Mild Mannered Madness

Computer Desk?

2008-06-17T19:34:37Z

Anyone know of any good resources for used office furniture. I'm looking for a computer desk, about 60" wide. Anthro makes some stuff I really like but they are very pricey?

Awesome!

2008-06-10T14:49:19Z

This is just too funny!

http://www.theonion.com/content/video/warcraft_sequel_lets_gamers_play

Philcon 2008

2008-05-13T18:56:42Z

I'm very excited to learn that Tim Powers is the GOH at this years Philcon!
I know it's far off, but if anyone plans to attend this year, let me know. We can work on coordinating some events such as a big group dinner. Etc.

Been a While!

2008-05-02T18:53:09Z

It dawned on me that my last post was in November, and that was just to darn long to go without saying hi.
It's been a crazy year so far with many highs and lows.
Still no cure in sight for Kim, added to everyone in the house havening been sick with some form of cold/flu/alleries for about a month now. Sees to be clearing up, and the sounds of coughing have begun to receed.

I became a Mac guy again this month, having bought a Mac Pro, and I love it. being able to run OSX and Windows XP/vista in one computer is awesome.

I'm looking forward to attending balticon later this month, and desperately need the vacation. Looking forward to seeing Urban Tapestry perform, as its been a couple years since I have seen them. An added bonus is that I have been reading the Temeraire series written by the author GOH, Naomi Novik, so it will be great to get to meet her and discuss her series.

If anyone is going to be attending Balticon, let me know so I can arrange to spend some time with you while there.

Philcon

2007-11-13T15:46:37Z

Philcon is this weekend, and I will be attending. Anyone else going?

I'm a Grandfather

2007-11-02T21:03:40Z

As of last night 11/1/07 at 6pm, I'm now a Grandfather. One usually has more than 5 years to adjust to becoming a father, before becoming a grandfather, but hey...we adapt! lol

This chapter ends, and another begins.

2007-01-12T18:09:03Z

Some people might have thought this day would never come, but after 8 years, today is my last day at ASI. There is nothing quite like the freedom one feels while working thier last day. For the sake of not burning bridges, I've put limiters on my freedom, and thus I'm not "telling folks the way it is", as much as I might have enjoyed that :-). I have taken a week to unwind before I start my new job next Monday. I know it won't really feel like I'm gone until I start the new job. This has been a long time coming, and the future looks very bright on the horizon.

Goings on

2006-12-21T15:56:45Z

Amidst a storm of Bedlam and Chaos I managed to hold fast to the tiller of my plans, and actually got to see Johnathan Coulton perform at the Milkbar in Armore Sat. night. What was originally and evening planned with Don, Joanna, Bunny, Kim and myself, quickly broke down to Don, Joanna, and Myself at a nice dinner at Primavera, and then down to just big ole me, at the concert (due to lack of seating Joanna and Don ended up heading home). I was very bummed that Don, and Joanna weren't able to stay, but the concert itself was awesome. I first discovered Johnathan Coulton from seeing this WOW video on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjMiDZIY1bM , and have been a fan ever since. I will be looking for future shows in this area, and welcome all to join me next time.

Happy Birthday!

2006-11-14T16:54:19Z

Happy Birthday Tuto!

Perseverance

2006-07-28T17:30:15Z

I am not a skilled poet, but that hasn't stopped me from writing this.

Perseverance

Waking, sleeping, working, weeping
Keeping quiet, careful speaking
Inner child’s frantic freaking
Hunting, searching, questing, seeking
Cling to hope, time keeps creeping
Worthless doctors should take up leaping
Finding solace in online geeking
Must continue, waking, sleeping.

For LOTR fans that play WOW

2006-04-06T12:27:10Z

While I know some of you have surely seen this before, I just saw it for the first time today, and wanted to share it with those that may not have seen it before.

Enjoy:
http://www.expectnothing.com/pub/posts/attached/0002k1cc.gif

Must....Not...Fall..Asleep!!!

2005-12-19T16:17:28Z

The Holidays quickly approach, and I am almost finished with my shopping. I am feeling a mixture of both accomplishment, and disappointment over this because on one hand, I have gotten so much done, and before christmas eve, but also because I won't be able to run around with that last minute sense of desperation that I have become so used to. Ah the woes of an excitement junkie:-)

Kim started on a new medication last thursday as part of a new pain treatment plan. which will see her weined off of her Methadone and Fentinol (sp?). We were very happy that it helped with her pain enough that She was able to join in at Brunch at Philcon on Sat., and was able to join in for some games on Sunday afternoon. It had been almost a year since she was able to anything like that, and I was very happy for her. She is still in loads of pain, but any relief is better than nothing. Sunday's activities wiped her out, and she ended up sleeping for almost 2 days straight, but that is most likely also a side effect of the medication (Lidocaine)

Friday night I played in a Magic Tournament, and while I won, lost, won, and won, in 4 swiss rounds, it wasnt enought to take the tournament. Maybe next time!
Saturday was also spent at the Roundtable where I worked on my Warmachine miniatures, made construction plans on some wargame terrain, played some Two Headed Giant Magic (We Won!), and chitchatted with friends. It was a fun day. Oh, I also went to
Sunday found me awake way to early, for no apparent reason. I woke at 7 am, all by myself, and couldnt fall asleep again for the life of me. Later in the day I played WOW with Geoff, and Jesse, and we had a jolly old time attacking Alliance players, while completing quests in Hillsbrand, Arathi highlands, and Stranglethorn Vale. I ended the day with 2 more levels, and 35 kills, and I think I was killed 3 times. I am so close to level 35 (what I need to continue advancing in Leather working)that I can almost taste it, but alas it will have to wait for our Thursday night outting.

This morning I am exhausted. I am on my second 24 oz. cup of coffee, and I am still feeling out of it. I think a trip to Starbucks for a triple Shot Espresso may be in order soon. Then maybe I will be pinging off the walls:-)

Weekend can't come soon enough!

2005-12-08T16:50:28Z

Philcon is this weekend!!! Yeah!!!

I so need to just get away from it all, and Con out! A weekend full of Friends, Filk, and Gaming, and Revelry is just what the doctor ordered. Kim will most likely be coming with, but unless she feel better, will just be trading the 4 walls of our bedroom, for the 4 walls of the hotel room. There is some small chance though that she will feel good enough to join in a few things, as she is starting all new medication today, and thus I will hold out some small hope.

It really was sad not to have a new episode of LOST last night. Instead, I visited the game store, and chatted about general gaming stuff. Hardly an adequate substitute.

Jumping on the Bandwagon

2005-11-17T20:09:24Z

Your Birthdate: July 21

You're a restless rebel with an unpredictable nature.
Bright but unbridled, you tend to seek out wild experiences over new ideas.
People are frustrated by your great potential, but you love your unconventional life.
You're a heartbreaker. People get attached to you, and then you're gone.

Your strength: Your thirst for adventure

Your weakness: Not taking time for slow pleasures

Your power color: Hot pink

Your power symbol: Figure eight

Your power month: March

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Serenity Song

2005-10-25T18:51:48Z

For my friends that love Serenity, but aren't on the filk lists..
http://www.livejournal.com/users/filkerdave/363565.html

You can't take the sky from me

2005-10-17T19:57:06Z

Oddly accurate!!! Not so much the write up. but the actual characters personality, wouldn't you all say?

You scored as Hoban 'Wash' Washburne. The Pilot. You are a leaf on the wind, see how you soar. You have a good job, and a stunning wife who loves you (and can kill people). Life is good, which is why you can't help smiling. Now if you can just get people to actually listen to your opinion things would be perfect.

</td>

Hoban 'Wash' Washburne

75%

Shepherd Derrial Book

69%

Jayne Cobb

63%

River Tam

63%

Inara Serra

63%

The Operative

56%

Simon Tam

38%

Capt. Mal Reynolds

38%

Kaylee Frye

38%

Zoe Alleyne Washburne

31%

Which Serenity character are you?
created with QuizFarm.com

41 years ago today

2005-07-21T16:46:24Z

Last night I went to see Blackthorn, with the Roundtable gang, eruditus , spring_violet , and isawarenshi . The show was great, and afterwards we went back to the store and played multiple games of Settler of Catan. A friend had been to Germany a few weeks back, and got the 10th anniversary German version. The set is beautiful, and it includes locking water to surround the hexes, so it was a great addition to the game.
Kim is taking me to Primavera tonight for my birthday. I love that place. Afterwards we will get some ice cream, and thats all I've been allowed to know.

Mmmm Serenity

2005-06-24T17:45:48Z

It's been a while since I last posted, but rumors of my demise are mostly untrue.
I have been very involved with a new gaming store that has opened in my area called The Roundtable Of Games & Stuff , and I can't find the words to express how great it is to have a store to go to again, that is ran by such amazingly cool people. They make everyone feel like family(and by that i mean those cool TV family's, and not my family...which would be very scary)

Monday night we played eruditus 's Burning Wheel campaign, and knocked out alot of the game admin stuff that takes place between adventures.

Tuesday night I played in a demo of Avalon Hill's Monster Across America. I plan to play the game again with an adult crowd, rather than 6 other players whose mass age barely surpasses my own, before making a decision on how fun the game is.

Wednesday night was our weekly board game club meeting, and we played Shadow over Camelot, and Power Grid. Both games very very fun, and I recommend them highly, though one should be warned that both games take about 2 hours to play.

Thursday , thanks to spring_violet , I was able to join her, fairiemagic eruditus, isawarenshi , mamcdowell , and Darell, and Tally in seeing a pre-release showing of Joss Whedon's movie named Serenity. I really enjoyed it, and recommend everyone go see it on Sept. 30th when it comes out. for anyone who does'nt know, the movie continues the adventures the show Firefly, which of course, I highly recommend.

Today I am totally exhausted, having not gotten a total of more than 12 hours sleep total all week, but it's been a fun week, and well worth it. I had planned on attending Contata 05 this weekend, but alas, unexpected expenses make that not possible :(

All for now... work... too... be done...

Friday's Factoids

2005-03-04T16:40:28Z

Only 1 week until Ubercon, and boy do I need it. 3 whole days of game playing, and hanging with friends is just what the doctor ordered. I'm taking next Friday off, and heading up to the con at about noon, as I have a 4pm game I'm running. Jeff is really looking forward to his first con as well.

I have a dentist appointment at 10am tomorrow, and frankly I'm not looking forward to it. I'm not a big fan of dentists but then again, who is. I'm pretty sure my dentist even hates seeing himself when he looks into the mirror.

I've been working on a graphic for the Legion Of Nuhhrd World Of Warcraft website, and so far I've created this. Not sure I'm sold on it, but it's a start. I am planning on making a banner for the Sword's Of Hope guild as well, but thats still in the planning stages. Any ideads would be welcome.

I have reached the point in my personal website, that I'm going to need to learn ASP or some similar language to proceed as I have planned. I am a horrible typist, so the prospect of programming concerns me. I guess I'll have to be careful.

Still here

2005-02-18T18:40:12Z

So, it appears that I am going to be staying at work. Kim has cancelled her appointment, and rescheduled for this coming tuesday, and is going to be staying at the ER with Jeff.
On one hand, I am happy to not have to use a vacation day, but on the other I am irritated because She really needed to get this test done.
I know that my irritation isn't really terribly rational, and thus I am trying my best to contain it, and not let it out. I also know that it's cause is much deeper seated than just this incident. Basically, I am very emotionally conflicted. Kim as been ill for over 3 years now, and at present her condition is so bad that she literally has no good days at all. Every waking moment, she is some degree of pain, ranging from from pretty painful, to mind blinding pain, and there is literally nothing I can do to help her. It is very very hard to watch someone you love is such tremendous pain, and feel so utterly helpless to relieve said pain. As a result of this pain, She is spending the majority of the day and night sleeping, as her body is just shutting down in an attempted defense measure. At times she is practically comotose, and is unable to be roused without a great amount of effort, and she really isn't able to stay awake. At other times She cannot sleep very much but is in such a great amount of pain that any movement will bring increased torment. In November it had been suggested to us that the Mayo Clinic might be a good option, as they specialize in diagnosing ailments that other institutions are unable to resolve. After speaking with all of her doctors they all agreed that this would be a good plan. Secondly, her pain therapist has suggested that she be admitted and have Lidocane treatments for a week. Thirdly was the test that was to be done today, which we first were told of about a month ago. All three of these require that she call and make the needed appointments, but because of her intense pain, and subsequent sleeping, She has only been able to schedule this 1 test, and the Mayo Clinic, and Lidocain treatments are all still pending.
This is my conflict. I am deeply understanding of her pain, and am compassionate to her needs, and I get that it just hurts to bad. I have offered to make the calls for her but apparently it needs to be done by her. That all being said. Potential help, and potential cure is a just a phonecall away....but will never come until the phone call, and appointments are made.
I have been getting through this all because I was fully able to believe that She was doing all that she humanly could do. Now I'm not sure.I still feel she is, and sometimes I can't help but feel like maybe she has given in and stopped trying. So, when we do in fact get an appointment, only then to have it cancelled, and rescheduled, I am irritated. This is important. It needs to be done. But how is waiting in the ER any less important. Grrr...

Oh well, such is life.
More later.

howmandu @ 2005-02-18T10:51:00

2005-02-18T16:21:09Z

I may need to leave work early today. Kim just called and says that Jeff called from school, and says he may have broke his ankle. Kim didn't ask how. Getting ready to pick him up made Kim so ill she had to call he mom and ask her to get Jeff. She is going to continue trying to get herself together, and then take him to the emergency room. Kim has a very important doctors appointment herself today at 2 pm, and is concerned that jeff will still be in the emergency room, and doesn't want to leave him there alone.

On the positive side, Between books called and said that my copy of "Betrayal In The House On The Hill" was in.

More news to follow

howmandu @ 2005-02-16T11:10:00

2005-02-16T17:00:55Z

Boskone is this weekend, and I was really hoping to go, especially because Urban Tapestry is going to be there, but finances don't allow. We are going to Ubercon next month, and hopefully Icon the month after, so that just about taps my discretionary income.

Showcase comics is having thier annual Valentine's sale, so games are 30% off. I picked up the deluxe set of Apples to Apples, and the expansion set to Settlers of Catan. I had also gotten the card game Gloom, while at Between Books this weekend, and its looks likes its going to be really fun, in that Battle of the Bands sorta way.

Why am i sure I have met this guy?!

2005-02-09T14:31:58Z

Sadly, this is only too true for some gamers out there.

http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2005-02-07&res=l

Head Nodding Notations

2005-02-07T20:13:06Z

I just don't seem to be able to get into second gear today. I had a very hectic, and exausting weekend, and after having drank 40 oz of coffee, I have decided to just resign myself to the fact that today is just going to be a tired day. None of this, of course is going to change the fact that I will be playing World of Warcraft when I get home:-)

Grrr! Arrggg, and more Grrr...

2005-01-20T14:04:24Z

I left work at 4:15 last night, which is 15 minutes early, as I needed to run a quick errand. My plans for the evening included swinging by to pick up this weeks comics, signing on for a couple of hours of World or Warcraft, and then settling in all nice and cozy, next to Kim, and watch Lost and Alias. What I ended up doing instead was, spend 5 hours stuck in my car in gridlock traffic, all because of 1/2 inch snow storm. So, no comics, No Warcraft, no Lost, and no Alias. I picked Tina up from work at 10, and fell asleep. I have drivien home during storms that dumped over 6 inches of snow on us, and the drive home was better than last night. How did this little 1/2 inch snow fall cause such mayhem?