End of A Year. Thank God!

Close to closing out 2011. Thank God!

The good: new job. New location. Great friends!

The bad: encountered a few new woman who fit classic definitions... in Abnormal Psych.

The ugly: still on a teeter totter, balancing on a ball, on the train tracks, in a tunnel and I see a light coming...

Seriously... had an interesting 2011... change of a lot of things. New job, new people, new place. I love Kansas City. Always have. Especially during the holidays.

To all my friends, the ones who I haven't been in contact with as much as I should, I know, you know that I have been going through a lot. I love each and every one of you and hope to return to a more communicated state.

There is an old ancient proverb that states: Never explain. Your friends won't need it and your enemies won;t believe you anyway.

Sounds like that should be a Gibbism!

Happy New Year!

Goodbye and Thanks for all the Fish

For those of you who don't know, I am leaving the Columbia Missourian and the Columbia Missouri area. I have a new job in Overland Park, KS. My first day is the 16th. So yeah, I am a short timer.

I have mentioned that I had never lived out of the state of Missouri or out of the mid-Missouri area. Not that I haven't traveled all over this earth, but I always came back here. Now I am leaving. Bitter sweet, but I am so ready.

This does NOT mean I am leaving or loosing any of my friends I hope. In fact, I hope to find who I was, 13 years ago. At least some parts, not all. I am also so thankful to all my friends.

So I wanted to update those who follow this and see how many other friends read this too. I hope to keep my blog up dated and who knows, I have some ideas for 1 or 2 more. But first I do need to make sure this current.

I look forward to the adventure. First star on the right and straight on til morn...

Numquam non Paratus!

Least We Forget

The new Harry Potter movie is almost out! I have friends who have their midnight tickets for the show and are ready with their wands and costumes. Now before you think I am not a fan, I am very much one. I have been a fan of science fiction and fantasy before it was cool. Back when I was laughed at for liking Star Trek. Playing Dungeons and Dragons. Going to conventions…oh wait, that was just last year.

Seriously, I remember that time when science fiction and fantasy afecinados were laughed and scoffed at. We were bullied. But we stood our grounds and survive. And so it seemed did sci-fi and fantasy. In some ways, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, the new Battlestar Galactica and others have brought the liking of this genre into the “cool” classification. Thank you Big Bang Theory. But, I can liken it to when a neighborhood bars gets ‘discovered’ and now its trendy. I paid my dues. I got the looks because I read Star Trek books and fantasy books. And you know what, I still do. But, in my opinion, people have forgotten those who went before the young lad with the lightning bolt scar or even knew what a hobbit was.

Star Trek was suppose to be a “wagon train to the stars.” There was a TV show called “Wagon Train” about… you guessed it, a wagon train. It took a lot of pitching by Gene Roddenberry to get it done, but he did. And they tackled issues of the day, but you know what? They never spoon feed it to you. They battled prejudice and it was intelligently done. They battled war, technology, pollution, doomsday devices and other problems that the earth was facing. And the third season almost didn’t make it on, if it wasn’t for Bjo Trimble and a letter writing campaign. And then a campaign to name the first space shuttle “Enterprise” and was attended by most of the Trek folk. Then Trek seemed to get confused, in my opinion. With Gene heading to space as the Great Bird of the Galaxy, things changed as the vision was not of the creator. But that’s ok. They still kept it in the genre.

Star Wars in 1977 legitimized science fiction and thank you George Lucas. But then even that has started to changed. The last 3 movies of the series, which were really the first ones made, were the best. Then the last three movies made, which were really the first chapters, weren’t. But there were plenty of marketing and commercialization of them all.

Then the Lord of the Rings movies from the books appeared. The movies were gorgeous. But there was also a very good cartoon movie made in 1977 called The Hobbit which is actually from the first book. And now they are thinking of making The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in 2012 so they can slip it in the group.

What I am saying is that science fiction and fantasy have been around a lot longer than Harry Potter, the Lord of the Rings movies, Twilight or even Star Trek. They were books! And now the new thing is Steampunk. It’s great that we in science fiction and fantasy can always find something old that’s new again. But let’s not forget those who went before us; Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert Adams, J.R.R.Tolkien, Gene Roddenberry, James Blish or Gary Gygax. Where we are today is from them. We stand on their shoulders, and the ones today will have others who were influenced by them in the future. To the next generations and beyond. But let’s always remember who came before, so they won’t be lost to us.

Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow...

As time goes by, and I get older, money gets shorter, I decided, with some help from some friends, that I need to weed out some of my game materials. So I am going to get rid of some of my old D & D stuff; modules, box sets, etc. I hate to do this. As far as I am concerned, TSR is the great-grandfather of role play and D & D and I am afraid that it will be forgotten. As one time I was afraid I would be forgotten. I don't know why that worried me or concerned me. And maybe that was why I wanted to die a heroic death; whomever I saved, as long as they lived would remember me or tell the tale.

But, I have gotten over that childish notion of winning the MoH. I realize that I am where I am suppose to be, doing what I am suppose to do. I know that not everyone would want to got through or could go through what I have. Just like I don't know how I could go through abusive parents, etc. But I do know, you never know until you are in that position.

But back to more fluff stuff than the heavy stuff I am alluding too. Since I have been bitten by the Pathfinder bug, as I detest 4th ed D & D, and doubt that I ever will play 1st or 2nd or 2.5 D & D again and that I could use the money; a lot of that stuff will be heading to be sold.

Like I said to someone; static fortifications no longer work. So that kind of mentality I need to divest myself of. Mobile Infantry. Light Infantry. As even when I get settled, it will not be a large house like the farm was. But I'm going micro-small as I thought-Robert helped me with that. It will be enough. But til that time, I am glad a lot of stuff are electronic. Carry a computer and a external hard drive and I'll be good to go for a while.

Julie

I remember the day I met my first love. I was with my Dad and we were working on the back of our farm and he said we were going over to the neighbor’s farm to meet their grand-daughter who was visiting for the summer. I told Dad that I didn’t want to go and wanted to go to Cub Scouts instead that night. He said, no we were going. That’s when I met her. I don’t remember much of that summer except I know we played tennis as I have a picture of us with tennis rackets. Through the years we corresponded. She had beautiful handwriting, and I think I told her things that at the time were very important to me; and some may still be. She would sign with the typical “Love” as an ending. I know I did mine. But as I look back now, I realize that the meaning of what I signed was different than what she meant.

While attending military school we kept up the letter writing. I sent her flowers on Valentine's Day and I remember that I signed a couple of cards with the verses from the song "Rose are Red" by Bobby Vinton; "Rose are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet but not as sweet as you." I even had her pictures in frames. I never called her my girl friend or anything like that. When someone asked I just told them her name. How can you describe someone who you had loved for years and had only been together a handful of times and not so much as held hands? And yet she was the most important person to me.

I remember the last time I actually physically laid eyes on her. It was her grandma’s wedding. Her first husband had passed away years before but now she was getting married again. I was invited and I knew she would be there too. I was walking on Cloud 9. I thought it would be like a movie or book. It wasn’t of course but I enjoyed what time I did spend with her. I remember after the reception in the small town’s Knights of Columbus Hall, and her walking with me to my car; I was 17. We talked a bit, but she was leaving soon, and I would not get a chance to see her again before she left. She gave me a kiss; I believe on the cheek. And we said our good-byes. One of the last things I got from her was a card when I graduated high school. She was sorry she couldn’t make it, but was happy for me graduating and the awards I had won. She closed with ‘All my love.’ Time and distance did its thing and we drifted and lost touch.

As I look back through the time of 30 years, with eyes a bit wiser than my adolescence counter-part, I realize that she humored a young boy. I mean she probably did love me, as a friend, but I was in love with her. Girls always mature faster than boys. While I was a perfect gentleman, my mind let me play out all the “Fantasy Island” and “Love Boat” scenarios. First love is something that can not be measured or traded for any amount of money. It is the first time we go into something completely trusting and open. Those memories of her, though faded some with time still bring a smile to my lips. I can still see her face; her picture frozen in time for me. I hope she has a great life and a wonderful love.

A while ago I had a dream and that she had 3 daughters. I am sure she raised them well and are as lovely as her mother. I only hope the boys those dream daughters have fall for them treat them as well as I did their mother.

I truly hope she is happy where ever she is, as that is what you want for someone you love.

Dream

Have you ever had a dream that was sooooo real you no longer can tell if it was a dream or real? And have you had that dream over time. I mean the same exact dream, not variations. I have one of those. And while I haven't had the dream in a while, it is branded in my mind. And now I still don't know if it was real or not.

When I would have this dream; nothing out of the ordinary was happening. No stress than was normal. No unusual life events. And yet, the dream is always there. Below the surface of my consciousness like a whale below the surface of the water. Hovering, waiting. You look for it and you may only get a glimpse. And yet you know its there.

Its not a bad dream or good dream, it just is.

Enough Superman.

Enough.

Enough.

Enough!

Another Superman movie? Are they going to re-tell Superman, again? Or is it just another villain attempting to take over/destroy/steal the earth? Gee, it a good thing they are doing Superman, I'd hate to see another re-telling of Spiderman movie. Or better yet, a Broadway musical. Oh wait, they are doing that.

Stan Lee, I said it in one of my previous blogs when you were doing that terrible terrible superhero realty show. Enough. People stop screwing with our comic book heroes and go get your own!

No wonder I never cared for Marvel. I know, Superman is DC, but still. I mean with DC you had great titles like Sgt. Rock, The unknown Soldier, Star Spangled War Stories, The Losers, The Haunted Tank.... and Joe Kubert drew them the best!

OMG... I mean I can live with a Fantastic Four movies, the retelling of Iron Man, the re-telling of the A-Team... but STOP DOING SUPERMAN, BATMAN, SPIDERMAN. Leave them in peace. Please. batman has lost his parents too many times. Poor Peter Parker loosing Gwen...and Superman. how many times are you going to blow up Crypton? I am just saying, let them rest. And the X-Men. Uugh. Never was much for mutants. But at least I respected them as they had their own stories and even the Canadian mutants. Never cared that much for Wolverine. I liked Cyclops and of course Rogue. But if you remember, Rogue nearly killed Ms. Marvel and thats how she got her powers. Of course who knows THAT back story....? But I guess since X-Men has never really stopped putting out animated cartoons, they can be overlooked. Since I stopped caring/watching the X-Men after the first 2 movies, I don't know if what is coming out is continuations from the comics or cartoons or not.

I just know.

E.
N.
O.
U.
G.
H.

Thank you Joe Kuebert for all the great Rock, Losers, Unknown Soldier, Haunted Tank, etc...and much more. No one can hold a candle to you. The rest of you.... stick to playing Pokemon.

George Washington, my father and my friend Robyn

I know, sounds like a set up for a joke, but today is all of their's birthday. The first two are deceased, and Robyn I hope has a long and happy life ahead of her. And, now onto the news...

I had a dream the other night. Very real as they all are. But this one was of some woman wearing blue. Bright blue like the shirt I have. She had on some earrings that were circles, but kinda medallion like. And she was nuzzling my neck and ear. Don't really remember what she looks like or anything else. And I just remember that certain part. No idea what it means.

Dairy Queen is getting more and more 'worky' I guess is the only word.

Not feeling really appreciated at either place right now.

Looking forward to the weekend with Robert and Walter for our birthdays.

Roadtrip (80's Kemper Style)

I remember at Kemper once when a friend asked me to take him home. I wasn't thrilled with the idea since it was about a 6 hour trip.

"Come on." he begged.
"50 bucks and you buy the gas." I said. (That was some money back in the day)
"Done."

So thats how I ended up giving Dennis a ride home to Illinois. We left Kemper late after everything was done, I'm thinking it was 5pm and the weather wasn't the best, but I wasn't worried. It was either late fall or early spring. (You'll see why I am remembering this as because of our current weather 7-10 inches of snow)
So off we went. I had mapped out the route, taking back roads once we left the interstate in a supposedly stupid thought that it would get us there faster. As we neared the Illinois border, the weather had changed. It was snowing. Nothing too bad, and I was used to driving in snow.

Once we crossed over we finally picked up another interstate that would shoot us into his hometown (I can't remember the name).

But what I do remember was that as we were driving (ok I was hauling butt, even with snow) we were coming up on this overpass. There were light poles and for some reason this is a very clear memory. There were no other cars around. And the road was either solid ice or solid snow and I remember there was no way to see the center line or either line on the edge of the road. And we were moving. Yeah we were dumb, young and full of it. Indestructible we thought. But I had a great car, low to the ground (1979 Buick Skyhawk, with a Roadhawk package!) I had owned this car for about 2 and half years so i was real familiar with it and when I climbed inside it was like sitting a cockpit as I had modified it. AM/FM Cassette (took out the 8-track player - I still smile when i think about that) equalizer, CB radio, new speakers, radar detector, and other little lights on the panel. And with the seatbelt pulled tight, the seat forward to better handle the foot controls, sunroof, hatchback full of cassette cases and luggage...all I can think was that we were heavy enough and lucky enough that we didn't spin out or die.

We made to his house and went to a club to find his girlfriend. I remember there was some radio station (104 something) as I got a button. I crashed on his couch and then drove back alone as he was going to get her to drive him back.
Great memory of the drive and trip and of course my car.

Love the snow.

2010 Roundup

For those that know, I was in a class this last semester. the reason is that I am trying to get my degree (Finally! I can hear my parents from the grave saying). In any case, I learned I got an A. That makes me feel good. That raises my cum gpa over a 2.0 Now I can petition to graduate and take one more class (hopefully) and then get my degree in may 2011. 30 years later. Hey, its a 4-yr degree. And then as a friend said, I should be much more marketable. With my experience AND a 4yr degree.

Then I have moved (again) back to Boonville. the city of my birth and where the love of my life (Kemper) was. A dear friend asked me to come and stay with her ailing father. Since I work all the time I would only be there at night and that's what she wanted. Unfortunately before I could move her father took a turn and they had to move him. I asked if she still wanted me to move and she said yes. An empty house during the winter was not ideal to them, so... The only down side is high gas prices.

Well that's all for now. Day 3 of 2011 and two blogs. I'm on a roll (or Kaiser bun).

New Year 2011

A New Year! So many possibilities. So many resolutions? A friend posted he was going to review 50 books in a year. I have tried to do a blog writing a day before and even a picture a day. Over the last 2 years my blog writing has declined. And reviewing a book; I have always thought that was at times pointless unless you are writing questions for a test. When I read about a book, I don;t want to know whats going on with it, or why read it? That's why if I don't want to invest time in a TV episode I read the IMDB review of it. I get the same amount of info without having to sit through whatever amount of time it is or even fast forward through it.

But book reviews: since I know my friend to be fairly intelligent, and having similar tastes (at one time) and knowing that he will be reading books that while I might be interested, I probably wouldn't necessary pick up on my own, I will be interested in seeing his reviews.

As for me and New Years resolutions; eh