Dispatches from Darksyde

So I spent the mid day driving my parents around to a couple of appointments they had. I am currently parked in my old broken 2006 equinox without ac. I am in a pretty park at least. It is pretty hit out today. As I sit here in the heat it reminds me of a couple of stories I think I want to share with you.

Feels like 101 is pretty hot but I remember a time I almost got myself shot for being a “spooky scary crazy jungle spirit” … I shit you not you can’t make stuff like this up.

So we were in Thailand doing a training exercise in the middle of nowhere jungle. I was the boss at the time, but my guys worked with me not for me. I would like to say looking back that they had a respect for my experience, and I trusted them with my life (not a small part because I trained them). I did however pull rank on nights when the dead middle of the night was 110 on the thermometer with 95% humidity. I took my jungle hammock and wander off and let them figure out the radio watches. “It’s good to be the king” ~Mel Brooks

I maybe should have started with the fact that I spent 8 years in the Marine Corps. At the time I was a Sergeant. So one of the newish guy was on watch and a bit spooked I guess. In his defense, this was a training exercise, but we were in the middle of the jungle. Mostly controlled by warlords, and tigers and panthers to say the least are not uncommon. That doesn’t even get into the poisonous and not poisonous creepy crawlers. But he was a bit more afraid this night in a ghost tale he had heard from some locals a few days before we came to this moist hell. About will-o-whisps. They called them something else, but they are small balls of light that sometimes look like fireballs but tiny.

So here is Tony Draftsman. A good kid maybe 19. On watch in the vehicle that is under camo netting with his loaded weapon and a bit on edge because panthers, and tigers, and wisps oh my! He sees a small fire floating in the darkness bouncing toward him from the depths of the jungle. A faint whistle on the air, some jaunty tune. He watches it in cold terror! He checks his pistol, then grabs the rifle checking that too. Then he bravely pops out of the webbing camouflage nets to challenge this spirit brandishing the rifle almost steadily, and then politely but firmly challenged the spirit and asked it to halt and be recognized.

Let’s change perspective. I set my hammock up well before dark. Then I settled in with a good book. And of course I had Cuban cigars and Mekong whiskey in the couple 12 1/8ths. So here I am a bit toasted can’t sleep and finish my book (it was one of the W.E.B. Griffin novels, I don’t remember which), so of course I go to bug whoever is on watch. In my silky underroos shorts and boots, smoking a fat Cuban cigar, sipping out of the current bottle of whiskey. I had brought 2 more to share as well as a deck of cards. And as I weave through the jungle to not disturb webs larger than I am tall (6’), I think I have to be close. Where did we park that damned truck? Then a couple of noises I was familiar with happened in quick succession. A pistol and rifle chambered rounds and I hear Tony’s strong Italian accented voice challenge me. “Halt and be recognized. What is today’s color?” Now I nearly shit myself in the second before I heard Tony. I do have my pistol in a shoulder rig cause just not prudent to wander the jungle unable to defend yourself.

As you may guess that was awkward but pretty funny in retrospect. Sitting in the car in the heat hoping for a breeze of the lake as I think back to that time in the jungle. This isn’t that hot. Not even close.

I hope you are enjoying my ramblings, and if you have stuck it out this long I applaud and appreciate you. 🙏 Namaste. This heat reminds me of another adventure I had as well, but I’m going to save that for another post. If you all have feed back or want to hear more of something hit me up in the comments. Be well. Laugh a little, and cry a little. You are worth it. Yes you. Also don’t shoot fire fairies at night. They bring booze and smoking herbs.

I had my first acupuncture appointment at the VA today. The Dr that is doing it at the facility in Worcester is great. He did have kind of kid gloves when explaining or talking about chi, and how acupuncture can be helpful.

Background for a minute. I identify as a Tao-oligist. This simply means to me that I practice and try to live in the way to the best of my ability. I do not celebrate the many religious holidays or specifically worship any of the many “gods” in the traditional Taoist religion. I believe a big part of following the way is the simplicity of focusing on being present. Why muck those practices with religion.

Now back to my new Dr. He seemed to feel that he had to hold back some in describing how and what he does. I wanted to say that he should just own it. He has a doctorate in magic! He uses ancient Chinese healing Magics to open pathways of energy or chi and activate the body’s own healing abilities. Magic! Chiropractor, they align your chakras and meridian lines. Sorcerers! That is all medically acceptable now in the western medical systems. So not even getting into reiki or other energy manipulation wytches.

This brings me to sitting in a zero grav lounger in the basement with co-pilot Dakota, listening to blues without words, and meditating on the miracles that surround us constantly.

The strange curiosity that is the things that bring us small joys. The bite of pineapple as you eat it and it eats you a little back. The bristles of rough hair on the back of my dogs scruff as I pet her. The way the music makes you feel and move with it inside your feels. All the way out to the nothing in between everything.

This part bores Dakota. I think it is amazing that the thing space between my cells is the same empty space between things that are swirling around the rings of Saturn right now, or touching those beautiful nebula that have circled the Internet recently. And the amazing crazy minute odds of any specific life existing, but I see the spider next to me, I hear the dog snore.

Then is usually when I bring myself back to reality and realize there are universes all around. Enjoy the music and the herb and the good company.

Thank you for listening to my ramble. 🙏 Namaste 🙏

Hello void. How loud do I need to scream into you to get a reaction? Welcome all! I am Ted, and I am a strange creature. I am 41 years old and happily married with 2 adorable fur babies that you might call a dog, but we know are a “great american black raptor” and “pygmy-moose-a-saurus”. I live in New England. I like it here. I have traveled the world and decided to come back here!

I am a veteran. I served 8 years in the Marine Corps from 98-06. I am 100% service connected disabled from combined broken parts, which definitely include my head. My biggest ailments are PTSD (combat related), Meniere’s Disease, and I have severe lower back issues and recently had my 3rd spinal fusion. I have multiple mobility aids I use regularly that include but not limited to: cane, walker, forearm crutches, hiking poles, and a custom manual wheelchair. This all said, I get around pretty ok and enjoy a good walk or adventure as long as I can move at my own pace.

I have many interests. I plan on this being a scream into the void blog without specific direction to begin with anyways. We will see how it goes. Most of my major interests, which will most likely be blogged about at some point are philosophy, mental health awareness, spirituality, Warhammer 40k, modeling and painting miniature models, canvas landscape painting, Magic: the Gathering alter art, medical and recreational cannabis, politics, and dumpster fires of all other sorts.

I am also currently building a gaming room where I can crawl away to with friends and be rowdy with enough space to play what we want, without disturbing the rest of the house. I will get at least an intro post on some if not most of these topics early so you can see some stuff I am talking about.

I would love to say I have great goals for this space, but I don’t. I am going to use it as an outlet to talk about whatever the day needs. That may be pretty pictures, or it may be how our government is taking away basic human rights from women and the queer community.

I am a Taoist. I spend a lot of time meditating. It doesn’t make me a super hero or sorcerer or anything fun like that. It does however allow me to get through my day to day while minimizing the harm that I do to myself and those I interact with.

I think this will do for now. I will come back tomorrow with something hopefully interesting for you to read. Until then, namaste. 🙏

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