I’ve seen many websites for survival bracelets that leave out the pesky details. I am also not a fan of paying for instructions that leave out important details; Instructables guides- I’m talking about you, especially when there are free and better videos on the web. To give them credit- here is the instructables link to a paracord bracelet with side buckle. Here is a link to some of the best Instructable guides Torrent file- Why? Because they stole the information from the web anyway! Please don’t click the link if you don’t know what a torrent file is. On with the post.

I like the looks of bracelets found on the survival straps website and wanted to mimic them. If you want to spend $22, you can purchase one well made paracord survival strap from their website. I found I could make better straps and take personal pride in my work and for the same price, make several bracelets for friends and relatives. I plan on making quite a few of these and carrying them with me, if for nothing else than to use for barter and trade with fellow travelers and passers by.

Materials

Clasps

1/4″ Stainless Steel Marine Grade Shackle-$2.50 Home Depot This is used as the clasp or fastener. You can also purchase small plastic buckles on Ebay but I prefer something stronger with more utility.

You can also use these Nite Ize S-Biner Size #0 Clips that come in a package of 2 at REI for $1.49 Here is a link

*Note- if you use the S-Biner- be sure to cut off the tooth in the gate, so you can easily take on and off the bracelet.

Cord

Paracord 550 military spec. You only need 12-24 feet of this depending on the type of bracelet and the size. You can purchase it in many colors for $4.39 per 50 feet from this Ebay seller

Scissors- or a knife- I bought some scissors from Dollar Tree that did the job, and guess how much they cost?

Fireplace Lighter- for melting and fusing cord. You’ll see youtube videos of guys using Zippos but I find it easier to work with these and I am less likely to burn the rest of the cord.

A quarter

Tweezers/toothpick/paper clip- come in handy at the final stages.

You can buy also buy one from survival straps or other websites for $22- or make one for $3.00-$6.00 and have plenty of cord left over to make more for family and friends.

Here are some video tutorials

My variations:

I used a clasp and at the end of the knot- I wove a little excess back through the knot work- about 3 notches from the last knot and then fused the ends with the lighter. This ensures that the bracelet won’t fall apart until I need to use it.

*When tucking the excess back into the knot, t after weaving it back through the 3rd to the last knot, cut any excess and bend the bracelet, burn the edges and use a quarter to flatten them against the bracelet. This will ensure that you have a secure bracelet that is comfortable to wear.

Cobra Knot

Awesome Video of how a father used the bracelet technique to send money to his son who was on deployment. What an awesome dad!

I like to be aware of the possibilities, the dangers, and then decide to face a challenge anyway. There is a bravery in facing the unknown, but if you are unaware of the danger, you are aloof, stupid, not brave. Traveling to Alaska will be perilous and fraught with danger. We might get eaten by bears, lose our luggage, get mugged, drown in a river, be attacked by a moose, a pack of wolves, or perhaps be mauled a disgruntled wolverine. I get upset with my “Adventurous” friends who do not prepare by considering these possibilities simply because to do so invokes fear. Avoiding these thoughts is somewhat cowardly. To cultivate bravery requires thinking about the worst case scenario fears and deciding how you plan to face them. Bravery isn’t for everyone, and many fools claim it but few live it.

People may think “Why would I want to think about things that scare me?”  I would answer only that to do so with a constructive mind will prepare you for those moments and help you respond effectively if they ever come to pass. Your fate is almost certain if you are frozen in fear when that nightmare scenario becomes a reality. This does not mean having a negative mindset and running around with a fear mongering attitude. Being brave involves considering as much as you can whilst still wearing a smile. After all, some things you truly must face in the moment.

To those who travel with me, be warned. All my trips are BYOB. I don’t like traveling with people who don’t prepare or can’t face a problem with a smile and adventurous attitude. Don’t worry. I promise, that in return for my hard ass attitude on this issue, I will deliver ten fold on comedic mishaps at my expense. You can always be sure that on any adventure with me, there will be plenty things to laugh about.

Cheers!
-Nicholas

I’ve always had a great desire to travel the world with a beautiful and intelligent woman, and my girlfriend has had a deep desire and dream to go to Alaska for years. So to kill two birds with one stone, the two of us are going on an Alaskan adventure.

The secret to enjoying any adventure is to prepare; physically and mentally prepare to enjoy it. This goes beyond packing and planning. Cultivating genuine, childish, excitement for an adventure is a key to enjoying the experience. Travel can be stressful if you choose to perceive it that way. There are hard parts and you might not end up where you intended, but the glory is the struggle. Things that are easy, rarely have value. I wrote down general tips and what we are doing to prepare and plan for our trip, so hopefully you find it helpful and entertaining.

I’ll be documenting every step of our trip along the way so be on the lookout for new articles about our trek.

Our Plan

I’m detail oriented, so it’s easy for me to go on in length and get lost but I try to  list the most important elements.
-Get from Sacramento to San Francisco, CA.
-Don’t forget to pack girlfriend.
-Note to girlfriend: Don’t forget to bring boyfriend.
-Fly from San Francisco to Anchorage, Alaska (preferably, not like the gremlin on the plane from the Twilight Zone Movie).
-Take train to Canoe/Hike Glaciers.
-Take the train from Anchorage to Denali.

-Hitch a ride or bus to 8 Mile Lake and the Stampede Trail head.
-Hike from 8 Mile Lake to Chris McCandless ‘ Bus, (“The Bus” from the movie Into the Wild) and pay homage to an interesting character/place.

-Get back in time to catch a train back to Anchorage. (50+ miles in 3 days) :O MG
-Fly back to San Francisco.
-Get  a ride back to Sacramento and sleep and recover for 3 days until camping trip in Bodega Bay.

Goals

-Take 8 Million photos along the way.
-Meet new people and make some friends.
-Learn new things and avoid teachings from Palin family.
-Take in deep breaths of life and enjoy every moment (hopefully without anything close to the ending of Grizzly Man).

The Challenges

Here is the short list of issues and resources.
1. Packing Light (Confronting  the habit of over packing)
2. Bringing the proper gear.
3. Learning everything I can about outdoor survival
4. Bears I’ve seen Grizzly Man, and while I thankfully don’t have a lisp, girlie voice or ridiculous urges to “be one with the bears,” It’s important that If we come across one or more that we are calm and respond appropriately. I’ve seen black bears but am curious about the size and attitude of the Grizzly. -Differences between brown, black, grizzly bears and Bear Grylls.
5. Communications- spotty wi-fi, cell phone coverage, etc.
6. Bugs- I’ve heard some bad stories. Thinking of buying a goofy bug net hat.
7. 19 hours of daylight during summer- This will be interesting. I don’t know if I’ll like it or loathe it. Sunscreen is a must.
8. Physical Conditioning and Back packing 52 miles in 3 days- I am in decent shape but began stepping up my workouts a couple of notches. You can read more about how I did that on this post.
9. Unofficial/Unsupported trip to the bus from Into the Wild. We are likely going to have to bribe and finagle with the locals to accomplish this goal.  This is the adventure part. A lot of people get over stressed when they can’t pre-plan the means of getting from A-B but there is a lot to be said for the person who can get dropped into an unplanned situation and make it work.

Outdoor Survival
We attended a survival course with instructor Doug Huffman, who runs the Sierra Survival School
I’ll post a link to my notes from the course soon but be sure to visit his website.

REI Outdoor School-A great way to learn how to do anything from camp cuisine, to rock climbing and map navigation.

Christopher Mcandless & The Magic Bus 142
Getting to the bus will be an interesting challenge because it is outside of Denali park and there are no official tours to get to it. We’ve made some calls, talked to the locals and posted a few ads on craigslist. It’s not the safest way to go about it, nor do I recommend it but it is an option.

The Best Links for the Magic Bus:
The best video that covers the aspects of the trip can be found here.

-Communications, coverage maps, park info, rail lines, topographic maps,etc. I looked up AT&T’s coverage in Alaska  and noted that they don’t bother placing cities on the map for the state which is very helpful… Anyway, it looks like it will be spotty but luckily, wi-fi is a different story entirely.

We tried to save money on our travel and got the funkiest red eye schedule that will make the trip a little more challenging. Air travel is rarely fun. PriceLine was the tool of choice this trip. We’ve tried other services for other trips but we’ve had the least hassle and confusion with PriceLine. Besides, I’m a huge Bill Shatner/Denny Crane fan/sucker.

Here are some things I put together to prep for this trip:

How to avoid Common Outdoor Douchebaggery Sarcastic but true adventuretips your mother wish you’d read.

My Pre-Adventure Video Playlist- A good list of movies and shows to get psyched for any outdoor adventure.

Black Bears, Grizzlies and Bear Grylls- How to tell the difference between between brown and black bears…and Bear Grylls.

How to Make a Paracord Survival Straps- One of the coolest things I’ve done to prepare for Alaska.

Get Heroik! BYOB Bring Your Own Bravery! - The importance embracing challenges, confronting fears and reaping the rewards.

Video Roundup: Learn How to Tie Essential Knots

12 Mile Backpacking Training Course:  Lake Natoma- The route we used to build up stamina and check our gear before hiking in Denali.

Fitness Training: The Difference of 30 Miles- I added a 30 mile goal to my workout routine where in I could do any combination of running, walking, swimming, stepping, and anything else  I could to improve my fitness. You can read my journal and my results.

Like most people, when it comes to distinguishing between bear types, I was pretty confused about the difference between brown bears and Grizzlies. It is easy to get confused due to the fact that  brown and black bears can have brown or black fur. So I did a little digging to clear this up for everyone.

The scientific name for the brown bear is Ursus arctos. In North America, there is a lot of confusion about the differences between brown bears, grizzlies and Kodiak bears. They are all Ursus arctos, but there are 2 recognized subspecies: the Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) and the Kodiak brown bear (Ursus arctos middendorfi)
In general the coastal bears are brown bears, the interior bears are grizzlies and the Kodiaks live only on Kodiak Island. Coloration varies greatly, from black to the famous blondes of Denali Park.

How to tell a Grizzly From a Black Bear

Grizzly Bear

Grizzly bears are generally larger than Black bears. On all fours the Grizzle is 3.28 feet tall but they can stand and be 6.5 feet tall. Their scruffy fur, rounded ears, big claws (that are usually visible in their tracks) and shoulder humps are their main identifying features. That shoulder hump is actual extra muscle that the Grizzly needs to dig for roots, tubers and ground squirrels. The shoulder muscles and 2-4 inch long claws are also used to demonstrate that the Grizzly is a BAMF that is not to be trifled with.

Black Bear

Black bears have smaller claws than Grizzlies. At 1.5 inches long, their claws are not usually visible in their tracks.  Unlike Grizzlies, Black bears have no shoulder hump. They are also shorter than Grizzlies at 2.5-3 feet on all fours, and 5 feet standing erect. They also have pointy ear ears and more angular or “Roman” facial features.

Bear Grylls

Bear Grylls is a grizzly omnivore but not an actual bear. Unlike other bears, Bear Grylls is found all over the world and will eat anything! Identifying features include his urge for constant nudity and excitement for dangerous outdoor activities and a clear British accent.

Little known facts about Bear Grylls

1. In 1998, at age 23, Bear entered The Guinness Book of World Records as the youngest and one of only around 30 British climbers to successfully climb Mt. Everest.
2. During his 3 year service in the SAS, Bear suffered from a free fall parachute accident, breaking his back in 3 places. (And then he became…Robocop…no wait… Universal Soldier)
3. Man vs. Wild is the number one show in America and has a global audience of 1.2 Billion people.
4. In 2007, he became the first man to fly a powered para-glider to a height above Mount Everest in the Himalaya. Sponsored by GKN, the team raised over $1million in the process for Global Angels and children’s charities worldwide. 2008 also saw Bear lead a small team to climb one of the most remote un-climbed peaks in the world in Antarctica.
5. Bear also holds a world record for the highest open air dinner party, from a hot air balloon.

While preparing for my upcoming Denali trip, I reviewed some survival tips and jotted down a few of my own. Here are 8 sarcastic but true, adventure tips your parents wish you would read before venturing out.

Listen to your mother or nearest and dearest voice of reason. Be responsible for yourself and your group. Lead by example and  be the brave one to be calm and take control  before, if and when things get out of hand.

Don’t leave home without a knife, fire starter, para-cord (real 550 military spec), Plenty of H20, and duck tape. You can conquer the world with these 5 things. You know why Bear Grylls (Man Vs. Wild) doesn’t have duck tape?  The same reason Chuck Norris is required to wear lead boots when he’s not filming. He’d be unstoppable. Always remember duck tape. The 6th thing to bring is a digital camera, because no one will believe tales of your adventures without photographic/video evidence.

Avoid traveling to the middle of nowhere without experience, training or proper supplies. If you do, take a guide, or trusted, experienced friend. If you can’t find a guide, consider hanging out at REI and making some friends. Once you establish trust,  bring them along.

Do everything you can to prepare. Study the area, maps, wild life, survival techniques, etc. Take some courses, day hikes and trips to elevations that are similar to your trip. Preparation helps you pack light and might save your life.

Leave it as you found it. If you brought it in, have the decency to take it out. If you spot a litterbug or wasteful SOB ask him nicely to pick up after himself. Do this patiently in a tone that is open to discussion and understanding.  If that doesn’t work. If you are bigger, stronger or better armed than a litter bug you spot,  forcibly make them pick up their trash and hike it out. If you’re not bigger, stronger or better armed than a litter bug, find a decent sized throwing/brain smashing rock, lift and discuss the subject with the other party. People tend to respond better when their well being (life, limb and wallet) is on the line. It’s sad but true.

Be aware of your surroundings and don’t take stupid risks that might result in serious injury. Injuries are difficult to address away from civilization and make it much more difficult to get out of the wild. The most common mistakes are underestimating and being unaware of your environment. Make sure you and your party are aware of the likely possibilities, e.g.  the rattlesnake at the top of the rock you are climbing, or the cracking sounds before an avalanche. Be careful. People march right pass that statement without really wrapping their head around it. This means to approach your environment with an active mind, focused and aware of what is going on. Most people are not in touch with their primal instincts.

If you genuinely feel something is unsafe, don’t do it. Whatever challenge you are facing, your life is worth a discussion (debate if need be) over logistics. Always consider the source of any advice you are given and don’t be afraid to take the long way around. If anyone gives you guff, you can always put some pebbles in a sock and beat them in their sleep. You can’t do this if you are dead or injured. I’ve lost friends to rock jumps, climbs and other stunts who did not take precautions before trying something. Nothing ends a trip quite like a life flight helicopter trip (that costs a pretty penny $$$).

Have a code of conduct with your group and make sure you know what the group personalities. Avoid traveling with impulsive, irresponsible, thrill seekers (AKA extreme sports people, no offense). These people can show you how to have a lot of fun but they also tend to be the ones who take unnecessary risks without mentioning that they expect you to carry them out when they break an arm or leg. Many of my friends are like this (who are probably offended by the statement), but the truth is, you are their survival plan. The clinical term for this phenomenon is called Common Outdoor Douchebaggery. They will have as much fun at your expense if they know you’ll bail them out. The reason they are your problem is because their injury threatens your well being too. Aside from ruining your trip, blood in the water/air attracts predators. Slowing down your pace also forces you to ration supplies.

This why it is always a good idea to injure your enemies. If they are compassionate and care for their wounded, you can slow them down, demoralize and defeat them. This is part of the psychological warfare made infamous in Viet Nam, and when your friends are doing stupid things to injure themselves, they are using it against you.

I’m a fairly active guy but lately I felt like I’ve been spending too much time at the desk and building quite the beer belly without the luxury of drinking beer. I’m fairly active and run  and lift weights in between boot camp fitness and pilates classes but in the past, I’ve been in far better shape. My girlfriend works at a hospital and wears a pedometer while running around at work. Every day she logs in about 5.5-6.5 miles at an insane walking pace (you practically have to jog to keep up with her walking pace) and I wanted to simply increase my physical output and log the results.

One week I decided I was going to make a change to my routine and add 30 miles of running, walking or swimming. I wanted to see the difference an added 30 miles would make in my weight and self image, without changing my diet (at first), trying some crazy concoction or anything else. I eat fairly well, no fast food or soda but I am not by any means a purist. I drink about a gallon or more of water each day and workout regularly, doing pilates and boot camp fitness twice a week. I hope to do this without the assistance of caffeine or other legal or illegal stimulants (joking) at all. My initial weigh in was 188 lbs strong- ooh rah!

My Workout Sessions and Habits

After a few weeks of journaling my experience I left out some important details about my routine that are important to know.

Treadmill

When I walk on the treadmill, I walk fast, at least at a 4.1 mph pace. That’s under a 15 minute mile pace. It is uncomfortable and challenging for me to keep that pace.

When I run/jog on the treadmill,  6.5 mph is the lowest speed I will go. I prefer to do stints of 7.5, 7 , 8 and 8.5 MPH

Elliptical

When I use the elliptical machine, I keep a pace of 7-8 RPM/MPH

Swimming

When I swim, I keep a constant speed and stroke. I don’t switch it up for the first mile/mile and  a half. I’ve never been on a swim team nor did I play water polo (but those will get you in shape fast so I encourage you to sign up) but I have taken swim classes. I was never able to establish a good pace until one day at the gym after working myself out to exhaustion. My muscles were to sore to power through my swim session, so I spent a Sunday focusing on synchronizing my stroke with my breath and nothing else. I was slow the first couple of times but quickly found my groove. Women probably have less of a problem finding their equilibrium in the pool than men. As with many activities, rock climbing, pilates and yoga, men try to power through motions and sacrifice stability and control. Swimming  is similar to those activities, such a long distance day in and day out requires more than brute force.

Hydration

I drink at least a gallon of water everyday. Sometimes, I fall behind and have to play catch up. I will admit that chugging a bunch of water will make you feel sick, ill and it is best to space out your H2O consumption. Drinking a gallon of water is my goal each day. When I need the electrolytes I’ll go for a Gatorade or Powerade. Powerade has less sugar. I try to avoid charging up on caffeine. It is an addictive stimulant and bad habit. The one day you try to workout without an energy drink, you will feel like everything is in slow motion. It is important to develop a natural understanding of your physical abilities and performance.

I have had my binges and stints on every drink or mix under the sun and I can tell you from experience, that there is no cheater’s way to true self-awareness or personal fulfillment. It feels far better to really do it yourself.

Gear

In the water

TYR Goggles- They’re a little pricy $15-$25 but they keep the water out of your eyes and won’t leave scarred outlines when you get out of the pool. I believe in buying good gear to eliminate excuses. There is no reason for you to walk away from a work out, especially when you have decent gear.

Jammers- If you are going to take swimming seriously, you will have to grab those butt hugging boxer brief style swimming jammers. I use Sugoi brand jammers ($30-$65) and have had them for far too long.

On the Run

On the feet-A $60 pair of Aisics that feel like a $50 dollar pair of shoes. They’re not that great but if I can get the job done in these, than upgrades will feel fabulous and empower me to go after world domination.

For My Tunes-iPod nano($150) +Nike arm band-($20) I use an older generation iPod Nano and will continue to use it until it tanks. I recommend buying an iPod on Craigslist. Apple cranks out a new model every 4 months with minor improvements and is worse than Microsoft, cell phone companies, and the people who make 12 versions of the same DVD combined. Buying used or orphaned (fell off the back of a truck and needs a home) iPods allows you to hold on to your hard earned cash. You don’t need to send Steve Jobs extra money.

In the ears-Sony sweat-resistant headphones $20-$25 – Emphasis on the sweat resistant and headphones. I destroy headphones with sweat and hate worrying about it. Furthermore, Ear buds do not stay in for long runs and they are quite annoying to put back in while running. Also, the new trend of these “Noise Eliminating” ear buds that are basically tiny sound drivers encapsulated by ear plugs, are hazardous to your health especially if you are running outside. You want to be able to faintly/somewhat hear screeching tires, sirens and horns on the street and the Rattlesnake and quadraped animals on the trail. Sprinting around deaf=bad idea and good way to get hurt.

iPhone 3GS-$100-300 (depending on deal and contract) I mention my iPhone because adding so many miles to a routine obviously takes me away from other things. I still have to be available to clients and phone calls. More importantly, I love listening to streaming programs like NPR and others to pass the time.

On the Wrist-Timex IronMan triathalon watch $35- this is the long way of saying/compensating for the fact that I bought a decent budget sport watch at Wal-Mart. It works and is an essential tool for any workout. I later found a better model on clearance at Target for $8.74. So shop around.

Here are my initial journal entries for the first few weeks.

Week 1

Week 1 Day 1

4 mile run @ 3PM with a full stomach. Now I remember why I don’t like to run on a full stomach. Fighting the urge to upchuck is never pleasant. Thankfully it didn’t come to that but it was a hard run in the heat.
About 1 mile in a 25 yard pool-32 laps  (1 Mile = 35.2 laps  Leave it to me to look this up after I finished swimming)
I didn’t quite make it to 6 miles on the first day, so I will have to make up for it. I hit the steam room as well and afterwords I felt amazing. My body was tired but my brain felt alive.

Week 1 Day 2
8 miles on the treadmill- This is harder than running outside and a different ball of wax. To me, running on the treadmill is a numbers game, where I find myself staring at a screen watching numbers pass and trying to zone out or focus on music. I’d rather run a trail but this gets the job done. At my gym, all the cardio machines have televisions, which is nice late at night…on an elliptical but watching a television while running makes me nauseous.

1 Mile+ in the pool -40 laps-All arms! (had to  make up for yesterday) I was worried that my legs would cramp up after running so far and immediately walking out to the pool so I let my feet rest and used just arms.
*Don’t try this at home kids! Running long distances and then jumping in the pool can earn you a full leg. That is serious business and you could easily drown. Note to self- more breaks and bananas.

Week 1 Day 3
1 mile in the pool 6 miles treadmill. I definitely rediscovering how to breathe when running at faster speeds. I normally jog with a friend outdoors or by myself all the time but at a slower pace. The treadmill makes it easy to train for wind sprints and to build speed.

Week 1 Day 4
3 elliptical 3 treadmill 1 mile pool. The elliptical feels like a cheat. While it’s low impact, it certainly easier on the lungs as well. I really have to push it to be huffing and puffing.

Week 1 Day 5 -
Rest

Week 1 Day 6 -
Rest

Week 1 Day 7
6 miles walk/run 1 mile in pool

The first week was really about seeing if I could meet my initial goal. The second week I will focus on establishing a pattern and habit and identifying weaknesses and problems.

Total: 34 Miles

Week 2

This is the week to focus on flaws and begin to make changes. I thought week 2 would be more about cracking down on diet and things but I had more obstacles in my way. I certainly ate better than last week, but being better than gross is an easy effort. The challenges that lay in the weeks ahead will require even more discipline.

This is also the final week of my boot camp and pilates classes, so I’ll have to plan to make up for those workouts in week 3 as well.

Weigh in: 185

Week 2 Day 1
I put in six miles on the elliptical and it was way too easy and seemed almost waste of time.  Logging a mile in the pool helped me feel worked out.

Week 2 Day2
2.5 miles on the elliptical, 3.5 mile walk

Week 2 Day 3
4mile run (in the heat 80+ degrees). Hot runs are challenging and it is important to stay hydrated. You can shed some serious water weight in the heat though. I sweat so much my nick-name in almost every fitness class /group activity is “Swamp Thing.” Subsequently, I also have the nick-name “Aqua Man,”  because I am constantly carrying a huge jug of water with me where ever I roam.

Week 2 Day 4
2 mile swim (new distance record for the pool) Still need to pick up some miles. I changed up my stroke to realize how week my inner and outer thighs were. I made a few notes to really begin weight training and doing leg work outs in week 3. I am the type to set lofty goals and attempt to do too much, so the challenge for me is to pace my development to create lasting habits. So I don’t attempt to immediately solve every problem the instant I identify it.

Week 2 Day 5
5 mile walk 1 mile swim – I weighed myself and noticed no change. I chalk it up to several things: too much walking not enough runs, not enough weight lifting, too many carbs in diet and not enough green veggies.  When you are low on groceries, it is quite easy to leave out produce and protein as they are often the first to be eaten, first to go bad, and more expensive than other foods that keep well. It’s funny how many carbs are left in the cupboards long after everything else is eaten. To compensate for my lack of proper nutrition I was also eating too much. I definitely need to make some changes.

Week 2 Day 6
I purchased some Dutch Chocolate, Iso-Pure protein powder on sale for $40 at GNC. It has been a while since I’ve had any kind of nutritional supplement and all I could remember about the brand is that it tastes the worst. I reviewed what I have done over the past few weeks and decided to crank up my running miles and swimming miles and use walking and the elliptical as a last resort (as opposed to first plan of attack) to getting the needed miles each day.

It’s important to drink plenty of water when you start adding in supplements, especially protein into the mix. The right amount of water will ensure that you don’t get sore, don’t fall asleep, and you don’t become dehydrated or sick. After chasing this program, I realized I was over indulging on opportunities to eat junk foods and not purchasing enough healthy foods. I remembered

Week 2 Day 7

I love this image and this completely captures my attitude and persona. Where have all the dragons gone? How far must I venture to find one. It is a sad, sad day when we can only slay metaphors.

First, let me clear the rumors. That is not a photo of me flying from the second story, through the air onto a pile of air mattresses. That is  my inner child and stunt double. I wrote a post earlier this week on thought2profit about things I did/do while under-employed. After writing the post, I found this photo. This photo reminds me of how positive and happy I should be with what I have not what I do not. We should all be so lucky to have so much free time and alcohol to do something so reckless, hilarious and fun. Feeling down about the economy and joblessness is a waste of time and a submissive response to world that would have you chained to a desk. This photo reminded me that there are opportunities and ways to make a living that don’t require 100% of my time.

The image makes me crack a mischievous, slightly withholding Chesire Cat smile. As dumb as it is, I think every guy who sees this photo would think ” hmmm… could be fun..”These are the things we do when we feel free.

The thought makes me wonder, Why do I look at this with eagerness and want? Am I not free? Am I neglecting my inner child? Out of the many things I’ve done in the lull of the past year, I realize that my inner child has been neglected. I have not played as I should have, else you’d be looking at an incriminating picture of me. This photo inspires me. I can’t wait to play, let loose and really live. I am glad I can get so much from some random Internet picture.

I look at this picture and think of the quote from the movie, Little Miss Sunshine; ” You do what you love, and fuck the rest.” This photo also reminds me of the many times I have almost died doing exciting and fun things. It reminds me of taking 1 too many risks that landed me bankrupt. It reminds me of the times when I have been deathly ill and struggled with chronic conditions. It reminds me of my friends and family who have been through the same. There is so much love for life and excitement here. I’ll take more of that…and fuck the rest.

If you’d like to read the original post 36 Things I Did While Funder-Employed, Click here.

36 Things I Did While Funder-Employed