No Betrayal

Seldom do I find something that I consider to be exceptional. Really good, great, fantastic, but exceptional is a rare thing. When you do find something exceptional the appreciation felt for it touches the soul. Recently I have had those feelings. The feelings of awe and deep gratification have been brought about by nothing more than a book.

Looking at it one might wonder what is so exceptional about it. It is small simple paperback novel. The cover is interesting...most book covers are. It looks similar to the many millions of other paperbacks that are out there. So what makes it exceptional?

Two words....the story. The title of the book is Betrayer. Betrayer is one of the Horus Hersey novels from the Black Library. I can honestly say that all of the books in the series to date have been great. Betrayer by Aaron Dembski-Bowden is exceptional!

What makes Betrayer unique is Dembski-Bowden's ability to allow the reader to clearly see into the minds of the array of characters he presents. The reader can actually feel their anger, confusion, passion, etc. He makes it easy to understand their human qualities and frailties. Honor, friendship, kinship, duty, brotherhood, envy, hate, compassion...so many human emotions are written in a way that the reader can actually share them with the characters. You feel what they feel! Few things that I have ever read (and I read a great deal) have impacted me the way that this novel has. It truly is exceptional!

Kudos to Aaron Dembski-Bowden for his work! I cannot wait for his next effort. I would like to thank all of the writers in the series for creating perhaps the greatest epic sci fi series of all time. The Black Library and Games Workshop is putting out a top quality product. This reader, for one, greatly appreciates it. Call me a fanboy, but I know something exceptional when I read it!

New Stuff

Great day yesterday.   I went out to Animal Friends on Camp Horne Road just North of Pittsburgh with my family.  My youngest is interested in becoming a veterinarian.  He wanted to check out the place and see about doing some volunteer work there.  We are a pet friendly family, so we decided to all tag along.

The Animal Friends shelter is amazing!!!!  It is  a no kill facility.  If an animal is brought there and then not adopted then it has a place to live for the remainder of its life.  The dogs, cats, and rabbits are well cared for and  loved by the staff.  The animals really react when they see you.; each hoping that you will take them home.  After visiting there I think they will end up with more than one volunteer and that we will end up with another pet here at home.

Here is a link to their website:

http://www.thinkingoutsidethecage.org/site/c.elKWIeOUIhJ6H/b.8454429/k.BF0B/Home.htm

We met friends at the Willow Restaurant which is right next to Animal Friends afterwards.  It was our first time there but I can assure you that it will not be the last.  The food was fantastic, the portions were exceptional, the price was modest.  The place is beautiful and the service was extraordinary.  We had great meals, a great time, with great friends.

If you are out that way stop at the Willow for a meal and then go adopt a pet at Animal Friends.  I am sure that you will love both!

Side Note:  The Pitt Football Team won!  Congrats to all there!  The Cowboys tanked AGAIN!!!  Go figure.  Pitt Hoops looking awesome.  A tad ticked at the Pens.  They have really been doing some stupid stuff as of late (reference:  Neal's suspension)  You guys are a super talented hockey team; just go out and play hockey instead of doing some of this bush-league crap that some of you have been doing.  It is beneath you to do so.

One more thing:  I had some Festivus Ale from the Full Pint Brewing Company over the holidays.  A true treat.  Try to get a hold of some if you can find it.  It is well worth it!!!!

Wrapping It Up

Wow!  Christmas again.  Fantastic day overall!  Santa was great to everyone.  I had an enjoyable time with family.  The only drawback was that it wasn't a White Christmas. Oh well...you can't have everything.  On second thought if you have your health and your family then you do have everything!!!!

On the hobby front:  A few weeks ago I FINALLY finished my WH Daemonettes.  They really turned out great.  I am quite happy with them.  I also finished a custom set of Chaos Cultists from Dark Vengeance.  Not to pat myself on the back or anything but they look awesome.  I also did a one day paint on the set of Axis Heroes from Dust Tactics.  I brought my A-Game on painting those suckers.  My current project is a set of Warzone Bauhaus that I am painting to resemble WH40K Krieg Death Korps.  I have one nearly done and 11 to go.  As you can see I have been quite busy and staying out of trouble!  Hopefully I'll post some pics soon.  No promises.

Nothing new to report on the food and beverage front.  Looking forward to watching Pitt play tomorrow.  I am big time hoping for a win!  GO PANTHERS!!!!  I'm not getting my hopes up too high for a Dallas Cowboys win this week.  Come on Cowpokes prove me wrong!

To all who have taken the time to view my rather meandering little blog over the past year I just want to say thanks and I want to wish you all a great 2014!  God bless and take care!

South of the Border (not exactly)

For me to go to a restaurant twice in a week is unheard of...yet...that's exactly what I did last week.  I was turned on to a Mexican Restaurant called Patron and I went wild over the food.  I had lunch there on a Monday and thought the food was AWESOME and the service was friendly and very efficient.  When I had the opportunity to go again last Friday I jumped on it.  I can't wait to go back!

Pop Goes Wendy

Two big time wins this week! 

Win #1 - the return of Jalapeno Poppers to Arby's.  I never understood why they got rid of them in the first place.  Yee ha!  I tried their new Smokehouse Brisket Sandwich while I was there...way good!

Win #2 - Pretzel Burger at Wendy's.  It is so hard to believe that the bun makes the burger that much better.  I'll be going for the Pretzel Chicken Sandwich next time.  Hopefully it will be win #3!

On the hobby side of things this week, I finally finished my Warzone Imperials from Prince August.  While not 100% satisfied with their overall look, I am still pretty damn happy with the way they turned out.

I'm hoping to now finish my WH Daemonettes that I feel I started over a year ago.  I keep changing the color scheme.  I'm to the point that I just want them done and can move on to something else.  I have several LOTR models waiting in the wings (or is it rings?).

Parting comment:  Thank God for the fall.  Octoberfest...Sam Adam's Octoberfest!!!  Had some with a bunch of buddies at a fire along the upper Allegheny River.  Great time had by all!

'Burgh Thing

I went out with some friends for lunch today and to watch the Pirates/Reds Game.  We went to Three Rivers Bar and Grill in Monroeville, PA.  While watching the Bucs school the Reds in homerun hitting, we had some major league drafts which were $2 off on special.  The food was great!  I devoured the Pittsburgh Salad which has Kielbasa and Pierogies in it.  Mega delicious!!!!  The Pirates won 8-3.  The meal and beverages were great!  (the food is a bit pricey...just say'n)  Spending a Saturday afternoon with good friends...well it just doesn't get any better!  Great day all the way around!  I just wouldn't be a true "Picksburgher"  if I didn't end this post with...LET'S GO BUCS!!!!!!

Siren's Song

What is it about the ocean?  It seems to call us.  "Return to me, return to me," she seems to say to our subconscious mind.  Has it something to do with the fact that the earliest life formed in the sea and from there made its way ashore?  I sometimes wonder just what it is that draws us like moths to the flame to the ocean and the beach.

We were recently in Nags Head, North Carolina.  We all went down for my father-in-laws 80th birthday.  This guy is amazing.  He looks about 60 and could out work/out play any 30 year old.  Great time had by all.  The beach was fantastic.  Lots of fun in the pool.  The hot tub on the deck with a few of the ocean was truly perfect.  Did some sight-seeing, shopping, water -sports, and hit some great bars and restaurants.  The locals were extremely hospitable.   It was nice to spend some nice relaxed time with my own family as-well-as have some quality time with my nieces and nephews.
 
I've been to beaches in many states, in the Caribbean, Europe, and Australia.  I have to say that Nags Head is one of the nicest beaches that I ever ever been to.  I'm looking forward to going back. I'm sure I'll hear the Siren Song of the Ocean again next summer.  Unlike Odysseus of Old, I will more than likely have to answer the call.  The only question is, which beach will I be parking my "dupa" on?



                                                                                    Ghost Crab on the beach at Nags Head
                                                             http://cvas.forumotion.com/t1145-my-other-photography

Rough Road

Life has been a bit rough lately.  My father has been in the hospital for the past six weeks.  It seemed that as soon as the doctors would get one thing situated, another problem would arise.  We nearly lost him at one point.  Finally (knock on wood) it seems like he may be turning the corner and headed back to health.  Let us hope this is the case!

This past week I lost an uncle.  The man died in my arms.  I gave him CPR but it was too little too late.  He had been fighting cancer and had recently had heart surgery.  At 82 and in his weakened condition he just couldn't make it.  The man had lived a pretty good life and was surrounded by those who loved and cared about him.

Both of these situations have made me very contemplative lately. We are here for a period of years.  We do not have a say in as to how many of them.  We share this time with others: family, friends, co-workers, and folks we know to various degrees.  We learn, work, play, enjoy, suffer, love, laugh, create, and more.

This journey down the road is a strange one.  It often seems that we have no idea where the road leads.  Some days the road is smooth and on others it is so very rough.  My travel on the road lately has a bit bumpy to say the least.  My solace has come from family, close friends, and faith.  This may be the best part of the journey...not being alone on it!  I have come to the realization that I am an extremely lucky man.  I have wonderful special people with me on this journey who love, care, and support me.  The accept me as I am and allow me to be me.

I hope these special folks understand I am there for them on their journey as well.  I hope my father and my uncle know/knew that.  I hope that to some degree I have helped them along the rough road.  I hope I made their journeys a little better.  I hope they know that I have enjoyed my time traveling along the road with them!

Vraksian Traitor Militia

I finished a set of Vraksian Renegade Militia the other day.  The bodies are Warzone Imperials, the heads come from Wargames Factory Shock Troopers.  The weapons were a hodge-podge from various bitz I had in a box. (The one's pictures only have Warzone Imperial weapons).  Here are few of them shown clashing with some Shock Troopers (representing Krieg Death Korps).  The Vraksians turned out to be ok.  Not my best effort to date.

Side note:  Returned to the Hofbrauhaus a few weeks back.  Had the Dunkel Bourbon Burger and a Marzen draft.  The very best meal I have had in quite some time!!!!  Es war gut, ja!!!!

Large Mouse Kills Han Solo

I just read online that Disney plans to release one Star Wars movie per year for the next who knows how many years.  I'm a Star Wars fan.  Not a "I-know-everything-about-Star Wars-fan", but a fan.  Like many, I had hoped for more Star Wars films.  But, this seems to me to be totally ridiculous!  Too much of anything is never good (like the Superman movies for example).  I'm not going to lie, I'll go to see the first one that Disney puts out.  I just hope big time that the"House of Mouse" doesn't kill what has been a really good thing.  SOOOOO my fellow Jedi, may the force be with us and with a little luck may this will all turn out to be pretty cool!  If not, the whole thing could end up one major Jar Jar Binks (if ya know what I mean)!

Totally Psyched

I came across a few items which I was totally psyched about the other day while surfing the net.  The first is a new line of miniatures from Prodos Games.  They are putting out Mutant Chronicles Warzone Resurrection miniatures.  The stuff looks terrific and I can't wait to get my hands on some.  I got the Prince August 80 pack of Warzone Mutant Chronicles minis awhile back and am still putting some together.  Very pumped about this!  Check them out  here:  Mutant Chronicle Miniatures

I am a big fan of Judge Dredd.  Mongoose Publishing is putting out a Judge Dredd miniatures game.  It looks like it will have expansion packs as well.  This has to go on my Christmas list with the gazillion other miniatures related items!  Here is the link if you want to check it out:  Judge Dredd  While they are at it, I would really love if they put out a new Starship Troopers line again!

The last thing that I saw and was majorly taken with was the WH 40K Dark Vengeance set.  Dark Angels vs. Chaos Forces...who couldn't love this?!  Gotta put this on the "I need to hit the lottery to have it" list for now.  The price tag is just a little too rich for me.  Having said that, you do get a lot of figures for the money.  See for yourself:  Dark Vengeance

With limited funds and a growing number of sets still needing to be assembled and painted, I think getting any of these items in the near future is unlikely...but a man can have his dreams can't he?!