Tim Bullington:  

Latest edit: 030820 – expanded on some thoughts and corected spelings. But first – coffee, preferably by a fire. I’ve been standing on a Rock, waiting for the wind to blow. I’ve been standing on a Rock, waiting for my seeds to grow; Gotta get back to the country, go ahead and find you a home…[et Ozark Mountain Daredevils] And I did, in Toad Bottom, Florida. Complete with a couple 2 acres for gardening, and a large patch left in “Florida bush” natural state, next to a wildlife sanctuary, swamp, and the home of Big Foot (skunk ape). Sometimes living out your dreams, Ain't as easy as it seems. You want to fly around the world, … Oh life. In 11th grade myself and a female student were called to the office at Titusville High where we were administered a battery of tests. There was no explanation on why we were called forth, nor if anyone else was involved. The test administrator was rather vague about what it was all about, and she wasn’t a faculty member of the high school. Although I’m pretty sure I signed a NDS, the only question I remember on one of the tests was “would you rather throw a brick through a storefront window, or use a hammer?”. A couple of months later, I received in the mail scholarship offers from a couple of 3 letter agencies (presuming I completed HS and passed further qualification actions) – I politely declined (ignored) the offer(s), and spent the next several years surfing and partying. That was probably a mistake. If you are the female student that took the tests with me, or anyone else taking these odd tests, let me know. After HS I had a few adventurous years still doing the same until I literally fell into the Army so I could serve my god and country (read drop out of main stream society and become Gray Man). After graduating top of my military class, I left for a life overseas living around the globe in an unconventional military role for 20 years. I then slid into the U.S. State Department as a Foreign Service Officer (diplomat) working at various embassies overseas for a second 20 years. During my military time, I managed to sneak away to attend college and other training – I really wasn’t cut out for the conventional Army and probably wouldn’t have done well in it cause I couldn’t march very well, and loathed taking orders from dumb folk. I have since returned to beloved central Florida as growing up here I always loved the beach, wildlife, swamps, forests, and trailer parks. The world’s largest trailer park, the state of Florida” t-shirts by renown local Brevard County artist Baron Von BulDik available on Amazon Merch. Aka Bushman, or The Wanderer (yes; from the Dion song), I believe one must strive to maintain balance between THE light and DARK as in yin yang and the Tao. Discipline, honesty (what goes around truly does come around), accountability, physical training, breath control, trigger squeeze (it should startle you every time you pull it correctly), living by Confucian ethics, fighting per Sun Tsu, warrior spirit and respect as with Genghis Khan, living a compassionate and passionate lifestyle, and knowing how to set priorities – fundamentals we all would do well in possessing. World traveler; adventurer; captain of the Dragon Choi (its a Chinese junk); artist; published photographer; writer; treasure seeker, big foot hunter, and surveyor of the finer things in Asia, Africa, and the world. Twelve years in the land of the morning calm wrestling the dragon and pushing the prince and carrying poop dog; trained in Doo-Hap-Sul, Taekwondo, and other essential skills. Ever been so cold your bone marrow starts to freeze? Radiant floor heat will save you, if the C02 doesn’t kill you. Bounced back and forth across the Pacific and Europe, bounced once too far out of Coke-land into sub-Saharan Africa for five years. Note to self: open an ice cream stand in Kasane. Exploring and working around Victoria Falls, Chobe forest, the bush, the veld, the savanna, the Okavango delta, Cape Town, Johannesburg, feeding baby rhinos, lions, cheetahs, elephants, and more. You would think that elephants in the wild would make a lot of noise walking around in the bush, but they are as silent as a deer – almost spooky, especially at night. While camping in the wild in Africa, you hear roars, grunts, and screams like you’ve never heard before – still don’t know what that was (have heard a similar sound in the swamp behind my house – still unidentified). Many bad situations with naughty boys – if you’re not careful, you will be carjacked and killed. Unlike in the U.S., in Africa, there is no “give me your keys!. Its basically done with a bullet to the back of the head when you least expect it – and they do it so as not to dirty the car with your blood. The most bad wannabe gangster in America would last about six minutes in Khayelitsha (Cape Town). In the end, good prevails, i mean, good clean weapons prevail. Always clean and ready, steady, cook!. Member of the First Order of the Tented Monks; aim to one day return to the banks of the Limpopo river to a game ranch and safari lodge in Botswana. Shout out to Nando’s Portugese Peri Peri road kill-lookin chicken, and Nando’s Peri Peri fries! Those fries would cause Five Guys to cry. Travels and work in Zambia, Swaziland (know what the Reed Dance is?), South Africa, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zimbabwe (et Rhodesia), and other localities on the dark continent. Swimming at night in the crocodile laden Zambezi with a reserved seal while Bill and company went on safari. Met him, and all the other presidents, VPs, countless senators and congress people, and several celebrities over the years. CNN face time while incognito, but a suit and tie ain’t so bad – wait – the American neck tie: the only article of clothing you wear that can be used to kill you! Build yourself a bugout kit, all the different versions for any situation and maintain before rest after each adventure (read Charlie Mike). Stock up on food, medicine, water, and ammo like a Mormon boss – you never know what’s going to happen, or when. Preventative maintenance, plan, plan, train, train -- will pay off in more than ways than one when its needed. Crawled out of black mamba and rock python (biggins that can and do kill humans) country, changed careers, and then fell right back into the violence of West Africa where the cocoa bean and coups were king. Real voodoo, guns, explosions, car jackings, robberies, riots, home invasions, and bodies in the street - saved by the prince. At least three cobras living in the laundry room, but hey, they kept the rats at bay. Woke up, fell out of bed, dragged a comb across my head...and bound for Kathmandu, but diverted four years into the land of the rising sun and men in black attire (yes, the suit is actually black). Moved out of manga-country Tokyo-Roppingi (the land of the pink economy and soapy dreams), Hinamaroo, and the Hanamasu Moo Moo market into the ring of fire in Taiwan (read Chinese with manners) under the shadow of the world’s tallest building, which looks like a cockroach leg. Note to self: start an orchid farm in the beautiful Isle d'Formosa. Numerous trips throughout the localities of southeast Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Still travel with the long boards and have surfed Asia and Africa -- but alas, numerous surgeries from work injuries and running for 20 years and I fear I am destined to hang up the surf boar...Expand for more