Uncle Thor's Lessons, Anecdotes and Humor

It struck me recently that several of my activities could be considered service to Tyr. How often people forget the old God whose province includes War and Competition. Tyr is not just the deity of soldiers. Like the other Gods, he is a friend of mankind and a benefactor.
Over the years, I [...]

When it comes to producing a successful organization, three things are paramount. These are training, supply and leadership. Be it a military campaign, a business or other enterprise, they give the necessary advantage.
Training prepares people for the work they must do. The better the training, the better they perform. Confidence comes from knowing what [...]

The recent lessons about the Isa Rune may have you wondering if it is purely problematic. Isa is a difficult force, indeed. It can also be useful to you. The right application of the Isa Rune can buy you time, impede or stop an opponent, and put the brakes to a situation. [...]

The following execises can help you understand the Isa Rune. Give them a try, and be careful!
Exercise 1: thrust your hand into a bucket of ice. Hold it there as long as you can stand it. This is usually less than thirty seconds. Withdraw your hand and try to write your name and address [...]

As tomorrow’s lesson will be the Isa Rune, it is fortuitous that a cold front is covering the nation. Isa is a Rune of cold temperatures. Today’s weather is not icy, just wet. We are fortunate here that the wet ground did not turn to ice overnight.
In early Winter and early Spring, [...]

One of the things we must handle is the matter of portions. Too little is a problem. Portions must be large enough. However, too much can be as bad as too little. On one hand, too little is lack. On the other, too much causes waste. This applies to [...]

The annual train show ended this afternoon. It took over an hour to take down our layouts and pack everything away. Each piece of track had to be disconnected, and all the accessories had to be boxed and packed. We were tired by the time everything was loaded for the ride home.
Train shows are [...]

Tyr is the God of patriotism. He is the one who oversees fidelity to one’s nation, community, beliefs, friends and family. Tyr’s patriotism is a thoughtful one. His is not the knee-jerk parody of loyalty, but a genuine one that knows why it is faithful.
These days, people might be a bit confused by [...]

I had a funny experience tonight. We were setting up for the train show over in Ocean Grove. In the same room were people who use it every week for their “prayer group.” While we put up track and accessories at one end of the room, they had their little group. It was [...]

The American Legion sends me an email newsletter / update about once a week. This one was a bit of a paradox. On one column the headline reads: Legionnaires and servicemembers remember Pearl Harbor. December 7th is the anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, so it is fitting. On the other [...]