[iananderson17]

"Then, I was hit by a speeding kiddy pool being towed by a fourwheeler and flew, end over end until I landed on top of my head. (but that’s another story altogether)" Story to go with this?

[bradthebard]

Originally Posted by _Chris_

That really cool, Does your state have any requirements or permits needed? In CA I can't build a trash can holder without paying the government.

The county I am in requires a septic system approved. I designed and installed it myself and the county inspector signed off on the plans nad the install, respectively. There is an electrical permit, but it is tied to the septic inspection. The remote location of my land helped though I did pull permits for the structure.

[Chris]

It must be nice like I said they make it real difficult for us to build anything here. Do you still use the place? I take it you do not live there anymore. And I too want to here the kiddie pool story.

[bradthebard]

I bought a house to rehab closer to work (30 miles instead of 52) so, no I am not living in the cabin right now. At four hundred square feet it was beginning to get a little cramped for two adults and two growing kids! I am going to be finishing and fixing a few things over the next year out there and it is not inconcievable that we will build an addition with a living room and bedroom space and move back out there.

Four wheeler story will have to wait a while. Got some work to do!

[Ross]

Originally Posted by bradthebard

I bought a house to rehab closer to work (30 miles instead of 52) so, no I am not living in the cabin right now. At four hundred square feet it was beginning to get a little cramped for two adults and two growing kids! I am going to be finishing and fixing a few things over the next year out there and it is not inconcievable that we will build an addition with a living room and bedroom space and move back out there.

Four wheeler story will have to wait a while. Got some work to do!

I have to admit the only reason I started reading your story was your Avatar. But it is a great story and you get my vote for man of the year. You said you got bricks in Farmington, MO. How far are from there. I live in Success MO, about 30 minutes South of Fort Leonard Wood. I just had a home built in the middle of the woods about three years ago but my story isn't as impressive. I didn't need permits for anything. I did do soil tests for my septic.

[IslandTJ]

Originally Posted by bradthebard

Ahhhhh. Yes indeed. It truly would have been easier. But I would not have seen the moonlight on the oak trees at midnight.

Nice bradthebard, I don't know if you know that it is very difficult for the majority of the population to appreciate the comment you just made there. Sometimes convenient and fast don't allow us to enjoy and appreciate what's directly in front of ourselves.

Mahalo .

[bradthebard]

Originally Posted by Ross

I have to admit the only reason I started reading your story was your Avatar. But it is a great story and you get my vote for man of the year. You said you got bricks in Farmington, MO. How far are from there. I live in Success MO, about 30 minutes South of Fort Leonard Wood. I just had a home built in the middle of the woods about three years ago but my story isn't as impressive. I didn't need permits for anything. I did do soil tests for my septic.

I'm about thirty miles west of St Louis now. The cabin is about 50 miles west of st louis, a stones throw from Little Lost Creek conservation area.

[McWood]

great story, cant wait to hear the rest.

[bradthebard]

Originally Posted by iananderson17

"Then, I was hit by a speeding kiddy pool being towed by a fourwheeler and flew, end over end until I landed on top of my head. (but that’s another story altogether)" Story to go with this?

Originally Posted by _Chris_

And I too want to here the kiddie pool story.

It isn't that much of a story.

Me and a number of friends were out at a buddies place in a ten acre field. He had a Polaris four-wheeler with a rope, oh, bout thirty feet long (as a side note, the owner of the four wheeler is now in jail for inadvertently ramming a police car while drunk and causing a police officer to lose both his legs, but that is another, much darker, story) pulling a kiddie pool around. My 66 'chevy was parked with the headlights shining out on the feild as he pulled my cousin in a crazy fast arc around the perimeter of the joint. It was a blast. I took my turn and was standing with a few other guys while my cousin rode the wind behind the quad. Mr quad driver came around the way and was mildly blinded by my trucks lights. As a result he misjudged where we were standing. I saw the lights of the quad coming too close about the same time he saw us and said "oh ****!". He cut it as fast as he could and, as the quad made the turn, it's headlights blinded me and the rest of the guys standing there. They all leaped back, out of the range of the arc of the sled. I, as it would happen, was too far inside the swing to get away. I couldn't see ****, but I could hear the icy "SSSSSSSSSSSSSSS"as the kiddy pool bore down on me, accelerated by the sharpness of the turn. All I could think to do was jump. Now, bear in mind, I was wearing about fourteen layers and heavy, insulated boots at the time. I nearly cleared the missile, but the edge of the sole of both boots snagged the top edge of the pool. It acted like a spring and flipped me head over heels.

I remember it like it was yesterday. The strange sensation as I flew through the air. It was a moment in time and yet I recall having full, complete thoughts wondering if I would be seriously hurt, If I would die.

I landed directly on my forehead. Vertical. My body was stretched perpendicular to the ground and I was balancing like an inverse porpoise on the globe. My neck cracked as I have never heard it. It started at the base of my skull and gave a lightening fast "BRrrrrrrrrrrrappppp" right down to my lumbar. As I hit the ground I remember the thought running through my head "I will never walk again".

In the silence that followed I heard my freinds running to me and I began the self check. I must have been out for a minute because I remember the guy who had been driving the quad asking if I was ok as he stood next to me. I wiggled my toes and fingers, felt the bitter cold of the snow, beautiful on my wrists and face. Later, my best friend Mike told me they knew I was alright when I told Mr driver, who was repeatedly asking if I was OK, to shut the hell up.

Good times. Good times.

[bradthebard]

Originally Posted by IslandTJ

Nice bradthebard, I don't know if you know that it is very difficult for the majority of the population to appreciate the comment you just made there. Sometimes convenient and fast don't allow us to enjoy and appreciate what's directly in front of ourselves.

Mahalo .

1. Yea, most folks cannot comprehend the notion of being for the sake of being.

2. Your avatar makes me feel all funny in my loins.

[taythegibs]

Originally Posted by mgramann

I know I'm searching for my "One mountain among thousands, one tree among millions"-Frightful's Mountain (Sequel to My Side of the Mountain, a book every boy should read)

To some of us the call to the wild is strong. Either you get it, or you don't. It's not a bad thing, but I don't think you truly understand...

Originally Posted by bradthebard

"My Side of the Mountain" was one of the most influential books of my youth. Not it's context, specifically (though the story was great), but the philosophy behind it.

That series has greatly effected the way i think, i discovered my side of the mountain on the top bookshelf of my elementary school's library when i was in fourth grade and from there went on to rest all of the books. on the nightstand by my bed there is a large book that contains the series and every once in a while i will crack it open and read a few pages.

the books encouraged me to get out more, i lived in a neighborhood where there were several empty wooded lots. we (the kids in the neighborhood and I) would go out and build complex forts...we built them every where- in trees, bushes, fields, heck we even had a small room underground. i will say though the whole burning out a tree for a place....not such a good idea, got the fire department called on us. We would have great games of flashlight tag, we made our own gangs that had opposing forts and we would attack each other, it gave me memories that will stay with me forever. The books really renewed my love of the outdoors which is still prominent today.

Originally Posted by Sambox

Because foreclosure and bankruptcy are less than honorable. That's giving up, saying "Hey, even though we made an agreement, I'm not going to keep my end of the deal." Kind of cowardly. By working like he did he maintained his moral dignity.

I'm tenacious and prideful, but the Bard has me beat. I would have given up by then...That is the kind of man we need today.

i agree completely with this post. i wish that everybody would only use bankruptcy as a very LAST resort.

Originally Posted by McDuffers

Wow. I'll be reading that for sure.


You should write a book.

yes a book would be cool. and i intend on reading all of your future postings (blogs? not sure on the terminology used here) on the subject, i bookmarked it!

[Tarukai]

Originally Posted by bradthebard

1. Yea, most folks cannot comprehend the notion of being for the sake of being.

If it weren't for work almost every night until 11 PM, I would be out in the woods or at the closest national park to us (not too far) more often, sitting out on the plateaus or cliffs at night.

but such is the way it goes, as well as most of the places being closed post-sundown.

EDIT: just finished through what was in that link, and that is crazy. Quite astounding, really.

Also, that damned stomach illness. I remember I had that last year myself. That was god awful.

[paddingtonbear]

[QUOTE=_Chris_;8191826]Brad that looks alot like the structure I am in the process of building in my yard except a little nicer. Here is a couple of pics of mine. How did you stay sane getting the bark off the logs? I hated it and I still have 4 more to go. Mine is much smaller and I am not putting walls on it but building a BBQ and bar under it, I have more done but no pics. When are you gonna post some pics of the finished product?



I like the idea and your efforts, but a BBQ under a wooden structure, thats just asking for trouble.

[sparkchaser]

As a fan of alliteration, I wish you were building a barn instead.

[Chris]

[QUOTE=paddingtonbear;8197828]

Originally Posted by _Chris_

Brad that looks alot like the structure I am in the process of building in my yard except a little nicer. Here is a couple of pics of mine. How did you stay sane getting the bark off the logs? I hated it and I still have 4 more to go. Mine is much smaller and I am not putting walls on it but building a BBQ and bar under it, I have more done but no pics. When are you gonna post some pics of the finished product?



I like the idea and your efforts, but a BBQ under a wooden structure, thats just asking for trouble.

It's a gas grill and there will be plenty of ventilation, nothing more than your standard gas grill on your back deck.