I have a problem...

OK, maybe it's not a problem but it is something gross. And when is gross not a problem? What have I done gross lately?

I ate pumpkin pie this morning with mold on it. Yep, I didn't store it right and it got to much moisture and coupled with 4 days on my kitchen counter...... well I was wondering why my breakfast tasted like acid.

And I ate one piece before I figured it out. Yuck. Which is just as bad as the time I ate something else rotten. It was the day my first wife said, "I'm sick of you and I'm out of here." After recovering from that and the fact she'd totally emptied the bank account I needed to eat. What was the only thing left in the fridge? Slimy lettuce.

Yep, I put dressing on it and ate almost half of it before giving up. Gross. Disgusting. Pathetic. Sad.

So it was with great enjoyment that I drove around today eating from a big bag of candy that Super D had given me. Yumm! Sweet and non-rotten!!

How could you have doubted it??

I just ordered my Christmas cards. The printed part says "Merry Christmas. Only terrorists say happy holidays."

Isn't that what xmas is all about? Co-opting things for your own benefit? Oh, and these are gonna be collectors items as there will only be 20 of them. I better not catch any of you selling them on ebay..............

This is a tribute.

SYDKAR??????

Something you didn't know about Rowdy. SYDKAR. Though that might be my fake Norwegian name, Sydkar. Mr Sydkar.

As for the something you might not have know about me is... where did all of my outdoorsy stuff come from? Well I had sporting relatives, active parents and grew up in largely rural areas. I had the "outdoors" of the Pacific Northwest at my fingertips growing up.

But where did the real knowledge and experience come from? I was a Scout. Yep, me! I was a Cub Scout. A Boy Scout, the whole thing. Uniform, merit badges, summer camp. All of it. Heck, I actually was/am an Eagle Scout, having completed my project from my hospital bed. (I spent about 15% of my teenage years in the hospital and fully 30% of them 'sick')

With that past experience and my penchant for fun, well guess what? Yes, yes this whole post seems to be about guessing, but humor me.

I got asked to lead a Cub Scout pack in my area. So boys ages 8-11 who want to be Cub Scouts and possibly then later become Boy Scouts. I accepted!!!!

Once all the training and organization is done, I'll be in charge of a weekly meeting for the approximately 6 boys whom will be assigned to me. Doing fun things!! Doing all sorts of fun activities for them to learn skills and life stuff.

At first I was reticent, but the more I think about it the more it makes me feel warm inside. Getting it running and off the ground will be a pain, but it's doable.

Would you have guessed?

The Interwebz

Once you are good at something, the part of the internet dedicated to whatever you are good at, becomes incredibly lame. Especially, most especially, internet forums dedicated to your "thing".

In my case, it is with motorcycles, jiu jitsu or guns. It's really amazing how across such varied interests that the same style of things and types of people show up.

What originally starts as a place to ask questions, gain knowledge and develop a sense of community (the laudable goals) turns into asinine questions, ignorance, trolling and tearing something else down to build yourself up.

I can see now why professionals in their respective areas avoid the internet in regards to their area of expertise.

Thanksgiving

You may say it is shallow, but if you do I don't think you know my history. The thing I am most thankful for this Thanksgiving is my physical body/health.

I was told I could die. I was told I would never be the same again. I was told I could be a "nutritional cripple". I was told to be patient and hope for the best.

Many people have diseases. Many people have physical limitations. Accidents, disease, war, amputations they all take a toll on your body. And one's mind. Spirit. Will.

With 2010, 2011 spent extensively in illness, surgery, recovery, sadness and doubt I am truly thankful for where I am today, this day.

I am able to eat solid food. I am able to exercise. I am able to wear normal clothes and appear to anyone as 'normal' on the outside. I process food better than I ever have in my entire life. I weigh 144lbs right now.

Then:

Now:

I could expound upon the link and connection between my body, Crohns disease, emotion and my enjoyment of life but it is pretty simple. I am happier when I am healthier. This Thanksgiving I am thankful for the healthy body I am able to currently enjoy and hopefully pray for its continuance throughout the rest of my life.

Freak Show, Rowdystyle

Ok, don't all stories of 'freakiness' start with "so, I was looking on Craigslist..."?

Well I was on there looking at stuff and in random boredom inspired browsing read an ad asking for people to join a group of Scrabble players. Benign right? Should be a bunch of totally normal, smart people right?

If you've ever watched the movie Word Wars, then you should have known better and warned me. As I'd watched the movie and obviously forgotten.

I went for my first time tonight and it was at an odd cafe/medical marijuana collective. All the food on the menu was named after old Communist theorists. Two old seemingly gay dudes. An extremely thin older woman, genius smart about Scrabble. Two college age Asian sisters who fit the definition of 'otaku'. And me.

Maybe "freakshow" is a little bit of hyperbole, but yeah......

Or I could just be bitter in that they all trounced me. I should have known that would happen when each and every person asked me what word games I played online, on my ereader, on my phone and so. Some serious word gaming folks here!

But you know what? I'll go back. 'Cause maybe I'm just a little bit of a freakshow myself.