Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Back to Geeking Out


After yesterday's health stuff, I figured I better get this blog back on track with some good geekery.

A friend of mine has been bitten by the OSR Bug, and has decided to run a 1st Edition AD&D game for his birthday in April. And I am TOTALLY jazzed about it! I'm playing what I always play (the hulking warrior), but with 1E flair. Been persuing my old AD&D books in preparation already.

And AD&D books are somewhat related to something that has been on my mind today, and something I have touched on before: Artwork.

In the old books, the art was not always that great. It may be because I grew up in the 80's reading Marvel Comics, but I sometimes have pretty high standards for things like dynamic perspective, heroic proportions, and action poses (I blame John Buscema 100% for this).

So, when you look at some of the work done by guys like Jeff Dee and Erol Otis...well, they don't always measure up. However, in recent months I have come to a greater appreciation for the "imperfect" illustrations in those old books.  They had style and expressiveness in spades, and really captured a specific feel that I have come to associate with AD&D.

As you can imagine if you have read even half of my blog, I am a creature of nostalgia. It dictates many of my likes and dislikes. So, while I understand some of the weaknesses in the old gaming art, there is a certain amount of nostalgic charm that is lost these days.

With 3rd Edition, the artwork of D&D books was raised to a much higher level. Full-color illustrations by Wayne Reynolds form the standard in my mind. And I absolutely LOVE his art. As I did many of the older cover artists (who occasionally did interiors as well), like Jeff Easley and Larry Elmore. But the style is very different. It's very dark and gritty, and, well, for lack of a better word, "pointy." I miss the soft and dangerous lines of Larry Elmore.

Does that make any sense?

But, even when you consider Elmore, Easley, Clive Cladwell, and Keith Parkinson, you're still talking about 2nd Edition. Basic and 1E were filled and covered with some rather imperfect art that has become quite iconic in the intervening years. And this is something I miss. A lot of OSR stuff that I have seen (though admittedly, I haven't looked at much) seems to be going back to the old art styles. Perhaps it's because the art is cheaper (who could afford Reynolds besides WotC and Paizo these days?). But, I like to think that it's part of the whole OSR package.

On a related note, I intend to do my own cover illustration for my S&S book. The character is Conan-esque, so I will probably reference Buscema and Frazetta. Not sure how I will color it, as I am not very good at "painting" in PhotoShop, which is what I will be using. But, I think I can do something passable.

We'll see how that goes...

Monday, January 30, 2012

Follow up

For the benefit of those not Facebok friends with me, here is a quick follow-up to my earlier post.

Basically, everything is ok.  Turns out the intial tests show that I don't carry the gene for hemochromatosis, and I will be seeing a specialist soon to confirm that.  My shoulder pain isn't bursitis.  She used the term "calcified tendonitis."  Meaning, there is some damage to the tendons in each shoulder, and there is some build up of some kind that shows up on X-rays (possibly scar tissue).  The prognosis is that I need physical therapy.  Normally, anti-inflammatory meds would help, but I am allergic to aspirin, ibuprofin, motrin, etc.  So, that's not an option.

I'm mostly relieved, and slightly irritated.  Relieved that, assuming all signs are correct, I'm back down to only being a Diabetic.  I can live with that.  But I'm oddly annoyed by it not being brusitis.  That had a relatively quick fix.  Instead I will have to endure physical therapy, and no doubt, a lot of pain.  But, then again, I'm getting used to te pain anyways.

Regardless of all that, we're still going to make an effort to improve eating and activity habits.  This will become easier as the weather starts to warm up.  I was a little disgruntled at my weight, but it wasn't unexpected (I LOVE good food).  Chances are, the fatigue that could have been too much iron in my blood is most likely just fatigue from burning the candle at both ends.

The last few months have been very stressful and hectic.  But things are slowing down, both deliberately and as a result of our efforts running their course.  My kids still stress me out, but all parents know what that's like (though I have to say, my son is more of a handful than either daughter were).  Overall, I am relieved and hopeful for the future.

Deep Thoughts (without Jack Handy)


In about 45 minutes, I will be leaving for a doctor's appointment. Last week I was tentatively diagnosed with Hemochromatosis (basically, my digestive track processes too much iron from what I eat, and it gets stored in bad places). It's not as bad for me as it is for some people, according to some reading my wife did. But it can be pretty debilitating (even fatal) if not treated. Basically, I have to consume less iron, eat foods that prohibit its absorption into the body, and get "phlebotomized" (bled out) about once a month.

Add to that, I was also tentatively diagnosed with Bursitis. Hopefully, the two aren't linked, and a simple shot in each shoulder will relieve me of the paralyzing pain I feel when I move my arms the wrong way.

So, yeah. Physically, I'm a mess. But, it's all pretty treatable and manageable. Still, when this all hits in succession (add being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes last year), it causes one to examine one's own mortality.

I will be celebrating my fourth anniversary in March. I have three kids, and the best wife a man could hope for. I am really just starting to enjoy life right now in a way I have never been able to. And I want to continue to do so for many, many years to come.

Am I scared? You bet. Who wouldn't be? I don't relish the idea of dying. And I'd be really pissed if it happened sooner, rather than much later. But, from all accounts, at this stage, all of the symptoms and damage from my various genetic ailments are manageable, and even reversible. So, I am kind of eager to get this going. Once my shoulders stop hurting, I will be able to work out again. Michele is already researching dietary options that will help with my problems, without having to restrict my diet, or make me eat cardboard (or worse, strictly vegetables!).

In other news, I am making some real headway in my first serious attempt a novel/novella-length story. It's Sword & Sorcery, and it involves my own "Clonan." But, the character isn't just another "barbarian in civilized lands." He has many of the same qualities as a Conan-type, but the origin of those qualities is unique, I think. I'm having fun writing him, and his cast of supporting characters. Already, they have altered some initial ideas I had for the story. And I finally feel like I know what I am doing. Now, to just devote more of my time to actually writing.

Damn Star Wars MMO!

Anyways, I may follow this post up later today with a rundown of what the doctor says. Until then...

Monday, January 23, 2012

150th post!


Is that really a benchmark these days? I dunno. I took a few years to get here, but that’s not surprising, since I have only started blogging with regularity in the last year or so.

Anyways, so what can I talk about on this momentous occasion? Well, I finished my first two classes for my Masters in History yesterday. Not sure how I did. I got a strong B in one class, but the other is questionable. 30% of my grade is based on a research paper that, admittedly, was kind of weak. I had my reasons, but suffice it to say, I was unable to put forth the effort I should have. Guess I’ll find out soon enough how it all turned out.

With the end of this term, I have a month before school starts again. At that point, I plan to only take one class at a time, instead of two. Fortunately, from here until near the end, it will be straight up History. No Historiography, no Historical Research Methods. Just reading and writing about History. That’s the part I like.

In the meantime, I will endeavor to finish up a couple of small writing projects, make some headway on a couple of larger ones, and most importantly, READ FOR PLEASURE! I just got a Kindle Fire not long ago, and although I still hit up the book store for TreeBooks, EBooks are amassing quite nicely. I’m fairly certain I have enough reading material to last me to retirement at this point. With several more titles waiting in the wings.

Had a doctor’s appointment this morning. Found out some things that shed some light on possible causes of my recent ailments. I’ll know more next week when the test results come in. Regardless of what they say, I definitely need to exercise more, and eat healthier. Winter is terrible for that, especially here in the Great White North. And some of my ailments have prevented me from even doing indoor stuff. Not to mention time. But, with the easing up of school, I should be able to make time for that soon enough.

Been playing a LOT of Star Wars: The Old Republic. My Vanguard Trooper is 24 and my Sith Marauder is 23. Michele started playing as well, and has a Jedi Consular that she is really enjoying. I’m going to let my Trooper languish until she gets to her early 20’s, so we can team up. I should take screen caps of my characters. They both look cool as hell. Especially my Sith. He is absolutely badass.  He punched out a Hutt the other day.  Yeah.  Badass.

The game has also provided some inspiration for an Orc story I have been mulling over. I may have to work on that one this month as well. Though my focus will have to be on the story for Scott Oden’s anthology.

Speaking of Scott, he has opened a business for himself. He is now going to offer professional critiques and editing help for aspiring writers. He has a website at The Editorial Goblin. Check him out. If you need an experienced set of talented eyes on your work, look him up. As the recipient of casual advice in the past, I can say for certain he has already helped me.

That’s about all I got for now. Stay safe out there. It’s dangerous!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Sidetracked!


I have spent the last couple of days contemplating ideas for D&D Tom Edition. I did some brainstorming, and realized that what I will probably end up with is basically 3.5E, with some modified rules from previous editions, and a few ideas of my own. In the end, it will probably be my own entry into the OSR craze that hit a few years back (Pathfinder, Castles & Crusades, etc.). So, yeah, I'm behind the curve. No worries, though. It's not like I am doing this on a publication schedule for a major company. I'm just one geek playing with his toys.

But, more on that in future posts.

Today, I am going to talk about someone who is near and dear to me. And in so doing, I am going to do that thing that all D&D nerds do, but that we all hate when others do it. I'm going to talk about my favorite character.  (If you're not interested, get out now.  I will completely understand.)

In the beginning...
Some time around 1985-86, my friend, his sister, and I decided to start a D&D campaign using the Expert Set. As I recall (it's been years since I had those books in my hands, so I could be misremembering), this set introduced the idea of Half-Elves in D&D. So, I made a half-elf fighter named Tomos.

Though visually Tomos was initially based on the Marvel Comics character Longshot, he was an idealized version of myself. His stats were phenomenal (and honestly rolled), and I have never truly matched him in that area since (though I occasionally come close). By the end of that short campaign, he was 5th level. I'm pretty sure we fudged the XP rules, but whatever. He was the highest-level character I had ever had at the time.

First Upgrade
Jump forward to my Senior year (1987-88). The old friend has graduated and his family has moved away.  That year I reconnected with some friends who I met in 8th grade, but who had left and come back three years later (it should probably be noted we were all Air Force brats living on Kadena AFB, Okinawa). They played AD&D, and had middle-level characters. We decided to start a campaign together, and they wanted to use those characters. So, I dusted Tomos off, since he was the only one even close to their level, converted him from OD&D to AD&D, and went gallivanting around Oerth with Panthrus, human ranger, and Styol Ganthral, elven fighter/magic-user.

The very first Conan
book I ever read.
About this time I was deep in the throes of my budding love of Conan and Robert E. Howard. So, when I converted Tomos to AD&D, and his 18 Strength became 18/90 (the strongest a half-elf could be in AD&D), I naturally started thinking of him as Conan with blond hair and pointed ears. But, he also had a 17 Charisma, and since we were using Unearthed Arcana, his Comeliness came out to be 19. So, he was a VERY attractive and pretty Conan. That's when his personality took off in my mind. He soon became an amalgam of Conan and D'Artagnon.

That campaign got him up to 9th level, and I had much fun with his Vorpal bastard sword (treasure from his very first campaign), with which he was Double Specialized (UA...you do the math). I had decided that Tomos had spent much of his amassed fortune on a ship, and was now a seasoned sailor and ship's captain. That worked well, since the adventure took place on an island, and it provided a neat way for the three characters to meet (they hired my ship).

Back from obscurity
I drew this in the early 90's.
Skip forward a few more years. I'm graduated and completely out of touch with all of my old friends from high school. But, I still have Tomos' character sheet. Somewhere around 1990-91, I'm in the Army at Ft. Bliss, TX, and I get the 2nd Edition books. Not having anyone to play with at the time, I proceeded to convert Tomos to 2E just for shits and giggles. Not much effort there, but I made some cool additions (remember fighter followers at 9th level?). I eventually found people to play with. But, sadly, I never played Tomos in that edition.

Cameo appearance
Jump forward again to the late 90's. I'm out of the Army, living in Salinas, CA. 3rd Edition comes out, and I jump in with both feet. Found a group through the FLGS, and started playing. After a while I get an idea. I convert Tomos to 3E, and run him in a short game that lasted all of one module. I'm not even sure he leveled beyond 9th. And it was the last time I ever saw him as a D&D character.

Fiction
Tomos has stayed with me through the years, usually as a character I planned to write fiction about (I wrote one complete story on my first PC, but lost it in the course of several moves). I would also imagine him meeting famous characters from Forgotten Realms, like Drizzt Do'Urden, where he had ported to for 3E. Of all of my characters over the years, Tomos Elvenblood (he picked up that none-too-imaginative surname somewhere around 2E) has always been very special to me.

The Future is Now
But something is missing.  I have yet to convert him to 4E. Why would I do this, when I have stated that I don't even like that game? Because I can. And because I'm a dorky completist. And because Tomos is my variation of Michael Moorcock's Eternal Champion. There is a half-elf named Tomos in every fantasy world where half-elves exist, as far as I'm concerned.  I would even venture to say there is some Tomos in Hida Gotetsu, my long-running L5R character.

So, what is the point of all of this you may ask (assuming you stuck with me through this trip down memory lane)? Well, I have downloaded character sheets from every edition of D&D, and I have decided to re-create Tomos for each one. The old character sheets are long gone, but I have a 3E version as an Excel sheet, so I will use that as the basis. I think this will be a fun exercise. It will require me to go through my old books, and maybe even find a copy of the Basic and Expert Sets (if possible). I think I still have them somewhere, but I can't be certain.  He may not be exactly as he was in previous editions, but he should be pretty close.

Either way, it will be fun to sit down for a long visit with an old friend and comrade.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

D&D Tom Edition – Part 1: The Foundation


So, I had this great idea. In light of WotC’s announcement of 5E, I thought it would be cool to make my own Edition of D&D. This would be the equivalent of forming a mercenary company for the Edition War.

What I am proposing is to take all of the bits I like from all of the previous editions (there are even a couple of things I like in 4E), and see if I can make them all mesh smoothly into one system. Personally, I think it’s doable. All of the various editions have a few elements in common. These I consider the foundation:

Six Attributes – Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma. These have never changed. In a variation of 2E there were optional modifications, but the basic attributes stayed the same. So, they will in mine as well. I will probably also add Comeliness from Unearthed Arcana.

Hit Points – This is the one point that seems to get a lot of flack from non-D&D fans. The idea that you can fight at full strength until you hit 0 HP. True, it defies logic, and I may integrate wound rules, but the basic premise of having Hit Points is a good mechanic, so it stays.

Armor Class – There have basically been two variations on this, with various third-party alterations. Either higher is better, or lower is better. I will probably go with Higher for simplicity, but either way, AC stays.

Classes – I have always liked classes, and each edition seems to have a different explanation for their use. Personally, I like 3E’s version, wherein “classes” are not the same as “professions.” Rather they are classifications for a specific set of skills, abilities, etc. So, a level in Fighter doesn’t necessarily mean you have been trained to be a professional soldier. It just means that you have learned to use a set of skills (wielding weapons, wearing armor, etc.) that are typically associated with the Fighter “class.” It’s up to you to determine how you got them.

Levels – Related to Classes are Levels. In the 1E PHB, there is an extensive explanation for the use of the term. Basically, “level” is a way to level the playing field, so to speak. It’s a way to measure one’s ability against the ability of others, including monsters and foes. Also, in 1E character levels had a title associated with them. For the most part, this was just flavor text. But in the case of Clerics, for instance, those titles could be used as Ranks within an organization. This was how I always justified level-limits for non-human characters (though I think in some cases, they were set too low). After all, how many churches would allow a half-orc to gain much power and influence within their hierarchy?

Half-Orcs – 4E lost major cool points with me when they dissed my beloved half-orcs in the Player’s Handbook. True, they included them in the PHB2, but that meant I had to buy a whole other book just to play one. But, all kidding aside, there are basic races that should always be available: Humans, Dwarves, Elves, Halflings, Half-Elves, Half-Orcs and Gnomes. Everything else is optional.

As you can probably surmise, these foundation concepts will lead into some decisions about other rules (such as multi-classing, Advanced/Prestige classes). I will admit that much of my Edition will draw heavily from 3E (or more accurately, 3.5), as that is my favorite edition, all nostalgia aside. But, if I could compile all of this into an actual RPG format, it would definitely have a more old-school feel. B&W illustrations, tables, etc.

I basically have my ideas for this already in place. But, I’m interested in hearing others’ opinions as well.  Have I forgotten or overlooked something you think is essential?

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

5 More Fantasy Films


This post is a direct sequel to this one. Here I list five fantasy films that may not be all that great to some people. But I love them. I own a couple of them, and if I can ever get them, I will also own the rest.

Legend (1985) – Pre-“Top Gun” Tom Cruise makes his first and only foray into the fantasy genre as Jack, the young wild boy who is in love with Mia Sara’s Lili. This movie is a very dark fairy tale, with amazing effects (for the time), a haunting soundtrack, and some really great acting by Tom and Mia. However, all is overshadowed by Tim Curry’s portrayal of Darkness. His performance, combined with mind-bending make-up make Darkness one of my all-time favorite fantasy film villains. He would eat Kylar Zym for a snack. Ridley Scott is a master director, and this is just one more example of why.

Dragonslayer (1981) – I started playing D&D just about the time this movie was first available on that new-fangled Videotape Player. I remember going to the mall, and the electronics store next to the toy store would always have it playing, and I would spend hours standing there, enthralled with it. This film was a major influence on my early gaming days, and thus on my whole life as a geek. I can still watch this film and enjoy the heck out of it. Vermithrax Pejorative is one of my favorite movie dragons; dark, sinister, and very scary. She’s how I imagine Smaug looking in real life.

The Sword & the Sorcerer (1982) – Honestly, I have only watched this film once, when I was about 13. But that was enough. It scared the hell out of me and gave me nightmares. But man, was it cool! I really need to own this, because I have a feeling that on my current big screen TV, it would be amazing to behold. The sorcerer is scary as all get out, and Talon is a total Howardian hero. What could be better? Why, giving him a three-bladed sword, of course!

The Neverending Story (1984) – I could totally identify with Bastion in this film. The lonely kid who turned to books for solace; I might not have been as well-read as he was at the time, but I understood him to the core. The amazing journey he goes on with Atreyu is magical on a level that can fire the imagination in anyone. And the idea of Fantasia dying because no one believes anymore is tragic, and really gets to your inner child. By the way, like Conan the Barbarian, I disbelieve any sequels to this one.

Labyrinth (1986) – David Bowie, probably one of the coolest rock stars in history (it’s no wonder my wife is enthralled with him); Jennifer Connelly, with whom I share my exact birthday (same year and everything), is on my “list” of actresses. Great story, dreamily haunting score, and some excellent songs by Bowie, this movie is a favorite in my house. My daughter will often put it on for kicks, and even my son will watch most of it. Gareth (Bowie), the Goblin King, manages to be both sinister and tragic at the same time. And Sarah is the perfect blend of innocence and blossoming womanhood to make her a wonderful window for the viewer into this fantastic world.

Once more, as with the other list, you can see where my tastes lay, since these were all made in the early to mid-80’s. I don’t know. Maybe they just don’t make films like these anymore. Or maybe I am just a slave to my nostalgia. Of course, I could do a list of my favorites from the 50’s and 60’s as well. Maybe next time.

Monday, January 9, 2012

D&D 5E...?

Today Wizards of the Coast announced that it is developing Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (technically this will be #7, but who’s counting?). This may cause many people to roll their eyes and wonder “Again?” To that I say “Yes!” And here’s why...

First of all, it’s not like this kind of thing is new. How many editions of GURPS are there? HERO System? Shadowrun? Tabletop RPG’s are supposed to be evolving, ever-changing. Otherwise, we’d all still be using Dave and Gary’s original rules.

Second of all, 4th Edition sucks. Let me just say that right up front. Your mileage may vary, but this is my blog, so I say it sucks. And when I say it sucks, I mean that it just isn’t D&D anymore. It’s an MMO on paper. 4E tries too hard to emulate the button-mashing strategies of MMOs and video games, and leaves behind the nuanced playing and social interactions that D&D pioneered. In short, with 4E they left the D&D track, and now they need to get back…er…on track.

That being said, it’s still a fun game. The problem I had with it the few times I played was that I got easily confused about what my character could do, and when he could do it. So much so, that I found myself concentrating on that, rather than enjoying the story. Maybe I should say it sucks “for me.”

So, what would make a “perfect” edition of D&D? Well, in my opinion (shut up, it’s my blog, I said!) they already did that with 3.5. 3E was innovative in that it created a game that works, no matter how many or how few of the rules you use. At it’s core, using a very few rules can garner a very enjoyable game. But, it also provided tons of rules to make the game as crunchy or as smooth as you like. In short, if people were willing to open their minds to the possibilities presented in 3.5, and get rid of the notion of “If it’s in the rulebook, you have to use it,” it could be ANY game they wanted it to be.

Can WotC do that again, and do it better? Probably. Based on their announcement, they are relying heavily on massive playtest feedback. This will no doubt inundate them with varying ideas. But, I can see that the most popular ones will get some good treatment. And as long as they keep the game itself flexible, the rest can work as well.

One of my all-time favorite
D&D illustrations.  Inspired me on
many levels as a 12-year old boy.
For me, personally, what I would like to see is some scaling back on the presentation. Rules are rules, and with a little adjustment, I can handle most of them. But, something about the recent books (even as far back as the 3.0 books) seems overblown to me. Maybe it’s the full-color art inside. Call me nostalgic, but there was something very charming and inspirational about the B&W illustrations in the old books. Also, I rather prefer the Medieval Europe look and feel of the equipment being depicted. I can see going kind of “alien” with the demi-human races, but for the most part, I like the pseudo-realistic portrayals in older editions.

I think I still have a copy.
Also: Pricing. D&D has a long tradition of requiring the Big Three core rulebooks; Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and Monster Manual. With those three books alone, infinite games are possible. The downside is, with production costs being so high (see my comments on art), these books run about $40 each. That’s $120 just to get the basics! Maybe they can provide variations of the game. A “cheap” version, similar to the old red book that had just about everything you needed in about a hundred soft-bound pages. That would be cool, I think.

However, as a business in it to make money, these may not be valid considerations.

In short, I want a flexible game that allows me to be as detailed or flowing as possible. One that caters to as many different play styles as possible. And most importantly, one that allows for improvised rules on the fly. That right there is, from a rules standpoint, the one issue that separates Tabletop from Computer. If my character wants to improvise by throwing his shield, he should be able to do that without much fuss, and with a reasonable chance for success. Can’t do that at all in WoW.

I wish them luck, and I will no doubt buy at least the core books when it comes out. If for no other reason than to have the right to bitch about and bash them.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Hello 2012!

So, it’s 2012. Supposedly the end of the world is less than a year away. But, I’m pretty sure it ain’t gonna happen. So, let’s get on with life. After all, even if the end is nigh, worrying about it and trying to prepare for it won’t do any good anyways.


2011 was an interesting year. Started with some heartbreak, went through various ups and downs, and ended on a relatively high note for me, personally. My life is pretty good. I have a beautiful wife, and wonderful kids who, despite being pains in my ass, mean more to me than anything. I have a steady job that may not be exciting, but it is by far not the worst job I have had.

I managed to sell two stories last year. My very first professional fiction sales, to be published later this year. Very much looking forward to that! Also got invited to contribute to a couple of anthologies (thanks, Scott!). I’m a little more confident in my writing, and now I only need to work on the motivation/discipline necessary to do more of it.

School is rough. My two current classes are probably the hardest ones I will have in my Masters program. And I was a dumbass and took them together. During my first term back in school in a long while. Nothing like jumping in the deep end! Hopefully I can pull passing grades out of these two, and move on to a more comfortable academic pace next month.

Had Faith for a week over the holidays. I was able to take the entire week off. And even though we didn’t get to do a whole lot together, it was still a great week. Pretty relaxing, for the most part. And I just enjoyed knowing my baby girl was around. I will miss her dearly until Summer. Then it’s one more year, and, if she stays with her plan, she’ll be here in Wisconsin for the foreseeable future.

Also managed to play a lot of Star Wars last week. Very fun game. In fact, now that I am back to work, I am jonesing for it again. Funny thing is, Michele has decided that, if she makes enough in tips this week, she will be buying it for herself soon.

Resolutions? Nah. I never follow through with them, so I don’t bother. However, there are a couple of things I would like to try to do this year, and hopefully for every year thereafter. I’d like to make myself stick to a schedule for certain things. Setting aside specific amounts of time on a daily and weekly basis for things like writing, playing games, doing homework, and exercising. I think if I have a schedule in front of me, I might be more inclined to do things I should do. And, as I get more accustomed to following that schedule, they will become habits, and I won’t need the schedule anymore.

In 2012 I am hoping to find more happiness, more fulfillment, more success, and generally more in life. As the saying goes, I’m not getting any younger. And while I have friends who will read that and roll their eyes, I know that I sometimes feel older than my 41 years. I don’t like that feeling. I want to feel 18 again. But, that’s not a goal. It’s an ongoing process that will only end when I do.

Happy New Year to all my faithful minions out there. May this year, and every year, be better than the last, but not as good as the next!