Neverending Nights

I still remember the first time I met Jeremy Dean.

He was very quite, reserved, to himself – but it was at a Christmas get together at Adam (and his then wife, Brandi’s) place. And the reason that Jeremy stuck out (other than not knowing him way back then) – but the fact that he was thoughtful enough to get Amiee and I a present. It was a box of candy. Nothing too crazy – but the fact that he even thought that far through to think, “There’s some new people I don’t know – I am going to make sure and bring them a little something.” Absolutely blew me away. By then, my faith in the Human Race in general was already pretty low. (Sorry fellow Humans, it’s just how I feel – and the daily news does little to encourage me to believe otherwise).

Back in the day, when we would do get together type events – we always invited Jeremy. He was just one of those down right, very cool guys. However, there was a joke back then, when he couldn’t attend some of the events because of “errands” he had to run – we always joked that Jeremy was a hit-man/assassin of some kind, because he was always very mysterious about things. I’ve had some great times hanging out with Jeremy! (Some of my favorite D&D memories center around things Jeremy did with his character – “Magic lock? I hit it as hard as I can with my magic axe.” “Yeah, that’s me stepping away from Jeremy’s character…”)

Over the years, life being what it is, Jeremy and I have drifted apart. Happens when you get older. (So, all you kids who wish you were older – trust me, you’re going to be wishing you were younger again, and lived under easier times!) I happened to run into Jeremy at my local comic store (shout out to my peeps at Southern California Comics) – and we ended up hanging out again that day pretty much all day and night – just catching up on each others lives. We have hung out a few times after that, but my life seems so utterly chaotic and busy that I don’t always have the time to do what I want (sometimes, that includes breathing!)

So I wanted to thank Jeremy for being such an incredibly person, since day one of knowing him.

His first appearance on Neverending Nights is Episode 21 – but he only had one line. So instead, I wanted to share Episode 22: This Is ‘Dragon’ On Too Long.

I wish I could remember how – and exactly when – I met the next set of people I am thankful for, and their part in Neverending Nights and my life.

The next set of people would be none other than Mario and his wife, Bethany, Garcia. I know I met them both through Adam – but for the life of me, I can’t remember when or how. And perhaps, that’s a good thing – because I can’t remember a time where I felt “awkward” in their presence (that time, when you don’t know someone yet – and you’re standing around, rocking back and forth on the back of your heels, trying to think of some conversation so there’s no awkward silence). It seems like, from the moment I met Mario and Bethany (whenever that was), there was always a sense of comfort around them – like I have known them for quite a bit of time – even before I met them. (I am sure I met them through gaming of some kind – more than likely a D&D session or Shadowrun at Adam’s place).

Mario, in Neverending Nights, was originally going to play the role of every single bartender in the series – but when Chad was unable to fulfill the rest of his role as Alan the Astounding, we replaced Alan’s extended role with a new character – Daniel the Destructive. So Mario went from having a small bit part throughout the series, to having a major role at the end of Season 1 and throughout Season 2. I loved working with Mario in the series, because when he asked how the character should be – we said have fun with it – and that’s exactly what he did. He developed Daniel’s personality by making him always ramble, and giving him a very unique voice in the world we had created. Poor Bethany got stuck with playing the role of a “Madame” (a Lady of the Evening Entertainment Kind of Thing!) I am not too sure how thrilled she was at that idea – but she was a trooper and got in the booth and had fun doing it!

Over the years, I got to know Mario and Bethany better – they were around more frequently, and we gamed with them from time to time. Poor Bethany – she’s like my sister. Her and I squabble and tease each other relentlessly! (Usually I end up punched in the arm for most of my comments – I have the bruises to prove it!) But somehow, she keeps coming back for more, and I keep coming back for more! I don’t think I have ever seen Bethany really angry – but I’d feel sorry for the soul at the receiving end of her true wrath! And when the company I was working for did cut backs, and the axe fell on my neck – I landed at Qualcomm where Mario also works. It was here that I think Mario continued to get closer as friends. As it is now, we talk all the time – and shutting us up is usually the problem! I have the sheer pleasure of gaming with Mario every other Monday with him as a DM of the game! (And Mario excels at being a DM! He gives a lot of action and story all combined, so you’re not drowned by one or the other!) He also – just like he did with Daniel the Destructive – gives each character in D&D their own voice (for example when he did the voice of the Treants in the game, he actually spoke like the Ents from Lord of the Rings)! And I can listen (and read) the various stories Mario and his son, Conner, come up with! (Check out, for example, the story of The Chomp on Mario’s site Reality-Break.com. Talk about a kick arse father, husband and friend!

Mario and Bethany are about to expect their second child (literally any day now), but you wouldn’t be able to tell! Bethany still looks like a super model! (See! That’s me being nice! So stop punching my arm!) I love’em both – and the expected child is about to be welcomed into one of the most amazing families ever!

Mario and Bethany both voiced Episode 17: Heroes Bar & Keep.

Sometimes you can find a real friend in a virtual world.

So many years ago – when World of Warcraft was still fairly new to the world, there I was riding on my newly acquired mount – thinking how, me in my awesome Level 52 Night Elf Hunter self, looked pretty awesome cruising around Darnassus, when suddenly I saw someone in the city with our Guild Tag that I had not recognized. Our guild was fairly small (most of us having carried over from the previous MMO, EverQuest). So I assumed it was someone I knew – someone’s alt character – so I walked up and did the emote of slapping them on the rump.

Well, as embarrassingly turned out – it wasn’t someone I knew, nor was it someone’s alt character – but someone newly joined to the Guild. (Talk about making a great impression of other Guild members, right?) Well I ended up talking to her and helping her out with several quests. There’s entirely too many hilarious memories I have with her in World of Warcraft – like falling off the edge of Darnassus (because I was on auto follow) – and several PVP memories of where I flagged myself because someone challenged me. (Including once, seeing the same person who challenged me, walk into Ratchet – and me sending my pet owl to attack them, and pick them off with my bow! And she stood right next to me, and flagged herself and perished, time and time again.

She was willing to follow me into all kinds of mischief and madness in World of Warcraft (and anyone who has played an MMO with me, knows I love my mischief and chaos!)

Her name is Karen Halvorson, and I am glad that I made the “mistake” of slapping her rump in World of Warcraft.

For everyone who has said that you can’t have real friends in a virtual world, Karen would be proof that it is not true. She willingly followed me to my forums on my own site, along with a wild collection of people who somehow tolerated me – and from there, I continued to know her better and better. Like me, she’s a fellow writer. She’s gotten several things published here and there, because she is relentless in her pursuit of writing. She has always been extremely supportive of me and everything that I do. She has helped promote all the wild things that run through my mind.

For someone I have never met, she has been very loving and supportive.

Karen, and one of her sons – Ian – helped lend their voices in Episode 16: Dessert City?

“That reminds me of a story.”

When I first met Poppy, I wasn’t sure if I liked her. (Admittedly, she was pregnant with Hannah and may have been a little cranky) – but my first impression of her was less than pleasing for me. I even remember commenting along the lines of how… “cranky” she was (I am keeping it PC here, for the kids who might be reading this!) If my future self from today, would have jumped back to me back then and said, “One day, that woman is going to be one of the most important women in your life!” I am pretty sure I would have thought my future self was crazy. (Of course, who would I be to question sanity if I was sitting there having a discussion with my future self).

I am not entirely when it happened, the days and years, have all blurred. But at some point, Poppy became a staple figure in my life. At some point, she was more than just a friend. She was someone I loved, and couldn’t imagine my life without. She has been there with me through so many things. (Most importantly when it comes to Christmas Shopping, she volunteers to go with me, despite knowing how much I hate those crowded malls, and my frustration of just not being a good shopper and knowing what to buy for someone!) Honestly, the amount of memories I have of Poppy being a light in my life, would be entirely too long to count – entirely too long to write about. But when I look back at old photos, and there’s images of me laughing, or me smiling, or me happy – Poppy was usually in almost all of those photos. I can’t imagine what my life would be like now, without her in it. Through Poppy, I also have Hannah and Katie, whom I cherish and love as my own.

I love Poppy immensely. I tell her all the time. But it still feels like it’s never enough.

I hope she knows how much I love her. Every day.

Here is where Poppy makes her debut as the (in)famous Salt Vendor (which would lead to the “Pepper flavored Salt” joke later)…

Also, Poppy asked us to be a part of her school final. You can check out Neverending Skewl Daze. (Be sure to read the warning in bright red if there’s any children about, or those with… “sensitive” ears).

For today, I’d like to say thanks to Colette and Jason Cosky, who lent voices to Episode 52: “These Aren’t The Heroes We’re Looking For.”

To say I love Jason and Colette would be a serious understatement. Their daughter Eloise is one of the most enchanting little girls I have ever had the honor of knowing – and watching her grow has been such an amazing experience. I feel so fortunate to be a “part” of the family in this regard, as she grows! They also have an amazing son by the name of Dexter. I have blabbed about him on the webpage, as well as Facebook being a part of Down Right Awesome (and thanks to some amazing people, raising a lot of money for Down Syndrome.

Colette and Jason have always made me feel welcomed in their presence. They have made me feel loved. And taking care of their three fur Children (Emma, Abbey and Bob) when they needed a sitter – it’s never a dull moment!

I love the entire Cosky-Clan and am thankful to have them be a part of my life, and add so much richness to it.

Below is the episode in which they made their first appearance in the series!