I had a few random things I wanted to share, but didn’t want to bury them at the end of a blog post about ninjas or the new Hobbit trailer.

This is all a bit more serious than my usual posts, but I thought the following were important:

1. Below is a video about John Hales, a video game designer who was injured in an accident and paralyzed from the chest down.  He also happens to be my mom’s second-cousin’s husband, and the father of several awesome children.  I don’t know him personally, and have only met his wife once or twice.  My mom is closer to them, and has been communicating with the wife via Facebook.  Mom asked me to share this and spread the word.  So, here it is:

2. I’ve been reading the Hugo award nominated short stories throughout the web.  The other day I was reading the 2011 winner, Paper Menagerie, on my way to work.

According to i09.com, Paper Menagerie is “The first work of fiction to win all three of SF’s major awards: the Hugo, the Nebula and the World Fantasy Award.”

While I read and watch many things, it is rare I find something so tender, painful, and beautiful that presses at the heart.  I do not typically get teary-eyed watching things, but this brought out those emotions.

You can read it here.

3. Some of you on WordPress may recognize Susan Lindau from her blog “Susan Lindau’s Wild Ride.”  While I don’t typically follow her blog, every now and then, I see a ‘like’ on my blog or others, a thoughtful comment, or a mention of one of her posts.  The other day, I saw a mention that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and had decided to go forward with a double masectomy.

This is a brave, though necessary, choice.

You can follow her inspiring journey here.

4. Another courageous WordPress blogger is also a good personal friend of mine.  She began her blog, Hope For Heather, after being diagnosed with Cowden’s Syndrome.

I have known Heather for at least ten years, if not more.  She is what my family calls ‘one of the other children’, or ‘another Palmer’.  In the time we have known her, she has survived more medical issues than an entire army should have to deal with.  I have watched her through brain surgery, thyroid surgery, and more.

As all WordPress-ians and bloggers know, the blogosphere is typically a friendly place, and she has found a lot of support through it.

If you could check out her blog, and show some support to a good friend and awesome lady, that would be fantastic.

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I suppose the real theme of this post is about family: extended, blogging ,expanded, or immediate.  All of us are family one way or another, even if we agree or disagree with this point or the other.  It’s nice when we can come together, appreciate what we have, and help each other out.

UPDATE: I was contemplating adding a number 5.  Here it is:

5. Happy Father’s Day!

My dad is awesome.

If you follow my blog, you know he was in the hospital a few months ago.  He has since healed, and is doing better.  He is less tired than he was before he entered the hospital, and is more active.

Here are the 2 posts I wrote during that time: Some Adventures Are More Fun To Watch Than To Live, and I Think We Reached A Save Point…

My dad has made a lot of sacrifices to support our family, and always puts aside any recreational choices in favor of fixing things or spending time with the family.  The other day, he drove down to San Diego with my mom and sister for our friend’s wedding (same wedding mentioned in the previous post).  Why would he drive the 4-6 hour trip?  Because, he’s a good dad and the bride is part of the family.

My father is a good man, and I’ve been proud to say that for a long time.

(He’s also easy to cook for on Father’s Day.  We’re having BBQ’d hamburgers, green salad, and chips.)

Here’s a picture of the whole Palmer gang (excluding my sisters Katherine and Natalie, but including my brother-in-law Joseph – who’s also an awesome guy).  My Dad’s the tall guy in the hat, not the dorky guy in the beany.  That would be my brother.

Here’s what we usually look like: