Thursday, December 30, 2004

Swag and Work

So, um, Christmas was good to me. Crazy ridiculously good. Gamecube with Windwaker and LOTR: Third Age; Star Wars Original Trilogy on DVD, Farscape Season 1, Kill Bill vol. 2, and Equilibrium; Clothes, as was expected; Franz Ferdinand, as previously mentioned, as well as a Johnny Cash Christmas album; Lego Millenium Falcon, Darth Vader, Storm Trooper, and Super Battle Droid; and a cell phone, which is the most useful of the things I got, by and far; two bottle of wine (yum-yum, yummy wine); and that's all I can think of at the moment.

Also, I have a job. Picker/puller for the K-Mart distribution center in Greensboro. $9/hr, required overtime, second shift. Not terribly exciting, but it's work.

Further note: hate the speed of mail and packages during the holidays. Rah.

Saturday, December 25, 2004

This Fffire

This fire is outta control!
Gonna burn this city, burn this city!

So Hugh gets mad props for getting me Franz Ferdinand (the version with the bonus disc) for Christmas. They rock it hard. And they're 'modern,' which is truly odd. I don't tend to like 'new' music. But Franz Ferdinand rocks out. And they get crazy bonus points for naming their band after the man whose assassination started the First World War.

Merry Christmas

I'm of the age that's squarely between any age that appreciates Christmas specials and movies. Too old to be excited about watching Rudolph or Miracle on 34th Street. And far too young to be nostalgic for the feeling that one gets when watching It's a Wonderful Life as one gets older. Which, when thought about, saddens me a little bit. To be annoyed by the innundation of old movies, new movies, remakes, etc. Though I think TBS's 24 hours of A Christmas Story is a crime against humanity no matter how you slice it. It's just a bad movie. But it's Christmas. Or at least it will be by the time this thing is posted. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas. And if you are offended by me wishing you a Merry Christmas instead of a Happy Holidays (as John Scalzi put it, let's look at the etymology. Holiday = holy + day. Move on.) or Season's Greetings, you're missing the point. And I won't much care, really. I'm going to have a most excellent day tomorrow, eating too much, spending time with a rather large (and extended) family that is close and loving. So fie on you Scrooges and Grinches.

And God bless us, everyone.

Friday, December 24, 2004

Christmas Wishes

Christmas hasn't been simple since my 12th, back in '94. Then came separation of the parents. Then I was a teenager. Then just a bunch of...stuff. Mess, really. Doesn't look like this year's going to be any different. The whole mess with the parents has been as settled as it's going to get for this year. Christmas Eve here, and thusly also Christmas morning. Christmas lunch with my dad's mother, then to my dad's that evening. Then off to Bristol for Christmas with my mom's family on the 26th from Hickory. Alas, but both I will not be able to see Holly again until after I get back from Bristol on the 28th, but that works out for the best. The USPS was, even for this season, retardly slow is getting payment for Holly's present to the business from which the purchases came. 10 days! 10! For envelopes going to Texas and Tennessee! From North Carolina! WTF?! So I'm looking to get them in next week very early. Oh well. What can you do? I have Midnight Mass to look forward to, which is one of my little personal holiday traditions. Very beautiful service, if you go in for that sort of thing. But old languages, tradtional hymns and centuries old rituals are right up my alley. I'm happy. I really am. These last couple of days, I've been a little tired, head a little sore. So I apologize if I've been a bit impatient and snappy. Despite a little hiccup in the plan here or there, life is good. It'd be great, but the world puts a far greater concern and importance on money than I do, but thus is the world, I suppose.

Anyway, I'm going to be far, far too busy to blog tomorrow, and I'll be separated from the internet (nnnoooooooooo!) for the majority of the next few days, so no blogs until after Christmas. I know my three member audience will weep for their loss, but my heart is hardened to their tears. Nay, indeed it lives for the salty sweetness of their embittered grief! Or, um...yeah. Stuff.

Ego te amo, mea carissime, mea Holly.

Wednesday, December 22, 2004

All Hail Largo!

So Megatokyo was very funny today. Largo speaks to the heart of why I loathe Gateway, Dell and the like. There's something special about a custom built, hand forged box. It is the essence of l33t.

In other news, Holly came over. So yay me. :D

Monday, December 20, 2004

Family squabble! Yum!

Ah, the wonder that is the divorced parentage. Years pass, and you think it's finally over and done with. Then come the holidays, ever the massive heap of unpleasant baggage. As part of the child support agreement between my parents, my father was supposed to be allowed to have us, his children every other Christmas. Thus far, this has not happened. Once. Since 1995. This year, it seems my brother and sister want to go to Dad's for Christmas Eve, coming by our house here for Christmas with my mother, and then Christmas with Dad's mother, then leaving the 26th for my mother's mother's. If it's done this way, two things will happen. First, I'll get stuck having to go to Randy's sister's for Christmas with Randy's family. I can at least tolerate most of Randy's family, except his sister Cathy, who tends towards pushy bossy, and even more so when drinking wine. Which she always does. To excess. And secondly, my mom will spend the most of Christmas crying. Because my dad will have put his foot down about this whole Christmas thing, and there would have been a lot of crap floating about the house in the form of negative emotions. And I don't want to do that. Which I actually find somewhat odd. I tend to favor my dad to my mom in most things. But she's still my mother. I have no desire to have caused her to cry on Christmas morning. I'd much rather spend Christmas Eve here and Christmas day with my dad. That seems the best thing overall. Plus, if I'm here for Christmas Eve, I can go to Midnight Mass, as I have since my senior year in High School. I think this will be the fifth year running. It's becoming a little tradtion for me. Also, I don't know when I'll be able to "do Christmas" with Holly. I just don't like the circumstances. Next year it won't matter so much, as I will be living in Greensboro. Then I'll be able to remove myself from the mess.

In a much more minor note, Jerod's trying to turn me, or through me, Holly, into the antagonist because of Megan's "schedule" to be able to roleplay. Because I didn't call Holly at his command to figure out when Holly will be getting home on Wednesday, he's trying to make so she doesn't get to play because he wants Megan, his girlfriend, to play tomorrow. To which I replied, and I meant it, that if he's going to pull that and force playing to happen when Holly won't even be there, so his girlfriend can start playing, where mine's already been playing, I won't play either. Because he's being an ass about it. And I mean it. If he's going to force my hand, I'll take my cleric and leave. That'd be no cleric, no mage, and Shaun killed his NPC off last session, albeit valiently and nobly, because more people were joining in for the next session. I'm not going to willingly exclude Holly so Megan, or anyone else for that matter, can play. I've excluded a girlfriend before, but The Great Whore of Babylon was a terrible roleplayer, and no one likes playing with her. Holly's been roleplaying almost as long as I have, and know how to play with a party. Megan I don't think has ever played before. It's stupid. And I think I'm done venting now.

I miss my girlfriend.

Untitled, Dec. 20th

It appears I have been neglecting my little blog here the past few days. Haven't really felt a need to vent anything I suppose. The last few days have been quite pleasant, really. We'll start with Wednesday.

Wednesday - Started by hitting up a temp agency and, apparently, being impressive. Then picked up the Sgt. jones from his teaching job, and being treated as VIP, given my status as Captain of the Royal Guard at the Carolina Renaissance Festival. Which is kinda crazy, but the kids, middle school kids, looked sharp. Then back for my appointment at the temp agency, scored for the same afternoon due to my overwhelming impressiveness. Paperwork and tests later, and it's 5PM. Which means I couldn't call Holly to make some plans (she turned 21 Wednesday), but I was able to hang out for a while. She actually invited me to play in the Hackmaster game that was going on, which was touching. She was being very sweet. She didn't want me to go, but I felt like I was intruding, so I left about 7PM. Wednesday ended.

Thursday - Woke up and showered and was ready for lunch with Holly, set up the day before. She got pulled for speeding, but didn't get a ticket. So, yay me, I got to be all comforting. She liked her birthday present, Inu Yasha episodes 1-126, but, as I expected, thought it was too much, but not in an offended kind of way, just a "she's not used to this kind of treatment" kind of way. Which makes me smile, being able to show her this better way. After a moment she leaned up and kissed me. Lunch was pleasant, if a little late, and she got to make a character for Shaun's D&D campaign. More sweetness and cuddling and a long good bye.

Friday - Woke up, did some cleaning, and Holly came over around 4:30, finished her character, and we headed out to the Rummage's to roleplay. Played until about 1, which was crazy, but we all had fun. She was cuddly and sweet. It's a sad state when I am used to not receiving affection, and am surprised by it in a relationship, but it makes me thankful for even the littlest of kindnesses. One really long goodbye and it was the end of the third day.

Saturday - Headed out to my dad's in Hickory for Christmas with my grandfather, so yay warm family pleasantness. Played a whole lot of Halo with ma familia and Jenna's boyfriend Tyler. Seems like a nice guy. Came back, tidied again. talked with Holly a little bit.

Sunday - Kinda blurry, really. I remember Holly calling to tell me she was running too late to stop by on her way to her grandmother's in Chapel Hill (What? I'm getting called? Whoa!) but there were pleasant and encouraging words. Her grandfather's got Alzheimer's and hardly remembers anyone, which is hard on her and her family. I wish I could be there with her, but I'll be here when she gets back. It started to flurry a bit, so I called her again, to see if it was snowing there. It wasn't, of course, but I got to talk to her for a little bit at least.

Today - Had lunch with my brother, Hugh, Tony(cousin), and our friend Nick, who was visiting from Tennessee. Then we all gathered back at my house for a ridiculous amount of 6 player Halo on two TV's over the LAN. It was all quite very sweet, and that's where we are right now!

I hope Holly's Christmas present hurries up. I have a feeling it will get here in time for Christmas, but I am anxious. Which reminds me. I need to check the mail. Peace out.

Wednesday, December 15, 2004

Ha-HA! The day is mine!

That is all.

thank you darrell hammond

Monday, December 13, 2004

Colossal Death Robot! Go!

Optimus Prime!
Which Colossal Death Robot Are You?
Brought to you by Rum and Monkey

"You are Optimus Prime!

Vast, red and ready to turn into a lorry at the slightest provocation, you are a robot to be reckoned with. Although sickeningly noble, you just can't resist a good interplanetary war, especially when Orson Welles is involved. You have friends who can shoot tapes from their chests. Tapes that turn into panthers. And other friends who are dinosaurs. Dinosaurs who jump out of planes. "


You've got the touch! You've got the pooowwaaaaaa!!!

Tanking the Sickness Sucktastic

Isn't that title just the wittiest thing ever? No? Oh. Well, I tried. But right now I feel rather beat up. Drove the fever out, willed the cough into submission, but the ache remains. Sore. Sleepy. Don't want to be. Not supposed to be able to get sick. Argh. Will save. Fortitude save. Rah. Only 6:45, and I'm already sleepish. Bleh. Fie on you my weak and mortal flesh.

Writing is Scary

It's an uncomfortable process, writing. Or at least it can be. Especially if you're branching out into a new type of writing you've never done before. I've done fiction, poetry, non-fiction. But there are some things I've thought, and thought poetic, but have never commited to any kind of media. Which is, on the one hand, a shame, as I think it has a place, an appreciable artistic quality. On the other hand, I'm somewhat shy and afraid to put such things onto a permanant media, such as paper or a word-processor document. Love isn't always an easy thing to express, but I think I manage well. However, Love is a large thing, covering many different types and expressions. I've always had a handle of the noble parts of Love. Passion, though. I've felt it to be sure, passion, desire, I am but a man. Though perhaps I have spent too many years concealing my passion, and so it is obscured from those whom I would show. I believe it's a matter of inexperience, really. It's still such a new and unusual thing for me. Only in two persons have I felt a strong passion at all, and only one has been worthy of my desire. But how to express that? How do you tell someone you care about them and their happiness, and in the same moment tell them you want them, that they move you in a way that cannot be described? I'm trying to work that out, but it's uncomfortable for me to get those thoughts from mind to media. Somewhat like new shoes. Certainly much better than the old ragged pair I had before, but still needing to be worn in. Well, we'll just have to see how it goes, I suppose.

Update: Because I don't want to make a new post for this small piece of news. 4 pages. 4! for one poem. Of course, anyone I'd feel comfortable to proofread the thing isn't online. So it'll just have to be edited later, I suppose. Oh well, 2:30. Time for bed.

Wednesday, December 08, 2004

Paladin/Cleric confirmed.

You scored as Neutral Good. A Neutral Good person tries to do the "goodest" thing possible. These people are willing to work with the law to accomplish their goal, but if the law is corrupt they are just as willing to tear it down. To these people, doing what's right is the most important thing, regardless of rules, customs, or laws.


Neutral Good


80%

Lawful Good


75%

Chaotic Good


60%

Lawful Neutral


60%

True Neutral


40%

Neutral Evil


40%

Lawful Evil


25%

Chaotic Neutral


20%

Chaotic Evil


10%

What is your Alignment?
created with QuizFarm.com


Once again, a little quiz found on Holly's journal. And look at that. Not at all surprised at the results. Whee.

my moment is at hand, very soon now

Monday, December 06, 2004

Untitled, Dec. 06, 2004.

Seriously. Can't think of a title. Rah.

Why is it that things never go according to plan? Hmm? Can someone tell me that? Saturday went as close to the plan as I could have hoped, I suppose, but I was wanting better. Work sucks. Sucks a whole heck of a lot. I don't need to be trained on anything else. I'm not going to be there any longer than I can help. I need the tips from working out front, that's what I started working there in the first place. Got out a little early, but I was still there for 8 1/2 hours vacuuming cars out. Saturday night, however, was far more pleasant. At least it was for me, anyway. Heh, poor Holly. The Madrigal Dinner was entertaining, and listening to the chorus sing is always pleasant, as the East Rowan High School choral program is on of the best in the state, and I dare say the nation. Then off the Greensboro for a little wine, wind down, and hanging out. I wish Holly would have stayed, but that's rant space for later.

Sunday was alright. Cooked up some tasty breakfast, and got to hang out with Lani and Doug. Then we all three went to see the Grudge. Which was interesting, at least. It incorporated a healthy dose of Japanese culture, with a Sam Raimi flare. Then later that afternoon, Chris calls not 20 miles out from home. His car had snapped a belt, and no worky car. So Chris, Doug, and I get to push a car about a mile up the ramp and down the road to the closest gas station. Nothing to be done at the moment, so we went back to the apartment, grabbed some groceries and stopped in an apartment complex. Heh heh. Link forthcoming. This is the place, Bridford Lake. We're looking at the Carlton floor plan. 3 bed, 2 bath, nearly 1500 square feet. The complex is very nice, and putting it all together, it'll come to about $500 a person. Gated community. It's going to be great! I can't wait until May/June! So a little more wine and wind down. Also, Madeira is good wine. (Have some Madeira, my dear?)

Monday. Ah, yes. Monday. So Chris and I go out and get the necessary belts and run a couple of other errands. Eat lunch. Then we get to Chris' car. Only to find we can't put the belts on because a part that's supposed to be able to loosen and move isn't loosening at all. So after two hours or more, we finally give up. Chris, thanks to being a member of the NC Nat'l Guard, has some nifty AAA-like priveleges, so he'll be able to at least get the car to his apartment until he can figure out what to do with it. Then the job search. Struck out in a few places, but got some good leads. When I went to the Pier 1, the lady actually asked if I could fill out the application right then and there. I took that as a good sign. I'm hopeful for better employment. I have to be. I hate my current job.

But Holly. Dear, dear Holly. She's starting to open up a little more, a small step every time I see her. Still slower than I'd like. But I'm impetuous and impatient. I can wait. I have to, really. I think things will come together so that I might actually be able to spend Christmas with someone for once. But what is to be done? She needs someone to lead her. And I am willing to lead if she'll just follow.

I've also started working on my Dark Elf Warhammer Fantasy army for no real reason. But they're starting to look really good anyway. I started reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, too. I enjoyed the other three books, and this one's just as good as the others. But I went ahead and borrowed Chris's copy of The Order of the Phoenix as well, given that these are pretty fast reads.

*sigh* The road goes ever on and on...

and it's raining, all over the world