Edward Petrilak 1946-2025
Ed is near the top of the list of the most interesting people I have ever known. The depth and breadth of his knowledge of history humbled me but he never let it humiliate me. He had about a million stories to tell , including the one about how he and is brother happened upon the Darjeeling opium depot. You damn sure can’t do something like that in Douglasville, Georgia.
We first met at our local game store, where he taught me the importance of infantry support in a tank action. After that we started playing at his house, where there was a larger table and more gaming stuff than you can shake a stick at.
Cathy absolutely loved him. They met when I brought him to the house after a game to pick up his car. She was hanging out with a few friends when he walked in the living room; six foot four, beat up clothes, ancient sandals and a head full of hair that hadn’t seen a pair of scissors in the best part of a year. I was standing a few feet behind him, waiting for something funny to happen. It didn’t take long. As soon as he walked in the room the conversation stopped. When he asked the lovely ladies in attendance who called for the stripper it was like love at first sight. He took us out to dinner at an Indian restaurant he liked and Cathy was super impressed that he spoke Hindi like a native, though not so much at his native table manners.
Ed would never say that I was his Friend. Very few received that distinction and I’m OK that I wasn’t one of them. He treated me with respect when I deserved it and compassion when I needed it. I could never tell the difference.
So long Ed. I’m sure when you get to meet the Brahma you’ll have a lot to talk about.
All righty then
I had surgery this past Monday. I t was everything I thought It would-be. There was pain, of course, as well as a really uncomfortable sling.
Cathy has been doing everything for me; I really can’t thank her enough but I’m not going to let that stop me from trying.
I have been taking oxycodone for pain and confusion wish me luck
Short and sweet.
Yesterday sucked pretty hard, no doubt. I was fortunate that it was Wednesday, so relief from my sadness was close at hand. Short story shorter, Miss Lucy won her first match yesterday, so now I’m 9-1. There was no coaching, no advice, no do-overs, no bullshit. She beat me fair and square. The smile on her face made me want to cry. So now it’s on.
There you go, Riv, Feeling better?
New to Me Music
Here’s another great Playing for Change, but Not Busking, song.
Right around the 3:07 mark a beautiful Maori woman will appear. Listen to her sing. Be sure to listen to the rest of the video as well, it’s awesome.
Thanks for looking
The Continuing Adventures of Ms. Lucy Butterworth
So, you gonna move that thing or just shake it at me?
I haven’t played a game with her in some time, but Ms. Lucy is always on the go. The latest thing I have heard is that she and her daughter, Laura, are rescuing paintings from the toxic, muddy ruins of Asheville’s River Arts District. They have rescued over a hundred canvases, about half of which have been cleaned up and returned to the artists.
Ms. Lucy is a different kind of person and I feel very lucky to have her in my life. Thanks for looking.
“Look up here, I’m in Heaven” Remembering David Bowie on the day of his Passing
I like to talk. Some say I’m good at it, others say I do it too much. After watching this video with Cathy, for the first and only time, I didn’t utter a word for the rest of the day. Watch and see why.
Still no words.
Appreciating David Bowie on his Birthday
David Bowie- Original oil on canvas by Katie Turk, Cathy Nines collection , our living room.
I was aware of David Bowie when I was in my teens, but didn’t really understand his genius until I met Cathy.
I was an absolute beginner at love when I met Cathy. Not at sex, I knew plenty about that, but most of the “Love” I had experienced was more like exploitation, wanting something but never caring all that much for what I wanted. Love was dangerous. The hurt and disappointment that came at its end had crushed me over and over until I began to wonder why I even bothered. Cathy came into my life and brought me the answer, along with a prodigious stack of Bowie records. This was our wedding song.
We can be heroes, just for one day. This day.
For some time, I thought myself in a bit of an enviable position to be just finding out about all the great stuff you never hear on the radio. For her last birthday, I found Cathy a copy of Bowie in Prokofiev’s “Peter and the wolf” RCA red label on green vinyl. Gifts like this are getting harder to find.
No particular reason, just a real good song. Thanks for looking and I hope you enjoyed the music.
Hit it, Steve! (This one’s easy.)
Glad That’s Over…
…May be the most written title on WP today. On a separate note:
If I had my way, John Denver would be celebrating his eightieth birthday with his family and friends, and maybe a couple of tasty guitars. I will always be sad to have lost him.
In honor of my friend on his big day, I think a couple of minutes of summer in the middle of the winter would be just right.
There you go. Sweet, right? Now let’s all go out back and piss on this dumpster fire of a year and move on. Thanks for looking.
The Terrible Idealist 