Society for Aesthetic Deletions

Today's question is about your heart character. The heart character rests on the idea that over the course of a gaming career, players would revisit certain themes that were important to them for some reason, and that one or two characters in particular would embody those themes or ideas. Whatever it was about the heart character(s) would draw the player back to those themes.

Do you have a heart character? More than one? If so, what makes that character a heart character? If you don't have one, do you think there are themes you revisit with your characters? Or do you think this entire theory is full of it, and if you do, why?

Though I didn't plan anything but that the character have some sort of angst (I need the hook to really get into the character), a lot of them seem to be related to unrequited love.

In the game from where my email handle comes (Glyneth), the character in question was striving to remain a virgin in a RuneQuest world (of the GM's own creation - NOT Glorantha). If she did, and she reached runelord level, she'd get a unicorn, just like her mentor, Poppy. She didn't expect that along the way she'd fall for another PC, a man named Abegend. The game underwent some serious changes over the years, and Foonman (who played Abe) left Compuserve. Before he left, it was a very close thing as to whether or not Glyneth would give in to her "base" desires" or stay true to herself.

More recently, I played a character named Brianna Merrick in a AD&D game (2nd Ed, before 3e came out) who had an unhealthy attraction to her brother, and was trying hard to stamp down on it (now that I think about it, Bree was also a paladin-type like Glyneth, but different worlds and different GMs made them very different characters). Not long into the game, her brother Collwyn started showing signs of being not-all-human, and it turns out he was half-elven. And then our parents told us we were both adopted! So she could act on it, and not feel guilty. And eventually she did, because Coll gave in, sorta (there's a long story behind this that I won't get into here), but the love should have remained unrequited. It ended up causing all sorts of problems.

And then, after that game was over and we were onto the next one, Lou told me that Bree and Coll were actually half-siblings, having the same father. I don't think Bree has ever forgiven their father for not telling them (not that he knew, but still...).

In a current PBeM I'm playing, the theme has come back again. Saelin has a major longing for the NPC that he "saved," and she in turn "saved" him. It's more complicated than that, but I did want to mention it as another character with said theme. I'm sure I have others too, but those are the ones that come to mind as I think about this question.

I guess I really like the "torn between keeping your feelings hidden or letting them out to possible rejection" theme, as well as the "I'm not good enough for my love" theme in my characters. I'll probably keep coming back to those...I can get good angst out of them.

1. Were you raised in a particular religious faith?

Raised Catholic, with a Catholic mother and a non-religious father.

2. Do you still practice that faith? Why or why not?

No. I decided before I was confirmed that it wasn't for me. But I went through with the confirmation because of my mother.

Catholicism isn't for me. Organized religion isn't for me. I'm have the same opinion that Lou has espoused - religion should be a controlled substance.

3. What do you think happens after death?

I'd love to say that you're reunited with your loved ones and that everything is happy in heaven. But I don't think it's like that. I also don't think that bad people burn in hell.

I do think that your spirit, soul, or whatever-you-want-to-call-it can remain in this world - ie, I believe, in some way, in ghosts - but that most of the time we just cease to be.

4. What is your favorite religious ritual (participating in or just observing)?

I love singing Christmas carols. That's about as religious as I get.

5. Do you believe people are basically good?

I believe people can basically be good, but not that everyone is. They all had the potential at some point, but through events in their early lives or later in their lives, or simple choices that they've made, they are not inherently or basically good.

If they were, we wouldn't have things like serial killers or serial snipers.

Lou and I are heading to Manassas for a friend's wedding, and I won't be blogging until we get back. If anything interesting happens, I'll write it down and blog when I get back.

And the weekly memes will have to wait until then.

And I will still be working on my NaNoWriMo!

1. Have you ever had to appear in court? What was the reason? How did it turn out?

Only for jury duty!

2. Ever been accused of something you never did? Were you able to convince anyone?

Oh, probably as a kid growing up. I was the sixth of seven kids, I know I got blamed a lot for things I didn't do. Managed to survive just fine, even if I didn't ever convince anyone.

3. When it comes to crime and punishment, do you agree with the saying "An eye for an eye?"

Not always. But in some cases, yes. Those cases would involve me or those close to me personally. Yes, it's not very fair, but what can I say? It's personal.

4. Are you a judgemental person? Do you ever make up your mind about a person before you know them? When was the last time that happened? Or if not, how do you keep from being judgemental?

No, I'm not really judgemental. I may have some preconceived notions about some people, but I'm always ready to have them proven wrong.

I just try to keep an open mind.

5. When I was in 6th grade I lit a match in class accidentally and was given the choice of having my folks called or getting 10 "swats." I took swats and damn, that wooden paddle with the holes drilled in it hurt like hell (not to mention the horible whistling sound it made before impact). I don't think they allow "swats" anymore. Ever get "swats" at school? How do you feel about children being spanked in school. Is it best that they don't do that anymore? How about parents spanking kids? Good or bad?

Nope, no swats at school. I don't think schools should be disciplining kids that way. That's not for them to handle, it should be a parental decision.

Parents should keep the option open and it shouldn't be the first, or only, punishment.

6. What is your favorite "Chick Flick?"

Tough call. I think I have to go with The Cutting Edge. "Toe pick..."

7. Describe the last situation you were in that can best be summed up by the phrase "seemed like a good idea at the time?"

Can't think of one off the top of my head, so I'd have to say it was pretty long ago.

BONUS: Who will bury us when we die?

I'm hoping to not be buried, but be cremated. Ashes put into the soil surrounding a newly-planted birch tree.

But other than that...If you've got the brawn, I've got the brains. Let's make lots of money.

1. If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?

I wish my parents talked to me about their lives more. Even a "What I did today" recap at dinner or something like that would work for me. I don't really know what my dad did for a living, other than was some kind of engineer for IBM and was subcontracted out to work for NASA on a variety of projects.

And I'd love to know how my mother managed to raise all 7 of us without going insane, with little help from my father.

2. Have you ever displayed in your home a hated, ugly, and useless gift, just because the donor happened to be paying you a visit?

Nope. I guess my friends all have taste. :)

3. If you were writing a new children's book, what might you choose for the setting, and who might the main character be?

I don't know, I'm not a children's writer. But probably a young girl, in a fantasy setting.

Back from Manassas and the visit and the wedding, which was small but beautiful. James wrote the whole ceremony, including the vows, which were just amazing.

I took some pictures of the foliage, since it hadn't changed as much down there as up here, and will hopefully get them developed soon. And also pics of the wedding were taken.

And let me just say, Boomtown can be a really cool show. It's hit or miss for me, but I've just seen the second best episode. The best was the second episode, IMNSHO.

Catching up on the memes now, will write more stuff when I'm inspired.

Oh, and very little NaNoWriMo'ing was done, alas. Though a lot was thought out, I ended up working on some future plot lines for my ATF game. Some things need to be taken care of in the next few sessions, others are possible longer-term things.

Courtesy of ***Dave.

1. Did you vote in your last elections?

Sure did! Always vote, even by absentee ballot when I was away at school.

2. Do you know who your elected representatives are?

Ummm...some, yes. I don't know a lot of the local folk in Fall River. I think that's because while I live here, I rent and I have no kids. So I'm not as up on local politics as I should be. But I know the "big ones."

Sad thing is, I actually know more about RI politics than I do about MA politics.

3. Have you ever contacted an elected representative? If so, what was it about?

I think I emailed one of them once about some bill. It was quite a few years ago. It was one of those standard "form mail" things.

4. Have you ever participated in a demonstration?

Nope.

5. Have you ever volunteered in an election? What was the result?

Nope.

How do you deal with this mismatch, either as a game master or a player? Do you play it as-played, so that the only character who can seduce the scheming noble's wife is the only player who can pick somebody up at the bar? Or do you play it as-written, so that the character can bluff the guards into letting him pass, even if the player's best effort is "I've got an urgent message for, uh, Lord Blah-blah-blah"?

I want the player to make the effort. We've all stretched ourselves, at one point or another (I hope!), to play beyond our comfort zone. Not necessarily a whole character, but maybe a scene or scenario that we aren't necessarily good at doing ourselves, but we want our character to be. Otherwise we're just playing ourselves each time we roleplay.

All that said, I do want the player to make the effort. I want them to try That's all I ask, really - that an attempt be made. If they're not living up to what's on their character sheet, I'll have them roll and adjust the NPC's reaction(s) accordingly.

If it's not a diced game, then things get trickier. But again, everyone gets more than points for the effort. They have to tell me what they're trying, how they're trying it, rather than, "I seduce Barbara," or "I bluff the guards." Give me something to go on, and I'll let a LOT slide. Something like, "I (or my character) will flatter Barbara, buy her drinks, get her to talk about herself. Definitely get her to tell me everything about herself. I'm going to wait until I think the time is right before I suggest that we go back to my place - so she feels she can leave any time she is uncomfortable." Or "I fast-talk the guards. I wave some papers in front of them, shouting about how Lord Folderol needs these urgently, since I've been sent from his country estate. He's now a grandfather, and he has to know about it NOW, because it's not the grandson he was hoping for...basically spin a tale, but talk fast so they can't understand it and probably won't remember it. And I'll spit as I talk, so they'll want to wave me on quicker."

Those sorts of examples will make me smile as a GM, or as a player. We have one player in a game I'm in, and all he wants to do is play the stats and skills. He tells the GM just about every session that he's trying to intimidate someone (usually into attacking him), and then he rolls the dice. Never once does he say what he's trying to do, how he's trying to do it, what he's saying, etc. Pisses me off that the GM lets him get away with it. I'd love to just hear a little something, even once. How about a "Your mother wears army boots!" or "What kind of pansy-assed fighter do you think you are?" But it's not my game, and it's not how that player wants to play. Which is why I'll never invite him to be in any game I run.

Since I know some of you who read my blog are in the Rocky Mountain area, I just thought I'd share this little tidbit.

My big boss's grandaughter is at the bottom of this picture. Looks like you've got quite the growing newspaper out there!

Ye Is Not, And Never Was, an English Word

Okay, now I want to know where the extra e's come from.

Courtesy of kuro5hin, which was found via NetNewsWire.

1. Would it disturb you much if, upon your death, your body were simply thrown into the woods and left to rot? Why?

It would depend on how I died, or why. If it was from murder, then yes, it'd bother me. If it's the future way of disposing bodies, then I don't think so.

To quote Yoda - "Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter." My spirit/soul has passed, the body is an empty shell.

Oh, and I'd also regret that my organs wouldn't be donated, which I have elected to have done after I die.

2. The head of the Postal Service calls you up and tells you that you've been chosen at random to create a postage stamp with anyone or anything on it. What would you choose?

Oh, I don't know. Lou said he'd put a d20, with the 20 on top, of course. I think I'd do some sort of abstract art. Ooh, how about a Salvadore Dali stamp? Some of his art would be really funky. Of course, they've probably already done that...

So I'll go with a birch tree. In New England, a series of them. Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.

3. What's the longest line you've ever stood in?

Time or length? Length, I think it'd have to be when I saw The Empire Strikes Back, lo those many years ago. Time, it'd probably be waiting to see Episode I. While I didn't camp out, I think we were two hours early.

In chatting with Lou, he's reminded me of the HUGE line at GenCon this year for prereg, which beats all lines hands down. And the lines at amusement parks are long, but they're hard to tell, because they wrap so much. The line for the Batman: The Ride roller coaster at Six Flags in New Jersey was really long, time and length-wise.

Does GMing improve an individual's playing? Does playing improve a GM's GMing? In what ways? Why? If not, why not?

I was all for saying yes in both cases, then I asked Lou this question. I like sharing these questions with him, it helps me think of things that I'd forgotten.

He reminded me that when you have been a GM but now you're playing a game, you can be more critical of the GM than a non-GMing player. You might be more likely to see where the GM made a choice you wouldn't have, or they're not handling a situation right (in your opinion, of course).

I do think that it can help. You don't always have to think with your GM hat when playing. But if you GM, you know what it's like to sit behind that screen (or whatever). So when you're on the other side, you can appreciate the hard work the GM put in, and can appreciate the story he or she is trying to tell. And might be more willing to help them achieve their goal.

Now, does playing improve a GM's GMing? I think it can only help. Again, seeing things from the other side of the screen is good, it helps you realize what the players are thinking when you're GMing. I don't know very many people who only GM, and I can't imagine not playing, so this is hard for me to imagine. I do think it could help the GM make their NPCs more than just one-dimensional characters, because you've had to (hopefully!) make your own character as a player become three-dimensional.

Gah, I'm rambling now. But I think I've covered everything.

The typical party of PCs appears to be composed of equals. They may have Nodwickian henchlings or distant authority figures, but in most of the games I've played, the PCs are equal with respect to each other.

Is this generalization true for you as well? What other group dynamics have showed up in campaigns you have played? What other group dynamics might be workable? What isn't workable, and why?

Generally, yes, it's true. I have played in a PBeM where the characters are widely different in power levels, but it was Amber, and not really that important (IMHO). It's all about the roleplaying, there.

The biggest problems I've run into with unbalanced games has been with power gamers who tweak the hell out of the system and, while on paper the characters are balanced, when it comes down to brass tacks, the power gamer overshadows the others, usually in combat situations.

I've never played in a really unbalanced game, but I don't think I'd have a problem with it in the short term. Part of it has to do with being able to contribute as much as anyone else. It really depends on what the basis for the game was. If there was a lot of combat and my character was significantly less powerful than the others (less levels, less points, whatever the system uses), I could easily be upset if the GM didn't scale the challenges properly. I would hope that my character would be able to fight a character or help another PC and not just get the dren kicked out of them.

I'm going to be running into this situation in my ATF game. Anne started the game with the other players, but missed sessions and ended up being behind the other characters in level. I had another player leave the game, then return and play the same character. Fortunately he was only about a level behind at the time, and as the characters get higher in level, the less he falls behind. But Anne took a break this summer, and the rest of the group is 10th level (almost 11th for some of them) and Margaret's 7th. What makes this situation worse is that Margaret was the group's cleric, so spells are even more important.

Now, Anne and I did a weblog to have an adventure for Margaret while she wasn't coming to the sessions. But things intervened, and she didn't get as far along as I wanted. We're going to keep her going through it, even though she'll be rejoining in December.

Some of you might say, just advance her character to match the lowest level PC. While I'd love to do that, I'd have one very pissed-off husband on my hands, and possibly other players who would be varying degrees of upset (I don't know, I haven't asked them). Lou feels (and rightly so, I can understand his perspective) that the character shouldn't be rewarded just to make things even. He was at all the sessions - if someone misses a session, they don't get experience. That's been our rule. I counter with if I let her create a new character, I'd let her start at the lowest experience total of the PCs, and no, he wouldn't have a problem with that. So what's the difference? What's the solution? I don't know. I don't want her character to be so far behind the others that she's a hindrance rather than a help, or feels like she can't contribute equally. We did this in another game (when Anne took her maternity leave), and it just didn't work when Anne rejoined, and she ended up leaving that game (though, I must admit, there were other reasons as well, but I'm pretty sure this was the biggest reason).

I think I'm just going to advance her to mid-9th level, or maybe 3/4ths of the way to 10th.

(And no, Anne, I don't want you to not come back, or to not play Margaret. This isn't a complaint about you or your character, I'm just using it to illustrate the point, and the difficulty I'm having!)

So, I was browsing my blog list, and noted that Wil Wheaton is recommending the SE of LotR:FotR. I click on it, just to see the cost. $25.99, not bad.

Then I scroll down the page. Now, just undeneath the "Customers who bought this DVD also bought:" section, I really pay attention to the next section.

"Customers who wear clothes also shop for:"

I had noted that Amazon was selling clothes before. I've seen this section, with its link to Clean Underwear. But I'd never read the header for the section.

I do assume that nudists may also buy from Amazon (the Internet is great for those who live clothing-free/clothing-optional), but I'd just never seen them so obviously excluded by Amazon before.

And hey, maybe nudists BUY clothes for their friends and relatives from Amazon's affiliated stores. This could be false promotion here. Amazon needs to tread carefully, it does.

[for those who may doubt me, I now provide a modicum of proof.]

Sorry, China. My blog is listed as inaccessible.

UPDATE: It seems I am accessible now. But I wasn't this morning. Interesting.

Courtesy of ***Dave, who is accessible, darn him!

Don't you hate it when you get all worked up about something, and then they take away your reason for anger? Leaving you all hopped up, and nothing to do about it but take it.

Mood Hack for MT blogs. There's also a smiley hack, though I don't think I'd want to go that far. Maybe.

So this will be on December's To Do list. Digitalspace gives me access to MySQL, I just haven't bothered to try it out. A move to Hosting Matters will have to wait until next year.

Courtesy of PromoGuy.

1. When I was a teenager, I used to ride all the "spin-y" rides at the fair and fun parks. I'd never get dizzy or sick, and I could ride them all day. My favorite was the Tilt-A-Whirl. Now I should call it the "Tilt-A-Hurl" because it seems I can't even get on a Merry-Go-Round without feeling queasy. Is there anything you used to be able to do physically that you no longer can? What changed?

I'm very similar in that rides that I used to have no problem with left me feeling queasy. The first time I noted it was years ago...so long that Rocky Point Amusement Park was where I got sick. The ride, which I had previously loved, The Enterprise (the ride at the top of this pic), made me so ill when I left that I headed to the restroom and tossed my lunch. Now, it could have been because I had just eaten lunch, but I don't know. And I don't think I went back to Rocky Point to check again before it closed.

I also can't read in the car most of the time. I know I was able to do this before, but now it can make me feel really ill. I've tried adjusting the position where I hold the book/paper/whatever, and that helps. Only problem is that sometimes I block the side mirror so that Lou can't see it.

And horseback ride without any problems. I've lost all the muscles for that. I took a lesson again SOME years ago and just couldn't sit the trot anymore. I had no muscles, couldn't find the rhythym, and was all over the place. *sighs*

2. If you could go to lunch with someone famous, anyone living or dead, who would you choose? What questions would you ask them?

Joss Whedon. I'd love to pick his brain about Buffy, Angel, and Firefly.

3. On that same thought, there are probably several Bloggers you enjoy reading but have never met in real life. Which one Blogger would you most like to meet for dinner? Why did you pick that person? What would you talk about? What do you have in common? What would you do after dinner?

Dinner? Oh, that's easy. ***Dave, hands-down. Margie would have to cook dinner, because I've heard nothing but raves about it. And I'd get to see the Kitten. And Doyce would hopefully be there, killing two blogger birds with one stone, so to speak.

We'd talk about gaming, TV shows that we like, writing, computer stuff, etc. Life in Denver, hopefully I'd get to talk about life in New England.

After dinner, we'd game some sort of game, or just chat with a nice glass or two of wine and maybe some cookies or something desserty.

4. Money (or the lack thereof) is the number one cause of arguments amongst couples. Do you find this to be true? If there really was a "Money Tree" you could go an pick, would this really solve a couple's problems?

It can, but it's not the root of the problem. Money may be the root of all evil, but it's not the cause of a breakup.

Now that said, if you tell me where the tree is, I'll be sure to pick sparingly.

5. Speaking of arguments, have you ever been drawn into any nasty, hateful arguments? The kind where hurtful things were said that had nothing to do with the fight at hand? What was that all about? How did it turn out?

Yeah, I'm sure I have. Most of the time the nasty, hurtful things get said at that time because they've built-up in the person's mind, and they just explode out.

But I'm not recalling any specific time.

6. When was the last time you had to admit you were wrong about something? How did that go?

It takes a lot for me to admit I'm wrong about something. I usually have it dragged out of me, kicking and screaming. Lou's nice enough not to gloat about it when he's right.

But it happens so rarely... (hides from husband)

7. Now for a slight change of theme....what song should never have been written?

That Ketchup Song thing. Or the Chicken Dance song. It's a toss-up.

BONUS: Are you ready for a new sensation?

Only if I can have it in excess.

1. Which would you prefer: a wild, turbulent life filled with joy, sorrow, passion, and adventure -- both intoxicating successes and stunning setbacks? Or a happy, secure, predictable life surrounded by friends and family, without such wild swings of fortune and mood?

The former, actually. I don't think I could take the staid life. Not that my life is all full of adventure, mind you. But I like the unpredictable. Most of the time.

Like yesterday. When the van decides that it doesn't want to shift (it's an automatic) out of 3rd gear on the way back from campus (I found a meter this time with an hour and 20 minutes still on it, after two circles of the streets. Whoo-hoo!). And then taking it to Firestone, hoping we don't need a new transmission on a van that's only THREE YEARS OLD, and hoping also that we don't have to rent a van for our trip to North Carolina on SATURDAY! THIS SATURDAY! Panic ensued, but it turns out it's only a speed sensor that went flaky, and though it cost us $180 for repair ($40 part, the rest to replace it, because Chrysler's minivans have terribly service-inaccessible engines.), we get to take the van to NC after all.

Last year the front brakes went while we were in Cary. This year, we got that all taken care of at the beginning of the month (prior to the trip to Manassas) to the tune of $700ish.

But see? If no panic, then it'd have just been boring, secure, predictable. Though car problems in November are almost starting to be predictable...

2. Sometimes whistles are blown to warn us or get our attention. When would you most like to have a whistle blow to alert you?

When I need to do something at work. I'm good if I have it written down on the calendar, but if you call me or stop me in the hall, I'll forget by the time I get back to my office or turn back to the computer to do something else. My memory sucks that way these days.

3. A picture is worth a thousand words. What is one place you have seen that only a picture can adequately describe?

Trinity College's Long Room. Saw it while on tour of England, Ireland and Wales. Didn't spend near enough time in it.

Nuadha had a very interesting take on this week's Game WISH:

The important thing is that each character is important and gets equal air time, not that they are equal.

I don't really care about character equality. Why am I fretting so much over one character being well behind the others in levels? Maybe I need to take a step back, and I should mention this to Lou as well.

Though Jenn did help me think through this issue. I have a way to balance out everything, maybe. I just need to put it down in an email and see what floats.

Pitchfork: Top 100 Albums of the 1980s

I have none of the top 10 albums. I've heard songs off of some of them, but I do not own the albums in any format.

Of the top 20, I think I had Purple Rain, #12, but don't have it anymore. I'm certain that was vinyl. Michael Jackson's Thriller (#27) was in the house, but I think it was my sister's. I have #30, U2's The Joshua Tree, on tape.

I just recently (within the past year) purchased #38, The Cure's Disintegration, on CD along with their greatest hits CD. While I love The Violent Femmes, the eponymous #36 was my brother's. I bought Hallowed Ground specfically for Country Death Song.

Ah, #46 (can you tell I'm browsing backwards?). XTC's English Settlement. My brother had this one, and this was my first intro to XTC. Love this album. My sister and I would listen to it all the time.

Well, that's the top 50. Wonder how many of the rest I'll have. *counts* Looks like 4. If I count in my siblings albums again.

Not buying any REM really didn't help my count. Then again, I'm not a critic, and I listened to and bought a lot of pop, which (with the exception of Duran Duran's Rio) doesn't seem to have made this list.

I'd like to see them do the top 100 songs of the 80s. Then I'd probably have a better ratio!

(no relation to TurkeyCon.)

We made excellent time on the drive yesterday, with Lou driving the whole trip. His coughing is still pretty bad, so I've decided that even if he says he can drive the whole way without being tired, I won't let him drive all the way back. He is just more wiped out if he doesn't take a real break, I think.

Today was relaxation and recovery day from the drive. Lou had difficulty sleeping with the coughing, which unfortunately translated to me nto getting a lot of sleep. We were up at 3:00, and then up again at 6:00. However, to both of our surprise, we fell back asleep and stayed asleep until 8:30.

I put on the LotR:FotR DVD that the Gaineys' have (Luc bought the FULLSCREEN version, silly woman), while Ryan played Starcraft against Lou. Then Lou taught Bridget how to play. Later, Munchkin was played by Grant, Jack, and both kids while Lou showered to hopefully help his cough (not so much, alas). Luc worked on her lesson plans for this week.

I learned tonight how to crimp a CAT5 cable, and found it terribly amusing that the instructions he was using were from the Scholarly Technology Group, which is at Brown, where I work. So I crimped some cable, plugged in the wireless base station (since I forgot cables! Doh!), got online, bookmarked the instructions. Now I just have to get the cable and a crimper and the ends for work and we can make our own. Whoo-hoo!

Tomorrow is the game store run. Wednesday is Harry Potter, and Friday is Attack of the Clones in IMAX. I'm hoping to get in Spirited Away some time, but we may not get that chance. Scott Whitney also called, so we'll probably meet up with him sometime.

I've pigged out terribly today; going to have to get that back under control tomorrow. Maybe I can schedule a grocery store run for some easy-to-munch-on veggies.

And since we're set up to tape Buffy and Smallville at home this week, I'm missing Alias and Boomtown. *sigh* I so want TiVo/Replay TV.

(not to be confused with TurkeyCon.)

Sunday night ended with me reading the Cthulhu 419 Scam to Grant, who hadn't heard about it, and Jack, who had. That was a lot of fun, but we were up really late.

Monday was a visit to the game stores of Foundation's Edge and Cerebral Hobbies. I got Yojimbo at the former, and a miniature at the other.

Lunch was at a neat Indian place, where I staved off the desire for the buffet and got Chicken Jalfrezi instead. We came back home and I napped, then we ate dinner and played Gold Digger, and Lou, Jack and I lost to Bridget and Ryan respectively.

I chatted online last night with Kate and Paula, and caught up on email. I need to find some time to write, at least a thousand words, and to post at Dreamlyrics.

Today, we did the shopping at Sam's Club and also ate out, this time at an excellent authentic Mexican restaurant nearby. Made it home in time again for another nap, then got up and Lou was still playing Starcraft, but not against Jack now but against Ryan. The rest of us are now deciding what to do about dinner between throwing the ball for the dog and chatting.

Tomorrow is Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and other things I'm sure.

All My Life For Sale

Heard this on NPR this afternoon, and have spent the last hour or so browsing the book portion of his site. Love the letters of people who have bought his stuff. What an interesting concept.

From the Wall Street Journal - If TiVo Thinks You Are Gay, Here's How to Set It Straight

Mr. Iwanyk, 32 years old, first suspected that his TiVo thought he was gay, since it inexplicably kept recording programs with gay themes. A film studio executive in Los Angeles and the self-described "straightest guy on earth," he tried to tame TiVo's gay fixation by recording war movies and other "guy stuff."

"The problem was, I overcompensated," he says. "It started giving me documentaries on Joseph Goebbels and Adolf Eichmann. It stopped thinking I was gay and decided I was a crazy guy reminiscing about the Third Reich."

Courtesy of Slashdot.

50 Reasons Lord of the Rings Sucks

6. Speaking of Orcs...

The Orcs were obviously stolen from PC game maker Blizzard and its Warcraft series. Too bad Blizzard is apparently too scared to sue New Line over it.

8. Gold: The Stretchy Element.

The ring, which is seen to be at least two inches in diameter at the beginning to fit the polish sausage-sized finger of Sauron, suddenly fits Frodo's child-sized finger later. I guess this movie takes place in a world where rings magically change sizes on their own.

30. Homage or theft IV?

The character of the rebellious-but-helpful Ranger was stolen from Val Kilmer in Willow.

Courtesy of ***Dave.

Courtesy of Ginger.

1. Have you ever made a wish that came true?

Not that I can remember.

2. How about any wishes that you are happy never came true?

I wished a lot as a kid, on wishbones, falling stars, etc. Haven't done a lot of it lately, so I can't think of any again.

3. Do you like who you are? Are you the person you hoped you would become?

Yes, I pretty much like myself. I'm not quite where I'd like to be. In some ways, I'm way hell-and-gone different from where I thought I would be as a child, but I am happy with me as I am. Mostly.

4. I recently found some job applications that I never turned in. Back in 1986 I intended to apply at "County Seat" and "Chess King" but got an offer from Penny's (where I worked all through college). It was a good thing, since only one of the three is still around. Have you ever applied for positions, or had any interviews, where you later are glad you never got the job?

Yes. Well, not quite. I did data entry for a hospital as a temp at one time. They were taking a hospital's records and computerizing them. The company was out of Boston, but the temp agency and the hospital were local. I talked to the guy in charge of the job, and we talked about me working for the company doing data entry, becuase I *shudder* loved it. I never followed up, because living in Boston would have killed me, as would the job have.

Other than that, I've gotten every job I've interviewed for. I haven't interviewed for many.

5. While on the topic of career opportunities, what was your very first "real" job? What job was the most embarrassing?

I worked as a temp again, for what was supposed to be two weeks. It was a lot longer than that in actuality, because the person who was out for surgery was told by her doctor that she needed to retire to Florida (the New England weather was not nice to her arthritis), and so she did. I stayed and eventually interviewed and was hired. This was a receptionist and assistant to the Headmaster position at a private middle and high school in Rhode Island.

I haven't had many embarrassing jobs, thankfully. Though I did wait at functions as a temp. That wasn't fun, but not really embarrassing.

6. Speaking of news, have you had your 15 minutes of fame yet? Such as being in the newspaper, on television, linked on a high-profile site or otherwise caught in the spotlight of the media?

Other than have a photo I took of someone else be in the Advocate, no, I've avoided the spotlight.

7. In the USA, many of us will celebrate Thanksgiving this week. Do you celebrate Thanksgiving (or something like it)? Do you enjoy getting together will your extended family for these types of celebrations?

No, Thanksgiving is the time Lou and I spend with extended friends, not extended family. I am writing this now from TurkeyCon (not to be confused with TurkeyCon), wherein my husband, myself, and a bunch of friends descend upon friends who live in Cary, NC for the week. We have other holidays to spend with family. This is for ourselves.

BONUS: Where is the tenderness? In the turkey I just ate. Yum.

(not to be confused with TurkeyCon.)

We watched Moulin Rouge Tuesday night, which Lucinda was less than impressed with, made Bridget cry, and left me with a desire to finish up work a LiveJournal layout for someone which was based on that movie.

Wednesday morning brought us again to seeing Moulin Rouge, and restarting it after about 20 minutes in because Ryan wanted to see it too. Bridget just wanted to watch the funny parts, but we kept the whole thing on until the end again, but both Ryan and Bridget had wandered out of the room by then. Some more grocery runs were made, and lots of StarCraft and hanging out and talking were done, then it was time for Harry Potter.

Well, almost time. Turns out that the time had changed from the previous day, and there was no 2:30 show anymore. There was a 2:00, which we'd just missed and a 3:30. So we waited for Scott/Stormy, who was meeting us there, then headed back to the house. Not much later, we left again, and made it to the theater, got our popcorn, candy, and soda, then went in to sit.

Smaller theater than I expected for HP&tCoS, but it was most definitely not full. Our group of 10 was probably just under half of the people there. The movie was fun (I may write a review for my pop culture review blog), but nothing to write home over. Which is sad, but here's hoping HP&tPoA will be better under a different director, even if we have to wait for 2004. But we did get to watch a lot, LOT of trailers before the movie.

Home and dinner and more playing video games and talking. I worked on some "bad guys" for ATF, and officially gave up on writing more for NaNoWriMo. I'll keep picking at it, but I'm done. I'm going to gear up for next year.

Today we did the usual parade watching, and then some of the Purina Dog Show afterwards. Then dinner, which was most excellent. Now we're recovering from dinner, more video games are being played, and more talking for those of us not into gaming/not having a computer handy to join in. Some roleplaying might be added in later, and Alex is due in near midnight tonight.

Tomorrow is AotC at the IMAX, and maybe a run to the Apple Store in Durham if we can manage it. They're having a Black Friday sale, and I really don't need to be tempted, but I'd love to actually go into an Apple store.