Nuadha's Tale

Ignorance can be tolerated, where reason is left free to combat it. -Thomas Jefferson

Thursday, February 28, 2002

Doomsday Clock
I heard on the radio this morning that the Doomsday Clock has moved. It is now at seven minutes to midnight.

About a week after the Sept. 11th attacks, I had a nightmare. I dreamt that a huge boom woke me up. Carla and I were living in an apartment for some reason and there was a window at the foot of the bed. We looked out the window to see a huge mushroom cloud in the distance and a wave of force and debris heading toward us. I moved to shield Carla as the dream ended and I woke up for real.

I think that was one of the worst nightmares I have ever had. Sure, it was only a few seconds but I think that is what scares me so much about a nuclear attack. It would be over in a split second and there is nothing you can do.

Wednesday
Sinus headache all morning. Crappy day at work. Carla upset about her day at work. Felt like a song. ("Should I stay or should I go now?") Played Chainmail with some annoying people. Headache came back. That was my day.

Wednesday, February 27, 2002



Which tarot card are you?

Tuesday, February 26, 2002

Weather
Today is the kind of day that makes me wish that I lived in a cabin somewhere far away from civilization. I could just spend the day by the fireplace. I wouldn't have to shovel snow so the neighbors can get to my door. I wouldn't have to clear my car off and drive on dangerous roads to get to work. I could just sit inside and look at the snow. These days, every time I try to stop and appreciate how beautiful snow is I end up thinking how bad my hernia is going to hurt after I shovel it. Yeah, Thoreau had it made.

Honesty
Every time a man lies, he murders some part of the world.
-Merlin, "Excalibur"

This saying has been in my head a lot lately. It must be because I've been dealing with my family so much.

Ambercon
My Ambercon games are pretty much filled. This makes me very happy. Last year, I didn't get many players in my games and I think they suffered because of it. I don't know if it was because of the slots they were in, the game descriptions or what, but this year I must have done something right. Over the next couple of days, I am going to try and type up some information to email the players that I have email addresses for. For "The Heist", I want to send players a list of the abilities that will be auctioned off so they can start getting a general idea what they will want to bid for at the con. Of course, this means I will have to decide exactly which abilities will be in the auction.

Monday, February 25, 2002

I was just typing up a summary of my weekend, but something happened with the computer and everyhing I typed was cleared. I don't know what button I could have hit, but this isn't the first time I have done this. I don't feel like retyping everything, so I guess you will never know. (Don't worry, you didn't miss much.)

Friday, February 22, 2002

Family
I talked to my Dad and the girls on the phone for a while tonight. The girls sound fine. They were happy to be back at their school and in familiar surroundings. I worry about my dad. He has taken on a huge responsibility. Raising two kids is more than Carla and I feel we could handle. He plans to do it himself. At least right now the girls are safe and together. My dad may not be the ideal father, but he does love them and will make sure they are safe.

I feel a little helpless being so far away from them. If I were down there I could see how the kids are doing and help. From here I can only talk to them on the phone.

Television
Check out Zen TV!

Thursday, February 21, 2002

Roleplaying
I played Chango in N's Champions game tonight. Much of the game was research on the villians which isn't really Chango's field. While the other players were gathering information, I took some time to read the Corax (Wereraven) book for Werewolf:The Apocalypse. I played a Corax in a Werewolf game a couple of years ago and he is one of my favorite characters I have played.


I'm a Wind Spiriti

Television
Tonight on Fox- "Glutton Bowl: The World's Greatest Eating Competition." Really. I'm not making this up. Leave it to Fox...

In the Garden of Gethsemane
Michael Moore (of Roger & Me) has written an open letter to Baby Reagan regarding Enron. I just want to see him try to get in to the Oval Office to see W.. "What do you mean I have to have an appointment!? Does Kenny-boy need an appointment?"

Queen of the Damned
The trailers make the movie look horrible, but according to NPR this morning it is getting good preliminary reviews and Anne Rice said she liked it. I guess I'll have to see it. "Dragonfly" is getting horrible reviews. I can't say I'm suprised.

Chainmail
I played Chainmail tonight. I took first place in the league. The prize was an unreleased Gnoll miniature.


I took the What Mythological Creature Are you? test by !

Wednesday, February 20, 2002

If I were a color...


BLUE



You give your love and friendship unconditionaly. You enjoy long, thoughful conversations rich in philosophy and spirituality. You are very loyal and intuitive.




Find out your color at Stvlive.com!


I Am A: Chaotic Good Elf Ranger Cleric


Alignment:
Chaotic Good characters are independent types with a strong belief in the value of goodness. They have little use for governments and other forces of order, and will generally do their own things, without heed to such groups.


Race:
Elves are the eldest of all races, although they are generally a bit smaller than humans. They are generally well-cultured, artistic, easy-going, and because of their long lives, unconcerned with day-to-day activities that other races frequently concern themselves with. Elves are, effectively, immortal, although they can be killed. After a thousand years or so, they simply pass on to the next plane of existance.


Primary Class:
Rangers are the defenders of nature and the elements. They are in tune with the Earth, and work to keep it safe and healthy.


Secondary Class:
Clerics are the voices of their God/desses on Earth. They perform the work of their deity, but this doesn't mean that they preach to a congregation all their lives. If their deity needs something done, they will do it, and can call upon that deity's power to accomplish their goals.


Find out What D&D Character Are You?, courtesy of NeppyMan!





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday
I took Carla shopping for her birthday on Monday and then we had dinner with C&J. I figure that it's better to take her shopping and let her get stuff that she really wants than trying to guess. Of course, I did buy her something so she could have something to unwrap.

Tuesday
The judge for the girls decided to give custody of the girls to my Dad. I worry for the girls (my Dad is hardly an ideal parent) but at least they are together and with family. I'm partially relieved that Carla and I won't have to competely change our lifestyle. I like my stupid life just the way it is.


Sunday, February 17, 2002

Creativity
Someone needs to invent a waterproof laptop. If they would, I could easily become an author. I always think up really creative stories while I am in the shower and I know exactly how to put them in to words. Outside of the shower, I just can't seem to tap in to that creative energy.

Changeling
We are playing Changeling today. This morning I was having a tough time remembering what I had planned last month. I just got out of the shower. I remember it now and I made some changes that I hope will improve the story.

Thursday, February 14, 2002

Comcast update
I heard two things of interest on NPR while driving home from work. One thing was about the rising popularity in blogs. The other was that Comcast will immediately stop tracking people's internet usage. I guess they realize that the last thing they need right now is more bad press.

For Carla
If I could write the beauty of your eyes
And in fresh numbers number all your graces,
The age to come would say, "This poet lies;
Such heavenly touches ne'er touch'd earthly faces."

-Shakespeare, Sonnet 17

So I'm a mush-head. Sue me.

Chainmail
I played in the Chainmail League tonight. I am currently in first place with a 4-0 record.

Wednesday, February 13, 2002

Big Brother
Here is yet another reason to dislike Comcast.

Dreams of Flying
All my life I've wanted to fly, but I don't have the wings and I wonder why.
-I believe this is from a song by Big Pig. I'm sure the Music Geek would be able to tell us.

I had a dream of flying a few nights ago. I guess I was out of practice because I was having a tough time getting off the ground. I used to have the flying dreams all of the time. Yesterday on the Drew Carey show Drew had a flying dream while in a coma. This reminded me of my dream. A teacher I knew once told me that dreams of flying are almost always lucid dreams and that they are out-of-body experiences. I don't know about the OOB experience part. In my flying dreams I am usually very much in a dream setting. I interact with other people. (A few months ago I had a great flying dream where I spent some time talking to Carla.) If it were an OOB experience I think I would see the real world.

Morpheus Calling
I have been planning my Ambercon games and I came up with the background for one of the NPCs today. Since the basis of the game is characters finding out that everything they know as life is an illusion, I was thinking of how different people react to that. I was picturing this character who had this strong sense of duty to his family and friends. He spent his life trying to help people. He had just married a woman whom he deeply loved and his life was great. Then Morpheus called. I am not sure if I will work him into the game. He could be a very complex character and he could offer some great roleplaying challenges to the players, but he may be a little too much. Also, I think he may be an emotionally draining character to play. I used to do a one-man play about a character who comitted suicide explaining the events that led up to the act. I wrote it for a Drama class I was in and it was so well received in the class that I went and performed it at a few open mic nights. Whenever I played this character I would be completely exhausted afterwords. If I played a character like that while GMing and then had to switch to another character, I'm not sure if I could pull it off.

Lord of the Rings
The Oscar nominations are out. LotR got 13 nominations including Best Picture and Best Director.

Monday, February 11, 2002

Political Compass
I found this website the other day which has a test you can take that let's you know where you score on the political compass. My score was almost exactly where Ghandi's score was. How did they get Ghandi to take an online test? ;)

Rain
I want to apologize to to everyone for the rain we got around here today. On the way to the hobby shop this morning I stopped at one of the quarter car washes and washed my car. It was a nice day and I thought it would be nice to get the car clean. I really didn't mean to call for rain. Sorry.

Politics
The Democrats are the party that says the government will make you smarter, taller, richer and remove the crabgrass on your lawn. The Republicans are the party that says the government doesn't work and then they get elected and prove it.
-P.J. O'Rourke

Sunday, February 10, 2002

The Pledge of Allegiance
A friend's blog mentioned how Dr. Pepper is getting blasted by the religious groups for ommiting "under god" from the Pledge of Allegiance", which they are printing on their cans. It seems to me that Dr. Pepper understands the seperation of church and state better than the people running our country.
Historical facts about the pledge:

  • Written in 1892 as part of a ceremony honoring Columbus Day
  • Written by the Rev. Francis Bellamy, a prominent socialist who had been kicked out of the Baptist church for giving speeches like "Jesus the Socialist."
  • originally read, "I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." Originally, the pledge was supposed to be recited while giving a "stiff, uplifted, right-hand salute."
  • The salute was dropped from the pledge in the 40's for obvious reasons and the words were changed from "to my flag" to "to the flag of the United States of America."
  • The line "under god" was added in 1954 by Congress and President Eisenhower under pressure from the Knights of Columbus.
  • Jehovah's Witnesses who objected to state-ordered oaths were beaten in the 30's and 40's for refusing to take the pledge. The Supreme Court ruled in 1940 that they could be required to take the pledge but reversed their decision three years later when harrassment of the church increased.

Saturday, February 09, 2002




Friday, February 08, 2002

Yoshitaka Amano
While surfing the net last night, I found out that Yoshitaka Amano, one of my favorite artists, is doing a Wolverine/Elektra graphic novel for Marvel. Yoshitaka hasn't done a lot of comic book art and the only thing he has done that has been published in the US was Sandman: The Dream Hunters. Wolverine doesn't seem like a character that fits his style. It should be interesting.

Killer Ice
I slipped on the ice as I was heading out to play Chainmail Wednesday night. Some of the snow had melted during the day and had refrozen at the bottom of our steps by the time I left. I stepped down off the step and suddenly started sliding forward. Bringing my other foot down to try and stop myself, I suddenly found myself airborne with my feet flying up in the air in front of me. I let go of my bag to put my hands down to break my fall. I saw my bag go flying up in the air as I came down hard on the pavement. I think I pulled a muscle in the experience, but luckfully managed to escape with no major injuries. My head hit the pavement, but I don't think I have anything too vital there. ;) Now, I have been on the lookout for the killer ice. I chased it away that night with rock salt (also known as Ice-bane), but I found it again last night waiting for me or some other unwary traveller.

Wednesday
I was busy at work Wednesday training a new person in our department. In the afternoon, I gave Blood at a Red Cross Blood Drive. I am not bothered by needles and I have never had any problems giving blood, so I give blood every chance I get. In the evening I went to Pandemonium, a game store for a Chainmail League they are starting.
Thursday
I went to a "Diversity in the Workplace" seminar for work. It was really interesting and best of all it meant that I didn't have to be at my desk all day. Carla came home a little later than normal, so I cooked dinner (Chicken Voila, not quite gourmet). We watched the Disney Three Musketeers movie after dinner. When the movie first came out, I remember being really impressed by it. In fact, I went to see it at the theater a couple of times. Last night, I wasn't as impressed. It is still fun, but the swordfighting isn't that good and it gets way too cutesy at parts.

Tuesday, February 05, 2002

Antique Paper
When I was in junior high there was this shop down the street from my school called "Antique Paper." The place mostly carried comic books, but also carried old newspapers, magazines, advertisements, etc. It was at that shop that I first started buying comic books. The thing I remember the most about the place, besides the walls of old comic books, was the classical music. The owner had a radio at the counter that he always had playing WQRS,a local classical station. The music gave the store a sense of class that I have never felt from any other comic shop. I think the classical music made the comic books seem more like art than "kid's stuff." I was listening to a Mozart CD today and every time I listen to Mozart I think about that comic shops and it's old wooden racks filled with comic books. I can almost smell the old paper smell the place had. There are certain moments I wish I could go back to. "Antique Paper" is one of those times and places I can almost revisit in my mind. Of couse I did spend a lot of time there. I was in there at least once a week spending my lunch money on comics until they closed a few years later.

Family
So, after the news I received today it seems like there is once again a pretty good chance chance that Carla and I may be taking care of me neice. I spoke to one of the social workers this afternoon and she repeated that it may take a while before we know for sure. She's going to check and see how far along the old worker got the paperwork. Meanwhile, it looks like the girls will be going back to one of the bigger foster homes.
I keep thinking about myself as a parent. I didn't think much about it before. It's a bit scary. I know that I can do it, but it's such a big lifestyle change that I wonder how it will change me as a person.

Video Games
I've been playing Castlevania: Circle of the Moon for the Gameboy Advance lately. I haven't been playing video games much these days. I just haven't been enjoying them. The one exception has been the Castlevania series. The object of each of the Castlevania games is to fight your way through Dracula's castle and kill the big bad vampire. Some of the Castlevania games are really hard. Some of them are really easy. Circle of the Moon is somewhere in between. I managed to get to Dracula a few weeks ago, but I haven't been able to beat him.

Smallville
It's the one tv show I watch each week. Tonight's episode wasn't the best episode they've done, but it was still pretty interesting. It seems Clark and Lex have become pretty good friends. I've got a feeling it doesn't last forever. ;)

"There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with the power to endanger the public liberty."
-John Adams

The republicans and GWB have been saying that we should privatize social security and all forms of welfare. They believe that companies should be able to regulate themselves on environmental issues. I wonder if they will still be saying that during the next election season after what has happened with Enron.

I got a call from my mom today. The couple that took the girls has given them back to the state. It seems that they weren't prepared to take care of three kids and their daughter found that having two new sisters wasn't as cool as she thought.

Monday, February 04, 2002

I left work a little early today. My sinuses were really bad today. If I had stayed, I wouldn't have been able to get much work done. I took some Sudafed and napped for a couple hours. Carla woke me up for dinner about 6:30. I watched some TV (The Daily Show and Buffy) and read for a while tonight. Most of the night, I didn't really know what I wanted do. I still wasn't feeling too great, so I was trying to avoid too much thinking. I felt like watching a particular video, but I couldn't find it and got tired of looking. I also spent a little bit of time looking for Carla's missing Black House book. She got the book from the Sci-fi Book Club about a month ago and when she went to read it last week, we couldn't find it anywhere. It must be in the house somewhere.