Mars-Miniatures: 2024

I feel thin, sort of stretched. Like too much butter spread over too much bread... Im old young Hobbits!

Small post today. And how ironic that the last post was how I survived 2 Aortic Dissections!

I just got home from the hospital a few hours ago and can add Triple Bypass Buddy and Dialisis Dude to the list! The hits keep coming, but like a determined Balin and company, I cannot be stopped from reclaiming my homeland. To Moria Forever! Lest we forget. All of this on the word of a King, and the word is good.

While I was in the hospital I made a few notes on my phone to remember my time there.

Here they are:

~~~

(while walking with a walker and a nurse and upon hearing the squeaky walker wheel)

Mar: That is the sound of my soul.

(Nurse laughs uncontrollably)

~~~

(another day, another morning, I awake to Turner Classic Movie channel on mute)

Nurse: How are you feeling today?

Mar: Bypass makes me vulnerable. Another thing to protect (pointing to heart), Its like another set of testicles on my chest.

~~~

(Mar plays pretend in his head. Because what else is there to do in the hospital?)

Mar: Going out in the world is dangerous. Here, take this small Heart Pillow! (hugs a little pillow that is given to bypass patients)

(Nurse looks puzzled)

~~~

Wow, this blog is taking root in reality! Am I a player in my own blog now? Where is the beer and roast meats, Gimli? And hand me my axe and torch and lets see what lies in the next chamber buddies!

Maybe Ive always been here? Ive always been the caretaker! (cue song Midnight and the Stars Have You)

And yes, I was a hit with the hospital staff. (the nurses loved me) I will repay their kindnesses. Or I will die trying! I swear it!

Anyway, Back to the post!

So I came home to find a package of brown wool felt! They are Safari Brown from Prairie Woolens. I immediately cut a small shape out of them... and voila! A forest base for my widdle trees to live. And the ruined city world is taking shape. Nature is taking back what was abandoned. Is this Moria in the future? It could be.

~~~

Im going to rest for a bit and try to finish more of our buddy Joe Ps commission. But Im happy about a piece of felt. Its the small things in life.

Cheers,

Mar

Lancelot: Brave, brave Concorde, you shall not have died in vain!

Concorde: Uh, Im not quite dead, sir.

Lancelot: Well, you shall not have been mortally wounded in vain!

Concorde: I... I think I could... I could pull through, sir.

Lancelot: Oh I see.

Concorde: Actually, I think Im all right to come with you.

Lancelot: No, stay here! I will send help as soon as I have accomplished a daring and heroic rescue in my own particular...

Concorde: Idiom, sir?

Lancelot: Idiom! Farewell sweet Concorde!

Concorde: I'll, umm... I'll just stay here then. Shall I, sir? Yeah.

~~~

Hiya buddies, State of the Union blog address...

Ever since I survived a 2nd aortic dissection in 2022, I became (as the kids say) "based". Dont need, or care what others may think of me or my way of life. Only my own thoughts are important to me now. And so Im living according to the promptings that are dictated to me by my true inner self. And unlike Goethe's lament, I find that living according to those statutes are NOT difficult at all. Simply put... life is far too short for anything other. Do what you feel is good for you and stop living for others.

Does that mean Im narcissistic or amoral or selfish. Well maybe... but, I still live by the "do no wrong" credo and so I neither hurt nor harm anyone and I think Im a positive force and all around good buddy to any and all that cross my path in life. Of course, my life is also only populated by good folks and I am thankful for that. The landlord's grandkids, my gaming pals from Maryland, my doctors and specialists, and the occasional Uber/Lyft driver when I have to go to see said doctors. And I do get to know my drivers and conversate with them and since they are usually ethinically diverse, its good that my forte's are world history and world music. And while I do have interesting talks with them about their perspectives on the world, most talks usually end about their food! I am known for loving World music but Im also a big fan of international ethnic cuisines too. So if I am narcissus, Im a nice one that loves speaking to a diverse cast of peoples.

Note about Narcissus (from the actual mythology), I think he is given a bad rap but I'll save that shpiel for another day (I adore the Narcissus and Echo story/stories).

But anyway, back to me recovering from a 2nd life or death medical moment...

I was like a marine recruit, like Joker in Full Metal Jacket (hopefully not like Pyle), I was born again hard. Or like King in Platoon... if you make it out of here, out of the bush... then everyday for the rest of your life, its all gravy. And everyday is indeed gravy or strawberry milkshakes. (shake pic here.)

Crisis averted!

Here is my pic taken by my pal Joe P. just moments after he had picked me up from the hospital where I had been for two months? And this pic is the perfect summation of my life. Good food with a good pal. Some good conversation and perhaps a good game afterwards. What else is there? What is best in life, Conan? Besides crushing your enemies, seeing them driven before you and hearing the lamentations of their women? A good refreshing beverage dessert! But I do wish for a fast horse, falcon at my wrist, and wind in my hair.

So, what the point of all this? Oh yeah, its been 2 years since that fateful milkshake, and Im still living the best life I can live. I got more gifts for the landlords grandkids for when they will visit on Lunar New Years in a week or two. I got gifts for my pals Steve and Joe for when they next visit me for our next game. I even got a gift for the landlords wife! Oh and for my primary doctor, who not only keeps me alive, but also shares her knowledge of best Korean BBQs in town. I like having the ability to give gifts and now I understand the zen proverb that it is the giver that should be thankful. I have nothing but gravy in my life. How many people get a 2nd or 3rd chance at life?

So here's hoping for yet another productive year for this gaming blog. And while I do try to keep this only about gaming, I cant help if my personal thoughts and life creeps in every now and again. Forgive an old man. Im getting sentimental in my old age.

Anyway, onwards to a small yet entirely appropriate update to the Moria blog...

~~~

The Once and Future King has returned at last from his long vacay in Avalon. And it seems that Camelot is the old name for Rohan?! And where is Merlin? Oh, he has been on this blog before.. in the Shire campaign of years past. Remember, he lives backward in time. But does that mean he wont show up again?

The thunderous sound of hooves is heard once again in Rohan! Is that Carmina Burana playing in the background? (Oh wait, its Wagner's Parsifal prelude, Carmina is later in the film).

(Black screen)

The land was divided,

without a King.

Out of those lost centuries, rose a legend...

Of the coming of the King...

And the sword of Power.