Filatore

Upcoming Changes

2011-06-16T14:32:00.001-04:00

Stay tuned for an exciting new announcement from the creator of Filatore!

March

2011-03-14T17:49:00.005-04:00

I’ve delayed posting my project for the month of March, simply because I’m not doing very well.

For the month of March, I decided to become a Good Samaritan. I decided that I would take the initiative and get involved.

I’m sure you know what I mean—every day, we see “things” we could help with. People or events that need our help. The man walking down the road with a gas can in his hand. The old lady trying to load groceries in her car. The person in line in front of us at the grocery store who is $1 short on their bill. It’s embarrassing to admit, but I usually don’t step forward and help out in these situations. I always have some great justification why I can’t get involved: I’m running late, I don’t have any money, I shouldn’t pick up strangers, etc etc—but we all know these are simply excuses. The bottom line is that I’m inherently selfish, and stopping to get involved would probably mess up MY plans for MY day. Subconsciously, I’ve simply decided that “I” am more important than anyone else (and honestly, I don’t like that the fact that I can live with that reality).

Psychologist Rollo May once said, “Hate is not the opposite of love; apathy is.”

This is where it starts to bother me. I’m familiar with the Parable of the Good Samaritan that Jesus told in Luke 10 (if you need a refresher, it’s Luke 10.25-37). And while some scholars claim that this story is an allegory (where the characters symbolically represent other things), I interpret it literally. That we should physically stop, even when it’s inconvenient, even when it’s a stranger and even when it’s people who “aren’t like us”, and get involved. Maybe Jesus meant it as an allegory as well, but I also believe he meant it literally.

14 days into the month, I’m not doing very well. I’ve only had a couple of opportunities---actually, let me rephrase that. I’ve only taken advantage of a couple opportunities thus far, but I’ll try to be more deliberate and intentional in the remaining 17 days of the month.

"The Good Samaritan"; William Hogarth (1736)

"The Good Samaritan"; Jan Wijnants (1670)

"The Good Samaritan"; Jose Tapiro y Buro (date unknown)

"The Good Samaritan"; Pietro Benvenuti (late 1700's)

"The Good Samaritan"; unknown artist & date

"The Good Samaritan"; Rembrandt (1630)

"The Good Samaritan"; Aime Morot (1880)

"The Good Samaritan"; Rembrandt (1638)

"The Good Samaritan"; Fetti Domenicol(date unknown)

"The Good Samaritan"; stained glass in the Church of St Eutrope; Clermont-Ferrand, France

The Amish; Part III

2011-02-28T23:06:00.008-05:00

Here is a collection of Question & Answers sent in by the curious public.

Q: Does the term “Rumspringa” have anything to do with the hip-hop song “rumpshaker”?
To the best of my knowledge, the term (discusssed previously in "Part II") has nothing to do with the 2003 album “Rump Shaker” by Suburban Legends, or the 1992 rap single by Wrecjx-n-Effect.

Q: Have the Amish ever produced championship cyclists?
I do not believe that the Amish have ever produced any championship cyclists, but there was at least one from a Mennonite background. America Floyd Landis grew up in a devout Mennonite family in Pennsylvania before he got into cycling (true story: Landis showed up at his first bike race wearing sweat pants, since shorts were frowned upon by Mennonites). Landis went on to success as a professional bike racer, and gained more fame when his 2006 Tour de France victory was revoked upon testing positive for enhanced testosterone levels. I suspect he might also be one of the few Mennonites to ever be banned from international sports due to performance enhancing drugs.

Floyd Landis, in happier times.

Q: Why did the Amish name the town Intercourse?
Intercourse, Pennsylvania was founded in 1754, and was originally named Cross Keys, after a local tavern. The name was changed to “Intercourse” in 1814.
According to the town’s website, several theories are given for the origin of the name, “Another theory concerns two famous roads that crossed here. The Old King's Highway from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh (now the Old Philadelphia Pike) ran east and west through the center of the town and intersected the road from Wilmington to Erie. The joining of these two roads is claimed by some to be the basis for the town 'Cross Keys' or eventually 'Intercourse'. A final idea comes from the use of language during the early days of the Village. The word 'intercourse' was commonly used to describe the 'fellowship' and 'social interaction and support' shared in the community of faith, which was much a part of a rural village like this one.”
According to my mother, who clearly explained the meaning of Intercourse to me at the tender age of 39: It’s a farming community and the roads lead into town to the market. The more direct route was called the Inter-course ( or Business route) the other being the long way around, or Outer-course.

Q: Is Weird Al Yanovic Amish?
No. Weird Al (famous for such parody songs as “Eat It” and “I Love Rocky Road") was born in California of Yugoslavian descent. He did record a single in 1996 entitled “Amish Paradise”, but he is not Amish.

Weird Al (no more glasses--he got LASIK!

Q: Why don’t they have curtains?
Actually, they do use curtains. As mentioned previously, some of the lifestyle choices chosen by the Amish vary from community to community. While some communities choose not to use curtains (my guess is they perceive is as being too “fancy”—remember that the simple, unadorned life is highly sought after), others use curtains and all are the same color, shape, etc. This would be in keeping with their desire not to draw attention to themselves.

The Amish; Part II

2011-02-27T23:15:00.008-05:00

Questions and Answers in my month long study of the Amish.

Q: What do the Amish believe?
The Amish are a Christian community. They believe in all the tenets of Christianity, and their differences primarily come from their strict interpretation of the Bible in terms of worship (corporate & individual), dress, language and non-violence & pacifism. Many modern Christians read Biblical passages and interpret them as a cultural requirement of the day (for example, consider the teaching in Exodus 20.4 : “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth…”). Many modern scholars consider that to be a cultural issue for the OT church, but the Amish take that very seriously and forbid the use of photographs, which would constitute a graven image,

One overarching idea that guides much of the Amish life is the idea of “conforming” to the world. In Romans 12:2, it is written, “Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” The Amish take this very literally, and consider the use of “modern” things (such as electricity, telephones, cars, tractors, etc) to be conforming. While travelling through Amish country, you can almost always identify an Amish home from the lack of electric wires, satellite dishes, and phone lines on their houses.

Here’s an important thing to remember: the Amish voluntarily choose to separate themselves from the world. They don’t consider it a necessary means to salvation, but a way of separating themselves from the modern (read: sinful & corrupt) world. If some situation dictates that an Amish person needs to use a phone, or travel some distance in a car, they can and often will. But the use of a phone would be a utilitarian choice (for example, the need to call a doctor) versus using the phone to socialize with a friend. The Amish belief not to use electricity isn’t a belief that electricity is evil, but because it could lead to temptations and the deterioration of church and family life.
Most of us today would think it impossible to live without the modern conveniences such as electricity and cars. What makes the Amish unique is not that they get along without modernity, but that they choose to do without it when it would be readily available. The Amish value simplicity and self-denial over comfort, convenience and leisure. Their lifestyle is a deliberate way of separating from the world and maintaining self-sufficiency. As a result there is a bonding that unites the Amish community and protects it from outside influences such as television and radios.

Q: Why the funky beards (and no mustaches)?
This is a good example of a cultural practice adopted by most Amish. The Amish believe that a beard is a symbol of wisdom and maturity and at some long forgotten moment in history, they decided that after an Amish man gets married, he would no longer shave his beard (obviously, marriage is the moment when a man gets wise and becomes mature). The mustache issue is a little cloudier. According to multiple sources, a mustache (in the 1700 & 1800’s) was primarily worn by people in the military (someone just reminded me that George Washington didn’t have a mustache!), so the Amish adopted a “no-stache” rule. I guess we know where that puts Tom Selleck.

It’s worth noting that some of these cultural requirements vary from community to community. For example, there are some Amish communities that allow a young man to grow a beard after he has been baptized, regardless of his marital status.

Q: Is it true that teenagers have a period of time when they can “sow their wild oats”?
The period is referred to as “Rumspringa” (also seen as Rumschpringe or Rumshpringa, derived from the Pennsylvania German term) and loosely is defined as "running around". This period loosely correlates with what most American’s would term “adolescence”. It begins around age 16, lasts for a few years, and culminates with the Amish youth either choosing to be baptized and become a full member of the community or leave the Amish community for life in the modern world. Not all Amish communities use this term, and within the Amish population, it is commonly a time for courting and finding a spouse. Modern society tends to paint a picture of a rebellious youth, engaged in all sorts of lewd behavior (and to be fair, that may happen on occasion), but the reality is much tamer.

The Amish; Part 1

2011-02-15T17:34:00.006-05:00

To thoroughly understand the origins of the Amish, we have to go back to 16th Century Europe. (I’ll try to simplify this argument for the sake of clarity). At that time, some in the church began the movement known as the Protestant Reformation, primarily a broad reaction to the theology and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. A key teaching in the Roman Catholic church was that baptism was necessary for salvation, and since it was necessary, it should be done as soon as possible. Thus, the practice of infant baptism arose during this time. In contrast, the group of “Reformers” affirmed that baptism should not occur until a believer was old enough to know and understand the tenets of salvation through Jesus Christ. This group became known as the “Anabaptists”, or “re-baptizers”.

Anabaptist were outspoken against many things they believed to be theologically incorrect, among them infant baptism, the taking of oaths, wedding rings, endorsement of any type of violence in society (including membership in the military or police force) and participation in civil government or even secular society.

An early leader in the Anabaptist movement was Menno Simons, a Catholic priest who struggled with his Catholic faith (interesting note: in 1526, Simmons began an exhaustive study of the Scripture to try and understand the Catholic doctrine of “transubstantiation”. He admitted that prior to this time, even as a priest, he had never really studied the Scripture). In 1536, Simons left the church and fully adopted the Anabaptist movement; his followers became known as Mennonites.

Menno Simons; (1496-1591)

In 1693 Jacob Amman led an effort to reform the Mennonite church. When his efforts at reform fell through, Jacob and his followers split from the other Mennonite congregations and became known as the Amish Mennonites (based upon his name, Amman).

Mennonites and Amish suffered terrible persecution in Europe through the 1500 & 1600’s, with many fleeing to the mountains of Switzerland and southern Germany. It was here that the strong farming tradition and home worship services began to form (as ways to avoid persecution from society).

The Amish name derives from the founder (Jacob Amman), similar to the way “Lutheran” derived from Martin Luther or “Wesleyan” comes from John Wesley.

Jacob Amman; (1656-1730)

Q: How did they get to the United States?

In 1682, James Duke of York , the future James II of England, handed over a large piece of his American holdings to William Penn. Penn believed strongly in religious freedom (due in large part to being persecuted for his Quaker beliefs) and insisted that his land (which would later become Pennsylvania and Delaware) be a haven for the religiously persecuted. As such, he promoted his new colony in the Americas heavily throughout the Mennonite and Amish communities, and the first Anabaptists came to Pennsylvania as early as the mid-1700’s. Tens of thousands of Mennonite and Amish families (some say in excess of 100,000+) came to the United States in the 1700 & 1800s, settling primarily in Pennsylvania, but also other states in and around the area.

February

2011-02-02T15:03:00.002-05:00

A new month is here, and with it, a new challenge. Lots of people have been suggesting food-related tasks, but I’m on the road for much of this month, and I was looking for something a little more cerebral.

My idea occurred on the last day of January. I found myself in western Pennsylvania trying to pass a horse-drawn Amish buggy on a narrow road. I started thinking about the Amish people, and realized that I don’t really know much about them. So my task for the month of February is pretty simple—I’m going to learn everything I can about the Amish. Where they came from, where they live, what they believe. . .in addition, I’ll answer some of the most common questions, including:
1. Why do they paint their doors blue?
2. What’s up with those funky beards the men wear?
3. Did they have anything to do with the naming of Intercourse, Pennsylvania?

If you have any questions about the Amish community, feel free to send them my way and we’ll get to the bottom of this subject.

January:

2011-01-08T00:12:00.001-05:00

I’m a touch late posting this, but for the month of January, I’ve given up two things: Partially Hydrogenated Oils (PHOs) and High-Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). Here’s why (and I'll try to take out all the complex chemistry and make this super-simple):

Partially Hydrogenated Oils (PHOs) are formed by passing hydrogen- through liquid oil. By “partially hydrogenating”, the oil develops into a butter-like consistency—but at a fraction of the cost of real butter. It’s gives food a richer texture, but very cheaply. It also serves as a preservative; have you ever wondered why some processed foods (especially things like Twinkies and those delicious little white powdered donuts) can stay fresh forever? It’s because they are loaded with PHOs. Food producers get a double dose from PHOs: food is cheaper to make, and it can stay on the shelf longer, both of which add up to more money for the producer.

PHOs have been linked to increases in multiple types of cardiac disease, diabetes, obesity, and a myriad of other health problems. There’s no good reason why you should eat anything made with PHOs, but the reality is that they are everywhere—a huge majority of breads, cakes, pies, crackers, soups, and cereals are loaded with PHOs.

High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is a little trickier. Here’s what happens to your body when you consume “normal” sugar. Your body produces insulin, and a side-effect of insulin production is appetite suppressant (technically a chemical called “leptin”). In other words, when you eat something sugary, you “feel” full and you eat less. This is where HFCS comes in. Since HFCS isn’t sugar, there’s no insulin production—and as a result, there’s no natural appetite suppressant. So why do candy and food makers use HFCS? It’s simple---so your appetite will not be suppressed and you’ll eat more (translation: you will buy more). An added economic bonus is that HFCS is cheaper than sugar, so producers save on the initial food production.

HFCS has been tentatively linked to the rise of obesity in the United States (especially childhood obesity), poor dental hygiene, and a list of other health problems. In the 40 years since the introduction of HFCS into the American diet, rates of obesity in the U.S. have skyrocketed (In 2010, roughly one-third of the American adults are considered obese). It certainly isn’t fair or accurate to place all of the blame at the feet of HFCS, but that certainly is a factor.

When you start reading labels, you’ll find HFCS in lots of things you would expect (candy, ice cream, sodas, fruit drinks, condiments) and some things you wouldn’t expect (bread, yogurt, and even some lunch meat!)

Both of these are small ingredients that are easily lost in the list of other ingredients. But they can have a lasting impact upon all of us, and I’ve decided to begin this year by cutting out all foods made with those ingredients. Stay tuned for an update.

A Year of Months

2011-01-07T23:54:00.001-05:00

Many of you know that for many years, I have chosen a year-long project for the New Year. From the mundane to the exotic, I have met with varying degrees of success (a pic every day of 2007) and failure (a ban on ice cream back in 2004.) For 2011, I’ve decided that rather than having one project for the year, I’m going to have 12 different projects, one for each month of the year.

It might be something culinary (vegetarian for a month), social (being a spontaneous extrovert) or something in the community (volunteering with a local organization). Stay tuned for January’s quest.

April 24: Birthdays

2010-04-26T18:38:00.002-04:00

We know several people who share today as a birthday: Darren Gadd in NC & his nephew, Elijah Rector, Aja McVaney in TX, and Kelli Ramsay in WV at the moment but from San Clemente, CA. Happy Birthday from coast to coast!

April 21: Spring Snow in Bass Lake again

2010-04-26T18:27:00.002-04:00

April 17: Mighty San Joaquin River

2010-04-26T17:57:00.002-04:00

We floated the San Joaquin with friends, Jamie and John. What a great afternoon!

April 15: Jim aka "Gym" Smith's birthday among other things

2010-04-26T01:31:00.002-04:00

April 12: Orange County, CA

2010-04-26T01:00:00.003-04:00

A teen girl band plays at the OC Youth Expo and it reminded us of our friend, Jess Richmond, a teen band member back in her younger days. We love her song "flexible fabric, bandaid!" and wish we could have seen her on stage too.

April 10: Lao in SoCal

2010-04-15T16:14:00.004-04:00

Our waitress, Buffy, in Pasadena speaks both Lao and Thai. I can't remember which one she said that she finally spoke in the video but I believe it is Lao. She was a great sport. Filatore asked for water in a clean glass (emphasis on "clean") because Ginger had asked for water with "no ice". We cracked up when she brought glasses of water and the one she gave to Filatore had lipstick on it! She blushed but laughed right along with us.

She forgot to say hi to all of you out in blog world but we didn't have the heart to ask her to do a 2nd take. Speaking of "take 2", there are several previous videos that have mistakes and one of these days we'll post an outtake reel.

April 9: Newport Beach overlooking Balboa Island

2010-04-15T15:14:00.005-04:00

Bill and Chris Welch are old friends from our first go-round in Oakhurst. They now live in Huntington Beach and we miss not having them in Oakhurst. We enjoyed a fantastic dinner sitting upstairs and outside over looking the bay. Bill was our pastor and one of our funniest memories PN (pre-Navy) includes him. I will not throw him under the bus right away but maybe we will share the parfait story one day (if this generates at least 10 comments).
Also, Filatore would like to publicly apologize for attempting to disengage Bill's watch alarm at 9pm only to learn that it now goes off at 9:05, 9:10, 9:15, 9:20, 9:25, 9:30 and 9:35!

April 8: Pasadena, CA

2010-04-14T17:14:00.003-04:00

We stopped to have dinner with Mel, an old housemate and co-worker and a really good friend. We really love Mel but we have to throw her under the bus for getting the date wrong. Way to go Mel.

Before dinner we stopped in to meet Mel at her place of work, a local coffee shop attached to the Pasadena Library. After dinner there was a little detective work by Filatore.

April 7: Arizona visits Bass Lake

2010-04-14T16:03:00.002-04:00

This video speaks for itself. Watch to the very end for a 15 second (or maybe more) giggle. Thanks Nicola...enjoyed your visit!

April 4: Moses' 12th Birthday

2010-04-14T15:41:00.003-04:00

Moses, the great orange hunter, is still in NC with her grandparents. Ginger will be traveling back east in May/June and will bring our little girl back to California, her home state. She turns 12 today and I would venture a guess that she might be the most well traveled cat alive.
Happy Birthday Moses!

April 2: Spring Thanksgiving on Good Friday in Nova Scotia

2010-04-14T14:16:00.003-04:00

Good Friday was a spectacular Thanksgiving celebration full of food, laughter, games, pies, and friends.

Farkle or Ten Thousand was a new game for Filatore. It was definitely energetic.
A farkle highlight:

Is Denise a little too excited & nervous or what?

April 1: Fresno, CA concert

2010-04-14T14:07:00.003-04:00

Eight or nine bands played in Fresno. Many we had never even heard of. Ginger went with friends from Nova Scotia (aka a piece of land between Coarsegold and Madera, CA) went to see David Crowder Band and they were great. Ginger really hoped he would be signing autographs but not on this trip...but hopefully one day she will get to meet him. (Ginger's friend, Stacey in FL, would have flipped her lid if that video had been attained.)
The guys below of Fee were good and it was nice to meet them. Filatore wishes Matt a very happy birthday!

March 31a: Dinner with great friends at a great place

2010-04-14T13:47:00.001-04:00

Tony is not thinking that the cars driving by are giving Christel much respect as she's trying to say hi to blog world.

please see March 31b below

March 31b: Dinner with great friends at a great place

2010-04-14T13:31:00.004-04:00

Tony is such a funny guy and here is the new "son" he acquired:

If any police or firefighter in Fresno sees this and recognizes Shane, please comment so Filatore and friends and family can enjoy in his having to buy everyone ice cream. Filatore is a big lover of ice cream and hopes those in Fresno get a scoop because of this!

March 28: Welcome Back Party at Dan & Holly's

2010-04-07T23:17:00.002-04:00

One of the many reasons we love California and especially the Bass Lake/Oakhurst area: WONDERFUL FRIENDS.
Almost every year since we left CA in '04 we have come back to visit and I believe almost every time we've also had a big get together at the Rogers. Thanks to all who came out to "welcome us back" and all those who have loved us through the years.

March 27: Ann & Colin get married at Summit Adventure

2010-04-07T21:11:00.000-04:00

Filatore did a little research and though there have been a few receptions at Summit's Basecamp, this was the first wedding to take place on the grounds. Congratulations to Ann & Colin who met at Summit

March 26: The Forks at Bass Lake

2010-03-27T03:19:00.003-04:00

The Forks (http://www.theforksresort.com/index.html) opened for the 2010 season TODAY! We were Poppy's very first customer this year and the burgers are just as we remembered...served on grilled sourdough bread! Mmmmmmmmmmmm!

If anyone can comment with the correct spelling of Poppy's full name, you will be in a drawing for a free Forks burger.

Also, today is a double feature because the one you will see below was unplanned and completely shocking as Sarah, a complete vegetarian for about 5 years who only recently added a little meat (though not beef) into her diet became unpredictable. All others dining with her partook in a burger meal. Sarah, on the other hand ordered french fries and a shake until...

Love the last line, "It's pretty good...other than the beef part!"

March 25: Switzerland by way of Fresno, CA

2010-03-27T02:27:00.005-04:00

All the way from Basel, Switzerland, Ginger and Spinner's newest cuz, Eric, is visiting his mom in Fresno, CA!

Good to see you again, Eric!

March 24: Brodie Rogers from the ridge between Oakhurst and Coarsegold, CA

2010-03-27T02:04:00.006-04:00

Poor Brodie has 6 more days as a cone head...although Holly pointed out that he looks a little like the Pixar animated light. So true especially when he eats and the edge of the cone sits on the floor! What a sweet pup and a good sport too!

March 23: Bass Lake Post Office

2010-03-27T01:59:00.002-04:00

March 21: Jones girls on their grandparent's dock, BL, CA

2010-03-27T01:43:00.002-04:00

Emilie and Josie Jones on camera while their older brother, Noah, canoes behind them.

March 20: Celebrating the arrival of Spring with Graham

2010-03-27T01:26:00.002-04:00

Graham, a co-worker of Filatore, welcomes SPRING between the lupines!

March 19: El Portal, CA and Hite Cove wildflowers

2010-03-24T15:03:00.016-04:00

After the video, check out the pictures below!!!

http://www.yosemitehikes.com/not-yosemite/hite-cove/wildflowers.htm lists all the flowers that can be seen on Hite Cove. However, some will come later and hopefully we'll get some shots of those to share too!

Below see glorious Poppies, Fiddleneck, Blue Dicks standing tall in the field of Poppies and Bird's Eye, Foothill Sunburst, and a Shooting Star (lower right)!

March 18: Seattle visits Bass Lake

2010-03-24T14:54:00.002-04:00

Bass Lake is a vacation spot for many. Most visitors play at the lake between Memorial Day and Labor Day. However, others like today's feature, come to visit friends, family, and girlfriends. Ben is dating one of our house mates, Lily.

March 17: St Patty's is the Grand Opening of the Pines Bakery

2010-03-17T18:05:00.002-04:00

Jamie, Ginger, and Spinner tried to be the first customers of the grand opening of the Pines Bakery under new ownership. They were so excited that they arrived at 8am only to be told that the grand opening time was 9am. Needless to say, we were not the first but we were the THIRD!! Meet Jean, new owner, and new friend who I expect we will pay a visit to a lot this year! When you come visit we will take you by too!

March 16: Missing Moses

2010-03-17T17:51:00.002-04:00

Most of Filatore's family has made it to Bass Lake, CA. There were four who left CA six years ago. One decided he liked his grandparents better and you met him on January 29??? Ginger, who finally made it 2.5 weeks ago and then there is the Great Orange Hunter, Moses. She is hanging with Ricky, Ginger's father, in Matthew, NC until June.
When we first started thinking of buying our first house many years ago, Spinner thought it would be great to live on the south side. He also thought it would be great to take a boat across the lake to work each day. Back then, Moses went to work with us everyday and Spinner thought it would be great to dress the Great Orange Hunter in a rain slicker to make the journey twice each day. Luckily, Ginger interrupted that dream and Moses was most thankful. Now we are back again looking at houses and the dream (or at least the card) is alive again.

March 15: Nova Scotia and FAT, CA

2010-03-17T15:15:00.003-04:00

We love the Ides of March and it's two fold:

First, Ginger was invited to Michael Jones' birthday dinner in some portion of CA that Denise, his wife, started referring to Nova Scotia (she even has a NS sticker on her car) because it is so far away from EVERYTHING. However, they do have beautiful Irish looking hills in their backyard (for the moment) and beautiful sunsets...and even an adult teeter totter.

Next, the Ides brought us together again. Spinner arrived at the Fresno Air Terminal (FAT) late, late on the Ides. Due to the time (11pm PST), change in time zone, flying to or sitting in four different airports for 22 hours and the fact that he had spent the last two weeks in a Spanish speaking culture (Ecuador), Spinner was slightly confused on which greeting he should give...

March 13: Oakhurst, CA

2010-03-14T01:02:00.001-05:00

We first got to know Sarah when she lived and worked in Yosemite with our friend, Julie Miller (who you will see in less than a week). Now, she is married to a co-worker of Filatore. Both boys were out of town and the girls had dinner...

March 12: New friends from Coarsegold, CA

2010-03-12T22:51:00.000-05:00

March 11: Survivor Party At Smith's on Summit Rd

2010-03-11T23:00:00.000-05:00

Spnr and Jim have been watching Survivor on Thursday nights. While Spnr is in Ecuador, Ginger got invited in his place.
As side note, Amy, Jim's wife said that she overheard Jim talking to Tiger, the cat, late one night after Ginger had visited. He was saying something along the lines of "Tiger, I am not Ginger. I am not going to pet you all night. Tiger, you have been spoiled!" Hmmmmmm...video seems to show that Jim gives just as much attention to Tiger!

March 7: El Cid

2010-03-10T16:55:00.006-05:00

A favorite Filatore restaurant/gathering spot in Oakhurst, CA. If you come to visit we must go! (BTW, can you tell there was a little extra prodding by a couple people to get an extra mention of their specific name vs. just Spnr and Ginger's friends?) I can't imagine who that was!!!

March 5: Fresno visits Bass Lake, CA

2010-03-06T03:06:00.002-05:00

March 2: Bass Lake, CA

2010-03-06T02:54:00.004-05:00

Filatore (aka Spinner) left EARLY this morning for 2 weeks in Ecuador so the videos resume. This one with a house-mate until we find a more permanent place to call home!

February 27-March 2

2010-03-05T22:25:00.004-05:00

Here is a little snip-it of Ginger's cross country journey. Since Filatore and Ginger reunited for the first time in almost 2 months, a break in the normal video blog was halted for a short time. More to come in March!

February 26: Las Vegas, NV

2010-03-05T20:39:00.002-05:00

This is not the normal Filatore daily video but we hope you enjoy our little glimpse of Vegas.

February 25: Vail, Colorado

2010-03-05T20:28:00.002-05:00

Subie (our Subaru Outback) made some less than normal noises every once in a while and the steering wheel would 'shake' so much that 2 hands were required. We decided to have it checked out and glad we did. Our friend, Autumn, gave us the name of "Jungle" the traveling mechanic. Jungle said he would love to help us but he had family in town and was skiing with them all day. But Jungle referred us to Ledfoot Linda's. Needless to say with those 2 names we were a little nervous and curious. LL's was awesome though. They drove us into the village of Vail so we could get breakfast while they worked on Subie. Not only that but when they knew that we were traveling across country, they fit us in and had us on the road before lunch! Shout out to Ledfoot Linda's!!

February 24: Colorado

2010-03-05T17:33:00.002-05:00

Ginger and Spinner (aka Filatore) reunited in Denver, CO and made their way to Edwards, CO (very near Vail) to visit with another Summit friend, Autumn Glynn Outslay, and her husband Mike and 1 year old daughter Anastasia!
And a very happy birthday shout out to Ginger's mom, Juanita, who turned the big 6-0 today!!! We love you, Mom!

February 22: St Louis, MO

2010-03-05T17:15:00.002-05:00

Met up with an old Summit pal and his wife (who I had never met) and realized that we had not seen each other in almost 10 years! Whoa, time flies.

February 21: St Louis, MO

2010-03-04T17:31:00.004-05:00

Traveling across country afforded the joy of seeing some friends that I haven't seen in a while. Mel Palm is one of them!

February 20: Josh Barber birthday!!

2010-02-21T10:55:00.003-05:00

A little break from the daily

February 19: Kalamazoo, MI puppet show

2010-02-21T10:46:00.002-05:00

February 18: Mt Hermon CA resident in Grand Rapids, MI

2010-02-21T10:40:00.002-05:00

February 17: Grand Rapids, MI (but filmed on the 19th)

2010-02-21T10:23:00.002-05:00

Jenny Echols and I have not seen each other since 1993 in Boone, NC at Appalachian State Univ. We had a lot of catching up to do! We met for Indian food at 6pm and did not even look at our watch until 11pm...and we thought it was only 9pm or so. Whew! GOOD TIMES!!! Thanks Jenny for an awesome evening!

February 16: Grandville, MI

2010-02-21T10:12:00.003-05:00

Dana Barber's Dad, Darryl, a faithful Filatore follower

February 15: Spring Arbor, MI

2010-02-21T10:10:00.002-05:00

February 14: Kalamazoo, MI

2010-02-14T22:52:00.002-05:00

February 13: Shore of Lake Michigan

2010-02-14T22:46:00.002-05:00

I am loving visiting with friends along this cross country drive! I've known Dana for 10 years! Thanks for taking me to the shore to see the "iceberg dunes."

February 12: Bluffton, OH

2010-02-14T22:41:00.002-05:00

February 10 & 11: Snowed in in Perrysville, OH & Cedarville, OH

2010-02-14T22:22:00.003-05:00

Snow Day in Perrysville, OH

Ben Radley at a camp fair in Cedarville, OH

February 9: Philippi, West (by God) Virginia

2010-02-14T22:07:00.004-05:00

Second year in a row to see baby lambs. LOVE IT!

Twins born sometime in the middle of the night

February 8: The Land, NC (aka NeNe & Pops' Place)

2010-02-08T06:48:00.002-05:00

Juanita & Ricky Wilson, Ginger's parents, say goodbye to her as she begins her slow drive across country. Bass Lake, CA or bust!

February 7: Ginger's bubba & family, Stallings, NC

2010-02-07T19:18:00.002-05:00

February 6: Ginger's ASU roommate - Charlotte, NC

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February 5: Boone, NC presents the Robot

2010-02-07T17:37:00.002-05:00

February 4: Lees McRae College, Banner Elk, NC

2010-02-05T12:24:00.002-05:00

February 3: Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC

2010-02-03T23:42:00.002-05:00

February 2: Jay speaking his best Korean in Charlotte, NC

2010-02-03T00:22:00.004-05:00

Later this month Jay will become my brother's brother-in-law. He lived in Korea until age 3 and he tried to tell us he couldn't speak Korean very well. I'll let you be the judge.

February 1: Amos J Silly Cat (aka Flops Like Fish)

2010-02-02T23:50:00.002-05:00

Amos didn't take to all the travel that the US Navy required of us over the last 5.5 years. What was originally supposed to be a couple month visit with Spinner parents (see Jan29th)has turned into a permanent situation. We miss him much but he has become attached to his grandparents and even a neighbor so he's a fixture in Shoresbrook neighborhood in Spartanburg, SC

January 31: Lakehouse GIRLS Weekend, SC

2010-02-02T12:20:00.002-05:00

January 30: FL girl in SC snow

2010-02-02T10:59:00.003-05:00

January 29: Lake Bowen, SC

2010-02-02T10:37:00.002-05:00

January 28: "Cantonese" at the Panda Den, Charlotte, NC

2010-01-29T08:19:00.003-05:00

January 27: "English" at MHW Preschool, Matthews, NC

2010-01-29T07:55:00.003-05:00

January 26: From Sophia's bed

2010-01-26T21:41:00.004-05:00

January 25: Jewelry Party at "The Land" aka Nene & Pop's place in Stallings, NC

2010-01-26T14:24:00.002-05:00

Martha, Juanita, Rena (aka Carol), Joy, Lauren, Vanessa, & Jim (aka Turtle Old Man) www.turtleoldman.com

January 24: Avery's 2nd birthday party, Stallings, NC

2010-01-26T14:20:00.003-05:00

January 23: Wendy's in Colonial Heights, VA

2010-01-26T13:52:00.002-05:00

January 22: Two for Turkey

2010-01-26T12:36:00.002-05:00

Ebru in the morning drinking Turkish coffee

Ebru in the afternoon at the end of a massage by Kelli

January 21: Annandale, VA

2010-01-22T13:21:00.002-05:00

January 20: WFR class at JHU, Baltimore, MD

2010-01-22T13:08:00.002-05:00

January 18: Orgeonian in Baltimore, MD

2010-01-22T13:01:00.001-05:00

January 17: West Virginia by way of Baltimore

2010-01-22T12:51:00.002-05:00

January 16: Waverly Farmers Market

2010-01-22T12:22:00.002-05:00

January 15: Inside the Trader Joe's Bag

2010-01-20T21:42:00.002-05:00

January 14: A Word from Ginger

2010-01-20T20:03:00.009-05:00

As many of you know well, Spinner is an introvert. My brother and his wife, Eric & Lauren, gave him him a fLip video recorder for Christmas so Spinner thought it would be a great idea to do something similar to the 36507 project (http://filatore.blogspot.com/2007/01/jan-1-00107.html)where he took a picture a day for the 365 days of 2007. So off he set to video PEOPLE throughout the year. Here is where the first sentence of today's post comes into play. Shortly after Spinner began the new project, his energy & enjoyment of his new project quickly began diminishing. As his wife, I tried to encourage him in the endeavor...mainly because I thought it was pretty fun! :-) Hence, Spnr has now officially turned the project over to me.
Over the next month I will be traveling the east coast from Baltimore to Spartanburg and then working my way across the country so there should be some interesting posts so check back periodically. However, I have a request as well. I am planning to add a little twist to the project:
If you or someone you know speaks another language they may have the opportunity to be highlighted sometime this year. Filatore.blogspot.com will attempt to record as many languages as possible this year. French was the first to make it solely in a foreign language...see January 11th. However, you can also pick up on a little Italian on January 8th. Please let me know if you want your language or a language you speak to be highlighted!

January 13: Johns Hopkins Univ, Baltimore

2010-01-13T19:23:00.002-05:00

January 12: Redding, CA by way of Baltimore

2010-01-13T19:15:00.002-05:00

January 11: FRANCE by way of Baltimore, MD

2010-01-13T19:04:00.003-05:00

Louis is a WFR instructor for WMI and is truly French.

January 10: Baltimore, MD

2010-01-13T18:58:00.002-05:00

January 9: Eastern Market, Washington DC

2010-01-13T18:53:00.002-05:00

January 8: Washington DC

2010-01-13T18:36:00.003-05:00

Tim Hansel (1941-2009)

2010-01-12T22:52:00.012-05:00

This weekend, Tom Smith (Summit's Executive Director) and I will be traveling to San Diego for Tim Hansel's Memorial Service. Tim Hansel was the original founder of Summit Expedition in the late 60's and early 70's (the date varies, depending on who you talk with). I'd like to take a moment to introduce you to this ordinary man who lived an extraordinary life, impacting countless lives and heavily influencing the idea of "wilderness ministry". (All quotes in italics are Hansel’s own words.)

In 1941, Timothy Jon Hansel was the second of two boys born to Art (an insurance salesman) and Ruth (a beautician) Hansel. Shortly after his birth, the family moved from Minnesota to Seattle, where Hansel lived until he enrolled at Stanford University, having earned a football scholarship to the prestigious California school. Hansel would go on to complete both an undergrad and graduate degree while at Stanford, and after turning down a job offer to coach on the Stanford staff, Hansel took off for New York to work with Young Life. A variety of teaching and coaching jobs followed, intermingled with frequent trips into the wilderness.

"The wilderness is still the finest place to train servant leaders because it is a non-neutral learning environment which demands change, and fosters community, trust, and interdependence. The wilderness encourages wholeness, reminds us of what is true and real and affords us an opportunity like no other to encounter God as He is without distraction." Holy Sweat (1987)

In the 60's, Hansel was teaching Social Studies at a public high school in California, and was growing increasingly disturbed by the lack of motivation and apathy shown by his students. He wondered if a weekend camping trip would help. Amazed at the transformation that occurred, Hansel began to take groups of high school students into the wilderness, at first just for the weekend, but the trips grew longer and longer. His initial forays convinced him of the effectiveness of outdoor, experiential-based education and led to the formation of Summit Expedition, one of the earliest wilderness-based ministries in the United States.

One of Tim's first business cards

“Apathy is one of the big things to deal with for today’s kids. So we put them in stress situations. We get them up on a three-pitch rock climb. They concentrate entirely upon what they are doing, bringing their awareness up to a peak. There’s no room for apathy…” Hansel, quoted in Backpacker, Summer 1974.

Throughout the 70’s, Summit continued to grow, taking hundreds of students into the wilderness. Although the ministry was impacting many people, finances were always a concern, forcing Hansel to work as many as four jobs at a time. In addition, he married and fathered two children, embarking on the adventure of marriage and fatherhood. As Hansel continued to direct the ever-growing ministry of Summit, his real ministry was about to begin.

Hansel and Peb Jackson--that appears to be the south ridge of Madera Peak in the background

“David was halfway across the snowbridge when my crampons balled up. I slipped. Just as I was beginning to stop, my feet went over the edge. The momentum gave gravity just enough of a nudge to cause me to flip upside down.”

Several years after he founded Summit, Hansel and another instructor had completed a climb on North Palisade Peak in the Sierra Nevada. Descending from the glacier in the late afternoon, Hansel’s crampons balled up with snow and caused him to fall into the crevasse, landing heavily on his upper back and neck. Although he got up and hiked the 20 miles to the car, the damage was done. Cracked vertebrae. Crushed discs. Fragments of bone lodged in his neck. The result was chronic, debilitating pain that would be with him for the next 35 years.

An early GoForIt! course

“I feel almost dismembered this morning by outrageous pain. It is almost comical to have reached such a ludicrous level of disorder. Me, with my desire to be agile and free, barely able to get up and out of the chair this morning. Teach me to live in new ways, O Lord. Teach me and show me your ways in the midst of this.”

The pain was relentless, and would come to define the remainder of Hansel’s life. The lifelong athlete, the champion of backcountry travel, the intrepid mountaineer--he would be forced to leave the ministry he started and loved because of the accident. His boundless energy was now funneled into speaking, and writing. Twelve books would ultimately flow from Hansel’s pen, but he’s most remembered for one—“You Gotta Keep Dancing”, originally published in 1979. Although written by an accomplished mountaineer and outdoorsman, YGKD found the strongest reception among those who might never experience the outdoors—those who were suffering from pain, sorrow and disabilities. Hansel inspired thousands, maybe millions, with his strong message of perseverance, faith, and the option to “choose joy” despite your circumstances. Pain was inevitable, but misery was optional. It was this attitude that continued to inspire people throughout the last years of his life.

“I began to realize that it wasn’t my imposed limitations that held me back as much as my perception of those limitations. It wasn’t the pain that was thwarting me as much as it was my attitude towards the pain.”

Ginger & I came to Summit in 1998, 19 years after “You Gotta Keep Dancing” was published. When I joined the full-time staff, I was amazed at how many people contacted Summit after reading one of Hansel’s books. Even today, 30+ years after it was published, we continue to receive phone calls and messages from people inspired by Hansel’s message.

Finally, I’ve been in and around the wilderness ministry field for the better part of two decades, and interacted with a large number of organizations that use the adventure-based recreation as a ministry tool. I’m not sure when and where the concept of “wilderness ministry” first emerged, but here’s something I do now: there are numerous organizations that work in the wilderness and many of them were influenced directly or indirectly by Tim Hansel. Many of the founders and leaders of today’s wilderness industry were students or staff that experienced the passion, the vision, and the inspiration of Tim Hansel. I’m lucky to consider myself one of that group.

The Memorial Service will happen Saturday morning in Carlsbad, California.

January 6: Bass Lake, CA

2010-01-09T14:01:00.002-05:00

January 5: Denver, CO

2010-01-09T13:40:00.002-05:00

January 4: Stallings, NC

2010-01-09T13:25:00.003-05:00

January 3: Indian Trail, NC

2010-01-04T16:18:00.004-05:00

January 2: Valle Crucis, NC

2010-01-04T16:05:00.002-05:00

It's 2010....time for a new project.

2010-01-04T15:42:00.002-05:00

As many of you know, I traditionally come up with a new project every year. Sometimes this project is something cerebral and academic, like reading or writing a certain book, and sometimes it is just something fun--like my 2007 project to document every day of the year with one photograph. I have several projects for this year, but the one I'm going to share is a high-tech version of the 2007 Photo of the Day project.

For 2010, I'll attempt to get someone new, wherever I am, to say hello on video and post that video online. The person might be someone you know, it might be someone famous, or it might even be you! You never know who might show up. . .

January 1's video is below and yes, I know that it's not straight. I'm still learning how to manipulate these videos.....

Overdue

2009-11-14T22:53:00.005-05:00

I know..it's been a long time since the latest post. Between packing up and moving away from DC, to a fantastic trip to Switzerland (simply too many pictures to post!) and finally getting to Bass Lake and starting the new job, it's been a very busy 2 months.

I've really enjoyed coming back to Bass Lake...we had visited a couple of times since we left,but it's been fun to look--and really see--all the things that have changed and all the things that have stayed the same over the last 6 years. I've had the good fortune to spend a day in the high country of Toulumne Meadows, and spent Saturday getting reacquainted with Yosemite Valley, the crown jewel of this area.

One of my goals for 2010 is to get back in the habit of posting new information here, including a good look around Bass Lake, Eastern Madera County, and an in-depth look at what we do here at Summit Adventure, so come back often in 2010.

Change

2009-09-18T22:36:00.005-04:00

This entry marks a significant transition to this blog, which was originally started while I was deployed to Italy (in case you didn't know.."Filatore" is "Spinner" in Italian; at least in my vocabulary.) and later morphed to highlight a major project (The "Picture A Day" project in 2007) I was involved in. When we moved to DC, it changed again to serve as a great avenue to indulge my interest in history and local attractions.

I've attempted to highlight some of the most significant, yet also entertaining, sites in the DC area, but I feel like I barely touched the surface. I've run out of time, and never got to tell the story of the Pope's contribution to the Washington Monument (it ended up in the Potomac River), or the man who built Haines Point, or the Congressional Cemetery, or a dozen other stories on my list. You'll just have to discover those for yourself.

As many of you know, this month also marks a transition for Ginger & me. My last day in the office in 2 October (tomorrow!), and I officially separate from the Navy at the end of November. It's been an interesting 5+ years--not what we expected, but then again, life rarely is. It's involved travel to areas far and wide, involvement in some of the most relevant issues of our day, periods of separation, new relationships, and times of hardship and struggle. It hasn't always been fun, or easy, or exciting, but we've gotten through with the love and support of many friends and family, of which we are eternally grateful.

I can summarize my time in the Navy by quoting John F. Kennedy, our 35th President, who said: "Any man who may be asked in this century, what he did to make his life worthwhile, can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction, "I served in the United States Navy".

We're taking a month off and plan to travel during the month of October--we'll be in Switzerland (and maybe Austria/Italy as well) for much of that time. In November, I'll start work as the Operations Director at Summit Adventure, and we'll go about the business of establishing our life back in the beautiful Oakhurst/Bass Lake area.

This blog will continue, but will probably transition to highlight more of our personal life and adventures in the future. Stay tuned for more details, and when you come to visit, maybe you'll have your Internet 15 minutes of fame!

Thanks for reading, and sharing. We look forward to good times in the future.

August: The Case of the Missing Firehorse

2009-08-31T12:18:00.018-04:00

I strongly believe that the best history stories are like a good work of fiction-interesting, suspenseful, and engaging to both your intellect and your emotions. And if it involves a person, place or subject that you know and care about--even better. Here's a little nugget I came across that fits most, if not all, of those criteria.

On 25 June 25, 1937, a small contingent of firemen, animal lovers, involved citizens and ordinary town folks gathered on a gentle rise near the southernmost tip of the District of Columbia. They were there to pay their last respects to a fallen firefighter, although this one had four legs. A large monument of Indiana limestone was hoisted into place over a grave, its surface engraved with "In Memory of Tom, Last Horse in the D.C.F.D.". Who was Tom? What happened to him? Why was he buried out there? More importantly, where is that grave now?

Once upon a time, before the invention of fire trucks and modern equipment, fire crews and wagons were pulled by firehorses. They had to be strong, and fast, and not easily spooked by the chaos and confusion of a fire scene. Much time and expense was incurred selecting a fire service horse. It was said that the animal that could fill the role of a fire service horse was a one-in-a-hundred selection. A firehorse represented a considerable investment in training time and money. The training of a firehorse took between, on average, one and two years, and some cities even had "horse colleges" where firehorses were trained.

Except when it was eating, a firehorse lived with a bit in its mouth. It had to be ready to go at all times. In those days, a fire alarm rang in every station simultaneously, but the specific pattern of bells indicated which station was to respond. A good firehorse could discern when its services were needed, and many would start kicking the stalls the moment they heard their unique call. Once harnessed, the three-horse team would burst from the station, ears back, nostrils gaping, muscles pumping. I'm sure there were few sights more stirring, or comforting (if it was your house burning), as a team of strong firehorses rounding a curve at full clip.

Fire Company 205 answers an alarm in Brooklyn (NY) on 20 Dec 1922 (all other photos in DC)

These horses were meticulously cared for and teams were matched in size, color and general appearance when possible. These animals became local celebrities with residents, especially children, who often brought their favorite firehorse treats, such as sugar cubes or apples, during the horse's daily exercise jaunt.

In the late 1800's, as many as 200 firehorses worked for the DC Fire Department, and every fire station included a stable and manure pit.

But progress waits for neither man nor beast. The D.C. fire department got its first motorcar in 1910. A year later, Engine Co. 24 opened on Georgia Avenue with a motorized pumper. It was also the first station built without a stable or manure pit. The horse era was ending.

In 1925, the last horse team -- Barney, Gene and Tom -- made a final ceremonial run. (It was captured on film and several pictures can be seen below.)

Barney, Gene and Tom on the final run

Out of the way chickens!

Some firehorses, when no longer needed, were transferred to the street cleaning department or sold to merchants who used them to haul goods, but firehorses were ill-suited for other kinds of work. They were trained to run, and react, and didn't like to stand on the sidelines. Many times, instinct would take over when they heard an alarm and they would tear off down the street. The lucky ones were put out to pasture at Blue Plains. (At the time, Blue Plains was a rural enclave that included an old folks' home, a paupers' burial ground and fields that ran down to the Potomac and Oxen Cove. It's on the east side of DC just across the Anacostia River.) Barney and Gene died at Blue Plains in 1932, but Tom lived for a few more years, appearing in Labor Day parades and, if the old stories are to be believed, cocking his head at the smell of smoke, wanting to get in on the action.

How Tom died is somewhat of a mystery. Firehouse legend has it that in June of 1937, Engine #25 was responding to a fire and travelling down Overlook Parkway (what would later become I-295). That section of road ran parallel the fence and pasture where Old Tom was enjoying his retirement. Tom, hearing the bells and seeing the hoses and fireman (his people!) and not quite knowing (or liking) the concept of retirement, went into action. In a heartbeat. Tom was running next to the road, stride for stride with the motorized truck as it sped down the road. Later that day, workers found Tom dead, his heart no longer up to the task of responding to his last alarm. It should be noted that this has not be verified, but it makes a good story.

Regardless of how he died, he was buried on that warm summer day in 1937. The 26 Jun edition of the Washington Post provides the details: Miss Virginia W. Sargent, president of the city's Animal Protective Association, was the principal speaker. Her group had spearheaded the effort to remember Tom. She lauded the horse's gentleness, courage and loyalty. Capt. Raymond E. Oden of Firehouse #25 praised Tom's long service. Private E. M. King sounded a final tribute: 27 notes on a fire engine gong, one for each year of Tom's life. Pictures of the event show schoolkids lined up around the new memorial stone.

Tragically, his monument was lost over the years. Somehow, no one knows, or remembers, where the monument was placed. Maybe it was moved in a bit of construction. (Ironically enough, much of the old Blue Plains retirement home was turned into the DC Fire Academy). Maybe someone found the monument and took it home. Maybe it is still there, grown over by brush and weeds, waiting to be discovered. . .

31 Days of History Conclusion

2009-08-01T08:14:00.002-04:00

For each of the last 31 days, I've highlighted some historical person, place or thing that has a local connection to the DC area. In closing this month long experiment, there are a couple of points I'd like to make.

First, history is not just some isolated, one-time event that happened a long time ago. I firmly believe that who we are is a result of all the things that have come before us--personal decisions by our family and ancestors, political decisions from national leaders, environmental events, etc etc. Obviously, there is a large degree of personal initiative, but we are heavily influenced by what has come before. When
I read history, recent or ancient, local or distant, I always look for the personal connection. If you dig deep enough, it's always there.

Second, people have told me that it's easy to find history since we live in DC, but not so easy elsewhere. I'd have to disagree---there are connections to the past everywhere, but we tend to overlook them when it's in our own backyard. Look around your area--are the streets or neighborhoods named after certain people or places? When was the city started? Famous people from your area? How does your city/state/area fit into the larger scale of American history? Trust me--we are all connected somehow, it's just that sometimes those connections are harder to see.

Third, I'm glad the month is up. I need to break from blogging.