BJ Not BK

Yesterday I was afforded the luxury of joining my Aunt for a hike in the Great Smoky Mountains National Forest. The weather was beautiful, about 45 degrees when we started, the sun was out, the air was crisp, and the leaves were magnificent. My Aunt picked the Grapevine Ridge Trail for us which was fine with me as I had never hiked this one before. The trail head begins in Greenbrier at the Ranger Station and is roughly 8 miles or so one way. Our plan was simple, we parked a car at the beginning and the end so that we wouldn't have to retrace our steps or walk our way back down the road to our cars. The hike was one of the best I have done for several reasons. Greenbrier use to be a community of farms, homes, school, and church before the National Park Services came in and purchased the land. My Great Grandmother was raised in Greenbrier, was saved and Baptized at the Freedom Baptist Church in Greenbrier, and several of her family members are buried at one of the cemeteries in Greenbrier...

When I was thirteen my dad enrolled me into my cousin's taekwondo school. There is where I met Mr. Griggs. Mr. Griggs was co-owner of V.T.K.C. (Volunteer Taekwondo Karate Center), was one of the head black belt instructors, one of my cousin's best friends, and a great guy with a gentle spirit. He encouraged me as a young man not only in martial arts but in life as well. Yesterday I received a call from my Uncle that Mr. Grigss had passed away. I hadn't seen Mr. Grigss for nearly 20 years yet my mind recalled him clear as day. This morning I humbly bow in honor and memory of you Mr. Griggs [ link ].

Have you noticed the recent barrage of violence within families recently? Kidnappings, killings, suicides 356,891,234 this year already and those are just in the NFL and NBA. Has this always been the case? Has there always been a rash of husbands killing their pregnant wives, father's killing their children, mother's leaving their kids in hot cars? Is this recent uptick just a renewed focus of the media on such subjects or are we really seeing an increase? Is it steroids? Pornography? Violence on Television? What say you? Come here tomorrow for answers.

I came across this movie the other day and had to share it with you. The title of the file is "One Word" and was created by Chelsea Moore 17 of Tennessee. The film is short but very cool [ link ] about 60 seconds. The concept is also simple but great. If you could pick one word to define you, to be your charge, to guide and then live that word out what would it be? Here are a few I thought of for myself - laughter, warm, close By the way...Chelsea was honored in New York City as one of nine winners of an international film making contest for 16- to 25-year-olds, she is 17, and she is home schooled. What is your word?

Another week gone, and another series of posts handed over in triplicate to the folks at iron mountain to be hauled via armored car to the hillside bunker for safe keeping. I am told that the caravan will have two three eyed, yak pups from Uganda in tow because everyone knows that not even an extremist would dare harm the three eyed, yak pups from Uganda. Just for safe measure I have also duct taped 5 spotted owls, a baby seal, and a humback whale to the roof of the armored car. 1. Friday is for photos: The first picture is of me supporting subsidized art....man my back is really getting tired of carrying this worn out culture! The next picture is of my little girl enjoying our recent vacation. What a ham! If you like great photography make sure to visit Steve Mckoy's Friday photos here [ link ] and Joe Thorn's here [ link ]. Want to see your photo published here? Submit all family friendly photos to bjnotbk@gmail.com for consideration. Please note that I reserve the right to publish...

Green blah blah blah, eco yada yada yada, nature do do do, mother earth....whatever. I am all for taking care of God's creation but this extreme focus on the environment bores me to tears. I say let's really get militant on the environment but not as it relates to nature. How about an environmental movement that focuses on the one environment that matters most....the family. Why not a global concert for families? For men to be men, to step up and to stand out. For men to be fathers to lead their families. Why not a women's movement that praised and supports women for raising their children instead of degrading them? The last thing I care about is Kanye West rapping with the Police to save the Swahili, swamp nut grub that is endangered. I am more worried about the kid who is angry, hurt, unloved, abused, neglected than I am about the spotted owl, or an acre of frozen tundra in Alaska. If we save the natural environment under the guise of "leaving our children an inheritance"...