Goober’s Words of Wisdom: an update

Goober has been pretty active during the blog’s enforced hiatus.  Back in April Goober and his friends where the main entertainment at Steamboat Rock’s Easter Egg hunt.  This summer the puppet team opened for Sheltered Reality at the Central Iowa Fair.  We’ve been doing our weekly “helping” Pastor Gary illustrate his Sunday morning sermons.

New Hope Fellowship has taken a struggling urban Waterloo church under her wing.  Starting next week Goober and his friends will be packing everything up and running a Wednesday evening program for the  kids at New Straightway.  Goober will be back at it on Wednesdays at New Hope Fellowship Wednesday September 9 and then again on the 23rd.  He’ll be at New Straightway on September 16 and then on the 30th.

Sunday, however, Goober was helping Pastor Gary illustrate kindness.  Goober, Ricky, and Mickey were building a trap for Hannah.  The boys had out their fishing pole, capture net, bazooka, baseball bat, and pizza to bait the trap.  Pastor Gary looked on wide-eyed as the boys built their trap.

Knowing full well it was probably useless to ask, Pastor Gary asked anyway, “Goober what are doing?”

“Building a trap for Hannah,” was the reply.

After a double-take and a quick survey of Goober’s instruments of torture, Pastor Gary asked Goober if building a trap for Hannah was the best way to illustrate kindness.  Shocked, Goober nodded his head enthusiastically.

“Oh yes, Pastor Gary.  We’re not using the lion as part of the trap.  That way Hannah won’t be torn to shreds.”

Pastor Gary managed to convince Goober, Ricky and Mickey that although, yes, it was nice of them to not include the lion in the trap, building the trap in the first place was not displaying kindness.

Goober’s Words of Wisdom: May 3rd, 2009

This morning, Pastor Gary’s sermon was putting the “Go” back into Gospel.  Taking his sermon from the Great Commission of Mark 16:15, Pastor wanted the congregation to understand that Christ’s words still hold true today.  Goober, of course, focused on the sermon title. 

Goober thought Pastor Gary was going somewhere.  Wanting to be prepared for Pastor Gary’s trip, he brought out his tank, his tractor, his VW, and his mini-van.  He also brought out his alarm clock.  Mickey and Ricky were looking for “All the World” on their map of Iowa.

Pastor Gary was understandably confused about Goober’s collection of toy vehicles and told Goober he did not know where Goober was going with the props.  Goober told Pastor Gary that was what he wanted to know, “Where are we going?”.  Pastor Gary replied, “Goober, I’m not following you.”

“Of course not Pastor Gary, I’m not driving.”

Pastor Gary shook his head.  “No, Goober, why do you have your tank, tractor, toy cars and an alarm clock?”  Goober then explained that because he didn’t know what kind of trip Pastor Gary was taking he was prepared for any kind of trip, military exercise, farming, shopping, vacation.  Pastor Gary sighed, and wanted to know what the alarm clock was for.  Goober explained that the alarm clock was to make sure that everybody got up on time for the trip.

The whole time Pastor Gary and Goober are having this discussion, Ricky and Mickey are calling out city names from the Iowa map.

Goober wanted to know if taking the tank along for spreading the gospel was a good idea because then if people didn’t want to believe Jesus, we could tell them to believe or else.  Pastor told Goober that it didn’t work during The Crusades and it wouldn’t work today either.

The boys decided to then GO and listen to Pastor’s sermon.

Goober’s Words of Wisdom 4-26-09

Today Pastor talked about Peter’s reinstatement as written about in John chapter 21.  His sermon title was “Preparing Peter for Penetecost.”  Goober, Ricky and Mickey figured that Pastor Gary was pulling a Seasame Street.  So Goober and the boys pulled out most of their toys and began handing them to Pastor Gary. 

Pastor Gary did not understand as Goober handed up his piano, a Patton Tank, a pair of pants, pumpkins, pizza boxes, a picture book, a PC, a present, a Plymouth, a pipe, and his pet Peter Rabbit.  When asked by Pastor Gary, Goober looked at the congregation and said “Pastor’s Sermon is brought to you today by the letter ‘P’”.

Pastor and Goober then add-libbed a five minute alliteration that I wish we had taped.

Pastor Gary managed to get the high points of outlined using mainly ‘P’ words.  Goober managed to ask intelligent again using mainly ‘P’ words.  Ricky and Mickey kept interjecting random ‘P’ words.  Ricky kept handing up props and calling the by some ’P' equivalent.

Goober’s Words of Wisdom: 4-19-2009

This morning, Pastor Gary’s sermon came from John 20:24-31, the story of Jesus appearing to Thomas after the Resurrection.  Goober of course heard one line of the sermon and ran with it.

Goober, Ricky, and Mickey formed the “S-Files” branch of the FBI for the investigation of Strange occurences.  They brought along Goober’s PI kit and his laptop and began their investigation.

During the course of the investigation, Ricky determined that it was not all that strange to walk through walls as anyone could do it if they used a door.  Goober declared the case solved and began packing up.

Pastor Gary then reminded the boys that Jesus entered the room through the locked door.  Goober declared that the case was then not solved and ordered Ricky and Mickey to go fingerprint the door.  Happy to be doing something the brothers scampered off.  Goober wondered about climbing in through a window.  After explaining to Goober that it was not a window that Jesus was not bound by the physical laws in his glorified body, Goober wondered how a good man like Jesus would go around breaking laws.  Pastor Gary then told Goober it might be a good idea to listen to the sermon.

Goober’s Words of Wisdom: 4-11-09

Goober and the rest of the One Way Express team journeyed to Steamboat Rock, Iowa for the pre-Easter Egg Hunt puppet show.  First Goober went to where Mapquest said the address was located.  After we ended up in a corn field, got a call from Pastor Gary leading us into the proper place and unloaded everything we were good to go.

Goober,  Rickey, and Mickey hauled out their trusty map of Iowa looking for Rockboat Thingy, Iowa.  After 5 minutes of looking over the map, Pastor Gary managed to convince the boys that they were already there.

 Pastor Gary asked the three if they were ready for the upcoming holiday.  All three indicated they were and went behind the stage to get ready.  They came up wearing green hats and green bow ties and told everybody,”Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!”  The kids in the audience ALL tried to correct the boys.  Crestfallen, they took down their St. Patty’s decorations and came up with hearts and told everyone, “Happy Valentine’s Day.”  Again corrections from the audience.  “Election Day?”, NO! “Labor Day?” NO!!!!!!!!!!!!  The boys got out their Nativity set and said “Christmas!”   No, it’s Easter the kids yelled.

Easter, I know Goober replied that’s the Day Peter Cottontail came out of the tomb and gave eggs and presents to all of Jesus’ disciples.  Choruses of “NO!” from the audience while Pastor Gary shook his head and placed his hand on his forehead.

Pastor Gary then got a chance to share the “correct” version of the Easter story with the kids.  Goober, Ricky and Mickey launched into their own rendition of a classic Easter hymn.

Lo in the Grave Him lay, Jesus my Savior, Buying stuff on E-bay, Jesus my Lord
Up from the grave Him a Lilly, An’ I know it sounds pretty silly, Him’s the Lilly of the Valley, Jesus is His name, And He’ll live forever, With His saints in the rain, Him a Lilly, Him a Lilly, Hallelujah Christ a Lilly.

Pastor Gary and Goober then proceeded to have an argument about whether Jesus arose or whether Jesus a lilly.  The kids in the audience sided with Goober.

Emboldened by the kids agreeing with them the boys went into one of their skits: Master Puppet Theater Presents….

Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat, Where Have You Been?

Goober started the recitation, no cat.  Mickey was unable to buy a cat, due to the fact that e-bay was no longer accepting Pastor Gary’s credit card.  Goober asked for something cute and furry.  Mickey said OK and rustled behind the stage.  He gave Goober the go head because he’d found something furry and cute.  Take 2

Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat where have you been?   Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!  Mickey had found our naughty sheep.  Goober got upset and told Mickey he needed a member of the cat family.  Mickey said OK.  Take 3

Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat where have you been Ro-oaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar!  Mickey had found a lion.  The lion was not happy he had been awakened and he began to chase Goober.

Goober was upset this was NOT what Master Puppet theater was supposed to do.  He asked the kids for another chance.  Master Puppet Theater presents Little Bo Peep

Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep…. nothing…. (Louder) Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep… Mickey pops up.  Where’s Bo Peep? Goober asks.   She couldn’t make it today, Mickey replies, I’m gonna be Bo Pete.  Goober shakes his head and mutters at least it rhymes with sheep.

Little Bo Pete has lost his shee… BAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!   The lamb came in early on his cue.  A five minute chase wild lamb chase ensued.  Mickey was finally victorious.

One of the ‘tweens in the audience was heard to remark, “This is funnier than Saturday morning cartoons.”

Always leave ‘em wanting more.

Role Playing: where my hobbies meet

I have been asked a few questions about other aspects of my blog.  For example who is Goober?  Why Vulcan Stev?  I was writing a reply to these questions and getting ready to tag it as non-rpg blog post when I realized that answers to both of these questions involve RP after a manner of speaking.  It was after this realization that I came to the conclusion that Role Playing is where my various hobbies meet.  The skills I use in my puppeteering and creative writing serve me as player and GM as well and vice-versa.  Thus the rewrite of a simple behind-the-scenes Q&A into a full blown article about RPG skills.

Goober is the lead character for my puppet team.  He is at his core, a Dennis the Menace/Calvin type character.  We don’t use scripts when Goober is on stage as dealing with Goober is a form of free associating role play.  Most of the “skits” involving Goober are based on a one-line riff, with Goober and his straightman verbally sparring with each other building on the last line spoken.  How is puppeteering role playing?  I cannot “do” Goober unless I am physically talking in his voice.  Once I’m doing the voice, Goober comes naturally.

Stev is a character that I write for the Starships of the Third Fleet writing club.  The “Captain” writes a prologue and it is then up to the members to write their mission report.  I’ve been writing Stev off and on for the better part of two decades.  I’ll stare at the prologue and be unable to write unless I’m “in” Stev’s mind so-to-speak.

How do these two completely different pursuits tie-in to becoming a better player and/or GM?  In both instances I am not the one providing the starting spot.  With Goober, I’m usually riffing off of the Pastor’s sermon that morning, or along whatever “theme” we have for that night’s puppet show.  In Stev’s case, the Captain provides the problem and I have to come up with the solution.  Step outside the box for the moment.  What difference other than tropes and semantics, is there between Goober talking about Pastor Gary’s sermon, my writing Stev’s solution, or trying to figure Nevets’ way out of the trap that the DM just described?  Really? there is no difference.  It’s all Improv, different disciplines to be sure.  But in each I need to be quick on my feet.

Now flip the whole thing on it’s head.  When Sergeant Steelflex of SG-21 suddenly wants to question the conductor of the train the team is riding, I need to be able to step into character quickly even if the character wasn’t supposed to do anything beyond collecting the tickets.  I need to quickly find the Conductor’s voice and let my improv skills come to the surface.   I have discovered over the years that I have a very strong talent in building off of another’s foundation.  Every time I exercise my improvisational skills it only improves that talent for use.  The three hobbies build on each other.

My advice for honing your RPG skills is to find something else that stretches your creative thinking.  Creativity is creativity whether its puppets, RPG, writing, drawing, whatever causes you stretch your thinking.  Stretch and excercies your thinking and your RPG skills will improve as well.

Goobers Words of Wisdom: 4-5-09

In celebration of Palm Sunday, Pastor Gary’s sermon was a monologue/skit of Peter’s thoughts from Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gesthemane through his denial and until Jesus forgave him after the resurrection.

Goober, Ricky and Mickey were all set to celebrate Palm Sunday in style.  Ricky got out the chainsaw, Mickey pulled out the battleaxe, and Goober got his toolbox and SUV all ready to go. 

Needless to say Pastor Gary was a little confused.  Dressed in his Peter outfit and needing to continually duck the battleaxe, Pastor Gary asked Goober what was going on.

Goober explained that he and the boys were getting ready to celebrate Palm Sunday by cutting off people’s ears and then going to Florida afterwards.  Pastor Gary did a double take.  Goober then explained very quickly that cutting off people’s ears was in homage to Peter’s act of bravery in defending Jesus.  The toolbox was in case Pastor Gary couldn’t pray the ears back on, then Goober would use his staple gun to put the ears back on.

Pastor Gary, ducking the battleaxe, told Goober and the boys that Peter cutting off Malchus’ ear was not heroic and that Jesus actually scolded Peter for doing it.  After convincing all three that cutting off ears was not a good idea, Pastor Gary finally asked Goober why he had his SUV out.

Goober pulled has patented *sigh* used when Pastor Gary fails to see what Goober thinks is plainly obvious.  Goober then said it was to celebrate the day by bouncing in Florida and obviously they’d need to drive because Pastor Gary couldn’t afford airplane tickets.

“What do you mean, bouncing in Florida?” Pastor Gary asked.  “What does bouncing in Florida have to do with Palm Sunday?”

“Palm Springs, of course,” Goober replied as he, Ricky and Mickey began bouncing off stage.

Goober’s Words of Wisdom: 3-29-09

Pastor Gary continued his sermon series on Jesus’ miracles prior to the passion week.  Today’s sermon was from Matthew 21:29-34, the healing of the blind men.  Goober, Ricky and Mickey figured that Pastor Gary was intending to have actual blind people come visit the church.

So Goober and Mickey were testing out “Blind People Sticks”.  Ricky was supposed to go find a seeing-eye dog.  Ricky was unable to find a seeing-eye dog on short notice so he got a seeing-eye sheep.  Unfortunately, this was One Way Express’ untrained sheep.  The Sheep has the uncanny ability to make something simple something complicated by not doing what it’s supposed to.

Goober and Mickey kept trying to capture the sheep and caused general pandemonium because they forgot to drop their “Blind People Sticks”.  They began chasing the sheep, almost knocking over things and hitting Pastor Gary.  After Pastor Gary managed to calm things down he finally convinced the boys that although blind people were welcome in our church there weren’t going to be any today.  The boys agreed to go chase down the sheep and pen it up before the sermon started.

Goober’s Words of Wisdom: 3-15-09

Pastor continued his sermon series on the miracles of Jesus.  This week Pastor Gary choose the healing of the ten lepers as told in Luke 17:11-19.  Goober free-associated this to coincide with the upcoming holiday.

Goober assumed that March 17th was the day that Jesus healed the ten leper-cons.  He, Ricky, and Mickey started off by throwing out Leper-con Day candy.  The popped up wearing green derbys, green bow-ties, and speaking in the worst Leper-con accents heard this side of the Atlantic.

Pastor Gary tried his best to reign in the antics, but every time he mentioned that leperosy was a disease, Goober agreed with him.  “Yes, Pastor Gary, Leper-see is when clovers grow out of your head.  Saint Patrick cured all the Leper-cons in Ireland in honor of Jesus’ healing of the ten Leper-cons.

After much explaining Pastor was able to convince Goober that the lepers Jesus healed had nothing to do with St. Patrick, Ireland or March 17th.

Goober’s Words of Wisdom 3-8-09

This morning, Pastor’s sermon was from Matthew 17:24-27.  The story about Peter pulling his Jesus’s temple tax from the mouth of a fish that he had just caught.

Goober and Ricky thought that was just wa-a-ay too cool.  They promptly thought it was a good method to make some money.  Goober got his fishing pole and Ricky got his net.  The boys attempted to go fishing in the sanctuary.

Much hilarity ensued as the congregation began putting things on the end of the line for Goober and Ricky to catch.  After losing control of the whole situation, Pastor managed to “reel” the whole thing back on topic.

After telling the boys that this was a miracle and not an everyday occurrence, Pastor was able to convince Goober and Ricky that catching fish for the money in their mouths was not a good business plan.  Unconvinced, Pastor Gary at least managed to convince the boys that the sanctuary was not the best place to catch fish.  Goober and Ricky left in high spirits yo go catch fish in the puddles outside.