BJP

  • I’m Only Human, Part I

    FlashLARP PotterSpace

    It was a busy weekend.  Saturday after work I headed over to Tricuspa’s so the two of us could enter all of the HLA events into the Phoenix Con Games web site.  We had started to enter them during our Thursday night meeting, but he was going to be unavailable the following Thursday and we were working against a deadline. 

    Sunday morning we finally finished playing my Christmas themed D&D game, in the middle of Easter season.  Everyone seemed to have fun though, and gave suggestions for when I run again.  Of course, I have other priorities at the moment, such as LepreCon, Phoenix Con Games, and Chaos Out of Order for one of my other groups of friends.  I’m not adverse to running again though, and have several unfleshed out ideas I could run for them or others. 

    After the game I rushed over to St. Francis Xavier Parish for mass.  I hadn’t attended mass there before.  It’s built in the classic domed ceiling style.  The ambo has a set of stairs leading up to it for proclamation (probably predating the microphones).  The main interior colour scheme was a very light aqua marine blue, like this colour only with a glossy sheen.  It made for a lovely worship space. 

    From there I rushed to Copper Star Coffee to meet with LunarLumiere and her friends to see Levi Weaver in a live concert.  Charles ended up showing up after the concert, only expecting to be partially late.  Silly kid, he missed out on a great show.  Levi Weaver is a very remarkable and talented musician when playing live.  He manages to truely be a one-man-band, without needing to record several tracks separately in a studio to create the effect.  No, he creates that effect live, in a very impressive format that completely meshes with the songs and their performance.  I’d definately recommend seeing him live, and appreciate the fact that LunarLumiere talked me into seeing him.

  • Easter 2008

    Catholic_Kelly encouraged readers to read up on each day’s saints to better appreciate the Communion of Saints. Another option is Saint of the Day, revised 5th edition, for times when you’re away from the computer.

    I know it’s a big jump to go from Halloween 2007 to Easter 2008, but I need to catch up somehow.  Maybe I’ll return to the time inbetween in the future, maybe I won’t.  I know that I need to get back into the swing of things, as I’m losing my ability to fully articulate my thoughts and forgetting the details of the events in my life without journaling them.

    As is family tradition, my mother, step-father, and I went to the Easter Vigil mass at our former parish, St. Theresa.  That was our parish when I was in high school, and while we live in different dioceses now, we return togther there every year for Easter Vigil.  Our friend, Matt, is a transitional deacon now.  So he gave his first baptisms at this mass.  It was awesome.  The entire time at Matt he had the complete demenor, vocal intonations, and mannerisms of a priest.  Yet after mass when I talked with him, he was the same old Matt.  How cool is that.  I’m so excited for him. 

    Fr. Mike, soon to be our new pastor — replacing Fr Gene who is retiring, gave the homily.  Apparently, he’s stationed at St Theresa through the end of June, before he begins his new position at our parish in July.  It turns out that Fr. Mike is a convert, who never expected to be a convert nor when he converted did he ever expect to become a priest.  He was able to tailor those experiences into an excellent homily, not only for the newly elect, but for all the assembly.  I congradulated Fr. Mike on becoming our new pastor after mass, but he was dismissive.  Hopefully he’ll be better than that as pastor. 

    I also had the chance to talk with one of my 8th grade RE instructors and Dave from Game Depot.  I saw Patty briefly, but didn’t get a chance to talk with her.  Dave gave me a hard time, saying that he old ever sees me anymore at the Easter Vigil and at Phx Con Games.  It’s true, but I don’t ever go to the southeast Valley anymore.  I don’t hve a current gaming group over there, and my father and I don’t visit that often.  I should try going over there to visit them, see the Jim Henson exhibit, and see the Walace and Ladmo exhibit.  Some day.  I’m still busy using all my free time painting my house.  Today I tore off the old, worn out carpet on my stairs and painted them. 

    I spent the night at my parents’ place, then Mom and I went to my maternal grandparents’ to celebrate my grandmother’s birthday.  We had cake, played games, and otherwise enjoyed socializing. 

    Easter Monday my friends and I were going to complete Centicle’s Legion, but Lisa suffered a setback in her recovery from surgery.  The rest of us ended up browsing AZ Mills instead, where I had the first Garcia’s food in many, many years.  Back in the day, it used to be a birthday dinner tradition.  Back when this journal was still paper. 

    The Second Sunday of Easter was Divine Mercy Sunday.  It was my turn to lector again, and I ended up needing to do both readings.  Luckily, I always prepare both just in case.  Father Milt gave another excellent homily.

    Thanks to Alluveal for the music video:

    “Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve.  You don’t have to have a college degree to serve.  You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve.  You don’t have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve.  You only need a heart full of grace.  A soul generated by love.”  ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

  • To Everything There Is A Season

    By Joseph F. Sica
    see related
     
     
     
    They moved the Sam’s Club, so now it’s closer to home and I don’t have to cross the interstate.  Yay! 
     
    Sunday, Father Milt’s homily tied the gospel reading into Lent (which started today).  He mentioned how the Navy has a saying that the difficult they’ll do today, but the impossible will take a little longer to get done.  Jesus’ lesson asks us to step outside of our comfort zones, and do what might seem difficult or impossible with God’s support.  That is also what Lent asks of us. 
     
    After mass, I headed over to Wayne’s to feed and water the pets.  After that, I headed over to Jay & Kim’s for a delicious dinner of steak quesadillas.  After that we watched “Fear Her,” the only episode from Series Two Doctor Who I’d missed.
     
    The following day we all went to the Arizona Renaissance Festival.  The ticket booths were open earlier than usual, and crowds were less than usual.  I finally sat through the new Ded Bob Sho, which was OK.  I’d gotten so tired of the original performer’s political views taking over the show, that it was refreshing to only have one small political view at the very end.  The new performer was also much more upfront that it is an LC show, but that didn’t really stop entire families with small children from staying through the whole show.
     
    Late in the afternoon, the occasional light rain turned into a short downpour, encouraging a major evacuation.  During the downpour, a lightning strike nearby started a fire.  That caused ABC, FOX, and NBC to send news helicopters and hover them directly over the stages of the festival.  Not only was it anachronistic, but it made it difficult to hear the miked performers
     
    I ended up catching the second half of Heroes:  The Best Show on Television after the festival.  I’ll watch the first half on the official site sometime this week (hopefully), although Mike says that all of the good and important stuff I’ve already seen.  Tuesday I was so tired (from a cat who wouldn’t stop caterwauling all night and an early work day start), I went straight to bed as soon as I got home.  It turns out a missed a few phone calls that evening that I didn’t hear ring while commuting home and once in bed.  Oh well.  People will live.
     
    Thanks to stacinator for the quiz:
    You Are a Centaur
    In general, you are a very cautious and reserved person.
    However, you are also warm hearted, and you enjoy helping others in practical ways.
    You are a great teacher, and you are really good at helping people get their lives in order.
    You are very intuitive, and you go with your gut. You make good decisions easily.
     

    “Quality is never an accident.  It represents the wise choice of many alternatives.” ~Willa Foster

  • You Say Goodbye, I Say Hello.

    Zombie School:  A Documentary is the second entry I’ve ever Boosted.

    Well, after a few months of psyching myself up and letting my insecurity get the best of me, I believe I am ready.  I spoke with Debbie today, and it further embolded me to go forward with the plan.  It’s an action I’ve not done before, and I pray that it goes off well.  Months of research and prayer shall not steer me wrong, no matter how much I might fear otherwise.  Wish me well.

    A co-worker is quitting, so I get to go in an hour early on Tuesday so he can train me to take on some of his duties.  I’m not sure when I’ll have the time to do the extra work, I don’t get done everything I’m supposed to do now.  I try to delegate, but because I have no authority, almost no one will assist me.  Those who have the time and talent would rather read the Internet or chat. 

    The departing co-worker’s duties will be split between three people, rather than hire someone new.  I wish him luck in his search for something better.  He’s a good guy, who was stuck in a job that I certainly never envied.  It’s the one possition in the company where I think no one could have met (the somewhat unreasonable) expectations.  That’s probably why that possition is left unfilled for years at a time, and why when they do hire someone they never last. 

    Heroes:  The Best Show on Television and Supernatural were great this week.  I’m trying to decide what to do about Heroes on Monday.  I’m doing the 2-4-1 deal with some friends at the King Henry the Only’s Birthday at the Arizona Renaissance Festival and Artisan Marketplace.  I guess I’ll have to tape record it, but when will I have the chance to watch it before the next episode?  This is going to be tough.  Tough, I tell you. 

    I bet non-viewers didn’t know that the Weekly World News was featured in this week’s Supernatural episode, “Tall Tales”.  But even if you did see the episode, did you know that both the print and online editions of the Weekly World News dated 15 February 2007 featured Supernatural?  Talk about brilliant marketing.  That’s even better than when they created the web site which was featured in the episode “Hell House”.

    Saturdays start early for me, and I’m later than I should have been.  Night all.

    Thanks to jada_marnew for the quiz:

    You Should Rule Mercury
    Close to sun, Mercury has very long days – and is rarely visible to the rest of the solar system.

    You are perfect to rule Mercury, because you live for the present – and can truly enjoy a day that goes on forever.
    Like Mercury, you are quick and elusive. Your wit is outstanding, and you can win any verbal sparring match.

    Some people see you as superficial, but in truth, you just play many roles and have many interests.
    A great manipulator, you usually get what you want from people. And they’re happy to give it to you.

    “The greatest motivational act one person can do for another is to listen.” ~Roy Moody

  • Cowards of the Campaign

    OK, as I listen to Virgin Radio, I find that I like the mix of modern and oldies.  I wish American radio was that cool.  Who else would play The Red Hot Chili Peppers, followed by Queen and David Bowie, followed by The Verve, followed by U2, followed by The Beetles, followed by The Foofighters, followed by Coldplay, followed by Areosmith and Run DMC, followed by Stereophonic, followed by Lou Reed, et cetera?


    So, back to the recap.  Friday night was Jackson’s campaign again.  Zed informed us of Moradin’s message to him that there were dwarves in deadly peril, and that it was time that he return the favour of being resurrected.  He was granted the power of Forged by Moradin, and the ability to bestow and withdraw that power from others who would aid him in his appointed task.  In game terms, Forged by Moradin is all the possitive dwarven racial traits without any of the negative dwarven racial traits.  These powers will only last the next twenty-four hours, because after that the dwarves needing rescue will all be dead. 


    This caused a problem among the group, because those in charge had already decided to flee to a nearby city in the Underdark for resupply.  This despite the fact that we heard alarms going off before we fled.  The wouldn’t listen to Squig and Zed explain that they would no doubt use the two or three days we would be gone to fully fortify against our return.  After all, this time we had caught them by surprise.  Undead don’t have to sleep like we do.  Three days for us is really only one day of preparation and two days of travel, but for the undead already in place three days is like six days of fortification.  But like the unheroic cowards they are, they fear one or two of us dying for the greater good. 


    Well, it was a fight, but Zed finally convinced them all to agree to help the dwarves despite Syrus’s attempts to paint Moradin in an unfavorable (dare I say evil?) light.  They all took the Forged by Moradin power except Syrus, who said he’d rather stubble around in the dark and be a detrimate to the party and the plan as a whole rather than take anything offered by Moradin.  We ran into Sadie the vampiric dridder again, who came to see what all the noise was from our arguement in the hallways of the Underdark.  We questioned, she told us of dwarves about to be sacrificed by both nearby Drow and nearby members of the Cult of the Dragon.  She also told us of a dwarven safehold nearby when we asked if there was a safe place to rest the night. 


    So our elves found the secret door and let us into the 20′ x 20′ safehold which housed more mining cart repair supplies.  Our Harper friend (whose name I forget, but who is the one who was charged with this mission that we tagged along for) teleported back to Silverymoon with cash to buy the supplies they wanted from that other city, with the promise to return in the morning.  Our abjurer, Ethan, set up an Extended Alarm outside the safehold before we went to sleep, so we took no watches. 


    In the morning the alarm went off, but it turned out to be a winged cat with a message it took to our priest of Sharess (Bast in the Mulhorandi pantheon), Delome.  He did not share what that message was, but the flying feline will apparently be another cohort for him (due to his Leadership feat).  Our friend returned with the supplies we were expecting during that confusion, and he brought a dwarf with him.  This dwarf is an uncle of Jer, and thus a member of the Silverclay clan.  He had been looking for Zed in Silverymoon.  The found a copper sword with the Silverclay name on it, and wanted to remind Zed that the mystery of his copper Alfredson blade and the (I forget their last name) copper blade of the young Dales (our half-demon, quarter-dragon wards) still needs to be solved.  He agreed to help us in the quest set out by Moradin in the meantime. 


    And thus we ended.  As Steve wanted to go see some band at Joe’s Grotto on Saturday and Travis always attends the Tithe of Souls LARP the first and second Saturdays of the month, Saturday ended up being a Shadowfist night much like Friday midday. 


    Sunday I went to mass, a great reminder of the importance of this holy season of Lent.  The homily was about washing away the distractions of the world and truely focus on God these fourty days.  I love how the whole mass changes during this season.  It’s a great opportunity for us to really examine the importance of opening the Word and the consumption of the Body and Blood.  The teen Confirmation candidates wrote their names into the Book of the Elect last night.  Soon Easter and Pentecost will be here heralding the entry of new members to our church.  *sigh*  I really need to work on my relationship with God more.


    After mass I ended up attending another online conference for the Harry Potter Live Action Development Team.  We only had three of us this time, and it went a lot more smoothly.  This is probably because there were less people, and those people now knew what to expect from each other in an online meeting.  I feel we accomplished a lot, and we each have an assigned task.  Unfortunately, my log of the conference is corrupted so it will be rather hard to complete my task.  Hopefully someone else had the foresight to save their log of the conference. 


    As you already know I had to go to bed early so I could work today, so I guess we’re all caught up.  I hear that Michelle was kind enough to tell the recipient of our planned surprise party that she was looking forward to his party at Chuy’s.  What the heck did she not understand about the word “surprise”?  Between her, BJ, and other people throwing monkeywrenches into the mix its amazing this is even going to be pulled off at all.  But I’ll allow myself the luxury of ranting after the whole thing is over. 


    In the meantime, if you haven’t had your fill of rants by Paul, then check out my rant on local cons and their failure to recognise that publicity means using actual marketing techniques, not hs technqiues

The Seasons of Mount Chernabog

July 2014
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