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Thursday, November 19th, 2009
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11:35 am - Wow, three days in a row...
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| Wednesday, November 18th, 2009
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9:11 am - Because it makes me smile...
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I've been looking at this comic
(and enjoying other wonderfully drawn comics here: http://dresdencodak.com/ at desden codak)
It makes me smile, because this is what a lot of science fiction boils down to. I'm also a big fan of the theory that science fiction is the problems of today, viewed through the lens of tomorrow. And ID4? A big xenophobic plot. ;D
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| Tuesday, November 17th, 2009
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10:05 am - 30 Seconds to Mars - This is War
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This was a cool video that a friend showed me- it's a cool little compilation of clips from the movie Serenity and the show Firefly, both by Joss Whedon. Both were fantastic, and it was cool to see the clips artfully arranged. The music isn't too bad, either.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYUW_sUL3rY
Enjoy, denizens of the internet!
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| Saturday, November 14th, 2009
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4:43 pm
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"The government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it."
- Ronald Reagan
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| Thursday, November 5th, 2009
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7:20 pm
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"It is of interest to note that while some dolphins are reported to have learned English -- up to fifty words used in correct context -- no human being has been reported to have learned dolphinese."
- Carl Sagan
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| Wednesday, November 4th, 2009
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1:55 pm
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"Just because something doesn't do what you planned it to do doesn't mean it's useless."
- Thomas A. Edison
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| Thursday, October 22nd, 2009
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12:40 pm
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"A little rebellion now and then is a good thing."
-Thomas Jefferson
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| Monday, October 19th, 2009
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1:46 pm - Perhaps this is the greatest thing ever... only time will tell...
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Okay, so I got a little email today- apparently Jones is doing a special promotion.
They're making D&D sodas.
Now, Jones has a history of making awesome (if weird) sodas- and having tasted the thanksgiving turkey AND the Halloween Candy Corn, I can attest that if they say it tastes like it, it tastes like it. Levi was the first one to introduce me to Jones' soda, so I have him to thank for it.
Anyway, getting back to my point, Jones Soda is making D&D sodas. Seriously? Yes.
  
Even if this wasn't a limited-time thing, a drink named "Potion of Healing," or "Illithid Brain Juice"? I'm sold. Sara convinced me not to buy enough for our whole group of gaming friends (little does she know- the guy who stocks up on healing potions before the dungeon crawl is everyone's best friend), but enough to have some good laughs, and let everyone try a little bit.
And I'll keep a Healing potion on the shelf, just in case.
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| Thursday, October 15th, 2009
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9:34 am
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"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us."
- Bill Watterson
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| Thursday, October 1st, 2009
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1:36 pm
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11:17 am - Baby Gabriel
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Dave and Tania had another baby- they're happily welcoming my nephew, Baby Gabriel, into the world.
We couldn't be more happy!
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| Monday, September 14th, 2009
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2:57 pm
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There's a quote going around- one that heavy right-wing wackos have been quoting over and over- as if they were itching to fulfill it.
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
- Thomas Jefferson
I'll say this one time, for the people who rode in on the short bus. Thomas Jefferson was saying that every generation must make sacrifices to keep liberty alive. I'm not sure these morons are aware of it, but these sacrifices are being made every day. We have soldiers in many countries keeping the peace- and keeping people honest. Our soldiers bleed and die every day in Iraq and Afghanistan, making sure that our generation is aware of the price of liberty and peace.
This is not, as some think, a justification to mutter against Obama turning our country into 'a socialist state.' He's not trying to take guns away from everyone, he's not trying to make everyone pay for health care for illegal immigrants. He's trying to make sure that average Americans (like myself) have affordable health insurance, because we can be denied for an insane number of things.
I worry what the tree of liberty will be used to justify next.
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| Wednesday, September 9th, 2009
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3:53 pm - Nothing to say and no way to say it...
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Okay, so I've been a little tired since we moved. I'm back on my meds, full strength, which doesn't help, and it's been weird having the sunlight stream in the windows in the morning.
I'm tired, and not a lot is going on.
D&D Online is free now, so I updated it on my computer, and it's just as fun as I remember- and it's completely free now. I'm going to try and get Jad to download it and make a character, just so I have someone to do quests with, and I'm hoping it being completely free will be a good incentive.
I'm writing a lot for my Mythweavers games- those are fun, but some of the games just feel like I'm taking up time. I think I'm going to have to get out of those, and just keep up on the ones I'm passionate about.
Wheel of Time's new book comes out in October! Not only that, but you can read the first chapter for free on Tor.com! Go there and read it now! NOW!!!
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| Friday, August 28th, 2009
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10:58 am - Dear Diary...
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Okay, so I haven't been writing much since we moved. I've helped thousands of people move, but honestly, this was MY first big move. It wasn't one of those affairs where I could show up, move hundreds of boxes, have some pizza and go home- I had to stay and help furniture (which I usually do) start unpacking boxes (which I don't typically do), and get everything arranged at the new house.
Moving day was an excersize in Murphy's Law: Anything that can go wrong, will.
We started moving at 9am. Got the keys, got the truck, rushed back to the apartment to meet the people who were going to help us move. None of the people who were going to show up and help at 10am were able to make it. Daniel called, and told us he was on his way, and his help was invaluable. He and I loaded everything heavy into the van, and we packed my mom's car with boxes, and wee took those over to the house. As planned, we were at the house around 1pm, which was the point at which our elder's quorum was supposed to descend in force to help us out (as well as Jad and Bailey, who are moving down from the high desert). No one really came for that.
Nick showed up, and apologized, because his neighbor had a heart attack (or something), and had to go to the emergency room. He stayed and helped for the next six hours, so I'll give him that one. The elders showed up, and they were awesome about helping, and Sara's dad Steve came out to aid us as well. We got in a big second trip for the rest of Sara's and my stuff, and everyone was pretty awesome.
We unloaded the trucks, had everything ready to go, and still hadn't heard anything from Jad. He was moving down from Victorville, and i thought he would have help on that end, but it just ended up being him and his brother (Joel), loading all of the stuff from their apartment into a 27 foot truck.
We had just finished our second load when I went to take the truck back, and Jad finally got to the house (around 5pm). So after an exhausting day of moving, we unloaded his truck as well. Everyone was pretty exhausted, and Nick's wife Lisa showed up to help out (she was awesome as well), and after an exhausting three hours, we got them all done.
My special thanks go out to the following people:
Linda Cotton (Dave Morrison's mom, for being awesome and letting us borrow the moving truck)
Daniel Marshall (for being the only one to show up in the morning, and sticking with us for an entire exhausting day)
The Elders not only for showing up to help us, but for making the effort to get to know Sara rather than just teachnbaptise her.
Nick and Lisa Jones, for being awesome friends, and helping even though they'd just finished moving themselves.
Joel Morgan, for helping Jad, and being an awesome brother. I don't think this would have happened without him.
...and especially Sara, who puts up with my quirks and idiosyncrasies, and maybe loves me anyway.
Anyway, we've spent the time since the move getting settled into the house- we're almost done unpacking boxes, and I think we've figured out where all of the furniture is ending up, and we're just smoothing out the edges before we start inviting everyone over for a BBQ. It's been exhausting, emotionally as well as physically, and I don't want to do it ever again.
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| Thursday, August 20th, 2009
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10:13 am - Moving Day!
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Holy crap, I'm moving tomorrow.
I mean, I've been working toward this for like a month, picking up boxes, helping pack those boxes, helping clean, calling and changing addresses, asking for help moving...
But I move tomorrow.
Moving into our apartment wasn't traumatic- I just moved my small amount of stuff in. Moving Sara wasn't bad- it just felt like I was helping another person move (one of the thousands); but over the last year and change, we've made a life here. We've had good times and more than a couple fights here, we've enjoyed some of our neighbors, and hated others.
We really liked the apartment manager. I don't think any landlord is going to hold a candle to him. He was nice to us, he was friendly, and always stopped and talked to us when he saw us. Also, he didn't try anything shady, and we've had ZERO problems with him.
Anyway, we're moving tomorrow. I'm not going to miss the yapping dog of the neighbors. I'm not going to miss the neighbors below us who smoked pot (which blew directly into our window), or had drunken moron parties downstairs. I am going to miss having D&D games with everyone crammed around our little kitchen. I'm going to miss watching the sunsets over the tops of the houses. I'm going to miss sitting on that balcony with Leonidas.
I'm going to miss this place.
Anyway, onward and upward to new adventures!
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| Monday, August 17th, 2009
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11:01 pm - The Naked Man
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Well, Sara and I were watching How I Met Your Mother (we do it sometimes). I like the show- it's crude, rude, and funny. Sometimes I like to have a little lowbrow humor.
Anyway, we were watching it (you can read about it here, if you've never heard of it: http://www.seriouslyomg.com/?p=9771 ) and The Naked Man is this: You're on a date (or with your wife), and you make some excuse to leave the room. You derobe, and when she comes into the room, you're completely naked.
It's good for a laugh (so the show assures us), so I tried it on Sara.
She totally laughed.
And yes, it works.
I guess I'm in the upper 2/3rds!
Also, here is Lilly's list of reasons to have sex, just for an interesting image in this post. Text-heavy posts get a little dry sometimes. :D
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| Thursday, August 13th, 2009
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10:50 am - I'm kinda over it...
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Okay, so last year, I got into reading FML.com. One of the girls in my class loves it, so she and I would read it during one of the more boring classes (the religion class, no offense to my regular professors) and we would laugh about it.
Anyway, I don't know if it's just me, or because school is out and it's the end of summer and people are being whiney, but I'm kinda over FML. I mean, when it's something so horrible that it's just funny, I can agree that FML is the thing to say.
But, if it's something like the following, I have no sympathy for them, because they're just whiners:
Today, I broke up with someone, and then it sucked. FML.
Today, I found out that even though I'm constantly mean to my mom, she thought I wasn't listening and said something mean about me. FML.
Today, someone was mean to me at work. FML.
Okay, is everyone clear on that? The drama in your life isn't that bad. If, however, something like the following happens, that's an FML moment:
"Today, I found out I was adopted. My gay brother decided he could now tell me that he's always wanted to have sex with me. FML."
Okay.
Also, twitter is for losers. No one cares what you're doing every second of every day. Have a private life like normal people, you weirdos.
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| Thursday, August 6th, 2009
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3:21 pm - Two Things...
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First, I just noticed this- the banner ads running on some of the sites I visit (nerd sites), have advertising for Captain America- how he died a while back, and they brought him back this past July.
It proudly proclaims "Captain America - reborn July 1st, 2009!"
Does it strike anyone else as funny that Captain America was 'reborn' on Canada Day?
Second, Sara has been playing a LOT of GTA IV. It's a fun game, and we both really like it. The other night, Sara was having the main character, Niko, take his girlfriend out on a date.
Sara: "Man, I've taken this girl to a bunch of nice places, and she just won't put out!"
Me: "Welcome to every man's world."
We laughed. That is all.
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| Saturday, July 18th, 2009
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10:54 am - Not All Who Wander Are Lost...
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So, yesterday, Sara and I went out with some old friends; Nick and Lisa.
I've known Nick since he first became friends with my brother David... like ... twenty years ago. Lisa is a more recent addition to the group, introduced through no small amount of drama and internet scandal. She's an awesome lady- her and Nick have been happily married for almost a year now.
Anyway, we went out to a Cuban restaurant that they really like, enjoyed food, good conversation, and general fun. We talked for an hour after dinner, and decided rather than ending there, we should go wander around downtown. Sometimes they have street fairs at night (I have no idea what the schedule is like).
Nick gives the best directions- they always run something like "Do you know where bar/restaurant/random location is? You go toward there, and then turn... south/east/west down the next street." But he and I know a lot of the same locations, so it works pretty well. So does following right behind them. :D
We found some free parking (between university and mission, on about 10th street, I think), and wandered over toward university, where nothing but random Friday bar scene was happening, so we turned around and headed back toward mission- specifically, the Mission Inn.
The Mission Inn was built in like 1860, originally just a local hostel or something made out of adobe brick. It's kind of connected with the founding of Riverside (where I live), and it's a southern California landmark. Apparently presidents travel there regularly- there are portraits of presidents from Taft to Cleavland, have Nixon and Bush, too. A really nice portrait of Reagan. And 'The President's Parlour,' which is some sort of fancy to-do room. Oh, and Nixon got married there. I didn't know that.
Anyway, I've never really wandered around the Mission Inn. I love architecture, I love old buildings, I love historical buildings, and religious buildings fascinate me. I'm not sure why I haven't ever had the urge to wander around it before, but I'm going to remedy that. Well, we did last night. I'm going to go back and continue the experience another time.
Of all of my friends (with varied personalities and problems), Nick is one of the few who loves to wander (my brother David is close up there, too). So we wandered. We found a bank of elevators, and shot up to the top floor.
There are a few rules to wandering a building like this one:
1.) Anything not locked is an invitation to enter.
2.) Anything I can climb over or open was not locked (I'm talking to you- painted shut gate that creaks from disuse, and 'exit only' door).
3.) Any sign that says 'Don't come in here,' and has dust on it is obviously outdated.
Anyway, with those rules in mind, we wandered the hotel. The hotel was built and expanded in stages, so none of the architecture matches up- there are columns over Spanish tile, Chinese figures in a mission-style hallway. The top floor is high roller territory, so there's a few suite rooms overlooking the main plaza, fountains, a rooftop garden, and three distinct towers (all locked, unfortunately). There are intricate hallways, uneven flagstones, half stairs going to nowhere, half doorways that goes nowhere- this place is awesome. I wish i had pictures to share- next time, I promise.
We wander around the complete top level of the hotel, up and down half-stairs that go to nowhere, and finally on the north side of the hotel, we find the rotunda- a full rotunda, just hiding in there. There are crests and symbols of the people who built the rotunda- crests of workman's unions, localities (De Anza was a popular one) masons, family crests of priests- I could have studied those for days, but we moved on. The Mission Inn, is of course, built around a catholic chapel, and we really wanted to see that (well, that and the catacombs beneath the hotel. I know, cool right?).
Between the top floor and the second floors are just boring normal hotel stuff- small rooms, low roofs, poorly ventilated hallways, big multipurpose rooms that smell stale. Oh, and a Buddhist temple, a Chinese pagoda-style plaza, and the plaza built over the top of the catholic church... but all of those were locked, and we couldn't get into them. Believe me, we tried.
The second floor is built more in the style of the outside of the mission, with beautiful woodwork, stone arches, and weird tiny servants doors that were basically meant to be used by servants cleaning the outside of the building. One of them was awesome- it had a clasp and bar system to keep it shut. It had also been painted shut, but if Sara and Nick hadn't yelled at me, I could have gotten it open. There was a bent iron spring that held the bar in place, so you had to slide that back, and then there was a fall-bar keeping the door closed, so I raised that. But it was painted shut, so I pulled both bars, and was tugging on the door when Nick and Sara yelled at me. So what if we were twenty feet from the front desk, and weren't supposed to be doing that? EXPLORING! (See previously stated rules).
Anyway, we tried to get into the Catholic church, but it was locked. One of the workers was cleaning up after a wedding that was there earlier in the evening, and we asked him if we could get in, but he didn't have a key, and told us to check with the front desk. Sara and Lisa were all wandered out by this point, so we left and had Dairy Queen, talking, laughing and eating ice cream, but I really really want to go back.
Next time, pictures of everything, I promise. Next time, chapel and an attempt to get into the catacombs!
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| Monday, July 6th, 2009
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8:29 pm
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"The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it always to be kept alive."
- Thomas Jefferson
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