Words and News from Yer Central Mailer for CTO #23
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Holiday time again, is it? I THOUGHT my wallet felt lighter... Welcome to the annual holiday edition of the 'Times. Hope everyone's giving the finger to the doomsayers on Wall Street and running out and buying lots of goodies for those they love. And with this issue, we bring 2008 to a close, a year that gave us two of the best super-hero movies EVER, and, in other news, a new President (and more importantly, the end, FINALLY, to all the campaigning!). It's a new year and a new America. Let's see what we can make of it! Cover Lovin’
Had to head back to ULTRA-FAST and reliable Sean Harrington
for this issue's cover (because, not for the first time, I realized
I was without a cover right before the deadline...), and he
stunned as always. Wow. Since I didn't actually make it to getting
the next Windjammer chapter done (which is perpetually frozen
in Christmastime in L.A.), figured I'd at least throw in a little
glimpse inside the story. Obligatory jokes about Windjammer
looking forward to unwrapping his present beginnnnnnn...now.
Ah, if only that happiness could last. AHHHH ha ha! That was
my evil writer laugh... Turning 40 and Rolling Some DIFFERENT Dice...
The Sacramento gang at dinner in Vegas There was a little bit of Vegas geeking going down since last time...specifically, the 40th birthday for me and 'Times founder Tim Watts. We figured if we were going to hit middle-age, we might as well do it in style. And so we did!
The birthday guys! A.T., Tim, Rich and me at Caesar's Eleven other friends from Sacramento joined us on the journey, including two of our former roommates who had October birthdays as well ('Times member A.T. Thompson turning 39, and Rich turning 40 along with us). The birthday gang all got rooms at Caesars, while the others spread around to surrounding hotels. We had an AMAZING time! We started planning this months in advance, but naturally, several people waited until the last minute to decide to go, but they pulled it off and were able to make the scene with us.
Fine dining before the show
at Olives at the Bellagio. We all had a great time hanging out together and catching up, doing a little gambling, having a fine birthday dinner at the Bellagio, going to see the show "O" (MIND-blowing experience. I'd never seen one of the Cirque shows before, and was stunned), shooting machine guns (yes...machine guns), hitting local clubs and bars, taking all the sights, and general just enjoying the fact that all of us have known each other so long, and have made it so far together. That trip also, for example, marked 30 years that Tim and I have been friends. We've been make lots of "old" jokes along the way, but really, on this trip we all learned that we're very happy with where our lives are now, and are grateful for them and that we all get to share them together. Can't wait to do it again at 50. If you want to check out all the photos, you can do so at the official "Viva La Casa" web page. Try the other buttons on the left and check out the rest of the pages there, too. The "Weekend Report" isn't done yet, but will be here soon. Hey...priorities. I had a 'Times submission to get done! 'Times Founder Pops Question - Film at Eleven!
Tim and Stacy - the future Mr. and Mrs. Watts The big moment on the trip came on Friday night, when Tim proposed to his girlfriend, Stacy, over dinner at Caesar's. Some of us knew it was coming (I'd seen the ring), but by the time I got confirmation from Tim that he was about to do it (texting...how did we live without it?), the word spread to everyone in our group, as the rest of us were all together having dinner at the Caesar's buffet on the other side of the hotel. After a painfully long wait, we got to find out the outcome when Tim and Stacy showed up. It's a yes! No date has been set yet, but there is now a future Mrs. 'Times Founder. Congrats from all, Mr. Watts!
Our Friend, Andy Mathews
As most of us learned on the board in the past few days, one of our dear friends is no longer with us. Andy Mathews passed away in the early morning hours of December 3, leaving a wife, two sons, and many friends to remember and miss him.
Andy leading the music at the Sunday worship service at Gen-Con, 2008 Some of us here we were friends with Andy, some knew him only from the board, but we all, who call Champions our hobby, had him as a part of our lives. Andy was the Art Director at Hero Games, and was with DOJ from the beginning, and was a major reason for the relaunch and success. The boards at Hero are filling with messages of stunned sadness and fond memories. He touched many lives is ways he didn't even know. Andy was a man of strong faith, not ashamed of his beliefs. On the contrary, he was quite proud of them and always grateful for them. His writings on his blog tell of a man who was unapologetically in love with his wife of ten years, overjoyed to be the father of his two sons, and who loved the things that unite as all as 'Timers - gaming, movies, television. If there is one theme that runs through his writings about his own life, it is that of gratitude. He seemed to love every day, and to live his life accordingly. While he was taken from us far too early, it seems to me that he lived a life richer and more filled with joy than most men twice his age will ever know. He loved the time he had with us. And the feeling is mutual. As this is the Christmas issue, I felt I should share some words from Andy himself, from his blog at Christmas last year: Tuesday, December 18, 2007 We sang Joy To The World, Sunday. I remembered one of my friends saying that he sings that song “every time he goes to church”. I asked “What’s up with that?” He explained that he goes “once a year at Christmas, to please my wife”. As moved on with the service, I came back to what he said: “Joy to the world! The Lord is come; Those are powerful words: and my heart sticks at “Let earth receive her King”. This is not a sentiment for Christmastime alone; this should be the prayer we cry out daily. It is a song that should be on our lips “every time we go to church”; even as our hearts “prepare Him room”. Merry Christmas! posted by AndyM at 1:42 AM Those who knew him best will miss Andy the most this holiday. But we will all feel his absence. Our hearts go out to his family, his co-workers, and his friends. We will miss you, Andy. Though we never had a chance to get your zine started, you were a part of us here at the Clobberin' Times. We will always remember this, and remember you. Please take a moment to visit the Hall of Heroes: Legends page and scroll to the bottom. Next Issue Deadline Deadline for the next CTO issue is January 31, 2009, for inclusion in the February 1, 2009 issue. Just put your stuff on a web page (or in a PDF) and e-mail the link (or the file) to me at: Again, a happy 20th to all, and thanks for all the fun and the memories guys. See you next time. Michael O’Connell |
