Kick-Ass Friend Award!
This award goes to a .. well a Kick-Ass friend! Some folks will offer you a shoulder to lean on. Some will like you only if you constantly make them smile. Some will do favors for you. Some will do a combination of all of those things.
Then there is one or two in the whole crowd that will make you feel wonderful just by them being who they are. They will do things for you, and not blink, complain or even have a second thought about the matter. You don’t find many people like this today. Hell, in many cases, people can be so shallow that there are deeper mud puddles that won’t even get your feet wet when you step in them.
I’m talking about Gene Gammon. The she recently helped me secure a place to live when I move back home.
Why am I making such a fuss over it? It’s because I left Michigan nearly 20 years ago. Vanishing, but not without a trace. I’ve always made it relatively easy to find me. But that’s not the point. The point is I left and fell out of touch with family and friends. I let myself fall away from everyone I knew and loved.
When Gene and I reconnected, it was like it had only been hours since we last talked. We caught back up, we laughed, made plans on doing things and it was excellent.
Then I asked her if she’d do me this favor. I know it was a lot to ask of her as she works full time and raises 3 teenage girls. Which I know from experience is tough to do even with two parents. She’s dealing with a loss and restarting her own life. Yet, she managed to take time out of her busy schedule and social life to make appointments with people and go visit, inspect and photograph apartments for me. She’s one kick-ass friend!
Thank you Gene!
Now… I need someone to help me move a body… Any volunteers? (just kidding sheesh)
I’m not so negative…
It’s something I’ve been hearing a lot from people lately is how negative I am. Can you really blame me? These past 2 to 3 years have been complete shit. Bankruptcy, Divorce, Heart Attacks, Surgeries, having to give up my Dog for my move/living situation (which I wouldn’t wish upon anyone to live where I do), Car Problems, Weight Issues, spending insane amounts of money on medicines, medical bills, fuel and more… Then lets top this off with the amount of folks I deal with daily that are so self absorbed and rude. Yes, this makes for Denver to want to vent when someone asks how I’m doing. If I didn’t vent, I think I would explode. Sure, I can be negative. I can also be very positive. It’s just funny how folks tend to only pay attention to my negative side and practically ignore my positive side. Which in turn, kind of makes me negative because my positive side gets ignored.
How about noticing all the doors I hold open, the extra effort I go through such as to drive a person to the door so they don’t have to walk so far in the rain, snow or heat? Then I go park the car, and walk in the rain, snow or heat myself to the door. How about all the times I stood waiting, either to get from the parking lot to the sidewalk or from the sidewalk to the parking lot in the cold rain, snow or heat while cars no only drive by without looking, but completely ignore the stop signs posted by the crosswalks in their climate controlled cars. Whatever happened to the pedestrian have the right of way? It’s even funnier when I stop, and the person outside just looks at me like I’m doing something weird. How about when I finally get tired of seeing dishes that I didn’t make just sit in the sink and I wash them? How about all the free computer repair and maintenance I do? Free website work? Nearly nightly foot and back massages? Being pretty much the person to do the majority of the yard work or laundry?
Sure I’ve never been in a position to give anyone or loan anyone money. I’m not much good at home maintenance or car repairs. It’s not like I wouldn’t if I could. Does it make me a bad person just because I can’t?
It frustrates me to no end that my career choice has sunk from an appreciated job, to an expected form of slavery. I remember back in the day walking people through opening their computer and replacing parts, or installing drivers or diagnosing a multitude of issues. Now folks call me with an attitude right off the bat as if I somehow caused their issues, they refuse to give me pertinent information and expect me to perform miracles based on next to no relevant information at all. When I do fix their issue, they basically shrug me off and hang up. (I’m not alone in this either, I have been talking to many other techs who feel like I do.) My favorites are the ones that when it’s determined the problem is on their end. How irate they become and argue that it just isn’t possible.
How about those doors I go out of my way to hold open for strangers. It’s amazing how many can’t say “thank you”. I’ve even had some give me comments like, “I can do it myself.”. What happened to courtesy?
When I go for walks, I have to step off the sidewalk when a group of people come the other way. I do it to be nice. That and I swear I’m the only person in the world I know who would actually fall single file in a group if I saw someone coming the other way so they can have some sidewalk too.
When I go to the grocery store, it never fails. Someone has their cart on one side of the aisle, and their ass on the other. Blocking the whole aisle. If I say, “Excuse me.”, they sigh heavily as if I ruined their day. If I say nothing, they ignore me. Yeah, makes me want to just punch them in the face for being ignorant. But instead, I be nice and go around the other way.
When I talk to other people. They tell me their good things and bad things. I listen and if I feel I can help, offer suggestions. When I talk and of course, much of what is going on with my life is generally on the downside, I get told how negative I am. Yet I when I tell them things I have planned or how I’m looking forward to doing something, I get a “that’s cool” and little more. It’s almost as if they could care less. Granted, my good friends and family who care and they talk to me no matter what. I’m thankful for that. I can’t help that most of the things in my life are bad right now. However, if you listen carefully I have good things to say too.
Summer Song Suggestions
I’m looking for some suggestions from folks. If you were to go to an outdoor concert on a perfect summer afternoon, say just before nightfall. What songs make you feel patriotic and give you the feeling of summer? Songs that you’d love to “Rock Out” or dance too? The idea is to have a roughly 90 minute long show towards the end of a cookout/get together.
So picture a warm summer day. It’s sunny, roughly 75 to 80 degrees. The smell of food on the grill. A large gathering of family and friends. Kids playing of all ages. After the food is eaten, and the sun is just about ready to set, a group of talented folks take to the stage. What music would make you feel, Summer, Patriotism, Love and Happiness? Songs to dance too. Songs to rock too.
Here is the current playlist. What would you suggest? What songs should come off the list. I’ve linked the music videos to them in case you’ve never heard the song or just want to listen to it 
(Currently in no particular order. Order suggestions are welcome.):
- California Girls – David Lee Roth
- Animal – Def Leppard
- ** Sausalito Summernight – Diesel
- All Summer Long – Kid Rock
- That Thing You Do! – The Wonders
- ** There’s Only One Way to Rock! – Sammy Hagar (Clean Version)
- These are the Days – 10,000 Maniacs
- Army – Ben Folds Five – 90′s (Clean Version)
- ** Don’t Tread on Me – Damn Yankees
- This Time of Year – Better than Ezra
- Counting Blue Cars – Dishwalla
- ** Ride the Wind – Poison
If this song was included in your choices, which version would you prefer?
- Kiss Me – Sixpence None the Richer or… New Found Glory Version?
- Pinch Me – Bare Naked Ladies
- Whole Lotta You – A Rocket to the Moon
- Rhythm of Love – Plain White T’s
- Summertime – The Sundays
I need suggestions. Whether to remove songs, or add different ones. Please nothing heavily adult, hateful, or too hardcore. Also not looking for anything by Warrant, Rush or Nickelback!! (Think patriotic, upbeat and summertime family friendly.)
You can leave your thoughts in the comments below, on the facebook post this linked from or by emailing me by clicking here.
Lyrics & Music
I posted this last Friday on Facebook. I am terribly sad that not one of the people who would know about this particular night even caught on….
“As I was on my way home that night, a song started playing. It made me smile and I become all nostalgic (as I so frequently do, as I miss the “good old days”). It reminded me of a specific evening after school on main street in the backroom of a small business. I believe it was 1985, even though the song was released in 1983. Wish I could remember the exact date, but I can’t.
My smile got even bigger as I realized that as of just a few days ago, all the people who were there that evening are now on my Facebook friends list.
I was curious to know if any of them remember the words, “Earth below us drifting, falling. Floating weightless. Calling, calling home…”, and why they make me smile so.”…..
As luck would have it, no one apparently remembered or they didn’t even read the post over the weekend. It makes me sad. However to my faithful few readers, here’s who was there that night.
- Lesa Slocum-Patrick – Vocals
- Jack Fults Jr. – Guitar
- John Clifton – Bass
- Jeff Bate – Keyboard
- Denver Fowler (me) – Drums
The song lyrics (if you don’t know) is from Peter Schilling and the song was Major Tom (Coming Home).
We also practiced Smoke on the Water that night by Deep Purple.
Skip the first 1m 18seconds (dumb link ignoring rules…..)
I’m Craving Some Vacation Time
I’m going out of my mind lately. Just when I thought I had my medicines straight, I end up feeling like my body is going to either explode or shutdown completely. On top of it, working in the complaint department for every whiny a-hole that can’t get on Facebook or the email they sent 2 seconds ago hasn’t arrived in Paraguay yet. So now their panties are bunched up over it. Oh and let us not forget the endless waiting to finally go home. It’s enough to make someone go postal.
Not to mention, although I have before…. A true, honest to goodness vacation is something I haven’t seen since 1988. At least not one that I’ve actually gotten to go somewhere I’ve never been before, actually enjoy myself and truly relax. Sure there was that trip to D.C. However, it was a one day trip, no stay over and the rest of the time I was at home. Outside of that, it’s been stay at home vacations or go visit family. I love my family dearly. I really do. Though I really, really want to just get away from everything for a few days and just forget my life is as it is these days. To quote Ben Affleck in Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back:
When Lord? When the fuck can your servant ditch this foul-mouthed little chucklehead to whom I am a constant victim of his folly, so much so that it prevents him from ever getting to kiss a girl! Fuck! When, Lord when? WHENS GONNA BE MY TIME?”
OK so, not exactly the words I was looking for, but you get the point. When? When is going to be my time? I mean all I’m asking for is a bit of happiness in this world and some time to actually enjoy life for a change.
It would also be really nice if I could not constantly feel like I need to be with in a 5 mile range of a hospital…
I just want to get away. Don’t have to be real far. Doesn’t need to be exotic. Certainly don’t need to be expensive. Not even glamorous. Just away. Just me and someone special. Alone for several days just doing whatever we feel like doing. It’s not like I don’t have the vacation time. Last time I used any of it, I was technically not working. Though, I certainly wasn’t enjoying myself either.
Problem is, I don’t have the money. Nor do I have anyone to cover me at work. Thanks to only having 2 whole employees. Hell, can’t even call in sick…
Just so damned frustrating….
Looking for someone willing to die…
Now there’s an attention grabbing headline! Though don’t go panicking, it’s not mortal death I’m after, just video game death. Specifically, World of Warcraft. Where a number of my handy toons would be more than willing, ready and able to recover your pixelated body from the great beyond. (or at least that “walk of shame” black and white dream state they put you in once you have been “crit smacked back to the boondocks”)
Over the years of playing World of Warcraft, I’ve used a number of “addons” that help people get a better experience from the game. I’ve even have two addons that I maintain. One of which I inherited when the original author abandoned his project.
It’s called AnnouceRes.
It’s function is incredibly simple. It detects whether or not you are in an instance, such as a Raid, Dungeon or Event that you are in a group of other players. It then determines if you are casting a resurrection spell on a targeted player who is unfortunately suffering from digital death. So as other players know you are doing so, it announces in the proper chat channel who you have targeted, and what you are casting. This helps other players with similar skills to know you are already working this issue. So if there are multiple casualties, they can focus on others who need help. Especially handy if all toons with resurrection skills have this addon as well. There would be no confusion and all skills that have long cool downs won’t be wasted on two or more players using their skills on the same dead target. I’ve even updated it to include all spells that can resurrect (like Defibrillate from Engineers with their Swiss Army Knife) and the new Monk skills as well. (I’m so handy )
Now that you know what it does, here’s my issue. As of the update 5.1 for World of Warcraft developers added a new chat type called Instance. Not having played dungeons much lately, I hadn’t noticed it. Until last Friday when I tried to use a resurrection skill and my handy addon said “You are not in a Party”. Which really means I wasn’t in Party chat like normal, I was in Instance chat. Hence the error. So I’m trying to update the addon to work in this new chat. While it works flawlessly in its intended modes or Raid and Party, I need to test my updates to make sure it works properly Instance chat before I release the update. Sadly, you can’t just party up and walk into a dungeon to get into Instance chat. You’ll be in Party chat instead. You need to use the Dungeon Finder. Of course I don’t want to ask anyone to die that I don’t know just so I can test an addon. Most players don’t like dying as it starts a Tank/Healer bitch fest. As if dying is such a tragedy. In any case, if you have World of Warcraft and can friend me using BattleTag: Theodas#1850 we can party up, and que for the Dungeon Finder and I can test my addon. That is, if you have the balls to take one for the team. A few times… to uh… test all known resurrection spells in Instance chat.
2013 and Beyond…
The new year is almost upon us. The Mayan Apocalypse, just like so many “end of the world” threats before it, was nothing more than media hype as always. I think at one point or another, I just stopped caring if the world would’ve ended on the 21st. Well… That was a few months ago I felt that way. I don’t feel that way now.
The past two years have been a hellacious torment in one form or another. Between my marriage falling apart, being unhappy where I live, nearly dying and struggling constantly to keep my head above water has taken it’s toll on my soul. Having nearly no friends in the area, it has felt like I’ve been isolated from everything and everyone. It’s been very cold for having to live in this personal hell of mine.
If it weren’t for my oldest daughter’s kindness and my mother, I don’t honestly know where I would be right now. If I would be at all. Granted, my current situation isn’t by any means pleasant. It is bearable at least.
It’s time to put that all behind me now and look to the future. While the number 13 isn’t usually anyone’s lucky number. I’m going to make it my lucky number. I’ve worked damned hard to get myself back together over the past 10 months. I’m exercising regularly and even though I constantly live in a small amount of pain and discomfort, I will continue to get better. I sadly did not make my goal by Christmas of being under 300 pounds, but I’m damned close. I will be under it soon. I wish to get to 220 as a final goal and even then, I won’t stop walking and keeping active. I plan to live for at least 10 more years if I can swing it. More if possible.
2013 is also the year I’m going home to Michigan. Perhaps not my home town, but at least close by. My sons live in East Jordan, so somewhere near there with a job. Perhaps Charlevoix or Petoskey, maybe even Boyne City or Boyne Falls area. All are very close and I know them well. My friends who live there as well as my family are waiting for me. I’m way past due for this. I won’t forget the family I have here, even though I’m no longer a part of the marriage that made them my family. In my heart they will always be family no matter what. Nor will I forget my one and only friend who lives here and has also been my Chiropractor for many years.
I also have a love interest that I’ve been working on for the past few months. I’m hoping it will turn into something official soon. More on that to come later 
Sadly, since I still have a lot of time on my hands, I haven’t given up my gaming addiction completely, and I may never actually do so as I enjoy it. However, I have cut way down on the amount of time I spend killing dragons. I tried to give up World of Warcraft, I just can’t. I enjoy it too much. Even if there’s freaking panda bears everywhere…. I can sum it up in two words. FLYING MOUNTS!!!
I officially restarted my account on Christmas Day. I was just so freaking bored sitting at home. Minecraft is cool and all, but I’ve gotta have my flying mounts and I love my Azeroth. I just limit myself to an hour or two a day. It’s enough to get a few things accomplished. Then it’s back to the real world
One final note, as per usual, I have created a new look to my website for the new year. It’s a bit dark. It sort of represents my travels through the darkness these past two years. While it’s now time to step back into the light, I just have a thing for Black and Gold. If you can’t see the new site, because you are on your mobile, set your browser to ask for the Desktop version. (just don’t forget to set it back when you’re done admiring )
I wish I had a time machine…
Those are words you might hear me say just about every day. I’m a horribly nostalgic person. It even annoys me that I say it so much. Though I just can’t help but to want to relive some of the best times in my life over again. That and I had to find a reason to show off my love of Doctor Who. Although a TARDIS wouldn’t allow me become younger again….
I could easily relive the decade of the 1980‘s all over again. However, today I find myself only wanting to go back to just a few years ago. I’m feeling the need to enjoy the company, friendship and good times of when myself and all my new found gamer friends came together. (Nick, Paul, Adele, Tyler, Aura, Tuvi, Charles, Jeff and Peter to name a few.)
We started in a game was called Last Chaos. Even though it wasn’t really much of an MMO by anyone’s standards as far as game play goes. When we started playing it, it had no dungeons, no instances, crap character selection and horrible glitches. Plus it was the most god awful micropayment ripoff setup in the world. Yet we had some of the best times of our lives.
We didn’t care much about the flaws. We had our friends. Spanning from the Mid West, to Texas east and west coasts of the country and several friends from the U.K. It was a time when we were eager to get home from work and log on to spend time with them. Didn’t matter what we did. Even if we decided to do nothing at all and just hang around the PVP arena all evening. When we managed to get to what seems like end content at the time. Demon parties, Ghost parties (references only a Last Chaos player from the original days [before they fucked up the game play completely] would recognize) to the endless drama filled Castle Sieges and parties down in Theos’ Tomb. The Guild events we’d come up with, the laughs, the times of seeing just how much trouble we could cause just because we had nothing better to do. We even hosted protests against the “Game Masters” just to piss them off. We could’ve received the good old perma-ban for it too. We didn’t care at all, because no matter what, we had each other.
It only lasted a couple of years. From there we started to part ways. Some friends went on to games I didn’t much care for, but at least I tried them out. Others friends, I stuck with tightly through Runes of Magic (until they too became greedy bastards) and World of Warcraft with right up until everything fell apart in my world. I still talk to all of them. Not as much as I’d like too. Either through Skype, IM, Email, Text and sometimes I still get on Vent.
Even though the end was a painful experience, I wish I could go back and do it again. I miss you guys…
Welcome Back Vent!
As with many things in life, sometimes the best things are not free after all. Turns out RaidCall has had some monster issues. Just after the time they said they made the decision to stay with RaidCall, I got a call from the other Vent admin, and thankfully I didn’t close the account yet.
I’m glad my happy home is still home.
We’ve added on to the house with a couple new rooms for new friends to gather in. I guess I need to stop by more often and meet them and chat with all my old friends whom I miss a lot sometimes.
Goodbye Ventrilo, Hello RaidCall
If you’ve looked at the Ventrilo status that used to be on the side bar in the past few weeks, you’ve noticed it’s empty. It’s not because all my friends stopped hanging out, they have just moved to a new medium to hang out on. It’s similar to Vent, but it’s free. It’s called RaidCall.
With Vent, it was only free for others to install the software, set it up and then enjoy talking with everyone. This actually proved more tricky that one might imagine. In-so-much that I had created a detailed tutorial that proved popular among other people. Even then, it wasn’t without daunting issues. Such as feedback noises, god awful static and the ability to accidentally mute yourself and it would take forever to get people straight.
I’m not fully sure of how the move took place, as I hadn’t been on Vent in weeks myself. Getting away from the computer, has sadly left my friends wondering where I am, or how I’m doing. (of course they are all free to text me or call me on the phone ) Though I imagine a lot of it was a cost issue. As Vent, costs to have a server. Unless you violate the license, and run a private server. We’ve had an account with UGT-Servers since 2007. So each year I’d solicit donations from everyone. We’d renew vent and life moved forward.
In truth though, I’m a bit sad over this. Even though I’m not on much, I liked having a central place for my friends. I might not be logged on, but I would load up my website on my laptop, or my Android just to glance at the status to see who was online. It almost became a tradition as we in our own way became family. It’s like that old house you grew up in. Even though I moved away, I always want to come back and visit that familiar place. Now it’s like that empty old house on the street where I used to live. No one is there anymore. The family has moved out and into a new home across town (metaphorically speaking).
I know I can simply log on to the new RaidCall channel they’ve setup. Somehow, it’s just not the same. We’ve had that Vent account for a number of years now. It’s actually going to be hard for me to hit the cancel account button. Even though it was a digital hangout. Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever. And another piece of my history will become nothing more than fond memories.
I did setup a RaidCall group for CastleRain, even though most have joined other groups. This one will be around just if anyone wants to group and chill. 5315200
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