Cybernetics aren't the future anymore:  Monkeys’ brains move robotic arms

Stupid Xanga.  I clicked submit and it lost my entire entry.  Twice now!  Grrr...  I'm not sure I like this new interface. 

Merlevic teased me today by playing the intro to most of the songs on the Moulin Rouge soundtrack.  At least she let me listen to a few songs all the way through.  I has sort of wanted to see the movie before, as those friends whose movie tastes I trust most had recommended it.  Now I'm likely totally disappointed that I missed it.  She said that she had been thinking of buying the DVD, and if she did she'd invite me over to watch it.  She did insist, though, that I not watch it in black and white as the colours are particularly important to the film.  Apparently, like many women I know, she has a thing for Ewan. 

She was supposed to call before coming over today, and so when she didn't she caught me doing lawn work.  Thus, I didn't have a chance to freshen up before we left for a late lunch at Au Petit Four.  I did give her a quick tour of the house, and she felt comforted by the mess.  Apparently she was worried that her home was too disorganised.  She noted the near emptiness of my fridge, and I mentioned I hadn't yet gone shopping this weekend.  She mentioned that she had planned to go shopping tonight, too. 

We spent quite a few hours together chatting.  We haven't seen each other in three and a half years, but we managed to pick up our friendship where it left off.  I know she was worried that we wouldn't have anuything to talk about, but that wasn't a problem.  We spent quite a bit of time at Au Petit Four, which was a great place.  They have pastries, deserts, breakfasts, sandwiches, soups, pastas, salads, quiches, and even beverages of French origin.  I found it to be good food at resonable prices, something I didn't expect from a shop at the Camelback Esplanade.  I highly recommend it to people in the Biltmore neighborhood of Phoenix.  The French garcon and French chef were both friendly and gracious, which is always a plus.  I guess they cater, so if I ever need a Yule log or wedding cake I'll keep them in mind. 

Afterward she asked me if I minded going to Trader Joe's, not realising that I usually go to the Metrocenter location.  Boy, is that Town and Country location packed!  We managed to muddle through the crowd, having fun shopping by comparison shopping, reading lables on unfamiliar products, and discussing with what we have and haven't had luck.  At check out, the employee told me that I should be paying for her groceries.  That implies to me that he assumed that we were a couple.  Yet no one assumes Wayne and I or Monte and I are a couple when we shop together.  Is it so hard to believe that male/female duos can shop together without dating?  He couldn't even pronounce her name, though, so I guess I'll chock it up to the inexperience of youth (despite the fact that he looked our age).  It's not like her name's very far from the phonetic spelling:  mer' lev ik.  Go figure.

Merlevic said that in the past three years she has run into Katie (who's now married, but she couldn't remember her new last name), saw Melissa when she was last in town, and continues to play phone tag with Charles.  So she's interested in going to our tenth anniversary high school reunion next year, as she's curious about what's happened to everyone.  Ten years!  Can you believe it?  Yet, for some reason I don't feel as old as I'd expect from realising that.  I expect I'll see her before then as I lent her my VHS copy of the Star Wars Holiday Special.  She left with it in hand to go watch with her father down the street. 

Well, enough about Merle.  Yesterday Mom stopped by for mass followed by Paul's Cafe.  The Mexican Comida dinner comprised pollo con calabazitas y mais, refried beans, corn tortillas, assorted Mexican cookies, and donuts left over from the coffee and donuts of the morning masses.  Teen Time teen volunteers had a booth selling candy, soda, and bottled water to raise money for Habitat for Humanity.  Apparently that booth will be at all of the Paul's Cafes this year.  Dinner was good, and we met Dee, Merideth, and Dee's daughter Jackie.  Dee is retired from the family business, but she works as a volunteer for the Sunnyslope Business Aliance and Sunnyslope Historic Society.  She discussed that a lot with me when she found that I work for the place which provides the maps for the SBA. 

After mass I gave Mom her birthday card and gift.  Scented candles are always a hit, and the vanilla cream and harvest spice candles were even her favourite scents!  After that I talked her into playing Harry Potter Uno with me, the first chance I've had to play the game since she gave it to me for Christmas!  We had fun with the new Draw Three, Howler, and Invisibility Cloak cards. 

I knew about the donuts being leftovers because I had actually been at church earlier between the 9:30 and 11:00 hours masses.  The lector training session on Saturday was scheduled during my work hours, so the head of St Paul's Lectors made time for me then to show me the changes which have been mading to lectoring.  It was nothing big.  We're now using two lectors per mass instead of one, so that changes a few things.  Also, the ushers no longer select the family which brings the gifts up to the alter.  Instead, the first lector is responsible for obtaining a family and getting their names.  That makes sense.  If you can't read your own writing and if you forget to ask for name pronunciation then it's all your own fault.  We'll see how I manage next month.  I'm sure I'll be fine.

Saturday we played Pitcher's game again, but as I didn't recap the week before I'll wait to do that.  The same goes for Jackson's game on Friday. 

Wednesday Kitty was supposed to pick me up from work.  When she wasn't there I called.  When Jackson answered, I heard her exclaim in the background, "What time is it!"  She felt real bad, and when I offered to ride over she instead sent him to pick me up.  So I read more of Lalla Rookh while I waited.  In between reading I met a man who wanted to buy my bicycle from me for ten dollars.  This, despite the fact that he rode up on a bicycle of his own.  Ok, it was not of the same quality, but how did he really expect to leave with two bicycles? 

So, went I arrived we had mashed potatoes, beef roast, and corn on the cob.  Then, I had to take the test for the Orpheus Group.  Kitty wants us to not read anything about the game, as she will take our real life answers to the test to help us create a character for the game next Friday.  There will be a barbeque where everyone can socialise while she spends one on one time making our characters with us without letting us see the books.  She seemed surprised to discover that I was a banshee.  She and Lori are the only other banshees.  They had near identical answers, while apparently mine were very different from there answers.  I reminded her that it could be that they represent the female aspects of banshees while I represent the male aspect of banshees.  She seemed to accept that.  After that, she handed me some convention data that has needed crunching.  I'll be working on that in my oh-so-abundant free time.  It's desparately needed work, and no one will do it.  So of course I volunteered.  I never did before, but after being Program Director for CopperCon XXIII I saw how necessary it was that it be done.  So wish me luck! 

Of course, I'm also trying to catch up on my backlog of Weblog entries.  I've found a few links are already dead, but I'll survive. 

Anyway, last Monday Bill, Dai, Jay, Sam, and I met at the Chuy's on Cave Creek Road.  I had coupons which expire on the Ides of October which were only good there or the Bell Road location.  We all had a great time getting together again, discussing the Phoenix Chuy's Fan Club, Dungeons and Dragons, Tunnels and Trolls, our various lives, and the Red Sox/Athletics game on the television.  Afterwards Bill and Jay came by my place and we dicussed characters for Bill's next Star Wars RPG 3.5 campaign.  I might make a Zeltron Noble, Human Tech Specialist medical doctor or starship engineer, or Zabrak Scout.  It all depends on what the others play.  That didn't sit well with them, even after I explained my reasoning.  I'd like the chance to play any of those four ideas.  When gamers all make their characters separately from each other, they make a game which is a bunch of solo stories.  When gamers make characters with each other in mind, they make a team.  I'd rather we all make a great story together (gamemaster and players alike) than everyone compete for the chance to put their story in the spotlight. 

As already noted, Pitcher ran on the previous Saturday and Jackson ran on the previous Friday.  However, it is late and this entry is long.  And I'm hoping to not have to type any of it yet again.  Have a great night everyone!