The Wind and I

While working outside at my parent’s house I can feel the summer sun warming my skin. I smell the freshness of the country filling the air. I hear the wind rustling the hay that has yet to be cut in the pasture next door. I stand there a prisoner held captive by nature and her rich bounty.

Then I feel the wind pulling at my clothes demanding my attention. You see the wind and I are old friends. I enjoy the time we share for his restlessness lets me imagine what it would be like to absolutely spontaneous. I have often wondered what it would be like to break the bonds of this world and sail off on a breeze, with no thought of direction or destination. So, when he has the time to spare, the wind and I share stories.

He tells me of far away places and strange looking people, as usual, I speak of you. Imagine my surprise when, after all this time he tells me he knows you. He reminds me it was he who held our kites at the beach. He says he enjoyed how yours danced for a while. He says that he has blown cooling breezes your way on several hot days. He even says that when he can he tries to keep the clouds above you so you don’t get too much sun. I have wanted to ask him the past several days to whisk me away and be taken to you, but the wind is getting old (even older than I) and seems so tired that I don’t want to bother him.

I did however; ask him to do for me a small favor. Knowing it shouldn’t tire him out, I asked him to carry messages from my heat to yours. But, he begins to explain that he is not allowed and comes up with all sorts of excuses. But all his blustering won’t put me off so I remind him that no matter how much I would love to travel the world as he does, I cannot because my feet are tied to this earth but oh how my heart longs to soar among the clouds. He reluctantly agrees but he will carry only one. Now the wind can be cantankerous at times and is apt to forget the message. So I think of a message light enough so he doesn’t get tired and short enough for him to remember.

So next time you are outside of the city where all is quiet pause for just a moment. Let the summer sun warm your beautiful face. Smell the clean scent of the country lingering in the air. When the wind wraps his arms around you and caresses your cheek think of me. And perhaps, if you’re still enough, if your eyes are closed, and you listen with all your heart you just might hear me, whispering your name.

The Other Day...

First let me warn you this is a typical Nathan story, probably not near as funny as I think it is but probably as funny as Grandma’s Kitchen. So if you continue reading consider yourself warned.

Ok, so the other day (yes it really was the other day this time) I was at work. I don’t remember what I was doing but, I was working out on the floor performing some menial task I am sure. When I hear, oops hang on a sec if forgot to tell you something.
At the store where I work there is a new display that has posters and poster frames on it. The frames are pretty cheap. The posters are supposed to be for back to school. So, they have ones like: all of the characters from the Simpons, or the Pink Floyd prism album cover, or All I know I learned in Kindergarten … etc.
So, I was working out on the floor performing some menial task and thinking to myself, when I hear two ladies behind me. I glance over my shoulder as most would do just to put a face with the sound. It was two old ladies (yes older than me) with grey hair and all looking at the poster display and talking. I don’t remember what I was thinking. It was probably something like its time to change my MySpace pic, hmmm, what should I use … ah, I know, I will use the pic of Nathan Patrelli flying that Tim Sale did. Or something like that, who knows? Anyway my brain decided at that time to divert all attention from thinking to listening.

Lady #1 says “Hey, remember this game?”

“Oh, yes it that was so much fun to play.” says lady #2.

Now those of you who actually read this will no doubt understand that thinking is oh so much faster than speaking, let alone typing. So I started trying to reason in my head, at which poster they were looking. And what kind of game would be fun to the geriatric crowd?

Tiddlywinks? Hopscotch? Marbles? Pick-Up Sticks? Jacks? Ants in the Pants?

“Yeah, last time I played that I got so hammered” says lady #2.

Don’t Break the Ice?

Lady #1 answers with, “Your right, Beer Pong is so much fun!”

Korigan

Onkel 29th 784

Its dark now and I need to write this while I still have a chance. The wolves have stopped howling but will probably start again before sunrise. I don’t know how much of my story I can tell my only hope is that someone finds this and can learn from my mistakes and short comings.

My name is Korigan Minlok, Cleric of Que’Thalas. Formerly of the Brotherhood of the Robe at the Monastery of Solace, near Throthguard Keep. But I wasn't always as I am now so let me start from the beginning before I get ahead of myself.

New Spider-man cartoon

Yeah I know that if you are reading this blog chances are that you probably already know that there is going to be a new spider-man cartoon, but I just had to post a blog announcing it to everyone.

This time he is going to be just entering Jr. High. I supposed they are doing that to appeal to a larger demographic since it is going to be aired on Saturday mornings. Not like the MTV Spider-man: The New Animated Series, (which was great btw, if you want to borrow it just let me know), which seemed to target older teens and early twenty year olds.

Since its being headed up by the same producer as The Batman it might have some staying power. Since both the last two Spider-man outings only ran for 13 episodes(Spider-man Unlimited, and Spider-man: TNAS).

If you want the a bigger scoop than I provided click here.

I used to do this all the time.

OK, so the other day I actually got off my butt to do some cleaning around the house. To those of you who don't know me, it is a HUGE chore. That's not to say that i live in filth but i to have an extremely untidy house. So I began the arduous task, as anyone should, with music. I dug out my MP3 player. The one I got originally to use while I was working out; which was a new years resolution that I blew last year, but back to topic, I strapped it on, cranked it up and dived in. My goal was to at least get enough clothes, (clean and dirty) off the floor that I might at least vacuum.


How did I get to this state? How did a grown man, a man that spent over 6 years in the military, allow himself to stray to the state I had found myself in? Here are the justifications I use daily: 1)I am single, this is a well used excuse, since no one but me will see it then I will just leave those socks wherever they land; 2)I spent over 6 years as a soldier keeping things neat (dress right dress), I deserve some time to be messy, but I got out of the military over 10 years ago how much time do I get to be messy; 3)I am too busy, the pace of life here is too hetic with work and friends and comittments I am not at home long enough to do much straightening, what a crock; and if all else fails there is always this little gem; 4)I will do it "x", x of course representing some alleged point in the future that I already know I won't do it then either.

Well you should be proud of me. I started with the kitchen, washed the dishes, and took out the trash. In the living room I picked up all the laundry, built a shelf, put all my manga and DVD's and D&D books on said shelf, and picked up loose things that had been waiting months to be taken the extra 20 feet to the bedroom. These things seem little by description, but trust me when I say that the mountain of clothes, trash, and dishes would rival Everest. Now all this is well and good but it is just a start, I do still have a ways to go until it is visit ready, but none of this has anything to do with the title. The only reason I even mention it is to give you a point of reference as to what I was doing at the time.

This, however, does have to do with the title, I had moderate discussions with a couple of friends of mine, (at separate times), about how the pace of life in Germany/Europe seemed so much slower than that in the United States. Both friends agreed that Americans live at a much faster or hurried pace of life than most other countries; and having lived in another country I would agree. I think that I don't spend much time just relaxing. I think I try too hard to schedule every bit of "fun" out of every activity that I miss out on the relaxation that some of those activities are intended to provide. I don't mean to imply that I don't have fun, but even having fun sometimes seems rushed. Build sandcastle: check, wade out to chest level: check, spend 35.2 Min in water: check, eat pre-packed sandwiches: check, etc, etc.

I remember times when, while in Germany, some of my friends and I would take our bicycles and just head out for a spin. (Riding was cheaper than buying a car and since most of didn't have the option to bring one to Germany it was easier too.) No destination, no plans, just riding and seeing the area. And even the times that we had a destination in mind, like the schwimmbahn/bad/baden, (swimming pool), once we got there it was just hanging out. Lay out for a while-sure, go for a swim-sure, get a ice-sure, watch a topless chick play paddleball-sure whatever, layout-sure, watch the clouds-sure, and this would go on for hours, just spending time chillin'.

So, I am taking out the trash I collected while trying to make a dent in the cleaning and on the way to the dumpster I had all these thoughts scurrying around in my head all fighting for attention. Am I going to be able to complete that overdue order? Am I going to have to replace the filet or can I reuse the old one? I hope my almost completely bald tire last till payday, what am I going to do if it doesn't? How much more am I going to clean before I feel like I did enough cleaning? Am I going to try to find another job after Brandy leaves, if so where? I hope they do a good job downstocking so I can pre-count the capshelves for inventory. Am I going to have enough for gas money after going to the museum?

And as I pitch the bag in the dumpster, that’s when I notice it. A cloud, not just a small cotton ball sized one but a cloud that enveloped most of the sky. I thought: Didn’t the weather man say it was going to be clear this weekend, I guess not? What was I thinking about before? …I can't remember. All I am aware of is this soft white puffy cloud slowly dancing its way across the sky. I am mesmerized by how white it is against its blue backdrop.

As the previous chains of thought are loosened and I am freed from their constraint I am able to observe more of my surroundings. I can feel the tempo of the wind quicken against my skin. I can smell the humidity rising in the air. My eyes follow the cloud bank to the northeast and can pick up the subtle changes in color as it gently folds and unfolds itself into grey. Rain is coming, and I know it. As proof, I can see the horizon hue gradually turn a dark grey-violet in the distance a strong indication that rain is no doubt falling miles away. Based on the speed and direction of the wind it might not even hit us at all.

I stood transfixed by the orchestra of nature playing before my eyes, and my eyes listened. They heard every color as they varied from note to note while the sun highlighted some places and hid in the shadows of others. So I continued to stand there and observe, and after a bit I did it some more.

Slowly I noticed I was standing a little straighter, as if some invisible rucksack had been taken off my back. Then I became aware of how quiet it was, not just of the car free streets but that all the bickering in my mind was gone even my heart felt like it stopped racing. I took in a deep breath and for the first time in a long time, calmly exhaled. And if that wasn’t enough, you might not believe this next part but I swear it’s true. While I was there motionless still listening to the beautiful music everything was slowing down, it was as if even the Earth slowed its very rotation so I could focus all my senses on this event, on this moment. It was magical.

Yeah I know that is a pretty gay thing to say but it’s true. I don’t know maybe it’s just me, maybe no one else out there feels as rushed as I usually do. Maybe everyone has quiet moments all the time. I remember what it felt like to have moments like that. I used to have them all the time, but not so much anymore.
So my question to you, dear reader, is when was the last time you went outside, pulled up your most comfortable deck chair, and had a moment just to relax and take the weight off your soul?

Do you remember what the leaves rustling in the trees sounds likes as the wind passes by?

What about the feeling of freshly cut grass crunching underneath your bare feet?

How about the smell of fruit still on the tree or the neighbor’s prize rosebush, do you remember that?

Although we don't get much (if at all) what about the cool taste of a snowflake, or in our case raindrop?

When was the last time you just stood still,

and watched the clouds?

Lucnh with friends was more important.

I was going to post my first blog, but a certain friend keeps bugging me about lunch and the fact that he has to go to work. So, I guess i will have to try again later.