dad. veteran. corpsman. geek. human resource. patriot.
"Life's is not about how hard you hit, but how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward"
I am Natalia's daddy! My latest happenings as well as my lil' girls happenings will be posted here as I live them.
I like to read science fiction, fantasy as well as classics and comics. Always looking for recommendations. Like to play video games and board games. Love to watch old movies and shows, as I find them relaxing and entertaining. Last but not least. like to feed the birds and do some gardening.
Proud to be a US Navy Corpsman veteran and part of the Southwest Region Funeral Honor Guard.
" . . . and on the 8th day the Lord created the Corpsman and the Devil stood at attention."
"In proportion as he simplifies his life, the laws of the universe will appear less complex . . ."
"Tell your story. That's the secret of immortality. The one true way to live forever. "
"We live as we dream. Alone"
"Courage is being scared to death...and saddling up anyway."
This Thanksgiving I was not able to spend with Natalia or see her this week and knew it was going to be a bit hard for me still. However I had some great company come up and spend a few days. Snow was expected earlier part of the week and we were blessed with some snow Wednesday night into Thanksgiving. I could not have asked for more this week. Fireplace on for days, sledding and some shoveling!
"Remember, Skynet is Genisys"
- Kyle Reese
Still slowly reading Valley Forge and for my comic book pick of this week, I went with Spider-Man #129. I am not a Spider-Man fan at all but this one marked the first appearance of The Punisher. I was very disappointed to read such a lame story to his creation.
Finally watched Terminator Genisys and I really liked this movie. A great ride and a great tie in to the other movies and the universe. Watched Blade Runner again this week and was shown an alternate ending I had no idea existed (see below). Also a few games hit the table this week and I think Dixit was a winner. I also played solo Legendary Encounters Aliens through all its movies and found it an entertaining game but with its limitations. Sunday my day didn't go as planned but in the end I learned to play 1775 and played like a little kid the Revolutionary War.
This weekend was lucky to be able to see the Natural History Museum and I will say, that I really liked it. Natalia had a great time seeing the dinosaurs and the show. My favorite has to be the North American halls as I found the displays and backgrounds amazing and would send hours staring at them. Also, a mummy exhibit was being presented and I will say being inside those rooms is a humbling experience to see and feel the area.
This week started my VA claim with first appointments to doctors. I will see thus far it has been rather fast and accommodating but I am sure some of my later concerns will be hard to document and get seen for.
"A man who is master of himself can end a sorrow as easily as he can invent a pleasure."
- Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Warmer temperatures this whole week and most of the last snowfall has melted off. Expecting rain or snow flurries later this week but I don't really believe weather forecasters. We will see what we get if anything.
This week I hope to learn one or two games well and watch Terminator Genysis along with cleaning up the house, getting my outside organized and ready for winter. Time to bring up the snow blower and shovels.
Read Orphans in the Sky by Robert A. Heinlein and found the book rather good and would recommend it. Started to read Valley Forge but unsure if I will jump to another book and save this one for later. Also I have been reading The Picture of Dorian Gray on and off again as I find the book entertaining and full of great quotes. On my current attempt to read many classic comic books, this week I read Action Comics #1 which would be the "holy grail" of comics. This week I also made it to a game meetup with some fun people and played Small World, Coup and Bang the Dice Game. All games I would play again as I found them fun.
Don't forget to download the latest No Agenda Show to filter through all the lies and misinformation the mainstream media pumps out there. I can guarantee you will be a much informed, entertained and a happier person for knowing the truth from the Guardians of Reality (John & Adam).
The game Outfoxed! arrived this week and we cracked it open and got a few games in at home and took it to the grandparents house where we played a few more games as well. Thus far a hit with both of us but I see it getting repetitive soon. Trying to be serious for the picture but Natalia couldn't be serious for long.
Drill weekend done and as usual another waste of my time. However always great to see my unit and hear all the stories. Hoping to put in paperwork to not have to show. Being there I am useless and something I do not like is doing nothing all day. I have to learn real hard to simply do nothing.
"This is Ripley. Last survivor of the Nostromo. Signing off."
- CWO Ripley, USCSS Nostromo
Got some snow on Sunday and it was more like hail piling up. I would say this to be the first snow storm of the season. A dusting but it will stick around for a few days. As usual a few warmer days during the rest of the week and now await what may be coming next week.
Finished reading Childhood's End and found it a very good book with a great story and ending. I am trying to read one classic comic book a week, like an origins story or first appearances of famous characters. I can do this due to them being digital comic at a price one can afford. This week I read Fantastic Four #12 where the Hulk met the Fantastic Four. I was hoping for more.
Watching Terminator Salvation this week in anticipation of Terminator Genysis that hope to watch soon.
The Mountain Fife & Drums are doing their Christmas concert December 13 and I already got my tickets. I hope to be there with Natalia and others. I saw this band a few years back in the Lake Arrowhead Christmas parade and they were spectacular. I am excited to hope to hear them again.
Don't forget to download the latest No Agenda Show to filter through all the lies and misinformation the mainstream media pumps out there. I can guarantee you will be a much informed, entertained and a happier person for knowing the truth from the Guardians of Reality (John & Adam).
A very nice weekend as we finally picked up our apple harvest of this year and got a bunch of apples for cooking and a bunch of smaller tasty granny smith apples. A couple of bumps in our heads as apples fell down, but a great time as usual. Now to divide them as we give away most of them.
Saturday my Natalia and my mom played a few games and we had a great time. My mom learned and liked Ticket To Ride where she beat me 140-90. Also played an older thrift store find Game of the States where Natalia beat me. However I finally got my revenge in Blokus where Natalia and her Grandma decided to mess with each other while I went for the win! No pictures of that glorious event. Sunday the revenge Blokus match where I also took the win. Sunday I made it to a game meetup and played one game of Specter Ops and this is a game I would play again. No mountain bike ride as all the AARPers where out doing individual activities.
Started to read Arthur C. Clarke's Childhood's End as it has been reviewed as one of his bests works. Excited to read it and have high hopes for this novel. Also read a few comics this week in the digital format as it is possible with the earlier comics. Finally read Daredevil #1 and started to read the current Secret Wars. I must say I am very lost in Secret Wars.
Veterans day was very nice as I spent the day at home with guests and played some games and watched Alien and Aliens movies. Slowly re watching the Terminator movies in preparation of Genysis.
Overall a quiet few days in the house by the fireplace having fun. Waiting to possibly see Santa Claus for the first time this year next weekend if possible as I have drill this weekend.
Cold temperatures and expected a few inches of snow from the "experts" and as usual it felt short. It is cold up here but didn't' get any snow other than a very light dusting. Never believe the forecasters as more often than not they are wrong.
Natalia with me for a few days and back to our normal routines. Relaxing up here with her and having fun. A bit cold outside but always things to do.
This week I found out about the Greenlight A Vet "movement" and put up my light 24/7. I laugh at the few "dumb asses" out there complaining about the price, and the stores putting up displays in promotion. Even a few saying it is bad to show support as it shows the "bad" people where we live. What?! Now my light is one 24/7 and not ashamed or scared. Following this event, this week we saw the return of LtCdr Armstrong back from yet another deployment. Hoorah Sir!
I found myself in a comic book store this week to check out the new comics and story lines. I found this to be a mistake. Much like a kid in a candy or toy store. I picked up a few of the #1 releases and most of the main Secret Wars story. To my surprise I liked the new Howard the Duck story and may continue to see how it ties in as he holds one of the Infinity Gems. I will say I am not amazed of the so many story arcs created. Just have to stick to a few and follow them. Impossible to follow all. Clearly Marvel is trying to push the Inhumans to us all with its new movie coming out in the future.
"If you loose your purpose ... it is like you're broken."
- Brian Selznick, Hugo Cabret
Finished reading The Other Log of Phileas Fogg and was hoping for a more action packed book with more characters, but in the end I didn't like the book. Still deciding what to read next. U.S. History, sci-fi, or fantasy? The choices!
Check out the No Agenda Player. A web based audio player to listen to the Best Podcast in the Universe. Easy access to the many topics and links. Check out the Star Wars Imperial Assault game for the Jack Vassel Memorial Fund.
Last weekend was quiet at home and some more bathroom work, which some took a turn for the worse and more work to be fixed. Then last Sunday morning my car problems started thus cancelling my mountain bike ride and most of the week. I tackled on installing a new starter to in the end have battery problems as well and a new battery and a trip to the mechanic to find this out. Needless to say some of my savings were used up.
Natalia was with me just an overnight this weekend but as usual we have fun and we were both very happy to see each other. She received a few more surprises from her grandparents for Halloween and we spent most of our time at their house, Played some games where as again she beat her grandmother and me in Blokus. I wished her a great time out "trick or treating". I will see her again in a few days back to our normal routine.
Went on another 10km run during the week and Sunday morning met up with the AARP group for a nice mountain bike ride under nice weather. Finally got to see Anthony Johnson (aka 4%) after about 15 years. As always we all have a great time and manage to find things along the way to entertain ourselves with. As you can see Linda found the Iron Giant laying in front of a house while we tried to lift him up.
Finished reading The Gods Themselves which is praised as a great sci-fi book and I didn't find it that great. It does have some new concepts and a bit of hard sci-fi. Overall I found this book entertaining. Received the book Hugo Cabret and read it this week and found it a nice children's story and unique with its many images as part of the story. Started to read the Other Log of Phileas Fogg and see how that story goes. Already have another stack of books I want to read. No movies this week and waiting for Terminator Genysis to release soon.
"He who fights monsters should see to it that he himself does not become a monster"
- Friedrich Nietzsche
Learned Pandemic and looking forward to playing this with others soon. However, played a few games of Pandemic Saturday and no wins. This game is brutal. Planning on learning Legendary Encounters: Aliens this week.
Weather this coming week expected to change and we may see sub freezing temperatures during the nights all week with a possibility of some light snow. A change from the warmer windier temperatures of this past week.
