Friendship

The other day, we were invited over to a friend's house for dinner and Chinese Checkers. We had a full game. Traffic ensured. Joy followed. And the food was delicious. Duck. Pan-fried noodles. Spring rolls. Sigh. O could die happy 

Cosplay Advocacy

My oldest got this awesome hoodie in the mail today. He looks pretty rad, I'll admit. Rock your cosplay, everyone. Let your nerd go free, and you'll never regret it.

Town Parks

I love visiting parks in little towns. This particular view comes from Riverside Park in my hometown of Salida. This will date me, but i remember when the river was just a natural river without a cool calm section and a play hole. The sidewalk wasn't there, but there was a short, concrete wall. There is a stage there now, but it used to be a simple, elevated seating platform above the river. That was one of my first memories of this town, pre-resort era of course. A park says a lot about it's town. 

Confronting the Ghosts of the Treasure State

This past weekend, my wife and I drove up to Bozeman, Montana to see some friends get married. They came to our wedding, so we had an honor debt to pay. It was bittersweet being back there, the place where we had one of the hardest years as a family. The city itself has grown foreign, and that's okay. It's still pretty, but it's still rich and inaccessible to the average person. Regardless, we had a lovely, intimate time with our friends, and we got to revisit our stomping grounds. It affirmed our love for each other and what we've been able to overcome. 

"I'm a soft touch." -William Adama

We always take in the strays. This is an alley cat from behind the restaurant where I work. A coworker of mine took her to the vet, and then quarantined her. I'm up now. Giving a home to the homeless. If you can't do something smart, do something right. 

The Lack of Healthcare

As I come off the second day of lack of sleep due to an infected broken tooth, i am angry at the lack of consistent healthcare for many people who don't have the ability to reach out and get stuff like this fixed. I have to wait at least 8 days for my appointment at the dentist, and I have an appointment at the family doctor tomorrow to figure out some antibiotics and pain meds. Ugh.

Coming Full Circle

This past weekend, my brother and I took my kids to Newell, South Dakota. We made the pilgrimage almost 13 years to the day that we did the identical journey there to bury my cousin. This time, we buried his dad, my uncle. Seeing the impact of their lives in this tiny town was incredible. My cousin's death was the impotus behind me starting this blog and moving to Alaska, doing all of the crazy shit today. With my uncle's passing, I feel similarly motivated, but differently, as if reminded that time is short. It's a strange realization that days are likely closer to the end than they are the beginning. Time to move.