Diomedes Industries Give Away...

[Diomedes Industries]

I have not done a giveaway for a LONG time and needed to do one. I have surpassed a lot of posting milestones and need to give back.

So - I will have TWO giveaway's for this one.

I will give away the LAST of my fishing kits:

as well as one of my large tins of my Skin Care kit:

These skit care kits have:

The ingredients are:

Bees wax (locally harvested and organic)
Cocoa butter (organic)
Sweet almond oil (organic)
Lanolin (Medical Grade)
Wintergreen Oil, Peppermint Oil, and Rosemary Oil (all organic)
Honey (locally harvested and organic)

I will let the first winner pick and send the second winner the left overs!


So - what is the contest? This is a two parted, feel good contest, because I am feeling so fortunate this morning.

Tell me why you feel you are fortunate, lucky, blessed, or whatever language you use. Get sappy, tell me a long story, tell my why you don't deserve or why you do deserve - just tell me something that will warm all of our cold little hearts!

Then post a picture of that thing that you are speaking of.

I will give you an example.

I am the luckiest bastard in the world that I have a wonderful family (amongst MANY MANY other things I am lucky for).

So, do your worst, and the winners will be picked by one of my kids (whomever I can get to sit down long enough to look at the pics!)

Good luck,

TF

 

[Jason M D.]

I am blessed to have a subforum of great people that help each other out and give great advice to help others enjoy nature and so they can have a sense of adventure.

Thanks to you and everyone.

Sorry for no pics but I don't have one of everyone here
Jason

 

[PayetteRucker]

Life is give and take. I enlisted in the Air Force at the age of 17, and was honorably discharged from the Air Force a year ago with osteoarthritis in both of my hips. While enlisted, I lost a 5,000 dollar custom titanium mountain bike that my dad designed for my 16th birthday, stolen right out of my Air Force dorm room, and the military movers managed to lose all my personal belongings that weren't in the ALICE pack I checked on my plane ride. I'll never trade those years for anything, though life did have its major downsides. I was a 20 year old guy that went from having a 24/7 job, no bills and a basically unlimited spending budget to having no real job or any other major responsibilities. Almost exactly a year ago, I cashed in 2400 dollars worth of stocks and rented a moving van. My lease on my apartment in Houston was 2 days from expiring and I had no place to live and no major direction. I applied at Eberlestock, which was located in Boise, Idaho, and it was the only real chance I had going for anything, so I packed my belongings in an 8x10 box van with some poorly printed Mapquest instructions and hit the road. On the way there I called a running list of real estate agents I had found on craigslist for apartments in Boise. I got four names down the list when I hit a guy that guaranteed he'd hold an apartment for me and told me to take my time in getting there. 5 days later, after the road trip of my life, just me and Hewie, my pet snapping turtle, his cage literally strapped in to the passanger seat, I took my time and saw all the sights along the way, sampling a large chunk of what vast amounts of land the West has to offer. When I left my parents' house at the age of 17, I had been in three states-Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois, and now in one week I got to see Sam Houston National Forest, Palo Duro Canyon (2nd largest canyon in the country), Pike National Forest, The Garden of the Gods, Rocky Mountain National Park, Teddy Roosevelt National Forest, much of Wyoming, some beautiful canyons in Utah, the Grand Tetons, and much of Idaho in five days. I hiked over 135 miles in those five days, destroyed a pair of shoes and three pairs of socks, lost only one boonie hat, and spent a mere 5 bucks on recreation. I pulled into Boise at 8PM on June 22nd, found my appartment, met my landlord, who is now my best friend and biggest enabler, and began my new life in what is quite possibly the best outdoors mecca in the country. Even though I haven't made much money to speak of since I got here, there's no other place I'd rather be as a single bachelor. I live 3 blocks from the bars, 3 blocks from the mountains and have over a million square miles of world class public, unregulated, empty land to explore. Even though my legs are creaky, I am still able to crank out a rediculous amount of miles on a daily basis. I've picked up whitewater kayaking as not only an extreme sport, but also a gateway to unpackable country, swam every major rapid on the Snake and Salmon Rivers, met the best friends (including dogs) I'll ever have, traded in a Gerber LMF for a RAT RC5, cut my finger in half with a brand new HEST, purchased my first custom knife, a Koyote Leuku, did 22 shots on my 21st birthday at the Ranch Club, and have since explored parts of Nevada, Oregon, Wyoming and Montana. I watched the Winter Olympics in a rustic northwoods cabin burried 8 feet deep in snow at 6500 feet with two cases of Alaskan Amber wearing a Dale of Norway sweater, bombed 200 foot cliffs on top of an 800CC snowmobile, summited over a dozen 10,000+ foot peaks (many multiple times), tracked lions, mountain goats, bighorn, elk and black bear, saw my first salmon run, saw my first meteor shower (7,000 feet deep in a canyon 100 miles away from the nearest town-it was spectacular), saw the Milky Way Galaxy for the first time, grew my hair from a buzz to past my shoulders, and am probably in better shape now than I ever have been. A good friend of mine says you have to have more sails than anchors in your life-that meaning, you have to have more things that enable you than things that hold you back. I look upon the last year of my life, and, although poor and somewhat unconstructive, has to be about the best year a young guy could ask for. My only anchor was my budget, and it's pretty crazy how well you can live on a couple of bucks when you have nothing else holding you back. I'd live on 4500 dollars a year for the rest of my life and die a happy man if I can continue at this rate. That's my story of how my life was randomly and completely changed within the last year, and why I am totally, 100%, completely blessed.

 

[Echo4v]

Man, I think you're gonna get a lot of responses to this one.

Here is why I'm lucky, cause I have a wonderfull family that loves to do things I love to do.

Here are pictures...

Wife and Son ( last weekend)

Me and Son ( yesterday)

Gracen (Obviously my son)

Honestly don't care about winning, I just appreciate the chance to brag on my family any chance I get.

David

 

[nc527]

Im lucky to have such a great family, a family who loves me, and a family that supports all my endeavors. Like every family we have had some rough spots, but we always pull through stronger then ever before.

 

[theedge13]

This lil dude right here makes all the worries of the world go away!

thanks for the chance! :thumbup:

 

[skab8541]

I am lucky/blessed with two of the great boys. One is turning into quite the outdoorsman at 4 years old, loves to mushroom hunt, hike, fish, mess around with dad in the backyard bushcrafting. He soaks it all up, and asks for more. My 6 month old brings even more joy to life as he is just soo darn cute, he will melt your heart. He gets me to laugh when I'm in a bad mood and just engeneral brightens my life!!

thanks for the chance at your giveaway, and the chance to show off my boys!

 

[kvaughn]

Those boys look kinda small for the bb guns I sent them! i guess they'll grow into them. Great pics!.--KV

 

[bkduckworth]

I'm truly blessed in more ways than I can ever express.

Here is the number one blessing though:

Brandon

 

[Todd Murphy]

This is a great give away! I think I must perpetuate the theme here of family. There is nothing else in my life that I am more thankful for. I am blessed to have a beautiful wife (of 15 years) and 4 wonderful kids (13 year old daughter and 9 year old triplets--2 boys and a girl). Life doesn't always go exactly as you expect. I certainly never expected to have triplets, but they have been awesome (even though I really wouldn't want to relive the first year of their life). I am so grateful for my wife and everything that she puts up with from me. I am lucky to have married my High School sweetheart. She is the only woman I have even even asked out on a date, let alone kissed. Here are a few pictures of my crew (the family picture is 3 years old now):

 

[Diomedes Industries]

Bump to get some more participants.


TF

 

[white_feather]

I am lucky. At age sixteen I did what most kids did. I went to the license bureau to obtain my drivers license. I passed on the first try and was awarded the privilege to drive. Within a few weeks I had a massive panic attack while driving. my date for the evening drove me home. My parents took me to the emergency room. I was treated with Valium, told I hyperventilated, and that was it. No follow up, no counseling, nothing, nada, zip. The next time I drove it happened again. I pulled into a gas station to calm down. Bought a soda and some cookies. The cashier was talking to a customer about how her car died and she needed one or she would lose her job. I listened. When it was my turn to pay, I did so. I then asked her about her car. She explained how it broke down and she couldn't get it fixed. I gave her the keys to my car, told her she could have it and then walked a few miles home. A few days later she knocked on my door. She drove my car there. She offered the keys to me, I told her to keep them. I grabbed the title and signed it over to her. I am the lucky one.
Two years later and still not driving I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. I served four years active duty and loved every minute. I had a daughter from a one night stand. She is incredible! Such a wonderful child. She has a child now. I am a grandfather. I am the lucky one.
Six years have gone by so far and still walking or biking everywhere. Upon discharge I moved to my brother's house in North Carolina. I had a pocket or two full of cash. I was in the local music store everyday looking at guitars. I wanted to buy two Paul Reed Smith guitars but couldn't choose. I had noticed a girl coming in everyday with a load of change for the manager. One day I inquired about her. She was a waitress using the change she earned as tips to buy a unique Les Paul Standard. She owed money on it, it would have been quite a while before she paid it off too. I gave the manager a wad of money to pay it off for her with instructions to remain anonymous. This manager was a very cool person. He would have someone pick me up and take me home every day, even before I paid for the guitar. He bought me sodas and lunch a few times. I was in the store when the girl walked in with her daily bag of coins. The manager told her to hang on for a minute. He brought her the guitar. She was puzzled. He put it on the counter, opened it up, showed her the receipt and told her it was free and clear to take home. The look on her face was worth it. I am the lucky one.
I moved back home to Cleveland, Ohio. It's now eight years and I am still car free. Everyone in town was sure that I was a drunk who lost my license. 'You simply cannot survive without a car', They said. I don't smoke. I don't do drugs. I don't drive. I am a freak. No, I am the lucky one.
Ten years after my panic attack I met the mother of my children. Age thirty I had my son. I worked across the street and over the fence from my house. On both breaks and my lunch hour I jumped the fence to run home. Everyday. I would hold him, feed him, change his diaper. I loved that little boy. He is my life. I am the lucky one.
I begin having breakdowns. Panic attacks. Anxiety attacks. I became agoraphobic. It was so bad at times that I actually lived in a closet for six months with nothing but a bottle of Valium, a case of warm sprite and a phone to talk to my dad. I had many conversations with the crisis hot-line as well as the mental health facility. I had a bag packed and ready to go in case I had to go to the nuthouse. For three years I lived this hell. I went down to 105 pounds. Yet I am the lucky one.
We had a daughter two years after my son was born. My life is complete. She is a beauty. Blond hair and blue eyes. Things happen in life and we split up. My heart was broken the first night I spent without my kids. I was thirty-three now. Single father, loving life except for Sunday nights when the kids went back home. Through pictures and phone calls I survived the week so Friday would come and I had the weekends for my kids. I am the lucky one.
2001. Still car free seventeen years later. I met a woman who understands me, accepts me, and worships me. By this time I was a mental wreck. I worked, came home and lived in my house. Never going out. We moved after six months together and then again six years later to where I live now. I always work next door to where I live. I had to. It was part of my disease. My girlfriend stayed with me, by my side the whole time. After eight years we are still together. We have been through hell several times by now yet we stayed strong. I am the lucky one.
2009. I can't take it anymore. I rode my bicycle in front of a bus. It missed me. I ended up in the psycho ward for five days. I was at rock bottom. I have no idea what happened or even how it happened but I am a different person. I am driving around town EVERYDAY. I took my kids fishing. I went to the mall. I do the grocery shopping. I do it all. I am me. I am free. I AM THE LUCKY ONE!

 

[Diomedes Industries]

White Feather,

I suffer from anxiety too. Nothing like what you have, not even close - but I understand a little bit what you suffered from. I can't believe your story - it is amazing.

TF

 

[VictGerbSogCamill]

let me try this again

 

[VictGerbSogCamill]

I am lucky. At age sixteen I did what most kids did. I went to the license bureau to obtain my drivers license. I passed on the first try and was awarded the privilege to drive. Within a few weeks I had a massive panic attack while driving. my date for the evening drove me home. My parents took me to the emergency room. I was treated with Valium, told I hyperventilated, and that was it. No follow up, no counseling, nothing, nada, zip. The next time I drove it happened again. I pulled into a gas station to calm down. Bought a soda and some cookies. The cashier was talking to a customer about how her car died and she needed one or she would lose her job. I listened. When it was my turn to pay, I did so. I then asked her about her car. She explained how it broke down and she couldn't get it fixed. I gave her the keys to my car, told her she could have it and then walked a few miles home. A few days later she knocked on my door. She drove my car there. She offered the keys to me, I told her to keep them. I grabbed the title and signed it over to her. I am the lucky one.
Two years later and still not driving I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. I served four years active duty and loved every minute. I had a daughter from a one night stand. She is incredible! Such a wonderful child. She has a child now. I am a grandfather. I am the lucky one.
Six years have gone by so far and still walking or biking everywhere. Upon discharge I moved to my brother's house in North Carolina. I had a pocket or two full of cash. I was in the local music store everyday looking at guitars. I wanted to buy two Paul Reed Smith guitars but couldn't choose. I had noticed a girl coming in everyday with a load of change for the manager. One day I inquired about her. She was a waitress using the change she earned as tips to buy a unique Les Paul Standard. She owed money on it, it would have been quite a while before she paid it off too. I gave the manager a wad of money to pay it off for her with instructions to remain anonymous. This manager was a very cool person. He would have someone pick me up and take me home every day, even before I paid for the guitar. He bought me sodas and lunch a few times. I was in the store when the girl walked in with her daily bag of coins. The manager told her to hang on for a minute. He brought her the guitar. She was puzzled. He put it on the counter, opened it up, showed her the receipt and told her it was free and clear to take home. The look on her face was worth it. I am the lucky one.
I moved back home to Cleveland, Ohio. It's now eight years and I am still car free. Everyone in town was sure that I was a drunk who lost my license. 'You simply cannot survive without a car', They said. I don't smoke. I don't do drugs. I don't drive. I am a freak. No, I am the lucky one.
Ten years after my panic attack I met the mother of my children. Age thirty I had my son. I worked across the street and over the fence from my house. On both breaks and my lunch hour I jumped the fence to run home. Everyday. I would hold him, feed him, change his diaper. I loved that little boy. He is my life. I am the lucky one.
I begin having breakdowns. Panic attacks. Anxiety attacks. I became agoraphobic. It was so bad at times that I actually lived in a closet for six months with nothing but a bottle of Valium, a case of warm sprite and a phone to talk to my dad. I had many conversations with the crisis hot-line as well as the mental health facility. I had a bag packed and ready to go in case I had to go to the nuthouse. For three years I lived this hell. I went down to 105 pounds. Yet I am the lucky one.
We had a daughter two years after my son was born. My life is complete. She is a beauty. Blond hair and blue eyes. Things happen in life and we split up. My heart was broken the first night I spent without my kids. I was thirty-three now. Single father, loving life except for Sunday nights when the kids went back home. Through pictures and phone calls I survived the week so Friday would come and I had the weekends for my kids. I am the lucky one.
2001. Still car free seventeen years later. I met a woman who understands me, accepts me, and worships me. By this time I was a mental wreck. I worked, came home and lived in my house. Never going out. We moved after six months together and then again six years later to where I live now. I always work next door to where I live. I had to. It was part of my disease. My girlfriend stayed with me, by my side the whole time. After eight years we are still together. We have been through hell several times by now yet we stayed strong. I am the lucky one.
2009. I can't take it anymore. I rode my bicycle in front of a bus. It missed me. I ended up in the psycho ward for five days. I was at rock bottom. I have no idea what happened or even how it happened but I am a different person. I am driving around town EVERYDAY. I took my kids fishing. I went to the mall. I do the grocery shopping. I do it all. I am me. I am free. I AM THE LUCKY ONE!

Thanks for the contest, I respectfully decline. My vote is for this one, so I'm going to help em out a little. If your kids are picking based on pictures, (I realize your looking at the stories as well) this ought to help.

 

[ROCK6]

Moving stories from both Payettrucker and White Feather!! Some great pictures of family as that is what motivates most of us. Life is difficult for us all in some way, yet those that persevere are rewarded...blessings and my best wishes for you all!

I have over 22 years of service in the Army and it's been rough at times for me and even harder for the family. This last move was tough on the kids now that they are much older and my wife had to give up her passion of teaching due to the move and crappy economy for teachers in GA...it will all work out; I just have the faith.

My promotion was last Friday and it was a great day of reflection on the past several years. At the end of the day, I can turn to those that have supported me in a foundation of love, patience and friendship. It is I that am truly blessed and all the hardships, painful assignments, several rough tours away from home and the long hours of tedious work are only tolerable because of them.

Everybody deserves a little happiness in life...this is how I've been blessed:

Cheers to all; great thread TF and one that brings us all back to reality and reflection on what is really important in our lives and that our lives do have a purpose!

ROCK6

 

[Diomedes Industries]

Wow Rock - for an ugly bastard - you sure married up!

Vict - Man you are cheating! Spiderman is my youngest fav and Pokemon is my oldest. You may have tossed a ringer in.

No matter what Whitefeather is getting some of my handcrafts for that story!


TF

 

[Cougar Allen]

...oops -- wrong thread.