| Columbia Blue |
[Oct. 18th, 2009|08:15 pm] |
Friday night, I got to see a new 35mm print of Aliens at the Kentucky Theater. Looked fantastic. This movie hasn't lost a thing in 23 years.
Saturday night was my 20-year high school reunion. I had a rather terrific time. Saw some old friends, and caught up with a few in particular. One very interesting data point was revealed to me, inadvertently, and I'm debating on what to do with it.
Today, football, reading, game stuff, and baseball. Recently read Tim Powers' On Stranger Tides, and loved it. I'm to understand that the story and title have been purchased by Disney for the next Pirates of the Caribbean movie.
My Dodgers are currently in the first inning of Game 3 of the NLCS. At Philadelphia, ugh. I am hoping so very much for a Dodgers-Yankees World Series.
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| Never Let Me Down Again |
[Sep. 20th, 2009|09:38 pm] |
The furlough days weren't bad. I had some other work to do, paying and otherwise. I took a few steps towards grad school admission. Funding's going to be the big demon to fight here, but I can overcome it somehow. I'm owed a favor, and it's about of the necessary magnitude.
A good chunk of the past few days has been spent working on Fantasy Craft characters and adventure conversion (from D&D 3.5). Conversion's been pretty easy, character creation less so. There are so many options for characters, and some restrictions, too, of course. I'm going to strongly recommend that a couple of my players make changes to their character choices. |
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| Sunset Grill |
[Sep. 15th, 2009|11:39 pm] |
I'm reaching a point where I get extremely edgy and uncomfortable when I visit my parents. It's for a trivial reason - the house is a constant mess. Useless junk everywhere. Unidentifiable junk. You've got to dig out and move pillows and blankets and other detritus to find a place to sit. I'll freely admit that I'm not an especially good housekeeper, but for crying out loud, it's disturbing down there sometimes.
It's a small stressor, and I don't have to deal with it often, but it just adds to the crazy that's surrounding me already.
Spent a few hours in Louisville Sunday, taking the niece home. We spent some time on Bardstown Road, the first time I'd been there since Derby Night and that particular adventure. Still feeling like I should be there more. Like, on a weekly basis.
One of the last reasons for me to stay in Lexington has evaporated. As it turns out, UofL does offer the same Masters program that I've been looking at UK for. UofL's seems somewhat better set up, particularly in its integration with local government and class scheduling. I've got no small amount of work to do in order to get into either program, of course, and I'm going to go through CERT training and see what's what with the Medical Reserve Corps before I make a final decision. Those look to be good ways to see if this really is what I want to do.
Four-day weekend coming up. Hoping to finish up prep work for a Fantasy Craft game. Was planning a trip to the Gulf with my dad, but things didn't work out on his end, and, to some degree, I'm relieved. I fully expect that such a trip would have resulted in a huge fight at one point, as a conversation about religion would have come up eventually.
Friends, there are some changes coming. One way or another; I just hope against hope that I can make them happen on my own terms. |
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| Flashing Lights |
[Sep. 12th, 2009|07:23 pm] |
Short week, and it went by quickly. My dislike for a certain ad agency grows, though.
Worked on characters for the Fantasy Craft game today. I've got high hopes for this; still no real consensus on what the follow-on longer-term game is going to be, though.
I've started playing World of Warcraft. I finally see what all of the fuss is about - this is pretty darn terrific.
Archon's in three weeks. This has snuck up on me. Again. |
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| Missing You |
[Sep. 7th, 2009|10:43 am] |
It's Labor Day. Traditionally here in the US, it's the emotional end of summer, and for me, the beginning of what has long been my favorite time of year. There's always something about the stretch from Labor Day to Thanksgiving that makes me happy. I think it's remembering how good the beginning of a new academic year felt.
This year, though, is different. After a wonderful spring, summer was stressful and lonely. Insomnia and fatigue were far too common. And I'm just not looking forward to the changing of seasons this time around.
I'm not happy or even content with much in my life right now. Living situation, the job, creative impulse, family - it all feels like a mess, like I'm just going through motions. Friends are keeping me going, and #1 Crush pointed me towards some volunteer programs that are going to help me make a real decision about pursuing the next degree and bailing out on a dying industry for the public sector.
I guess it's not all gloom (despite the weather at the moment). Looks like we're going to start gaming again in the next couple of weeks. Today could be a great day to work on characters, as the weather may put the kibosh on plans for grilling and spending time outside this afternoon.
A storm just blew through. I used to love thunderstorms. Used to love their energy and the feeling of immediate violence. Now, they just make me cross. |
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| The Space Between Us |
[Aug. 20th, 2009|08:16 pm] |
Third try at this entry. There's something stirring in the ether.
Mecha & Manga is a good read. I don't know how much use I'd get out of it in a potential Mutants & Masterminds game, though.
Likewise, I'm really enjoying reading Rogue Trader. It's more appealing to me than Dark Heresy - I like the focus on exploration and exploitation.
My contributor's copy of Spycraft Declassified: Odd Jobs was waiting for me when I got back to the office Tuesday morning. One of the collected articles in that volume included an expert class I'd forgotten about - it's potentially plenty useful for my JEI game.
Looking at a significant sell-off of my gaming collection. Stuff I've had for years with minimal use and little chance of using it in the future, things that just don't capture my imagination anymore.
Still dealing with the higher degree itch. No way I'm going to shoot for the Masters or PhD in English. That ship ... well, it didn't so much sail as was scrapped before even being commissioned. I'm about to a point that I'm willing to take advantage of parental guilt to help pay for such a project.
The weekend looms. Won't be as eventful as last weekend, but hopefully I'll find some fun to get into.
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| Broken Arrow |
[Aug. 17th, 2009|07:07 pm] |
So, GenCon ...
I picked up the two Crafty Games partners at the airport Wednesday afternoon. Met up with the team for the weekend that night. Out to a late dinner and catching up and introductions. Volunteered to take some display material to the Mongoose booth Thursday morning.
Got into the exhibitors' hall a little after 9 am and set up the banners. Hardback copies Fantasy Craft were there (pleasant surprise!), and I picked two copies. Roamed around, then found a place to hole up and watch the crowds flow in. My 2 pm game went off well - good players and the adventure rocked. Ducked out of the live-action game to meet with a real estate agent and then dinner with an old friend who lives in Indy.
Our backup GM ran my Friday game for me, giving me a day off. Roamed the exhibitors hall again, went to a couple of events, watched lots of minis games, played some board games. Crafty seminar was that night, and dinner followed. Good Chinese, good-natured sniping over drink choices with Alex, then several of us went back to the suite for more bullshitting and the like. Was great to see ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) cybogoblin and hear his good news - congrats again, man!
Saturday morning, I was almost That GM. Slight hangover, 4 hours of sleep. Thankfully, the players were great, and very energetic. Both Saturday games went off well, and the players in the second game really got into the morally grey side of the mission. Ducked out of the live-action game (see a trend here?), grabbed dinner, went to the dance. Good costumes, and lots of fun.
Sunday was travel day for most. I picked up a few more things at the exhibitors' hall, got some other folks to their car, and headed home. Got stuck for about 90 minutes on I-74 while a nasty accident was cleaned up. Dropped off a book when I got to Lexington, then back to the apartment. Too tired to sleep, but finally drifted off around 1. Did next to nothing today. Rested up, read a lot.
Game stuff bought: Mecha & Manga, Fantasy Craft, Mysteries of the Hollow Earth, The Pirate's Guide to Freeport, Rogue Trader, True20 Freeport Companion.
Bits and pieces: Archon's moving from Collinsville to a facility in St. Louis for 2010, and I'm running games there this year, after all. Fantasy Craft was well-recieved, even though we weren't able to say for sure whether or not we'd have books there until Wednesday night. Champions Online looks great, but it's not on OSX, so no joy for me. Dark Sun for D&D4 next year. Pathfinder is a pretty, pretty book. Fantasy Flight really knows how to show off their stuff. The Blazing Saddles costumers were both unexpected and awesome. Red Sonja was lovely, and possibly illegal.
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| Clean Room |
[Jul. 22nd, 2009|07:49 am] |
I've been away for a while.
Still working on stuff for GenCon. Inspiration and motivation now come from the deadline.
Looking for a new city.
Reading Charles Stross's Glasshouse, and enjoying this one.
Good scores at Half Price Books last week - Astral Realms (Mage), Freedom's Most Wanted (M&M), and Disciples of the Dark Gods (Dark Heresy) for about $36, total, and all in excellent condition.
Things remain on a mostly even keel, even if things are a bit empty right now. |
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| Writer's Block: Conversion Rate |
[Jun. 17th, 2009|07:43 am] |
Not seriously, but of late I've been slowly but steadily abandoning even the faith I kept when I quit religion.
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| Wish You Were Here (For Specific Values of "You") |
[Jun. 15th, 2009|08:49 pm] |
Work continues on GenCon stuff. Would have been more productive tonight, but I left my USB drives at the office and had to return for them. Knocked a little bit of the energy off.
May have a short-term solution to my sleep problem. #1 Crush recommended something to me, and I'm going to look into it very soon. |
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| Vacation |
[Jun. 7th, 2009|08:07 pm] |
So, I went to Florida last week. The original plan for the time off was to go to Diecon again, but my enthusiasm completely evaporated in early May, so I extended my time off from work and decided to head somewhere.
I left Lexington around 4:30 Wednesday morning. Made an impulse side trip to Savannah, Georgia, and Tybee Island, both of which were utterly beautiful, but in totally different ways. Spent a few hours at each place, then pressed on to Daytona Beach and spent the night.
Saw Daytona International Speedway, walked around the beach a bit, then headed south to Kennedy Space Center. Holy ground for a space geek like me. Saw Endeavour out on 39-A. Nice long tour of KSC. The astronaut memorial is beautiful. Drove to West Palm Beach and spent the night.
The Shell convenience store where I refuelled in West Palm Beach had a good-sized wine rack, about 20 varieties on hand, with a recommended pairings list. Man, it's a whole other planet sometimes.
Friday was Key West. Got there around noon. Saw the Hemingway House, the end of US1, and met some fun folks from Maryland. Left Key West around 8 p.m., and decided to try driving straight home. Took 22 hours, but I did it. Stops every four hours or so for fuel and drinks, and one real meal along the way.
Lots and lots of time to think while driving. Made some decisions; now to see if I can stick with them.
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| Clock Strikes Ten |
[May. 26th, 2009|07:47 am] |
Saw Terminator Salvation yesterday. Not especially impressed, except for Anton Yelchin's rather spectacular performance as Kyle Reese.
Got in some time with The Niece, and took her home to Louisville in the evening. She's a sweet kid, and it's good to talk with her on these little trips.
Short workweek, of course. And next week, too.
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| Sea of Love |
[May. 24th, 2009|09:28 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  tired | ] |
Erin's graduation was today. Good time, but I'm rather dehydrated and dealing with a headache as a result. Lots of water in the next couple of hours, then to bed for me, I think.
I am tired, and I feel incomplete. |
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| (no subject) |
[May. 16th, 2009|08:00 pm] |
More busy-time at work. W&B are out for a long weekend (back Tuesday), so that's plenty of extra for SC and me. Two weeks until my vacation, though, so it'll all balance out.
Out stupidly late last night. Went out with some friends (birthday celebration). Shot pool (badly), then over to Rosebud. Loud and crowded, short on eye candy. Had plans to continue the party tonight, but no joy.
Presently chatting with #1 Crush. Maybe heading to Louisville tonight anyway. |
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| (no subject) |
[May. 10th, 2009|07:53 am] |
X-Men Origins: Wolverine was rather fun. Nothing remarkable, but worth the $6 and two hours. tegyrius and I engaged in gratuitous mocking of Gambit.
Invincible Iron Man #13: I really hate the Controller.
Power Girl #1: This was fun. If the series keeps this tone, I'm had.
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| Season of the Witch |
[May. 1st, 2009|08:43 pm] |
This was a pretty intense week at the office, what with the launch of a new product and all. Overtime was made available, but I opted for comp time instead. Yay for getting to sleep in.
Swine flu panic! Apocalypse! The End! Load up the car, head to Boulder or Las Vegas!
Not going to Diecon after all. Will be roaming other places instead.
Done with the War Machine comic, I think. Can't even give it one more issue. |
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| Commitment |
[Apr. 5th, 2009|07:33 am] |
Yesterday was a good day. Dad wanted to go to some sort of antique car parts swap meet, and I went along, as it was in Louisville, and I've meant to get up there and screw around for a while now.
Dropped Mom&Dad off at the Fair & Expo Center, and set out to revisit some places in the city that were/are important to me. Hit most of them - The Louisville Game Shop was first on the list of course, and I got in a good hour or so of shooting the breeze with Colin (and bought a couple of books), then out to UofL's campus, to just walk around for a bit. Drove through downtown, just taking turns more or less at random.
So, Louisville definitely stays on the "Yeah, I could move there" list. There are plenty of factors left to determine what happens to me in the next year or so - new job? Grad school? A second Bachelors, instead? - but now, at least, there's a door remaining open. |
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| It All Got Black |
[Mar. 8th, 2009|07:14 am] |
| [ | mood |
| |  sleepy | ] |
Skipped out on gaming last night to go to OGBJim's birthday party. Good times. Curse-a you, Mario Kart.
Up waaaay too early this morning. Early enough, I think, that I'm going back to bed now. |
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| Pictures of You |
[Mar. 5th, 2009|09:38 pm] |
So, Erin called last night - and the timing was rather funny, and with all due respect, it's not really meant for your eyes, dear friends, but someday, the whole story can be told. Maybe. She is, as I write this, attending a performance by the New York Philharmonic at the Norton Center in Danville. On the program for tonight is Pictures at an Exhibition. I am extremely jealous.
Work is going okay. New project lead work tomorrow. That makes me feel a little bit better about job security, but I'm still not relaxed, and won't be until this latest round is hashed out. In the event of job-go-away, there's a good-sized severance package, enough to keep me going here for a while, or resettle me in one of the three cities I'd look at shipping out to pretty quickly.
A fair bit of excitement here in town today. Number One Crush called while it was going down, as she was near The Ridge when, as she put it, half the cops in town suddenly appeared.
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melancholy
rejuvenated
bored
thoughtful