One More Hero Story

I don't need to write much about one of my Heroes because he writes it himself. No matter what he does he lives by the rule of "one more". More more set, one more rep, one more mile, one more beer...except for excessive rest...he never over does that. The beauty is he doesn't have to push hard to avoid rest and laziness...it is just the way he has always lived. Mentally he seems to never have that block of.."I should really do that..or...tomorrow I'll work that a little harder."

No more rambling...Many of you may already know him, but in case you don't his name is Jason Pisano. He has lived his whole life with cerebral palsy. You can see him every year in the Boston Marathon, in a wheelchair (arms tied down because he can't control them well), pushing himself backwards all the way to the finish.

To read a story he wrote for Northeast Magazine go to
http://teampisanostory.blogspot.com/
Pay no attention to his journalist embellishments about me in my underwear. I was simply taking out the trash for gramma.

To read about random daily happenings go to
http://teampisano.blogspot.com

The Final Five- All Greeks know what is right...

Starting next Monday will be the final Five Weeks of the Challenge. It seems like just yesterday we started on this long march. Each of us in our own ways have challenged and made ourselves more self sufficient, giving up luxuries and tasting bitter to make the quality of our lives and relationships all the more sweet. In small and humble ways we've all made great strides and improvements.
For the final Five weeks all scores have been wiped clean, we will all stand shoulder to shoulder, shield to shield for the final push. Tomorrow you'll receive the February challenge and the Final Five scoring system. For ease of scoring all points will be based off the monthly challenge, you will have until Friday to submit any feedback on the scoring system. Monday we begin our final leg of the journey.

Asked why it was dishonorable to return without a shield and not without a helmet, the Spartan king, Demaratos (510 - 491) is said to have replied: "Because the latter they put on for their own protection, but the shield for the common good of all." (Plutarch, Mor.220).
.

An old man wandering around the Olympic Games looking for a seat was jeered at by the crowd until he reached the seats of the Spartans, whereupon every Spartan younger than him, and some that were older, stood up and offered him their seat. The crowd applauded and the old man turned to them with a sigh, saying "All Greeks know what is right, but only the Spartans do it."

Three weeks ago, Wesley Autrey was waiting at a Harlem subway station with his two little girls, when he saw a man fall into the path of a train. With seconds to act, Wesley jumped onto the tracks, pulled the man into the space between the rails, and held him as the train passed right above their heads. He insists he's not a hero. He says: "We got guys and girls overseas dying for us to have our freedoms. We have got to show each other some love." There is something wonderful about a country that produces a brave and humble man like Wesley Autrey.

Can you really learn to sense things??

If you are questioning whether or not the scout goggle training is worth anything click on the following link and learn about Ben Underwood.

Fourteen-year-old Ben Underwood of Sacramento, Calif., is one of the few people known to use echolocation as a primary means of navigating the world on land. There's not even a hint of light reaching his brain. His eyes are artificial, but his brain has adapted to allow him to appraise his environment. He makes a "clicking" sound to communicate with objects and people around him.

You have to watch the video!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpBm4KoWsrY

There are many stories on him. Here is a link to one.

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~blindworld/NEWS/6-05-07-01.htm

A real Spartan Ben Aristodemos Underwood!!

Spartan of the Week

I nominate Mitchell for Spartan of the Week, for his tremendous awareness and undaunting willingness to Git'er done!

Teen called hero for tip on missing boy
By CHRISTOPHER LEONARD, Associated Press WriterWed Jan 17, 8:56 AM ET

Mitchell Hults is a young man of few words. But when it mattered most, he talked late into the night, giving authorities the information they needed to rescue his friend and another boy held captive.
At a surprise ceremony Tuesday honoring the 15-year-old at Union High School, investigators said they never could have broken the case without him.
"I hope that as you grow older, you would consider law enforcement as a career option," FBI agent Roland Corvington said to Mitchell, who smiled sheepishly.
Dressed in a camouflage jacket and jeans, the only statement Mitchell made came from one of his favorite comedians, Larry the Cable Guy.
"Git 'er done!" Mitchell cried into the microphone. The crowd of students and teachers in the school gymnasium roared with applause.
Mitchell was with classmate Ben Ownby just minutes before he disappeared Jan. 8 after getting off their school bus. Mitchell spotted a white pickup fleeing the scene, and his detailed description led police in suburban St. Louis to spot the truck Thursday.
A day later, Ben was freed from an apartment where he was held captive. Astonishingly, so was 15-year-old Shawn Hornbeck of nearby Richwoods, who disappeared in fall 2002. Michael Devlin, 41, was arrested and charged with kidnapping.
Franklin County Sheriff Gary Toelke said Mitchell's description of the white Nissan pickup was remarkably detailed. Friends and family say that's because Mitchell is a truck fanatic.
"He was so accurate in what he told us, we kind of wondered if he made it up," Toelke said. "So we interviewed him until about 2 in the morning. He got to know us pretty well."

A Scout's Prayer

Grandfather of all Scouts....

Teach me....to be the eyes of my people

Teach me...to move like the shadow

Allow me..to become the winds, the rocks, the soils

and all the life force in all its forms.

Allow me...to suffer for my people and take away their pain.

Honor me...by allowing me to die for my people...

for I love my people beyond myself

and I will sacrifice my all for my people, my Earth, and You.

Test me...beyond all hardships and pain.

Create me...as you would forge a tool...

And if you find me worthy...

then bless me as you servant...

your Scout

From Master Scout "Shadow Walker" age 91. Summer of 807 Vision Quest at Panther Ridge, Mexico

The Gift of Valor

Suggested reading

The Gift of Valor: A War Story by Michael M. Phillips

Here is a review of the book from Amazon-

During a firefight in Iraq, along the Syrian border, Marine Corporal Jason Dunham sacrificed his own life, to save the lives of his comrades. This is the story of Corporal Dunham: his life, his service and his heroism.

I must admit, that I finished this book some time ago, but it has taken me a long time to actually write this review. Yes, this is a war story, but the author, who has done four tours in Iraq as an embedded journalist, has done an excellent job. This isn't a simple story, instead it is the story of life, good and bad, and war, with its times of fun and comradeship, and times of horror and desperation.

Indeed, that is why this book took me so long to review. This book doesn't just tell you the story of Corporal Dunham, instead it brings you along, into his life and death. And when it's all done, you will also probably feel somewhat wrung out, as if you had been right there for it all.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A young Marine who fell on a hand grenade in Iraq two years ago, giving his life to save comrades, was given the Medal of Honor Thursday by President Bush, becoming only the second Iraq war recipient of the prestigious award.
Bush awarded the medal, the nation's highest military decoration, to the late Marine Cpl. Jason Dunham of Scio, New York. Dunham's parents accepted on their son's behalf during the somber ceremony in the White House's East Room.

"He was the guy who signed on for an extra two months in Iraq so he could stay with his squad. As he explained it, he wanted to `make sure that everyone makes it home alive,' " the president said. "Corporal Dunham took that promise seriously and would give his own life to make it good."

Spartan of the week

At 43 years old, Randy Couture has decided to come out of retirement for a title shot against heavyweight champ Tim Sylvia. The two will battle it out in the Octagon in early March.

Sylvia is six foot eight and has to cut weight to make the 265 pound heavyweight limit. He's won his last six fights in a row, including two over Andrei Arlovski.

Couture, at 43, having already carved out a legendary career for himself in MMA, has nothing left to prove. But he craves the challenge and because of that desire to push himself, to test his heart and fighting spirit, I hereby declare that...

"Captain America," Randy Couture is our Spartan of the Week.

the Rule of 5

Running short on time? Having trouble finding motivation?

I good tool to help with these and other common New Years symptoms is the Rule of 5.
Commit simply 5 minutes to an activity. After 5 minutes you can stop guilt free.
The hardest part is often starting an activity. you may find that you'll spend more time once you get going, but even 5 minutes adds up over time.

Like drops in a bucket...

The Persians are Coming!

Tuesday I opened my e-mail to find that I had been challenged to a test of my will and endurance. The Wizard wrote:

Gerb,

What do you say? When are we going to journey to work? How far is it from your house? I’m guessing 11-13 miles. Lets do it!! Approach it as and adventure. We start early in the mornings long before anyone has woken. We travel in to work, walk, jog, steal a kids bike…stop for a coffee or snack ..whatever it takes. Pace does not matter. We just have to get there…to warn Pfizer that 1000 armies of the Persian Empire descend upon them. Gerb…I see before me an opportunity…will you fight????....will you stand up now…and show them….that they may move our jobs….they may outsource us…they may lose our retirement….but they will never take ….OUR FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is our chance to create our stories for the 300!!

This morning we answered that challenge. Well, at least we started the training...

I awoke at 4:45 this morning. It was dark, but with a nearly full moon it was far from pitch black. The air was crisp and cool, and nice temperature for working up a slight sweat. By 5:40 I had pulled into the shared parking lot of the church and porn store. (A strange combination in my book.) Randy's car was already there, but he was not in sight. Lurking in the shadows, with minimal cover, I noticed him in a tree not 15 feet from me. (O, awareness, where art thou!) Our trek this morning, a somewhat casual ~5 mile walk was a great way to start the day. The journey took us past the reservoir, across the old Post Road, through the Dunkin Donuts, and around two golf courses. Our leisurely pace got us to work in about 2 hours. Tonight we shall leave work, taking a slightly different route back to our cars. (A good scout never takes the same route twice.) I am looking forward to it, although I admit that my feet are a little tender. A good reminder that I should keep in shape for when the day comes that I really need to push my body!

We're not done though! What's next? Over the next month we will be pushing ourselves further. Each week a greater challenge. Our ultimate goal: A round-trip to work from my house. It should be about a half-marathon each way, with an 8-hour workday in the middle. I expect that temperatures will have dropped, and who knows what the precipitation forecast will be. I'll have to remember to pack a change of clothes for that one!