Dangerous Things Are Splendid Things

 

It's a completely random title to go with a completely random post.

 

Can I just say that I am so excited for so many things? Life is always full of new surprises around each bend and corner, but in especially the last several weeks I've had so many things to anticipate.

 

God is exceedingly good to me, and more and more I'm realizing how truly undeserving I am of that Devine goodness.

 

I'm seeing how easily my heart puffs itself up and thinks so highly of its petty accomplishments and successes.

 

You know, I could take today's knife throwing photos and relay it to some sort of allegorical or parable for this post. If I wanted to, that is.

 

 I could try to make them relate somehow to some life familiar lesson - like, how easy it is for me to miss the mark and fall short of God's will and how difficult it can be to get a bulls-eye on fulfilling what He wants me to do, obeying His Word.

 

Yeah, I could write something up on that, couldn't I? Why not?

 

Eh. I don't feel like it today.

 

Sorry. I lost my train of thought. Where was I again?

 

Oh yes.

 

Knife-throwing. It's a reeeeeaaaaally fun sport, and I applaud anybody else who's taken it up and diligently practices. Not saying I'm doing that very...er...well, but I try to get in some time on it each day if I'm not too lazy not to.

 

There's nothing quite like the sound of the blade sinking into the wood.

 

It's music to my ears, the boost to my morale, the peanut to my butter - oh phooey, never mind; I'm sure you got the idea long before my ridiculous analogies began.

 

Wielding my throwers, I feel a sense of...epicness, if you will. Okay, okay, I know that sounds as cheesy as they come. But still. If I actually hit the darn target I feel like a boss.

 

I'm not sure what spurred the urge to take these photos, honestly. People ask me about how my photography is going and I'm just like...My photography?

 

It's been so sporadic, that I hardly dare to call it much of a hobby. It's just something I do, when I get the sensation that I need to capture something in photographic form.

 

Sporadic.

 

Most of my life has been sporadic lately, come to think of it.

 

Gil Hibbens!

 

No seriously, it has. I practice piano sporadically, write sporadically, work out sporadically, do blog posts sporadically. 

 

Gah.

 

 Everything has been done...sporadically.

 

It's not ideal, but in some ways...well, I'm not complaining. It's a season of life which I am thankful for. It's a constant struggle to use my time wisely, try and point others to the Creator and give Him the glory in all that I do. It's a constant struggle.

 

 

 

 And now I'll leave you marvelous peoples with a scene from today which I found quite amusing.

"Fish on!"

 

Okay, that's it.

 

I'm gone.

 

Time to make myself scares on the internet, read my Bible and hopefully get some more writing done on the good ol' screenplay! When I can muster enough diligence and self-control to stay off of social media, (*coughfacebookcough*) I can actually get a lot done...surprising, isn't it?

 

 But don't mind my random ramblings, do tell me about how y'alls summers have been going so far! What's been new with you guys?

 

 

Soli Deo Gloria,

Feeling Slightly Elvish {photoshoot}

I don't know why but today I just had this urge to do a photo shoot with the katana sword which my uncle gave me. Also, I bought this elvish/fantasy medieval looking shirt from GaelSong a while back which hasn't gotten used nearly enough, so I figured I could wear it and call this an "elvish" photo shoot.  xP

Okay. 

So, it's just a shirt; paired with a regular, black skirt. What's so elvish about it, you're thinking?

Well, maybe nothing. Buutttttt we had just watched Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers last night and I am particularly in love with the elvish society therein sooooo...well, 'nuff said. 

This ^^ one is unedited. I left it that way to show my hair color...it is surprisingly red here.

(another unedited)

The shirt is very see-through, therefore I put a black tank top on underneath for modesty. I had to take in the shirt in the chest a good deal because it's a tunic and was so BIG when I bought it. I looked terribly frumpy in it...which was a disappointment. I like big and baggy for around-the-house tshirts and sweaters, but not for  fancier blouses and tunics. Especially when I spent 30-40 bucks on the item with shipping and all. Noo.

(Another unedited one)

So. Anyways. This was quite a random post, wasn't it?  I guess you just never know what you'll get on this blog here. xP

What do you think? Is it weird to mix Japanese katanas with elvish couture?

P.S. If you haven't entered in the APOC group giveaway there are 14 days left so head over and get some entries in there while you can!! Click here to do so!

Gil Hibben Throwing Knives Review

 

I got this set of beauties the other day, and let me tell you, it was a much anticipated arrival.

I get all ridiculously excited about getting the mail on normal days, as it is. But if I'm expecting a package? You can expect obsessiveness when it comes to checking the mail. Obsessing with a capitol "O".

 

With shipping combined, I paid about 50 bucks for these Gil Hibben tanto-style throwing knives, on Budk.com. I can tell already that they were worth the price.

 

I'm no expert knife thrower by any means, but I can usually tell a quality knife when I see one. These came with razor sharp tips, and well-balanced. They are SOLID. Heaviest throwers I have yet acquired. My other set is cool too, and there a lot more of them, but they are really small in comparison and not balanced as well.

 

As you can see, they are fairly large knives in general. I am confident I could use them as weapons or for utilitarian purposes even if I wasn't throwing them.

 

Nonetheless, they were made for throwing. I tried them for the first time today outside and used several big pine trees as targets. The knives came with a thin tarp-material practice target which was an added benefit but I just need to find a place to put it up sensibly. The knife blades stuck into the tree effortlessly, and stuck deep. It took a little exertion to get them un-stuck from the bark/outer layer of the tree.

 

This might sound kind of odd, but I find an interesting sort of pleasure in listening to the knife whiz through the air and sinking into the target. With my other, smaller throwers, I couldn't hear them whistling as much. And the "thud" was smaller. With these Hibbens? Boy, they whistle as they fly. And the thud is realllyyy satisfactory. ^_^ Random note, there, but hey, I just figured it was an added benefit you should know about.

 

 

I'll admit, once again, I'm no authority on the sport of knife-throwing. I have been doing it for about two years now on and off, but not very seriously. I haven't practiced lately in a lonnnng while...today was the first time in months actually. My brothers can tell you, I'm pretty lousy. I agree with them.

Right now. Give me another several weeks and that will hopefully change.

 

There is an art to knife throwing and it ain't easy in many regards. I am still trying to figure out the perfect balance of how to throw it...how to align one's body in preparation to throw, how to position your throwing arm and how to actually throw. How to hold the knife when you throw. Sounds basic, right? Eh, not really. At least, not until you figure out what you're doing and develop a rhythm/pattern which you follow each time. I am so inconsistent right now. One time, I'll stick all 3 knives in the target area without any trouble, the next, I throw and all 3 bounce off the tree in 3 different, unpredicted directions. O_O

 

You definitely need patience with this. But, with well-made knives like these Hibbens, it should make it a heck of a lot easier for you. I purposely chose the "large" size because I have tended to overestimate sizes of knives in the past and with knife throwing especially, I think it's important to get a good, big knife. They are way easier to handle than little throwers, in my opinion.

 

Want some Hibben tanto throwing knives of your own? You can find some here.

 

I hope you enjoyed this review!  Do any of y'all throw? What are your favorite knives to use? I'd love to hear about it!

 

Blessings!

Flames

As it gets cooler, I look forward to having more and more bonfires outside.

We have been having some lately, tonight was one of those evenings. I don't really photograph fire much but I had the notion a few days ago and finally acted on it today.

I also had the notion to take a couple photos of me with one of my knives. I have this thing about self-portraits with knives in them, yes, I know it is beyond crazy. It may or may not be slightly creepy. I don't know. You tell me.

I didn't intend to appear so...well, how would you describe it? Angry? Dark? Insane? Hm.

Maaaayyyybbeeeee I was picturing myself as Kelita, one of the characters from a screenplay I hope to film one day. Kelita, in one of her "don't you dare mess with me" moods, that is. :P

 Maybe I was being a bit overly dramatic.

And that spot above my eye, below, here? A mosquito I didn't have a chance to swat at.

One of these days I will have to rant to y'all about our horrid amount of those nasty little devils. Ugh.

So.

How has your Monday been? Crazy, insane? Maybe a tad dark? No? Well, I'd love to hear about it, anyways.

Con amor,