Dude in memoriam

So I found these pictures awhile back. I've been meaning to post them for awhile and I have to burn them to disk for Lisa as I promised then. 


I still can't believe Dude isn't here. Even after 2 years it still feels surreal to imagine this world without George Nault. But I remember the good times and cling to those...and hopefully...I honor his memory in doing so. Here is the last time I was in VT w/Dude. My wish is this brings a smile to your face as it does for me.

view of Okemo(ish) from the love shack

Lillie, Lisa & Kayla chillin'

Dude doing Dude stuff

Fletch doing Fletch stuff

oops!

Doing it right at Long Trail Brewery

Happy X-moose!

Enjoying the scenery on the Long Trail deck

After awhile, Dude got tired of the camera as he often did...

Had to add one of the lovely photographer!

Here comes the snow!

Obviously time to go!

Back at the shack w/happy puppies!

We love you Lillie & Dude!

People never cease to amaze me...

Some people might see this title in a negative light but I mean it in the "totally, like wow!" way in that the generosity of human beings is truly extraordinary and shame on me for thinking otherwise. 

This is a year of revelation for me. Maybe it's because I am firmly within middle age now (even if I still only have the maturity of a man-boy) and the questions of mortality loom closer while my sphere of reality disintegrates as I continue to mourn the loss of friends and family. Or maybe it's because I don't feel like I've made my mark yet and find myself restless and taking on challenges to encourage me physically, mentally and spiritually.

One of the ways I've done that is to join the race craze. Starting off this year with a 5k (which I'll get into further below) and 2 obstacle races - the Rugged Maniac and the Tough Mudder - can you say mid-life crisis?

You see, earlier this week, I got a reminder email that I'd pledged a sum of money in a race I was participating in and that I hadn't raised a dollar yet - with the exception of my entry fee and the additional $15 I'd contributed to my pledge goal of $275.

So I thought about this for a few seconds and decided to put out a call to my friends using facebook. Now whether or not you find facebook useful, a time suck or a privacy killing business behemoth (with the sole purpose to monetize your relationships and the items and stories you share with your network) is a point of discussion for a future post. Personally, I waffle between all three viewpoints but found it incredibly useful for sending out my plea.

Anyway, I asked my facebook network to each pledge $1 to the following cause                 (as I ask anyone reading this to do if you are so inclined):

Run for the Wild - Wildlife Conservation Society - Bronx Zoo

If they all did just that little bit, I'd reach my goal - no problem!

What happened in the following 24 hours was completely different and completely unexpected. Now, I wasn't expecting everyone to participate. I'm fairly realistic and I know not everyone is going to be supportive of a cause, supportive of me in this endeavor or even bother to read my update because, let's face it, we all have our own busy lives full of all the issues, joys and people we deal with on a daily basis in the meatspace.

My point is, within 24 hours, I'd reached my goal! (Disclosure: my ab fab mom helped tremendously with a $100 donation) And that was from extremely generous contributions from only 8 people out of a network of just under 300 within an incredibly short period of time. Some of these friends I haven't seen in person in years. Some are struggling with new additions, loss and new environments yet still felt this was worthwhile. I am incredibly humbled and incredibly grateful - from within my heart this experience has touched my soul. Thank you.

Lion waiting in Namibia
By yaaaay (Originally posted on Flickr at The King.) [CC-BY-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Lessons learned:

Don't be afraid to ask (especially your friends)

Don't underestimate people (especially your friends)

You never know what will inspire people (and you'll learn a bit more about your friends)

You have more friends than you think who are willing to help you achieve your goals

Be grateful for what and who you have and what and who you choose to be

Keep asking

(as I will for this and The Wounded Warrior Project - once the Tough Mudder looms a bit closer)

Some Monday morning joy!

Infrequent posting continues as I try to figure a few things out. However, here is something that makes me smile - and hopefully does the same for you. Allow me to introduce yesterday's puppies on our rescue transport run! (Names provided upon request):

Distractions & Excuses

I've had so many lately, where do I start?


Giants making it to the Super Bowl has probably been the biggest one (and the only one I'll speak of so as not to bore you to tears). 


I've been enjoying this incredible ride immensely! Week after week of improbable wins throughout the playoffs with the G-men showing tremendous heart and getting hot when it matters most.

Go Big Blue!!!

I finally fixed the PC problem and we got a new scanner so the tribute post will be coming in the next day or so...

Post Blackout

Well, as everybody on the 'nets in the US and English speaking world at large was well aware, many of your favorite sites were either blacked out or dedicated to informing you about the opposition to SOPA/PIPA legislation and why it is important to you, the American citizen.

Many Senators abandoned support for the bill, including several co-sponsors. However, as reported elsewhere:

SOPA is still kicking

As I receive more information, I will make it available here. As I continue to oppose this legislation online and in other ways, I will continue to document this battle.

It's gonna be messy

Keep the lasagna flying

Since I can't get my shit together and write about all the other things I want to because of my own laziness in fixing a simple home PC issue, I'd like to tell you all about something very near and dear to me...

 As sombunall of you may or may not know, boingboing has been running RAW week on their site and there are some fantastic articles, videos, quotes & more so far, located here:

Robert Anton Wilson Week

image blatantly stolen from his website...

I've been a huge fan of RAW since the late 80's of the last century when a college friend turned me on to their dog-eared copy of The Illuminatus! Trilogy and like so many others, my mind opened a bit more. When I got to Cosmic Trigger I never turned back and I've been enjoying the journey ever so much more because of it. I liken RAW to the Grateful Dead in that he opened my mind to much more information than I was being fed in school as the Dead opened up music in much the same way beyond that which the radio fed me. 


Some years later, I had the pleasure of meeting Uncle Bob once outside of St. John the Divine in NYC during the 2001 Prophets Conference. He played his part as satiric old crank as I played mine of doe-eyed disciple (which I'm sure he abhorred). I wish I could say I wasn't more than dumbstruck, but I can't and barely managed a few platitudes and a successful autograph request. What I can say is he was polite, funny and eased my mind  by asking me to complete a simple task for him even though he was obviously looking for a few moments away from idiots like me. As I look back now I see he was saying "Think for yourself, schmuck!" without being rude...


Even later still I stumbled across the Maybe Logic Academy where I met a great group of people much more talented than myself where I took some online classes and helped to publish a dead tree edition of  the Maybe Logic Quarterly, online editions of which you can find at the great blog Only Maybe.


Please take the time to check out boingboing and all the other tributes to Uncle Bob as they're infinitely more in-depth, interesting, erudite & illuminating. 


- THE MGT.

Interlude

Wow! It's been 2 weeks since I posted anything. I have one more big post coming for 2011 but I don't have everything put together yet. I have to scan in some pictures and compose a few more thoughts about closing out the year with a tribute -which I hope to do all by tomorrow afternoon. 

I hope my little band of readers is enjoying this holiday time!

I only wish I was here right now!