Greetings from the Massachusetts lock down! I hope all of you are safe and that soon life will be returning back to normal for us all. If you have lost a loved one, a friend, or a job, or just been stressed out, my thoughts and prayers with all of you. This will eventually pass.
I have not been doing much on the blogging front except trying to keep up with others’ posts. At the beginning of April, the projections for death in the US were for 100,000 to 200,000 if we were lucky and did everything correctly in terms of mitigation. Frankly, that floored me and I went into a bit of a focus on the news, keeping up with my family (Mom and daughter/granddaughter). My Mom is on her own, and I worry about her. My daughter lives nearby and has taken walks with our 3 year-old granddaughter so we have gotten at least to see them. It kills us not to hug them both, but as my daughter works in a cancer radiation treatment clinic at a hospital in Worcester, we have painfully practiced “social distancing” during these brief but welcome visits. Of course there is communication via phone and Facetime, but it’s not the same.
The death toll has been mercifully less, but still very bad. Here in the US, as of this writing there have been over 48,000 US deaths, and approaching a million cases. In Massachusetts the surge/peak is coming up – and we have had 42,000 cases and nearly 2,000 deaths. I know that all of you are dealing with this and it’s horrible. I have some strong opinions on this, but I don’t want to get too political on my blog. My thoughts could be summarized by the article here.
My wife has been home on paid leave, but who know what will happen on this front. I have still been looking for a job, but with millions of Americans out of work and the understandable difficulties with interviewing – I have been staying home. I did fly to Virginia on March 9-10 for a face-to-face interview – which was an eerie experience. By the end of the week, everything was shutting down and we were in lockdown. And then the job did not come through.
Needless to say, tabletop wargaming is at a halt – and golf is impossible as all the courses are closed as nonessential.
I kept busy researching and working on a supplement for Buck Surdu’s upcoming game of Feudal Patrol™ – basically a new game similar to his Combat Patrol™ WWII card-based gaming system. It will cover the pike and shot era and earlier. My project was based on the Spanish Conquest of the 15th Century – so Aztecs, Maya, Inca, Tlaxcalans, Mixtec/Zapotecs, and of course Conquistadores. This has been on my “bucket list” – and I will share some more of that in future posts – but it did consume a lot of time (which I had to spare). I started painting Aztecs as well – but more on that later as well.
By the way, Buck redesigned his website – and it is an incredible free resource for unit organization and equipment for WWII. Here is an example.
Also, besides watching the news and the business channel, I watched TV, played cards (a rummy type game) with my wife, and did the grocery and pharmacy shopping. Thankfully I have a respirator that I use when I airbrush – so I wore that on these infrequent trips out of the house. It reminded me of my Army days with the old M17 gas mask.
I have a treadmill, and that helps with exercise too.
Earlier this month maenoferren22 at Bogenwald posted a challenge to share the view out the front window. I’ve enjoyed looking at others – so I thought I’d join in. It took a bit longer for me to get involved – as we are in early spring and it’s been cold and rainy. So. here’s some shots of my East Brookfield, MA home from inside and outside.
That’s it. Oh yeah, I do also listen to a couple of podcasts. Many of you know IRO (imperialrebelork). Along with his buddy Big Waz in Australia – he has The Fly on The Wall Podcast. He also just started a nice hobby podcast named, Imperial Rebel Ork podcast. I enjoy both – and TFOTW has been around a year now. Helps to get over the pandemic a little bit.
Here is my little promotion pic, with my Australian-descended friend, Caesar (who is 26 years old now).
Stay safe and more to come, I’m back!
Mark A. Morin 
Brilliant pics, Mark, so thanks for sharing! 🙂 At least you can have a feeling of space around you! And nice to see Caesar’s OK there! Hope you all stay well!
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Same to you John, amazing though how the days fly by. Glad you liked this little view of New England.
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Awesome views
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You could easily practice your longbow 😁
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Well I could ifI could draw the thing 😂
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Ducks and Canada Geese beware
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Only if I poke them with the end.
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Nice post Mark and like others have said great pictures of your lovely home. I was lucky enough to go to New England in the fall way back before we had the kids and fell in love with the area. I have been lucky to travel a fare bit but found very few places I would like to live given the chance. New England was one such place. As for the virus? Difficult times but like you we will get through it and I firmly believe, managed properly, the world could be a better place futher down the line. One things for sure, we aren’t ever going back to how things were. Stay safe and best wishes to you and yours.
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Cheers Dave! Maybe someday you’ll make it back here someday and we can have some beers!
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I love your house, Mark! Looks like you live in a beautiful area. I hope you’re keeping well 👍
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Thanks Steve, same to you!
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Man, you colonials, with all your space and your fancy scenery… You could fit a whole damn Limey street into your yard!! :-))
Stay safe and well mate, this too shall pass.
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LOL – I was just thinking how small his yard is, but then remembered he was living a city in East Mass. I’d happily trade my 5-acres in the South for a cozy acre back up north!
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The only way I have of getting a couple of acres is by getting whacked in the balls 😂
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Not in February you wouldn’t Eric! I’m about 12 miles out of Worcester. We had 120” of snow in three weeks a few years back!
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Cheers Alex! My property is only half an acre I think, but the views are great!
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What a lovely house and scenery you have there Mark, amazing group of wildlife to watch as well. Stay safe and well and hope the job front improves for you
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Thanks Dave, very kind. Was fun to share with everyone and to see all the views. The job will come if it’s meant to be. Wishing the best to you and yours.
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OK I now hate you as much as I hate IRO!! that is a beautiful house with a gorgeous view, over in the UK a pond is usually about 6 feet by 6 if you are lucky! and a few goldfish probably the most exotic wildlife you get in it!
I could take a pic out the front and back of my house but I’d need a macro lens to do it!
It’s interesting how these gaming blogs, most of which were set up to keep us painting, have evolved over the last few weeks into a online support community of sorts, with not just gaming being talked about but anything and everything.
Glad you are keeping safe, and the very best of luck with the job hunting once this is all over, and it will be over at some point!
Cheers Roger.
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Cheers Roger! It’s a pretty small house (about 1700 square feet not including the cellar). Mud Pond is no more than 3-5 feet deep, and it does have a beaver lodge you can see. I do love the view. Would still love to see your place!
Agree totally with you on the support community point you made. All friends/mates from afar, but still remarkably close.
Thanks for the job encouragement. Not sure what the future holds, but sure I’ll be fine.
All the best Roger!
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Aww shucks man, thanks for the shout out. I’m glad you like the T too. Love the house mate and nice big yard too. No fences? I look forward to seeing the Aztecs. Stay safe buddy.
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No worries and glad you liked the view. Love the shirt!
My yard is pretty small – just right sized for us. No fences, but I have been tempted to reduce varmint raiding of the wife’s garden, but it’s minor. You stay safe too.
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I’ve just got my hands on an Imperial Rebel Ork T-Shirt hehe
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👍👍👍👍👍
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Thanks for the pics. Exotic is certainly a relative concept, it looks pretty magical to me.
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Cheers Dave!
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Great photos Mark ,neat house, and I just love the you describe that large expanse water as a pond ,over here we would call it a lake !a pond here is just like Rodger says 6×6! Keep healthy mate ,hopefully it will pass soon enough.
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Cheers Pat! The difference between a lake and a pond gets muddied here I think! Stay safe we need more Dios from ya!
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You are right mate , what the English call a river we would call a creek ! And you will be happy to know I’m going to post the Desert dio today , just waiting for some sun to get some shots !😎
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Looking forward to that! Got to be near 60 F today for the first time, though we won’t see leaves until later in May.
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Ha , it’s 62 here as well , suns come out so I’m right to go 🤓
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Looks a lovely place to live Mark. Take care of yourself and your family.
Cheers,
Pete.
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Cheers Pete, same to you.
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Great photos, Mark – and I have to echo what the others have said – your place looks both lovely and also very grand from the perspective of what a typical place here looks like. Huge house and yards – looks like one hgalf of your front yard woul dbe bigger than my front and back ones combined! “)
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Thanks Az, though the concept of my little 1700 sq foot house being huge is quite different to me. My plot is less than .25 acres, but the views are great. My wife had wanted a newer house (read bigger) but we are still here! Most new houses would be between 2,500 and 3,000 square feet – so I’m definitely smaller. And there’s a beer (or two) waiting for you here.
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