(too lazy to break these up)
Friday: Family night. We rode bikes from home all the way to Orange Tree (about 3 miles). Dogs were good and then we went to Target. Someone left a decent-looking bike lock, and others tried to force it or cut it off. I was able to... unlock it and asked the store manager if I could keep it. This was after I changed the combo and then locked our 4 bikes up lol.
Saturday: Movie day - we ate at the mall then went to see The Lovely Bones. Sad, but visually interesting. I liked their Purgatory much better than the one in that Robin Williams wreck. Oh! Got free milkshakes from Chik-Fil-A with our ticket stubs.
Took cold meds and then PLed Tomu until the effects were too strong.
Sunday: Met friends at Cracker Barrel to see their new baby. My food was OK but the fried apples I tried were too tart. I guess I'll have to stick to sweet apples. Went out for Bruster's ice cream after. Played DDR again, first time since the illness. And I tried to play FF using just the pad but of course it didn't work.
Finished Twilight. Fantastic! Now my sole book is the second Sevenwaters volume. Not sure I want to start it yet.
Monday: After karate, got situated and found out my ISP was experiencing technical difficulties. Half the net is missing and I can't play FF. AIM at least works. And those weasels are charging me for 1.5 megs down and I may get a fifth of that on any given day... You should see me try to pull down any YouTube vid.
Aerinravage's GamerCard
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Midweek Madness
Tuesday
Finished Alanna: The First Adventure (Tamora Pierce). This is another YA that came from my reading list. Not bad but not nearly as textured as other works I've digested lately. It has hints of "fantasy of manners" being set in a typical kingdom with the heroine undergoing trials to become a knight. But compared to something like Phedre's trilogy, this is far too lean. Yes, I *know* it's YA. But still... At least Ghost managed to flesh out the characters a bit. Here, everything seems so cut-out and plain. I'll continue some, but I'm much more interested in Twilight and Sevenwaters. I may drag out my namesake's book (Hero and the Crown) and see how it holds up to my standards now, after 23 years.
Duoed with Deej in Sauromugue and got 38 on SCH. Ran into Tumo and Ladikaka and we hung out for a bit. Got a rescue request from Zannon and Kiora in Caedarva. Seems they tried AU13 and Zannon bit the dust and Kiora was fighting a skeleton to the bitter end. Zannon had maybe 45 minutes on the clock so I wrapped up with the twins and made my way to WG. I tried portaling through Nyzul but because I had active assault orders I couldn't get past the gate. So I had to backtrack and then get on the boat. Zannon's time expired while I was maybe 5 minutes from him... >< I was very upset.
In the meantime, Kiora succumbed to the skele and I was able to raise her. Unfortunately, the skeleton I pulled to allow her to pop cast an AoE that leveled her in her weakened state... Eventually Zannon made his way back and we trioed the NM for the mission. It was a close thing too - I wound up using everything I had and so did Zannon. But ultimately we survived and they got their key items. After some appreciation of our mutual efforts, I took off for the night.
Wed: Early night with Ape, good Law & Order. Later chat with several people including Kaosu and Kiora.
Thurs: Flagged up on SCH then Soho and I chatted some - his wife will apparently be returning for a bit this weekend. He's planning a neurobio anatomy quiz for his students. Soho dislikes Twilight; will be starting Snow Crash now. He finished BA2 and it sounds like it was so-so. "Read it if you liked the first..."
Got an invite from Aryianna to rep her. Found out the party was the one Erolynne had just announced in Shell! Got to camp at about 8:30 and we didn't stop rocking until 11. 3 full levels. Accession is freakin' awesome!
Only two deaths to interrupt the chain-pulling frenzy: Mine, when I curaga-ed with DS at the wrong time - they had just switched birds and I wound up with ALL the hate. But I popped RR quickly and they actually pulled a few more before the tank asked for a rest on my behalf - because he wanted to make sure I could heal him :3.
Second was the tank when he got hit with back to back wallops: 350 and 180. Shadows had fallen and I cured then got a regen started. But the critical damage came too quickly for me to get out of it and get another cure off. Two death-rests aside, we didn't stop once for MP, and only stopped for bathroom or snacks.
Even as we went from 38 to 40, XP was decent. It was a little below max, but the kills got faster and we weren't competing for birds so pulls were chaining in the 5s and 6s regularly. Many kudos went to the THF puller Bezgod.
Minor chuckles - Ero commended me in Shell, and then I let the tank die ^^ Groveled a bit...
At 11-ish we split up and I hastened to log out. Last-minute shell chat about Spongebob and iCarly.
There was an earlier discussion that I couldn't pay full attention to about Surg revitalizing the shell. This, as I tried to get Aryi a pearl. Apparently some of the sacks have bolted and he wants to refill our numbers and get back to a focused plan of progression.
He asked the shell what we wanted and I mentioned fun, friendship and the occasional group event and cooperation. He replied he was in it mainly for the friends ^^
Saw Tumo briefly but had to decline his AIM invite as it was too late. Ditto Kush.
Started Twilight in earnest a couple days ago and am now just over 40% into it. It's pretty amazing how closely the movie matches it, but at the same time, the smoldering romance between Ed and Bella is much more /palpable/ in the book. Ed's tortured resignation to his feelings and Bella's heedless plunge into hers comes out more strongly in print.
Finished Alanna: The First Adventure (Tamora Pierce). This is another YA that came from my reading list. Not bad but not nearly as textured as other works I've digested lately. It has hints of "fantasy of manners" being set in a typical kingdom with the heroine undergoing trials to become a knight. But compared to something like Phedre's trilogy, this is far too lean. Yes, I *know* it's YA. But still... At least Ghost managed to flesh out the characters a bit. Here, everything seems so cut-out and plain. I'll continue some, but I'm much more interested in Twilight and Sevenwaters. I may drag out my namesake's book (Hero and the Crown) and see how it holds up to my standards now, after 23 years.
Duoed with Deej in Sauromugue and got 38 on SCH. Ran into Tumo and Ladikaka and we hung out for a bit. Got a rescue request from Zannon and Kiora in Caedarva. Seems they tried AU13 and Zannon bit the dust and Kiora was fighting a skeleton to the bitter end. Zannon had maybe 45 minutes on the clock so I wrapped up with the twins and made my way to WG. I tried portaling through Nyzul but because I had active assault orders I couldn't get past the gate. So I had to backtrack and then get on the boat. Zannon's time expired while I was maybe 5 minutes from him... >< I was very upset.
In the meantime, Kiora succumbed to the skele and I was able to raise her. Unfortunately, the skeleton I pulled to allow her to pop cast an AoE that leveled her in her weakened state... Eventually Zannon made his way back and we trioed the NM for the mission. It was a close thing too - I wound up using everything I had and so did Zannon. But ultimately we survived and they got their key items. After some appreciation of our mutual efforts, I took off for the night.
Wed: Early night with Ape, good Law & Order. Later chat with several people including Kaosu and Kiora.
Thurs: Flagged up on SCH then Soho and I chatted some - his wife will apparently be returning for a bit this weekend. He's planning a neurobio anatomy quiz for his students. Soho dislikes Twilight; will be starting Snow Crash now. He finished BA2 and it sounds like it was so-so. "Read it if you liked the first..."
Got an invite from Aryianna to rep her. Found out the party was the one Erolynne had just announced in Shell! Got to camp at about 8:30 and we didn't stop rocking until 11. 3 full levels. Accession is freakin' awesome!
Only two deaths to interrupt the chain-pulling frenzy: Mine, when I curaga-ed with DS at the wrong time - they had just switched birds and I wound up with ALL the hate. But I popped RR quickly and they actually pulled a few more before the tank asked for a rest on my behalf - because he wanted to make sure I could heal him :3.
Second was the tank when he got hit with back to back wallops: 350 and 180. Shadows had fallen and I cured then got a regen started. But the critical damage came too quickly for me to get out of it and get another cure off. Two death-rests aside, we didn't stop once for MP, and only stopped for bathroom or snacks.
Even as we went from 38 to 40, XP was decent. It was a little below max, but the kills got faster and we weren't competing for birds so pulls were chaining in the 5s and 6s regularly. Many kudos went to the THF puller Bezgod.
Minor chuckles - Ero commended me in Shell, and then I let the tank die ^^ Groveled a bit...
At 11-ish we split up and I hastened to log out. Last-minute shell chat about Spongebob and iCarly.
There was an earlier discussion that I couldn't pay full attention to about Surg revitalizing the shell. This, as I tried to get Aryi a pearl. Apparently some of the sacks have bolted and he wants to refill our numbers and get back to a focused plan of progression.
He asked the shell what we wanted and I mentioned fun, friendship and the occasional group event and cooperation. He replied he was in it mainly for the friends ^^
Saw Tumo briefly but had to decline his AIM invite as it was too late. Ditto Kush.
Started Twilight in earnest a couple days ago and am now just over 40% into it. It's pretty amazing how closely the movie matches it, but at the same time, the smoldering romance between Ed and Bella is much more /palpable/ in the book. Ed's tortured resignation to his feelings and Bella's heedless plunge into hers comes out more strongly in print.
Monday, January 11, 2010
These Aren't The Woids You're Looking For
(I'm so sorry~!)
Air Travel: Its Impact on the Way We Live and the Way We See Ourselves
http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Social/impact/SH3.htm
--
AIR TRAVEL - I
http://www.altiusdirectory.com/Travel/air-travel-I.html
--
History - Part 1 (IATA About Us section)
http://www.iata.org/about/history.htm?iata=iata
--
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-airtravel.html
air travel
--
Reflections on air travel, defining globalization (op-ed)
http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/120591.html
--
FRIENDLY SKIES?
A CULTURAL HISTORY OF AIR TRAVEL IN
POSTWAR AMERICA
http://www.ghi-dc.org/publications/ghipubs/bu/040/115.pdf
Air Travel: Its Impact on the Way We Live and the Way We See Ourselves
http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Social/impact/SH3.htm
--
AIR TRAVEL - I
http://www.altiusdirectory.com/Travel/air-travel-I.html
--
History - Part 1 (IATA About Us section)
http://www.iata.org/about/history.htm?iata=iata
--
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-airtravel.html
air travel
--
Reflections on air travel, defining globalization (op-ed)
http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/120591.html
--
FRIENDLY SKIES?
A CULTURAL HISTORY OF AIR TRAVEL IN
POSTWAR AMERICA
http://www.ghi-dc.org/publications/ghipubs/bu/040/115.pdf
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Weakened Update
(I'm *still* sick...)
Sat day: Younger's party at D&B. Pretty good actually! Good food, The commissioned Lego cake turned out tasty, and for once, Ferrari was working perfectly! Also, I beat Juke Box Hero on Expert! One of the parents said we show our age by the songs we pick, lol.
Sat night: got into a Dunes party on BLM. got close to 40. But as people started leaving, I wound up leader and hard trouble keeping it going after two of us needed to go. Kenjii, who joined late, left in a huff - {Thank you} {Party} {Short time}. I was trying to use Auto-trans to suggest the 4 remaining people keep going but I think they broke up.
Lent Soho my Savage body and feet for CHR boost on Bard.
Sun: Soloed the last XP for BLM40 - need D2 now ^^ Soho came out once again, wearing my duds. They look good on him with the brown hair and dark pants (Baron's?). Left to go see "It's Complicated" - 4 of 5, pretty funny and rather emotional. Also a little spicy. And Streep finds a way to cook a lot, as she did in Julie & Julia.
Sun night: shell party, Fury style! Got BLU17 but the party ended when Fury took another shot of meds and fell out. Saw Andy and we chatted briefly. Wished her a happy birthday. Kym asked for help in the Jungle, and I helped her find her way, and then escorted her to the crystal.
Long chat with Kep, plus shorter party chat with Deej, Kush and Kaosu.
Sat day: Younger's party at D&B. Pretty good actually! Good food, The commissioned Lego cake turned out tasty, and for once, Ferrari was working perfectly! Also, I beat Juke Box Hero on Expert! One of the parents said we show our age by the songs we pick, lol.
Sat night: got into a Dunes party on BLM. got close to 40. But as people started leaving, I wound up leader and hard trouble keeping it going after two of us needed to go. Kenjii, who joined late, left in a huff - {Thank you} {Party} {Short time}. I was trying to use Auto-trans to suggest the 4 remaining people keep going but I think they broke up.
Lent Soho my Savage body and feet for CHR boost on Bard.
Sun: Soloed the last XP for BLM40 - need D2 now ^^ Soho came out once again, wearing my duds. They look good on him with the brown hair and dark pants (Baron's?). Left to go see "It's Complicated" - 4 of 5, pretty funny and rather emotional. Also a little spicy. And Streep finds a way to cook a lot, as she did in Julie & Julia.
Sun night: shell party, Fury style! Got BLU17 but the party ended when Fury took another shot of meds and fell out. Saw Andy and we chatted briefly. Wished her a happy birthday. Kym asked for help in the Jungle, and I helped her find her way, and then escorted her to the crystal.
Long chat with Kep, plus shorter party chat with Deej, Kush and Kaosu.
Friday, January 8, 2010
New Years and Such
Hi All! Happy New Year!
I've been very busy with the holidays, family, reading, and some other stuff. I haven't been idle in Vana'diel, but I did take some nights off with Ape, and when I was feeling icky.
Saturday the 2nd was another go at CoP spires. Argyle set this one up and we did Mea and Holla. Mea was the usual cake and Holla went much better (I was WHM again O.O) but we lost. I did everything possible but we just couldn't deliver the pain faster than we were taking it. Arg later caught up with me, enthusiastically recalling he used to do these with Paladins - he'd forgotten it seemed and set us up with a Ninja tank.
I had a shell party in Caedarva Mire which got me my second banked merit. We had a rough start when an early pull linked. Once we settled down it all worked. I messed up by going /BLM instead of /SCH and the lack of MP slowed us down and made me fretful.
I helped several Rogues in Korroloka Tunnel who were looking for an NM and doing some light XPing. There was quite a lot of death as half of us got separated and then we just kept getting picked on. Ben, Autumn, Bwynn, ?, and ?
Thursday the 7th I helped Stoik with a gob he wanted to farm for Airtanks. He had help from Kat and later Norb. One bomb killed him and took me to 1HP. Ultimately we killed like 6 of them.
I also shut Jesup down at the end of December. I had already sold off or transferred most of his gear. Soon I'll add a mule to my account. Arg suggested Ginger (something - I forgot! Sorry!). I'm not sure which way I'm going with her, but she will almost certainly be a small Mithra.
One night I spent a lot of time organizing my screenies so I can take more. I also organized old gear and finished the Dangruf Stone quest to get rid of it. If I didn't already say, I did Gobbie 7, and I still need more room...
Speaking of gear, I asked Stoik for my Pilgrim's Tunica back. He didn't remember and I checked the ol' blog. I lent it to him on July 28th. He doubted he even had Bee then but that's what my blog is for. I'd thought he was going to bring it to the gob hunt last night (as he sent me POL mail to ask my help before I'd even logged in) but he didn't. No biggie. But I do want it back when I pick back up on SMN and BLU. Truthfully, all the others can use it as well...
I read Daughter of the Forest (Juliet Marillier), Give Up The Ghost (Megan Crewe) and most of Cast in Shadows (Michelle Sagara). I only have like 40 pages on the last. Up next is Son of the Shadows (sequel to Daughter) and Twilight.
Daughter was excellent. I'm not up on Celtic lore, despite Ape's side of the family being Scottish (with perhaps some Irish) and my father's side has some Irish. It's based on a legend about 6 sons turned to swans by Fair Folk and their lone sister breaking the enchantment under a year-long curse... I very nearly cried at the end - finally! It was truly a beautiful ending and I was glad to finally get weepy over something. I was beginning to worry I'd become emotionally numb.
Ghost is a YA novel set in high school. Cass is able to see some of the dearly departed and makes friends with them, mainly at school. She notes that they see everything and are more than happy to share it with anyone able and willing to listen. She uses the intel she gathers to expose the ongoing (and more or less normal) duplicity the students ply on each other. She ultimately seeks revenge on her former best friend who now taunts her. She thinks she has an angle but not only does she not get her ultimate revenge, she finds something in the land of the living worth focusing on.
I was gently surprised by the ending and overall enjoyed it. The rec came to me via Slashdot user Halcyon1234. After I finished the book, I contacted him. Turns out he and Ms. Crewe are in the same writer's group. Cool!
Shadow is a Luna Books (a Harlequin imprint) book. I was under the impression this imprint is for fantasy romance, but so far this particular book hasn't really had much there. It's only the first of several, and it's clear there's a strong possibility of a good one. That aside, the story itself is very nice. It's a police procedural set on a world with 7 races and the attendant stresses and interactions betwixt. There's also magic and myth. I'll write something better up later. Maybe.
Work's going well, but once again, I may be on forced march. But not for too long. Sad to say my dad and bro in law are fearful for theirs. So I'll not complain (too much) and thank God my employer sees fit to nominate me to long-term roles and such.
Things seem to be going well with the Milk Maids - all weathered the holidays and seem to be in pretty good spirits. Rogues rolls on and I keep missing events, but thankfully there's enough of us to go around.
Just (literally) finished watching (500) Days of Summer. Pretty cute and I liked the ending. Neat narrative device with the (x) Days thing too. Also, I think Ikea stores are the weirdest things in retail, but I want badly to go back to our nearest one!
I need to post a pic - if I failed to mention this, Raiho (SMT:DS2 CE pack-in plushie) watches over my driving and guards my car. He's very cute in his uniform.
I've been very busy with the holidays, family, reading, and some other stuff. I haven't been idle in Vana'diel, but I did take some nights off with Ape, and when I was feeling icky.
Saturday the 2nd was another go at CoP spires. Argyle set this one up and we did Mea and Holla. Mea was the usual cake and Holla went much better (I was WHM again O.O) but we lost. I did everything possible but we just couldn't deliver the pain faster than we were taking it. Arg later caught up with me, enthusiastically recalling he used to do these with Paladins - he'd forgotten it seemed and set us up with a Ninja tank.
I had a shell party in Caedarva Mire which got me my second banked merit. We had a rough start when an early pull linked. Once we settled down it all worked. I messed up by going /BLM instead of /SCH and the lack of MP slowed us down and made me fretful.
I helped several Rogues in Korroloka Tunnel who were looking for an NM and doing some light XPing. There was quite a lot of death as half of us got separated and then we just kept getting picked on. Ben, Autumn, Bwynn, ?, and ?
Thursday the 7th I helped Stoik with a gob he wanted to farm for Airtanks. He had help from Kat and later Norb. One bomb killed him and took me to 1HP. Ultimately we killed like 6 of them.
I also shut Jesup down at the end of December. I had already sold off or transferred most of his gear. Soon I'll add a mule to my account. Arg suggested Ginger (something - I forgot! Sorry!). I'm not sure which way I'm going with her, but she will almost certainly be a small Mithra.
One night I spent a lot of time organizing my screenies so I can take more. I also organized old gear and finished the Dangruf Stone quest to get rid of it. If I didn't already say, I did Gobbie 7, and I still need more room...
Speaking of gear, I asked Stoik for my Pilgrim's Tunica back. He didn't remember and I checked the ol' blog. I lent it to him on July 28th. He doubted he even had Bee then but that's what my blog is for. I'd thought he was going to bring it to the gob hunt last night (as he sent me POL mail to ask my help before I'd even logged in) but he didn't. No biggie. But I do want it back when I pick back up on SMN and BLU. Truthfully, all the others can use it as well...
I read Daughter of the Forest (Juliet Marillier), Give Up The Ghost (Megan Crewe) and most of Cast in Shadows (Michelle Sagara). I only have like 40 pages on the last. Up next is Son of the Shadows (sequel to Daughter) and Twilight.
Daughter was excellent. I'm not up on Celtic lore, despite Ape's side of the family being Scottish (with perhaps some Irish) and my father's side has some Irish. It's based on a legend about 6 sons turned to swans by Fair Folk and their lone sister breaking the enchantment under a year-long curse... I very nearly cried at the end - finally! It was truly a beautiful ending and I was glad to finally get weepy over something. I was beginning to worry I'd become emotionally numb.
Ghost is a YA novel set in high school. Cass is able to see some of the dearly departed and makes friends with them, mainly at school. She notes that they see everything and are more than happy to share it with anyone able and willing to listen. She uses the intel she gathers to expose the ongoing (and more or less normal) duplicity the students ply on each other. She ultimately seeks revenge on her former best friend who now taunts her. She thinks she has an angle but not only does she not get her ultimate revenge, she finds something in the land of the living worth focusing on.
I was gently surprised by the ending and overall enjoyed it. The rec came to me via Slashdot user Halcyon1234. After I finished the book, I contacted him. Turns out he and Ms. Crewe are in the same writer's group. Cool!
Shadow is a Luna Books (a Harlequin imprint) book. I was under the impression this imprint is for fantasy romance, but so far this particular book hasn't really had much there. It's only the first of several, and it's clear there's a strong possibility of a good one. That aside, the story itself is very nice. It's a police procedural set on a world with 7 races and the attendant stresses and interactions betwixt. There's also magic and myth. I'll write something better up later. Maybe.
Work's going well, but once again, I may be on forced march. But not for too long. Sad to say my dad and bro in law are fearful for theirs. So I'll not complain (too much) and thank God my employer sees fit to nominate me to long-term roles and such.
Things seem to be going well with the Milk Maids - all weathered the holidays and seem to be in pretty good spirits. Rogues rolls on and I keep missing events, but thankfully there's enough of us to go around.
Just (literally) finished watching (500) Days of Summer. Pretty cute and I liked the ending. Neat narrative device with the (x) Days thing too. Also, I think Ikea stores are the weirdest things in retail, but I want badly to go back to our nearest one!
I need to post a pic - if I failed to mention this, Raiho (SMT:DS2 CE pack-in plushie) watches over my driving and guards my car. He's very cute in his uniform.
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