WHERE YOU BEEN FAT BOY?

Hillbillies vs Hicks vs Rednecks

One of the questions I've been asked quite often has been "What is the difference between hillbillies, hicks and rednecks?"

I suspect that the answer will vary depending on who is asked.

One answer was given by Jack who is starring in some of the videos below:

"Rednecks farm, hicks collect trash and hillbillies marry family."  (Meaning brothers marry their sisters, etc.)

From Brian the answer we get is:

"Hillbillies are born, rednecks are by choice.  Hicks exist everywhere - there are so many different types."


And from my friend Kevin, who is a hick, he says it's regional as to which someone is.  See 'Cooler Corn' videos below.



BIT OF CONVERSATION

Seth P. and I were talking:

Logan:  "My parents had some of their friends over.  They told me to be 'charming'.
Seth P (laughing):  "Do they know who you are?"
Logan:  "They really don't."



Welcome to the world

And, once you're in it:

NERO STORY

In NERO, it seems that lots of people want to 'become nobility'.  Usually, this is a sign of 'raging ego'.  They like other players bowing and scraping.  I've never been into this.   The only reason I made Lumsie any sort of nobility was it fit into the story.  Because it was 'from another dimension', it was rarely taken at all seriously.  So I'm at the NERO event and the head of the Bloodguard (can't remember his name, I called him 'the Captain') had pretty much taken over NERO Nebraska.  He stopped by with all of his players and said "Bow to Lumsie!"  They all did.  I was feeling pretty awkward and uncomfortable till I looked over at Derek Jones (playing Blizzard) who had a WTF look on his face.  That made it all worthwhile.



WHERE YOU BEEN FAT BOY?

Apologizes to the readers of this blog for not posting much during "Logan's Home Invasion".

While in the USA, I didn't do 'tourist things'.  I met up with a lot of very cool, kind individuals.  Honestly, my interactions with them were of huge interest to me - but not so much to people who don't know them.  Also, since I'm in their homes, didn't want to breech their privacy with my 'unique' reporting style.  It felt good to take a vacation from my...er...vacation?  Lifestyle?

And now, the thank yous...

Thanks to the trip coordinators within each state for working their asses off coordinating stays and rides.

A heartfelt thank you for all of the people I stayed with who provided time, effort, food, alcohol, cigarettes and in some cases even paid for my NERO events.  They went so far above and beyond the call of duty - or even common hospitality - that it blows my mind.  My favorite activity was sitting around and getting to know you all better.

Thanks to the NERO chapters who comped my events and to those who made me feel at home.  Although I really don't 'play' NERO any more, the chance to meet up with other NERO players, tell stories, train, and, in the few cases where the plot teams had any flexibility, to get people involved with a 'Lumsie story' was a lot of fun.

For those who don't know what a 'Lumsie story' is:  It's been over a decade (?) since I've played NERO.  For some unknown reason, stories involving Lumsie (my character at NERO) are still going round the campfire.  It is weird being a celebrity - even in such a limited way.  For those who don't know what NERO is, it is a LARP.

Almost everyone I stayed with is a NERO player.  When you get involved with NERO, it is joining a new family.  A huge, strange, dysfunctional and at times incestuous family - but a good family nonetheless.  It's a family I'm proud to be in.

PS:  If I missed anyone in my thank you's, let me plead pre-Alzheimer's.



FOOD WITHIN AMERICA

Warning to my readers not from 'Merica.

The food there doesn't do you any favors.

It's very good going in...  But...

I don't know if it's that it is all 'Frankenfood' but it was worse on me than street vendor food in NW India.  Considering that I ate either homemade or small non-fast food restaurant food exclusively, this is alarming.



STRANGE STUFF

It's very strange to be a world traveler.  This is so far outside of many people's lives they just can't really grasp it.  Or don't care.  Honestly, I expected to be quizzed a lot more about my travels than I was.  Instead, many conversations went like this:

Host:  "So, you're a world traveler."
Logan:  "Yes."
Host:  "I have a cat named Tibbles."

And we talk about their cat.  Very odd.



HEADED TO GUATEMALA

I flew on Spirit Air.  For some reason, they wanted 'proof of onward transport'.  This is not required by the countries I'm visiting.  I suspect it has something to do with the OCD displayed by air carriers.  Beware of it and have a fake ticket prepared.

Since wiki was full of scary shit about Guatemala, I decided to first visit the protect tourist place of Antigua Guatemala (Old Guatemala).   From the airport, it was only 80Q (about 10 USD) for a nice shuttle ride.  Passing through the capital, there seemed to be nothing of interest other than poverty and desperation.

It is more expensive in Antigua Guatemala but it should provide a good way to settle back into traveling.  The hotel room I've got seems fine though I may have discovered what I call 'fun and games' (aka shenanigans) being done by the hotel to charge extra money not on the bill.  Got to check it out.  If so, I'll move and put up an unfavorable review of 'Posada Juma Ocag'.  We'll see how it goes.

Haven't seen anything in 'Antigua' that seems to be a reason for tourists to come here.  Very baffling.  Perhaps it is a center point for exploring Guatemala.  Not sure.  Hell, there don't seem to be many tourists around.  Much less than say Kathmandu.   What they do have is a lot of guards and police armed with pistol gripped, pump action shot guns and wary looks as well as bars on every window.

Yippie ki yay.



VIDEOS

Beach
Magic Show
Cookout
Cookout 2 - the reckoning
Mini-house
Torturing Children
Tonia the Tour Guide
Unfriendly Plant
Tonia the Musician
Tonia the Witch
Whose Momma's little...
Cooler Corn 1 & 2 (yes, it was delicious)
Call Her Boo
Real Juggling

FOUR DAYS TILL LEAVING SE ASIA

NARRATIVE

Still hanging around Cambodia eating Mexican food.  In about four days unless everything goes to hell a plane should be winging me rapidly toward Istanbul.   Since enough of this town has been seen to  be ignored, books have been read and a pretty awful free MMORPG called 'Crystal Saga' have been my only indulgences.

It will be nice to return to the Republic of Georgia.



SHOE STORY

Since making the extremely minimal effort at health known as 'walking around', shoes have begun to be demolished as rapidly as cheesecakes in times past.  Not only have my Czech walking shoes moved into the irreparable category but yet another pair of sandals has been lost.

Only the left shoe of the sandals seems to get destroyed.  Apparently left handed is indeed left footed as forensics has taught and the strain upon the primary foot greater.  This has ruined yet another left sandal.   Should it have been the right, perhaps mismatched sandals could have been added to patched and sewn shorts and - regrettably - tee-shirts.

Asia has become synonymous with a vast over abundance of shoe stores.   Should all shoe stores be forced to close and give their stock without charge to the inhabitants of the country, every person would be ten pair of shoes to the better.

Sadly the fashion of these shoes is regrettably Asian.  Shoes made by the same culture that thinks multicolored lights within a mouse which twinkle incessantly does not make the sort of unobtrusive goods I prefer.  Not being a teenage girl nor redneck, these sorts of overenthusiastic products are made to attract attention.

Better if my shoes made no sort of statement than quiet and competent.  Gaudiness pulls attention from where I'd prefer it - my face and my words just as the  overenthusiastic mouse draws attention from the computer screen with it's needless incessant carnival light show.

Knowing that any pair of sandals I purchased with the shoddy workmanship endemic to Asia will perish within a couple months, I went for low price and managed to ruthlessly bargain a poor lady down to $10.  Given that I may have been her only customer for the day it eludes me how she and others are able to keep their stalls open.




BOOK REVIEWS

John Keegan, "Winston Churchill - A Life".

Long have I had an abiding interest in Winston Churchill.  Arguably the greatest Englishman ever and certainly one of the most determined people to have lived.  Long conversations chiding my friend Matt Lunn that he wasn't nearly as cool as Winston Churchill come to mind.  His retort that I wasn't all that cool fell of deaf ears as I wasn't even English.

Reading this book helped dispel some of the illusions about W.S.  He was a great man - but a deeply flawed.  He was extremely smart but prone to many poor choices.

Overall, an excellent book.  It was detailed without becoming dull.  Unlike some of the other biographies of W.S. I've read this one kept things moving along at a fast enough clip you could listen to it without either nodding off or slitting your wrists.



Stephen Fry "Moab is My Washpot"

Prior to listening to this, I only had three thoughts on Stephen Fry:

1.  He is a 'treasure of England'.  This is the guy whose sonorous voice did the wildly money generating 'Harry Potter' audio books.  And, he just seems to be a 'treasure of England' though I'm sure that many people - including Stephen Fry - may disagree with that.

2.  He is a very smart person.  I've seen him on QI - 'Quite Interesting'.  I know that they feed him a lot of the answers and such via an ear piece, but this guy strikes me as very smart indeed.

3.  He is funny and has been in several comedy TV shows and movies.

After listening to the first twenty years of his life in autobiographical terms, my opinion of him is the same as of Winston Churchill after listening to a biography of him.  Both men are deeply flawed individuals, very human and it would be very nice to know them personally.  They are interesting people.

As to the book itself, Mr. Fry is very easy to listen to.  Much of what he says is interesting though he goes off onto huge tangents and a bit of rambling.  Since it is his autobiography, I feel he is allowed to do so.  Glad I heard it though it won't become something like the Discworld  series that I like to listen to again after a period of time has passed.


The Fry Chronicles - an Autobiography

This book picks up where 'Moab' leaves off and covers the next decade.

Although it is an interesting look into the rapid catapulting into fame, it wasn't as endearing as Moab.  Also, he makes  quick reference to many names, businesses, products and such that - not being English - I've never heard of.  For his countrymen, these probably bring a quick whiff of memory.  For foreigners, they become tedious lists of no consequence to the overall narrative.

Interesting but not as poignant as Moab.


Stuff White People Like


Currently listening to the book "Stuff White People Like".  As the philosopher Homer Simpson once said "It's funny because it's true."

They even covered an experience I've noted earlier in my blog about how upset other white people get when they are traveling abroad, in an obscure place and spot a fat white guy lounging around.  Since this destroys both their 'unique experience' as well as the 'authenticity' and they no longer feel like some sort of explorer, they become sad and upset.

Wack jobs.

The book itself is ironic and humorous.  Reading it immediately brings to mind many people who are white and middle class I know.  Disturbingly, I myself have done many of the things listed there.

More disturbingly, various directors and such listed are completely unfamiliar.

I don't feel like I am being a good white person.  I didn't even get a liberal arts degree.

I recommend this audio book.



LUMSIE STORIES (NERO LARP)

Lumsie loved the undead. Being a necromancer was great. Story: I was up at a chapter in Canada. It was dark and foggy out and all of the PC's were hiding in their cabins. "What's up?" Oh, I was told, there are loads of undead out there. We're going to stay in here till the morning. "Bugger that." So Lumsie wanders out of the warded cabin. Immediately two death knights jump out of the shadows. "Take me to your leader, beotches!" One is into it, the other makes lots of threats. I am taken to the leader. He rants about how it is his town, everyone is his subjects and he will crush everyone. Including me. Then, he asks who I am. "Brother Lumsie!" The guy playing the NPC and the NPC himself were both of one mind at this point. "Oh my god!" He gushes. "I have always wanted to meet you!" Big hand shakes and back slapping all around. Lumsie points to one of the death knights. "He was mean to me." Glower and a growled "I will deal with him...later..." The death knight shifted uneasily. I was then taken on a tour of the town and given armed death knight escort back to my cabin when tired. Upon gaining entry "Were you OK?" "Yeah", I responded. "Pretty quiet out there..."

Lumsie was hanging out in the woods.  There were half dozen ogres wandering around throwing up.  Their blood had apparently been tainted.  Tempest (Seth Warfield) wandered up and screeched in the high pitched dragon voice "Lumsie!  What happened?"  Lumsie, looking panicked said "Plague!  Real sudden like!  Best I should go!" and scurried off.  Tempest glared after Lumsie grunting "Uh huh..."


Big I'm not sure but one that comes to mind:  Lumsie has undead for parents.  'Not consorting' is simply not able to be done as it would be 'rude'.  So, it is Lumsie's birthday, Oct 31.

There were only a few people in the tavern.  Lumsie's mother (played by Amy L) - a very nasty vampire - swoops into the tavern with several minions.  Everything stops.  The people who are there are either unwilling or unable to take on this level of Fa King undead.  Plus, to do so might start a really nasty interplanular war.  They just sit, riveted to their seats.

Amy had baked me a chocolate cake.

It got very 'upper class English' after that.  "Lumsie are you being good?"  "Yes mummy!" and so on.

She would alternatively threaten and speak at the other people in the tavern.  Whenever she had her back turned, I stuffed as much of the chocolate cake into my mouth as possible.  When she looked back, sit up straight and attentive - with huge chunks of chocolate cake falling out of my mouth.

She utterly failed to notice - by design is my guess since my face looked like I'd eaten out a chocolate golem.

"Yes mummy!" I'd say in stereotypical upper crust English to whatever question she had or statement she made then back to the face stuffing.

The thing I remember most about that whole scene was the frozen looks on the witnesses faces, halfway between humor and horror.  It was a nice birthday for Lumsie.

Ramblings of An Old Man - Lumsie book

Back when I was playing NERO I had a character who wrote a trilogy consisting of four books. Yes, he was that kind of character.

Because some people have asked for the books I am going to put them here in my blog so that we can keep them around - well, for as long as the blog isn't deleted anyway.

I'm not sure how much you'll get out of these if you aren't into roleplaying games, LARP's and that sort of thing. If you're not into it, that's all good - skip any entries with 'Lumsie Book' in them in the blog. There are only four books and I'm not playing NERO any more so you won't be assailed unsuspectingly by more in the future.

There will be a total of four blog posts with this information on - one for each book for cleaner access.

Note that sadly the original difficult to read fonts didn't survive being brought into this blog. Very sad. Much easier to read - but still very sad.

I'd also like to thank Derek and Julie Jones who had these on their hard drive and were kind enough to send them over.

Keeping Your Skeletons Their Whitest - Lumsie book

Back when I was playing NERO I had a character who wrote a trilogy consisting of four books. Yes, he was that kind of character.

Because some people have asked for the books I am going to put them here in my blog so that we can keep them around - well, for as long as the blog isn't deleted anyway.

I'm not sure how much you'll get out of these if you aren't into roleplaying games, LARP's and that sort of thing. If you're not into it, that's all good - skip any entries with 'Lumsie Book' in them in the blog. There are only four books and I'm not playing NERO any more so you won't be assailed unsuspectingly by more in the future.

There will be a total of four blog posts with this information on - one for each book for cleaner access.

Note that sadly the original difficult to read fonts didn't survive being brought into this blog. Very sad. Much easier to read - but still very sad.

I'd also like to thank Derek and Julie Jones who had these on their hard drive and were kind enough to send them over.

Book of Tactics - Lumsie book

Back when I was playing NERO I had a character who wrote a trilogy consisting of four books. Yes, he was that kind of character.

Because some people have asked for the books I am going to put them here in my blog so that we can keep them around - well, for as long as the blog isn't deleted anyway.

I'm not sure how much you'll get out of these if you aren't into roleplaying games, LARP's and that sort of thing. If you're not into it, that's all good - skip any entries with 'Lumsie Book' in them in the blog. There are only four books and I'm not playing NERO any more so you won't be assailed unsuspectingly by more in the future.

There will be a total of four blog posts with this information on - one for each book for cleaner access.

Note that sadly the original difficult to read fonts didn't survive being brought into this blog. Very sad. Much easier to read - but still very sad.

I'd also like to thank Derek and Julie Jones who had these on their hard drive and were kind enough to send them over.

Book of Everything - Lumsie Book

Back when I was playing NERO I had a character who wrote a trilogy consisting of four books. Yes, he was that kind of character.

Because some people have asked for the books I am going to put them here in my blog so that we can keep them around - well, for as long as the blog isn't deleted anyway.

I'm not sure how much you'll get out of these if you aren't into roleplaying games, LARP's and that sort of thing. If you're not into it, that's all good - skip any entries with 'Lumsie Book' in them in the blog. There are only four books and I'm not playing NERO any more so you won't be assailed unsuspectingly by more in the future.

There will be a total of four blog posts with this information on - one for each book for cleaner access.

Note that sadly the original difficult to read fonts didn't survive being brought into this blog. Very sad. Much easier to read - but still very sad.

I'd also like to thank Derek and Julie Jones who had these on their hard drive and were kind enough to send them over.