No, really.
It does.
Today we've encountered a small plumbing problem. The landlord has been and gone. A plumber will be here tomorrow. I've had a WONDERFUL time mopping up the stinking water.
We may even need a new bottle of bleach when I'm done.
--
And how to loose a weekend.
On Saturday evening, I was having a quiet night. Around 8pm, expecting Ali home sometime soon, I hear a knock on the door.
Expecting to see Ali, having forgotten her keys (its got to happen one day) I find myself presented by a horrible visage.
Half the roleplay group standing there in the snow - all six inches of it. Shivering. I don't think I heard the first knock.
Which I found surprising. Visitors!
Still, fair enough. Invite in, try and find out what was happening. Turned out we were playing Exalted. Matt was on the way to pick up Ali. Just no one had told me.
Ah well. But because I didn't know we were playing, I hadn't built the random number generator I needed. I don't have 6*16 10 sided dice to roll.
Anyway, sit there and quickly run up a number generator in java - which was a bit of a challenge. I've never had to sit and code in a timed contest - or a "as fast as possible" thing. For added fun, you had 5 people chattering about everything from why PERL is a terrible language - (no, its not - its wonderful. You just need a to remember it'll do exactly what you ask - even if it makes no sense a all!) - to the merits of the new game called Band Hero.
Must remember to talk about Guitar Hero some day.
Anyway, we played. And played and played.
And at around midnight, instead of being sane like, well, Ali, the rest of us trooped over to PC Bang - a computer gaming establishment I've already mentioned elsewhere.
Anyway, after a couple of games of Dawn of War: Winter Assault (Good game). And few rounds a scenario on Warcraft 3: Frozen Throne. Called DotA-Allstars (and no, don't ask me what it means), I finally got the hang of it. Rather then being a liability, I was useful. It just took a while to get the hang of it...
Anyway, by the time we got out of there, got home (it was SNOWING!), fed the cat and got into bed, it was 6am in the morning.
Four hours later, at 10a, in the morning, I was...aware of what was happening and on WoW for the scheduled 5 man horde fun. I don't remember much of what was said or done. I made some notes on what I've got to write, but beyond that....the rest of the day is one biiiiiiiig blur.
Although...I'm fairly sure I didn't do anything toooo stupid.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Friday, November 30, 2007
Odd dreams
I had an odd dream last night - odd enough to share.
This is only first draft - not complete, patchy and quickly done. I'll update if it repeats, or crops up again.
And oh, sorry Richard.
--
It's autumn in london - the cold winds are blowing, the rain is driving down and its grey. All around in a modern city are dark buildings. Empty of the living - but filled with zombies. Zombies all around, without hope or breath, wanting only to take from the living.
Still, within this waste are a few, very few hold outs. I'm traveling...flying even, to see a brother - to see Richard.
But even as I go I know with leaden heart that this time is the last. Past today, it won't be possible, for he suffers.
Pausing on a rooftop, I look at the place he took to himself. An oval building, surrounded by a low wall. Labyrinthine all around the place, long ago built to amuse as only a maze could - but now a thing of safey. Of hope.
Tall and high - though he lives on the lowest level. Above, infested like the rest of the city. The only access via a small courtyard, with a gate to the outside bolted and barred. Yet even that is still crawling with the corrupted. Yes, the corrupted - thats who they are.
(Corrupted by what, or who...?)
Still, no time for that now. For now time rushes forwards at a snails pace. Twelve clean shots to clean out the garden once again. A smooth glide down to that ever green space, filled with trees and shrubs.
Door opening to my knock, though it takes minutes. (Longer and longer, every time longer). Finally, he stands there in the dusk light, lit from behind by the burning oil lamps we brought here, so long ago.
Even from here, an arms length away, I see it there. Grey, green, spreading slowly over his one good eye. (His other...was it ever a fair trade? He never said.)
As the light fades we talk of things long gone, still standing there in the green. Those long ago games that age stole. Memories of travel and hope. Saving those we could. Remembering those who - no, to painful.
Still around one thing we dance. Family we talk of, those we have left. Those we took, and those we hold. Adopted and spared, twenty three lives won and lost with words of caution between us. Never hope, never dream.
As the last light fails he draws me in, for the night is dangerous, even to me.
As he is dangerous, even to me.
This is only first draft - not complete, patchy and quickly done. I'll update if it repeats, or crops up again.
And oh, sorry Richard.
--
It's autumn in london - the cold winds are blowing, the rain is driving down and its grey. All around in a modern city are dark buildings. Empty of the living - but filled with zombies. Zombies all around, without hope or breath, wanting only to take from the living.
Still, within this waste are a few, very few hold outs. I'm traveling...flying even, to see a brother - to see Richard.
But even as I go I know with leaden heart that this time is the last. Past today, it won't be possible, for he suffers.
Pausing on a rooftop, I look at the place he took to himself. An oval building, surrounded by a low wall. Labyrinthine all around the place, long ago built to amuse as only a maze could - but now a thing of safey. Of hope.
Tall and high - though he lives on the lowest level. Above, infested like the rest of the city. The only access via a small courtyard, with a gate to the outside bolted and barred. Yet even that is still crawling with the corrupted. Yes, the corrupted - thats who they are.
(Corrupted by what, or who...?)
Still, no time for that now. For now time rushes forwards at a snails pace. Twelve clean shots to clean out the garden once again. A smooth glide down to that ever green space, filled with trees and shrubs.
Door opening to my knock, though it takes minutes. (Longer and longer, every time longer). Finally, he stands there in the dusk light, lit from behind by the burning oil lamps we brought here, so long ago.
Even from here, an arms length away, I see it there. Grey, green, spreading slowly over his one good eye. (His other...was it ever a fair trade? He never said.)
As the light fades we talk of things long gone, still standing there in the green. Those long ago games that age stole. Memories of travel and hope. Saving those we could. Remembering those who - no, to painful.
Still around one thing we dance. Family we talk of, those we have left. Those we took, and those we hold. Adopted and spared, twenty three lives won and lost with words of caution between us. Never hope, never dream.
As the last light fails he draws me in, for the night is dangerous, even to me.
As he is dangerous, even to me.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Guidelines for the Guild
People, this is a warcraft related post. So if you're not in the guild, ignore it.
It's quite clear after Sunday that if we're only ever allowed to play on the hordies while everyone is present we are going to loose a lot of time, and stand around waiting for people.
So I propose the following guidelines...
1) You can cook, fish, smelt, train, sort out junk, visit the AH and craft things in your own time - no need to wait for the group.
On the other hand, making something then and there for a group member is also fine.
2) Alts are welcome - there's one already - and all alts are to be promoted to "Hair Stylist", to indicate that status. They can do almost anything except hire, fire and promote people in the guild.
2.5) Talking of hire and firing people, all main guild characters have as much authority as I can give them. While I might be the guild master, I view this more as "Chief of Paperwork" then anything else. The guild leader is not the group leader.
3) Once we've leveled up somewhat, farming materials in lower level areas will be permitted. By lower levels, I mean areas where all mobs are grey - aka XP free. I'm hoping this won't be needed - hence my alt - but....
4) The time we are going to play next MUST be in the guild MOTD, so we all know what we're doing. Please, please try and be there...with all the stuff you need to do done.
5) Some quests have a large amount of traveling involved. For example, go somewhere far, far away and give this/talk to xxx. These quests are dull in the extreme.
So I'd propose that when we get these, the group can agree to all go there in peoples own time. This doesn't apply to locations like, say, tabetha in the swamps, but places like Tanris, Rachet, Booty Bay....
Remember, we have to agree on this - if no-one asks, the group can't agree.
6) It's going to be very difficult to level up Together. Different classes have quests, as the group spreads out not all will have the same XP. So I'd propose that every 5 levels or so we have a "Check Level". We compare XP totals, and those who are below by any significant amount (say, 2 bars) are allowed to go and catch up that little bit, to keep things more or less even.
--
All of this is up for debate. If you disagree with something, tell us. I am not The Controller. These are suggestions, to try and ensure fun for all.
So, thoughts?
It's quite clear after Sunday that if we're only ever allowed to play on the hordies while everyone is present we are going to loose a lot of time, and stand around waiting for people.
So I propose the following guidelines...
1) You can cook, fish, smelt, train, sort out junk, visit the AH and craft things in your own time - no need to wait for the group.
On the other hand, making something then and there for a group member is also fine.
2) Alts are welcome - there's one already - and all alts are to be promoted to "Hair Stylist", to indicate that status. They can do almost anything except hire, fire and promote people in the guild.
2.5) Talking of hire and firing people, all main guild characters have as much authority as I can give them. While I might be the guild master, I view this more as "Chief of Paperwork" then anything else. The guild leader is not the group leader.
3) Once we've leveled up somewhat, farming materials in lower level areas will be permitted. By lower levels, I mean areas where all mobs are grey - aka XP free. I'm hoping this won't be needed - hence my alt - but....
4) The time we are going to play next MUST be in the guild MOTD, so we all know what we're doing. Please, please try and be there...with all the stuff you need to do done.
5) Some quests have a large amount of traveling involved. For example, go somewhere far, far away and give this/talk to xxx. These quests are dull in the extreme.
So I'd propose that when we get these, the group can agree to all go there in peoples own time. This doesn't apply to locations like, say, tabetha in the swamps, but places like Tanris, Rachet, Booty Bay....
Remember, we have to agree on this - if no-one asks, the group can't agree.
6) It's going to be very difficult to level up Together. Different classes have quests, as the group spreads out not all will have the same XP. So I'd propose that every 5 levels or so we have a "Check Level". We compare XP totals, and those who are below by any significant amount (say, 2 bars) are allowed to go and catch up that little bit, to keep things more or less even.
--
All of this is up for debate. If you disagree with something, tell us. I am not The Controller. These are suggestions, to try and ensure fun for all.
So, thoughts?
Friday, November 23, 2007
Canadian Money
The Canadian monetary system is very similar to the UK system in many respects.
Money has evolved a long, long way from its birthplace and purpose, all those years ago. It no longer represents things of concrete value, but abstract ideas and values. A currency grows stronger and weaker based on relative economies, financial dealings....
But thats not the point here.
*clink*
In the UK most money is held in banks, for the large part. Almost everyone has a bank account of some description - without one, being paid is damned near impossible, in any legal sense.
Here in Canada I know many people who casually walk around with 200, 300 dollars at a time. Banks arn't as essential here - cash your pay cheque, use the cash.
Even the university offered to pay me by cheque. Yep - with all the attendant paperwork.
But a word about the coins.
*clink* *clink*
They use coins almost exactly the same as american coins - up to a dollar.
No, really. 1, 5, 10 and 25 cent coins are identical in size and weight. The only way to tell them apart is the design. So much so that maybe 1% of small coinage in canada is really US money.
No one really minded when the US dollar was worth more. Or even now, when its worth less.
Odd people really. Short change them (a little) and they don't mind.
*clink* * clink * * clink*
You've got 4 dollars and 61 cents in pennies you git.
How many US ones?
Arrrgggghhhhhhh!
Money has evolved a long, long way from its birthplace and purpose, all those years ago. It no longer represents things of concrete value, but abstract ideas and values. A currency grows stronger and weaker based on relative economies, financial dealings....
But thats not the point here.
*clink*
In the UK most money is held in banks, for the large part. Almost everyone has a bank account of some description - without one, being paid is damned near impossible, in any legal sense.
Here in Canada I know many people who casually walk around with 200, 300 dollars at a time. Banks arn't as essential here - cash your pay cheque, use the cash.
Even the university offered to pay me by cheque. Yep - with all the attendant paperwork.
But a word about the coins.
*clink* *clink*
They use coins almost exactly the same as american coins - up to a dollar.
No, really. 1, 5, 10 and 25 cent coins are identical in size and weight. The only way to tell them apart is the design. So much so that maybe 1% of small coinage in canada is really US money.
No one really minded when the US dollar was worth more. Or even now, when its worth less.
Odd people really. Short change them (a little) and they don't mind.
*clink* * clink * * clink*
You've got 4 dollars and 61 cents in pennies you git.
How many US ones?
Arrrgggghhhhhhh!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Halloween
This should have been posted a while ago - oh well.
Now, as you're all aware, Halloween is a festival that barely registers in the UK. If you're very, very (un)lucky you might get a few trick or treaters, watched over by anxious parents who've allowed their little darlings out to roam..
In Canada, and I'm forced to assume the USA as well, there's a little bit more fuss.
We're not talking lots of children in costumes - costumes that might well cost more then the total GDP of some small african countries. And cute they do look - if you're into cute. If, like most sane adults you just wish they were standing closer together...well, close your eyes.
But why do you want them standing closer together?
Silence Alter - or its the wardrobe for you.
More interestingly, its not just the children who dress up. A fair number of adults do as well. Now, here's the thing. Men just don't dress up. What you end up with is a variety of adult women in dresses, costumes and other unusual things.
Which isn't that bad.
But why closer together!?
Alter, I've warned you...
Anyway, the costumes can be elaborate, complicated and highly effective.
Such as this pretty little fairy...
This wasn't the only fairy. You had fairy godmothers, princesses, mini-mouse, more fairies...even a killer serving at A&W...
Now, we all know fast food will kill you, but...
Anyway, that's Halloween in Canada.
But why closer?!?!?
Because, Alter, I've only got one hand grenade left. Now Get in your WARDROBE!
Now, as you're all aware, Halloween is a festival that barely registers in the UK. If you're very, very (un)lucky you might get a few trick or treaters, watched over by anxious parents who've allowed their little darlings out to roam..
In Canada, and I'm forced to assume the USA as well, there's a little bit more fuss.
We're not talking lots of children in costumes - costumes that might well cost more then the total GDP of some small african countries. And cute they do look - if you're into cute. If, like most sane adults you just wish they were standing closer together...well, close your eyes.
But why do you want them standing closer together?
Silence Alter - or its the wardrobe for you.
More interestingly, its not just the children who dress up. A fair number of adults do as well. Now, here's the thing. Men just don't dress up. What you end up with is a variety of adult women in dresses, costumes and other unusual things.
Which isn't that bad.
But why closer together!?
Alter, I've warned you...
Anyway, the costumes can be elaborate, complicated and highly effective.
Such as this pretty little fairy...
This wasn't the only fairy. You had fairy godmothers, princesses, mini-mouse, more fairies...even a killer serving at A&W...
Now, we all know fast food will kill you, but...Anyway, that's Halloween in Canada.
But why closer?!?!?
Because, Alter, I've only got one hand grenade left. Now Get in your WARDROBE!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
He's not here - I'm FREE!
Monday, November 5, 2007
Time and Books
Morning all
Couple of things. First, I've changed my flight, so you won't be seeing me till January, near the end of. So Christmas isn't canceled, just del-
Delalyed? You've still got presents from last year you've not giv-
*slam*
*crash*
Delayed. Save me some fruitcake...
And second, I've once again read The Colours of Choas - if you've not read it, and you read fanstasy, go read it.
Now.
No, I won't wait while you do...its 800 pages!
And please, ignore the wardrobe. It moves all on its own.
Couple of things. First, I've changed my flight, so you won't be seeing me till January, near the end of. So Christmas isn't canceled, just del-
Delalyed? You've still got presents from last year you've not giv-
*slam*
*crash*
Delayed. Save me some fruitcake...
And second, I've once again read The Colours of Choas - if you've not read it, and you read fanstasy, go read it.
Now.
No, I won't wait while you do...its 800 pages!
And please, ignore the wardrobe. It moves all on its own.
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