That's what the little clock on my laptop is telling me. It is pretty late, if the clock on the kitchen wall is correct. That one says it's 11PM.
I'm tired :(
Just got back in from dinner with some of the FlyerTalk folks, including a couple up from Australia. Very nice get together, and much less painful than yesterday's wander of Santa Barbara with Mr. Spiff :)
We went through the art museum. "Here's some naked women," I said as we wandered up toward an exhibit. "Yay!" said Mr. Spiff. Another art patron glanced at us and sidled away.
Our visit wouldn't have hurt so much if either of us had remembered the real directions from the art museum to the park once we decided to walk instead of drive...but it was still a lot of fun. With blisters.
Tomorrow I beard the lion in its den. Our sainted mother will learn that not only am I in Hawaii, but my sister and I plan to move her to California. Hopefully that will go well.
Going to wander off to bed now with a muscle relaxant to knock me out.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Monday, May 28, 2007
Memorial Day
We had a lovely dinner Chez Matt and Melissa tonight! Steph was there, too, with knitting, which was so cool. I love getting to see folks I like but don't get to see so often. Matt cooked Italian for us tonight; it was sooooo good. His creme brulee (okay, so not everything was Italian) was to die for! AND he did dishes! A man who cooks and cleans! /swoon!
Tomorrow is a busy day, too. I'd promised Mr. Spiff that I would drive up to hang out with him as he's in California for just a couple of days. Who knows what we'll end up doing, beach or museums or whatnot. The day after, I head to Hawaii to deal with my mom. I'm looking forward to a relaxing day with Spiff before the drudgery that awaits in paradise.
And to end this post before I collapse, please take a moment to remember what Memorial Day is all about. I herewith link to a short piece by a service member that I think really brings it home.
Aloha, everyone!
Tomorrow is a busy day, too. I'd promised Mr. Spiff that I would drive up to hang out with him as he's in California for just a couple of days. Who knows what we'll end up doing, beach or museums or whatnot. The day after, I head to Hawaii to deal with my mom. I'm looking forward to a relaxing day with Spiff before the drudgery that awaits in paradise.
And to end this post before I collapse, please take a moment to remember what Memorial Day is all about. I herewith link to a short piece by a service member that I think really brings it home.
Aloha, everyone!
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Weeks
The past week I've been obsessing, for lack of a better word, over the snowdrop shawl pattern on Yarn Harlot.
I bought several fluffly little balls of mohair in which to make the shawl. I've downloaded the instructions, made an excel spreadsheet of the entire pattern and now have handwritten out the pattern on little sheets of paper that I can carry around with me (say, on an airplane). I've cast on and frogged back the example I'm making in leftover baby blanket yarn.
When I finally get to the mohair, I want this pattern to just flow.
I have even bought some yarn on eBay, in case I decide mohair is beyond me at this point in time.
The knitting relaxes me. This has been a somewhat stressful week, beginning as it did with the sudden need to fly to Hawaii to clear out our sainted mother's apartment. She is moving in with my sister after a bout of ill health. My contribution is to deal with the debris of a life lived in one single apartment since the mid-60s. I leave after Memorial Day and will be there for about three weeks.
And so, I knit. My hands are kept busy, my mind must focus on the task at hand and that way I don't have to continue thinking about the way the gods mock those who feel they have turned a corner in their lives.
I bought several fluffly little balls of mohair in which to make the shawl. I've downloaded the instructions, made an excel spreadsheet of the entire pattern and now have handwritten out the pattern on little sheets of paper that I can carry around with me (say, on an airplane). I've cast on and frogged back the example I'm making in leftover baby blanket yarn.
When I finally get to the mohair, I want this pattern to just flow.
I have even bought some yarn on eBay, in case I decide mohair is beyond me at this point in time.
The knitting relaxes me. This has been a somewhat stressful week, beginning as it did with the sudden need to fly to Hawaii to clear out our sainted mother's apartment. She is moving in with my sister after a bout of ill health. My contribution is to deal with the debris of a life lived in one single apartment since the mid-60s. I leave after Memorial Day and will be there for about three weeks.
And so, I knit. My hands are kept busy, my mind must focus on the task at hand and that way I don't have to continue thinking about the way the gods mock those who feel they have turned a corner in their lives.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Violent Attraction
Listening to the R&B station, I noticed a number of songs expressing the desire to get back together with an old boyfriend or girlfriend and how things would be better this time.
Over the years (she said from her rocking chair), I've actually had those sorts of opportunities, but I'm not sure they were better the second time. Unless you count shorter time spans as better :)
Out of all the guys I've dated, there's only two that I was absolutely madly love-at-first-sightly crazy about. I suppose that's lucky, but neither of them is in my life now. Still, I don't think I'd go bonkers if I ran into them having dinner or bowling somewhere with their new spouses, like my Sims2 folks do.
In Sims2: Nightlife (great transition, huh?), this is the horrible side effect of the "attraction" system. If my Sim finds someone attractive, there's a cute little lightning bolt in their headshot within the friends gallery. If my Sim really really likes them, there's two lightning bolts. These degrees of attraction are related to the Sims' astrological signs as well as their common interests.
That's pretty random, just like real life. Fortunately, many of my Sims were already married or engaged to someone with mutual lightning bolts for each other. This means I know these poor imaginary friends so well that my matchmaking skills are +100 with them. Sounds good, right? Except, again as in real life, Sims can find more than one person attractive. And they get massively jealous when they see a Sim they find attractive out with another Sim, even if those Sims are married/engaged/going steady.
Further, even if neither of these Sims have ever spoken with each other, having that attraction is enough to suddenly fill the jealous Sim with rage. They pick fights and ruin friendships if they see a happy Sim couple anywhere and they're attracted to one of them.
It makes for miserable game play.
I've had to divide up several multi-couple houses because Husband A is attracted to Wife B, even if she's not attracted to him. Husband A will start poking and arguing with Husband B. It means I have to keep a close watch on everyone and how they feel about everyone else beyond my sixth sense about which Sims would make a nice couple. I can't even have someone come over for dinner without looking at everyone's friends gallery to make sure no one else in that household finds the potential guest attractive.
And I thought finding Project Boyfriend candidates was hard. It's nothing compared to this.
Over the years (she said from her rocking chair), I've actually had those sorts of opportunities, but I'm not sure they were better the second time. Unless you count shorter time spans as better :)
Out of all the guys I've dated, there's only two that I was absolutely madly love-at-first-sightly crazy about. I suppose that's lucky, but neither of them is in my life now. Still, I don't think I'd go bonkers if I ran into them having dinner or bowling somewhere with their new spouses, like my Sims2 folks do.
In Sims2: Nightlife (great transition, huh?), this is the horrible side effect of the "attraction" system. If my Sim finds someone attractive, there's a cute little lightning bolt in their headshot within the friends gallery. If my Sim really really likes them, there's two lightning bolts. These degrees of attraction are related to the Sims' astrological signs as well as their common interests.
That's pretty random, just like real life. Fortunately, many of my Sims were already married or engaged to someone with mutual lightning bolts for each other. This means I know these poor imaginary friends so well that my matchmaking skills are +100 with them. Sounds good, right? Except, again as in real life, Sims can find more than one person attractive. And they get massively jealous when they see a Sim they find attractive out with another Sim, even if those Sims are married/engaged/going steady.
Further, even if neither of these Sims have ever spoken with each other, having that attraction is enough to suddenly fill the jealous Sim with rage. They pick fights and ruin friendships if they see a happy Sim couple anywhere and they're attracted to one of them.
It makes for miserable game play.
I've had to divide up several multi-couple houses because Husband A is attracted to Wife B, even if she's not attracted to him. Husband A will start poking and arguing with Husband B. It means I have to keep a close watch on everyone and how they feel about everyone else beyond my sixth sense about which Sims would make a nice couple. I can't even have someone come over for dinner without looking at everyone's friends gallery to make sure no one else in that household finds the potential guest attractive.
And I thought finding Project Boyfriend candidates was hard. It's nothing compared to this.
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Sunday in the Park
Balboa Park is only five minutes or so from my apartment. Today I went to the Museum of Photography to meet a Project Boyfriend contestant. Apparently, everyone in San Diego decided to descend upon Balboa Park, and I truly can't blame them. It's a beautiful day! Enough of a breeze to be cool, blue skies and sunshine.
I had a lovely time. We walked through the museum, sat by the fountain and then walked through the rose and cactus gardens before heading our separate ways to our cars. If I'd gotten an earlier start on the day, I might have actually walked all the way over, since it's truly not that far away.
Walking is the type of exercise I prefer to all others. With the right shoes and some water to drink, one can walk for hours. I might give it a go next weekend if the weather is as nice. It would be relaxing to spread a blanket on the grass and lay out with a book for a while.
I had a lovely time. We walked through the museum, sat by the fountain and then walked through the rose and cactus gardens before heading our separate ways to our cars. If I'd gotten an earlier start on the day, I might have actually walked all the way over, since it's truly not that far away.
Walking is the type of exercise I prefer to all others. With the right shoes and some water to drink, one can walk for hours. I might give it a go next weekend if the weather is as nice. It would be relaxing to spread a blanket on the grass and lay out with a book for a while.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Knit Four
Rather than doing my current project in feather and fan, I thought perhaps I should keep it simple since I'd really like to complete it before the baby starts school. Instead, I am doing this very easy diagonal baby blanket. The only change I've made is to use a different brand of yarn, as the shop was out of the pound of yarn called for in a color suitable for a baby boy. I'm making it in a dusky, denimy blue that feels very nice.
I wish I'd re-taken up with the knitting before. It would have filled lots of hours lost to Sims 2 University, that's for sure. :)
Lately I've been playing around with a variety of free online games to see what else is out there. I already know I don't like FPS, but there's so many interesting and surprisingly free games in the world...mini-games, RPGs, weird ones like Kitten Cannon. I might jot down some highlights later. So far, I think my favorite is one of those mini-games that I find so endlessly fascinating: Slideout.
I wish I'd re-taken up with the knitting before. It would have filled lots of hours lost to Sims 2 University, that's for sure. :)
Lately I've been playing around with a variety of free online games to see what else is out there. I already know I don't like FPS, but there's so many interesting and surprisingly free games in the world...mini-games, RPGs, weird ones like Kitten Cannon. I might jot down some highlights later. So far, I think my favorite is one of those mini-games that I find so endlessly fascinating: Slideout.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
The Doomsday Machine
I've enjoyed the digitally remastered Star Trek episodes. Star Trek was so cool to me back in the day, I was dismayed to realize I'd be in my 40's in the 21st century :) I wanted to be young enough to join Star Fleet because I was going to be Lt. Uhura someday. Hahaha!
Last week's show was one of my favorites, The Doomsday Machine, or as my sister and I like to call it, "The Ham Hock Episode" due to the machine's shape. While it's still going to be a favorite of mine, I have to admit that I miss the sparkly glittery innards of the old ham hock. It's much more impressive now with its spiffy CGI-ness. And, the shots of the Constellation adrift are really nice, especially when a little asteroid hits it and falls to pieces as one might expect.
But when they showed the interior of the ham hock, I was disappointed. Instead of enhancing its peculiar iridescent swirl, they replaced it entirely with an orange flame. Nice, but now how I remember it.
Oh, well. They aren't trying to please just me. At least they've been doing some of my favorite episodes so that's good.
My eyes are shutting on me, telling me I'm exhausted. Could it be because I was flipping channels last night and got hooked on VH1's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders, hosted by William Shatner? Until (I believe) 3AM whereupon I fell asleep, completely missing the top ten anyway? :(
Last week's show was one of my favorites, The Doomsday Machine, or as my sister and I like to call it, "The Ham Hock Episode" due to the machine's shape. While it's still going to be a favorite of mine, I have to admit that I miss the sparkly glittery innards of the old ham hock. It's much more impressive now with its spiffy CGI-ness. And, the shots of the Constellation adrift are really nice, especially when a little asteroid hits it and falls to pieces as one might expect.
But when they showed the interior of the ham hock, I was disappointed. Instead of enhancing its peculiar iridescent swirl, they replaced it entirely with an orange flame. Nice, but now how I remember it.
Oh, well. They aren't trying to please just me. At least they've been doing some of my favorite episodes so that's good.
My eyes are shutting on me, telling me I'm exhausted. Could it be because I was flipping channels last night and got hooked on VH1's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders, hosted by William Shatner? Until (I believe) 3AM whereupon I fell asleep, completely missing the top ten anyway? :(
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Best Birthday Ever!
This year a bunch of places that I've signed up with in the past sent me emails with coupons for free food or percents off their goods for my birthday.
Today's free lunch was courtesy Red Robin's birthday club :) In my purse is a coupon for a free Coldstone Creamery creation. And then there was the coupon for a free lunch special at Knockout Pizza, which unfortunately expired today as they only gave me two days in which to use it. But it's the thought that counts!
My sister spent the day (and a lot of money) entertaining me and my usual lunchtime suspects. She took us all to Le Peep for breakfast as lunch, which is always a favorite with me. Then we went to dinner at Tajima's, which our Japanese community rep Midori had recommended to us for its okonomiyaki. Very tasty! Barb and I followed this with a visit to Mitsuwa to look at Japanese groceries and sundries, which remind us of Hawaii every time.
I bought a tetsubin (cast iron tea pot) for myself; I've always wanted one, and this one is gorgeous, with a little stand and two tea cups.
And then, there is the new love of my life: my pink DS lite! Yay! Rob very thoughtfully had it sent to my office last week and I took it with me on my trip, playing the heck out of Animal Crossing every chance I got. Once back at work, Paul let me borrow his Animal Crossing game, SimSlayer Joe lent me his DS and I went fruit foraging in Paul's little town :) Now I am the happy gardener with every single type of fruit in the world!
Combined with a wonderful weekend, the magic bay leaf dinner and cookies by Chris and all this goodness in the form of food and DS-ness, this has been a marvy-cool birthday.
Thank you, y'all! :)
Today's free lunch was courtesy Red Robin's birthday club :) In my purse is a coupon for a free Coldstone Creamery creation. And then there was the coupon for a free lunch special at Knockout Pizza, which unfortunately expired today as they only gave me two days in which to use it. But it's the thought that counts!
My sister spent the day (and a lot of money) entertaining me and my usual lunchtime suspects. She took us all to Le Peep for breakfast as lunch, which is always a favorite with me. Then we went to dinner at Tajima's, which our Japanese community rep Midori had recommended to us for its okonomiyaki. Very tasty! Barb and I followed this with a visit to Mitsuwa to look at Japanese groceries and sundries, which remind us of Hawaii every time.
I bought a tetsubin (cast iron tea pot) for myself; I've always wanted one, and this one is gorgeous, with a little stand and two tea cups.
And then, there is the new love of my life: my pink DS lite! Yay! Rob very thoughtfully had it sent to my office last week and I took it with me on my trip, playing the heck out of Animal Crossing every chance I got. Once back at work, Paul let me borrow his Animal Crossing game, SimSlayer Joe lent me his DS and I went fruit foraging in Paul's little town :) Now I am the happy gardener with every single type of fruit in the world!
Combined with a wonderful weekend, the magic bay leaf dinner and cookies by Chris and all this goodness in the form of food and DS-ness, this has been a marvy-cool birthday.
Thank you, y'all! :)
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Mad Knitters
Ever since this knitting madness came upon me, I started looking for different websites with various patterns for things I could make. I'm currently making a beret, but it doesn't look like much.
Then I found a pattern for a hat and this one promises a hat from any yarn at any gauge for anyone. You have to love someone whose instructions list for an easy hat includes "Robert Mondavi Shiraz." [which, when you just glance at a pattern, you'll know that a lot of them include the brand names of the yarn they're using, so I didn't catch it right off, until I went back to see if I had everything...and I did have enought stuff to do this hat, except for the shiraz...but we digress...]
In today's lunch episode, a small group of us went to Buca, which now serves lunch. Seemed like a good choice, except that when the poor waiter asked me what I wanted to drink, they were out of iced tea. Followed by, they don't serve Coke products...and then when I was ready to order lunch, they hadn't made any lasagna.
How can an Italian restaurant not have lasagna!?
Matt offered to throw a fit on my behalf. SimSlayer Joe suggested he wait until we had our food in front of us so it wouldn't be spat upon. I am practicing being calm in Matt's presence, so I tried not to kick him and tell him to knock it off. And all's well that ends well, as Buca did have my second choice meal and Matt restrained himself so that we may be able to go back for lunch someday.
Then I found a pattern for a hat and this one promises a hat from any yarn at any gauge for anyone. You have to love someone whose instructions list for an easy hat includes "Robert Mondavi Shiraz." [which, when you just glance at a pattern, you'll know that a lot of them include the brand names of the yarn they're using, so I didn't catch it right off, until I went back to see if I had everything...and I did have enought stuff to do this hat, except for the shiraz...but we digress...]
In today's lunch episode, a small group of us went to Buca, which now serves lunch. Seemed like a good choice, except that when the poor waiter asked me what I wanted to drink, they were out of iced tea. Followed by, they don't serve Coke products...and then when I was ready to order lunch, they hadn't made any lasagna.
How can an Italian restaurant not have lasagna!?
Matt offered to throw a fit on my behalf. SimSlayer Joe suggested he wait until we had our food in front of us so it wouldn't be spat upon. I am practicing being calm in Matt's presence, so I tried not to kick him and tell him to knock it off. And all's well that ends well, as Buca did have my second choice meal and Matt restrained himself so that we may be able to go back for lunch someday.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Knit Three
Ten minutes from my apartment is a shop that sells spiffy yarns. They also offer knitting classes. I've just returned home from my Continental method class and can now knit and purl with the yarn in my left hand! Not very well, but I just need some practice. Well, lots of practice. But having seen someone knitting this way first-hand rather than just in a book helped me immensely in figuring things out.
We shall see how long this phase lasts. I also bought a circular needle and some nice woolly cotton mix yarn to knit another scarf out of. I'm going to try diagonal knitting, which sounds pretty simple. Hopefully, it is.
I've temporarily lost the hearing in my left ear, which is pretty interesting. When my head tilts a certain way I can sense all the marbles moving :D But I just can't hear them. This should resolve itself...and I certainly hope it does before an ear infection sets in cause that would seriously suck.
Otherwise a placid day around ye olde apartment. Caught up with all my game magazines yesterday and had an absolutely brilliant idea...but couldn't find a pen, and by the time I got one, the idea had fled. Stupid ideas.
We shall see how long this phase lasts. I also bought a circular needle and some nice woolly cotton mix yarn to knit another scarf out of. I'm going to try diagonal knitting, which sounds pretty simple. Hopefully, it is.
I've temporarily lost the hearing in my left ear, which is pretty interesting. When my head tilts a certain way I can sense all the marbles moving :D But I just can't hear them. This should resolve itself...and I certainly hope it does before an ear infection sets in cause that would seriously suck.
Otherwise a placid day around ye olde apartment. Caught up with all my game magazines yesterday and had an absolutely brilliant idea...but couldn't find a pen, and by the time I got one, the idea had fled. Stupid ideas.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Knit Two
Cyd's scarf is done and looks good with her autumnal coloring :) I've moved on to knitting a hat to wear on my travels because according to the Weather Channel, some of my destinations are having weather in the 30s. Do I want to buy a hat for a couple of trips? No! I'm too damn cheap! But I have yarn, knitting needles and the internet. What could possibly go wrong?
:)
I have to get my knitting projects done while the inspiration is with me, else things will end up un-knit for years, languishing with a knitting needle holding together the row at which point I stopped.
Steph...this is all your fault! Argh!
In the "Oooh!" news department, I'm going to be a little speaker at the Game Developer's Conference this year. Yay! Although I must admit, part of my excitement is that speakers get a VIP pass, which means I can attend all the sessions that aren't happening at the same time as mine. The session I'm involved with is a panel on how to swing your non-gamey skills into a game job. Well, I am your poster child for having non-gamey skillz!
And then I'll end GDC week by staying over in San Francisco for an extra couple of days. Hopefully Barb will be able to break away and join me...for behold! There is a Lush store on the street outside my hotel where we can pick up a one or two scented goodies! Well, quite a few scented goodies as all the stuff I bought last year in Hawaii is used up and I must get more! More! MORE!
Sushi...this is all your fault! :D
:)
I have to get my knitting projects done while the inspiration is with me, else things will end up un-knit for years, languishing with a knitting needle holding together the row at which point I stopped.
Steph...this is all your fault! Argh!
In the "Oooh!" news department, I'm going to be a little speaker at the Game Developer's Conference this year. Yay! Although I must admit, part of my excitement is that speakers get a VIP pass, which means I can attend all the sessions that aren't happening at the same time as mine. The session I'm involved with is a panel on how to swing your non-gamey skills into a game job. Well, I am your poster child for having non-gamey skillz!
And then I'll end GDC week by staying over in San Francisco for an extra couple of days. Hopefully Barb will be able to break away and join me...for behold! There is a Lush store on the street outside my hotel where we can pick up a one or two scented goodies! Well, quite a few scented goodies as all the stuff I bought last year in Hawaii is used up and I must get more! More! MORE!
Sushi...this is all your fault! :D
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Scarf it down!
My fuzzy Windy City scarf complete, I wore it to work today whereat Barb admired it and commented how my niece might like one (or more like, how my sister might like one so Cyd won't lose it).
And so, tonight I caught up on some TiVo and started another scarf for Cyd out of some of Suz's yarn. I think Suz would've liked that.
Mittens is trying desperately to climb into my lap. It was bad enough when I was knitting and he kept trying to climb on in, yarn be damned. It's even more difficult trying to type on my laptop around him.
What he's trying to say is, is that it's my bedtime and I need to go to sleep.
And on that note...what does it mean when one cat washes the face of another cat? Is it that she's tasting him to see if he's edible or does it mean that Melody and Mittens have reached another level of acceptance? Curious minds want to know!
And so, tonight I caught up on some TiVo and started another scarf for Cyd out of some of Suz's yarn. I think Suz would've liked that.
Mittens is trying desperately to climb into my lap. It was bad enough when I was knitting and he kept trying to climb on in, yarn be damned. It's even more difficult trying to type on my laptop around him.
What he's trying to say is, is that it's my bedtime and I need to go to sleep.
And on that note...what does it mean when one cat washes the face of another cat? Is it that she's tasting him to see if he's edible or does it mean that Melody and Mittens have reached another level of acceptance? Curious minds want to know!
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Knitting
Inspired by Steph's recent accomplishments, I took up my needles and have nearly finished a scarf. Very similar to that one, anyway, only slightly shorter and of a nappier yarn (to hide the error of my knitty ways). It's only about an hour away from completion.
If I'm lucky, it'll stay cool long enough for me to actually wear it around here. By gosh, it's fricking cold down here!
It would have been finished by now if I had actually read the instructions instead of just looking at the photo in the book and saying, "Cool. I can do that."
After an hour's going, I glanced down and realized my scarf was twice as wide as it needed to be, so I had to riiiiiip it apart and start over. And there were a couple of times when I got to thinking about something else and knit when I should've purled, but with the nappy yarn you can't tell. Bwahahahaha!
Chris and I went to see Pan's Labyrinth on Saturday with Matt, Jose and Jose's friend whose name escapes me. It was an awesome film (if a bit bloody...I spent some time with my eyes squeezed tightly shut). Then, against my better judgment, we had dinner with them too. Chris says Matt brings out the best in me, but I'd like to think my best is better than profanity, kicking under the table and stink eye. :( Mostly I think my cherub just enjoys seeing me get into trouble.
Men.
If I'm lucky, it'll stay cool long enough for me to actually wear it around here. By gosh, it's fricking cold down here!
It would have been finished by now if I had actually read the instructions instead of just looking at the photo in the book and saying, "Cool. I can do that."
After an hour's going, I glanced down and realized my scarf was twice as wide as it needed to be, so I had to riiiiiip it apart and start over. And there were a couple of times when I got to thinking about something else and knit when I should've purled, but with the nappy yarn you can't tell. Bwahahahaha!
Chris and I went to see Pan's Labyrinth on Saturday with Matt, Jose and Jose's friend whose name escapes me. It was an awesome film (if a bit bloody...I spent some time with my eyes squeezed tightly shut). Then, against my better judgment, we had dinner with them too. Chris says Matt brings out the best in me, but I'd like to think my best is better than profanity, kicking under the table and stink eye. :( Mostly I think my cherub just enjoys seeing me get into trouble.
Men.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Frostfell!
I love Frostfell :) Especially since I don't have to work on anything but the little book for the quest reward, I can relax and enjoy the festivities.
Last year was our first Frostfell and it was a lot of fun. Liz does a fantastic job of coming up with and fleshing out goofy ideas! This year, it seems even more fun and I found myself staying late at the office tonight to get in a few more rounds of harvesting so I can make some fireplaces and stuff for our happy homes. I spent a good couple of days on this activity as well as the McSroogle quest (so I can get a copy of my book again this year) and I haven't even scratched the surface of all the things to do!
Liz also bought us a home to share in Qeynos Harbor so we would could unload our Frostfell goodies closer to the center of activity. Earlier today we snuck in one of her Freeport characters with an inventory of home decor items and I followed her through the area, rezzing her every time a guard killed her. I believe she was down to 20% on her armor before we were safely within the new digs.
Oddly enough, every time she died, she attracted a small crowd of onlookers. These are probably the same folks that slow down when driving past accidents on the freeway. It was kind of funny...and I felt somewhat like a traitor to my city every time I brought her back to life and told her to run for it!
Maybe it was a good thing I was online so late as Matt messaged me from Singapore. We've been kind of wondering where he's gotten to, since he had a pretty aimless vacation plan. Last we'd heard, he'd gotten stranded in Tibet. But no, apparently he's doing fine other than slicing open his big toe and annoying the folks at the hostel as he dripped blood through their common rooms. It was good to hear from him.
Last year was our first Frostfell and it was a lot of fun. Liz does a fantastic job of coming up with and fleshing out goofy ideas! This year, it seems even more fun and I found myself staying late at the office tonight to get in a few more rounds of harvesting so I can make some fireplaces and stuff for our happy homes. I spent a good couple of days on this activity as well as the McSroogle quest (so I can get a copy of my book again this year) and I haven't even scratched the surface of all the things to do!
Liz also bought us a home to share in Qeynos Harbor so we would could unload our Frostfell goodies closer to the center of activity. Earlier today we snuck in one of her Freeport characters with an inventory of home decor items and I followed her through the area, rezzing her every time a guard killed her. I believe she was down to 20% on her armor before we were safely within the new digs.
Oddly enough, every time she died, she attracted a small crowd of onlookers. These are probably the same folks that slow down when driving past accidents on the freeway. It was kind of funny...and I felt somewhat like a traitor to my city every time I brought her back to life and told her to run for it!
Maybe it was a good thing I was online so late as Matt messaged me from Singapore. We've been kind of wondering where he's gotten to, since he had a pretty aimless vacation plan. Last we'd heard, he'd gotten stranded in Tibet. But no, apparently he's doing fine other than slicing open his big toe and annoying the folks at the hostel as he dripped blood through their common rooms. It was good to hear from him.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Success!
Been trying to post for the past couple of days, but Blogger has insisted my directory doesn't exist. Haven't touched anything that looks like a directory lately, so I suspect it's really that Blogger wants me to switch to their beta release and I am stubbornly refusing to do so.
After searching through various forums about blogger issues, I finally found a post that provided the solution for my ftp issues, though apparently other folks still can't ftp to their external sites. I had to add a period to my ftp pathname. Go figure...it worked without one since 2001, but now apparently wants to go all uterine and require a period. Whatever.
This is a low-key weekend, just hanging out and being quiet. Went to the company party on Friday, mostly to check out the Museum of Natural History. I hate to say I was underwhelmed by it; maybe they'd locked up some of the rooms to keep drunken party-goers from ruining displays. It seemed awfully small and disappointing, though. I had a tonic water, said hello to a couple of other devs and their dates, then left. Never did run into Broos, presuming he was there, so it's a good thing I didn't bring along any chocolate shortbread for him.
Chris is in Hawaii with my sister and niece for U2/Pearl Jam. I have to go swipe Barb's car later to pick them all up at the airport tonight. They'd best all be bringing me napples! =)
Later today I'm going to Solana Beach to visit a shop that I've been curious to see ever since one of our artists mentioned it to me: Leaping Lotus. That will be followed by a date with another internet dude (Project Boyfriend continues) before I pick up the family and return them home.
After searching through various forums about blogger issues, I finally found a post that provided the solution for my ftp issues, though apparently other folks still can't ftp to their external sites. I had to add a period to my ftp pathname. Go figure...it worked without one since 2001, but now apparently wants to go all uterine and require a period. Whatever.
This is a low-key weekend, just hanging out and being quiet. Went to the company party on Friday, mostly to check out the Museum of Natural History. I hate to say I was underwhelmed by it; maybe they'd locked up some of the rooms to keep drunken party-goers from ruining displays. It seemed awfully small and disappointing, though. I had a tonic water, said hello to a couple of other devs and their dates, then left. Never did run into Broos, presuming he was there, so it's a good thing I didn't bring along any chocolate shortbread for him.
Chris is in Hawaii with my sister and niece for U2/Pearl Jam. I have to go swipe Barb's car later to pick them all up at the airport tonight. They'd best all be bringing me napples! =)
Later today I'm going to Solana Beach to visit a shop that I've been curious to see ever since one of our artists mentioned it to me: Leaping Lotus. That will be followed by a date with another internet dude (Project Boyfriend continues) before I pick up the family and return them home.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Why I Hate Exercise
1. I hate perspiring.
2. The gym is always too cold.
3. The locker rooms smell funny.
4. Sweaty people make me nervous.
5. Exercise clothes are expensive.
6. I'm uncoordinated.
7. The other girls are in better shape than me.
8. I grapevine left; everyone else grapevines right.
9. The classes are inconvenient.
10. The gym is too warm.
11. Everyone else is wearing better gym clothes.
12. I hate perspiring.
13. The gym is too crowded.
14. There's never anyone else in the gym.
15. Public showers are uncool, except for onsen.
Those are my reasons. What are yours?
2. The gym is always too cold.
3. The locker rooms smell funny.
4. Sweaty people make me nervous.
5. Exercise clothes are expensive.
6. I'm uncoordinated.
7. The other girls are in better shape than me.
8. I grapevine left; everyone else grapevines right.
9. The classes are inconvenient.
10. The gym is too warm.
11. Everyone else is wearing better gym clothes.
12. I hate perspiring.
13. The gym is too crowded.
14. There's never anyone else in the gym.
15. Public showers are uncool, except for onsen.
Those are my reasons. What are yours?
Thursday, November 09, 2006
That Soundtrack Thing
I burned a CD of my soundtrack and played it in my car tonight to ensure that it would work on something other than my PC. And you know...I really like it (up to track 15 anyway).
Tomorrow, I will have quite a different CD in the car, for my Italian language lessons have arrived and I shall be repeating after my invisible instructors on the way to and from work.
The only problem I foresee is that I will be too shy to actually speak to anyone in Italian. It happened every trip to Japan; I couldn't say more than a few Japanese words to anyone. In Moscow, it wasn't so much of a problem as I knew exactly two words of Russian, and even though the nice chaps at Akella tried to teach us a few more words, I came away with my same two words :) At least they are polite ones!
Listening to myself speak, when I'm alone anyway, I think I sound like a reasonable facsimile of whatever native speaker I'm imitating. I don't know why it frightens me to think of talking to someone in their own language.
So we shall see. I have three different types of language CDs as well as a dictionary and that's got to be enough to grant me two whole sentences in Italian by the time I take my trip! :)
Tomorrow, I will have quite a different CD in the car, for my Italian language lessons have arrived and I shall be repeating after my invisible instructors on the way to and from work.
The only problem I foresee is that I will be too shy to actually speak to anyone in Italian. It happened every trip to Japan; I couldn't say more than a few Japanese words to anyone. In Moscow, it wasn't so much of a problem as I knew exactly two words of Russian, and even though the nice chaps at Akella tried to teach us a few more words, I came away with my same two words :) At least they are polite ones!
Listening to myself speak, when I'm alone anyway, I think I sound like a reasonable facsimile of whatever native speaker I'm imitating. I don't know why it frightens me to think of talking to someone in their own language.
So we shall see. I have three different types of language CDs as well as a dictionary and that's got to be enough to grant me two whole sentences in Italian by the time I take my trip! :)
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Sadness and Song
The news is finally out. Naturally, sharing an office with Steve, I've known his news for some time. When I came into the office the other day to see that he'd packed up half of his toy collection, I stood in the doorway and just felt so, so sad.
Yeah, I threw an owl at him. Yeah, we swear at each other almost every day. Yeah, I'm totally going to miss him.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Ooh. The Soundtrack thing! (Clever segue, eh?) I'd been meaning to put this up ever since I got it from someone on MySpace a couple weeks ago, but haven't had time. Now that Melissa has also put up a soundtrack of her life, I'm inspired to do mine! And so, here we go:
Opening Credits:
"Better People"- India.Arie
Waking Up:
"Bad Connection" Yaz
First Day At School:
"Ebudae" Enya
Falling In Love:
"Going Out of My Head" Queen Latifah
Fight Song:
"Ecstasy" George Fenton
Breaking Up:
"Don't Stop" The Brazilian Girls
Prom:
"Rockin' After Midnight" Marvin Gaye
Life is Good:
"Do You Remember" Jack Johnson
Mental Breakdown:
"That's Why I'm Here" James Taylor
Driving:
"Let's Groove" Earth, Wind and Fire
Flashback:
"New Kid in Town" The Eagles
Getting Back Together:
"Keep the Fire" Kenny Loggins
Wedding:
"More of the Night" The Whispers
Final Battle:
"A Love Song" Loggins and Messina
Death Scene:
"That's What A Fae Can Be" I kid you not...sometime I'll put the mp3 of just the song on my website...Steve Danuser, Ryan Shwayder and me
Funeral Song:
"On My Way Home" Enya
End Credits:
"Bailero" Sarah Brightman
Yeah, I threw an owl at him. Yeah, we swear at each other almost every day. Yeah, I'm totally going to miss him.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Ooh. The Soundtrack thing! (Clever segue, eh?) I'd been meaning to put this up ever since I got it from someone on MySpace a couple weeks ago, but haven't had time. Now that Melissa has also put up a soundtrack of her life, I'm inspired to do mine! And so, here we go:
Opening Credits:
"Better People"- India.Arie
Waking Up:
"Bad Connection" Yaz
First Day At School:
"Ebudae" Enya
Falling In Love:
"Going Out of My Head" Queen Latifah
Fight Song:
"Ecstasy" George Fenton
Breaking Up:
"Don't Stop" The Brazilian Girls
Prom:
"Rockin' After Midnight" Marvin Gaye
Life is Good:
"Do You Remember" Jack Johnson
Mental Breakdown:
"That's Why I'm Here" James Taylor
Driving:
"Let's Groove" Earth, Wind and Fire
Flashback:
"New Kid in Town" The Eagles
Getting Back Together:
"Keep the Fire" Kenny Loggins
Wedding:
"More of the Night" The Whispers
Final Battle:
"A Love Song" Loggins and Messina
Death Scene:
"That's What A Fae Can Be" I kid you not...sometime I'll put the mp3 of just the song on my website...Steve Danuser, Ryan Shwayder and me
Funeral Song:
"On My Way Home" Enya
End Credits:
"Bailero" Sarah Brightman
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Poetry and Prose
In order to meet menfolk beyond the gaming gene pool, I put up little dating profiles at Match and Yahoo, signed up for a couple of months of eHarmony and attended a speed dating event.
Dating has always been a mysterious process. I find myself second-guessing the profiles of the supposed matches...he still seems bitter...surely he's adding on an extra bit of height...and subtracting some girth...this profile isn't what I'd actually meet. So far, including the time that Melani and I went through this all those years ago, I've been right.
The men I've met (whether face to face or not) through these dating adventures are mostly prose. They're nice enough but I kept hoping there'd be poetry somewhere. A song, a spark...something.
I'm still optimistic. Poetry is on the horizon, perhaps it is in my life even now. That's the beauty of being a hopeless romantic! Romance is always a possibility!
Could it already be here? :)
Dating has always been a mysterious process. I find myself second-guessing the profiles of the supposed matches...he still seems bitter...surely he's adding on an extra bit of height...and subtracting some girth...this profile isn't what I'd actually meet. So far, including the time that Melani and I went through this all those years ago, I've been right.
The men I've met (whether face to face or not) through these dating adventures are mostly prose. They're nice enough but I kept hoping there'd be poetry somewhere. A song, a spark...something.
I'm still optimistic. Poetry is on the horizon, perhaps it is in my life even now. That's the beauty of being a hopeless romantic! Romance is always a possibility!
Could it already be here? :)
Sunday, October 01, 2006
See Tracy Travel!
Photos from Russia are up now! I still have some on my disposable camera, mainly of Red Square at night.
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