the past catching up – Brad Fortier

This could have been me…

Had I made a few choices differently, but only a very few. Don’t walk, but RUN to see this. It is hilarious and fascinating.

Childhood, Kung Fu and Epiphany

On a whim, I began netflixing the old TV series “Kung Fu” with David Carradine. As I’ve been ticking off the seasons and the episodes, they all had this feeling of familiarity. Then it dawned on me that I used to watch it all the time when I was like 7 or 8. As KwaiContinue reading “Childhood, Kung Fu and Epiphany”

Old Poetry

The ForgeAnd in it’s dreamsIt heard a roarA bellows beckoningThe roar of a forgeAnd when at dawnIt did awakeIt saw the seaThe sea forging stone. Its full of starsLooking upwardSeeing sky awashWith starsAwe and possibilityDancing in the blacknessBetween scattered sparklesThen eyes dropBack to earthA gaze acrossStill watersThere againA depth of starsThe reflection deepensSomething hintsWhat isContinue reading “Old Poetry”

A Tribute to Gary Gygax: Father of Dungeons and Dragons

It was 1982 when I was introduced to Dungeons and Dragons at Camp Longhorn when I was in Boy Scouts. My friend Brian was my first Dungeonmaster (this was a year before I learned what BDSM was from Oui magazine). The game was a revelation for a pubescent boy. It was a world where youContinue reading “A Tribute to Gary Gygax: Father of Dungeons and Dragons”

When online quizzes get it right.

I Am A: Neutral Good Human Druid (6th Level) Ability Scores: Strength-15 Dexterity-15 Constitution-15 Intelligence-15 Wisdom-16 Charisma-15 Alignment:Neutral Good A neutral good character does the best that a good person can do. He is devoted to helping others. He works with kings and magistrates but does not feel beholden to them. Neutral good is theContinue reading “When online quizzes get it right.”

On being a Jet-setter.

So Monday I drove up to Toronto to see the Catch 23 show (competitive improv with three teams that get 23 minutes over 4 rounds). I stopped at Niagara Falls for a quick lunch. I arrived at Kurt Smeaton’s place where Taz VanRassell was hanging out and Kevin Gillese soon arrived. Kurt runs Catch23. IContinue reading “On being a Jet-setter.”

Cowboy Limbo

So I was stuck in Pendleton, OR (Home of the “Round Up”, the world’s fourth largest rodeo) over the 4th of July. It’s about 200 miles east of Portland up in the high desert. There’s a short in the wiring of my truck somewhere that won’t let me get more than 30 miles from anywhere. Continue reading “Cowboy Limbo”

Seattle Int’l Improv Fest

So I was part of the Seattle Int’l Fest this year. Usually this festival is challenging, fun, and even sublime in the caliber of work that comes out onstage. It also usually has a fairly even spread of Europeans and Canadians to Americans. That wasn’t the case this year. I did have a great timeContinue reading “Seattle Int’l Improv Fest”

Brad’s first marriage

So my good friend Tim, whom I’ve been friends with since 1981, is marrying his fiancee, Virginia. For this reason, I got ordained by the Universal Life Church to officiate their wedding. Tim and I grew up together in Wisconsin. We met in catholic grade school, played AD&D throughout high school, and hung out andContinue reading “Brad’s first marriage”

I had forgotten

Dan and his fiance are expecting a child. All has gone well so far, I’ve laughed a lot, and I’ve been reminded of some doozy stories. Like the one where I cleared out Mrs. Kuhn’s junior Psychology class because of a terrible fart. Mrs. Kuhn actually took the time to say from her podium beforeContinue reading “I had forgotten”