Jak Cryton

May 12, 2013

BEDiM 2013 : DAY 12

Jak Cryton

May 12, 2013

(A Blog Every Day in May 2013 Challenge Entry)

Last night was a great time at a friend’s Bday party/BBQ gathering. Played a game called Dixit. I love that game! I will have to purchase my own copy, and maybe an expansion, soon. Though, Cards Against Humanity is the game I want most. That card game is all sorts of wrong. Make sure if you play it that it’s with people that aren’t easily offended. That’s all I have to say on that.

Today’s prompt:

Day 12, Sunday: What do you miss? (a person, a thing, a place, a time of your life...).

Well, technically I feel like this is something I just blogged about during the A to Z challenge. My “N” post on Nostalgia went into some aspects I missed from my childhood.

There are always more things from the past to be reminisced, though...

Moving to the Country

On the way out to to our friend’s soiree, Stonewall Dahl (nickname in progress, but I think she likes it) and I commented a lot about the scenery. This would be in Mound MN, and we passed a lot of lakefront houses — many of which were for sale — as the city itself (or the area) seems to be surrounded by multiple lakes.

I’d only been out there two other times, once at night and the other I think I fell asleep; both times in Winter. Now that the snow has melted and greenery springing to life, I was able to enjoy the beauty of nature on the drive. I remember an exchange between us on the way, where Stonewall commented on the houses and land. Some of the houses looked amazing, and we figured that even the smaller estates would be expensive as hell.

She stated how beautiful the scenery was, at the same moment we were passing what seemed to be a more swampy area and I was thinking how someone could — or already had — hide a body out there. The location, while populated, seems strangely secluded. Maybe this is just because of the abundance of wilderness. Anyway, not to distract from the importance of the terrain and all the beauty it offered, but I couldn’t help but laugh at our different trains of thought.

Hmm... wonder how creepy that comes out? I just have this odd thing of wondering what would happen if discovering a body. Thinking along those lines almost always brings Stephen King’s Stand By Me to mind. Then I wonder why the hell my new writer friends (okay, maybe a select few) seem so against seeing it. I don’t believe I’ve read the novella, but I love the movie! Anyhow, I just think about what would come about from finding one. How would I react? Would I become obsessed with figuring out who they were and what happened to them? Just odd thoughts.

The conversation lead me to memories of my childhood and all the time I spent exploring the woods; both with friends and alone. I love nature. Living closer to the cities now makes it a lot harder to enjoy. There are patches of wildlife here and there, but nothing like the country. While it doesn’t quite compare to the journeys traversing uncharted territory, I also miss just walking around lakes.

Back in high school, woods and fields were our home away from home. They were our battlefields, our forts, our land containing countless unheard of treasures — it was just buried somewhere — our sanctuary from the mundane where our imaginations could roam free.

So all of this made me very nostalgic about those adventures. Once upon a time I was called Nature Boy (okay... this was maybe a self-appointed moniker... I can’t recall), and I would have all sorts of experiences. The more my imagination got out of control, the more exciting.

Perhaps I will share some of those random adventures sometime.

For now, I just thought I would share another piece of the past that I miss. Luckily, this is one aspect that I can bring back into my life at any given moment. Just get up, make a short jaunt out to the country, and have an adventure.

Maybe eat me a lot of peaches along the way.

Have you ever played Dixit or Cards Against Humanity? If so, what are your thoughts on them? Ever have random thoughts of coming across a body somewhere? Have you ever seen Stand By Me? Are you a nature lover, and/or enjoy exploring unfamiliar wilderness?

Jak Cryton

April 16, 2013

A to Z 2013 : NOSTALGIA

Jak Cryton

April 16, 2013

(An A to Z 2013 Challenge Entry)

Childhood. I always remembered the phrase: “as a kid you always want to grow up, but when you do you wish you could be a kid again.” Okay, I’m not completely certain that is exact, but you know what I’m talking about.

Sometimes kids try to grow up too fast. I think some don’t get to fully experience being young, whether by choice or forced (forced makes me think of those children beauty pageants that make me incredibly sick to my stomach). They can’t wait to have this profession or that (usually a cowboy or princess), can’t wait to drive, can’t wait to have a family; the aspirations changing through the years.

I can’t recall if I wanted to grow up fast or not. I know I wanted to be a cowboy, a cop, a private detective, and then a bounty hunter (are you seeing a theme here?). Then dreams of being an artist/writer of comic books and novels came about. I don’t think this meant I wanted to grow up any faster, but like I said I can’t recall my state of mind. My family would, but I haven’t asked them previously.

One thing I do know is that I can’t recall a lot of my childhood; just little blips. I see pictures my relatives will post, and I’ve absolutely no recollection of the event/time frame. We aren’t talking only pictures of when an infant to three years old, but where I seem to be ten or older. Not exactly sure why I can’t remember these events. People have tried to hypothesis a handful of reasons, most usually involving trauma.

Resistance is Futile

A good chunk of what I do remember, however, are times I wish I could revisit/relive. Some of my favorite memories revolve around my creativity. For example, I would make games for my brothers and I to play together. These games could involve paper, cardboard bricks, or whatever else I had access to.

The main building block... to many of these creations were Legos. I would use our coffee table to build an entire street of a town. Sometimes I would enact a movie for them, but other times we would play a game. The game had no real name really (that I recall), and it was a variant of one I made with G.I. Joes (we were all boys, so yeah).

I guess it was called Friday the 13th after the movies, because that was my premise. You had a character and you decided which location/house you wanted to be at in town. I’d then use cards, which were shuffled (every day I’m shufflin’), and lay them out face down in front of the locations. I think I sometimes allowed for a character move now and again, but once everyone was ready I would then flip up the cards one by one. Those that were inside the Lego house marked by a face card died. What killed them? You know... ghosts. It was a haunted Lego city no one moved out of... just moved a lot on the same street.

We all loved playing that game. Even the G.I. Joe version it originated from which used books as “cabins” and an “outhouse” was popular among them; the killing being dished out by a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle-esque Jason Voorhees.

Eventually the games got a bit more complicated; dice were added to the mix. One of my favorite games consisted of constructing a Lego base that was besieged by the Borg (of Star Trek origin, if you weren’t geeky enough). You had a limited amount of space you could move, and if you were engaged by a Borg you would “battle” by rolling the dice. Our characters got 2 or 3 lives before being assimilated. The other characters (I guess Red Shirts by all accounts) would only have one. It all played out like an epic movie. Trust me. I know. I was there!

The Brothers, The Brothers

Through the years, after (and during) all the sibling rivalry/fights, the four of us have gamed together; Magic: the Gathering, board/card games, but mainly video games. Once we all got our own places/families/lives we had a weekly designated Game Night (generally Tuesday evenings). My brothers would come over — their TVs and game systems in tow — and we would spend the entire night gaming together. This was usually the highlight of my week, and I’d like to think it was for them too. If someone couldn’t make it, we would get pretty huffy.

Like with all things losing its appeal, eventually attendance dwindled as life dictated, and eventually we all chose one system (Xbox) to play on. Soon everyone had the internet, were online, and could game together from home. Game Night was reborn!

Again, that too began to flux, to the point where now I may game with one of my brothers every few weeks. This is partly due to the fact that I don’t game as much, and two of my brothers don’t play on Xbox anymore. I’ve just recently made up for it some by seeing those two brothers on Monday’s and playing with them on the horrid PS3. The third brother I see often on Xbox still and we play when able.

I long for a monthly (being weekly may be unrealistic) Game Night where we can all get together and game again. It spawned from our holiday tradition of playing video games at family gatherings — like Thanksgiving — while the rest of the family watched football, and I am a creature of habit.

Touched

What I miss the most, though, is that creativity. I guess it makes sense that I would have aspirations to be a writer; writer’s can create entire worlds, people, etc. A game designer was also high on my list. I even began to create a card game, but eventually almost all of that — along with most of my writing — was lost in multiple hard drive crashes.

I like creating things for people, but mostly for those I love and cherish. Over the last few years, I feel as though I’ve lost that creative spark. I get little surges of inspiration, but I never end up following through and finishing any projects. This is where the lack of motivation comes into play. I never have the lack of ideas, just the lack of drive.

I wish I could channel that ability I had when I was a child growing up. To be continually active in creating new things for myself and those I care about; for the world. For anyone and everyone to enjoy if they saw fit. To see or hear about how something I brought into the world touched someone in a very positive way. Touched their heart.

Even if just producing one more additional smile or laugh in this stream of life.

What did you want to grow up to be as a child? What games would you play with your siblings? Any sibling traditions? What are you most nostalgic about?

Featured In I, Jak

Dec 30, 2022

2 Comments

Hello, Friend

It’s been a long while. I briefly discuss some of this year’s shortcomings, and in doing so, find it’s just more of the same.

Then I attempt to give a more positive spin…

Nov 5, 2021

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Extra Life Game Day 2021

Extra Life Game Day 2021 has arrived! It’s Year 8 for myself and I am looking forward to once again raise money for Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare. Team Cryton Crusaders is ready (kind of) for the annual fundraising event involving a 24-Hour Gaming Marathon! I kept last year’s fun, but likely impossible Milestone to reach!

Learn more about the challenge where my team and I play games and heal kids!

Featured

Dec 12, 2017

102 | TRAILER TUESDAY | 102

Welcome to Trailer Tuesday, a weekly Generation Jak blog series where a multitude of movie, video game, and sometimes even book trailers are highlighted for your viewing pleasure!

This week's Featured Trailers:
Jessica Jones Season 2 - Teaser Trailer | Ready Player One | Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom | Alita: Battle Angel | Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse - Teaser Trailer

Dec 5, 2017

101 | TRAILER TUESDAY | 101

May 30, 2017

A to Z 2017 [FLASH FICTION]: REFLECTIONS

This year's A to Z Challenge is over, but how did I fare with another attempt at producing Flash Fiction and Poetry throughout it all? Did I run into the same complications as last year?

Join me as I reflect on the challenge and the thoughts about my continued participation on Dreams in the Shade of Ink.

Apr 30, 2017

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A to Z 2017: ZACHARIAH

Dreams in the Shade of Ink is back with more Flash Fiction for the A to Z Challenge 2017! Last year my segments throughout April painted a puzzled tapestry of prose and I hope to provide some new, entertaining stories that you'll enjoy!

Come share in my inky dreams full of fiction, sprinkled with poetry!

A to Z 2017 [MAGIC MIXER]: REFLECTIONS

The A to Z Challenge 2017 is over and it's time to reflect on how the event went! There were booster pack openings, there were storylines and mechanics to observe within the world of Magic: The Gathering!

Join me as I discuss the ups and downs of this year's Magic Mixer theme.

A to Z 2017: ZENDIKAR

This year for the A to Z Challenge 2017 Meta MTG presents the Magic Mixer! What's that mean? Your guess is as good as mine... What I do know, however, is that this year's theme is obviously still all about Magic: The Gathering!

Join me as I attempt to highlight a different Magic set each day of the challenge in different ways, from pack openings to discussions about a set's storyline and/or mechanics!

BEDiM 2013 : DAY 12

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