Neverending Nights

Today, I would like to say I am thankful for Patsy Freese.

Pat Freese is none other than Adam’s mother. Both her, and her husband (Adam’s father, for those confused on how family structure works) – Grayson – are some of the most incredible down to Earth people you could ever hope to meet. One of my favorite memories of Adam’s mother is – when she first met me she was slightly scared of me. Granted, at the time she first met me, I had long, dark, brown hair to the middle of my back and I was wearing a trench coat. (Silent Bob anyone?) It was many weeks later when she confessed to me that when she first saw me, I made her nervous, because she thought I was some psycho. (It’s always those good first impressions, you know!) But then she said she discovered, I was perhaps the nicest, scariest looking person she’s ever met in her life. (I still can’t tell if that’s a compliment or not…)

Both Pat and Grayson welcomed me into their home on Christmas – and let me tell you, no one does Christmas like Pat and Grayson. They get their own giant sized tree. It’s covered – and I mean – COVERED with Disney decorations. They have a model of Disneyland that they’re building onto – that is an amazing replica of Disneyland. When I see them, I see what I want to be. So loving, welcoming, so spirited, and caring, and still so youthful and down to Earth. They’re what I think every relationship should aspire to be like. Not only do they love each other, their kids (as difficult as they can be sometimes!) – but also, their friends.

Every year, especially around Christmas, because that’s when I think of them the most – even if I don’t get to see them – they’re in my mind and heart – and I am thankful and blessed by what they’ve added to my life.

Pat, who voiced the Evil Crimson Mother (ironic that she thought I was evil, and I wrote her character as evil, eh?) first appeared in Episode Thirty Eight: Mandatory Flashbacks – but my favorite Episode with her is Episode 42: Oh Mother Dearest – which was the final episode of Season 2.

My next thanks has to go to perhaps my first “Work Wife” – none other than Jamie King.

I met Jamie King at my previous job, where we both worked as techs. Now it isn’t very common (though it’s becoming more common these days) that there’s a female tech who goes out and fixes computers. But that’s what Jamie did! She and I worked together all the time and became very close. Jamie has one of the most incredible hearts you could ever get to know. If you saw her – you might not think so – because she’s definitely a woman who looks like she could hold her own with the best of them. But behind that tough exterior is this really warm heart, who almost ALWAYS thinks of others long before she thinks of herself.

During the time we worked together, we’d go to lunch and discuss our various lives, what was going on, and always just being there for one another with words of wisdom, or just a shoulder to lean or an ear to listen (or scream at – depending on the situation). She shares my obsession of enjoying Halloween to the max – for her, it’s about winning the Halloween contests (where as for me, it’s about being able to dress up as a pirate – AGAIN!) Speaking of me and pirates – Jamie once bought me this “put it together with paper cut out” pirate ship things that was for like ages 5 and up – and I somehow got stumped and couldn’t finish it. (I just recently took it all apart to start over; if work wasn’t so busy, currently, anyway! Imagine! Work making me work!) She just recently bought me a Make It Yourself Pirate Ship In A Bottle, too! (I think she may be trying to rush my insanity with these things I have trouble putting together!)

She and I fell out of touch, shortly after she got pregnant. Her life became extremely busy – but just recently, she returned to work, and we got to meet up again for lunch! It was so wonderful seeing her again and being able to hang out, catch up, and just talk.

I absolutely love Jamie. She’s an incredible person with an amazing heart, and so much love to give. She’s also a mother to Chance (who is like 15 feet tall these days), as well as two, new younger additions: Garrett and Conner.

How fitting, considering the pirate things that Jamie got me – that she made her first appearance in Episode 33: There Be Pirates!

Season 2 would have never been the same without him.

Travis Richards (sometimes credited as “Travis Smith” – long story!) – was worked to the bone – and for free. Travis approached me through email, saying he was a fan of the series. (What? We have fans? How come no one told me this?) We batted some emails back and forth – and before I knew it, Travis had offered to do music for us for Season 2. I was not about to turn down Travis’ offer for some additional music.

Travis took the Original “Neverending Nights” theme and completely enhanced it. It was mind blowing what he had done with a tune that was a few simple guitar plucks – and turned it into real music. It took a lot of people to get used to what Travis produced. A lot of people said they enjoyed the simplicity of the original tune (as it went with the simplicity of the series – Hey – wait a minute, is that an insult?) Anyway – Travis continued to relentless produce music for us throughout the series. I gave him free reign to create the music. I gave very brief, simple descriptions of what was coming up in the various episodes – and let him handle what he did best – the music. Time after time after time – Travis delivered incredible music. His music, whether it was for intros or endings, or just ambient music for the episodes truly helped Neverending Nights stand out more – and gave each episode quite a bit more “Umph!” to them.

I have yet to meet Travis in person, but I am hoping to one day meet him – and thank him in person – for everything he’s done for the series.

Travis played a surprise character in Episode 42. But rather than show off just that episode, I figured I’d share the Season 2 Playlist and Season 3 Playlist on Youtube.

Thank again Travis for giving so much more life to Neverending Nights, and spending all the time that you did making our series very special to me.

Travis is now doing his own series – also using the NWN engine called The Dark Tide. He has graciously included me as a special guest character in his series – as a pirate! So check that out!

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.