A Gentle Suggestion for Employers

Hello there, Friends of the Humble Fishe.

I would like to share a Gentle Suggestion for the people of today who are in charge of doing the hiring for businesses, from fast-food to retail.

I write this down because of a recent application process to which I was ignominiously exposed during a recent application put forth to the Dollar General store chain.

Dollar General is a national (US) chain of small stores, with various household products, ranging from the usual toilet sundries (toothpaste, anti-perspirant, shampoo, etc.), to cleaning chemicals, cat and dog food, and even clothing to a small extent.

Most of these items are priced between $1.0- and $6.00 dollars, with the high-side items mostly found on brand-name merchandise, as opposed to the lesser known store brands. It's called a 'dollar store,' but isn't necessarily one of the 'everything's a dollar' dollar stores. It is, however, one of the largest in the US, so it's a (I'm assuming) stable chain that isn't closing anytime soon.

That said, it's still a store that pays well below the national average for cashiering, which is the job for which I was applying. Now, let me explain why I'm a bit up in arms about this situation:

When I was in my teens and early twenties--from about 1980 to 1986 or so--I was able to go to any local business, get a paper application at that store, fill it out at home (usually, sometimes they wanted it filled out there), and bring it back; after this, there was a good chance of being able to speak with a hiring manager or other such person. If an interview were scheduled, I stood a good chance of getting hired.

The basic elements of prior work history were there, under the heading of Past Employment, Previous Employers, Work History, and the like. There were the Name, Address, City, State, and Zip Code lines. Education was there, and a place to list my (then) high school experiences, extra curricular activities (school clubs, what-have-you).

These were entry-level, largely minimum wage jobs. They didn't require a degree, just a reasonable understanding of life-in-general, with a modicum of an ability to work with the public, operate a cash register (scanners had just been implemented at that time), *Know How To Count Back Change Manually!* (is this taught anymore?), as well as expectations of reasonable honesty with the company money for which you were responsible and accountable at the end of the day.

It was also expected that you would have a reasonable amount of integrity in your personal life to be understanding to the employees with which you worked, and to know enough to keep personal things personal and work things at work. It was inevitable that some personal elements would cross over on to the work field, such as needing to pick up children from school, go to Boy and Girl Scout meetings, take the babysitter home, and such, but these were understood as more-or-less 'standard things' that happened all the time, were easily managed, and didn't overly disrupt the day-to-day operation of the store-at-large.

What wasn't done is probe intensely into the internal psychology of company employees to the extent that a person was expected to 'bare their soul' against the wall for all to see; which brings me to the crux of this blog entry:

Modern retailers go too far when they ask prospective employees to submit to a 'voluntary,' subjective, values-clarification/psychological test for a job that does not require it. It is invasive, nosy, and invades the privacy of everyone. Please allow me to illustrate below, via my own recent experience.

I go into the Dollar General store to get something I needed, pay for it, then leave. Looking back at the door, I saw that they were looking for an assistant manager. Well, I'm not so sure of my ability for that position, but it couldn't hurt to ask, so I went back inside, asked the cashier on duty who I needed to talk to, was told that *she* was the one, and was told to come back the following day, and 'we could talk about it.'

So far, so good. Morning comes and I arrive at Dollar General to talk to the manager about the position. Well, she didn't feel anything listed on my job history was specific enough for her to give me the assistant manager's job, but she suggested I could apply to be an 'associate,' meaning a cashier-cum-stocker. The only way a cashier does *only* that particular job is at a large grocery store, and even then, is probably expected to keep the candy rack stocked; it's just part of the job.

The job isn't hard. It's simple. Blindly simple. So simple, I, a person who can utilize five or six computer operating systems, regularly uses four (Vista64, XP Pro, Mac OS-X, and GNU/Linux), can play improvisational piano (my own very basic, specific style), and even sing when I put my mind to it. Not hard at all.

Take the till money, count it at the beginning of the shift, compare it to what is on the ticket, sign off on it, put it in the drawer, sign on to the register if needed, and start ringing up customers. Stock the shelves (being sure to lock the register before doing so) if required, tend to customers as needed, keep a sharp eye for shoplifters and other forms of trouble, keep scanning merchandise, bag up the customers' parcels, say 'thank you for your business' and allow them to go on their way; move to the next customer. Repeat.

This job doesn't require a college degree, folks!

So what is The Humble Fishe all up in his fins about? What is it that is so nagging on my ol' Fishey Brain? I respectfully invite you to continue with the coclusion to our little story:

After accepting the invitation to apply for the 'associate' position, I was waived over to the side of the store away fron the checkout line and given a paper application, that is, I was *shown* the application, then had it explained.

I've never had an application explained to me before, save for some state jobs that had a common process for everyone at a central meeting (these types of jobs have this as a fairly standard practice).

Anyway, she goes over the usual Name, Address, State, etc. lines and then gets down to the part that First, made me cringe--as I always do at subjective values-clarification exams--, and the Second, that made me decide to walk out and forget the whole affair.

The dialog went something like this:

Manager: First, we'll need you to fill out the top half, with your Name, Address, and such, then you'll need to go down to this part.

Me: (Manager waiting to see if I understand so far:) "Okay, got it (nodding head.)

Manager: "You'll need to fill out this section, and you'll need to call up a number I'll give you to take the test. *Do You Have A Cell Phone?* (My Own Emphasis)

Me: "Well, yes, I do have a cell phone, but it's one of those prepaid jobs and it's just about out of minutes."

Manager: "Oh, okay, well I suppose you can use the one here.

[At this point, the Manager walks over to the check-out counter (presumably that's where the phone is located) while I follow and continue to watch her go down the application list.]

Manager: (Looking at the application, moving in a generally 'I've Explained This A Thousand Times Before' manner, making hand gestures to get me to understand, etc.:) "After the test is done, then we get to the Desired Behaviors List and. . ."

[It was at that point my subconscious had had enough. I was wondering if I was applying for a job or being being subjected to some psychology student doing a double-blind study :-P.]

Me: (Interrupting:) "Ma'am, I've had enough. This is way too invasive for a mere cashiering job. Thank you for your time and have a good day. Goodbye."

I thanked her for her time, and walked out of the store.

Summary


The company and its store manager went too far in two areas: The first was in asking me to use my own phone time and expenditure to perform what was a company function. This is a serious breach of propriety, and, to me, is highly unethical. It makes the job applicant wonder if the company can be so insolvent as to not be able to provide for a desired function for its employees, and just makes the company appear to be, directly put: "Just Plain Cheap!"

The second area concerns the intense focus on the nearly ubiquitous question-and-answer, subjective values-clarification testing regimens that just about everyone is using today in their search for the Perfect Employee (Insert Photo of Sun-Drenched, Sparkly Employee Here :-P.)

The forty question test I could have accepted. Accepted, that is, had it not gone farther than that. The Manager, at that point, was intensely into the breaking down of the test results into what she--ergo, the company--had down as a list of 'desirable behaviors,' and I was not going to have any of it!

'Desirable' is me not stealing from your till, shoplifting the merchandise after hours as I'm closing (also known as Malfeasance, or Employee Theft) the store. 'Desirable' is me having not only a calm, controlled, and self-directed, useful demeanor to your customers, but also having a slew of product knowledge as well as being able to tell a customer in ten seconds flat or less where a product is located, whether or not we're out of a product, and when it's going to be back on the shelf.

What the Manager at Dollar General was going to go over as 'desirable' didn't interest me at that point. I expect it was very specific, and probably had absolutely nothing to do with me, but applied to the maladapted part of society prone to some of the aforementioned uglies.

It did not, nor would it *ever* apply in any way, shape, or form, to The Humble Fishe! Not now! Not Ever!!

The modern workplace is turning into a playground for human resource management paranoia freaks. I, for one, do not take these tests and would advise every one reading this to do the same. Find an employer who will deal with you directly and keep their nose out of your personal psychology. As long as one is able to do the job-in-question and get along with others, that is the only reason to hire a person.

Subjective values-clarification tests do not give accurate results, invade people's privacy, and are unethical as hell to use in the workplace to screen employees!

The Humble Fishe's Gentle Suggestion for Dollar General:

Get your head out of mine! Politeness dictates that you don't prod too heavily into my background for such a mundane job as cashier. A background check will handle that information, is cheap, and can be had during any business week.

Asking me to give responses to subjective, adroitly-personal questions, then furthering the miasma by having your store manager go over a list--presumably to tell me what behaviors are desirable versus those that are not--is an insult to my intelligence and a breach of manners I am not wont to forgive.

Please be of a mind to respect more the privacy rights of your employees, and please stop being so nosy! Until you walk the proverbial mile in my moccasins, Ladies and Gentlemen of Dollar General, you have no right to even consider asking me to bare my soul to you.

I wanted a job, some eventual management training, and some self-respect. I received none of it!

Warm Regards,
The Humble Fishe

HumFisheKu For December

Feathers against face

Burning cold, tho' 'wakening

Snow on Niseko


(Note: Niseko, in the SW part of Hokkaido, Japan, is famous for ski resorts and outdoor activities. A place I'd like to visit.)

Kitty N Me :-)

This is Me and my kitty, 'Motor.' I named her that because she has quite the engine under the fur.

A special note goes out to my friend 'onetinsoldier': Thanks for all the help, man! :-)

Warm Regards,
The Humble Fishe

HumFisheKu for November, 2008

Although I Am Cold,

Winter's Early Kiss Behold',

Jenn Still Warms My Soul!

--Lovingly Dedicated To My Wife, Jennifer! :-)

--Jenn...The first three have been Wonderful! Let's make the Fourth and the ones to follow the Best There Is! I Love You, Wifey! --Fisheyfurbles!

A Moral

Give unto others the freedom to be themselves at all times. Discount minor offenses and look to the bright side of having a cover on a cup with a lot of joy inside of it. The joy will usually be drawn up through a straw of direct intention after the whipped topping is scooped out by a spoon of alacrity that fits perfectly through the hole in the top of the lid!

Warm Regards,
--Firefishe

HumFisheKu for October, 2008

Life, a warming trend,

Bundled up, waiting for cold,

Springtime rains wake me!

HumFisheKu For August 2008

Myriads of Founts,

Mercuric and Acidic,

Raining on my Soul.

Hum Fishe Ku for Wednesday, June 18th, 2008

Mountains of newness,
Rise up, graciously giving,
Me all of my dreams.

--Firefishe

Hum Fishe Ku for June, 2008

Emotions leveled,
Preparing for the trek home,
I begin anew.

Life Lessons From The Fishe 1 - Quelling A Lifetime of Overreacting

I grew up as a Small Town American, and very very proud of that fact. Most people I encountered--primarily friends of my Father and Mother--were willing to lend a hand when asked.

I was also willing to lend a hand, and did not even need to be asked, but often--as a child--offered to help out first, before anyone asked at all.

I have been away from the idyllic life of my youth for many years now, and have come to regret it! I have become an overreactive machine, running on autopilot, reacting strongly to the slightest misgiving and slights. Is it a wonder I don't have many friends?

The Firefishe isn't a bad guy, but neither is he a prime candidate for Mr. Congeniality, either. My life has been one of having to deal with other people in my formative years, largely adults, of course, but also having to put up with rude behavior and the subject of that rudeness from within my own peer group.

I know I didn't do the best I could, or I wouldn't be blogging this. I overreacted most of the time to the slightest prevarication, usually to my detriment, as those involved were usually stronger than me. I've never been a Charles Atlas. I'd learned to become passive, and then, as I became an adult, I learned to put up a defensive front not even an interplanetary invasion force could penetrate.

Such has been my experience, of my dealings with people on a day-to-day basis. I've been rather lackluster in the area of Human Friendship Building, and it has hurt me greatly.

So here I am now, at 42, and wanting to 'go back to the way it was.' It's not just a 'flash in the pan' desire, either. I feel that my past is calling for me to come back to an earlier time of Joy, Happiness, and Full Desire! Okay, so what does that mean? It means that, Today, I can choose to incorporate what my childhood-from-my-past wants me to experience in my Present Today.

Sounds new-agey, doesn't it? Well, yes, and it is! I have been new-agey for a very long time, and resonate with this view: That we all are capable of experiencing a 'new age' of Joy, Love, and Fulfillment in our lives. (Disclaimer: --> I desire this and want this, but I've found it very difficult to allow it and those feelings to bloom forth as flowers in my present-day life. Why? Keep reading!)

The 'why' part stems from the aforementioned defensive psychological shielding I put up in my formative years to 'protect' (we're never really in need of psychological protection, as we have strong minds; if we'd only choose to use them!) myself from what I perceived then as 'possibilities of 'imminent attack' from 'other people,' a label I would use repeatedly as a means of comparison.

Ergo, I, Myself, was never as good as 'other people,' and never would--or could--be.

I mistreated myself like this for many years, until the day I couldn't take any more of it, turned off my emotions successfully for about an hour and a half, and was forced to pull over to the curb and park, so heavy were the tears that poured forth after having been forcefully held in check, I could not drive anymore! I thought I could self-hate indefinitely and decided to withdraw my participation by forcing myself mentally to exclude all emotional channels and outside emotional influence--a/k/a 'involvement with people.'

The human body, it is said, has a variety of subtle energy bodies that interpenetrate this physical universe and the non-physical, spiritual, part of our existence. This would seem to be a correct assumption: Forceful mind-focus upon a part of one's being one considers a 'non essential' part of the body as a whole--namely the emotional body--and try to force it's exclusion. Well, it didn't work.

It doesn't work. It won't work. It can't work. We are emotional beings, and that emotion is what gives us our Drive, gives us our Passions! Passions uncontrolled may lead to addictions, but Passions properly channeled lead to Victory! Victory in Joy, Love, Happiness, and Fulfillment.

I bring this up today because of an incident that happened at a local place I and my wife frequent. The store in question is a book and music store that has--treasure of treasures--a cafe with Free Internet! My wife and I met Online, and we are always to be found doing something creative with our computers, especially at this particular venue.

I had purchased a large tub of microwave popcorn and had asked the clerk to microwave it for me. I also presented a coupon for a free drink I had been given two days before. The drink was prepared first, and I made the request that the clerk make it without a cover on it, so that I could get to the whipped cream easier. Well, the clerk responded in a manner which was quite unlike her normal responses, replying with something like 'I'm not going to prepare it that way, because it's messy and, besides, you won't be able to enjoy 'all the good stuff' properly, anyway.' (Whatever that means--the entire drink is crushed ice, flavoring, milk, and whipped cream--ergo, it's all 'good stuff!').

So I, somewhat disgruntled at being 'told off,' let her do her thing, and I got my drink. I don't know if this was a matter of 'instant-karma' coming to the fore, but I tried to take the lid off, and it was practically welded on to the rim of the plastic cup! This met with disaster, as I worked to pry off the lid, finally doing so and splashing about a third of the top-contents of the drink on my table, part of my laptop computer--fortunately not on anything vital--and the floor!

Now on to the popcorn tub. This store rents and sells movies and movie related items, such as tie-in products, action figures, and the like. They sell these big theater tubs of Act II brand Movie Theater Butter popcorn. This tub has a microwave-reflective bottom which has the unpopped kernels in it, with an expanding piece of plastic sandwich bag-like material over that to keep them captive during microwaving as they rise

Well, the end-result of this monster tub of RF-induced movie theater madness is that the plastic bag material tends to rip apart, spewing popcorn everywhere in the microwave oven, necessitating its regular cleanup. The clerks have gone to not following the directions on the popcorn, listening for the kernels to stop popping as it's written on the side of the tub and, instead, doing it their own way.

I should've let the matter go. I should've let the matter go. I should've let the matter go! But I didn't!!

Another clerk popped this popcorn for me two days prior to this, giving me the coupon for the free drink I used today--at my behest, as I suggested that I would have unpopped kernels in the bottom of the tub. Well, I didn't then and I didn't today. Both times the clerks prepared my popcorn and not a single unpopped kernel in sight when I reached the bottom, save for two or three, which are normal for this type of popcorn.

The Entire Point: I ended up ranting that I'd go inform the manager, which I did, ending up pouring all the popcorn out of the tub into a plastic bag, realizing the error of my ways when I found that there were no unpopped kernels, apologizing to the manager at that point as well as the clerk at a later point. I ended up feeling useless, foolish, and wanting for social decorum and feeling as though I had really messed up on another daily chance of personal friendship building!

I felt deeply sorry, and apologized to the clerk again, after an hour or so had passed. I asked the clerk for forgiveness. I'm not afraid to admit when I've been wrong so I asked her for her forgiveness. She gave it to me! Simple and direct forgiveness!! I decided to give my emotional self a break for a change and accept it without judgment.

The Moral

Give unto others the freedom to be themselves at all times. Discount minor offenses and look to the bright side of having a cover on a cup with a lot of joy inside of it. The joy will usually be drawn up through a straw after the whipped topping is scooped out by a spoon of alacrity that fits perfectly through the hole in the top of the lid!

Warm Regards,
--The Firefishe

Verizon Wireless, The BlackBerry 8830 World Edition Smartphone, & The GPS Safety Net

There is just so much I can stand when it comes to companies trying to make a buck! I especially eschew any attempt by a company to negate my personal safety when it comes to use of the Global Positioning System.

Let me be succinct: I bought a BlackBerry 8830 World Edition smartphone through Verizon Wireless this past summer, complete with a two-year customer service contract, to boot!

I bought this email-oriented PDA phone to be a do-it-all solution for my phone, email, and GPS Location Based needs. There are many fine third-party programs available for BlackBerry, and they are increasing in number each year. Some of the more notable software includes the following:

1. BlackBerry Maps (A mapping and location lookup tool produced by Research In Motion, the company that makes the BlackBerry handsets. Enabled for phone calls from location searches.)
2. Google Maps (Another mapping and location lookup solution used by a majority of BlackBerry owners nationwide. I use it constantly, and can make a phone call from the location listing when it appears.)
3. MapQuest Navigator (While not specifically for the 8830 model (yet), I was able to install it, MapQuest Navigator being a Third Party J2ME Software Application, capable of being used on many J2ME Java Based Handsets. The software recognizes the GPS Chip Hardware on the 8830, but alas, can not access the GPS Data Stream, due to Verizon Wireless disabling this feature at the firmware (software-on-chip) level. This program has a GPS Satellite Screen Dialog, which shows that is "Acquiring Satellites." Due to Verizon Wireless negating the GPS Chip Hardware Dataflow, MapQuest Navigator's satellite screen only shows that the software is "Acquiring Satellites," but never does.

{Technical Note: The GPS Chip Hardware Dataflow is not an easy feature for the average end-user to re-enable, themselves, and requires an extensive knowledge base of information to perform successfully. One needs to have extensive knowledge of computer programming at the very least.}

What this means to me as a Blackberry Power User can not be overstated enough: It completely negates my overall safety net and performance goals for this phone on this network. All that Verizon Wireless has to do is enable GPS and negate their stand that they do this for 'security reasons'--an argument that has very little merit, considering the fact that the lack of GPS on this GPS-Native handset does just that!

To this end, I am considering filing a complaint of criminal negligence against Verizon Wireless if they don't re-enable my GPS Data Stream IN FULL so that other applications of my choice can access the GPS Data Stream from the GPS Chipset on my BlackBerry 8830 World Edition smartphone.

Please understand this: I Like Verizon, overall! I do not have any beef with the coverage, or the high-speed EV-DO network. Fact is, I'm with Verizon because of that very same EV-DO network!

However, the negation of the GPS Data Stream from the on-board GPS Chipset Hardware negates my full-enjoyment of this phone for both Safety--as well as my favorite sport: Geocaching! (Click HERE for more information on Geocaching).

I've been thinking of writing an application for Geocaching enthusiasts who happen to own BlackBerry handsets. This software would also, as a GPS Enabled Application, allow BlackBerry owners with GPS Enabled Handsets, to use the application as a stand-alone GPS application; it would be complete with a traditional GPS Satellite Page (which has a world graphic with satellite positions with their signal strengths), a Compass Page (which has a Compass Graphic, shows To and From Information Fields, and the like. Geocaching Information, as well, would be available, including use for something called Pocket Queries. (See the GPS FAQ Link Above for information on Pocket Queries.)

I can not do this when the carrier negates the Native GPS Safety and Enhancement features of the BlackBerry 8830 World Edition, or when Qualcomm negates the ability of the same handset to use the GPS features when the phone is in overseas GSM Mode. Why would anyone in their right mind negate GPS Location Information for a client base that does international traveling?

GPS IS International! GPS Location Information IS Safety! GPS Mapping Software IS A Safety Solution for Overseas Travelers! Disabling native-GPS features on an so-called worldband phone in any mode is Just Plain Stupid, Idiotic, and Negligent!

I am going to go forward with this matter if I do not receive satisfaction! Please Stay Tuned!

=-Warm Regards from The Humble Fishe-=

Hum Fishe Ku for August

It's been a while.

I've found my way home again.

Water and I join.

The Humble Fishe Goes Treasure Hunting

Wanting to try my hand at the Narrative, I present my fellow Geocachers with this small anecdote of a cache find, from start to finish.

--Firefishe and the Burr Oak Cache--

Part One
--
"A Chanceful Hike, Rotted Out Boots, and a Photographer"

I originally intended to just take a short walk for an hour or so in Grindstone Park, but decided to see if there were any caches nearby.

Having already logged one other cache in this park, I decided to do so; seeing as my cache finds only number 103, I figured this would be a fairly easy, though reasonably challenging regular style cache to find.

So, off I go, following the trail, going *across the bridge* and pausing just slightly after the silo on the right hand side where the trail makes a gradual right turn and goes off to where people and their dogs run.

That's when I decided to look at the gps. A bit on my trusty gps tool (and probably a shameless plug, as well ;0): My Garmin GPSmap 76CSx has been the best of everything to me in the handheld gps world. The SiRF Chipset receives signals my eTrex Vista Cx might otherwise not (although the Vista Cx is a bit more handy when it comes to 'stealth' activity), and really makes Garmin's '76' series of handhelds with the built-in compass--which works only when the handheld is held level--shine!

My old GPSmap 76S doesn't even come close, when the unit was held level, the signal reception suffered greatly, as the '76' series' antennas are all vertically polarized and work best when held nearly straight up and down! And I really needed the compass in this densely wooded area!

Getting back to where I was before: I stopped at the junction just past the silo, took a look at the gps, then looked at the trails around me.

The indicator was showing I needed to go left, instead of right as I had originally planned. Well, I figure the 'gps don't lie' (it usually doesn't, so long as I have the 'map' for the area in my head, first) so I started moving in the direction of my bearing line on the gps's displayed map--then currently set to the routable roads map set. I quickly switched to topo mode (I have a 1gb card in this thing with just about all of the Eastern United States in it!) so I'd have a few more notable land features, such as the local river and rivulets--including one labled "Intermittent Stream" (which I'll get to later).

Well, I followed the only available trail, keeping track of where I was walking in my head as well as what was happening on the gps screen. I walked through a narrow part of the trail where the woods came close to each side, then came to an open area--complete with a strangely curved, cast iron pipe coming out of the ground. I also came to a place where I figured I might have some difficulty, and so I did! The trail ended at the water's edge, or just a bit up on a sort of mini bluff where the trail ended, forming the bank up from the river.

I was at a loss, so I looked at the gps again. The bearing line to the cache was indicating somewhere off to the right, so I followed it...straight along another trail that I thought might lead to a decent river crossing. When I arrived at a point nearly opposite the cache (on the other side of the river, and up and over a rocky bluff), and indicating something like 435 feet or so, I looked around for a way to cross.

I went up the trail a bit, then back to where I had originally been standing, as I could find nothing that looked workable without swimming. Not having swimwear on helped in this decision making process ;o). Coming back, I looked down to an area that looked like it might be workable, then looked across the bank and noticed something I had not noticed when walking from the other direction: a person with a 35mm camera doing a close-up shot of a flower on the other bank!

Well, not wanting to disturb said person, I quietly meandered my way down a small wash, to the river's edge, then proceeded to take closer inventory of my choices. The overall condition of the crossover area in question might've been fairly workable to a person with hiking boots that did not have a hole where the upper had recently come apart from the outsole, and I didn't really care to get the inside of my Merrel's soaked, thus ruining an otherwise worthy cache attempt--as well as a pair of fairly costly hiking boots!

The person across the way was standing up from their flower photo session, and I was able to strike up a conversation. Apparently, they had crossed in this very same location, probably having come from the same parking lot where I was parked. Their hiking boots were apparently in better shape than mine, so, after inquiring as to whether there was a more workable crossing up or downstream, I was pollitely referred to a 'possible bridge,' then decided to persue my quarry from the other side of the main walkway bridge near the parking lot. I waved goodbye, wished the photographer well, and began the second leg of my journey.


Part Two
--
"A Different Trail, Working the GPS Electronic Compass, and an Intermittent Stream"

Having crossed the bridge back to the other side of the river, I began looking for a trail that would take me along the proper side of the river and then to the cache.

The Grindstone Park parking lot is really a small, self contained park area in and of itself. It has a nice paved section of trail that winds along a short distance to the bridge (the trail turns to dirt on the other side of the river), a covered picnic pavilion, and a large, plastic 'privy' for when-you-just-have-to-go *snicker* ;o). Apparently, there is also another trail head of sorts, as well.

This trail is another path that has been worn into the side of the bank on the park side of the river, and apprently sees heavy use. Seeing as I really had no other choice in the matter, I decided, wisely, to follow this trail's course. The trail took me up onto the bluff, and causes one to pass directly underneath a condo or apartment complex of some kind, although not really so near it due to the rocks and outgrowth from the side of the bluff face, itself. The trail is narrow, rocky, and it is not recommended that small children be allowed on it without a tremendous amount of adult supervision, if not outright hand holding and rope tying (to the parent, presumably, and not the family dog!)

Having passed this narrow piece of [i]Sod du Mort[/i] I was faced with a small stream, or rivulet, crossing. This was easily accomplished thanks to a relatively small opposite bank with a lot of hand holds, primarily consisting of young saplings and other plant matter. Having availed myself of 'Nature's Bannisters', I found that I was a bit in a pickle about where my course should be. Enter the electronic compass!

The Garmin GPSmap 76CSx has a very accurate electronic compass that, so long as it is calibrated prior to each trip (which is standard for this type of system regardless of manufacturer, at least to date that I am aware), is as highly functional as its manual counterparts. I usually keep the compass function turned off to conserve battery power, so I turned the function on by holding down the Page button for a few seconds until the 'Compass Turned On' display popped up on the bottom of the screen.

Then the fun began! :o) It's nice to not have to carry multiple instruments when desired. (Although it's wise to *always* carry more than one when you're out in rougher and more remote country, actually, it's a requirement and would in all probability save one's life in a jam!) Having the entire navigational system in one complete package makes more sense to me as the years progress.

Before I turned on the compass feature, the Bearing Pointer arrow was pointing this way and that, waiting for me to move the gps to get the compass indicator to move, which is my usual method. With the compass on, all I had to do was wait for the fluctuations to stop, then look in the general direction of where the Bearing Line on the map was indicating I should go.

A word about Bearing Lines vs Course Lines. Course lines are great when you need to know and keep tabs on the route from where you initially started, then use something called the Course Pointer to keep you properly in the center of the course line. This is fine for boats on open water, but I find it rather useless in heavy forest cover, such has Grindstone Park. To me, the Bearing Line, which moves with you as you move, is a bit more helpful, as it gives a visual reference to your destination--in this case Burr Oak Cache--directly from where you happen to be. So long as you make a Waypoint at where your car is parked, not using a Course Line isn't a liability, so as finding your original starting point is concerned.

So I let the compass point the way, then looked around for visual references. As I'm behind some trees, and can't really see anything toward the larger river which this stream runs in to, I decide to let the compass and gps have their way; I didn't regret this decision. I did end up having to go up a fairly steep and rocky ridge, then down a decent hill, but this didn't deter me. I had to move a bit more slowly than usual up the slope, and selected my footing--and my young tree hand holds ;o)--somewhat more carefully than usual, as the slope was wet and slippery from recent rains.

Compressing this up a bit, I made my way down hill to a well-marked trail, with a well-marked and worn (looked like it was burned!) trail sign indicating Burr Oak. The Burr Oak was defniitely there, huge and round and decently old, so far as trees go. I was a bit confuddled about location, and I didn't want to really poke around too heavily as the area was fairly open. However, there wasn't anyone around save for that photographer I met, and I didn't see anyone else at all. Still, it's nice to read about your cache, so I popped out my equally trusty Palm Tungsten T3 PDA and CacheMate, a PalmOS geocaching application.

The Description section was similar to the note on my Garmin's waypoint note, so far as the Author was concerned. The Hints section gave me what I needed to be quick and decent about logging the cache. I use the Hints often and regularly, especially in urban locations where stealth and brevity in 'presence before the cache' are necessities if you don't want to find it plundered later by uncouth geomuggles. I may keep off the Hints section on days in which I really desire to 'test my mettle,' but I'm in this sport/pasttime/addiction ;o) *snicker* for a reasonable treasure hunt, not as a difficulty and/or speed maven; in short, I just like to have fun, and not get too competitive with it, least of all with myself.

Well, I found it in the place indicated, and I have to say that, for an open area, the hiders did a bangup job of keeping the thing hidden. I didn't even see it at first until going past it, down to a small creek, than back up again. It was coming back that I found it.

Took: kcmose carabiner signature item
Left: Loose change from pocket

I went back trying out the TrakBack feature of the GPSmap 76CSx, but found it to be too cumbersome. Unless you're going to be going in relatively straight lines with well-defined turns at well-defined corners, I don't advocate the use of TrakBack or other similar features on other gps units when you walk ten feet, turn around, go back twenty feet, turn around again, then walk five feet, go right for 100 yards, then turn left for 50 feet...you get the picture!

After logging the cache and rehiding the container in a more or less similiar fashion in which I found it (just where did that camoflage piece of *forest material go, was it on top, or on the side? ;-?), I took another look at the gps map. I was still in topo mode, and I needed to plot my way back, as I had gotten needlessly turned around whilst cache logging. I took a look at where my CAR waypoint was, and panned my cursor arrow on the gps display toward that general location. During the act of panning, my arrow stopped momentarily over a small water course, and the words "Intermittent Stream" popped up.

This was right along my original breadcrumb trail I had been logging since starting out from the parking lot, and made a perfect proximity waypoint to indicate where I needed to turn to go back along the bluff.

I made it back to my car without incident, and relished in the logging of a way-overdue geocache, #104 for me! A long way to go to 1000, my next goal!

I hope everyone enjoyed this narrative.

Warmest regards from,

Firefishe
Caching In On The Journey

Note: Firefishe is my Geocaching Handle or Nickname. Look for me at www.geocaching.com. Let's Go Geocaching!

HumFisheKu for November

Yearnings of the past

Fate grasping for a lost heart

Spirit dancing home

Reminiscings

I am at a stage now in my life where I am not sure of where I am going or where I 've been. Have any of you out there ever been there, now, where I am? I'm sure many of you have.

I don' t know what it is that I'm seeking. Everything seems elusive, tenuous, filmy, foglike, and cloudy. Nothing is solid. Even the good ol' solid Earth under my feet and around me seems to be wavering of late. I feel lost in time.

Time. That is one elusive construct. To me, it doesn't seem so far from the days of my youth. I'm not elderly at 41, but I still can almost taste the ice cream cones, if you know what I mean? The thing is, everyone else around me has seemingly grown up and I feel like I've been left behind.

The emotions from the past are so strong, it's like they're calling me back, calling me...home? I've never felt as if I've ever been home since I moved out of my parent's house. I've never had a house of my own. Heck! I live in an RV for crying out loud! That's not to say I'm not an RV nut--don't get me wrong, I am--but at least other people who own RV's also own some private land to keep it on, a garage to keep it in, and a house to go back to. Some people even own two houses, if they're well-heeled enough.

What that last sentence should articulate to everyone is: "...if they've prepared correctly." That's my problem. I'm 41 and I'm not prepared for anything. I've done poorly at school all my life, and have been virtually shunned by people of my own peer groups. High school was bad enough, but my middle and elementary school years were hell! I wouldn't want to re-live them at all, except to go back in time, present myself as a representative of the state educational dept., and give some of my former so-called 'teachers' (and I use the term loosely, very loosely) a run down on what not to do with a particular student.

So where does that leave me now? Pining for the days of yore, that's certain. But also desiring to be able to accept where I've been with grace and push forward with vim, vigor, and a renewed and matured energy, the likes of which I've never had in my younger days. So what do I do, kind readers, what do I do?

I'm camping on a crossroads in my life, longing for more solid lodgings. I need something, something that is calling me back. Something...a part of my Spirit that was left behind or something. or something... left behind... I need to help that lost part of me find home. Here I go...

--Stephen

My Beach

My Beach

Lingers on the outside edge of ecstasy,

Meandering shoreline, hugging the bleeding edge of experience,

Whole, blue sky, expanses from the horizon, to overhead, down the other side,

Heralding a dome of Life. My own experiences.

My Beach

Bridges gaps, creating, fashioning broad pathways,

A place where dimensions coalesce, intertwine, and meet.

My Beach

Is a place where the gods of old dance,

Giving the Knowledge of old to the people of today,

Blending their spirits, coupling their hearts,

Teaching how to do the sacred Dances of the Cosmos,

The Dark and Light Moon Dancing,

The Creation and Fire Dance of the Sun,

The Roiling River Dance of the Waters,

The Underworld Dance of The Passing,

The Intertwining Spirit Dance of Love,

The EnJoining of the All.

My Beach

Encompasses All That...

And is a Great Place to Swim in the Summer, too!

To walk, hand in hand, and watch a sunset,

Or a sunrise,

Or cuddle with The One That You Love.

My Beach

Is Forever.

©2006 Stephen Andrew Brown. All Rights Reserved.

What Kind of a Life Is It That I'm Leading?

Hello faithful readers. I'm sorry I have not posted in a while. *Sigh* I'm a bit tired of late. I've been wandering around the countryside, traveling somewhat aimlessly in a fog of sorts.

I can't seem to see where I am going. I went back to where I've been before, but found no solace there. I should've stayed home, saved my money, and started a small business of some kind. Well, one can always start over, I guess.

What I'm struggling to say is that my inner person--you know, the one that Just Is?--has become fatigued and is running out of ideas. I'm wanting to do things, be successful, but I'm finding that I just can't seem to pull through.

I've tried everything I can think of to make forward progress. Still, that 'little, inner voice,' the one that gives out the ideas, is becoming tired, and feels worn out. Vacations do not help. Postive thinking is quickly dissipated by negative reaction, often to mundane things.

I'm hoping a recent thought to do a book series might help me realize my truest potential. If so, I must start at once. I am a horrid procrastinator, so I know the odds are not in my favor of starting it, let alone finishing it.

Does the Universe recycle and give to those who need, those things that those in need but didn't act upon them at one time owned?

I think my time grows short. Shall I Move? Shall I Dance Upon The Beach?

I think I shall.

Respectfully waiting for a Miracle To Happen,
THF

HumFisheKu for September

Great wings bind me fast

Heralds trumpet my stillness

I move not forward

Evidence of the Paranormal? You Decide! :-) (Shockwave Flash Required)

I have always been interested in paranormal investigation, and I feel that the SciFi series "Ghost Hunters" is, to the common man, what Hans Holzer is to the upper crust. (And I do like reading Hans's literary exploits in the paranormal, as well ;-) ).

Furthermore, I feel that Ghost Hunters has a little more down-to-earth approach that more people can identify with. It's fresh, in-your-face, and they don't pull any punches, at least none that I can see.

I present then, some clips from the youtube.com site from Ghost Hunters.

Feeling Tired and Wondering Where We're Going

This is the hardest part of my existence: Waiting. Waiting for something to happen...to me.

My heart is filled with longing,
My Head is full of pain,
My eyes are steeped with crying,
Due to the sorrow that remains.

My wants they all are wonting,
My hopes and dreams, are unfullfilled,
My planet's people, dying,
Asleep still in their shells.

They prim, and prime, and focus,
So intensely all the day,
Upon what they call real,
And still woe rules the day.

People destroying each other,
In the name of their gods,
To light yet another fire,
Oh yes the beast of war rolls on.

I'm not afraid to fight for,
The things that we believe in,
I'm just so goddamn tired,
Of the ways that we deceive in.

Mockery of others' ways,
Indignant to their light of day,
Uncaring to the sacred ways,
Sacred ways of every other.

All things they must stay the same,
Woe to any others' games,
No way! we shall look to their ways,
Ours are *always* brighter!

I tire of the endless dreams,
That go out unfullfilled,
I tire of the tireless streams,
Of thoughts that shoot to kill.

I want us to all finally see,
Desires of our most sacred dreams,
Come upon unto our reality,
And change our aching world. . .

Into an Awake world!

Humble Fishe's Thought for the Day:

WAKE UP! SEARCH FOR PEACE! FIND IT WITHIN! SHARE IT WITH OTHERS! SHARE YOURSELF WITH OTHERS! --The Humble Fishe