Ride for Passion

Archive for the ‘bingo online games’ Category

A great old friend and family member passed way a few weeks ago. It gave me pause to reflect on life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. “BA” was a humble man, a career Navy Veteran and a restaurateur. He had deep spiritual beliefs that belonged to no religion. He taught me much about human existence. And even from his hospital bed, he calmly prepared us for his imminent passing. What grace, what beauty, what generosity.

“BA” came into our lives 17 years ago or so, and watched over us. He took delight in everything about our family, particularly our dogs, who he often stayed with while we were away. He watched me spin my wheels trying to figure out who the heck I was, from battling alcoholism, to becoming a successful songwriter, comedy writer, and wannabe entrepreneur. He was much more than just a little bit special.He helped me to realize that you gotta indulge your passions with the little time you have left. And, it’s always “a little.” I figure you can either give it up and ride out the rest of your life, which, by the way, is fine if it makes you happy, or you can proceed full-tilt in pursuing your dreams until you’ve accomplished them or literally died trying. That’s me in a nutshell.

I gave up on life when I was much younger. Not because of any traumatic experience, but because I was just happy to be drunk and stoned all the time. “What the hell?” I thought. Well, now I feel like I’m making up for lost time. The shorter my life becomes, the more I crave living in the pursuit of every passion that stirs inside of me.

Yes, this does most certainly include making a very comfortable living in spite of the doom and gloom of our Great Recession. With the long odds of financial success becoming even longer, the greater the challenge, the more I want it! To say I’m driven, is quite an underestimation.It’s not all about the money. Or, maybe it is. Is that how you define success? It’s just one variety, I suppose. But, my passion for finding monetary success through my creative channels (which I must nourish to flourish) is never-ending. I have many endeavors, at least one of which I feel will come to fruition if I just press on a little harder each day. That can be daunting and all-consuming, to be sure. But, it is who I am. And, it IS what makes me happy. It could even be one of those situations where once you attain it, you’ll wish you hadn’t. Maybe it is all about the journey, not the destination, after all. I sincerely have no clue.

Hockey, the great Canadian pastime, is also a booming industry. Hockey is a pervasive sport that is enjoyed by boys, girls, young men and women, and an ever-growing group of “oldtimers”. Certainly not old, but perhaps no longer young, oldtimers continue to enjoy actively participating in the game as they come to terms with the realization that the NHL scouts will not be calling.

Canada is not the only country swept up by this fast paced team sport. Where did this fascination with hockey first begin? Some say it may have come from the British field sports of “hurley” or “shinty”, or perhaps the French version of field hockey which used a wooden stick called a “hoquet” to bat a ball or cork around. Nevertheless, somewhere, sometime during a long cold Canadian winter, some hardy folk tried playing a version of field hockey on ice. The game soon became well known in Scandinavian countries as well as in Russia.

So it is no wonder that North American hockey organizations are now offering hockey schools and tournaments abroad. Of particular interest to many hockey enthusiasts, especially the oldtimers, is the opportunity to combine a hockey tournament with a destination holiday through different European countries. Imagine, after a day on the ice in international competition, enjoying some sightseeing: mountain biking or hiking through mountains in Austria, touring quaint villages and castles in Italy, and attending an authentic Oktoberfest dinner in Germany. An organized international hockey tournament holiday creates the perfect opportunity for your partner to join in on your hockey friendships.

Retired professional hockey players offer hockey schools and fantasy camps in many locations, presenting opportunities to learn from and play with the best all over world. But if a European vacation is too big an undertaking, you can still travel with your family and friends, and enjoy your sport within North America, in such places as Lake Placid, Chicago, Las Vegas and Montreal.

With many local, national, and international sports governing bodies having approved the use of artificial sports surfaces for both indoor and outdoor sports, it is important to get special technical expertise for the construction of sports facilities and installation of equipment related to different sports. Also, artificial sports surfaces are available in different specifications to suit the requirements of different sports.

In general, the installation of artificial sports surfaces can be described in 5 phases:

excavation of the grounds
laying of water-permeable underlayer
Laying the artificial turf over the underlayer.
infilling with sand and/or rubber

Synthetic sports surfaces can vary in their playing characteristics depending upon the requirements of the sports to be played on them. This is why astroturf or synthetic grass is available in a range of pile lengths. A specialist sports facilities construction company will have the know-how to decide upon the best sports surface for the purpose based on site conditions, uses of the sports facility and budgetary concerns. For training and professional purposes, the sports surface must conform to the guidelines laid down by the respective sports bodies for different sports.

A competent sports facilities construction company will take care of all the details such as differently coloured playing lines for the different sports for the MUGA. Such a company also specialises in sports hall flooring, which are meant for indoor sports. Indoor floors are made extremely durable, depending on the choice of surface finish. Like outdoor synthetic sports surfaces, these are also easy to maintain and safe to play on.

Are you ready for hunting season? Fall hunting is just around the corner, with some deer seasons opening as early as mid-August. Since it’s never too early to scout for great deals, I’ve highlighted some crucial pieces of hunting equipment below.

The Hands-On Hunting Knife
Regardless of whether they hunt with a bow or a gun, every hunter needs a first-class hunting knife. There are two main types of hunting knives I recommend: fixed-blade and lock-back folding knives. Fixed-blade knives are rugged, reliable, and easy to clean. Fixed-blade knives can also be dangerous if not packed and handled properly, so be sure to invest in a high-quality sheath. Most lock-back folding blades have the strength and reliability of fixed-blade knives, and they are safer to pack and carry. I favor lock-back blades against traditional folding knives because they reduce the risk of cutting your palm or fingers while in use. Additionally, many lock-back blades offer one-hand operation, a useful feature for any hunter.

Multi-function, Multi-use, Multi-tool
A professional multi-tool is also an excellent resource to draw upon in the wilderness. Multi-tools, or multi-function pocket knives, provide hunters with a myriad of instruments. Additionally, these tools double as excellent fishing, hiking, and camping accessories.

Let There Be [LED] Light
Third, you shouldn’t go anywhere without a light, to be specific, an LED light. Even if you plan on hunting in the daylight, packing a reliable LED torch is just good common sense. After all, if you’re a serious hunter, efficiency with your light is crucial. Many times you don’t have two hands free to fumble with a switch, which makes an LED light with a one-handed operation design very hunter-friendly. LED headlamps are even better, as they free up both hands. As far as power and light output are concerned, LEDs far out-perform traditional bulbs. Whether you’re using a flashlight, headlamp, or lantern, LEDs will not only shine brighter; they’ll last longer too, meaning they’ll function when you need them most. LED tactical lights that attach to rifles and other weapons are equally effective and efficient.

There’s No Place Like Home
Finally, a compass or GPS unit is essential for tracking. You don’t know where the game will lead you, but you’d better know how to get back to your camp. Even in the simplest of settings, it’s easy to get turned around and lose your way. Don’t risk getting lost because you didn’t think you needed an orienting instrument. Additionally, make sure you know how to properly use your navigation device. If you don’t, ask a seasoned expert to show you how, and practice in familiar territory before venturing out into the wilderness.