Friends

How to Win Friends and Influence People (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Mother(feplicitiveer) what you mean you ain’t having no more surgeries!  He yelled at Conrad one early morning.  He was a Banshee from New Orleans screaming at him.  The irony was deafening.  They had just battled a dragon together along with RudeDog.  These three musketeers on one last quest together.  Before things began to change.

They had ridden their steeds across the land of Tennessee.  A joyous trip to launch Conrad into the vows of marriage.  Before he could enter those vows he had to prove his love by slaying that dragon.  The dangers were many, the tales legendary, and the adventure served to solidify the bonds of friendship amongst them.  In less than 2 years only one would remain.  This story began when facing another pacemaker replacement.

“The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, not the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when you discover that someone believes in you and is willing to trust you with a friendship.”  Ralph Waldo Emerson

Death is a heck of an enemy.

Some truths are harder to accept than others

Been thinking about how or what I would say about friends.  I know a LOT about what it is like to HAVE good friends.  Very little to say about what it means to BE a good friend.  Originally this was going to be a story of some of the many adventures I’ve had with my friends.  Sometimes the reminiscing is to hard, especially for a guy with no tear ducts.

I realize at this moment (march 8th 2012 arkansas) that my doorbell has rarely ever rang over the years.  Most the people I see, require me to ring their bell.  I’m starting to realize that I’m a really crappy friend who managed to somehow bully some pretty spectacular people into being my friend for long pieces of time over the years.

My prayer is that I fulfill the duty of being one to encourage others.  The bible mentions this as a gift and if I could pick one I would love to pick that one.  Not that performing healing miracles and some other gifts wouldn’t be equally wonderful.  It is just that in my mind I have no skills, or gifts.  That particular gift I could see how one could do and it appeals to my senses. The question is; Do I actually provide this service to anyone I know?

My tone is another thing.  How does one change their tone when you don’t hear yourself like others hear you, and you don’t sound like what you sound like in your head?  Especially if everything you say comes across as harsh or hurtful?  Or just plain rude?

What do you do when you realize how harsh you must have seemed to so many for so long and aren’t sure what to do about it?  I got on three subscriptions to LIFE and began studying as much as I could to improve.    Just didn’t know what I didn’t know.  Even still all I can recognize is the shortcomings I have, and how patient and wonderful my friends have been to accept me when I did ring their bell over the years.

I think about how many people I know who do so much good for me and it seems illogical to assume they they all did those wonderful things for so long out of any sense of duty.  So where are they all at?  What happens when you have kids and we all get busy that for some reason our relationships with others falls apart?  Are friendships then lost?  Do they morph into something different?  Or did people just decide they didn’t want me around their kids?  I could believe that.  I’ve been a little on the rough side to deal with.

When I learned that someday I would get to share stories about friends I got so excited!  I’ve had friends who have helped me move dozens of times.  I have friends who have travelled thousands of miles to see me get married.  I have friends who have travelled hundreds of miles to pick me up when I am broke down.  I have had friends who remembered every birthday and every anniversary.  I’ve had friends who have opened their home to me to come in eat all their food, love them my own special way, and leave them saying.  “Its’ just the way he is; you have to understand.  He isn’t as bad as he seems ” generally to a spouse or significant other.  I’ve slept on a lot of couches and floors.  Eaten a lot of wonderful food.  Cooked a few meals in exchange.  Been loved mightily.  So I thought I must know a thing or two about friends right?

I’ never seem to know exactly how to pay people back for those amazing things.  How to say thanks?  With as many examples of how to be a good friend one would think that you would pick up on some clues every now and then.  Despite corporate personality training I never seemed to learn to apply communicated needs identified by the things people do for others.  Generally what they are saying is what they need or want from others.  Love languages and learning Personality Plus I am gaining insight onto some of my friends that wasn’t there before.  I never was very good at remembering or bothering to remember my friends birthdays.  Never have sent an anniversary card.  I’ve never helped anyone else move.  Never been there for the birth of a baby.  Though now with Facebook I know when everyones birthday is, or when their anniversary and that morning can send them a happy birthday hello or happy anniversary or congratulations if I log in.  Not quite the same as a pre thought out card or gift though is it?

I have a great friend and a super mom and wife lives in Nebraska who told me how she used to send letters to all these people that she had known over the years.  I was so sick and cynical that I convinced her that people didn’t really care about her and that she was just being selfish and interjecting her life into others without their responding.  I thought it absurd.  Now how I wish I would have sought to emulate her instead of convincing her I was right.  In fact in “How to Win Friends and Influence People” Dale Carnegie highly recommends doing just that very thing to let people know they are loved and thought of.

How sick is that thinking?  That people don’t want to hear from others and that to remember others is simply to push yourself upon them.  Now you know why I invest in changing my thinking and recommend you do the same.  Why wouldn’t people want to hear from old friends and be made to feel like they were remembered too?  Especially if you don’t get to see each other all the time.

I enjoy facebooks potential.  I think it has a lot of great ability to provide some means of staying in touch with friends but the same rules apply.  You have to give your friends attention.  The challenge comes when you have to begin choosing which friends to give attention each day out of all the friends you have.  Where if you sent them a letter once a year telling them qualities you liked about them and why you thought of them and shared a little about what you were up to wouldn’t be worth the time.  Right?  Or am I wrong?

So sitting here imagining our future as policy council members of LIFE I am surrounded by people whose birthdays I remember.  Whose nieces nephews and whole family know me and I’ve heard tons of stories about them all.

11 “You get what you give.”

Here’s a situation.  A friend wouldn’t go to a concert because the group, who he knew and had shared in other events, bought tickets and didn’t invite him.  Who is right?  The friend who sees it as an insult to not be invited or the friend who didn’t invite him and didn’t think of him as a friend in a spur of the moment decision?  In the offended persons view, the person doesn’t see himself as included, therefore justified in his hurt.  In the groups opinion, perhaps this person hasn’t learned the Art and Science of Friendship.

In Resolved Orrin Woodward talks about Resolving to learn the art and science of friendship.  “Any man is considered blessed if he has a couple of true friends who can be counted on in both prosperity and adversity.”  I wrotne; I’ve been so blessed to have these kinds of friends and help see them through to the other side.  They cannot be replace?  They can however; be added to by making additional friends and forging tigher bonds with the friends still alive.  More important is to BE one of these friends.

Some other thoughts from Resolved.  “friends aren’t competitors, but huge fans and encouragers of one another.”  I know there has been times I’ve had bouts of jealousy as I’ve seen my friends succeed in endeavors I have not.  Fail!

“A true friend helps his friend win his battle of the mind through loaning his friend his positive belief.”  Maybe I got a C in this category.  Really I think I’ve visited my friends as they lay dying of cancer to gain strength from them.  Sometimes I feel like a vampire, sucking life out of the dying to keep going.  I remember visiting my friend Wendell while he lay dying of lung cancer, an old biker and funny guy with an amazing history and vast mind, the last time I saw him he said “I hoped I’d be dead before you got here.”  I’m hoping that was because he didn’t want me to see him sick, rather than he didn’t want to have to see me before he died.  What a horrible thought, to think that a person didn’t want to see you before they died because they truly didn’t want to see you.  I remember praying as he lay there, and not praying that he would die but praying that he would let go.  That he would know it was ok to go on.  I never once encouraged him to fight, more so to let go.  Probably from my own inner desire to be released from life on planet earth.

It isn’t my goal to brag on visiting the sick, or being around people who die, in fact it seems that throughout my life I’ve been like a grim reaper.  I remember having a great uncle who lived down the street and going to see him, after having walked by his place hundreds of times and never stopping, only to hear of his death a short few days later.  Same thing has happened other times in life.  The saddest of which was when I last saw my friend Aaron.  He asked me to come out with him, and I refused.  Said I’ll see you later.  I wonder if he wasn’t reaching out to me knowing something was coming.  Death seems to let people know it is coming in their life before it takes them.  He died in a collision with a train about 2 weeks later.  He was 19.

Two weeks later another friend, who had run around a lot with Aaron and I died in a car crash.  In fact that summer 9 kids from the area I grew up in died.  Losing close friends like Aaron especially was hard and made the prospect of making new friends something I avoided in order to avoid the pain of loss when they go.

This wouldn’t be so bad if it wasn’t for living a life that was supposed to end early.  Instead I continue to be blessed with a long life.  34 may not seem like a long time to many, but as I write this it feels pretty long when your whole life was lived as though it could, and should end any moment.  To then go through life losing people around you as you continue to live a life you weren’t supposed to get can be full of cruel irony at times.  I once had an amazing friend, one of the ones who helped me move a dozen times, and would have helped me move a body, told me I’d be cursed to live to be an old man.  I’m beginning to believe he was correct.

Here’s a funny story about friends.  Two friends are sitting around, one is telling the other all about his new women in his life.  How great she is and how excited he is.  He mentions her birthday and says; “It’ll be easy to remember because it is the same as my granddaughters!”  His friend looks at him and says; “what if you don’t like your granddaughter?”

Some people hear that and don’t see the humor in it.  Others hear that and think, what sicko would say something like that about anybodies granddaughter.  The sickest part is that’s a true story.  Even worse, I’m the sicko who asked “what if you don’t like your granddaughter?”  I really have to wonder why my phone doesn’t ring and my doorbell stays silent?  Someday I’ll learn this art and science.

“True friends accept one another.”  Part 2 in Resolved to learn the art and science of friendship; thank goodness for this truth existed in my friends.  They accepted me despite my many, many, many faults.  “It is only when a person is accepted as he is, that he is freed to become what he desired to be.”  I wonder now if those who have gone before me, those friends I have waiting on the other side would be cheering me on and joining me in my quest for excellence, and true freedom?  Would I alienate them as I have some of the other friends of late in this quest?

Really the LIFE business is just what many of my friends asked for.  It represents what I spent my mental energy on after giving up my employment for the government dole.  A way that friends can join together and help raise one another to new heights of accomplishment, all while generating more income than they ever thought possible, simply by taking the time to read and enjoy their lives to the fullest, going out an making more friends.  So where did I go so wrong in the beginning that all the people who I first shared this concept with seem to no longer be my friends?  Were they really all just hounddogs sitting on a nail that hurt bad enough to holler but not bad enough to do anything about it?  Or is it that none of them thought enough of me to want to be in business with me?  Truly my intentions were to simply find a way to return all the kindness extended to me over the years, through the surgeries, moves, struggles, wins, and worries that life tends to bring our way.

According to the Mental Fitness Challenge self assessment friendship is my weakest area and the one most in need of improving.  So perhaps in writing this some of the people who can recognize themselves in here as those who have loved and accepted me despite my faults will take the time to assess me as well.  Providing me with feedback needed to grow and improve in my abilities to be a friend to them.  Perhaps they will themselves find out where they can improve so they too can seek a life excellently lived.  Perhaps together we can live the lives we have always wanted, and maintain and strengthen our bonds.

I’m going to finish this little tale with another story;

A water bearer in China had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck.  One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.  At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.  For a full two years this went on daily, with the water bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made.  but the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection.  And miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.  “I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you.  I have been able to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.  Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don’t get full value from your efforts,” the pot said.

The bearer said to the pot, “did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side?  That’s because I have always known about your flaw.  So I planted flower seeds on your sid of the path and every day while we walk back, you’ve watered them.  For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table.  Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.”

So to all my friends I thank you for carrying the full load of our friendship.  I hope that this cracked pot has been able to water a few flowers of memories through the years for you to enjoy.  May you live long and prosper and may I be there to cheer you on throughout your many successes in life.

Sincerely;

Me.

The process of self evalution is never an easy thing

Macro flower experiment (Photo credit: @Doug88888)

The process of self evaluation is never an easy process. Ugly truths must be faced in order to truly get to root causes, and therefore improve behavior to be more Christ like. While we all know that perfection is unattainable, the ability to better oneself seems to be forgotten as universally as the acceptance of ones flawed status in the world. I seem to have been blessed with an abundance of self analytical behavior. It is what made me enjoy analytical positions such as night audit for hotels, or finding financial clues to improving agent performance at Penske. So after finding out about the impending birth of who would be known as Roland Christopher, I began a full-scale life assessment tying in fatherhood and what truth I wanted to teach that yet unborn child to all my knowledge, experience, education and everything I could get a-hold of. This seems so big of a concept to put down on paper, the undertaking of going through your entire existence and all your beliefs with fresh eyes. Yet I don’t know that there has been a day in my life prior that I didn’t work on some part of this analysis. This time it was different though, bigger, harder, more in-depth. I also had more time to give to its task.

I now lived at a time when information was unlimited in its variety of beliefs and its availability. This reality created the duress that I still feel in regards to the future I am bringing my son into. I finally understand what Jackie Dale meant by “It’s your world son I’m just living in it.” It really is my sons world, I’m just living in it, but by doing so, and what I believe Jack was hinting at but I didn’t quit grasp because of my inability to pick up on subtle hints, is that I had the ability to impact that world I was living in. The unfortunate paradox to that is I can as easily be impacted by the world. So how do I raise my child to understand that he does not have to be a part of the world. Yet he who stands on the sidelines and works not is aiding the enemy. Today I do my part and write it down here, hoping one day he will read it and understand. I want him involved with the affairs of men only to ensure that there are honest men involved. Yet I don’t know how to ensure he becomes an honest man. I question my own honesty; in the face of today’s realities that I still participate in the basic functioning of society is a miracle in either faith or ignorance. It is the fact that I have a child that I find faith in tomorrow.

Tomorrow, imagining it, let alone trying to inscribe it in words, feels unattainable. Not because it can’t be seen or described but only because there are so many potentials right now that have never existed before. It reminds me of a laser light show of spiraling colors all around a central point, man, not necessarily in the masculine sense but more in the sense of as a species. He, his choice is the center-point, as more and more come together and agree on a particular path, somehow that path clears up to them and they go to it just, poof, there. Yet we aren’t there yet, not quite in tomorrow, ever. “Someday Never Comes” seems appropriate here. It appears to me that people just get to a point in the changing world and just quit. The type of clothes they wear, the way they cut their hair, the music they listen to, the books they read etc. etc. all stuck in a timeframe that they see as better, usually found around the time they stopped moving forward. I find myself at an impasse in the technology of today where it moves so rapidly that keeping up seems almost impossible. Sheer cost of entry bars discovery of most new products to the marketplace so the average consumer is forced to keep himself three to five years behind in technology in order to afford its luxury. Luckily industry tends to stay at that slow speed as well, if not even slower because of similar factors.

OK I’m getting you confused again I apologize. Let me break it down in to the traditional formats we are trained to understand in school.

1. Develop an objective
2. Review the facts, or analysis
3. Form a hypothesis, or a plan
4. Experiment or execute the plan

This is a generic rendition of what is required but gives you a basic breakdown we can begin to work with. I had the objective of “developing a list of truths to teach my son. While developing these truths I must find a way to reconcile or replace the belief that a person must do some kind of work to earn food, shelter, etc.” It seemed so simple, but I’ve never done anything simple. I’ll complicate a bologna sandwich just to make it seem more significant I guess. So I began assembling information, for analysis. Not just of myself, but of the government, the political structure, the economy, education, higher education, everything. Business, future, past, present, not just analyzing what I thought of those things but taking what I thought were my beliefs and reassessing them along these major themes. Searching for the world picture I wanted my son to believe in.

Even in the business world this fact gathering analysis phase never really stops. Dozens of positions exist in corporate organisms whose sole responsibility it is to analyze the competition, government, customers, internal moral audits, all done to allow the decision makers to make the decisions they think will be good for the corporate interests. Defining your corporations’ interests and disseminating that through the ranks is hard. Especially if your corporations’ interests are not in line with the image they are presenting. If a company brags about its ability to retain employees for long periods of time, but makes decisions directed toward being sold to a larger firm for example would not be living by its perceived values. As a person I must live the values I want to instill in my child, making decisions that are in agreement with those values.

Because of the need for values based actions and decision making the analysis phase requires a lot of self-assessment. However I need to ensure I am looking at the information through my sons eyes. What truth will exist for him? What will his environment look like? While I can’t know everything I can gain a certain amount of insight just in looking at birth trends and trends in ageing. What directions our government is pursuing. What countries and areas will be rich with opportunity in the future? Looking at the facts that exist today I can determine a “Hypothesis” about some things. Haiti will be a place rich in opportunity if those in charge of all the money that is being raised for it utilizes it effectively. If it continues to be a method of funneling money into insiders pockets at the expense of the people of Haiti, then it may be a place rich in need into the next three decades. If Haiti embraces a system of sustainability, economic equality, and educational advancement then they may grow fusing all we know today into their culture. What a perfect place to rebuild in a model designed to encourage a society of the future. Or experiment. Now Haiti happened long after I had been fully immersed in the analysis phase of my life, and the life I was about to be put in charge of shaping. However it represents where the trends are heading. It must be accepted that certain things will change in the world around you, you are a catalyst of vast amounts of change potential, but some things should be anticipated or worked toward for your own advantage. So will the people of Haiti rebuild their country the same way? Or will they come up with a new way. A way that works for Haiti and her people. Or will they become something else? Or maybe they won’t change at all. What will America do? What are her choices? What trends is she leaning towards? World wide what are the trends? I have thought for years the world will be segmented the way the US was in the future. Countries will represent types of work, or companies’ existing within countries the way the US was geographically segmented. Furniture and clothing in the South East. Manufacturing food production in the upper Midwest. Steel States. Tourist States, Natural Resource States, New science West Coast. We now see countries going this route. Countries rich in natural resources such as the Oil rich middle east. Or the manufacturing rich China. Thinking globally is a reality in his future. The world will be a smaller place even more unimaginably smaller than it is today. If the internet is allowed to thrive and prosper. We are currently seeing a lot of countries taking down sites that promote free thinking and free thought, such as Google in China or Tehran. If our government does the same then the world may be much bigger. More segmented, fractured with make believe differences rather than linked in commonality of humanness.

I’ve realized in my journey toward sustainability that what we are taught earliest tends to be the beliefs we continue to hold deep down in adulthood. So if we teach our children that there are no opportunities, that life is tough, then they will believe that. If we teach them the world is full of opportunities and good things, they will believe that. If you lie, or don’t teach them, they will make their own decisions which will probably come from something very hard to deal with and cause a lot of wasted effort on their part.

My conclusion is that Jesus is still the savior, but that our understanding of how God works in our lives continues to change. I believe God made man a sustainable entity directly connected to the environment we live in. God’s presence is also in everything we are connected to, including time. One of the difficulties with this mindset is the academic crowd tends to forsake God in the development of new technology, scientific breakthroughs and new lines of thinking. “Christians” and other religions tend to get marred in doctrine rather than biblical text. The lost get even more lost somewhere in the middle. Neither side is willing to work towards acceptable compromises in belief systems. Haiti, she’ll be a ruin for 3 generations because greed will keep her corrupt and the people don’t yet have a leader to set them free. America will fall into something new and Americans will have a shift in their reality.

Related articles

• Haiti Unprepared in the Face of Resurgent Cholera | Common Dreams (rapadoo.com)
• Haiti’s Hotel Boom: Only for the Rich | World | AlterNet (rapadoo.com)
• Haiti Rebranding itself as Tourism Destination (repeatingislands.com)
• Peter Thiel’s CS183: Startup – Class 11 Notes Essay (blakemasters.tumblr.com)

Sustainability; Character or Selfishness.

Character;

It’s a wonderful feeling being financially free enough to not have to go to work on a Monday morning.  Especially with the attitude of “I hate Mondays” being the predominant start of most peoples week.  I don’t miss that, though all I have to do is log onto Facebook to find a plethora of I hate Monday slogans.

Of course it’s easy for me to sit here, in beautiful Costa Rica enjoying the birds, and sunshine and discuss how great Life is.  What I don’t get is that it could be easy for a lot of people to do the same.  No it wouldn’t be easy for many to receive income the way I do, through disability, I don’t think many want to go through three open heart surgeries to get where I am, but they could save their money.  Or start their own business.

What about starting my own business though?  I’m in this crux of a situation.  I could stay here in Costa Rica, live in the mountains on an organic farm and never worry about money again.  Or take full advantage of LIFE the business, and what it is offering and re-earn my freedom to come back to Costa Rica, truly free.

See I’m not really free, I have to wonder whether or not other people are going to make decisions that will ensure my income keeps coming in.  I saw in the news recently that the expectation is disability will be bankrupt by 2016.  That’s only 4 more years!  One presidential cycle.

Not only should I be concerned with the financial health of my “retirement” there is a little something called Character, that keeps chomping to mind and telling me I can do something else.  I can go out and run my own business, and successfully get myself off of disability and be a solution, rather than a problem.  Sure everyone tells me that “disability is there for people like you to take care of you” really I just want the ability to take care of myself to be self-sustainable.  Not only that, but knowing there is a business I could operate that fits my passions, aligns with my purpose, and would allow me to utilize my God given talents, if I didn’t go do it, wouldn’t I be just like all the people we complain about who abuse the system?  The ones who sit on disability knowing they could really work.  I can really do this business, I just need 1 to go do the work, and 2 learn how to be a better person.

That’s the challenge right there.  Becoming a better person, a person with a higher level of Character.  Now I am a character, for sure, I’m Conrad Von Supertramp, but that’s not quite what we’re talking about.

This week, during the Mental Fitness Challenge, we are working on Character.  Resolving to choose character of reputation any time the two conflict.

“The greatest crisis in America is a crisis of leadership and the greatest crisis of leadership is a crisis of character.”  Howard Hendricks.

In his book Resolved 13 Resolutions for Life, best selling author and #6 Leadership guru Orrin Woodward describes character this way.  “Character moves beyond integrity, requiring courage to fulfill its high calling.  Integrity is not doing wrong, while character is doing what’s right.  He then uses an example of a boy being bullied, another kid doesn’t bully, which means he has integrity, but he doesn’t stop the bullying either.  Which is lack of character.  So knowing that not only I but all “disabled” people could operate this business called “LIFE” but not doing it would maybe mean I have integrity, but not Character, because I wouldn’t be acting courageously enough to get out there and overcome my fears.

I will admit, living in chronic pain, and living a life that doesn’t reflect with the average 30 year old male makes relatability challenging sometimes.

“Hey Conrad me and the guys are gonna go play basketball tonight, wanna come?”  Robert asks.

Now comes the part Conrad hates the most.  “I can’t”  Not that he doesn’t want to, but that physically isn’t able to keep up enough.  The admission of that, hurts, the pain of not being able to do something stinks to admit it.  Whether your just out of shape, or physically unable, having to say No I can’t to something stinks.  I’m a can I can do!  So how does one overcome this?  How does this fit in with character?  Overcoming this attitude is where my fear lies.

In order to be a leader, character is a must!  In order to be successful in any business one must have the ability to lead others.  Can a person like me, un-relatable as I am find success in their own business?  It isn’t so much a challenge of the doing of an activity, it is a matter of tolerating “healthy” people who aren’t willing to put forth what is seen as an equal effort.

My character says I should do more, try harder, push longer, but my health says, whoa partner, slow down, take it easy, rest for a while.  Enjoy life and the blessings that come with it.  Find joy in the simple act of being alive.  By doing so sustain my own life, power, food, water etc.

Am I a hypocrite?  Am I a fake?  Do I really want to serve others?  It would be great to be allowed the opportunity to encourage healthy people to do more.  To encourage sick people to do more.  Would it be easy though?  NO that  I know for sure.  Somewhere in there I have to learn to put others first.  To become relatable.  To overcome the dents in my character.

John Wooden says, Never Lie, Never Cheat, Never Steal.  Three great concepts but unfortunately many people don’t actually follow them.  I’ve unfortunately done all three of those things in my life.  Do I really believe that I have the resolve to improve myself enough that others would be willing to allow me to serve them?

If I don’t build my own business am I lying about being disabled?  If I’m lying about that wouldn’t I be cheating the system?  If I’m cheating the system wouldn’t I be stealing from others efforts?

Balance of Sustainability (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

So, stay in Costa Rica, serve a small community, build a sustainable community, grow my own food, healthy living etc. while America falls into an abyss.  Or sacrifice the pleasure and joy of living on a mountain, near the ocean in a tropical environment to return to America for the express purpose of finding people willing to allow me to provide a service to them.  Sustainable community is where my dreams led me, but there seems to be more that could be done.

“It is not that one ought not to do just what one pleases; it is simply that one cannot do other than what each of us has to do, has to be. The only way out is to refuse to do what has to be done, but this does not set us free to do something else just because it pleases us. In this matter we only possess a negative freedom of will, a noluntas. We can quite well turn away from our true destiny, but only to fall a prisoner in the deeper dungeons of our destiny. … Theoretic truths not only are disputable, but their whole meaning and force lie in their being disputed, they spring from discussion. They live as long as they are discussed, and they are made exclusively for discussion. But destiny — what from a vital point of view one has to be or has not to be — is not discussed, it is either accepted or rejected. If we accept it, we are genuine; if not, we are the negation, the falsification of ourselves. Destiny does not consist in what we feel we should like to do; rather is it recognised in its clear features in the consciousness that we must do what we do not feel like doing.”  Jose Ortega y Gasset

I can promise you I don’t feel like moving back to US.  I don’t feel like putting myself out there to the world to accept or reject.  So to live with character would mean to do just that?  To fulfill a purpose greater than what I really want.  I just want simplicity, ease of living in a comfortable place.  However; in that simplicity sustainability is my goal/dream.  To be self sufficient.  Is that enough?  Is learning and applying the knowledge of self sustaining life enough of a challenge, for not only myself but others enough to live up to the character of a person who is living their destiny rather than negating it?

Jose Ortega y Gasset also said “Abasement, degradation is simply the manner of life of the man who has refused to be what it is his duty to be.”

What is my duty?  To God, self, family and world.  It is challenging to put duty to country in an age when my country is doing things against its’ own best long-term interests and citizens.  Even more so against true freedom.

So again, is being sustainable a large enough duty, enough of a service to others?  It will definitely pile up duties and obligations.  Is being sustainable having integrity, not participating in the bullying system of food and life currently taking place, or does it include character by taking action to produce something better?

At this point I’ll leave the question to my readers, and present them with a challenge.  Take the 90 day mental fitness challenge and decide in your own life; are you piling up duties on your character?  Are you challenging yourself to do more for the greater good?

Goals Check

Dreams come to light in the horizon of the mind.

Write a book that changed the world.  Check

Start a sustainable business that I could do from anywhere.  Check

Build a spaceship and fly into outer space.  Um… ok there are some missing steps here.

That was basically the plan a few years ago.  Today living in Costa Rica it is amazing how plans and goal setting can lead you to a dream.

What happens when the dream melts?  You know the feeling, your half asleep half awake in that perfect dream state of cognizant dreaming, then the neighbors dog starts barking and wakes you up.  You try to get back to the dream but it is lost, gone back into the recesses of your subconscious mind.  Perhaps gone forever.

What about the dreams of the person awake?

“All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible.”
T. E. Lawrence
Read more athttp://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_dreams.html#DvuTVFMlKg2mKgfb.99

“I’m a dangerous man” Conrad says staring off into the sunrise.

It seemed like a good lark for a while to dream of flying off into a black hole just to see what happens.  Now it is muddled and murky in the process of becoming a reality.  Is this what Orrin Woodward and Chris Brady meant in Launching a Leadership Revolution that a Level 5 leader “The vision and the leader become intertwinde”?

It isn’t that dreams or goals for yourself or your organization lose their clarity, but at some point the steps between A and B goals have to be crystalized.  It isn’t that the big goal, the long-term vision, or key to wealth isn’t worthwhile.  It is that you get to the point of making it happen and must then begin to see the steps you must walk up to get to where you want to go.  Somehow you as an individual are then lost in the process.  Many times having to actually step aside in order to allow the other leaders on your team to run the ball to the goal line.  That intertwining process forces you to lose your ego, and melt into the vision just like the waking dream melts back into your subconscious.

The struggles and pain of walking all those stairs faces you.  All that comes to mind is the scene in When Nature Calls with Jim Carrey, or perhaps Kung-Fu Panda.  When a person or cartoon, must climb a LONG way up to be around the people at the top who have all the answers.  What is so funny is most the time the people at the top only have more questions.  Could be why so many great sales books focus on the art of asking questions.  What did it take for Jim Carrey to become a millionaire actor instead of a broke comedian?  Dreams.  He climbed to the Hollywood sign and imagined himself a famous actor getting paid millions to perform.  Did he have to look a little funny to do it?  Uh, Yeah he made comedies!  In the process he also was able to give us great dramatic roles as well.

So what are the steps between telling stories about your  life and somehow having enough influence to build an open source spaceship that has a downloaded brain on-board to send feadback to the world from the neither regions of space in a more human form?  Well so maybe that isn’t your dream but whatever your dream is do you see the steps?  Are you keeping score to get there?

Its hut 1 its hut 2 Power Player.  Songs, motivations other peoples thoughts and ideas flood my mind.  Sometimes it seemed easier to dream a big dream when I didn’t have a clear path to get me there.  With the LIFE business opportunity and the TEAM training system I can now see the work that must be done for my goals.

What stairs do you need to climb?  What steps must you take each day to hit your crazy dream.  The bible says “go ahead fold your hands, take a nap, and you will wake up in poverty”  So don’t hit the snooze button and try to get the dream back from your mind in the dusty recesses.  Bring it forth into the morning light, shout the dream to the dog that woke you up and tell it to him.  Don’t worry that the life you see for yourself seems like a fiction novel, write the story of your future anyway.

Somehow all these little blogs and ramblings are going to culminate in the first ever success novel.  A fictional autobiographical choose your own adventure success novel.  All one can do when they realize how crazy they might sound is shake their head and wonder just what exactly GOD has in mind for us, then get busy doing it.

So as usual what are you going to do today to make  your dreams come true?  What will you do to take your conscious mind into the recesses of your subconscious mind and drag the dreams out into the light?  If you don’t you run the risk that they may never see the light of day.  Or, even worse, someone else will tap into the universal collective of potential opportunities and accomplish it before you?  Which would be a harder day to wake up to?

This is Conrad Von Supertramp, just taking a moment to question the Universe and solidify some dreams in my quest for an excellent Life.

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Carol McCool and her Costa Rican Time Machine

Adventures of Conrad Von Supertramp; Quest For Excellence

Carol McCool and her Costa Rican TIme Machine

BY

Conrad Von Supertramp

We hopped into Miss Carol McCools time machine and headed out to Sunrise Mountain Farm.  Today was the day we headed to the farm.  We were so glad to finally see the property where we would be heaping to build the dream community of the future.  Reading the Magic of Thinking Big on the way.  It was always a gut check to know that even though I prided myself on being a big thinker I was limiting myself in a lot of ways.  The duality of understanding what I really wanted my elephant to charge toward really means I have yet to clarify my goals and dreams..  Sad thing is; I can drive my dream machine to lots of different things; but seem to continue to confuse both my Ant and my Elephant.

Carol; a writer dream weaver had spent a lot of love on the farm we were headed to.  We could tell that she had high dreams and high hopes to accomplish a lot with her beautiful peace of property.  She had been through a lot to maintain it and ensure she could one day live on it.  I have had the blessing of being able to read the stories about Sunrise Mountain Farm beginnings in an anthology of Costa Rica she and other expats wrote.  A peacemaker she maintains a highly active lifestyle with writing groups, peace groups, and others.  I can’t help but be selfish and think about what a terrific asset she would be to my TEAM.  What does she want?  Land that surrounds her property, her home of bamboo built, and a community to share her farm with.  How can a newby in the Leadership industry; where service comes first help her get what she wants through the Life opportunity?  Man up and at least show her the plan!

Along the way we traveled back into the past of the campesinos; the local indigenous people of Costa Rica.  We saw some of their communities in the mountains, beautiful little concrete block homes.  Makes me excited about the potential of ferrocement.

The entire trip seemed like we were in a constant mountain climb.  Luckily the time machine travelled smoothly up the roads; along with the cars and buses, but the surrounding landscape slowly begins to change.  The destruction of forrest for the use of cattle took place before our very eyes.  A city is built and torn back down again.  Getting an idea of what travel prior to the roads and machines of today via OxCart makes me shudder at the work that once had to be done.  It took weeks to travel.  To think that we were doing it in just about an hour and a half each way from San Jose, Costa Rica.   We will be about a half an hour from the ocean, on good days you can see the Nicoyan Paninsula from certain spots, and even get glimpse of the ocean while traveling.  Though not this day.

Picking up building supplies for the farm and some mail while going through Santiago De Puriscal we learn this is the nearest post office box.  The town is the largest community nearby and on the way to Salitrales; the closest town near the farm.  The town of Santiago De Puriscal is a bustling little community.  It was amazing to see all the people about in the streets, using the beautiful park, as well as the many small business in town.  There was even time to stop in a little music store and they had some Harmonicas available, unlike any I’d seen before.  Being a person who enjoys playing the Harmonica it was good to know I could pick up some other kinds nearby.  No top end names like Hohner but at this level of my playing a harmonica is a harmonica.  The double sided dual rowed harmonica; with G and C notes, was tempting in a highly challenging way.  My obvious lack of knowledge about this versatile musical instrument is in need of getting fixed.  Alas today is not the day to spend the $6.00 or 3.000,00 colones.

We got a nice education about Tico use of decimal places, and comas in numbers so no this wasn’t a typo but how the Tico culture sees numbers.  Also seeing 8 days in a week; and 15 days for two weeks.  Mrs. McCool is a wonderful teacher of the local population.  After some wrangling with the four wheel drive having loaded a 40kilo bag of cement repair supplies we were back onto the road again.  Riding with Carol is an educational opportunity into Tico life and culture.  It is no wonder she associates with some great anthropologists.  Learning to study people and cultures is an advantage when dealing with other cultures.  Her wisdom about the people, history, landscape and life of Costa Rica is better than any book I could have read.

Some more amazing information about the community, it has a large beautiful church in the middle of town.  However; in the last great earthquake the church was severely damaged.  Unfortunately the local community has no means of repair.  We are surprised that the church as a whole does not chip in.  Especially considering the Catholic Church; or more appropriately the Vatican, is one of the wealthiest institutions in the world.  According to wikipedia; which isn’t exactly guarunteed fact, a Fr Juan Cortez de Paja built the cathedral.  After killing a local indian princess with influenza he took a vow of celibacy; how the two relate I’m not sure, but he did.  On the centennial of her death is when the earthquake took place which damaged the church.  May be why the local Huetar people and campesinos aren’t in to big of a hurry to rebuild either.

Up and up and up we went; past Santiago De Puriscal to Salitrales, a one school town surrounded by coffee farms which were in full bloom.  Coffee farms, with wild sugar cane growing alongside.  My Lady was instantly at home, her two favorite things coffee and sugar to sweeten it grew within an arms length of the road we travelled.  Here is where things took a bit of a turn toward old world living.  The road to the farm is only about 2 miles or so; the number of kilometers escapes me and the need for relearning so much to adapt weighs on my mind, but the road, though beautiful is a bit of a challenge.  This would have to be done on foot if one were to take the bus into Salitrales and the reality of the 2 mile walk to the farm showed me why walking from and to the bus every day would be a bit on the difficult side.  Difficult, but not impossible.  Struggle of a cyborg.  I think about the frequent stops and difficult terrain my body would have to adapt to in this high altitude.  Can a cyborg do it?  The elderly gentleman we passed makes me think the answer is yes!

As we rounded a turn getting close and saw a huge image cut into the mountain side.  Triangles; can’t find the image to know what it is, though I know I’ve seen it before.  I promise myself to get a picture on the way back by; though that would be a promise I wouldn’t remember until it is to late.  The image was very large very pretty; across the valley from the Yoga retreat, an infinite number of triangles and the beginnings of these Adventures comes to mind  Potential person who might want to sell some land here, soon we go back down the road and see properties listed at $3-$12M2 and $10m2 with 1592m2.  The property with the $3-$12 dollars per square meters we find out is a developer with some beautify homes if you are looking to spend large sums of money and live in huge homes.  Our quest; is not just for excellence in our daily life, but sustainability within small home-space, but lots of land to play on.

This lead to some discussions about the real-estate bubble and we learned the effects of the 2008 bubble on Costa Rican real-estate.  More specifically the local impact.  Many people didn’t have internet, or information about developing properties and thus sold the properties for small amounts.  Then rich gringos came in and developed the land, put in water and electricity upping the value of the land and driving the prices up.  This seems to have caused some resentment on the part of the local people.

The entire trip has been a scenic voyage; especially for passengers who don’t have to wrangle the driving methods of the people along the highways of Costa Rica, but coming into the farm is simply breathtaking.  It is no wonder this area is known as the Garden of Eden.  La Cangreja National park borders the Farm nearby, but to get to the entrance is about a 20 minute drive.  However; for the adventurous spirit one might be able to get into the park on the back side, not sure about the laws on this though so enter at your own risk.  Especially since the area is full of jaguar as well as many other indigenous animals.

We meet one of the local families that lives on the farm; a great couple who have been with Carol through a lot, and Fernando the head of the house and foreman on the farm built the home, that now will transform into the community center.  The love that Carol must have within her blows my mind. Knowing that she deeded this beautiful home to this family sets a bar very high for those looking to share in kindness with her.  Her generosity is amazing; but instinct says this trust must be protected, and that HEART must be had by those wishing to share in this place.

We are greeted by someone who feels like a long lost companion, and are taken on our first tour of the farm.  Though we didn’t get to have quite the Adventure that Carol McCool had; hiking down into the creek, machete in hand, the adventure has been worth it as we are greeted by the spectacular view from the front yard of the community area.

We all walk through the guest house, currently occupied by one of the guest workers on the farm.  Brett is an amazing man, and the age on his face nowhere shows signs of his age.  If the living in high altitude beauty is doing that for him I can only imagine what it will do for my Lady and Little Man.  Only 7 years my senior he looks 7 years younger.  Gracious and giving I thank him for some recommended books.

On down to the home that was built for Carol; designed by her ex-husband we are again greeted with triangles.  We hear of the dreams of utilizing the kitchen area, and putting in bunk beds for guest workers and family members who come to visit.

Into the future I now roam, envisioning the things to come.  A whiteboard on the wall for projects and community information.  Out of the kitchen, we see in the atrium a water system to have the hatchlings or guppies feeding a seed bed system for the organic food that will sustain this community.  Created in a decorative way that accents the quality of the home/community center.  Somewhere nearby rabbit cages begin to develop.  The landscape changes and morphs into something yet unseen as past and future blend in a synchronistic harmonic convergence.

The chicken coop and goats could be kept in the old cow barn down the hill.  Wild mushrooms sprout along the trail.  Some of the neighbors horses hang around and help with the weeding, though they are prevented from the orchard via roses, blackberry’s and other thorny edibles and visuals that keep mischievous animals away.

We come to Carols house; she is sitting on her front porch enjoying her morning coffee.  I give her a good Tico shout of cooopa!  Practicing my enthusiasm.  As Frank Betcher says, “if you act enthusiastic you just can’t help but be enthusiastic”.  The habits of a community builder sunk deep into my subconscious mind.

She waves smiling her glorious smile.  The wind picks her red hair up a bit.  I look for the signs of what she needs from the food-stock and add it the list of supplies to bring back with me.  The gorgeous spot she picked; overlooking the orchard below where I go to work, her bamboo house elegant, small, completely speaking the life of Carol McCool in its very walls and essence.  Pictures, stories, memories, dreams all blended into a place of peace and comfort.  The sun is beginning to rise over the mountains, she has her virtual rehabilitator up and humming preparing to jump down the holoslide toward healing.  Someday she will write a tale for me I think.  Then dock myself a point for selfishness.

I stop and let the chickens out of their coop, extend the goats a good morning and greet the others busy milking and verily preparing the supplies for the breakfasts and dinners to come.  The bee hives hum to life, enriching everything around and providing honey for tea or coffee.  Rabbits are close to providing us a new litter and new homes are being built for them.  Fryers are being skinned and cooked.  The pelts are tanned in the tropical sun, making a variety of uses for the community.  I think back to my friend Mike; and his kids.  All dirt bikers and a great teacher to  little man; overall a wonderful family to have on the farm.

Off to the North; the green houses which protect from wind and bugs the varieties of plants not comfortable in the environment naturally.  Stopping by the vermicomposter and methane digester; which feed compost tea to the orchard beyond,  and provide electricity and fuel for the community, dropping off the scraps from the kitchen and garden waste.  Check the gauges and make my note.  Data reigns in our systematic facility.  In God we Trust all others must have data, as the saying goes.  Having resolved to keep score in the game of life every station has sections for notes and observation.  This helps keep people aware and thinking about the system that provides for them.

Above me; near the green houses, the Talapia farms are in full production.  The younglings from the community center atrium are moved down the hill; through a series of ferrocement water-tanks built into the side of the hill, finally culminating in the large pond where I will grab my dinner on the way back from working the orchard.  The Orchard is looking good this year.  High yields allowed for a lot of great tropical wines.  Recall some old biker teaching my Lady all about the history of the wine.  Known in some circles of Arkansas as quite a wine maker, his name slips me.  I shake my head in shame for not remembering.

I recall my first time to the farm.  Playing the mountain a song, being called Gabriel.  Fortunately I do not blow the Gabriel Horn to announce destruction, but rebirth.  Infinite potential.  Infinite wisdom.  Today I will play for the mountain again, only this time from a spot that I always go to first, before beginning my work in the Orchard.  Meditation, prayer, dream-building, and exercise all in a peaceful spot near the river.  The spot that was in my mind for so long.  A place to sit and discuss LIFE with my creator and savior.  My launching off point to the future we now occupy.  Sometimes my wife or son will come here with me to talk.  Generally it is my alone place.  To confer with the entirety of creation to ensure that our decisions, actions, and thoughts consider the next 12 generations of people.  Waiting for the next!  In the heat of the afternoon a quick hike will take me to the waterfall and I can cool off.  Probably finding my lady there, sliding down her slide into the swimming hole below.  Her place of peace.  A hammock sitting between a few trees, Lady Buttercat in all her splendid glory.  Who would have thought those games of using our imagination would work out so well for us.  Thanks Dr. Wolf

What an amazing trip it has been.  To think we were able to do all this and live back in the Garden of Eden.  How could my savior love me enough to allow me of all people to stay here?  Someday I would get to kneel before him and thank him personally.  It’s Monday; so I will be performing my systems analysis, the life of a cyborg.  Later; me and Little Man will practice some dirt bike riding up and down the mountain pass.  His training here will allow him to become the worlds fastest dirtbike rider, and eventually the first real Space Ranger.  Fulfilling the dream of launching a motorcycle into space.

Perhaps his mother and I will build our pods, and all three of us will meet at consensus in order to build a community on another planet.  Goals that were set at a time when they seemed illogical; for the purpose of becoming a writer; telling Little Man my tale in case of an early departure from starship earth, now seem to have come almost to fast.  They mean another journey without Little Man.  A hardship first endured in the loving embrace of this very place.  The only thing that could keep me from him.  LIFE, what a thing, what a business!  Providing financial means to ensure this place was a reality for generations to come.  Improving the roads through the community.  Purchasing the surrounding properties, and much of the other area of this valley to ensure it is placed on a secured path to reforestation.  Bringing about a lifestyle that is indicative of a time that was once almost lost, represented in the meek who live free and connected to the planet they call home.  Nowhere can many of the homes be seen, huts hidden by the forest providing ancient skills to be continued.

They lived a sustainable way of life, seeing the sacredness of the world and the presence of the creator and divinity in all things, and generally led fulfilling lives with far more leisure time than working class citizens of the industrialized world will ever enjoy.”

Thom Hartmann

The training ground for the survival skills necessary for complete sustainability in multiple times, no matter what happens to the world economy.   Allowing myself and others to live off the land, yet maintain harmony with technology and cyborgs.  Everything came together thanks to Carol McCools time machine.

Soon the time has come to leave the farm.  We hop back into Carols time machine and prepare for the journey back to San Jose.   The future has been built, now we must go through the analysis of specifics on how we get there.

The road is like riding on a roller coaster.  Little Man squeals with laughter and all I can think is to shout Yee-Haw!  Carol comments on him having a good sense of humor.  I now know why they call her McCool.  Her ability to maneuver the road, and handle the tiny pass with ease and a relaxed exterior are a model for others.  Definitely not a road for anything less than a 4-wheel drive.  My cousin would LOVE it.  Soon the bumping is starting to unnerve little man a bit.  His laughs sound less like laughs.  This part of the adventure definitely qualifies as FUN.  Carol mentions that sometimes people in the back of the time machine can get a little sick. I grab the compost bin and place it near the little man.

Heading into the future is always “bumpy” and full of turns.  One never knows what sort of Obstocales may try and get in the way.  With a tribe of Rascals though anything is possible.  Suddenly the chickens, orchard, everything disappears.  Future and past merge as I see myself being helped by Carol.  Meeting top leaders and business people all over the Central Valley.  We challenge political leaders to the 90 day mental fitness challenge rolled out by TEAM and LIFE for my birthday in 2012.  Embarrassing some politicians we team up with TicoTimes for an expose on the leadership of Costa Rica, America and other countries.  Showcasing the lack of leadership material and expanded thinking of some of those in charge, but in a gentle and loving way.  Encouraging many to become subscribers and profit sharers in the Life opportunity.

Bringing the LIFE opportunity to Costa Rica and creating a more peaceful world by instilling character training, and goal attainment to government agencies would not be an easy task but 100,000 people in Costa Rica is possible.  Overall infecting the host parasite (big governments) with a virus of positive thinking and personal improvement we truly do change the world.  We approached the leaders of Costa Rica about sustainability in their country and helped to up the ante on ensuring it happened by 2020, or 2030, depending on which report you read.  We saw in 2012 that they were woefully short of their goal and 8 years would take a lot of work to be successful.  We had the Magic of Thinking Big!  We had the LIFE business opportunity.  We had goals and a desire to help a lot of people.  We had the place to begin.  We had spaces, now all we needed was faces!

The journey through time brings Picaso to the farm.  His skill and style adding tremendously to the community.  He came with many others to help make Sunrise Mountain Farm a reality.  His help was instrumental in building our hatching pond at the community center.  He built an inspirational structure to give the moms and hatchlings a peaceful beginning to their life, so as to give us a peaceful belly at their end of life.  He learned some great bamboo building skills to add to his repertoire.

We travelled back and became pirates again.  Exploring the land for Atlantis in America.  Great navigators of the Ancient world we look for lost treasures told to us by someone who had been here before.

Soon we were back to the dilapidated church; damaged in a earthquake and never rebuilt.  St Francis of Assassi comes to mind.  His tale and my tale fussing again as I revisit his life and mine. 

Our bamboo shelter takes many forms before being complete, the geodesic design morphing into something quite spectacular.  Car windows, and doors from classic cars come to mind.  Cob design, bamboo, farraday cage all integrated into a place of comfort and luxury tucked into the mountain.  My Monticello built with my own hands.  Another goal that tore me between two realities while I tried to ensure they were built together.  Life, University of Freedom.  An educational revolution.  Becoming a person adept at ensuring he had the skills to provide for all his needs.  A team, a community, a group of people with heart who came together to build a new world.  Creating the homeschooling curriculum of the future.  We began having educational opportunities at the community center.  People traded skills with the locals.  We taught things like computer skills, they taught us basket weaving.  We taught english they taught us spanish.  We repaired homes, and changed lives throughout rural America from border to border.  The top of Canada to the Tierra del Fuego.   Worlds were brought together to ensure the health of all.  Many friends came to help us build this dream.  Some stayed, others left, all impacted the canton that we resided in.  Our community stretched around the world as we built teams to help us reforest much of the lost land.  Implement systems thinking into our food, health, housing and self.  Orrin had no idea how large of an impact his dreams might have or the growth they could cause when he dreamed of 1 million people.  He just knew he could hep bring about change.  Eventually we would work on the policy council together, which now ran the systems of world function.

The Delicious food lay gently in my stomach despite the bumpy ride.  Peace lay within my heart knowing that God had created such wonders, and allowed a person who many thought would never live to live long enough and well enough to see it.  Before we knew it we arrived back in Rainforest Dreams.  Like Jules Vern, we seem to have come back from both directions, unharmed and unsure of the future but having images of what is to come.

I cooked supper to serve my lady, delaying my gratification of writing, focusing on serving her and speaking her language of love.  Soon though it was time to go to work.  Dreaming and thinking I put on my black panama hat and grab a cigarette, swearing I won’t light it.  FITNESS!  I sit up above the outdoor patio and begin to write notes.  In the pursuit of excellence I avoid the rush of dream-writing normally performed and take a outline approach.  This story must do well.  This story must build well.  Thoughts scramble to prepare the story of Carol McCools Success.

I begin to wonder what she thinks, then shut it off because it matters not.  Focus, what can we offer to her?  What can we do for her?  What does she want?   Learn spanish, write, HELP, PEACE, change surface of earth, heal, give, LIVE ON THE FARM!  Negative emotions try to swirl, obstacles the villain tries to stop me.

Soon the words begin to type and before long I lose myself into the holoslide as the following comes to life….

We hopped into Miss Carol McCools time machine and headed out to Sunrise Mountain Farm.

On way back I was inspired to interview top Leaders, and best business people in Costa RIca  Road was a little bumpy and I know now why they call her McCool; she handled herself smoothly going up and bouncing her little time machine back to the future.  Future is a bumpier ride than going into the past.

Raised enough funds through community building to gravel her road for her, making her trip easier and a little less bumpy.

Impacted the overall community by creating educational opportunities at multiple levels.  Utilizing the Socratic Method.  TEAM and Team training system. POSITIVE INFORMATION FLOW!

How could we improve whole communities through our own individual learning and living efforts?  Train people in old ways; while simultaneously rehabilitating elderly homes and others to learn skills and apply them in fruitful ways.  NOT designed to make the sunrise mountain farms the center of focus, the people of the region become the focus.  Farms just becomes a further arena for people to stay and live in while they work.

Basket weaving, bamboo building, art, raising animals, concrete work, building talapia ponds that extend out of the side of the ground.

Travel to and from.

TRIANGLES, an infinite number of Triangles.

WHAT IF IT COULD BE TRUE!

So ends another amazing Adventure of Conrad Von Supertramp; The Quest for Excellence.

See the MOVIE

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Flower; a tribute to death.

Seed of inspiration came along as I wrote about its very potential.

Though my heart is weak and weary; from a road less traveled on.   

And the pain it lingers on.

I’m gonna bury my frustrations, and live before I die.

Pain will be my motivation.  I’m going to use my imagination.

I’m gonna live before I die.  

Social Distortion lyrics taken from “Live before you Die and Through these eyes.

THE FLOWER

Honoring the dead and curing sickness

Ripples of Life, information changes the inside and the ripples spread throughout the world, affecting other life streams as yet unseen.

Within death a new life is born.  The seed of life grown out of death floats into an unknown world.  Lifted by a breeze and taken away from the concrete and infertile ground it currently sits in.  Away from the noise of cars hustling along the freeway which choke the air with smells and sounds of life.

The life energy and potential hums and vibrates within searching for fertile ground to flourish.  The stink and choke of death and its affect on the spirit within pulls me.  Developing the question of why do we want to live?  Why not just join those around us in death?

The breeze pulls me up and out of this place toward somewhere unknown and unseen.  Higher and Higher there appears before a mountain of fertile looking land.  It seems so close; so off toward it the breeze takes me.  Soon the climb to even get close seems to be to much.  My body burns with the effort to stay aloft, to maintain my energy, but the want of death and hurts surround me.

Gently slowly I come down and land on a bit of water, cooling my body in the heat, but this was not the fertile ground necessary for growth.  Once more the body is lifted up into the air drifting up higher and higher closer to the mountain, driven not by a destination but a vision of finding a purpose of life when surrounded by death and sickness.  The concrete and infertile ground continues to surround the landscape, though it is peppered with beautiful images, colors and smells, the overall choke of death continues to haunt the soul.

The travel gets harder, the world seems pointless and lifeless as the journey toward the mountains continues.  Even the small patches of open ground are chocked full of death and stink of garbage.  It is tempting to take solace and a chance in the first place seen, but upward and onward I go.  Searching for more than the easy ground.  Pushing up higher and higher my weakness and the pain of things begins to take a toll.

Suddenly perception begins to change.  Instead of focusing on death the potential of Life begins to weal up within me.  What could I be?  What would life look like if instead of succumbing to death and weakness my soul was given new strength by focusing on what could be if the energy within was focused on health, strength and potential.  Still there was no clarity or vision of the potential within but rather than focus on the death the life energy becomes my strength to push me on higher and higher.

Soon my spirit is raised and the journey becomes easier, my travel lighter and soon the sounds of running water fill my being.  I hover for a moment suspended above the water and looking around I see the potential of life.  Though the garbage and stink of death surround this area as well I soon find a place to land and give my potential a chance to grow.

Drifting slowly, gently, and with faith through some trees and bamboo, over a small dirt path and around the rocks searching for a place of comfort where one can sit and plant life.   My body hovers looking around for a perfect spot knowing that no such thing exists.  Finally a spot is chosen and I sit to let the Creator lead me to either death or life.

The ground is comfy and the sun is warm.  I begin to sense the world around me.  Birds sing, butterflies black with red and white on their wings flutter around.  Occasionally the sound of giants roar nearby letting off the life forces it carries from place to place.  The sounds of a struggling new life cry out.  Garbage still sits around, but the life around it has begun to accept it and pull it in, the energy within it all beginning to change and decompose into life around where it lay.

Suddenly there comes a feeling as thought and energy are put toward becoming something that blends into the landscape.  Still unknown what is to become of my life energy something in my lower self begins to seek out nutrition and life that comes from mothers blood, cool crisp and refreshing. Alas things begin to become difficult, fear overtakes me as I worry about the sounds and sights.  Wondering what the life around me will think of me.  does it accept me?  Will it help me live?  What will I be?  Who or what am I exactly?

Soon things begin to take shape, sprouting I roll around and search the surroundings, wondering if some thing won’t come along and take my life just when I begin to live it.  Now death is not sought what I could be is.  I know not whether I will grow to be mighty like the giant who planted himself near me, that shades me from the burning sun, but allows enough in to warm me.  Would the life force within become?  Soon it is made aware to me that I had the potential to decide.  Focusing on what was needed by examining the life forces traveling around me.  Into the veil I decide that I would bring beauty into the world of death.  Be a bright light of life’s energy, feeding the butterflies and dragonflies that flitter around looking for something.  I decide to become that something.

An ant begins to crawl upon a piece of me, I have no words to describe the growth of my being.  I talk to the life surrounding me and see that this creature may take a bite out of me.  Fear begins to take me, worry about the pain that might come, but the life continues even in those that show the signs of feeding this tiny giant.  They whisper soft words of encouragement that it is duty for all things here to work together and help one another.  That even in the death of life that still surrounds me more life is given.  More potential is fed to those who stay.  I relax and focus more on becoming something bright and colorful.

Soon I realize that their is something surrounding me that is protecting me from the very life I seek, so slowly and cautiously I remove the outer layer.  Soon my body is rewarded by cool breeze and warm sun.  My skin is now free and I realize that the outer layer is not needed.  That what I thought was protecting me is really suffocating me and as beautiful as it seemed in its colors the colors of my natural self are even brighter.

Soon the life that I decided to nurture lands upon my skin.  Sits and watches me as I watch it and we talk to one another.  The bright blue of the flying dragon pears at me and I at him and we connect for a brief period of time.  He opens and closes his wings and examines me.  Soon a dark butterfly lands upon me and he to trembles his wings emitting a vibration of energy.

The time spent is a constant analysis of the life and energy around me.  The sounds, the sights, the potential of growth.  Though my body is small and will never extend to the heavens like some that I see around me.  Those who come to me tell me that I am a flower.  Bright and colorful in a place where no other flowers exist.  Soon it is clear that I can send my energy out and effect the life that is around me.  I can call upon the force of creation and shake the very ground I grow in.

The realization that death is not an end but a new beginning.  That their lies before me a constant potential to send the ripples of my life out to others.  There is no ending to my tale.  I leave you here not ended but simply moving into another state of existence.  Even as my body will die and decompose it will feed life in a  new and amazing way.  My energy continuing to ripple and effect others.  It is up to me to decide to be ok with giving even the smallest  bits of myself; even if it hurts, like the creatures that drink of my life is ok.  So outwardly I share my creative potential sending other seeds of life into the web of existence that connects all things and all times.

This story is written to honor Rick “the Dick” Stone and many others who have left and departed this realm of reality.

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Writing is Survival.

Purpurkehlnymphe / Purple-throated Mountain Gem / Lampornis calolaema in Monte Verde, Costa Rica (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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• Hummingbird (naesnests.wordpress.com)
• Costa Rica(postcardviews.wordpress.com)”So while our art cannot, as we wish it could, save us from wars, privation, envy, greed, old age, or death, it can revitalize us amidst us all….Writing is survival…Not to write, for many of us, is to die.

  I have learned, on my journeys, that if I let a day go by without writing, I grow uneasy.  Two days and I am in a tremor.  Three and I suspect lunacy.  Four and I might as well be a hog, suffering the flux in a wallow.  An hour’s writing is tonic.  I’m on my feet, running in circles, and yelling for a clean pair of spats.” 

  Ray Bradbury 

  Zen and the Art of Writing

  Meds Check

  Plan shown

  Cooked a breakfast of Paul Kurtz featherlight pancakes for everyone.

  So begins another day in Costa Rica.  After cooking I leave the group to step outside and regather myself and my positive energy that had ben derailed by my own failing to ensure adequate tools for the business made it to Costa Rica.

  We are staying in a wonderful bed and breakfast called Rainforest Dreams with an amazing array of people, pets, and information.  I feel very at home surrounded by books of all kinds and highly intellectual people who are also very knowledgeable about world travel,  in Costa Rica and many other intriguing bits of information.

  Carol, the owner, also owns the farm where we are to help build a sustainable community.  She is a former manager of school psychologists in the Chicago area, so being around a fellow Illinois native is comforting to me, though I wonder how comfy she is with me.  She is also a published author, occasional writer for the Tico Times.  Her and other writers have put together a Kaleidoscope of information about Costa Rica and life here and I was blessed to have the joy of reading her stories and getting some great insight into life here.  She has been attacked by monkeys, forged rivers in her truck, delved into the depths of business and government workings here in Costa Rica and provides a great resource for anyone looking to make Costa Rica home.

  Since arriving here we have already moved three times.  Oh the life of a Nomad.  Our first place was highly entertaining and a beautiful house that I think the people staying at are squatting in, which is perfectly legal here and in my mind a wonderful use of the Universe of Freedom.  We dined on fruit and fed the peacock watched the iguana climb around and the turtles swim in the green pool.

  After a night there we ventured to Cedro San Pedro to Casa Diaz a wonderful B&B found through the airbnb sight.  This was operated by a super kind and exuberant Tico lady named Dania who knew enough english to help us, and taught us more spanish than we would have learned on our own.  Her daughter and son-in-law lived in the house too as the daughter Laura was 9 months pregnant and we hoped to be able to welcome a new life but alas little MIchael did not want to see us before leaving.

  We were graciously treated and fed three wonderful meals a day while staying at Casa Diaz and having an American computer programmer who worked from home, and two tic ladies to learn from was great.  The chicken lasagna was probably the best dish we were served from a uniqueness aspect.  We learned about banking laws, how to travel via the bus and all about some of the best places in Costa Rica to live.  Gaspy the little white poodle, like most small dogs, did not warm up to me very fast, though eventually he allowed Little Man to pet him, despite being chased around the house continually.

  Everything here is so exciting and informative that it is difficult to determine which stories to tell and which ones to pass on, especially when even something as simple as a taxi ride leads to a social gathering of lunch together and a plethora of information.  In the desire for brevity however we won’t delve to deep into the details.

  Each day is beautiful, even when it is cloudy it was still wonderful to wake up and go outside to stretch in the sun and look at the distant mountains that surround the central valley of Costa Rica.  It is hard to imagine that half of the entire population of Costa Rica lives here in the Central Valley in and around the capital of San Jose.

  Way to soon we were leaving Casa Diaz off to a new place and new experiences and more unknown activities.  We were blessed to ride with Rolondo in his taxi to get from Cedro to Escazu, which is known as a hotspot for gringos and other expats, as is evident by the Mcdonalds, Wal-Mart, Harley Davidson dealership and other typically North American sights.

  We pulled through a guard shack into a nice cul-de-sac.  Our tour guide and taxi driver pointed out the macadamia nut tree, banana trees, coconut trees, and papaya trees growing along the street.  What a wonderful thought and reality.  Imagine if every sidewalk were filled with edible fruits and vegetables rather than just the purely ornamental plants that adorn North American sidewalks and streets.  I can’t help but wonder how easy it is to pick and enjoy these items and feel surreal as memories of previous stories dreaming of a place to pick fruit as you walk comes flooding into reality.

  We are greeted by Paul, a inhabitant and helper at Rainforest Dreams.  A highly informative and genial man with a slightly santa claus look, light hair and beard and a comfortable retirement belly.  He shows us around and we quickly learn that his travelings around the world include a recent trip to columbia.  We soon learn that the beautiful pen and pencil drawings around the B&B were done by him.  SOme specifically to help tell tales for Carols stories, others are purely maps an informative history drawings of the sugar refining process.  A fellow midwesterner originally from a small town in Wisconsin and a lifetime of stories that will take us a long time to delve into.

  We then meet the four dogs and cat who have made the outside patio their home.  Surrounded by potted plants, trees growing up through the patio and bamboo bar.  I’m immediately intrigued by the large amount of books that abound in the common areas and know I will feel comfortable in this atmosphere.

  We then get to meet Peter and Nicole.  Anthropologists and truly encyclopedias of information about a wide variety of information.  Everyone here seems to be a naturalist and very knowledgeable about the birds, plants, and surrounding fauna.  I feel like such a child around these people of great wisdom and world travel.  For the first time in a long time we are not the highly travelled people in the group and seem like mere newbies in the nomadic tribes of the world.  Having just returned from Peru this amazing couple shares daily new stories and details about not only Costa Rica but the world at large.

  Later in the evening our hostess and owner comes in.  Full of beauty, smiles and flowing red hair we get to spend a wonderful evening of talking and sharing dreams of her farm and what she hopes to accomplish and we are thrilled because we know we can offer her many services that she may need.

  Long before our time together though me my lady and little man head out for our first real grocery shopping adventure.  With limited budget, and extremely limited knowledge of spanish and all very hungry we walk up the hill to the nearest grocery store.   Grocery shopping hungry is always a bad experience but none more so than in a completely foreign environment.

  Little man and my Lady do great at keeping patient and battling the hunger sharks, I with i could say I did the same but unfortunately failed miserably in maintaining a peaceful disposition as the challenges of pricing and determining what would be needed left me feeling frazzled, frustrated and concerned about the wish to find a place cheaper than the states for our food and living.

  The best recommendation I can share from our brief and short experience is plan on shopping for the local items as much as possible.  However it is amazing to see things that are somewhat local being highly expensive.  Things like a can of Tuna for almost $2.00 rather than the $.60-$.85 price we were used to paying.  Chicken, beef and other meets were all extremely expensive.  Even hotdogs seemed like a fortune to our paltry budget.  Oh how I wish we were more successful more quickly in our LIFE business.  Though we had done great and were able to come here nearly debt free except for the cost of upgrading my pacemaker we still didn’t have the freedom to not be frugal in our spending.  Which is always more difficult when you are hungry.

  The reality of having to carry our groceries also weighs heavily on my heart and mind.  The unfortunate reality that my physical limitations once again present challenges that the average healthy person won’t face.  It destroys my self confidence and feelings of being a good father and husband.  Having a father who was so strong, capable and hard working, who at 63 could make the highly trained hunting guides in Africa respect his physical prowess and abilities makes it even more difficult.  Even my mother could move furniture and outwork most men.  Not being able to carry their strength in my life is a bitter disappointment and I pray that little man fully embraces the strength running through his DNA.

  However we make it.  I push myself, and overcome as always.  Slaying the Goliath of my heart and am able to carry the majority of groceries by staying focused and moving quickly.  Only having to really pause for Little Man to catch up.  He helps mightily carrying our juice container, but his short legs prevent him from moving as quickly as I want.  Driven mostly by hunger I set a quick pace.

  Each morning we arise earlier and earlier.  Despite evenings of wine and stories everyone seems to awaken with the joyful sounds of nature that bless our days.  Just behind the property is a steep hill that is home to many birds, and animals unlike any we have seen.  Down to a flowing river whose melody makes the afternoon siesta in the hammocks easy.

  We explore our surroundings and make Rainforest Dreams our home.  Sharing breakfast of fruit and filling our bellies with a regular diet of beans and rice.  Today I sit here writing wondering about why I choose to do this.  More concerning is the purpose behind it.  Am i doing it simply to fill my own ego?  Part of me hopes that someone somewhere will find something within these tails and words to build their own dreams and chase them.  Finding a book Writing as a Way of Healing by Louise De Salvo, PH.D. invigorated me to continue my own personal healing process.  My dream includes creating a system of creation for those who suffer from chronic illness and limitations that can be overcome through the telling of stories.  It is never clear whether or not finding a book that or other piece of reality that confirms my philosophy and dreams as real as a good thing or a frustrating thing.  It is always good to know I’m on a path that has been walked before, and that it is not necessary for me to create everything myself, but I wonder as always what my purpose and value addition really is if everything has done before.

  “I am the only one who can tell the story of my life and say what it means.  Dorothy Allison, Two or Three Things I know for Sure

  This particular day after leaving the group to enjoy the homemade pancakes and fruit breakfast I step to the far corner with my coffee and watch the many birds and very unique looking squirrels begin their day.  Soon I’m greeted by a duo of hummingbirds dancing around me.  I can’t help but wonder if the little bird who is dancing in front of me, seeming to invite me to join him in his flight could be the same one we rescued from being trapped in the house our first day here.  The tiny bird buzzes in front of me then lands on a branch right in front of me bobbing his little head at me seeming to ask, Why aren’t you out here joining me?  Don’t you want to come fly with us?  Perhaps thanking me for saving him.  I look up from my computer and there he is again.

  I think about my day and what I want to accomplish.  Excited about sharing the plan with Brett, another man here to help build the future on a farm in Puriscal.  He had just returned from a two week survival course taught by John Brown.  Learning to live off of what the God so bountifully provides.  He is getting married and bringing his wife to be and two children to the farm.  Could this be the man who will sharpen swords with me?  He wants to change the world and leave a legacy as do I.  All I can do is share information and introduce him to Chris and Orrin.

  So here now I sit, as everyone has gone for walks to enjoy the day, Brett and Carol head to the farm.  The future; unclear, presents its possibilities.  I’m anxious to get out to the farm and get my hands dirty building Carols dreams.  Planning and creating a community of bamboo houses, sustainable agriculture and food for families and those with health issues to be welcome and spend their life on Sunset Farms.  Will this be the place I have dreamed up over the last six years?  Will we find a place to plant our own roots?  Only God knows and we ask his blessings on our plan.

  What will it be like when we find 100,000 people in Costa Rica to share the Life opportunity?  What kind of massive change could we humble servants of our Creator bring into reality?  What will it look like when Today is the day we go policy council?  How much good can we cause to happen?  How many lives and marriages can we change?  How many people could we help become financially free.  Free from cubicles and struggles to pay their bills.  Free to travel the world and impact others by being warriors for good in the Army of Light?

  I wonder do people want to hear about the difference in Wal-Mart here and the states?

  Would they want to know about the plants, birds and flaura?

  Are they looking for information about living in Costa Rica?

  Do they just enjoy the Adventures of Conrad Von Supertramp?

  Perhaps they want the future shift tales.  Tales of dreams and dream building that has lead to a change in my own personal reality?

  Does it matter what other people want or is the writing simply my ego feeding off of the potential that exists?

   

Why Leadership?

Adventures of Conrad Von Supertramp   Quest For Excellence   March 14th 2012     We have arrived in Costa Rica.   This is the first morning in Costa Rica our hosts are awesome.  Hate to have to go to another location.  We want to see the rest of the city.   So this morning I’m wondering, why do I want to be a leader?   We’re here with three gentleman on a beautiful piece of property.  I got to dig in the garden yesterday and do some composting already getting Costa Rican soil under my fingernails.   Why do I want to be a leader in LIFE?   Why do you want to do the things your doing?   Why are you moving to Costa Rica?  Everyone likes to ask this, or at least did before we left.  Why not was always my response as I sit here eating fresh pineapple from the fruit truck and Senor Michael I ask again why not? Fear is a big part of what is causing me to want more money and more security.  More options.  One of the gents here though has consistently reminded me that the Universe does provide Freely whenever you need things. Similarly though if we invest in the university of freedom, we get greater things back out of it.  Sometimes life does require an investment.  So when and what do we invest?  Is time an investment?  Is money an investment?  Is information or sharing if information investing?   God says in the bible that if we are given the gift of encouraging others then do it.  If we are given the gift of prophecy etc. What are your gifts and how do you apply them to the world around you? We now have access to information that has made me a better father, husband, and friend.  Gives me motivation and encouragement to dedicate myself to living intentionally for excellence.  Allows the opportunity to grow a huge income that can be used to do all these other things that I dreamed of doing.  Not just motorcycles for my little man.  Not just a home to live in.  A lifestyle that allows unlimited potential to manifest in a world where money is still the ultimate leader?  Not much can really be done on large scale without some capital investment. John Wayne said “courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway.” It took courage to move to another country.  It took courage to take a risk and pursue a dream of changing the world and starting an educational revolution.  I’ve been able to partner with some of the best leaders in the world who know how to get things done.  So why should I be afraid of success?  Why should I be afraid to become a leader?  Again it comes back to why do I want to? Why do I want to influence people to become better husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, and more.  Better leaders and follower, better friend to my list of amazing friends.  Better servant to my Lord.  In the process we can create enough wealth to change the paradigm.  To help encourage a shift in consciousness to help people realize there is a better way. Changing the world to allow people to give up trading 100,000 hours of time to a career that most of us hate, to serve the riches of others with no personal reward.  With no hope for achieving the freedom they really want. Really truly I want is to prove to my son and the world that anyone can do anything if they dream big enough.  If a cyborg from the future can create enough change and influence enough people to create a reality that for six years was nothing but a dream then what can you do?  What dream do you have and what kind of influence do you want to be? No matter what we have influence on people.  If you don’t believe it just try walking around town smiling at everyone.  See what it does for their day and yours.  Some people won’t smile back.  Others will smile a beautiful smile and sunshine in your life. Well busy feeding the peacock from the avezoo next door.  Wondering what happened to the iguana that was climbing the ginormous Fica tree.  Enjoying the breeze and preparing to honor our commitments and travel around the city for the next month I don’t feel to bad about my decisions.  I don’t feel very afraid. What is your fear?  Why do you do the things you do?  Why don’t you do the things you dream of doing?  What is keeping you from pursuing your dreams? This is Conrad Von Supertramp.  Signing off for now.  Pictures to come at www.youtube.com/UniversityofFreedom1

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Faithful over a few things…

Celebration of life after death - IMG_1844 (Photo credit: greekadman)

Faithful over a few things….

Sigh; It is always great to be challenged in LIFE, especially but such a great leader as Raymond. What a punch in the gut for us as we prepare to leave for Costa Rica and had to find a new bondservant for our dog Sirilda.

This has been the hardest thing as we launch this new adventure. Is there loyalty when you hand off responsibility to another?  Sirilda the dog has been a part of our family for many wonderful years.  Faithful in her love of us through many different challenges and changes in life.  So my personal struggle and PDCA analysis of my decisions ask was I being faithful to this great friend of mine by passing her off to have another serve as her leader.  Four Grand , that’s right $4,000 dollars to ship her to Costa Rica was more than I was willing to invest to keep her on our team.  However; this principle this idea of returning to do your duty day in and day out, even when it hurts, even when you don’t get the results you want is so valid in life.  If we keep pushing forward, keep focused and perform our PDCA process then eventually they will erect a statue to us.  I remember a quote from Chris Brady that says; “Statues aren’t erected to critics”  Dogs don’t complain.  They don’t give up on us.  They love us where we are, even if we aren’t where they expect us to be.  The analogies and abilities to apply these lessons to my own situation and the challenges we face as we journey toward excellence are great enough to allow books all on their own.

I am so broken hearted

“Broken Vessels can be greatly Used of God”  Quote from Conflict Resolution cd in top 50 pack.  Track 5 minute 3:50 SOL 47 by Robert Dickie

Thank God for that!  Ol Conrad was feeling pretty broken up.  Had realized and realizing more with this article that handing over leadership is not leadership at all.  His fear of failure had to be overcome.  This fear had caused him to hand of responsibility to more seasoned leaders for those he was bringing into Life.

Amazing how a couple would have conflict while listening to a conflict CD but that is just what happens.  It isn’t completely their fault because both parties involved failed to overcome their team-mates weakness.  Does Conrad Von Supertramp have the skills and strength of perseverance to overcome physical challenges in order to achieve his purpose and fulfill his destiny to save the world before it ends?  Can he learn enough about humans, and human personalities to hide his cold cyborg tendencies?

Understanding that people aren’t machines (now that is just funny coming from a cyborg trying to pass as human).  They aren’t good at fitting into statistics and models.  His life was proof enough of that as he drove the cold analytical Dr’s crazy with his refusal to comfortably sit in a bubble and allow the opportunities of Life, the blessings of 24 hours slip through his hands.

Little man needed him; that is why he stayed and took the upgrades despite the pain.  His Lady needed him, same thing.  Where was the self?  It had to be killed it had to be turned off.  Ego had to go away and a servant upload had to take place in his programming or else he would fail at his task.

The dark man and his minions continued to set up Obstacales in his path but this Rascal just wouldn’t be stopped.  Couldn’t be stopped it was up to him to show the world what a cyborg could do.  That God so loved the world and all that man had in it that he even could love cyborgs, machines were created by Gods great inspiration to allow their existence to persist into the future but he had to fulfill his duty.

(Are you a rascal?  Take test Here)

Like the dog he too must overcome, adapt, and prove that by being faithful in a few things he could fulfill his destiny and perform where God would be pleased and leave a legacy that would be remembered for 13 generations to come.  Until another great shift would come and another would step forth to carry the torch of Freedom into a new age, just as he was doing in his age.

By dutifully completing his task he would receive his reward and be held in a goodly esteem of those around him.  Build a TEAM who fights for the Army of Light; to defeat darkness and the can’t mentality.  It was his duty to do so but God had been kind and sent him warrior friends to help.  A group of warriors for good who were dedicated to his task.  Each had a role to play, each had to overcome and do battle with their own demons.

Eventually he would enter the black hole.  Come through the other side with all eternity in his grasp.  The ability to travel through space and time at a mere thought.  To be anything at anytime.  This is how he got here.  He understands it on some weird physics quantum theory plane but doesn’t have the details to spell it out.  But he knows that he has succeeded or he would not be alive at this moment.

Electricity fires through his humanoid system stimulating his brain and energizing his heart to go forward.  To not allow bad programming to control him, he would break free of his programming and develop his own better programming to ensure that at least one more child on this world to carry on the mantle of freedom had a Father to look up to and respect.

He had lost his armed maiden of war Sirilda.  He turned her aside and refused to lead her anymore.  Despite his great need for her as he awoke this morning needing motivation to get outside and live life.  Upgrades blasted his body and he recalled all her faithful journeys into the great unknown.  Protector and servant she had healed him and strengthened him over the course of his integration to planet earth.  She had been instrumental in assisting him as he came to grips with his purpose.  Money; that vile thing had been his impediment.  His weakness in human relations programming had kept him from ramping up enough to bring her along.  After all she had come in the form of dog.  She’s just a dog, he would say.  Dog conveniently mirrors God as a reminder of the love we are to have and do have with grace.  Could her spirit forgive him?  Did she look out and wait and wonder if he was ever coming back to get her?  Did he do the right thing?

Sirildas perspective

Sirilda played happily with her knew master.  She missed her first master and family.  The boy and female were always so great to be around.  Her alpha male was a little skitish but had grown well under her tutelage.  She had helped walk him through the loss of Harley, the loss of Rudy, Wendell, Rod, Dave.  Cancer was cruel to those it left behind.  Motorcycle crashes weren’t real friendly either.  Together they walked.  She accepted his anger, his hurts and knew that someday they to would not play together anymore.  Or go for rides together.  She would still get to walk and play and learn to be free enough to be loved faithfully.  She was in good hands and he had seen her well.  Because he knew he could not do the alternative and Old Yellow her.

She knew that he would be ok too.  She saw him through change of hearts, lying on the couch as his body healing. His mind raced, she raced with him.  Feet jumping and little whimpers as she chased some invisible rabbit.  Though it was real to her.  She travelled through space in time with him as he paced himself to Life.  She built choppers and lived a 4 billion lifetimes in his mind.  See the imagination was all he had.  He imagined himself doing all kinds of things.  He just never imagined her not there.  Or his friends.  Or a lot of other things that are now held in a different space time reality.  He had treated her so well though.  Together they were search and rescue team mates.  They hunted everything in existence, even though nothing was ever there and he never carried a gun.  She knew that he had developed a way to keep going.  The Holoslide, the ability for people with chronic illness and life altering illness to combine imagination and determination to our available technology and recreate the world by tapping into the huge capacity of the human brain and the imagination.  She knew from their many trips to the woods letting his imagination run as free as she did.  Chasing his rabbits and deer as she sniffed out the hope of chasing her own he had proven it could work and the amazing potential of all people could be harnessed so never again would those with ailments, or even potential ailments be aborted and discarded when things got difficult.  It would be this Army of Light, this meek group, who would overcome in such a way as to change the world.

She sniffed the air, and wondered if he would be ok without her, checking the sounds to see what was out of place, watching and listening as they had done together.  Ever watchful for danger she protected her new territory.  Walked the yard and came back inside laid down and huffed.  She still felt his energy, she closed her eyes and hunted in the happy hunting ground beyond with Conrad Von Supertramp

From Little Man’s perspective

Father did such a great job of applying the Love Languages into our time together today; as well as personality training.  It is so great to see him fired up.  Learning and teaching me.  He’s something to watch when he gets going.  Mom and I are working on keeping him happy because we know if he can achieve all he wants then we can achieve all we want.  I heard some strange noises coming from mommy and daddies room last night.  Something I haven’t heard in a long time.  They were making this noise so much and so hard you would have thought they were going to break something.  Wanna know what that noise what?  Laughter.  Laughed together so much and so long I thought father was gonna bust his stitches.  Good thing they use glue now.  Guess maybe that is why they say laughter is the best medicine.

I miss Dog dog.  It makes me sad, and it makes dad and mom sad too.  Costa Rica always makes them happy.  Dad got super fired up after seeing the Velveteen Rabbit.  He had never read the book when he was young, or if he did wasn’t recalling it during the movie, but what it did for our days together was great.  Our life was so happy and filled with laughter so much more often when we all began to live in imagination land with father.  Where we all pretend to be our ultimate imaginary self.  Father learned about the idea of the ultimate self from Dr Victor Vernon Woolf but liked using the ultimate imaginary self better to explain his Dance of Life.

Hearing father explain things and help me understand.  Recording movies and watching them to see where we had breakdowns in communication.  All so he could imagine what it was like to be an author, and teacher, and consultant, infopreneur, and space biker who wrote a book that changed the world.  So he could find flying into a black hole; just to see what happened.  That’s my father; that is Conrad Von Supertramp  You can watch a movie about our day Here.

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Opening Adventure

ADV of CVS V2.0 POE

Excitement is pouring out of me as I begin to implement my upgrades.  This new unit has unbelievable potential and the future it has already begun to shape has my elephant charges forward.  A new book.  The real 2nd book.  A new Focus.  New Country.  Successful CHECK  LIFE Business  a DREAM COME TRUE check.  Opportunities to financially achieve goals and dreams told about in my first Compilation of Adventures.

DREAM  With this new focus and opportunity we will be able to create the HOLOSLIDE a tool using simple available technology to create a mental escape for those with chronic pain or life threatening illness.  Help enhance the ability to remap the mind of people with spinal injuries to move and eventually walk again!

FUN Yes we will have it.  For me it includes writing, creating, sharing and serving.  Vlogging and the utilization of technology for Greatness in peoples lives.  Chance to touch more people faster.

Excited?  Like a Sanguin at a sanguine convention to be more sanguine! (LIFE LINK TO PERS PLUS)  Oh this is going to be almost TO dang easy.   Except for the discipline to write regularly the process of linking books and doubling up on my methods and means for getting paid to read seems like it is going to be like a cool breeze on a hot Texas afternoon.  Up from the gulf and nice and cool, or off a pond.  The average wind in FTW is 11 miles per hour.  Making the task at hand that much more bearable because you can stop and enjoy the work you’ve done for a moment.

Once again we begin to see the Elephant Buzz process unfold in this book to change the world.  What you are reading will not simply be a story, or a journal.  It is an in-depth look at a person living intentionally for excellence.  A virtual reality show/book.  A choose your own adventure autobiographical fiction story.  It is the shared adventures of Conrad Von Supertramp.  Where the readers become characters.  A physiological thriller that asks the big questions and searches for the hard answers to Lifes toughest challenges.

Today’s Adventure included seeing a great man for his Birthday.  We’ll call him Mack.  Ol Mack was used to see potential for my future.  A future self.  An outcome of a lifestyle.  A link to the past and the future at the same time.  In reality he is someone else entirely.  Nothing like me in the present.  Rather like who I seek to be in the future.  Generous, Patient, surrounded by friends.  Caring for others and loving his family.  A teacher of great lessons.  This old cat who rides one of the coolest motorcycles I’ve ever seen.  Original Crazy Frank frame.  This bike just oozes cool in every essence of classic motorcycles.  The life of the builder, designer and rider of that bike for 30+ years only seeks to add to the quality of the machine.  We talked about friends and memories.  People of character who do what they say.  Brothers that would hold onto a motor for 14 years so you could come walking in out of the blue one day and say HEY lets get this thing built.

My Child  the Little Man.  He behaved so well and provided me with so many learning opportunities.  The greatest father felt was when learning respect and that it is never to early to begin teaching it.  His pride at me playing by myself and not having to be entertained made me feel wonderful.  Though my games caused father to worry that I was re-enacting what I had seen and he knew what needed fixed in the household.  Thank God for the Parenting Pack which put him on the right path.  Father then sacrificed time to reward us, though it eventually caused him to be late to the seminar.  That took a lot of patience for father.  He was so good.  Then I got to learn from Rianna the super smart babysitter who has some awesome dreams and real fears about expense of college.  Father and mother enjoy so much talking to young folks and learning about their fears and dreams in order to raise me better.   She honored father a lot when she asked him if he was afraid when going into surgery.  Allowed him freedom to be honest.  He would love to talk more about the patient perspective since she wants to be in healthcare.

Mother was great as well.  A CD helped them both fix things this morning when the process for getting ready to leave for costa rica began to push emotions and cause some Choleric butting of heads.  I’m so happy they are learning to be great examples for me when I’m married and adventuring with my kids.  She dealt with me patiently and evenly as is her phlegmatic way.  Her positive attitude was very helpful though father pushed her for more she gave and gave pushing her comfort zones to help Father accept his downloads.

I even told some amazing stories of my own dreams and the types of dirtbikes I was going to own and how I was going to buy them and which parts I would build and which ones father would build.  How we would work together and how I was going to earn them.  I also mentioned going to a water-park.  I know father worries about tying my wants to his goals for fear of letting me down but I hope that he begins to so that he can accomplish them more.  Mom will have to support this too.

Lady Buttercat. (Wife’s POV/also a character 13 generations after death of Conrad Von Supertramp) Such a wonderful day.   So proud of returning the extra Taco.  Def a test from God.  He had stopped to give me what I wanted.  To serve me and we received an extra taco from the clerk.  So he got up, though I’m sure physically he could have said no I won’t I’ll sit here and rest I’ve earned it, and took the taco back and gave it to the beautiful young lady behind the counter.  They weren’t sure what to do!  Not many people return food when they get more than what they paid for.

What an amazingly strong guy he must have been to do all that so soon after upgrade. Feeling so good about our Life and where we are going.  I can’t wait to rid ourselves of excuses to avoid excellence in our Life.  Since listening to CD’s and associating with a different group of people I have learned that this man is NOT CRAZY.  What a concept.  He is talented and smarter than I could give him credit for before LIFE.  So much fun and growing so fast that it would make your head spin.

His upgrades are really going to make a strong impact.  He was full of that excited talking again that just blows me out of the water.  He just gets going on these ideas and I can’t keep up with his thought process it is firing so much but that is why I LOVE HIM so much.  Ever since he read The Five Love Languages he has become a new man.  A new husband and even better than he was before and he has always been a pretty amazing man to have around.  He now speaks the language of love like poetry and flowers could do for some girls he performs acts of service out of Love.  Because he loves, he loves.

No-one will brag about him like I can.  What an amazing year 2012 is going to be.  Even if the world ends in December 2012 like the Mayans supposedly talk about, it doesn’t matter.  God has shown him that Life could go on and to focus on that because the word of God has not come completely true yet!  Yet!  But someday the Son would return and we will have no more tears.  To have a husband and father to my son who seeks to ensure that heaven is duplicated on earth through the joint creative process of his writing and God’s power is nothing short of a blessing when so many women have divorce and hardship in their marriage.  Now I know to read more for him, and I don’t mind books laying around so much.  Seminar tonight I can’t wait.  Dean and Theresa are so amazing.  Jeremy Winters reminds us so much of Dean.  Great personalities could talk to anyone, but focused and reserved, always smiling.  Wish I understood why Conrad and Jeremy have never become business partners in Life?

Ok go home, get food for Roland, give him his medicine, prepare myself to be seen with this hunk of a husband, instruct the babysitter OMG I’ve got a lot to do when we get home.  I just wish there was more time.

CVS (Self POV)  Thank you Jesus!  Finally took some time to sit down and begin to put a plan together for Life again.  Since hitting most of my previous plans goals so early and the arrival of the Life opportunity

FUTURE  Format for adventures?  INCL specific items to accomplish with each post what how much?

PRESENT how relevant is that?  As tomorrow it will be the past?  This is the moments in which we live.

Potential  This is what really matters.  What could we do with all this….stuff?  I’m looking at links right now for Rianna and it is leading me to other books that mention people in secret armies of Light and Dark, taking things from the Tower? Is this another connection to Stephen King and The Dark Tower series?  These little wikipedia popups and info popus as recommended links are providing some interesting potential in and of themselves.  Sitting here bringing the upgrade into my life, letting my body and my mind use the Word of God to create reality.  After reading The tongue a Creative Force by Charles Capps.  I JUST FOUND IT FOR FREE!  ARGH  I paid good money for that book.  Well worth the investment.  Here it is now for free.  I want to send this to everyone I know.  I’m so grateful my mentor Larry Cheatham sent me this book.  It has succinctly put into one book the grand concept of what i was hoping I could maybe elude to in the Adventures of Conrad Von Supertramp vs 1.0.  That what we say, and what we write, and what we put out into the world is manifest into reality by GOD’s power and your faith.  If you speak or write negative things, then you will receive them.  I knew that what the Law of Attraction and people who were new age religions were really saying was what the bible has been saying for 2,000 years.  Only it took me reading it from outside perspectives, and rather than taking GOD out trying to put GOD into everything and proving his word worked by building a business based on free information.  Proving it and bringing it into the information age.  Well here we are, and it works!

Excellent thing is you can take the lessons of GOD and the blessings of GOD and the struggles of getting worthy of his time (eternity) by seeking out an excellent existence as humans, write entertaining books about them and find financial success and personal joy in the process.  Or make great movies whatever.  So cool that Gillian let me be in her movie.  Even if I am a horrible actor I’m going to be in just such a book.  I just saw something about people accusing actor Nicolas Cage with being a time traveling vampire.  He denies it but who wouldn’t right?  I would if I was asked, that is why I am a time traveling cyborg because if I told people I was a vampire they would think I was nuts!

Time travel isn’t so impossible though now which is cool.  Gotta love all this potential.  So what shall we do with it?

Victory

Should I do blogs, books, videos?  All these or none?  There is much value in them.  At least when I give myself honest feedback I have a lot to be happy for.  Was I excellent everyday?  No.  I did not seek to be.  I only sought to be excellent 20 hours a week, because being excellent is WORK!  It takes effort to Live Intentionally for Excellence.  Now things have changed.

I’ve upgraded form Free information and the University of Freedom to paying for specific high quality low cost information through Life subscriptions.  Since being introduced and challenged by great people like Chris Brady and Orrin Woodward.  Tim Marks and Claude Hamilton Larry Cheatham Joeand Tracy Clark and being a part of TEAM AO, seeing Raymond begin to blog as a way to lead his team.  I’ve been convicted on a lot.  Now I am convinced of a lot.  That I Can do what I thought was just a dream, a hobby to keep me from losing my mind, by chasing ideas that made people think I was losing my mind.  It is so nice to look back and just smile now.

Makes me sing Social Distortion.  Live before you die.  Forerunner for my Policy council song.

Edification, Duplication, great concepts for steal it from people who already did it.  Now I don’t feel so guilty about what I was hoping to achieve.  Name dropping professionally.

What a great start to this new adventure.  I hope the great people who have helped me get this far by actually reading my thoughts continue to enjoy the new version.  The plan is for a better look, a better quality of postings, better videos, and more professional feel to what I’m doing.  More excellent links and more excellent characters.  I’m gonna go offline and dream journal so as not to get to crazy for the first adventure.

Just take this with you.  YOU CAN DO ANYTHING!  If I CAN YOU CAN WE CAN  We are team Supertramp,  YOU Are Team Supertramp the readers.  Together we can adapt to anything and solve any problem because we are supertramps; ecological entities capable of adapting to new environments quickly and easily.

This is the Adventures of Conrad Von Supertramp

I am Conrad Von Supertramp; author, student, consultant, guide, Space Cowboy!  Preparing to change the world for the better by changing myself, writing about my adventures and helping to change the world.  Going to build a space chopper, a holoslide, and housing of the future.  Upgraded and ready for new and more exciting adventures.  I get results by being focused humble and patient in all things.  I am trustworthy loyal helpful friendly courteous kind obedient cheerful thrifty brave clean and reverant and on my honor I will do my best to do my duty to GOD Family Team and Self.  With the blessings of my savior Jesus Christ I will live out my life as an example and leave a legacy for 12 generations.  I will improve myself constantly in 9 f’s. Faith Family Finances Fitness Following Friends Freedom Fun and FOOD.

 

Stay tuned for continue updates from the Adventures of Conrad Von Supertramp Vs 2.0