I was driving to the laundromat today and the
folk music station was playing an old Stan Roger's
interview. Seems he would have been 55 today if he
hadn't died in that plane fire ten years ago.
Anyway,he's one of my favorite singer/songwriters.
He was a Canadian from Nova Scotia and while most
of his songs dealt with the sea, he also wrote
some damn fine stuff about the old days in Canada.
And man, his voice...
This is my favorite Stan Rogers song.It's even
better if you heard it sung.
Harris and the Mare
"Harris, my old friend, good to see your face again
More welcome, though, yon trap and that old mare
For the wife is in a swoon, and I am all alone
Harris, fetch thy mare and take us home
The wife and I came out for a quiet glass of stout
And a word or two with neighbors in the room
But young Clary, he came in, as drunk and wild as sin
And swore the wife would leave the place with him
But the wife as quick as thought said, "No, I'll bloody not"
Then struck the brute a blow about the head
He raised his ugly paw, and he lashed her on the jaw
And she fell onto the floor like she were dead
Now Harris, well you know, I've never struck an angry blow
Nor would I keep a friend who raised his hand
I was a conscie in the war, cryin' what the hell's this for?
But I had to see his blood to be a man
I grabbed him by his coat, spun him 'round and took his throat
And beat his head upon the parlor door
He dragged out an awful knife, and he roared "I'll have your life"
And he stuck me and I fell onto the floor
Now blood I was from neck to thigh, bloody murder in his eye
As he shouted out "I'll finish you for sure"
But as the knife came down, I lashed out from the ground
And the knife was in his breast and he rolled o'er
Now with the wife as cold as clay I carried her away
No hand was raised to help us through the door
And I've brought her half a mile, but I've had to rest a while
And none of them I'll call a friend no more
For when the knife came down, I was helpless on the ground
No neighbor stayed his hand, I was alone
By God, I was a man, but now I cannot stand
Please, Harris, fetch thy mare, take us home
Oh, Harris, fetch thy mare, and take us out of here
In my nine and fifty years I've never known
That to call myself a man, for my loved one I must stand
Now Harris, fetch thy mare take us home.
Written by Stan Rogers
Monday, November 29, 2004
Saturday, November 27, 2004
MY OLD MAN
My Dad died on Thanksgiving Day in 1985. It sort of
put a damper on the holiday for all of us.Worse still,since Thanksgiving Day changes every year, we
are also faced with the actual date of November 22nd.
We avoided having the big T-Day dinner at my sister's for many years because that was where we were all
together for the last time. We'd eat at my brother's
house or at our apartment. One year we ate at a
restaurant at Plymouth.
Then Mom died, and I shuttle back and forth between
Cheryl and Phil on holidays.
It hit me yesterday as I sat talking with Paul.He
has these rods screwed into his leg, holding it
together while he heals. He was only 6 years old
that last day his "Grammpy" was there. Mike was
less than a year old and has no memories of his
grandfather roughhousing with him like his brother
and sister do.
Dad would have been very proud of Paul. As would
my Mom.
19 years. What I wouldn't give for a few more
minutes.
I have forgotten what his voice sounded like.
put a damper on the holiday for all of us.Worse still,since Thanksgiving Day changes every year, we
are also faced with the actual date of November 22nd.
We avoided having the big T-Day dinner at my sister's for many years because that was where we were all
together for the last time. We'd eat at my brother's
house or at our apartment. One year we ate at a
restaurant at Plymouth.
Then Mom died, and I shuttle back and forth between
Cheryl and Phil on holidays.
It hit me yesterday as I sat talking with Paul.He
has these rods screwed into his leg, holding it
together while he heals. He was only 6 years old
that last day his "Grammpy" was there. Mike was
less than a year old and has no memories of his
grandfather roughhousing with him like his brother
and sister do.
Dad would have been very proud of Paul. As would
my Mom.
19 years. What I wouldn't give for a few more
minutes.
I have forgotten what his voice sounded like.
Sunday, November 21, 2004
CAMELOT
Man.
All you folks who enjoy my stories don't know
how hard it is for me to sit here and talk about
a non-fictional matter. It's why I haven't
commented until now, because this has been
something that stirred up some strong emotions
in me.
Camelot has become a second home to me these past seven years. When I really got into the swing of
rp,there were days that I'd be at work in some
slow spot and I'd idly wonder what would be
happening that night in the Hall.
I'd see a book cover with a picture that made me think "Yeah..that's how BH or Corwin or Wenn or Skye..might
look." I'd be shelving a book in history and if
it was on medieval warfare or daily life I'd skim
it at lunch(if I didn't just outright buy it)
for ideas for BT's world. I hunted down midis and wavs for Ian and Skye to dance to, and I surfed
the web looking for any bit of Arthurian
myth I could credibly work into the storylines.
I've met some incredible people in rp whose friendship and respect
I value.
I've built up an image of Camelot in my mind.
I can close my eyes and see the banners hanging
on the walls, the tapestry by Chamberlain's desk
that hides the passage to the old section of the castle. I can tell you that a small sandy beach
is next to that rock by the pond where BT often
goes to think and that there are parts of the
Hook where the buildings are so close to each other that sunlight never reaches the streets and alleys
between them.
And many nights I'd sign off with a laugh at something funny someone had said or done either IC
or OOC.
Things change. That's why we call it Life. I've never lost sight of the factthat there's a real
world out here ..family, life, obligations...and those must always have precedence over a role play game. Being single and home most of the time,I was more than willing and able to devote the time to
the channel that others might want to give but
were unable to because of those real life matters.
Like I said. Things change. The faces and chars in Camelot changed and while some of them have stayed on,those who couldn't accept the channel policies
moved on elsewhere. Lately,there's been new a influx of rps and the return of one or two old timers.
The newer ones don't blatantly disregard the channel policies so much as stretch them. Let's face it..
it's a lot easier to ban a Vortex than someone
who might be playing a totally overpowered char
but who stays within the rules of the channel. I'd hoped that these folks would learn by example.
They didn't. I spoke with them in /msg about it
and nothing changed. They just became more adept at hiding their wonderfulness (to borrow a Cosby term) or hinting at it.
And then we have those oldtimers..ok..make it oldtimer. We all know who I'm talking about.
KM breezes into channel(and I've wondered about
his timing, after BT rode off to the borders) and goes into the old "Things were much more fun in the good old days"song and dance. And the newer rps,
who were tired of BT talking at them lapped it up. Even after what was said by Xan and Skye afterwards, they still are lapping it up.
As recently as last night, one of them was speaking fondly of the whole incident.
In other years, I would wait them out or point
out that the Golden Age of Camelot wasn't all that Golden(yes it was fun, no, it was not good rp)and eventually when the oldtimer found that tales of Lancelot weren't exciting everyone all that much, they left.
This time, I have to confess,it hurt.
And it pissed me off.
Royally.
It wasn't anyone person in particular.
It was the whole thing. It was the very antithesis
of what I think Camelot should be.
And it forced me to look at what Camelot had become for me the last few years. BT was
the daddy yelling at all the little kids. He's
the person who tells you how to behave, so then
you resent him or you ask other authority figures their opinion until you find the one who
agrees with your viewpoint, so you can tell BT
"that so and so doesn't think it needs to be done this way" And he was the one who was expected
to react supportively when rps put their chars into dire situation after dire situation but who instead wanted to know why they got themselves into such foolish predicaments.
And yeah, those /msgs about IC or OOC complaints and peeople who seemed to stick to Bt's arse like
a remorah stuck to a shark.
So, when KM did his happy dance that night, that was the straw that broke the camel's back.
I might point out that Robyn's going along with it..and Maick..a 14 year old, if I remember
correctly, who drank himself drunk.. had the very real option of just saying no. It's not Jer's fault that they chose to go along with KM's scenario.
They could have have declined with legitmate
reasons and kept their chars' integrity.
They chose to say yes..
And that's the difference between the people I enjoyed rp'ng with and this crop. They'd
sacrifice the integrity of their character to the easy rp. They add on new powers,dream up new perils or attackers just for something to do,and they
become cartoons. Or that's how I see some
of them now.
It's been coming for awhile. It's why BT would shut himself in his office rather than sit
in the hall where the other chars would hesitate
to talk about their days adventures knowing how BT might react, since he would react as any knight or commander should react.
There's other matters, but that's the main thing. BH and Xan know the main reason BT resigned
but it won't be mentioned in channel unless it's rp'd out and that frankly would only be if he's
left no choice.
As far as rp goes, BT will be scarce for a bit. I'm in no mood to deal with in char demanding
for explanations from certain parties that might lead to another unpleasant display of my temper.
I don't think most of the present rps will much care if he stays away. Which is ok..I've
been a store manager and I know that any leader who is in it to be popular isn't doing the
job he should be doing. And I blame myself for several mistakes that have led to the
whole present scene.
So I'll be around Camelot but not as much.
And I can still see it in my mind.
All you folks who enjoy my stories don't know
how hard it is for me to sit here and talk about
a non-fictional matter. It's why I haven't
commented until now, because this has been
something that stirred up some strong emotions
in me.
Camelot has become a second home to me these past seven years. When I really got into the swing of
rp,there were days that I'd be at work in some
slow spot and I'd idly wonder what would be
happening that night in the Hall.
I'd see a book cover with a picture that made me think "Yeah..that's how BH or Corwin or Wenn or Skye..
look." I'd be shelving a book in history and if
it was on medieval warfare or daily life I'd skim
it at lunch(if I didn't just outright buy it)
for ideas for BT's world. I hunted down midis and wavs for Ian and Skye to dance to, and I surfed
the web looking for any bit of Arthurian
myth I could credibly work into the storylines.
I've met some incredible people in rp whose friendship and respect
I value.
I've built up an image of Camelot in my mind.
I can close my eyes and see the banners hanging
on the walls, the tapestry by Chamberlain's desk
that hides the passage to the old section of the castle. I can tell you that a small sandy beach
is next to that rock by the pond where BT often
goes to think and that there are parts of the
Hook where the buildings are so close to each other that sunlight never reaches the streets and alleys
between them.
And many nights I'd sign off with a laugh at something funny someone had said or done either IC
or OOC.
Things change. That's why we call it Life. I've never lost sight of the factthat there's a real
world out here ..family, life, obligations...and those must always have precedence over a role play game. Being single and home most of the time,I was more than willing and able to devote the time to
the channel that others might want to give but
were unable to because of those real life matters.
Like I said. Things change. The faces and chars in Camelot changed and while some of them have stayed on,those who couldn't accept the channel policies
moved on elsewhere. Lately,there's been new a influx of rps and the return of one or two old timers.
The newer ones don't blatantly disregard the channel policies so much as stretch them. Let's face it..
it's a lot easier to ban a Vortex than someone
who might be playing a totally overpowered char
but who stays within the rules of the channel. I'd hoped that these folks would learn by example.
They didn't. I spoke with them in /msg about it
and nothing changed. They just became more adept at hiding their wonderfulness (to borrow a Cosby term) or hinting at it.
And then we have those oldtimers..ok..make it oldtimer. We all know who I'm talking about.
KM breezes into channel(and I've wondered about
his timing, after BT rode off to the borders) and goes into the old "Things were much more fun in the good old days"song and dance. And the newer rps,
who were tired of BT talking at them lapped it up. Even after what was said by Xan and Skye afterwards, they still are lapping it up.
As recently as last night, one of them was speaking fondly of the whole incident.
In other years, I would wait them out or point
out that the Golden Age of Camelot wasn't all that Golden(yes it was fun, no, it was not good rp)and eventually when the oldtimer found that tales of Lancelot weren't exciting everyone all that much, they left.
This time, I have to confess,it hurt.
And it pissed me off.
Royally.
It wasn't anyone person in particular.
It was the whole thing. It was the very antithesis
of what I think Camelot should be.
And it forced me to look at what Camelot had become for me the last few years. BT was
the daddy yelling at all the little kids. He's
the person who tells you how to behave, so then
you resent him or you ask other authority figures their opinion until you find the one who
agrees with your viewpoint, so you can tell BT
"that so and so doesn't think it needs to be done this way" And he was the one who was expected
to react supportively when rps put their chars into dire situation after dire situation but who instead wanted to know why they got themselves into such foolish predicaments.
And yeah, those /msgs about IC or OOC complaints and peeople who seemed to stick to Bt's arse like
a remorah stuck to a shark.
So, when KM did his happy dance that night, that was the straw that broke the camel's back.
I might point out that Robyn's going along with it..and Maick..a 14 year old, if I remember
correctly, who drank himself drunk.. had the very real option of just saying no. It's not Jer's fault that they chose to go along with KM's scenario.
They could have have declined with legitmate
reasons and kept their chars' integrity.
They chose to say yes..
And that's the difference between the people I enjoyed rp'ng with and this crop. They'd
sacrifice the integrity of their character to the easy rp. They add on new powers,dream up new perils or attackers just for something to do,and they
become cartoons. Or that's how I see some
of them now.
It's been coming for awhile. It's why BT would shut himself in his office rather than sit
in the hall where the other chars would hesitate
to talk about their days adventures knowing how BT might react, since he would react as any knight or commander should react.
There's other matters, but that's the main thing. BH and Xan know the main reason BT resigned
but it won't be mentioned in channel unless it's rp'd out and that frankly would only be if he's
left no choice.
As far as rp goes, BT will be scarce for a bit. I'm in no mood to deal with in char demanding
for explanations from certain parties that might lead to another unpleasant display of my temper.
I don't think most of the present rps will much care if he stays away. Which is ok..I've
been a store manager and I know that any leader who is in it to be popular isn't doing the
job he should be doing. And I blame myself for several mistakes that have led to the
whole present scene.
So I'll be around Camelot but not as much.
And I can still see it in my mind.
Friday, November 19, 2004
John Barnes
One of my proud Plimouth Plantation forebears :
"John Barnes's death was recorded on 5 March 1671/1672, and the jury appointed to inquire into the cause of death gave the following verdict:
Wee, whose names are underwritten, being summond together by order from the Gou to view the corpes of Mr. John Barnes, and to give in a verdict how wee judge hee came by his death, doe judge, that being before his barne door in the street, standing stroakeing or feeling of his bull, the said bull suddenly turned about upon him and gave him a great wound with his horne on his right thigh, neare eight inches longe, in which his flesh was torne both broad and deep, as wee judge; of which wound, together with his wrinch of his necke or paine thereof, (of which hee complained) hee immediately languished; after about 32 hours after hee died. Unto the truth wherof we have subscribed our hands.-Plymouth Co. Records"
It should be noted that one of the jury was another of my ancestors, Samuel Dunham. No doubt John's bad
end was used as a warning to rowdy children for some
time in the family.
"John Barnes's death was recorded on 5 March 1671/1672, and the jury appointed to inquire into the cause of death gave the following verdict:
Wee, whose names are underwritten, being summond together by order from the Gou to view the corpes of Mr. John Barnes, and to give in a verdict how wee judge hee came by his death, doe judge, that being before his barne door in the street, standing stroakeing or feeling of his bull, the said bull suddenly turned about upon him and gave him a great wound with his horne on his right thigh, neare eight inches longe, in which his flesh was torne both broad and deep, as wee judge; of which wound, together with his wrinch of his necke or paine thereof, (of which hee complained) hee immediately languished; after about 32 hours after hee died. Unto the truth wherof we have subscribed our hands.-Plymouth Co. Records"
It should be noted that one of the jury was another of my ancestors, Samuel Dunham. No doubt John's bad
end was used as a warning to rowdy children for some
time in the family.
Saturday, November 13, 2004
FIRST SNOWFALL
Not a big one(I think) but enough that I had to
clean snow off the car after work.
I debated stopping to do some food shopping
and decided to opt for the one lonely frozen
pizza waiting to be nuked at home instead.
Snowfall has weird effect on me. I end up
feeling drowsy and I slept a good part of the
night in the living room chair. Woke up about
15 mins. ago or so and thought I'd do this first
since been a few days since last update.
As far as winter goes, Joni Mitchell wrote about
it and I always hear Tom Rush singing it in my
head when I read the words:
And the warriors of winter gave a cold triumphant shout
All that stays is dying and all that lives is getting out
You see the geese in chevron flight a flapping and a racing on before the snow
They've got the urge for going and they've got the wings to go
I'll pile the fire with kindlin' and pull the blankets to my chin
I'll lock the vagrant winter out and bolt my wanderin' in
I'd like to call back summertime and let her stay for just another month or so
But she's got the urge for goin, and I'll have to let her go
-The Urge for Going
clean snow off the car after work.
I debated stopping to do some food shopping
and decided to opt for the one lonely frozen
pizza waiting to be nuked at home instead.
Snowfall has weird effect on me. I end up
feeling drowsy and I slept a good part of the
night in the living room chair. Woke up about
15 mins. ago or so and thought I'd do this first
since been a few days since last update.
As far as winter goes, Joni Mitchell wrote about
it and I always hear Tom Rush singing it in my
head when I read the words:
And the warriors of winter gave a cold triumphant shout
All that stays is dying and all that lives is getting out
You see the geese in chevron flight a flapping and a racing on before the snow
They've got the urge for going and they've got the wings to go
I'll pile the fire with kindlin' and pull the blankets to my chin
I'll lock the vagrant winter out and bolt my wanderin' in
I'd like to call back summertime and let her stay for just another month or so
But she's got the urge for goin, and I'll have to let her go
-The Urge for Going
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
Thursday, November 04, 2004
FINAL ELECTION THOUGHTS
I don't understand this country anymore. Neither
does my sister and her husband. We watched the
report the other night on "60 Minutes" about how
soldiers in Iraq are modifying unarmored Humvees
with plywood, sand, and metal plates scrounged
off the abandoned tanks of Sadam's army to make what they call "rolling coffins" and we couldn't believe that the man who put Paul and other kids in such harms way would be re-elected.
Show's how much we knew, eh?
We didn't count on that 40% of America Born Agains
that turned out on "moral issues". I expect the
President will repay their support by pushing for
the anti-gay marriage amendment and appointing
Supreme Court Justices that will reverse Roe vs Wade
and other rulings the religious right deemed
signs of a godless society.
These are the same folks who burn books and music
they deem evil, in many cases, so I wouldn't be
surprised to see a return to the days of Jerry
Falwell's Christian Coalition strong arming
networks, publishers and record companies now that
they have the political clout to back it up.
The American people...well..ok..except for us
here in the Northeast and on the West Coast...
have what they wanted.
God help the rest of us. I think we are in for
rough times ahead.
And that's the last I will write on politics here
for awhile.
As for NaNoWriMo, I churned out 2288 words today.
(On Wed.) That's also 2288 so far.
As for Camelot..I am wrestling with whether it's
time for me to go. Judging by the rp tonight in the hall with Ascellon,KM and others, the answer seems to be yes.
does my sister and her husband. We watched the
report the other night on "60 Minutes" about how
soldiers in Iraq are modifying unarmored Humvees
with plywood, sand, and metal plates scrounged
off the abandoned tanks of Sadam's army to make what they call "rolling coffins" and we couldn't believe that the man who put Paul and other kids in such harms way would be re-elected.
Show's how much we knew, eh?
We didn't count on that 40% of America Born Agains
that turned out on "moral issues". I expect the
President will repay their support by pushing for
the anti-gay marriage amendment and appointing
Supreme Court Justices that will reverse Roe vs Wade
and other rulings the religious right deemed
signs of a godless society.
These are the same folks who burn books and music
they deem evil, in many cases, so I wouldn't be
surprised to see a return to the days of Jerry
Falwell's Christian Coalition strong arming
networks, publishers and record companies now that
they have the political clout to back it up.
The American people...well..ok..except for us
here in the Northeast and on the West Coast...
have what they wanted.
God help the rest of us. I think we are in for
rough times ahead.
And that's the last I will write on politics here
for awhile.
As for NaNoWriMo, I churned out 2288 words today.
(On Wed.) That's also 2288 so far.
As for Camelot..I am wrestling with whether it's
time for me to go. Judging by the rp tonight in the hall with Ascellon,KM and others, the answer seems to be yes.
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
ALL OVER BUT THE SHOUTING
At last...Nov. 2nd and our long national
ordeal is over.
No more attack ads.
No more phone message endorsements.
No more "Special Reports" on election issues.
No more news stories on the campaigns.
I have other things I intend to write about
(like the Red Sox win) but for now, before I
drag my sorry old arse off to bed, I just want
to give a sigh of relief that one way or another,
this election is finally over.
ordeal is over.
No more attack ads.
No more phone message endorsements.
No more "Special Reports" on election issues.
No more news stories on the campaigns.
I have other things I intend to write about
(like the Red Sox win) but for now, before I
drag my sorry old arse off to bed, I just want
to give a sigh of relief that one way or another,
this election is finally over.
Monday, November 01, 2004
JUST DROPPED IN TO SEE WHAT CONDITION MY CONDITION WAS IN
Another lazy Sunday come and gone.
No trick or treaters again this Halloween, so
the three bags of Sour Balls and Necco Wafers will
be eaten gradually over the next few weeks.
Yeah, I know, lousy candy as far as kids are
concerned but seeing as how I don't get much action
here I buy candy that I like. So there. Pffffffft.
Cams and the Scoobys seem to be cruising along fine
without BT so I may leave him out of the channel for
the month while I once more make a stab at National
Novel Writing Month. 50,000 words by 11/30.If I do
go for it I may write the rest of "The Tower".
Now, as E might say, "To the Beddery!"
No trick or treaters again this Halloween, so
the three bags of Sour Balls and Necco Wafers will
be eaten gradually over the next few weeks.
Yeah, I know, lousy candy as far as kids are
concerned but seeing as how I don't get much action
here I buy candy that I like. So there. Pffffffft.
Cams and the Scoobys seem to be cruising along fine
without BT so I may leave him out of the channel for
the month while I once more make a stab at National
Novel Writing Month. 50,000 words by 11/30.If I do
go for it I may write the rest of "The Tower".
Now, as E might say, "To the Beddery!"