Order of the Red Guard

E-mail to my support group this morning

Hello everyone'

I trust you are all healthy and happy.

The magic time is almost here. The 'holidays' hasten down upon us and I am sure there are those who will be most ecstatic by their delivery. Some of us will despair at the subtraction of time and clarity brought about by self inflected aspirations brought about by society. It is hard I know, but try to find a moment to stop and reflect, give thanks and revel in the thought of a new beginning.

Halloween is upon us this weekend. The festival of Samhain celebrates the end of the "lighter half" of the year and beginning of the "darker half", and is sometimes regarded as the "Celtic New Year". Also see All Saints for those interested. I see it as a celebration of toil and perseverance. October of the year of our Lord 2006 was when I received the dreaded news of my physical aliment. That was three (3) years ago. With no small thanks to each and every one of you. Both here an now, amongst us; and those who have passed on to a better realm. I have made it this far and I am now of a mind to die at a much older age than I am and of nothing more important or earth shacking than boredom. Take that Cancer. I deplore and loathe you; I have toiled and persevered. I endeavor to live.

Don't blink my friends. Thanksgiving is in your headlights and will be a most welcomed perceived odor and time to make hearth with family. I so miss the ability to smell and eat. Blessed are all of you who can partake in the wonderful ceremony of breaking bread. I will give thanks with a syringe as most will use knife and fork. Know that I am as thankful for that syringe and 'can of manna' as any pilgrim could every be. As I am thankful for all of you. You all give me pause. You all are a source of inspiration and diligent love. Thank you.

As to the observance of the birth of your Lord; I respectfully leave that unto each of you as you and your house see fit. Be bold and respectful of your truth and faith. Be at peace and joyful in a manner that most keeps your heart happy and your soul at ease.

And, (hehehe; I love playing with the English language) And, that leaves us with the observance of the promise of wonder an beauty an excitement of things to come. It has been said that it is never to early to look forward.---

--- I am always happy to have new and wonderful members come to visit and join our family. With a tip of my top hat to Mr. Moore; our 'League of Extraordinary Survivors'. I enjoy and look forward with anticipation to meet, greet and learn of your journey. I pray that I am forgiven for this trespass. I know I should be saddened by the perverse and hideous cause of our meeting; I am sorry that you have been compelled to be a part of this location at this time. However, I am emboldened by your presence and I enjoin in your toil with your yoke. Know that all of you which are new to this most extraordinary support group give both tears and hugs without question nor judgment. If you are new to us, be at peace for you are in the right place.

Wow, I almost made it without a nod to history, but alas, I fall pray to that monster in my mind. I will attempt to make this one short. ( I promise)

I want to stop and think of Tran Hung Dao and introduce you to the General who never lost a battle. General Trần Hưng Đạo's military brilliance and prowess is reflected in his many treatises on warfare and he is considered one of the most accomplished generals in world history. He never lost a battle; much less the war. As Kublai Khan came roaring through the Kingdom of Đại Việt (in northern Vietnam), his army happened upon someone who gave toil to the art of perseverance. Tran Hung Dao knew that he and his people had to survive. He knew that the toil would be great, the task hard but the rewards, oh, the rewards would be life. He never lost. He came up with a way to fight an overwhelming foe and win. His story reminds me of all of you. In my mind he is the source of what D&D refers to as the 'Order of the Red Guard'. One that is so respected in fight that armies many times in sheer size have been know to flee upon the mere presence of one Guard being on the side of the opposition.

We, each of you are in this order. The Order of the Red Guard. You are all dissident from Tran Hung Dao, the General who never lost. Be earnest in your fight. Be thankful in your victory. Look forward to a future where our numbers know No new conscripts.

I love you all and I look forward to seeing and greeting those who will be attending of gathering and I and thoughtful of those who are distant and unable to be with us. Please know and rejoice in my 3^rd anniversary of struggle, enjoy your tradition of Holiday and look forward to your New Year. Don't hide your head ostrich, it's tugging at us all. Try and enjoy this period. For those of you who struggle with the 'Holiday Blues'; never think you struggle alone. Reach out to any member you trust. Never feel you have to fight alone. Any of us will be happy to share your plight and conflict with cancer or any obstacle you have variance with.

Be strong, because Cancer sucks.

PS. as promised, I kept the story of Tran Hung Dao short and most abridged. Please, at your leisure, look into this most extraordinary life and his amazing story. It is most fascinating and encouraging.

I have hopes;

however, I shall not hold my breath. I do hope this turns out well.

The D20 geek in me smiles.

Surfacescapes Demo Walkthrough from Surfacescapes on Vimeo.

 

It’s not your dads D&D anymore. I so have thought of something like this for years. I smile at where this may lead too. The future can be so cool if we just go with it.

from the magical time

just after the turn of the century and just prior to the great war, there was what I call the magical time of man. was it? oh I don’t know. maybe, maybe not…but here is a look at 1908 Moscow. yes, i yearn. just look at the everyday wonder. i yearn for a time when what could have been actually occurred. it was a magical time, at least i like to think; just maybe, it was.

"I wanted to be the first to let you know"

e-mail this morning to my support group:

 

Hello everyone,

October 5th, 1955 the Disneyland Hotel opens with seven rooms while an 8th was used as the original office.

That is probably not exciting news to anyone other than to a ‘Disney-phile’ like myself. I would dare think that in the original days of both the hotel and the park itself, the future was a tentative thing. I could recount the naysayers who told Walt of the impending doom of his magical little park. Much less the pomposity of building a five star resort in the middle of orange groves.

A lot like naysayers of today. I admitted that I sometimes get caught up in the whole end of days thing going on about us. I sometimes get discouraged by the news of the day involving war, storms, the stock market decline and the uncertainly of what will happen with America’s health care system. Yes, I’m guilty of enjoying the titillation of the 2012 thing.

It would be so easy to become absorbed by all of the QUICKENING (for you listeners to Art Bell) we seem to be rushing pall-mall into. It’s hard not to be caught up into a permanent depression akin to being perpetually stuck in the History Channels Armageddon Week.

But, However, Alas, Nay, Be of good heart! It may be harder to write of a more happy time. Let alone try and live a more positive outlook. Tonight, once again I shall be blessed by you all. Both in person and by those who for myriad reasons cannot join us in person; we will gather and embrace each other in a celebration of positive light. We come together to acknowledge each other.

No matter the individual story (which are all amazing and are monuments to a smile); but as a group, we are a song, a mighty choir a living voice to what is good in life. In simply being still alive. No matter how black the cancer, each of us throw off that shroud and let our being shout that we are alive and we are happy for that privilege. YES, never ever take even one second of life for granted. Oh, I know, ‘for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God’. You know what? I would match this group up against the worst that the world and Satan could ever sling at us. We live, we are alive by His grace and I for one am humbled by each of you. By each of your stories, by your courage to be alive and live each and every day no matter the pain or hardship. By that grace, we are here again on the first Tuesday evening of this and each and every month. I look forward to our fellowship. I hope you do as well.

I got a call this morning, early as I was drinking my morning coffee. It was my favorite Oncology nurse on the other end. An Jan shared with me the good news; my Petscan was clear and she wanted to be the first to let me know that I was yet again, cancer free. What wonderful anti - end of the world, all are doomed news.

Do not let the naysayers discourage you. Get up each and every day. Enjoy the fact that you are alive and that you can.......

Over the weekend I was talking with my eldest daughter. We had know for awhile that she was pregnant with my 6^th (sixth) grandchild. She has 3 (three) beautiful girls, but; this grandchild is a boy. After 5 times, I decided to know the sex. I always wanted to be surprised. I was so happy to learn that it was to be a boy and she has decided to add my name to the future. There will be another Stephen in this world. This world which is wonderful and happy and pleasing. See, it is a good day indeed.

I look forward to seeing you all tonight and to those who are distant or absent; you are all in my prayers.

Be strong my brothers and sisters because Cancer Sucks.

Is that just one bobsled?

Some interesting facts about the (first) mountain and what has been my favorite ride in the park from my first visit in the early 60’s through today.

In the scamper of opening day on June 14th of 1959, the flag of Denmark was mistakenly placed on top as opposed to the flag of Switzerland; continuing the legendary opening snafu(s) which have occurred at the park.

Yes, there is a basketball hoop in the top. Note that this may now be gone, but was placed there by Walt for employees.

At 147 feet, it was and still is the tallest structure in Disneyland, and for many years until the 1960’s, it was the tallest structure in Orange County.

The Matterhorn was moved. Yes, well, in the souvenir guide books anyway. From 1959 until 1968 the mountain and ride were officially a part of Tomorrowland. After 1968, she was ‘moved’ to Fantasyland in all the guides.

On opening day, the peak was scaled by members of the local ‘Sierra Club’. The climb is still made to this day, however, did you know there are 30 ‘routes’ the climbers can make to the summit.  Now, on a clear day, while on the summit, one can see both Catalina Island and the Hollywood sign which are 40 miles away.

The famous “doggie” as described by my daughter was added in 1978.

This is one of my favorite cards in my collection. I love the ‘fall season’ grayness of this shot.

Did you know there is an elevator inside which is for the use of employees and Tinker Bell and for decorating (seasonal) as well?

I could go on, but one last question. Notice the number of cars(bobsleds) in the postcards above? 1 (one); that’s correct. Until the 1978 redo of the ride, there was only one car. A second car (tandem hooking) was used to increase the ride capacity.

One last and personal tid-bit. While the fantasyland side is longer by a few seconds (between 15-20 seconds) the tomorrowland side is considered the more exciting ride.

I woke up this morning and found this.

Enjoy and make sure you are prepared. Dec. 21st, 2012 is coming.

Yes, there was a time

when you knew what was right in this world.