Trek Bloodbath

We may joke about 'redshirts' but they did their job.  And only 1 security died in this episode; Devil in the Dark.

Mason

I am proud to be a Mason. I have been one for 34 years. I wish I could devote more time to it but only have so many hours in the day. I am glad my father and Chief saw my degree work.

1979 Buick Skyhawk with the Roadhawk package

My father had an agreement from when I was a young kid. If I didn't smoke or drink, he would get me a new car for my 21st birthday.

Well, I got this car during my 16th year. Of course it stayed at the house until I could have it at Kemper.

The only real exposure I had to cars was at Kemper. Erickson has that kick ass white Trans-Am with the t-tops. Connors had his red 240-Z Toyota. There might have been a few others but those were the only ones I knew. And dad had a green Nova. So when I got back from ROTC Summer camp, dad took me to Ruether's in Glasgow. It was sitting there and I feel in love.

Front and rear spoilers, AM/FM/8-track, hatch-back and had a sunroof! My dad looked at the car and simply said, "It has bucket seats.' I said yeah, so. He just shrugged. I didn't understand until I tried to fit two people in the back seat and my father's voice came back to me loud and clear. Well dad, that's why it was a hatch-back, just fold down the rear seat and ta-da! More room.

Anyway, I l o v e d that car and I was stupid to "up-grade" to a yuppie car while going to college. That car took me on adventures with so many wonderful people. So many memories that it would take years to recount them all, and now they are fading like the leaves from trees.

But that picture, of that car, MY car. Takes me to another time. A better time with a group of men and women who made me  better person.

John Denver

To me John Denver's music and voice identified the 70s. Of course I have always loved the troubadours - story tellers with songs. From Harry Chapin, Jim Croce, Barry Manilow... that's why I never got into punk or grung or the 'explicit' rapper lyrics. Also too much bass can kill any song.  I guess that's why John Denver's music was crisp and fresh.

1776

Why is this so hard for some? 

Opportunity

We all have them. That one time we risked it. Maybe at a job, or with the opposite sex. I remember asking this one beautiful lady for her number after talking with her 15 min, as I felt a connection. I got it. But, it never went anywhere as she got back with her boyfriend. Still; I count it as a victory in the battle of the sexes. I would have never done that years ago; hell even months ago. It just felt right. But anyway, I digress.

I took a chance at least.

Run Away

Haven't we all thought about running away? I once met a an American Indian who was a preacher and we were swapping bad time stories. He told me about a time him and his family were down to staying in a tack shed up in the Dakotas. I told him there were times that was preferable  to what was going on.

No matter what, you can never run far enough away from yourself. As an old friend said, 'If you go down, go down on your face.' Considering he was a former 82nd ABN/18th ABN MP and is currently a US Air Marshall, that's good advice. But let me break it down to the civilians in the group; if you go down, you go down facing your enemy-whatever your enemy is.

I have no plans on running anymore.

Matt Smith as the Doctor

Ok, I know people who hated when Tennant left. I did too, but I will admit I actually thought that Matt Smith did a better job in some areas. It would actually be trying to compare apples to cattle. And River Song; those two had chemistry. And again, River would be many  a fantasy. Talk about about someone who would go through time for those who she cares about.  But also talk about one of the most confusing time travel ribbons ever. Ray Steven had sung the song, "I'm my own Grandpa" and talk about being very appropriate for that particular story arch. It was also painful to see him leave.

I loved it when he and Tennant got to share the same 'time.'

Spoilers!

The Doctor and Rose

I loved Rose. And who didn't (Ok, I know there are some out there who don't, but pffffffffffffft). That story was one of the best and I admit I cried when they were separated. It was so well done, you could feel the emotion coming from the screen. It was heartbreaking.

9th Doctor

For many this was their introduction to Doctor Who.

I remember seeing Doctor Who when I was at Mizzou. It came on a cable channel out of St. Louis I believe. I was over at Mark Twain hall visiting some friends and as I was leaving in the late evening there was a crowd in the TV room.  They were watching Doctor Who with Baker. I knew it was the BBC as you can always tell the old BBC, there is something about those clear programming that is unmistakably BBC. I was hooked.

Well some days later I was searching for Doctor Who and found a sci-fi show that was obviously BBC. I started watching and I was mesmerized. Except it was Doctor Who, it was Blake's 7. I eventually did find Doctor Who and my love for two BBC shows were born.

7 of 9

Ok. we all know why she was on Voyager. And Jeri Ryan is a very attractive woman; but I would rather meet 7 of 9.   Her personality, attitude, her something, was also that 'something' that made her who she was and the fantasy of many.

Basic Math

Ah Harry. We need you more now than ever.

1st Rule of Marine Warfare

I have friends brothers in all branches. And in those branches, those with artillery, will probably agree with this.

Player's Handbook

Sigh,

This was really the beginning of my Gamer life.  Though I played a few times with the white box, THIS was my D & D.  I still have my first Player's Handbook and it is definitely not in good shape, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.  The memories, the people I played with at that time, some no longer on this mortal plane, while others have been lost to the mists of time. Those times. Never to be duplicated.

The dice never lie.

Role-Players Guild of Kansas City

Have been  a member of the Guild a long time ago; not current. But I plan on joining again. Been going to their events and helping them out when I can. I just think this is a great drawing.

Movie Heroes

And this should be a good lesson  on how the wussification of the United States started. Not much more to say than this. 

Mizzou

No matter what; no matter how many years or whatever conference we re in.  The only rival we will ever have is KU. Every time I am in Lawrence or going through it, I feel like I am in enemy territory. Basketball you can have. We had Norm Stewart and thats all I 'll say about that, But Mizzou football. Ahhhh. That's something else.

They say that if you get a tattoo you'd better like what you are getting. I would have NO problem ever getting this, even now.  Yes, I know they are only games, and that we are universities. Yes, I know we are not, currently, in the same conference. But we were in the Big 8 and then the Big 12.

I went to Mizzou, I graduated (finally) from Mizzou and I even worked there. So while it may not be as deep as my love for Kemper (few things are), my Mizzou roots do run deep.

I'll just say this; I am only for two college teams; Mizzou-of course. and anyone playing KU.

Kansas City

Twenty years ago I would have never thought I'd live in Kansas City.  I have loved KC since I can remember; mom was from here and dad went to William Jewel. Always rooted for the Royals and the Chiefs. There is just something about KC, poised on the gateway to the West. Yea, I know, St. Louis is suppose to be the gateway, but it leads into Missouri which has rolling hills and fields and small towns and is green and has a changing season.

KC is the gateway to Kansas.  It rolls alright but is also v e r y flat. It leads into Colorado, on top of Oklahoma, below Nebraska and, to me, always was part of the old west in the stories of Louis L'Amour I would read.  And let's not forget that Dodge City is in Kansas.

Before I moved here I only knew the outskirts, with a few forays into downtown. But now, I am pretty familiar with a lot of it. I know I look at it through rose-colored glasses and you know what, I can live with that.

I always looked to the west; watched the planes disappear in that direction. Watched the sun go down behind the barns. Watched the sun go down behind the hill at Kemper. Now I'm a little closer and farther away than I ever thought.

Not-Ready-For-Prime-Time Players

The Not-Ready-For-Prime-Time players were great. This was the last time that SNL was funny in my opinion. I haven't watched it this century since it became such a leftist, Republican bashing platform. These guys were funny doing everything, and they bashed everyone. Don't recall SNL bashing the last president. But then again, I wouldn't, as I said, I haven't watched it in a long time.

God bless John Belushi and Gilda Radner.