E Chu Ta!
I always wondered what that droid said to Threepio, but in the end I realized it doesn’t really matter what he said and it can be as filthy as anyone wants it to be. And… well… here we are, keeping BMS classy. 😉 You can see part 2 of this strip over on Top Web Comics, or else you’ll have to wait until Monday. Things are about to get a whole lot worse for Threepio. Please try to save your comments on the TWC voting incentive strip until Monday’s blog update. No spoilers that way. 🙂
Today, as I have nothing pre-planned to write about, I’m going to tell you about my life as a movie, based on real events. Inspired by my TERRIBLE day at work yesterday.
As a hopeless romantic, I took the leap to follow my heart 17,000 miles around the world to marry my best friend. If my life was a movie, I must be on the the sequel because things feel very Empire Strikes Backsy right now.
Although happily married at the end of the first film with such promise ahead, the central character got trapped in a deadly combination of job from hell, a mortgage right before the collapse of the housing market, and degenerative disc disease that has become increasingly debilitating. It was a dark time for the Rod Alliance, so to speak. Mum was hospitalized for a week back in NZ and my dad’s health forces him to have routine hospital treatments as well. Then along comes the Empire in the form of two abusive, left-field attacks from my superiors at work. It seems like I escaped Hoth (my last awful job) only to end up clinging to the communications antenna at the bottom of Cloud City for dear life.The question is, what form will my Millennium Falcon take when it comes to carry me away and into the final chapter of my trilogy. IF the Falcon even shows up. Does that mean that a friend who betrayed me will be one of the people to rescue me from my desperate plight? And if I’m yet to meet Jabba the Hutt I’m really worried based on current candidates. *shudder* Maybe I should just let go! 😉
Leanne and I are Southern Marylanders, here on the East Coast of the USA (I am specifying for all our international readers). If there are any semi-rich or affluent readers out there who would like to employ me for my creative skills, or simply my conscientious, protective qualities as a humanistic individual who can help with some project of any nature, please get in touch with me. I can do extensive photo retouching as well, by the way. If everyone finds their ancestral family photos and pays me to fix ’em then maybe I’ll be in business. Right now I’m doing nothing of the kind and I’m going out of my mind to find a way out. I said it to a colleague earlier, I’m a nice guy who worries and does his best to help others. Some places just don’t appreciate that and it is an unhealthy environment. It’s so hard finding a job in my region that actually fits my talents and my personal qualities. So go ask your parents if they’d pay to have a good guy fix up their photos. I’m your man.
As always, it is a long shot, but I am seeking a rich benefactor to foster those world enriching qualities of mine currently squandered in the basement of an abusive and unethical DC business. Although this blog post will undoubtedly change little, musing over my desperation in such a metaphorical way has actually proven somewhat therapeutic. So as far as my life as a movie goes, if I get to the Ewoks, I’ll be sure to let you know what form they take!
–EDIT– I forgot to mention that I have to have surgery again next Tuesday for my degenerative disc issues that the surgery in January has not alleviated. It’s called a Cervical Facet Block. If that doesn’t work they will destroy the nerves to numb me to the pain permanently. This still leaves me with my arm and hand radial pain, flare ups, cramps, aches and burning. So, I’m serious about looking for options as I can’t deal with my present job and all this at the same time. It’s a head-desk situation at the moment and I suddenly realize that when Luke was clinging to that antenna he probably could have cared less about the beautiful sunset around him.
I always wondered if the costume used was the same one as the Protocol Droid seen briefly on the Tantive IV.
Are we ever going to see more “Once Upon a Super Hero”?
You are making it increasingly hard to re-watch the original trilogy without having to re-imagine every scene. 😉
Keep clinging on, the Falcon will surely show up, don’t worry.
Nice work.
Remember how Luke reached out to Ben, then when that didn’t work, tried ringing up Leia, who go the message and rushed to the rescue? He was probably going to run down his entire list of contacts as he hung there, until he got through to someone. So, keep at it and never quit! Yeah, that’s all I got. Good luck!
PHIL!!!!
….
TOM!!!!
….
JERRY!!!!
….
*sigh*
For what it’s worth, message received!
Red 3 Standing by…
I too would LOVE TO SEE more, “Once Upon a Super Hero”
You tell me what you need done and I will cover your wing.
I think it’s time for an Indidgogo/Kickstarter campaign.
My friend, I learned a long time ago that the great people of this world always end up riding off into the Naboo sunset happily ever after. One day at a time. You will have yours soon.
As for your pain, I had what you are about to have. It didn’t help me, made me worse even but I was born with degenerative disease and didn’t find out until I was 30. You are young and healthy. It isn’t a perfect operation but it can help. I do agree however that a second opinion is always a great idea. It is your body, not the doctors. I am not you so I will not insult you by saying I know how you feel. But I will say this. Chronic pain is like Darth & the Emperor all rolled into one with a sudden five minutes of Jar Jar Binks thrown in for spite. It can be a very depressing time. Stay strong, keep your wonderful humor and spit into the wind & dare it to come back.
Reading over what I just wrote proves that it is past time for my meds.
He thinks the C2, C3 and C4 discs are getting worse. The fusion I had performed was to C5 and C6, but the pain has always been worse at the top of my neck especially at the greater ocipital (sp?) nerve. I hope I have more luck than you, my friend. Otherwise they’ll have to destroy the nerves and that doesn’t sound pleasant for the immediate weeks after. I’m wishing you all the best with your own pain and hope that this week’s BMS strips bring a smile to your face. 🙂
Good luck with the surgery next week, and I hope things start looking up for you soon.
Next week’s strip is hysterical!
Of course BMS would spoof my favorite line of dialogue in the OT. In fact, this is an insult hurled between my husband and I often.
Take care Rod – and heal fast.
Check out http://corp.aol.com/careers. I know AOL and its various properties like Huffington Post and Patch employ a lot of folks to do photo editing and other media work for all their websites, and they have a large presence in the DC area. I have a friend who works on the AOL.com homepage team, and he says they’re always looking for people to work on the artistic side of things…
Thanks! I checked them out. They don’t have anything listed right now, but I will keep an eye on them!
Woo! Read through the whole archive in a few hours. Awesome work!
That’s a lot of reading! We must have hooked you. 🙂
Glutton!
Rod, I truly sympathise. I have been into the depths of despair with my work-life. So disappointed. I also find that pain from the neck down the shoulder, arm and hands – and the hot and cold burning sensations – makes it even more depressing and demoralising. The fact that the work that we don’t enjoy is even damaging us physically is an extra kick in the teeth. My physio says the arthritis of the neck is due to the ageing process. What an uplifting little nugget of info that is!
I found a few years ago that when I did similar work for a more charitable organisation I actually enjoyed it more. Also, when I’m less tense the pain lessens.
Anyway, best of luck to you it’s a rough time for you and your mum and dad.
John
Dear Rod,
I have a friend, here in Gosport, England, who has degenerative disk disease and is surviving on just pain medication, without anyone suggesting any operations. At least you’ve been offered/ had two. I continue to pray for healing for you both.