BarretWallace

My son was fortunate enough to have only the last 3 months of his senior year of high school (class of 2020) screwed up by the onset of the pandemic. He is self-directed enough that it was rarely a problem. His school had also read the tea leaves and had been working on a distance learning program for some time, so they weren't caught as off-guard as they might have been otherwise. Easily the hardest part of the whole thing was missing his friends. Zoom and related online tools rose to the challenge of managing assignments, but there was just no substitute for mingling with his classmates. His school did a food drive in May. While masking and distancing protocols were in place, it was crystal clear that faculty and students alike rejoiced in actually seeing each other. I ache for the Class of 2021, who are missing out on big parts of their whole senior year. I can only imagine what it's like for younger kids too.

Seems appropriate given the chilly weather we're having here now. 🙂

I too am encouraged by the change of tone with the new administration...but praying that the light at the end of the tunnel is not an oncoming train. [ducks a punch]

I have no words. Rest in peace, Mr. Plummer. https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/05/entertainment/christopher-plummer/index.html

Eh...that doesn't bother me so much as saying "yes" instead of "ooooooooohhhh yaaaaaaaaa." 😁

Hey, awesome to have Minnesotans on the board! I'm in Oakdale, not terribly far from the former Carmike Cinema. I have drifted somewhat away from Hero System in general, as my current circle of gamer friends favors D&D 5E, FFG Star Wars, and board games. I still have fond memories of Hero though, and maybe some day can join a regular crew again.

I've been on the forum for years, and just now found this intro thread. Eh...might as well answer it. Handle/forum name: I am a huge fan of Final Fantasy 7, and Barret is my favorite character. "Barretwallace" is also cooler than "ercarlson1974," my original handle. First tabletop RPG as a player: Basic D&D, late 1980s First tabletop RPG as a GM: West End Star wars, early-mid 1990s Current games: No RPGs, sadly, but am doing a play-by-email game of 18OE. I'm also playing a few computer games including Civilization IV.

Somehow issues always mean more to me when they affect someone I know. Admittedly, I have never met any of you in person and likely never will, but despite a rough edge here and there, the denizens of this board are a crew I'd want to hang out with. Duke, I am sorry to hear the news, and I pray/hope/best-wish that your family makes it through this with minimal issues.

"Here lies Captain Tony Taracino. Died in bed, never knew her name."

Destruction of Alderaan

Also, one can drink tea at work, and Jack Daniel's looks just like tea....

Well put, sir. There is no single "right" option, only a lot of options that suck to varying degree. I offer my prayers/best wishes/whatever you prefer for your great-niece's welfare, and the welfare of all front-line workers. On a quasi-selfish note, my baby sister and her hubby are both teachers. I think they just got their first doses of vaccine. Not to denigrate anyone else's sacrifice, but in my own mind, I can always appreciate a crisis more if I can put names and faces on it.

It's easier to see the proverbial speck in the other's eye vs. remove the log from one's own, I reckon.

"The Two Towers" audio book, narrated by Robert Inglis

Xenomorph!

Mr. Pool should be forced to work in a Covid ward for a few weeks, but that's just me. It just might open his eyes a little. Then again, medical staff have enough plagues to deal with that maybe adding Pool isn't worth it.

You ain't kidding. Any one of the things you just wrote about could prove overwhelming. You faced all of them and still have the strength to write about it, which makes you one tough gal in my book. I do hope that 2021 is better to you, and if I come up with any better words, maybe I'll put 'em here too.

I'm guessing that "herd immunity" will include a major thinning of the herd through sheer stupidity. I just don't understand humanity...maybe we've been too comfortable for too long and no longer have a collective understanding of sacrifice for the greater good.

We'll follow the old man wherever he wants to go Long as he wants to go opposite to the foe We'll stay with the old man wherever he wants to stay Long as he stays away from the battle's fray Because we love him, we love him Especially when he keeps us on the ball And we'll tell the kiddies we answered duty's call With the grandest son of a soldier of them all

For me, it pains me greatly to think of close friends and relatives who remain rabid Trump supporters, even after repeated data (indulging my inner scientist) showing his complete lack of regard for humanity beyond himself. I have at least one relative who is a rabid Covid denier, and will likely remain that way until it breaches their bubble--and perhaps even that would not be enough to break them of being a Trump zombie. Yeah, zombies...I can't think of a better word to describe people who support Trump in spite of his hard work to convince us how unworthy he is to hold office.

You had me at "whiskey." I've been sampling some locally-made whiskeys lately. It's amazing how many distilleries are located in and near the Twin Cities. Each year my friendly local liquor store also does a single-barrel purchase, bottles it, and uses the proceeds to support a local veterans' memorial park. Hmm, maybe conversations like this explain why so many whiskey ads show up in my Facebook feed. To get somewhat on topic, in 2016 I had the privilege of participating in the Michigan International Camporee (MIC). Our campsite held our Michigan host unit, our Minnesota boys, a unit from Honduras, and a unit from Essex, England. I had an interesting discussion with one of the English kids regarding who had it worse: them for Brexit, or us for the prospect of a Donald Trump presidency. I know who "won" that discussion, and there is not enough whiskey in the world to dull the pain.

Ugh...I'm guessing that was a necessary contractor visit, but still...ugh. I hope they recover fully and quickly.

This weekend the virus struck close to home, so to speak. One of the "kids" (I call them that even though they're adult and moved out) tested positive, and is in rough shape but recovering. My mother in law likewise tested positive; I'm a little more worried about her due to age (but will never say that to her face because she'd kick my @$$). Thankfully, my better half and I both tested negative. We've both been careful with virus precautions (masking, no unnecessary trips, keeping a tight bubble, etc.) and consider our negative tests to be a good sign that our habits are working. On a quasi-selfish note, it also means we probably aren't the vector for the "kids" or mother in law. We're also taking this as a sign that it's not yet time to ease up on our safety precautions. Neither of us plans to go anywhere for Christmas gatherings, which sucks, but we are putting some aspects of life on pause, not stopping them. I am fortunate to work in an environment that facilitates virus precautions (private cubicle, private lab space, ready availability of PPE and cleansing products, strict masking and distancing rules, etc.).

I call this good news! It's a plus to have some continuity of key personnel through the pandemic.

I seem to recall Dr. McCoy saying in Star Trek IV, "It's a miracle these people ever made it out of the 20th Century!" Now we just need to navigate the 21st...or heck, just 2020 for that matter.