Monday 25 November 2002

  • Well, it has been several busy days.  Yesterday was my maternal grandfather's seventy-fifth birthday.  My grandmother held a surprise birthday party for him and he really seemed both genuinely surprised (a hard trick with him) and to genuinely enjoy himself. 

    Friday night I (and thus Squigbarm of Eldath) rejoined the D&D party after a week's absense.  Apparently while awaiting an audience with the king, the king's manor was attacked by drow.  In the battle Raveena, Lori's human druid, died.  Raveena was the longest running character in the campaign, considering the factthat the original three characters played by Monte, Tom, and I all died at some point.  Technically, Bill made his human paladin of Illmater around the same time that Lori made Raveena.  However, Bill hasn't played in the campaign for some time. 

    Lori made a new character, a halfling Harper scout.  So our group's connection to the Harpers continues to grow.  We got our audience with the king, and the group actually convinced the king to attempt a treaty with the barbarians who have taken up residence in Silverymoon Pass.  Then, while we were taking the king's gift of winter supplies and the treaty to the barbarians we found a heard of animals which was eatten from the inside by a parasite of some sort.  We also chatted it up with a blue dragon.  Considering its our second conversation with him in four days, and that we are only six days into the Year of Rogue Dragons, makes me feel uncomfortable. 


    Today Trollgod dropped off my auction winnings.  Two bags full!  He even signed the T&T short story anthology for me.  I started sorting through my winnings and I'm way impressed.  There's so much good stuff, I'm not sure what to start reading first.  I might go with The Tolkien Reader just because The Two Towers will be coming out soon. 


    I also got to see my parent's new house today.  It looks nice enough.  What's really nice is the acrage which comes with it.  It's an hour away by car.  I saw some people bicycling out that way, but I have no idea how long it would take me to get out there.  They live on the south side of the reservation from Maricopa (the town, not the county).  I think they can't wait to move out.  It's only what they've been talking about for the past year.  They're planning on moving in for the Thanksgiving Day holiday, considering the fact that they do not celebrate it. 

    I really hate the neighborhood I work in.  My Mom is always complaining about the thief in the Scottsdale Airpark who is robbing the various office buildings in the area of checks and petty cash.  I just don't see how that can compare to murder, rape, armed robbery, home invasions, drug dealing, drug making, and prostitution on what seems like a regular basis. 


    Hispanic ice cream vendors get murdered for less than ten dollars in change.  Vice squad practically lives at Motel 6.  The fire there the other day was caused by a drug lab in one of the hotel rooms.  And of course, Thursday a woman comes crying hysterically into the store after being gang raped.  I don't know how anyone would willing live in that neighborhood.  I can totally see why Bill's parents moved away to Ahwatukee.  I just don't see how crisis professions (medical, law enforcement, et cetera) can retain their sanity and deal with such inhumanity on a regular basis.  I know that the human spirit has great adaptability, but why would anyone willingly put themselves in such circumstances that would require such adaptation?  I have no idea. 

    I'm falling asleep IMing and composing this.  I guess I'll turn Beastmaster off and go to bed.  Night!