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October is now over. Welcome to Mikkovember!

Oct 31, 2016#1

Dave

That's right, the big guy gets himself an entire month! In 2013 he went to the big feasting hall in the sky, where the saunas are always clean and never run out of water, and nobody wears sauna pants!

Rest in peace, ya big lug! As long as I draw breath you will not be forgotten!

Oct 31, 2016#2

Cheesy1

Oct 31, 2016#3

PatrThom

You know, I just noticed the banner.

--Patrick

Oct 31, 2016#4

Jay

Damn, 3 years already.

Oct 31, 2016#5

Gruebeard

This is way better than Movember.

PS, on Mikkovember 22 I turn 40. :Leyla:

Nov 1, 2016#6

Cheesy1

DarkAudit said:
I'm on mobile right now. Could someone post that wine and cheese pic of him, please? It always makes me feel better.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nov 1, 2016#7

bhamv3

I have removed my pants in his honor.

And then I put them on again, because I'm at work.

Nov 1, 2016#8

strawman

Nov 1, 2016#9

Frank

I am not wearing pants right now.

RIPNR

Nov 1, 2016#10

Dave

I changed the banner. While I liked the Finnish flag in the Hal, it was hard to see. I have another that has wood in the background like a sauna, but we'll try this one first.

And thanks to @Denbrought for these!

Nov 1, 2016#11

Gruebeard

Thanks @Denbrought

(I like the Finnish flag better.)

Nov 1, 2016#12

Dave

It's hard to see on Social.

Nov 1, 2016#13

Bubble181

N_R looking on approvingly and smiling while visiting a NSFW thread is somewhat unsettling and somewhat fitting.

Nov 1, 2016#14

Dave

I have one where he's facing the other way. Too bad I can't make it change based on what sub you are in.

Nov 1, 2016#15

Zappit

Just remember.

He will be watching.

Nov 1, 2016#16

PatrThom

Dave said:
I changed the banner. While I liked the Finnish flag in the Hal, it was hard to see. I have another that has wood in the background like a sauna, but we'll try this one first.

The way it is right now, it makes him look like one of the earlier captains of that space cruise liner from Wall-E.

--Patrick

Nov 1, 2016#17

Gruebeard

PatrThom said:
The way it is right now, it makes him look like one of the earlier captains of that space cruise liner from Wall-E.

--Patrick

Well then.

He can be the captain. We'll draw the chart.

Nov 2, 2016#18

Officer_Charon

Fuck... 3 years already.

Everything he did with regards to his life, and what transpired at the end, he brought forth Sisu. I can't believe it's been 3 years already.

Will pick up beer on the way home and pour him a glass.

Nov 2, 2016#19

Emrys

@Dave, are you still in touch with his parents? Would it be appropriate to send them a note from us saying that we are thinking of him and them?

Nov 2, 2016#20

Dave

They send me a Christmas card every year and we email every once in a while.

Nov 2, 2016#21

Jay

Can someone link me the thread where Dave announced his passing? I want to feel that whirlwind of emotions again.

Nov 2, 2016#22

Cheesy1

Jay said:
Can someone link me the thread where Dave announced his passing? I want to feel that whirlwind of emotions again.

In this thread, starting with this post:
https://www.halforums.com/threads/north_ranger.29957/page-2#post-1093279

Nov 2, 2016#23

strawman

Argh. Reading through all the stuff reminds me how horrible November 24th-27th was. The reason I made the announcement rather that Dave is that Mikko's father emailed me. And the reason he did that is because Mikko sent me two PMs on the 24th with little information - dropping out of the secret santa because he wouldn't be able to participate. On asking him for more details and providing him with some information he needed, he said, "Please do not reveal any information you could glean from this message. I will make my own shortly." He never made the promised post.

So I edited the secret santa list, restarted the group PM about sending someone to finland to visit (he refused a visit earlier in August, asking us to wait until he got a little better) with the note, "I have information which I've been asked to withhold, and honestly the details are unimportant. What is important is that anyone with a desire to visit him do so without delay." Everyone seemed to be in a situation where they couldn't go immediately, so I started the process to get an expedited passport on the off chance that I would be the only one to go before the end of December.

I couldn't quite keep the secret, though. I suggested to Dave to use his administrative access to check out my PMs. I don't know, it seems childish now, but I couldn't be the only person who knew things may be significantly worse than NR let on, and so I urged Dave to check my PMs despite Mikko's request. Even so, he never gave me enough information to understand just how close to death he was. I figured we'd have weeks, not days... even if I had a passport I probably wouldn't have scheduled a flight the same day, and that's what it would have required given the length of flights and time zone interaction.

Mikko had his PMs sent to his email, and I had sent subsequent PMs asking if he'd accept a visitor, and giving him my phone and email in case he wanted to contact me more directly. His parents had access to his email so they saw my subsequent PMs with my contact information, and so they sent me an email, which I then posted on the forum.

I remember where I was standing and what I was doing when my phone buzzed due to his father's email.

Nov 2, 2016#24

Jay

Cheesy1 said:
In this thread, starting with this post:
https://www.halforums.com/threads/north_ranger.29957/page-2#post-1093279

Man, I just went through that thread and the the posts got me teary.

I just realized something on my 2nd post, I quoted something Mikko posted in another thread along with my realization.

North_Ranger said: To give a longer answer... there is a part of me that fears death. It is for quite a simple reason: Let's be honest here, for most of you folks here (with the obvious exception of @Officer_Charon , for instance [I salute you, sir]), the danger of death is mostly an abstract concept at your stage in life. It's something that will happen, but it's not going to happen anytime soon. For me, it's been a little different ever since the doctors told me the best they can do is try to contain my cancer, and that there might be a point in future where we would have to consider whether it would be better to let the disease take its course or keep taking the meds, even if they cause serious side effects.

In other words, death is not an abstract concept for me. I know I am going to kick the bucket well before turning gray. What I don't know is when that will be. A year from now? Two years? Five? Ten? Twenty? That will all depend on how well I react to treatment, and how long it is viable to keep treating me.

As such... well, I fear death if it comes suddenly, as a result of a new stroke that knocks me out of the game. It is very much unlikely with my current medication, but I know the danger is there. I have considered writing goodbye letters and my last will and testament, but as long as I believe I can remain alive I have postponed such concerns for another day. If there ever is a "you only have X months to live", then I will do such things. Until then, I try to focus on living, or "enlightened hedonism", as I call it. I enjoy good food and drink as much as I am able, partake in movies and video games, and both play and GM a game that I have found to my liking. I know I can't do all the things I used to be able to, but what I can do, I will do as long as I can.

The alternative? Contemplating mortality? Yeah, not gonna happen. Finns are already known for being f***ing melancholic and prone to suicide (I blame the weather, really), so I'll leave that shit to other people. The way I figure, if I kept thinking about death all the time, I would ruin what time I had left. And seeing as it's probably not gonna be one where I get to be a cranky octogenarian, I'd rather do something else, thank you very much.

Now if you'll excuse me, there's a DVD of Shaun of the Dead in my living room along with a bowl of chips, and they're not gonna hold a movie night on their own

North_Ranger, Oct 25, 2013

^^^^

Cancer will take his life less than a month later after he posted this.

Seriously, fuck cancer.

Nov 2, 2016#25

Dave

Time to watch Shaun of the Dead.

Nov 4, 2016#26

Mathias

Wow. It's been three years already?

I still think about N_R from time to time, despite not being so active around here much anymore.

November 27th is a Sunday this year, so in celebration of Mikko, pants are hereby going unworn that day.

Nov 4, 2016#27

blotsfan

Man, I haven't thought about it in a while, but I miss the whole sauna pants thing. You know, along with everything else.

Nov 10, 2016#28

jwhouk

I wonder, if he was still around, if he would offer us all space in his sauna after the traumatic events of this week...

Nov 10, 2016#29

Dave

Only if we didn't wear pants.

Nov 10, 2016#30

Celt Z

If that's all, then I'm sauna-ready!

Nov 10, 2016#31

Bubble181

I'll be spending most of next weekend in a sauna. I swear it's for him and not because the holiday house I'm going to happens to have a sauna and I like saunas!

Nov 10, 2016#32

Dave

By the way, if you want to send his parents, Timo & Leila Metsälä, please let me know and I'll forward you their address.

Nov 10, 2016#33

Emrys

Bubble181 said:
I'll be spending most of next weekend in a sauna. I swear it's for him and not because the holiday house I'm going to happens to have a sauna and I like saunas!

Of course not.

Nov 10, 2016#34

fade

Celt Z said:
If that's all, then I'm sauna-ready!

go on...

Nov 10, 2016#35

Celt Z

fade said:
go on...

Well, once you go sauna you'll...uh... never... not...wanna?

Nov 10, 2016#36

strawman

I had not realized that sauna is a bathing tradition.

Lots of interesting traditions and history.

Nov 10, 2016#37

GasBandit

It's so ingrained into Finnish culture that, when playing the Finnish game "My Summer Car," the only way to reduce your "Dirtiness" statistic is in the sauna. Despite having a completely working shower right next to the sauna, it does nothing for your cleanliness.

Nov 10, 2016#38

Bubble181

Well, what else would it be?

Nov 10, 2016#39

GasBandit

Celt Z said:
Well, once you go sauna you'll...uh... never... not...wanna?

Nov 10, 2016#40

PatrThom

GasBandit said:
It's so ingrained into Finnish culture that, when playing the Finnish game "My Summer Car," the only way to reduce your "Dirtiness" statistic is in the sauna. Despite having a completely working shower right next to the sauna, it does nothing for your cleanliness.

I did notice that. I thought it was just somehow easier than using an actual shower.

--Patrick

Nov 10, 2016#41

strawman

Bubble181 said:
Well, what else would it be?

I assumed it was purely recreational and social, with possible health benefits. I never thought it was intended for cleansing.

Which only makes me feel worse that Mikko couldn't use one for so many weeks or months prior to his death. It's not like he was dirty by the worlds standards, but he must have felt unclean.

Nov 11, 2016#42

Dei

Everything you need to know about Finland - In 4 Emojis

Relevant picture

Nov 21, 2016#43

DarkAudit

The Hydraulic Press Channel is Finnish. It makes me think of Mikko and in my mind he would approve of that channel, and that makes me happy.

Nov 21, 2016#44

Dave

They might at-tack at any time!

Nov 21, 2016#45

drawn_inward

My lab collaborates with Eastern Finland University and I think about North_Ranger every time we talk to them. There's one guy named Mika and another dude named Markku, and their names remind me of Mikko. I get so melancholy after those meetings.

Nov 27, 2016#46

Cheesy1

Miss you, kind ranger from the north. Been a long three years.

Nov 27, 2016#47

Dave

Three years ago, today. Time has really flown, hasn't it?

Here's the obituary. It's in Finnish.

The Memorial.

The grave site.

And these are the flowers from Halforums.

Miss you, buddy.

Nov 27, 2016#48

Celt Z

Dave said:
Three years ago, today. Time has really flown, hasn't it?

Here's the obituary. It's in Finnish.

View attachment 22622

The Memorial.

View attachment 22621

The grave site.

View attachment 22620

And these are the flowers from Halforums.

View attachment 22619

Miss you, buddy.

I think this is the first time I've seen those photos. Thank you for sharing them, Dave.

Nov 27, 2016#49

ThatGrinningIdiot!

I was a long time lurker for this forum and it's previous incarnations. I always enjoyed reading the exchanges between NR and the usuals here, I remember him as a cordial and jubilant fellow.

I've read back on the old threads before his tumor was discovered around the years 2011-2012, and I am a bit unsettled - I have this urge to hit reply and warn him of his impending cancer - what an odd compulsion. Since it's far too late for that but not for anyone here; please consider getting yourself examined for cancer or just a general checkup. I'd hate to see another member lost to this stupid disease.

Fuck cancer. Seriously.

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