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Monday, August 1, 2005 8:42:00a: *
I know I said the AMV of the Month was returning. It still is, I just need to get some time where I'm not being interrupted. Sadly that would be now but alas, it's not to be. Later today.Monday, August 1, 2005 11:35:00a: AMV Of The Month, August 2005: "Come On, Sing Along" by Nappy*
OK, wow. I picked this video partly because I needed some cheering up, but also partly because it's frigging spastic at points. I don't think I need to name the song, as it would spoil the surprise. Anyway, it's available here for your enjoyment.
Anyway, let's talk about how this month is going to play out. As many of you know, I am leaving Erie at the end of August due to the economic climate (ie: no jobs here). As of this morning, however, it's unclear whether or not I'll be going to Buffalo, Olean, Pittsburgh, or Cleveland (yeah, I got a call from Cleveland this morning). I don't really have that much of a preference (except, well, Olean doesn't have much to offer) but one way or another, by August 31st I'm gone. So if there are any last-minute requests you might need from me while I'm here, now's the time to mention them.
This means a couple of interesting things in terms of the site, as well. First off, while I really slacked off in updating during July, I want to try to get some coding work done before the 15th. I think I was working on a card game back in June... I'll have to dig through my code once the AMV finishes uploading, but I know for a fact I was working on something. Probably blackjack. Regardless, you should see a new game opening up before the 15th. Secondly, after about the 15th (if not sooner) I might have to drop off the net for a while while I pack up and move. The laptop gives me a better chance at connecting once I'm out and about but it still requires time to do so, and sadly I've spent so much time on interviews and on the net in general that I haven't gotten a whole lot of packing done. That might change quickly.
Additionally, this means that a project I was thinking about doing-- and Rick knows what it is-- is on indefinite hold. I might still continue it but I might just drop it as I never went public with it.
Game design continues to intrigue me, and I'm considering setting down the Seth stuff for d20 Modern into a bona fide sourcebook. That would be a long-term project in and of itself, too, but it would be greatly rewarding. Particularly because I have a better understanding of the d20 ruleset and how DMing works since the last time I tried getting it all together, so what I'd set forth wouldn't be full of dumb.
Also, if I have an extended period of offline coming up, maybe I'll write more for the novel. 'Cause, you see, I haven't actually opened the file in a month and a half and I am way behind. I haven't even really had it in the forefront of my mind-- sure, occasionally, I'll try to think of a way a stray thought could be worked into the book, but for the most part I never actually get around to doing writing. Funny how that happens, eh?
A few days ago I participated in my first Task Force sequence in City of Heroes. Taking down the Clockwork King was a real rush, and quite worth doing again, especially if I can drop down to a lower level to earn influence. Probably the only thing cooler than that was going toe-to-toe with Dr. Vazhilok the next day and taking him out with relative ease. Two supervillains down, so very many more to go...Thursday, August 4, 2005 2:43:00p: A New Day Is Dawning*
First off, let's get some mood music going to help inspire the proper attitude for this news. Of course, given that selection, maybe it's obvious what the news is.
I'm moving to Cleveland, and I begin my new job on the 15th.
It pays as well as GE did, it has work that I can do (and enough of it that I won't have long, boring stretches like I used to), and it's with a bunch of professional-minded and easy-going guys. Quite simply, I'm looking forward to it.
I would like to thank everyone who has helped me through these tough and trying times. I have been under a great deal of stress, and at times I have not handled it well. Through it all, I have had dear and steadfast friends-- all of you-- who have helped me realize the dream that today has given to me. So, with the utmost of sincerity, thank you very much, all of you.
I have a little bit of time to prepare for this one, unlike my last foray. I've been told that the area around Case Western has inexpensive housing, and I'm intrigued by that, even though I have no idea where CWRU is. (On an unrelated note, Case Western will now be known as "That Eva School" because 'CWRU' kinda looks like 'Kaworu'. Thank you.) All things considered, the tables have turned, and time is on my side-- for now, anyway.
I suppose I'm known for sudden and dramatic reversals of fortune in my life. If you want to know a secret, I wouldn't have it any other way. Honestly. This beats the pants off of any scripted thrills.
Later, folks. Time for a celebratory meal and then back to cleaning-- and actual packing, now that I have to do it!Saturday, August 6, 2005 7:06:00p: *
Wow. Welcome to Insano Mode.
I took a break today from the packing to burn through the last of my FF tokens, and get back into a somewhat regular pattern with DDR/In The Groove. I'm still about where I left off in terms of progressing through the songs, but that really varies quite a bit on ITG, ranging anywhere from a fast 5 to an easy 7. I'm proud that I'm trying more Hard/Heavy level songs, and part of me wonders if I can still do My Summer Love Oni on DDR Extreme (it's been a month). Once I get set up in Cleveland, the pad order will go through. Mark my words.
Speaking of that, I've got to get a newspaper tomorrow and scour the ads there. Granted it might not turn up anything better than what Pez and I checked out in terms of locations, but we shall see. So far there are four places I'd like to look at on Tuesday, and Pez recommended lookin' a little ways out-- namely Solon and Parma. When I was in Sharon, the TV station there ran the Ohio Lottery's weekly game show and it seemed like a disproportionate amount of players came from Independence (which is directly between Parma and my place of work). Pez explained that Independence was known for being a commercial district, so I guess now it makes sense.
I reinstated my FFXI account today as well, minutes before packing the whole thing up. I did it so early so that I would not forget-- if I had let it slide until the end of the month, the data would have been erased forever and I would have had to start over again with a new install. Granted, with new PC boxes running this wouldn't be so bad but it's the principle of the thing. All is well with my Mithra, so I'm happy there.
You never seem to know just how much stuff you have until you have to pack it all away. Regardless, I'm still doin' well and I should be plenty ready by the time the 15th rolls around. Later, folks.Tuesday, August 23, 2005 9:03:00a: So, heard any good jokes lately?*
How about this one: This guy moves to Cleveland and stupidly believes everything that's told to him, specifically that his internet service is going to be hooked up on Thursday and that the apartment people will let the tech guy in.
Well, it's finally installed. Who's laughing now.
ANYWAY, it's good to be back, folks. I understand there was some shindig in Baltimore this past weekend, some kind of Kon. I eagerly await more tales of the journey-- from what Kat's said so far, it was an adventure.
Not much else going on now. The cable guy is supposed to be by this Thursday (after calling me last Friday and saying that he had to move the date for some arcane reason... grrr....) so TV will soon be good as well. As for me, I am just lucky I was given this morning off to take care of this. Granted, I'd like nothing more than to take the entire day off and roll around in the copious internets that I have now, but I cannot. Meh.
Anyway, food now, and then work. Tonight I'll return to Paragon City... and maybe after that, hit Vana'diel for a bit. We'll see.Saturday, August 27, 2005 12:58:00p: *
So five days later I finally get around to updating the main page again. Funny how the double-whammy of internet and digital cable can knock a media-starved man off the blog. Not like August '05 was going to be a very content-rich month anyway, what with all the shenanigans and goings-on.
Let's talk about work, just for a second. One of my new readers says he hates his job. I can understand that feeling, but I don't really share it. My job has been good to me, and I have been a good fit for it. So things will remain pretty much stable there. Trust me, if things go sour, you will know.
I've been getting crazy ideas in my head these past couple weeks, and now one of them seems to be sticking. Prime among them "Let's do DDR for an hour or so each morning! You'll get in shape!" Well, here we are, almost seven days into a regimen, and I'm still round. But the regimen has been pretty low so far; all things considered if I did the hour in the morning in addition to an hour at night, I'd be able to lose faster than before. The Circle will be kept apprised of my progress, but right now-- I'm down 3 pounds. Probably because I'm feeling a little under the weather, but down is not up. That's something to consider.
TV is very much a good thing now. After eighteen months without, having cable again is almost a mind-blowing experience. After eighteen months with only three channels (four if the weather cooperated), having Video On Demand most definitely is a mind-blowing experience. It made me a very happy fuzzy to switch between the Browns game last night and Mythbusters, then switch over to Bulletproof Monk once it became apparent that the Browns were going to lose.
I've never talked about football in this blog before, but I'm in the middle of a positively rabid football culture, so it's starting to rub off on me. How in the name of all that is holy could the Browns commit so many damned penalties last night?! They had the Panthers stopped cold on 3rd down three times that I saw, and penalties negated the plays each time (and in one case just plain gave the Panthers a 1st down). After two wins in the preseason, I just hope Crennel isn't starting to lose momentum.
Anyway, as for games, I've been pinned for money for a while but managed to make a trade for Advance Wars Dual Strike. Still too early to tell but to be honest, I'm feeling pretty good about it. Not really sure what else has been released lately, but give me some time, I'll get back into the saddle soon enough.
If you'll excuse me, it's movie time. If there's nothing on right now, well, that's what the VOD is for. Heh heh heh. Later, folks.Wednesday, August 31, 2005 7:43:00a: *
Morning, folks. It's Wednesday already? Wow.
Anyway, my DDR pad finally gave up the ghost this morning. So much for the whole "I can try to lose weight!" idea I'd been slacking off from. (In my defense, I have been trying to do it consistently.) I got up this morning and weighed in at exactly what I've weighed in at for the past six months; but afterwards I was back to the "down by three" that I'd been at when last we spoke. Hmm. At least I'm not dehydrating myself this time, like I was last week. In any event, payday is soon and I might spring for a cheapo pad to cover me until I can get a CobaltFlux.
There's not much else to mention in regards to gaming, namely because I've been doing so little of it outside of DDR. I did play some Advance Wars DS the other day, however, and I still stand by my statement of "damn spiffy". It's still pretty easy-- I haven't had time to go beyond the introductory missions-- but I have faith that Intelligent Systems put some challenges into this one. As some of you might have seen, my biggest gripe with Fire Emblem was the Artificial Stupidity. Still, AW is a fundamentally different game from FE, so maybe I'm just having trouble shifting tactics. By the way, Pez? You know how you were saying you were looking for a game to make you buy a Game Boy or DS? Advance Wars is it. Trust me. If you don't believe me, go pick up an old GBA and a copy of the first AW title; you will be hooked.
Oh yeah, I need to remember to move the CoH and FFXI accounts to the new bank card or else they'll both be nuked. Not good.... So if you'll excuse me, folks....