Tag Archives: crankyoldguy.com

The Final Friday Filler – So Many to Thank!

Thank Grog It’s the Last Firday!

It’s not easy to step away from something that has been a part of your life for almost 8 years. I mean, that’s like 50 years in Internet Time! In all honesty, I already have a sense of relief, along with a smattering of “OMG!!! What have I done?” But, a smattering at my age, lasts about as long as it takes to book a tee time online.

In the end, it isn’t really about the game.  Not by a long shot.  It is about the community that grew from the game, and the relationships that will last well beyond the “final tap.”  There are TONS of people…real people…with whom I have become friends, who are longtime supporters of what we tried to do here. 

I have my detractors. It’s going to happen in a world divided in so many ways by politics, religion, social causes, and doing what’s right, even in the face of criticism. But, the fact is, I’ve never cared much about “keeping everyone happy.” The result was predictable. I have my “true fans,” as well as a handful of bona-fide “Patric Haters.”  I take the good with the bad.

This is complicated by the fact that we all play a game (some far more than others) that is silly, by any measurement.  But, we all know that. If you do something for 8 years of your life, and find yourself defending it to friends and family, you really do need to take a look at your motivations. 

But, as I have said repeatedly, my motivations for continuing to play, write and battle, have little to do with the game, and far more to do with the community. 

And, it is that network of friends that will get the rest of my attention in this final post. 

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TGIF- Of Cheaters, Lockdowns and Mask

Thank Grog It’s Firday!

Although…Firday doesn’t feel a whole lot different than Mernday. So much for retirement.  All of my “casual clients” in my “semi-retirement” mode, have all been in a state of crazy PIVOT mode…along with all of my volunteer work, and more Zoom hours than any human should have to endure.  I have a zillion balls in the air…and they are all on fire.

I found the last bit of this update, horribly ironic.  There is nothing like a dialogue about cheating in baseball, when we are being cheated OUT of baseball!  One of the things I loved the most about Baseball, was the lack of overt cheating (spitballs and corked bats don’t count).  But, like so many other things…technology has sullied the game I once loved.

Of course the bit about the Isotopes was a thinly veiled reference to the horrendous Astros scandal.  It was funny…mostly… But, it made me think of so many other cheaters in the world. 
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Friday Filler – Video Extra – The TP Solution

OK…so it appears that many are suffering out there, from a lack of perspective, humor, and real solutions to real problems.

Well… I HAVE THE SOLUTION to our Current Toilet Paper Shortage! 
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Friday Filler- Finding Normal in the New Normal

Thank Grog Its Firday!

I suppose there is some mild comfort and relief from the fact that EA dropped “something to do,” on players stuck at home with “nothing to do.”  And in light of the way things are going, and the way things are being mandated at every level of government, “Nothing to Do” is going to very much be part of everyday lives for a bit…if not a long bit.

I was actually relieved myself to see something happen in our games.  And although I am rational enough to know that this Mini-update was programmed weeks ago, before the real crazy started, somebody had to make sure it got loaded to the servers, and triggered.

So…maybe Bob, the part-time EA programmer has had to give up his Pizza Delivery job during the shut-down in California, or he is actually like many of us, able to work from home.

Whatever the case…THANKS BOB (and EA).  We can use some distraction from our boredom. Right?

If I am honest, I have to admit that I may in fact be on the “Other Side” as the lines are being drawn over the whole, “THIS IS THE END OF THE WORLD- vs- CALM THE FREAK DOWN! WE’RE OVER-REACTING!!”

And the lines are not more obvious than on Social Media…
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Friday Filler – Navigating The News in TSTO and Life

Thank Grog It’s Firday!

Holyfreakinshirt! If I hear one more person quote another news source, other than THIS new source, I am going to lose it! ?And when I say “lose it,” I’m not talking about the “where’d I put my keys” kinda lose it.

Wait. What? There are different places you can go to get news about TSTO and the Simpsons?  Come on. Really? After all of this time, people actually go anyplace else than here to find out what’s going on?

This isn’t like the big debate over CNN or FOX, or any other traditional news sources (and no...I won’t go there).  It is about getting your TSTO news from any other source, than right here.  Why? Because Alissa cares!!

Wait. It’s not that I DON’T care…it’s just that Alissa cares, way, way, way more than I do. In fact, other than a couple of others who appear to have gone completely off the rails, (and yes, I am still just talking about TSTO) there is only one reliable, regular, obsessively up-to-date source of TSTO News around.

And no,  I’m not talking about John.
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Friday Filler – Optimism -VS- Pragmatism

Thank Grog It’s Firday!

Ah…another week of insanity. But, we aren’t going to go there.  The fact is, these days, you can’t even tell where “there” is, let alone actually “go there.”

Like so many things in life, it seems that those who are mostly optimistic have a life that is simply easier, and perhaps even beneficial to living longer. In fact, a recent study published last month, states that  “individuals with greater optimism are more likely to live longer and to achieve exceptional longevity, that is, living to age 85 or older.”

Now, THAT’S an optimistic view of optimism.

I would argue, that if one isn’t pragmatic, there is a good chance that one may not live to be 85, because you may be inclined to do something stupid, that cuts your life short. But, the experts don’t seem to agree. I’m guessing the experts are all women. Which I’ll get to in a minute…

This battle between the “glass half full” and “the glass needs to be washed” crew here at TSTO Addicts became evident once again, as Safi, Alissa and I gave our opinions about the “Future of the Game” during our Addicts Live taping (which airs Tomorrow, Live on Video).

I do wish that I had the capacity to be more of a “Bliss Ninny,” in life.  I think I WOULD be happier if I could ignore most of what goes on around me. But, I’m not. So I can’t. And because of that, I am branded as “cranky.”

Where do YOU fall in this debate?  Let’s take a little Pop-Quiz to find out…
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Friday Filler – Sorry…But I’m Going There!

Thank Grog It’s Firday!

Man…another one of “those weeks,” when trying to keep track of time, and the time space continuum, and how to make more time, when you have too much to do.

It got weird this week, in that we recorded an “Addicts Live,” on Tuesday. But, we had to kind of pretend it was Saturday.  Which was weird enough.  But, at the very same time, Wookiee and his amazing spousal unit Heather were getting induced, to bring their newest family member into the world.  An amazing new son, who was “early,” but still cranked up the scales at 9 pounds!  So, being early, during a broadcast that was early, but airing later, and not being able to talk about it, almost broke my head!

It’s an amazing little family we have here.  It’s absolutely crazy that I first met Joe (Wookiee) and Alissa just a little over six years ago. Six years…damn. That is a long time to do anything, much less blog about a game that nobody thought would still be around. That breaks my head.

I love them. They are like kids, or nieces and nephews, or something(somehow I fit the “crazy uncle” better than a Dad for them). And Safi has been a wonderful addition…his “Ying” to my “Yang (although if you watch “Live” tomorrow, Safi goes DARK!).

I’ve now “been back to Addicts” for twice as long as I was gone. We don’t really talk about “the unpleasantness,” these days. It’s kind of like the South losing the Civil War. It happened. We are over it. Mostly.

Of course, as much as I love her, there is one thing about writing for this site, with “Alissa’s Rules,” that makes me a bit nuts. And yes…I’m going to “Go There.”
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