Paradise City
Its been awhile since Ive written anything. Its been a weird couple of months, life is moving about of late in a way that I can only describe as controlled chaos. I threw the White Wolf/CCP GDC party last month in San Francisco and it was great fun but also exhausting. I could write a ton on the event myself but in lieu of that I'll simply say that while I pride myself on my ability to throw a kick ass party, this one was a career high that will be challenging to top. If your curious about the level of mischief and mayhem that I orchestrated take a look at some of these reviews:
http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9276&Itemid=2
http://www.wanderinggoblin.com/literaturedetail.php?id=88
http://blogs.ign.com/-Rosethorn-/2008/03/18/84196/
So after that I opted for a bit if of R&R and have been here in Hawaii all month. I can honestly say there is no place on earth I love more than these islands. There is something very magical and healing to me when I'm here. I don't know exactly what it is. I think the fact that my parents met, married and conceived me here has something to do with it. Because every time I come over here I feel like I'm going home and really hate leaving. There is really quite like getting up and spending the day outside just enjoying life. I realised that last time when I was here for a month is that I never spend this much time outdoors anywhere Ive lived. Its just so healthy and free feeling to go in ocean every day I cant really describe it.
I suppose the only two big downers this month were hearing that Gary Gygax and Dave Stevens both died. They both hit me harder than I would have thought. Gary, whom I have met a few times over the years was a neat guy that I really feel I have a career because of what he created. beyond just a career in games my work in particular has been to specialize in marking and doing PR for RPG's. Like so many people I feel that I owe Gary a debt of gratitude. The first for so many years of endless creative enjoyment growing up and many years as an adult being able to continue working with something that I really love. His death did not come as a shock as I knew he had not been well. But it was unexpected and left me feeling a bit more empty inside. It's like Rich Dansky said "our favorite teacher has just left the building". We wont see his kind again.
The other one that took me completely off guard was to hear that Dave Stevens creator of The Rocketeer and the one individual who pretty much originated the Betty Page revival of the last few years. I first med Dave way back when I worked at Dark Horse in 1994. I was only 21 years old and while I never became close to Dave per say our paths crossed every year at Comic Con in San Diego and he was always nice to me. We sort of had a mutual connection because of our friendship with the Silke family. Jim Silke and Dave Stevens were very close. Both consummate creators with a love for pin up and Betty Page. I think Dave and I both shared a certain affection for one of Jim's daughters that neither one of us ever dated but both had a connection to. It was just sort of an unspoken understanding that went between us when I saw him in the early years. He died of leukemia not but a few days after Gary. Like many people, I didnt even know he was sick.
Its been a strange year. I feel that time is catching up to me. The good the bad, the odd and the obsucure all seem to be happening at a breakneck pace. I feel that I'm in some transition and I dont know where its going. That so many things in life have been wrapping themselves up or coming to conclusions. Im not really sure whats next. But I guess in the meantime I'll just enjoy my time in paradise.
Im going to go take a surfing lesson tomorrow. One more thing to mark off life's "to do list".
http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9276&Itemid=2
http://www.wanderinggoblin.com/literaturedetail.php?id=88
http://blogs.ign.com/-Rosethorn-/2008/03/18/84196/
So after that I opted for a bit if of R&R and have been here in Hawaii all month. I can honestly say there is no place on earth I love more than these islands. There is something very magical and healing to me when I'm here. I don't know exactly what it is. I think the fact that my parents met, married and conceived me here has something to do with it. Because every time I come over here I feel like I'm going home and really hate leaving. There is really quite like getting up and spending the day outside just enjoying life. I realised that last time when I was here for a month is that I never spend this much time outdoors anywhere Ive lived. Its just so healthy and free feeling to go in ocean every day I cant really describe it.
I suppose the only two big downers this month were hearing that Gary Gygax and Dave Stevens both died. They both hit me harder than I would have thought. Gary, whom I have met a few times over the years was a neat guy that I really feel I have a career because of what he created. beyond just a career in games my work in particular has been to specialize in marking and doing PR for RPG's. Like so many people I feel that I owe Gary a debt of gratitude. The first for so many years of endless creative enjoyment growing up and many years as an adult being able to continue working with something that I really love. His death did not come as a shock as I knew he had not been well. But it was unexpected and left me feeling a bit more empty inside. It's like Rich Dansky said "our favorite teacher has just left the building". We wont see his kind again.
The other one that took me completely off guard was to hear that Dave Stevens creator of The Rocketeer and the one individual who pretty much originated the Betty Page revival of the last few years. I first med Dave way back when I worked at Dark Horse in 1994. I was only 21 years old and while I never became close to Dave per say our paths crossed every year at Comic Con in San Diego and he was always nice to me. We sort of had a mutual connection because of our friendship with the Silke family. Jim Silke and Dave Stevens were very close. Both consummate creators with a love for pin up and Betty Page. I think Dave and I both shared a certain affection for one of Jim's daughters that neither one of us ever dated but both had a connection to. It was just sort of an unspoken understanding that went between us when I saw him in the early years. He died of leukemia not but a few days after Gary. Like many people, I didnt even know he was sick.
Its been a strange year. I feel that time is catching up to me. The good the bad, the odd and the obsucure all seem to be happening at a breakneck pace. I feel that I'm in some transition and I dont know where its going. That so many things in life have been wrapping themselves up or coming to conclusions. Im not really sure whats next. But I guess in the meantime I'll just enjoy my time in paradise.
Im going to go take a surfing lesson tomorrow. One more thing to mark off life's "to do list".