Month: July 2004

  • One man out of his mind, the other out of his... Another shocking link from blueyoohoo.


    I felt my IQ drop while watching SG-1.  To be honest, it wasn't the episode, it was the commercial for Icebreakers Liquid Ice.  So, I decide to complain about it here, and while finding the previous link I discover that it starred Paris Hilton and Jessica Simpson.  I recognise those names from my coworkers that watch The Simple Life.  No wonder I felt my IQ drop.  The exploits I hear about those two always make me ashamed to be of the same species. 

     

    Anyway, in this episode Agent Barrett and Sam have this whole Mulder and Scully thing going that is kind of cute.  Meanwhile, its raining outside finally.  I had hoped that would happen as I mowed my lawn this evening.  LOL, you've got to love it when the big scarey alien gives you the silent treatment in a holding cell.  Here it comes! 

     

    Anyway, I'm sure you don't want play-by-play of SG1.  Eight days ago An, Tina, and I went to Dragon Bowl before watching Night of the Lepus. 

     

    Oh, stab!  The final line of this episode is awesome.  Have I mentioned how much I love this episode.  In fact after Night of the Lepus Tina went to bed while An and I watched this same episode last weekend. 

     

    Then on Sunday, I met my mother and step-father at mass.  He wanted to watch me lector.  That was nice of him.  Because of my duties I missed the Paladium game that was held at Webb's house.  Wayne called and told me about it that night after mass.  They met a man with a sword which cursed him with eternal life.  Forth Fang took the sword to help end his life, and agreed to take the sword to a dwarven forge to unmake it.  Then they went to his village to get his name.  The elf staged an archery contest in their village, in which Fletcher won second place.  The wolfen accepted a duel with a passing knight of the Wolfen empire.  And that's all I know of what happened.

     

    Friday was Monte's Star Trek Feng Shui campaign, this time up here at my place.  We followed the map down the river to the village housing the orb.  As we staked it out we discovered that the other members of our tour were prisoners of the village.  Then, suddenly, we found ourselves in a pitched battle aboard a starship:  Starfleet personell versus Romulans and Klingons!  Keoc was in full Klingon gear on one side while Ben, Fiora, and Mathias were in full Starfleet gear on the other.  Keoc immediately crouched low and began shouting that the orb had done something to us. 

     

    And did it ever!  Fiora was now a lieutenant medical officer, Ben a lieutenant commander, and Mathias a lieutenant security officer.  Even more bizarre, Fiora was no longer a Vulcan, but an Andoran!  Mathias was no longer a Betazed but a Ferengi!  Eventually we defeated all of the Klingons and Romulans except Keoc, took him into custody, and decided to go to Ben's room on the ship to discover what happened.  It was ten years later to the day.  We pulled up a news article of our rescue from the Bajoran enclave which showed us as our new races rather than our original.  We pulled up Starfleet records from our Academy freshman year and discovered that even those showed our new races.  Apparently we all graduated from the Academy, with Keoc resigning his commission and joining the Klingon Empire. 

     

    That's when the door chirped.  It was a Vulcan and a Cardassian claiming to be the two security cadets who fell under the arrows of the Bajoran enclave!  So we went to Medical and tested each of us.  Ben and Keoc had slight traces of dilithium in their bloodstream, but the rest of us checked out clean. 

     

    Saturday was Steve's FR3.0.  Kitty and Rusty had to replace their dishwashing machine, so they missed out again.  We healed up from the displacer attack, skinned the beasts for the human scout, and resumed traveling with him in tow.  Along the way we noticed three humanoids keeping their distance from us.  Eventually we passed through the mirthil before camping for the night.  The next day we reached Myth Drannor while the Cult of the Dragon fought the Knights of Myth Drannor in the streets.  Cap suggested using the distraction to slip in undetected.  That's when Valor chipped in that he agreed!

     

    It turned out that he and two other drow were the ones that had been avoiding us.  An uneasy discussion followed.  Eventually, we were at such an empass Cap started discussing things with Valor in Druidic as they headed toward the ruins.  Eventually the human scout couldn't resist any longer and tried to shoot Valor from behind.  Unfortunately the mithrill caused a three second delay between when the sound occurred and the shot actually happened, allowing them to duck.  He shot off a Briar Web, capturing everyone but the human and dwarven fighter who had taken up the rear.  The drow called some dragon-like humanoids from the conflict in the ruins before quaffing potions of gaseous form.  We took out the leader before scaring the others off.  Then the group decided that if Valor wanted us not to help the knights that we had better do so.  Well, Cap and Magnus disagreed, but they were outvoted by the lawful good types. 

     

    Today I got a postcard from my camping grandparents complaining that I've ignored their last three E-mails.  Oops!  I've been so Hexacon oriented when on the computer that I haven't been checking all of my E-mail accounts.  I don't think they'll appreciate it if I hold off until after Hex either.  Bad Paul! 

     

    Father Rich bored half of mass with his clinical homily.  He meant well, but people were nodding off, kids started running around, and most people were shifting around in the pews before he was done.  He could have totally used an editor to cut it down.  He danced around and repeated his point too many times to keep people's interest.  Maybe that's why we got a replacement associate pastor so quickly.  Pray for the guy and hopefully he'll improve. 

     

    Anyway, it is late enough that I should be going to bed.  More Hexacon work looms for tomorrow.  Night!


    Here's another fine quiz from jada_marnew:












    The University of Blogging

    Presents to
    chernabog

    An Honorary
    Bachelor of
    Emo

    Majoring in
    Bad Poetry





    Signed
    Dr. GoQuiz.com    		 ®


    Username:



     


    "Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go." ~William Feather

  • How safe are the airways? Thanks to blueyoohoo for the link. I'll be taking my first post 11-9 flight next month so I have to start preparing as soon as Hexacon is finished.

     

    Doing laundry.  Doing dishes.  Working on DAL.  Using this as a short break to keep my sanity.  Tired.  Hope yesterday's post wasn't too disjointed.  I'll continue my weekend recap in another post.  Today we'll deal with today!

     

    So I check my E-mail tonight after getting home around 21:30 only to discover that KTAR had E-mailed me twelve hours earlier to let me know I had won a pass for two to see the advanced screening of Catwoman.  The only catch?  Passes were to be picked up between 17:00-18:00 tonight for the 19:00 showing at Harkins Fashion Square.  Oops!  I guess they failed to E-mail the notices yesterday when they were supposed to do so.  I wonder how many others missed their opportunity?  Free was about the only way I was going to see this movie anyway.  While I like comic book movies, this one didn't look like it was going to be much of a winner.

     

    Before that, while I'm in the grocery store line, I was behind these two ladies who are using their outdoor voices to talk to each other, despite being close enough to touch each other.  The one lady was explaining how this guy she's "seeing" wanted to "you-know" and how she had to emphasise to him that they were only "special friends."  They lamented the fact that the guy just didn't "get it."  She then confided to her friend (still in that outdoor voice while in the grocery store line) that she didn't love the guy and that his chances of "ever getting...." were non-existant.  And people wonder why I'm disgusted with the typical dating scene?  Who the heck would want to put up with sex being so casual?  Who'd want to put up with stupid euphemisms such as "special friend"?  Who'd want to put up with people who can't be honest with each other but instead talk behind their backs to their close friends (and dozens of strangers)?

     

    So, I just reviewed DeAnna's work on the DAL Dueling Rules.  They seem adequate for the job.  I'm not sure what could have been unclear to Wayne.  If anyone who reads this will be at Hexacon this year, we can always use more Diagon Alley merchants.  Hint!  Hint!

     

    Hmmm, come to think of it as long as I'll be in Tempe for Hexacon XIV next week, I should see about contacting Linda about those jelly babies she brought back from the UK before she eats them.

     

    Sleep calls to me.  DAL can wait.  Night!

     

    Another quiz taken from the pages of jada_marnew:





     












    You are a Trekkie!
    It's a geek, Jim! You probably have a starfleet uniform and a tricorder. Bonus points if you speak klingon. One day you will walk down the aisle with your buttertroll trekkie partner, humming to the Yoyager theme.
    More Quizzes at Go-Quiz.com

    "The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time." ~Abraham Lincoln

  • "Who--who are you?" 
    "I am the Master, and you will obey me!"
    Awesome, just awesome.  The continuing audio adventures of Doctor Who did a good job of having the Master in an episode without actually saying as much anywhere on the packaging.  That way we the audience could be just as surprised as we would have been had this been a television series episode. 


    So, I've been busy with DAL work.  Creating shop inventories, motivations, and clues.  Thank goodness for the Harry Potter Lexicon!  Poor Wayne had to hear me vent my frustrations about Phoenician weather wimps at one point this weekend.  All he had wanted to talk about was the Paladium session I missed and check on the status of my DAL work. 

     

    So, I hear that the premiere of Stargate:  Atlantis was good.  I'm hoping that will hit syndication like SG1 has so that I'll be able to watch it.  I'm enjoying the Jonas season which is in syndication now. 

     

    Eventwise, Friday was Monte's Star Trek:  Star Fleet Academy (powered by Feng Shui) campaign.  Each of us was separately attacked by a gnarled horror tentacle while in the shower.  It turned out that the tentacle was just a mechanical piece of salvage from our survival mission.  It was being used in a prank by older cadets who had also once been through the ordeal. 

     

    We were put aboard the USS Hathaway to get more shipboard practice, shadowing officers while they were doing their jobs.  Eventually, we docked with DS9 for supplies and were given a week's leave.  We explored the Promenade, and at my character's suggestion booked a tour of Bajor. 

     

    During one portion of the tour we entered a primative enclave, where possesion of technology could get you in trouble.  They even had a major jamming signal covering the entire enclave.  We took a Bajoran boat down the river into it, and stopped at a small village (who main economy was obviously centered around the tourist) for the night.  When a Ferengi was caught pickpocketing, a Bajor threatened him.  That caused the Ferengi's  Klingon friend to defend him.  Fiona cornered the Ferengi as he tried to escape during the confusion.  Meanwhile, my character looked around to see if this distraction was being used by anyone else.  That when he noticed another Bajoran watching him, who turned away when noticed. 

     

    After the authorities arrested the brawlers, Fiona had the Ferengi pay both of the combatants' fines using his illgotten funds.  Meanwhile, the Bajoran who had been watching me passed by my table and whispered that he wanted to talk.  A few minutes later I joined him outside, and our small talk was cut short when he touched my character's face and declared that his Pah was strong.  It was then that he discovered that the Bajoran was a member of the Bajoran governement asking him to rescue one of the sacred Orbs from the technophobic enclave members.  He claimed that they kept the Orb to themselves rather than share it with all of Bajor, letting no one see it.  Treaties prevented the Bajoran government from directly involving themselves with its freedom, but indicated that a few Star Fleet cadets working on their own accord would be likely forgiven their rash actions. 

     

    When questioned how that didn't conflict with the Star Fleet regulations against interfering with primative cultures, the government agent pointed out that these Bajorans were members of the UFP and living on a technological world.  He also pointed out that the jamming signal showed that they did use technology when it suited them.  So fully convinced, the team was gathered.  When the group started dragging the government agent supplied boat to the shore, we were suddenly come upon by arrows!  The primative Bajorans were shouting anti-technology slogans as they massacred the people in the village.  Our two other security cadets were killed, but we killed a few of the Bajorans as well.  Then we headed on down the river. 

     

    When he called it a night, Monte told us that the name of this episode is "The Orb of Darkness".  Nooooo!!!  We headed down a river in search of treasure among technology-rejecting primatives.  Monte has seen both movies, so I'm fairly certain that I'm not missing his inspiration for this storyline.  We're so doomed!

     

    Hmmm..it's late.  I'll post more later.  In the meantime, here's a little quiz I borrowed from jada_marnew:








    PARENTAL
    ADVISORY
    CHERNABOG CONTAINS
    EXPLICIT LYRICS


    Username:


     

    "If our life is ever really as beautiful as a fairy-tale, we shall have to remember that all the beauty of a fairy-tale lies in this:  that the prince has a wonder which just stops short of being fear.  If he is afraid of the giant, there is an end to him;  but also if he is not astonished at the giant, there is an end of the fairy-tale.  The whole point depends on his being at once humble enough to wonder, and haughty enough to defy." ~G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy


  •  

    Monday I paid bills, mowed and weeded the lawn, and met up with Mer and Charles.  Charles hasn't changed much in ten years, and it was good to see him again.  We went to a place called Ono Hawai'ian Barbeque Grill, a Hawai'ian fast food place.  Afterward, we were unsuccessful in talking Mer out of going to the old hs campus.  We tried explaining that it would most likely be closed.  But she took us there, and then ignored my pleas to check into the office for permission to be on campus.  When asked, "what's the worst that could happen?" I replied to her, "We get arrested for tresspassing."  Eventually, we were warned off campus by a custodian using the summer break to wax the floors.  Then we went to her place, where she returned my Star Wars Holiday Special tape that she's been borrowing since the holidays.  We also picked up some photographs to be scanned at my place.  Then it was off to the Harkins Camelview to see Super Size Me, an awesome movie.  Finally, we went to my place, scanned pictures for Charles and Mer, and parted ways.  All in all, it was good to see them both again.  Next time we might drag Claudia out with us.  Soon we might have the whole old gang!

     

    Tuesday night I watched the final episode of Shada, a rewarding experience to be sure.  Afterward I worked some on editting our TFLAS page on the Hexacon XIV page. 

     

    Last night we had another Diagon Alley Live meeting at the fifteen day mark.  We still have a lot of work to go, so if I don't post here much its likely because of that.  In fact, I should be doing some of that now.  Aloha!

     

    I stumbled across a few unusual ambiguous predictions for my morrow, using terms I had previously never seen such as "sextile" and "trine".  They were so interesting, that I am sharing them here in context instead of my usual quizes:

    «July 16: Venus Sextile Mars
    Get your calendar ready -- your social life is about to take off!  You'll meet all social situations with ease, but you'll be especially adept at connecting with the opposite sex. You'll naturally know how to approach people without being too aggressive.  This balance will make you more attractive in a general sense, but the benefits will be especially obvious in the bedroom.  Not with someone?  Pay some extra attention to your crush -- and don't be surprised when you end up with a date!

    July 16: Venus Trine Neptune
    Love is in the air this week! When Venus trines Neptune, we tend to see the world through rose-colored glasses. What feels like true love may turn out to be just a fun little tryst, but either way, you'll enjoy the experience. You may also find yourself in a dreamy state, not wanting to cope with the real world. Focus your energy on creative projects if you can.

    July 16: Mars Opposes Neptune
    Feeling a bit odd today? When the planet of passion opposes the planet of illusion, ambiguity reigns. Remember that things aren't always as they seem; it's better to wait until you have all the facts instead of relying on blind faith alone. Since you may be more gullible than usual, keep your eyes open and your wallet closed until you are feeling more clear-headed.»

  • You know how us Phoenicians are when we think we might have some rain to go out and enjoy.  This'll be the first monsoon of the season to hit inside town.  I'll have to pack my gear for water resistance tomorrow morning.  Anyway, where was I?


    On Sunday the gang came over for Bailey's Paladium campaign.  Bill's longbowman was converted over to second edition, healed up by the hermit, and rejoined the party.  We then bluffed our way past the kobold families to search for the dwarven forge.  On the way we discovered a magical being which fled from us as we tried to approach and flowed us as we left it behind.  We eventually figured that the kobolds were keeping it at bay with a bondfire somehow. 


    Further exploration found a magical iron staff, the big boss's room and its electrically trapped chest, and finally the magic sword and a couple of magical anvils.  However, we then found ourselves confronted by the big boss!  He threatened to harm us, but we beat him so bad that he fled and took all of the other kobold squatters with him.  We then further explored only to find a summoning chamber, doorless jail cells, and a magic longsword.  We then decided to try to discover more of the direction where the moving presence was, despite the fact that the summoning room and magical forge were adjacent to each other.  This implied that the forge was used to craft the heckspawned-bound magic swords used in the great dwarf/elf war.  Sure enough, the second our torch was put out the entity came and started attacking Val's hp and isp. 


    Luckily, Maedros carries a candle with him in his gear, and we were able to flee to safety.  Eventually, Maedros summoned a water elemental to destroy the summoning room and the forge before we fled with the "salvaged" kobold crafted weapons. 


    After the game, Mom attended mass with me while her husband was teaching a tribal court class up north for the weekend.  Father Milt challenged us to be the good Samaritan, despite the difficulties within our hearts. 


    It's getting late, so I'll recap the rest of the week Thursday night.  Tomorrow I have another Diagon Alley Live Action meeting after work. Have a great week, everyone!


    Ninety-six years later and we have come closer to some than others, but we have come closer:
    "It is conceivable that we are going more and more to keep our hands off things:  not to drive horses;  not to pick flowers.  We may eventually be bound not to disturb a man's mind even by argument;  not to disturb the sleep of birds even by coughing.  The ultimate apotheosis would appear to be that of a man sitting quite still, not daring to stir for fear of disturbing a fly, nor to eat for fear of incommoding a microbe.  To so crude a consumation as that we might perhaps unconsciously drift." ~G.K.Chesterton, Orthodoxy

  • A Flap Over 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight'


    Well, Rusty's decided to quit running games for the time being, especially his Shadowrun campaign.  It sounds like Tom might have something to do with it.  So Jen, Kitty, Monte, Rusty, Trav, and I had a barbecue in the park Friday night.  It sounds like Monte's Feng Shui campaign might become the new Friday night game.


    Saturday Kitty, Monte, Rusty, and I saw Kill Bill Volume II at Tempe Cinemas.  It was another great QT film.  Afterwards, we hit a nearby Chuy's so Monte could participate in karaoke night. 


    Hmmm...it sounds like a monsoon storm is going on outside.  I'll be right back...






  • Currently Playing
    Spider-Man 2 - Music From And Inspired By
    By Various Artists
    "Vindicated" by Dashboard Confessional video on Launch
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    Today I received one of the most awesome gifts I've ever received:  a trip to GenCon!  No kidding!  I'm excited, and honoured, that Steve and Troy decided to make me the beneficiary of the tickets they had intended to be for Jackson.  I know he always enjoyed GenCon Milwaukee.  So much so that he, Steve, and some of the others used to always try talking the rest of us into going.  Monte ended up hating it because of the incidental costs of being there for a week.  Wayne disliked it, too, but its been so long I don't recall why. 

     

    So, because I'm still a little stunned, I don't really have much else to say.  If you want, read A Hero A Day Keeps the Turco Away.  It's a good exploration of the superhero movie genre.  Have a great weekend everyone!

     

    "The essence of all pantheism, evolutionism, and modern cosmic religion is really in this proposition:  that Nature is our mother.  Unfortunately, if you regard Nature as a mother, you discover she is a step-mother.  The main point of Christianity was this:  that Nature is not our mother:  Nature is our sister.  We can be proud of her beauty, since we have the same father;  but she has no authority over us;  we have to admire, but not to imitate." ~G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy


  • I was amazed at the videos on terrisfight.org of Terri's obvious non-vegatative state considering how much Mr Schiavo has tried to have his wife killed.  Has he no shame or shred of compassion? 

     

    Anyway, last night I fell asleep while discussing (with myself, here, in the previous entry) some of the thoughts I had over the weekend.  Rereading the entry, I think I got most of the points across that I wanted to convey on the topic of my marital status.  I remember feeling like I left it uncomplete when I went to bed, but I guess not.  So, the next topic I wanted to discuss is local conventions. 

     

    This weekend was WesterCon LVII:  Konkopelli.  I chose not to work it for several reasons, including cost to attend, distance to bike or convince someone to give me a ride, loss of holiday pay at work, lack of a place to crash, lectoring duties, and the holiday party planned by An.  I was vaguely interested in attending a regional convention to see how they compare to local cons, knowing that I'm not likely to attend one unless its held here.  But that, and the bigger name guests of honour and participants wasn't enough to outweigh the negatives.

     

    But I've had this growing, but unspoken, feeling since LepreCon this year.  A feeling I kept shifting to the backburner rather than explore.  While at Steve's game on Saturday, the inevitable local convention conversation came up (considering the fact that all of us were not at the con, but Rusty was missing the game because he was).  Smitty was dishing out that same complaints that almost everyone who quit going to local cons spouts.  Complaints which for the most part aren't valid anymore, but when countered with that they keep complaining rather than give local conventions a chance.  And somewhen between when I was countering complaints which weren't valid for newer conventions and I was challenging him to put action to his complaints, the feeling solidified itself in my conscience. 

     

    I've always been a believer that if you see something broken, you fix it.  Rather than complain, do something.  Action speaks louder than words.  So, when some friends of mine were complaining about conventions I challenged them to do something about it.  So we started working at the local conventions more, in the hopes that we could fix what was broken.  But what really happened?  One friend found success in that through working the local conventions he was able to join a group which formed to assist local conventions.  He's nw able to do what he always wanted at cons, and all the more power to him.  The other friend, well I don't know if she's found that success or not.  With her current conventions commitments, success probably can't be ascertained for another two years. 

     

    There is a certain amount of stress in the learning curve for working at conventions, and that stress is exponentially worse the higher up the ladder one climbs.  Yet, I've found that despite the initial stress one undergoes, once a possition is learned it can be fun.  However, is that hard work and that fun enough?  Because, to be honest, the local conventions don't offer me enough to pay full price yet.  In fact, I've never attended a convention for which I had to pay full price (that I can recall anyway.  Even at DarkCon IV I payed the Saturday/Sunday only price because I hadn't originally intended to attend without running any events).  The closest convention would be HexaCon, because it offers its main attraction (gaming) in larger quantities and varieties than any of the other conventions offer their main attraction (whether it be sf art, sf lit, comics, or other primarily gaming cons). 

     

    I've reached a point where I'm seeing some allies quit or sellout to the old guard.  Many of my successfully received changes are ignored and old ways are brought back as soon as the next convention rolls around.  So then I have to wonder if my work is even worthwhile, or if I'm Sisyphus rolling that boulder to nowhere.  If I capitulate, that'll make me a lackey of the old guard.  If I quit, I let them win.  If I keep at it without success, I'm a fool.  Can I be successful as allies leave the ranks left and right, all for their own reasons?  It's not a comfortable feeling to have, so no wonder I've kept trying to ignore it. 

     

    I still have four more local convention commitments over the next two years, with another commitment implied if not actually made.  I seriously need to reevaluate things.  Getting allies is tough, as most people don't want to do a lot of work for no monetary gain.  I guess I should say that's it hard to blame them, but it really wouldn't be if I wanted to do so.  Blame is cheap, as someone once said. 

     

    The most successful conventions are those run as businesses rather than as volunteer-based not-for-profits.  Perhaps that's what this town really needs.  I've heard several pipedreams over the years, but if anyone actually pulled it off I'd have to become a paying member just to insure its early success even if I couldn't attend.  So, if anyone ever stumbles across this Web site and is pondering that very idea for our area, reread this paragraph again. 

     

    Anyway, I'm not falling asleep at the computer, but it is later than I should be up on a work night.  I'll continue tomorrow. 

     

    "There is, therefore, about all complete conviction a kind of huge helplessness.  The belief is so big that it takes a long time to get it into action.  And this hesitation chiefly arises, oddly enough, from an indifference about where one should begin."  ~G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy


  •  

    So I attended the holiday barbeque An was hosting at his fiancee's place.  Apparently, the two of them realised that they have been together two and a half years and their sets of friends had yet to meet each other.  I was the only one of An's friends who showed, so their plan wasn't a total failure.  We talked, played Uno Attack!, ate burgers and hotdogs with all the fixin's, and stayed up way too late.  Luckily, Tina's place is only three miles away. 

     

    So I was thinking about how they seem a well meshed couple, and thought of other well meshed, not-so-well meshed, poorly meshed, and antagonistic couples I know and have known.  For some reason, I just can't even imagine being lucky enough to be part of a well meshed couple.  This despite the fact that I would certainly enjoy the ability to share joys and burdens with another human being.  This despite the fact that at times I would love nothing more than to be physically close to someone (a body to lean on, a hand to hold, or even just a familiar nearby presence with whom I would share a connection).  I mean, I don't even feel called to go looking for potential mates. 

     

    This makes me wonder, what is our Lord's plan for me then?  I don't feel called to marriage or the priesthood.  Am I just ignoring His call, is it just not yet my time, or is there something else planned for me?  I've had friends concerned that I'm diluting the gene pool by not breeding.  I've had friends unconcerned because they think I'll be a late bloomer like many others they know (or are!) who didn't find their vocation until their thirties.  I'm not against being married, so I wonder why I've always felt that I would never be. 

     

    I guess that has left me somewhat envious of those friends and family who have found that clarity of purpose to know that they "shouldn't let this one get away" or that they felt called to "make a bride of the church".  Even slight envy can be dangerous, so its back to praying for the grace to avoid its lure. 

     

    Wow, I'm falling asleep here at the computer.  I guess I had better get going.  More thoughts next time.  When I'm not falling asleep. 

     

    Season = Winter
    You're Most Like The Season Winter ... You're often depicted as the cold, distant season.  But you're incredibly intelligent, mature and Independant. You have an air of power around you - and that can sometimes scare people off.  You're complex, and get hurt easily - so you rarely let people in if you can help it. You can be somewhat of a loner, but just as easily you could be the leader of many. You Tend to be negative, and hard to relate to, but you give off a relaxed image despite being insecure - and secretly many people long to be like you, not knowing how deep the Winter season really is. Well done... You're the most inspirational of seasons :)

    ?? Which Season Are You ??
    brought to you by Quizilla

     

    ""I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is over self."  ~Aristotle











  • Currently Playing
    Saga Begins
    By Weird Al Yankovic
    "The Saga Begins" video on Launch
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    Daleks Defeated!  BBC forced to be creative, oh no!   


    Wow, Weird Al has managed to do a recap of The Phantom Menace that covers every scene of the movie!   That's too cool for words.  I guess I don't keep up enough with pop culture, because I still think of him having Gallagher-like long hair. 


    The smoke from the Willow Fire is high in the atmosphere even as far as down here.  At least the partial cover made it a cool holiday, as we only reached fourty-one centigrade today.  That should make public and private gettogethers some of the best in years. 


    Speaking of holiday gettogethers, BJ, Da, Jay, Kim, Mara, Sam, and I got together Friday despite our stated plan to get together at least once a month.  Da said we could count it as our June gettogether anyway and still plan one for this month, and I think I'll go along with that.  We had a pot luck.  Kim made a potato salad which could have been better if she'd have cooked the potatoes.  It was her first attempt, and the rest of the ingredients were well combined so I suspect that her next attempt will be awesome.  Mara feared trying my carrot-raisin salad, but then discovered that she liked it best of what was available (so long as she picked the raisins out of it, go figure). 


    We ended up playing Apples to Apples.  The first round was baked apples, and went well.  Unfortunately, we then tried one version where the judge gets green apples to match to his/her red apple.  No one enjoyed that version, so we switched to another version where the judge finds the worst fitting red apple for her/his green apple.  Everyone else liked that version, but as usual I really disliked it.  I've left the table when forced to play that version before, but with BJ on my team I didn't want to leave him in the cold.  Afterwards, we watched Return of the Jedi (or at least tried to do so, I think everyone might have fallen to sleep before it was over). 


    Saturday Steve ran his FR campaign with Jason, Kendal, Monte, Smitty, and I in attendance.  Our characters healed up from our encounter with the drow, covered up the looted bodies, and continued on until dark.  The next day we reached a cliffside where we were forced to tie up our horses, bury unneed equipment and loot, and head down the sheer cliffside.  Cap turned into a leopard and avoided most of the trouble.  However, Kor avoided getting help from anyone and fell down from one ledge to the next.  We had to go up and heal him after the third fall, but he continued to fall from ledge to ledge until he finally reached the bottom.  How he expects to return to the top of the cliff when we head home I have no idea. 


    When we reached the bottom we were introduced to Smitty's human scout (a class from Mercenaries, probably the best non-Hasbro d20 supplement) who was there hunting displacer beasts.  While we ate lunch, we were attacked by a pair of displacer beasts.  Nasty buggers, and we ended the session immediately after the fight just like last week. 


    Today, mass was nearly empty as I expected.  They didn't even bother with all of the EM stations.  Father Milt discussed how America is seen by many to be the New Jerusalem promised us, while others see us as the new Rome or new Babylon.  The choir sang The Battle Hymn of the Republic for the closing processional, and I seemed to be the only one who didn't know the lyrics to the verses.


    Tonight I'm watching SG1 for the first time in quite a while.  It seems just as good a series as when I used to watch it regularly.  In fact, I ought to just watch it rather than be doing two things at once. 


    You are DORY!


    You are Dory, the happy fish with mad skills.  It's amazing how you can have such a possitive outlook on the world.  (Maybe you've just forgotten how to be pessimistic.)  Absolutely nothing can make you feel sad...except maybe rejection.  Extreme situations can cause you to lose your composure as well, but just remember:  time heals all wounds.


    What Finding Nemo Character are You?
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    "If a man overcomes fear, he acquires clarity of mind.  But this very achievement of clarity becomes the next opponent to be faced.  Once fear is dispelled, clarity becomes the next enemy by tempting a man to give up ever doubting himself.  And so it goes.  Each accomplishment, itself, becomes the next obstacle to be overcome."  ~Sheldon B Kopp, If You Meet the Buddha on the Road, Kill Him!