Month: May 2004

  • Currently Watching
    Doctor Who:  Real Time
    By Big Finish Productions and BBCi
    see related

     

    The Twelve Men by GK Chesterton.

     

    Well, Real Time is awesome.  Now that I have computer speakers again I am slowly catching up on listening to everything that I missed after Spunky chewed up the wires to my last set of speakers.  Sometime soon I'll go listen to Scream of the Shalka which buzz has said is much better.  So of course, I wanted it to be the last one I watched in order to not be let down by the others.  If they've managed to top Real Time, then I'm already impressed! 

     

    So, I've been busy and not posting.  What do you want to know?  I'm almost done with the weblog backlogs for February, I hope to polish February off before June.  I've officially quit reading some of the message boards I was on because I've been bored with them for some time, yet for some reason I've been posting tons on PFF.  Maybe its because Star Wars will always be my biggest fan obsession, and these are the people physically closest to me that share that passion.    

     

    Ten days ago I met Trav's live-in significant other, Jen.  She was the one he moved to Indiana for, and now a few years later she's returned the favour.  She seemed like a nice, intelligent, and mostly good person.  The fact that they're living together again and been serious about each other for so long leads to me believe that they'll be together for a long time, but I don't know to what extent/if marriage and/or children have been discussed.  Monte stuck his foot into his mouth yet again, making for an interesting first impression. 

     

    That was the day we moved Jackson's huge gaming table from his house to Trav's.  That thing was obviously built in the house and is my the previous owner had left it behind.  It was the main reason Jackson had wanted the house, and so the group used our strength and wisdom to find a way to get it out of there.  However, it is so huge and heavy that it took all the teamwork skills we've learned from gaming together to get that thing moved.  That was an all-nighter for sure.

     

    The following day was Steve's FR campaign.  We discovered that the king had always known what was coming, because the curse was placed on his life when the key was originally put away.  His will stipulated that his mentor, Felicia, would be regent until his son was of age.  It also stipulated that he was not to be returned to the land of the living by any means.  So, as a group we all felt somewhat guilty for playing a part in the slaying of the king despite the fact that he had commanded our initial ignorance.  Seran came back, and became the secretary for the new regent (big surprise), while we were tasked with assisting Ruben with his task of taking the key into Myth Drannor.  We recruited an elven druid and a human ranger, both of Mielikki, and set off for adventure.  (These were of course Kitty and Rusty's fourth level characters.)

     

    We joined a caravan on its way to Shadowdale, ran into the townguards who were "fishing", only this time they were "archery hunting deer."  Riiiight.  I love their cover stories which lure the Zhent agents into a false sense of security.  They warned us of a pack of road taxation agents (aka bandits) which might be ahead, but we never did run into them.  Once in Shadowdale we parted ways with the caravan and headed off into Cormanthor. 

     

    The day after that, my mother came up to visit.  We watched Doctor Who - The Sun Makers.  An excellent Who episodes, from the terribly low budget and jarringly out-of-date sets and costuming, to the great scripting and acting.  And jelly babies, lots and lots of jelly babies.  Mmmmm....

     

    After that we went to mass, wher Father Milt gave another of his great homilies.  That was also when I found out that my lector schedule was wrong (or more accurately, recently revised without an E-mail warning).  Apparently, this year the change from five post meridian to six post meridian mass start time will begin with Memorial Day weekend, instead of the weekend after as originally scheduled.   That's something that luckily they reinforced last night, as I've been fearful that I might forget and show up too early next week.  I guess that's an unfounded fear though if I've been worrying about it during the whole intervening week. 

     

    Monday, Bill treated me to Troy before taking me to the Local Convention Program Team Meeting.  Just Mike, Larry, and I were there so Mike suggested that if Kitty isn't ready to run the meeting next month that we just do it on CompuServ chat.  Unfortunately, I found out this week that my uncle from NY will be in town for Father's Day and leaving right after that, so we're supposed to have a big family get together that evening.  I already had to ditch April's meeting because of work, so I hope they don't think I'm flaking or something.  However, who knows when the next opportunity to see my uncle will be.  I wont be going to his son's wedding this summer due to finances, so it could be several years again.   

     

    Wednesday I went to Wayne's place to see the series finale of Angel.  He last had me come over for episode 100 in which Cordellia returned.  Those are the only two episodes I've seen all the way through, though I have kept up with the story from everyone.  The fact of the matter is that most of the genre shows are on before I get home from work, or are midway, and I quit taping them because I never got around to watching the tapes.  In fact, I just realised that I missed watching SG-1 last night.  I'm just not used to thinking of my television. 

     

    Friday I ditched the group in order to attend the St Paul's Annual Appreciation dinner.  Because of work I missed out on the cocktails hour, but the three course lemon chicken dinner and the dance were excellent.  The cocktails and dinner were catered by Sharko's, so you know how excellent it all was.  Unfortunately, I couldn't stay up too later due to my early work day on Saturdays.  I always appreciate the fact that our parish shows their apprecitation in this way, and especially loved the fact that this year I could actually go.  I hate it when it completely interferes with my work schedule. 

     

    Saturday I made a Dwarven Shinto Priest Physical Adept for Rusty's new Shadowrun campaign.   He says it was inspired by Van Helsing, so this should prove to be interesting. 

     

    Sunday was the parish picnic after mass.  Memorial Day is traditionally the start of our summer season for the parish.  The Sunday evening mass starts an hour later, the parish office hours shift an hour earlier, and most of the social groups of the parish close down.  That's because the season residents of Moon Valley have returned to their cooler climate located summer homes and students are our of school, so parish attendance drops considerably


     

    Today, Steve stopped by and we went to Long John Silver's before seeing Shrek II.  It was fun, as we haven't done lunch and a movie since Jackson died. 

     

    Anyway, it's late and I should go to bed.  Night!

     


     

    "The complication of our modern world proves the truth of the creed more than any of the plain problems of the ages of faith." -G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy


  •  

    I'm used to four hours of sleep each night of a convention and requiring the next day to recover.  Because I had half that amount of sleep I was still exausted the first half of today and even had to take a nap for my morning break.  But I'm used to having the pre-con work done a month out, not starting it late Thursday night, so I guess considering what I was handed I did rather well.

     

    I remembered a bit more of the convention today.  My friends in the DSG had a room full of various sf props, mostly Star Wars obviously.  They were in various Star Wars villain costumes, too, throughout the weekend.  I hear that the DSG will be the Masquerade halftime show next year, so that's pretty exciting!  In fact, I think they were used in the Modal Nodes:  Twenty Years Later trailer this year. 

     

    Sunday morning I slept through huge portions of mass.  I kind of remember Father Richard discussing how love brings about the Kingdom.  Or else I'm mixing things up.  I was barely conscious. 

     

    Sunday afternoon at the Compliments and Complaints panel there was a lot of good constructive feedback.  It's interesting how the financial realities which convention runners and attendees deal with seem to be almost contrary to each other.  I think one of the reasons for that is that conrunners have a staff lounge, which saves a lot of expense as compared to attendees.  It was also good to hear attendees duplicate my requests for more modern equipment such as a digital video projector and a DVD player.  Fewer guests and participants request VHS players or slide projectors.  They are moving towards the newer technologies.  Finally, a better suggestion was finally made for notification for program additions and changes:  use coloured paper when printing and posting signs.  I had used a different font, but that's a much better idea.  Heck, if we could do colour ink that'd be even better, but let's not press our luck. 

     

    Bill called me Thursday afternoon while I was awaiting Kitty and the program operations gear.  He admitted that he had received my various attempts to contact him, but that he was avoiding responding until he felt up for it.  He also admitted that he probably didn't feel up to helping at-con, despite the fact that he didn't think that staying home all weekend was a good idea for him either.  So he promises to call back when he decides either way. 

     

    So, Saturday he calls again wanting to know if I'm available.  A quick reminder that I'm busy with a thing like, oh, convention programming, seems like a new discovery to him.  So then he asked if I'd seen Van Helsing yet.  Once again, I remind him that I'm kind of busy, so of course not.  He seems surprised, and wonders when I'll be available.  I tell him, Monday, which disppoints him, but he promises to call then.

     

    Monday he calls and inquires about Van Helsing again, and I confess that I still haven't seen it.  I also admit to being too broke to see the movie, but offer to do something free.  He asks to call back.  He does in a little while and offers to treat.  So he comes over and we see the movie.  He also treats me to a new 2004 Harkins cup, which he lets me keep. 

     

    As he leaves for the night, he lets me know that he expects me to cover next time.  He confesses that he needs some time before he rejoins the group's Yahoo! Group, butthat he'll let me know when he is.  He also asks to borrow my birthday gift DVDs, before even I have had a chance to watch them.  He turns down a group viewing. 

     

    So, anyway, that's what happened.  Now I'm tired again and am going to sleep.  In the meantime, here's a quiz and a quote to ponder. 

     

    Student!
    You are a STUDENT of the English language!

    You are on your way to becoming gramatically sound; however, you must keep studying if you ever want to be a master. You do manage to speak better than most Americans, but then again, that's not really saying too much...

    How grammatically sound are you?
    brought to you by Quizilla


    "When one is fond of anything one addresses it by diminutives, even if its an elephant or a life-guardsman.  The reason is, that anything, however huge, that can be conceived of as complete, can be conceived of as small." - G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy

  • The Board Game Designers Forum


    So, LepreCon XXX is now over.  If I had had the time I would have updated each day so that I'd have a more accurate record of the weekend.  But, I didn't.  So, here's my recap of experiences as best as I can recall the day after.


    Thursday I arrive and get the key to program ops from the convention.  I wander around and see that people are getting their areas ready and don't need me around.  So I go back to program ops and read until Kitty calls me from the parking lot.  We unpack the program ops gear that she was lending me for the weekend.  She lets me know that Leia and Dave will probably come out to help, and that I need to insure that they can get staff rate.  I thank her for both the gear and the promised staff, and leave her to set up the ops room. 


    That night, I use VelaVision's computer to print out name placards for the three people on Thursday night's two panels.  After both panels I finally receive the program schedule for the weekend!  It became apparent that Mike didn't use the program grid which we have in Excel format, but instead used Word.  As such, I was only given print outs, leaving me to reenter all that information manually to create door signs and name placards Thursday night when I get home. 


    Two hours of sleep later, I make a trip over to Office Max for a new printer cartridge.  Then, after printing the name placards and Friday room signs, I return in time to put up room signs, receive the pocket programs, receive participant ribbons, and receive a dozen participant schedules.  Wayne, Ken St Andre, and Michael Stackpole fold pocket programs for me.  Many participants are disappointed in not getting a schedule other than the program list I received and copied Thursday night.  Many others are disappointed in not getting program items that they requested or, as in some cases, being participants not on any program.  Having been left many empty program slots, I accomodate every request to the best of my ability.  Rusty offers to scan in the program information and send it to me in text format.  Knowing that I can trusty Rusty to call me if his plan doesn't work I relax and attend the Chill Room party after the last program has ended.  


    Two hours of sleep later I print up Saturday and Sunday's signs using the scanned text.  I return to the convention and put up signs and name placards barely in time, and Rusty and Wayne show up in time for the second time block.   Using Damien's printer and Wayne's laptop we print up five new signs for program changes and additions which were requested in that first our of operration, and create a update site outside registration for signs both printed at home in the morning and at-con during the rest of the day.  During a lull in program, Wayne offers to man ops so I can attend the modern dance during its height instead of near its end.  Once there, I get pulled aside to check on program items that I know were OK.  They're still OK.  So, I return again and dance for three songs before I return to ops and relieve Wayne.  After the last of program is over, I return to the dance only to be there for the last song.  So, I help tear down, attend Staff Lounge and chat with Stephanie while eatting breakfast. 


    After two hours of sleep, I get equipment and name placards out for the first program, greet Meera whose going to be doing her first participant stuff for a sf con, and work with Dr Williams and VelaVision to get Barry Bard's Movie Previews up and running.  I stick around to get a Spider-Man II cap and lined paper spiral bound notebook, avp collector coin, and view the Star Wars fan film trailer which was produced in the filmmaking program track at-con.  Once program is finished we begin packing up before attending Compliments and Complaints.  After that, some of my staff and I have pizza and gaming at Wayne's place before I go home to crash for twelve hours. 


    I get up, mow the lawn,  check E-mails, and mildly regret not spending more time with friends at-con which I only see there.  Then, Bill treats me to Van Helsing.  Suddenly, my day is over with and I'm typing this recap realizing I should be in bed ready to start the work week again tomorrow.



    Which Animaniacs Character are You?
    "You are inquisitive to the point of getting trampled, run over, and blinded, on a daily basis. "
    "Why.....?"
    "It could be due to your scientific nature. You long to learn how things work."
    "Why.....?"
    "Because you really like to know things, but are prone to getting hurt."
    "Why.....?"
    "Because, if it wasn't for others generally taking the fall for you, you might well be dead by now! Remember, curiosity is great, but it also killed the cat. Well, in this case, the dog, Buttons, would probably be more appropriate."
    "Okay, lady, I love you, bu-bye!"


    Click here to see the quizmaker's Livejournal.


  •  

    Well, no word from Bill, no program schedule, and its less than a day out.  It looks like I won't be getting anything until I arrive at-con.  So much for letting me prepare in advance.  Kitty has volunteered her daughter and daughter's boyfriend for my services at-con, so that'll help, too.  Between all of the people who can help me a little, I'll have probably have more help than Bill would have been.  Oh, he offers lots of help, but he's often late or otherwise missing, so I'm hoping things will work out for the best this way.

     

    Well, I came online hoping for a schedule.  Instead, I had better go to bed so that I can be well rested for tomorrow.  Thursday isn't hard work, but it is set up day.  Wish me/us luck!

     

    Well, it turns out that Trollgod did leave that link to a quiz, he just hid the link in his name.  So, here's my not-much-like-me results: 

     

    You scored 337, on a scale of 0 to 400. Here's how to interpret your score:

     







    330 - 400

    You are a Jerry Falwell Christian (a.k.a "Historicist"or "Literalist") .

    You view the Bible as historically accurate and divinely inspired. You go to church every Sunday, with the Good Book in a Bible cover, and Wednesday night for Bible study. You've read at least one of the books in the apocalyptic "Left Behind" series, prefer your iced tea very sweet, and suspect Bill Clinton has murdered somebody somewhere in Arkansas. You watch "Touched by an Angel," even though you think it's not Christian enough. You may watch Mother Angelica's Eternal Word Television Network, and you adore Dr. Laura, Chuck Colson, James Dobson, and Rush Limbaugh. If you're Catholic, you go to Latin Mass and weekly confession, though you don't have much to confess. You think homosexuals are sinful but try periodically to love them. You think the surrounding culture is so polluted that you shop at Christian bookstores, listen only to Christian radio and send your kids to Christian or parochial schools--or homeschool them. You give generously to your church and Christian charities. The Bible provides you not only a direct connection to God but a roadmap for how to lead your life.

     


    "...all good things come to a point, swords for instance." - G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy


  •  

    Well, Bill's not returning E-mails, phone messages, or pages.  So I pray that he's alright.  Da and Ken have both offered what help they can, so I'll take them up on their offers. 

     

    Friday, Monte took me to Ayako's for a belated birthday present.  It was awesome as usual.  The family we sat with was very friendly, and they teased Mike about how his steam rice was shamed by our fried rice.  The chef was really good with their kids, teasing them and wowing them.  When he made the onion volcano they squealed with delight, making the whole restaurant chuckle amuzingly.

     

    Saturday, Dustin, Kendal, and Steve threw a house party to celebrate the final work they've made on the home their renting.  The previous renter left it a shambles, so they needed/wanted to do a lot of fixes.  They were talking about how they'd like to do more, but don't dare with only a year lease.  They don't want to invest their money into a house which they may increase the value of to the point where the owner might turn around and sell it. 

     

    It was good seeing Chris and Ivan again, plus I got to meet a bunch of new people.  I discovered that I'm not a fan of of -itis, a band which Dustin, Heidi, Kendal, and Steve see religiously when their in town.  Scarily enough, they claim that the live show is more offensive than the CD.  It was on loop a-l-l-n-i-g-h-t-l-o-n-g, which didn't help any.  The only decent songs they played were covers of The Beetles and Queen

     

    Sunday, Father Milt's homily focused on how we're in the good hands of the Lord, and the assurance that provides us.  Sunday was also a day for making phone calls, reading E-mails, and catching up through February on the backlog of journals I read. 

     

    I also discovered that Judas continued to haunt the World of Darkness long after he was destroyed in Louisiana.  Chris is still the best storyteller I've ever had when its come to gaming.  Funny how he's the only one anymore that I even remotely keep up with from the old group.

     

    Today I fretted even more about how I don't have a program schedule yet from the precon program director, when LepreCon is three days away.  I did some chores, and had Wayne over for a game of San Juan.  It was a fun game, and he didn't want to wait until this weekend to introduce me to it.  I then managed to win with a strategy which he claims he's been told shouldn't work.    The cards totally synchronized for a non-standard win, and who was I to argue?  Obviously the game was designed to win several different ways, and most people probably go for the most obvious. 

     

    Trollgod had promised a quiz link, but I didn't see it so here's one to hold us over.  The quiz pulls characters from an amazing array of movies.  Because it uses PERL script there are dozens of outcomes!  Hey, even if the gender isn't right, at least the hair is. 


    Which Fantasy/SciFi Character Are You?


    Possessing a rare combination of wisdom and humility, while serenely dominating your environment you selflessly use your powers to care for others.


    Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.


    Galadriel is a character in the Middle-Earth universe. You can read more about her at the Galadriel Worshippers Army.


    "Rational optimism leads to stagnation:  it is irrational optimism that leads to reform." - G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy