I don't say it enough, so I thought I would take some time to say what friendship means to me and how proud I am of my friends. I won't be able to cover all of my friends, for I have many and it would take up a large amount of space, but I wanted to single out 3 of them.
What does friendship mean to me? Well, Websters Dictionary defines friendship as the state of being friends. And it defines friends as "one attached to another by affection or esteem, a favored companion". To me, friendship is all of those things and more. It means knowing that, no matter what has happened in your life or how long time has passed, they will always be there for you. It means being able to talk about anything and everything whenever or wherever. It means that they won't judge you no matter how stupid you are or how brilliant you. They include you in their lives, they praise you and criticize you, they keep you honest and humble, and you do the same for them. And above all, they appreciate honesty, though it isn't always welcome, and they delve it out in equal measure. That's what friendship means to me. My friends, like my family, mean the world to me, but they don't hear it enough, so I thought I would take some time to praise three of them for achieving some important milestones in their lives.
First, there is Casey. I met him at work over 3 and half years ago. We discovered that we had a mutual interest in RPG's and video games and that we shared a similiar philosophy on life. He's smart and funny, and a great guy to talk too. He's more physically active than I am and inspires me to be the same. What I'm proud of him most for is finally proposing to his long time girlfriend. She accepted and they are getting married next year! I am incredibly happy for them. Having been married for a long time, I highly recommend it and am so happy that he finally took the "plunge". I know that they are very happy together and that they will have a wonderful married life in addition to their wonderful unmarried life. I'm proud of you man!
Then there is Steve. He is a new friend that was introduced to me by Casey. While we haven't worked together, we have had many an occasion to socialize in a purely social sense and in a gaming sense. Everytime we meet socially, he is always one of the very first people to welcome me and make me feel like I belong. Like Casey, he and I share a common interest in RPG's and in video gaming. He too is highly intelligent and shares a similiar philosophy on life. He is a great conversationalist and highly entertaining to talk to! He has also proposed to his long time girlfriend and will also be getting married next year. I'm very excited for them as they are perfect together! I'm proud of you too man!
Lastly, but not leastly, is my best friend John. John is one of the most wonderful, funny, and honest people I have ever met. We have known each other for almost 20 years. I know that I can always call him no matter how much time has passed and that it will seem like we just spoke yesterday. His sisters, their families, his brother, and his parents (rest in peace dad), are all my family as well. I've always been welcome at his house and he at mine. He has had some challenges in the relationship department, but he has finally found someone that compliments his personality and his attitudes. Though they are still in the dating phase, I have no doubt that he will one day marry her. I'm proud of you man for finally finding that "someone"!
For all of my other friends, new and old, I'm proud of all of you as well. I don't say it enough, but thank you all for accepting me as I am, putting up with my excentricasies, and being there when I need to hear the good and the bad. Know that I love you all VERY much and that you are always on my mind even if I don't say it or show it all the time. Be well my friends!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Hiatus...I'm aloud so shoosh!
I'm back!! I took a hiatus over the summer and have finally been able to get back to voicing my opinion. I'm old, I'm aloud so shoosh!
My wife and I took some much needed time off together and spent most of our summer doing fun things together. By far the best part of my time away was our trip to Oregon. We took a train for the very first time! Choo-Chooooo!! I highly recommend this mode of travel. Forget airplanes or driving, take a train! Sure you have to plan a couple of extra days into your trip for the travel, but it is sooooo worth it! We got what's callled a roomette for the L.A. to Oregon leg of our journey and it is something everyone should do. A roomette is a very small room with two seats that face each other and a collapsible table in the middle. There is closet that is THE smallest closet I've ever seen! you can hang two, maybe three, coats in it and that's it! There is some elbow room to put a carry-on or two, and that's it. For sleeping arrangements, there is a fold down upper bunk and the two seats slide together to form a lower bunk. When the bunks are made, you have a 2 foot by 1 foot space to stand in, and that's all. Cramped, but comfortable. The price for two people is under 1000 dollars and it includes the following: a steward, who sees to your every need, including extra pillows and towels! The steward also comes to your roomette a couple of hours before each meal to get your dining reservation (and you have to have reservations, or the wait time is killer!) All meals are included in the price. For the roomette there is a hallway bathroom and shower, which is never busy. And, the best part of all; no driving! The price also includes a dining car that only those in the sleeper cars have access too that offers a $5.00 wine tasting every afternoon, a theater with a choice of two movies, and a library/game area. The coach passengers have no access to any of these things. Then of course you have acess to the coach areas with the regular dining car and the observation lounge and snack bar.
It's a very peaceful journey. Next year, we are going to get an actual room, which has more space and it's own bathroom. That'll be nice. All-in-all, I highly recommend train travel. You get to your destination so much more relaxed and without having to put any effort into it while being waited on!
So that's part of where I was the last few months. I've also been working pretty hard and spending a lot of quality time with friends and family. Now I'm back; back to writing and back to gaming and just plain back!
My wife and I took some much needed time off together and spent most of our summer doing fun things together. By far the best part of my time away was our trip to Oregon. We took a train for the very first time! Choo-Chooooo!! I highly recommend this mode of travel. Forget airplanes or driving, take a train! Sure you have to plan a couple of extra days into your trip for the travel, but it is sooooo worth it! We got what's callled a roomette for the L.A. to Oregon leg of our journey and it is something everyone should do. A roomette is a very small room with two seats that face each other and a collapsible table in the middle. There is closet that is THE smallest closet I've ever seen! you can hang two, maybe three, coats in it and that's it! There is some elbow room to put a carry-on or two, and that's it. For sleeping arrangements, there is a fold down upper bunk and the two seats slide together to form a lower bunk. When the bunks are made, you have a 2 foot by 1 foot space to stand in, and that's all. Cramped, but comfortable. The price for two people is under 1000 dollars and it includes the following: a steward, who sees to your every need, including extra pillows and towels! The steward also comes to your roomette a couple of hours before each meal to get your dining reservation (and you have to have reservations, or the wait time is killer!) All meals are included in the price. For the roomette there is a hallway bathroom and shower, which is never busy. And, the best part of all; no driving! The price also includes a dining car that only those in the sleeper cars have access too that offers a $5.00 wine tasting every afternoon, a theater with a choice of two movies, and a library/game area. The coach passengers have no access to any of these things. Then of course you have acess to the coach areas with the regular dining car and the observation lounge and snack bar.
It's a very peaceful journey. Next year, we are going to get an actual room, which has more space and it's own bathroom. That'll be nice. All-in-all, I highly recommend train travel. You get to your destination so much more relaxed and without having to put any effort into it while being waited on!
So that's part of where I was the last few months. I've also been working pretty hard and spending a lot of quality time with friends and family. Now I'm back; back to writing and back to gaming and just plain back!
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