A Discontinued Benchmade

I happened into a local hardware store recently to have a key made for one of my listings. After a long career in law enforcement, I’ve found myself working as a Florida Realtor. I was attempting to open one of my listings for another Realtor and his buyers, but the electronic lockbox malfunctioned. After a bit of problem solving, I was able to access the box. After the showing, it was off to the hardware store for a copy of the key so that I would have access should the lockbox fail again.

I enjoy stopping into our locally owned hardware store as it gives me a reason to check on their display of knives both new and used. On this particular day I bumped into a buddy whom I had not seen in awhile. After a chat, his daughter, who works as a cashier, heard us talking about knives and pulled out a blue, discontinued, Benchmade Griptilian. She quickly noted that it needed a cleaning but I was pleasantly surprised at the use it was getting. She beamed with pride to show off her blue Benchmade, and I was stoked to see another discontinued knife, in the wild, getting used daily.

As one of Benchmade’s longest running knives, the Griptilian was introduced in 2001. Over the years it has been produced in many different configurations, but specifically today you can find it on Benchmade’s website for $160.00 usd, and they offer three current configurations to choose from. The Griptilian is a staple knife model for Benchmade and over the years I’ve seen many Knife Enablers carry one. But specifically for this blue Grip, it belongs to Keegan and as Benchmade likes to say… It’s hers for life.

Make it your Absolute Intent to be better today than you were yesterday.

Content Link Block

Select a page and create a visual link to it. Learn more

Absolute Intent

Content Link Block

Select a page and create a visual link to it. Learn more

Absolute Intent

A Vintage Spyderco Rescue

On a recent gravel ride with my Salsa Journeyer I broke it. Kind of. I ended up with a cattle gate in my path, so over the gate I went. First my bike, I lifted it over and leaned it against the gate to watch it fall as I climbed over. After careful inspection I noticed the derailleur was bent. I straightened everything out and finished the ride. Later that day I loaded the bike and went to Crank Works Bicycles to have my Journeyer evaluated, as I also had a couple of other things that needed attention. My buddy Mark and his wife Patricia own the shop and whenever I have bicycle needs, they get my business. If you are not supporting your friends small business then you should re-evaluate your life.

As Mark had my bike a part and was assessing the parts that needed to be upgraded, I noticed that one of his mechanics, Bob, had 2 knife clips in his Right front pocket. As any Knife Enabler would do, I inquired. It turns out Bob has been carrying the 93mm Spyderco Rescue for the last 20 or so years. Also in his pocket was a Milwaukee Utility Knife. As a lover of vintage knives, especially Spyderco, I always enjoy seeing knives still kicking around in someone’s pocket getting used on the daily.

Based on my research through Blade Forums, Spydiewiki and Spyderco Knives, it would appear that this specific model variation was introduced by Spyderco in the mid 90’s. The knife was produced for the emergency services industry and in the description from Spyderco it details why.

““Cutting during emergency situations requires that Save and Serve Professionals have a readily accessible knife and are able to quickly and safely cut around people in hectic surroundings. Performance, ergonomics and comfortable use are all key elements needed in a rescue knife”.”

— Spyderco Knives

Even though the Spyderco Rescue was created marketed for “Save and Serve Professionals” , it is pretty obvious that it appeals to many other people and I guess we can add bicycle mechanic to the list. You never know what knife you are going to find in a Knife Enablers pocket. A huge thank you to Bob for sharing his knife with me, here’s to another 20 or so years of that knife helping you through tough situations.

Make it your Absolute Intent to be better today than you were yesterday.

13 Protestors

On Thursday July 02, 2020, 13 Protestors from the Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society assembled in front of the residence of the universities president to protest a lack of black student enrollment, more black faculty, and more financial aide for black students. After a handful of speeches and chanting from the 13 people who were in attendance, the protestors drove their vehicles back and forth along the driveway of the residence, beeping their horns for about ten minutes before vacating the premises.

Reannin

Reannin.

Caregiver.

Animal lover.

Olympic weightlifter.

CrossFit coach

and overall badass.

Counter-Protest

On a hot, muggy June evening in the small town of Brooksville, Florida about 250 people gathered under the canopy of two large Oak Trees, on the steps of the county courthouse. They gathered peacefully to protest the killing of George Floyd, a man who died while in police custody in Minneapolis Minnesota just over a week earlier.

As I walked up a barricaded Main Street and watched the scene unfold, I observed a group of about two dozen counter-protestors. They were gathered in the street, armed with sheath knives, and one specifically was draped in a confederate flag. I listened to them shout “All Lives Matter” and “White Is Right”! They waved the confederate flag, yelled obscenities at the crowd of protestors, and taunted them, daring them to cross the police line.

Uniformed deputy sheriffs lined the sidewalk between the protestors and counter-protestors. They ordered the counter-protestors to stay behind the double yellow line on Main Street, and not to approach the sidewalk.  A few of the protestors attempted to engage the group lining Main Street in words of love, but they continued to taunt the frustrated protestors to cross the police line and “talk” with them.

This peaceful protest was made up of a diverse crowd of men, women, and children. As each speaker addressed the crowd, the counter-protestors were persistent with their jeering. Shouting from Main Street across the courthouse lawn, a counter-protestor threatened a white speaker with violence. He threatened, not only the speaker with violence, but also threatened his mother. He threatened him because, in his words, he was a traitor for “switching sides”.

After the event, one of the counter-protestors was arrested for resisting arrest without violence and exhibition of a dangerous weapon. He allegedly pulled a machete from his pants and threatened a protestor with it.

I spent a lifelong career as a law enforcement officer and I’ve seen some pretty horrific scenes, but never have I witnessed such absolute hate, because of the color of someone’s skin, like I witnessed on Friday, June 5, 2020.

Eagle's Nest

Eagle’s Nest is a pond on the South edge of the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area. I have so many photos of it that sometimes I wonder why I’m making another, as I set up to photograph it. To me it’s a place to unwind. A pond in the middle of a Florida swamp. These days it’s quite easy to get to with a quick Google search because the Florida Wildlife Commission has opened gates, improved the roads leading to it, and even created a boardwalk and steps leading down into the depths of the pond for exploration.

Eric Reick of Clearwater prepares to free dive Eagle’s Nest, a popular cave diving location.

Why all of the improvements you might ask? It’s a popular diving location. Since the early 1980’s close to a dozen people have died in the caves beneath Eagle’s Nest. It was difficult to find Eagle’s Nest and navigate to it’s shore line for divers and first responders alike. Before the improvements, the way into Eagle’s Nest was basically a trail through the swamp. Diver’s would pack their gear in and walk from the hard road. When there was an emergency, it was also difficult for first responders to gain the access needed to it. Beneath Eagle’s Nest is a passage way to the Florida Aquifer, the Mount Everest of cave diving, as they call it. But for me it’s simply a peaceful place to reflect, destress, and just be quiet.

Eric Reick of Clearwater, Florida prepares to free dive Eagle’s Nest, a popular cave diving location.

Today images have started a series of photographs I plan to use to create a photo book project. I plan to document the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area. It’s a place I’ve sought refuge off and on my entire life. I’ve hiked, biked, fished, and photographed these woods made up of thousands of acres of hardwood swamps, forests, and springs. I intend to photograph it until I feel as though I’ve documented what I need to also take you to this beautiful piece of paradise that I call home. I hope you will tag along with me on these adventures.

Formal Inspiration

I recently attended the Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar. I always thought that I might become a photojournalist after I finished my law enforcement career, but as years passed the newspaper industry seemed to be dwindling and the photojournalists I knew had either been let go due to their company down sizing the staff or they moved on because they saw the writing on the wall.

After about 10 months into retirement I felt myself becoming a bit antsy. I felt rested, for the most part, and started thinking about what a second career might look like. I still have some friends left in the photojournalism industry. They continue to work hard at their papers because they love what they do so much, and they have a passion for storytelling.

One of those people is my friend, Octavio Jones, staff photographer for the Tampa Bay Times. I sent him a message and noted that the paper seemed to be using freelance photojournalists more these days and inquired about the availability of becoming a freelancer. We discussed the idea of freelancing, as well as, the budgets that some of the major news organizations have at their disposal, and then he gave me some homework. A bit of research and reading options in terms of preparing myself for storytelling.

Octavio Jones checking his email while waiting on the MARTA for a trip to down town Atlanta.

During the course of my law enforcement career I had picked up a camera and began making photos as a means to relieve stress, and then that passion bloomed into a small side business photographing weddings, senior portraits, etc… I put the camera down for a while and after retiring started thinking about my future. I remembered my love for both creating a photograph and then also seeing the impact a single photograph can make in life. In the past, my camera had allowed me access to tell stories in birth, death, politics, and everything in between. It created a means for people to remember a moment in time. I remembered how that made me feel and that’s when I decided to pick the camera up once again.

One of Octavio’s suggestions was to attend the Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar. The best in the industry teach and mentor during a weekend seminar in Atlanta every year. I looked up the information and bought tickets, booked my flight and hotel , and then asked Octavio if he would be joining me. He checked his calendar, requested days off, and was, in fact, able to travel with me to Atlanta for the seminar.

Jessica Koscielniak gives a presentation on a documentary she and her team created in Texas.

We landed in Atlanta, took an Uber to the hotel, settled in, grabbed some lunch, and then headed to down town Atlanta via the MARTA for some street photography. We had a great time walking the streets of Atlanta, using Uber and then eventually the MARTA back to the hotel. The weekend was a lot of fun and I learned a lot from a handful of motivated and passionate photojournalists.

I’m no guru when it comes to photography, but the process of creating a photograph and telling a story inspires me to be better than I was yesterday. The weekend left me inspired, and I returned home to survey what gear I had left after selling a great deal of it, and I created a game plan for the future. I purchased a subscription to Lightroom, a digital dark room, and a subscription for this platform, Squarespace, and now here I am working on creating. My plan for 2020 is to become a better writer and photographer, and I have plans to launch a podcast as well.

Will I become a photojournalist? I will in my own way. If there is something you want to do in life, write it down on a piece of paper, create small goals to get you there, and then cross each one off as you accomplish them. A little formal training can go along way to inspire a craft, but nothing can happen without action. I hope you will tag along with me as I document my community and adventures here on this platform. Make it your Absolute Intent to be better today than you were yesterday. I hope you all have a blessed week. Peace.