Society for Aesthetic Deletions

(Not to be confused with TurkeyCon.)

Alex was retrieved successfully from the airport, and then we all went back home and tried to collapse. I unfortunately had found my second wind, so I read for quite some time before falling asleep.

We basically lazed about the house in the morning, and finally got together to go see AotC at the IMAX. The movie was trimmed down, most of which I only noticed after the fact (oh, this is the first time I saw Jimmy Smits, just before the end credits, sort of thing). But 30 ft. Yoda was very cool. Dinner at 35 Chinese followed (a Chinese buffet that used to be right next to where Grant worked, long ago), where much discussion of the Star Wars films followed. The adults are very much looking forward to how Lucas is going to do the next film, knowing what we know about the original trilogy.

We did not go to the Apple Store. :(

We totally forgot to watch the Muppet movie that was on TV on Friday night. But Grant brought his family up to a point in roleplaying where Lou could wrench them away into the scenario he had planned.

So Rilla, Gevrok, Esteban, Cade, Leola, Miranda, and Querion rode again, with the latter four coming from Greyhawk to the world that Lou and I have designed (where Rilla and Gevrok are protecting Emperor-in-Exile Esteban in their campaign), instead of into a dreamworld (as with the past two adventures). We didn't finish - the kids were fading rapidly, so we wrapped pretty quickly. Lou has learned the secret to TurkeyCon roleplaying - design a very short scenario and have padding available, if needed.

Oh, and I also finished rereading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, which I had started after I found it in the house on Wednesday, after watching CoS. I really wish I hadn't been aware of Sirius' situation when I read it the first time, though. My own fault.

Saturday morning came the cartoon watching, and Bridget has gotten hooked on X-Men:Evolution, like me. Though I haven't managed to catch a lot of episodes this season, I watched this week when they got one more seal open on Apocalypse's tomb.

Lou was going to make omelettes Saturday morning, but he started getting a cold (on top of his cough), so he was going to try it Sunday morning. Which meant that the only thing on the agenda for Saturday was another trip to a few more game stores (Hobbymasters and Games Galore), with a side-trip to WalMart for a few more things (Lucinda needed some threads for the needlepoint gift she's doing for us for our wedding/anniversary, and Lou needed more cough drops). I bought a few miniatures, a new dice bag, and a deck of cards (we don't have a complete set of regular playing cards around that I can find).

Back home for more good food and roleplaying, which left just a little bit left to complete on Sunday. More gaming of StarCraft and various board games was done.

Sunday came all too soon, and Lou was feeling up to omelette-making, so witih permission, he cooked up breakfast while the rest of us watched LotR:FotR SE. The additional scenes were great, and thought a great loss by some in the house (especially the Galadriel scenes).

We finished the scenario (with much thanks to Bridget for getting us through one scene!) and had a blast. Everyone returned to their proper place, and next year, it's Grant's turn to run something for everyone instead of Lou! Rilla and Gevrok will have a blast if they get to return home to Greyhawk!

Sunday night, Alex, Lou, Grant and myself, and later joined by Jack, sat down to play Apples to Apples. Since we started at 10:00 p.m. (and we were getting up at 5:30 a.m. to head home the next morning), it got silly very quickly. I think I kicked it into high gear by winning on the cards of "Gorgeous" and "Edgy" with my card played being --- Alan Greenspan! I was laughing so hard at just putting it down to play (we started with the regular one card version, and moved quickly to the two card variant, since I hosed them all in the first game) that I couldn't even speak OR laugh properly!

Monday morning was far too early for those so wired (on non-caffeinated drinks, no less!) from silly play that getting started was rough. But we made it, and made it home all in one piece. AND before the snow that fell later was more than just a few swirled flakes.

We greeted the cats, called friends and family to let them know we were back, and pretty much crashed early.

And now, less than 365 days until next TurkeyCon!

I turn 35 today. I feel so old, but yet young at heart!

And I get my favorite birthday present ever today! I get SNOW!! It started here at 11:00 a.m. and is still going strong. Squeeee!

I love my husband. He got me a 10 gig iPod for my birthday! (and for Christmas too, partially. It's too expensive otherwise.)

I also got the LotR:FotR SE Limited Edition set with the Argonath bookends! w00t!

And I got two pairs of thermal pajamas (he has made a habit of giving me very nice, warm, Victoria's Secret pajamas for years, so this is just a continuation). And a cute little jester bear beanie baby named Calliope (chuckles at Doyce).

And of course, we continued the tradition of LEGO gifts. In honor of my Harry Potter obsession, he gave me the Flying Lesson one and Dobby's Release.

And my mom gave me the angelfood cake pan and the 3 quart saucepan I've been wanting for ages.

Lou came up to take me out to lunch (at Fire & Ice in the Providence Place Mall). Folks from work are taking me out to lunch tomorrow.

We didn't get quite enough snow that I could leave really early, but I'm going to be out of here by 3:30 anyway. Lou's game got cancelled for tonight (quelle surprise, with all that snow coming down and more expected), so we'll probably stay home and bundle up under the queen-sized fleece blanket we bought before TurkeyCon and watch LotR:FotR SE.

Or Lou will play more StarCraft and I'll fiddle with my iPod.

In a recent post on her OTHER LiveJournal, Cassie Claire said:

Most overrated story of mine: The Very Secret Diaries. Is that even a story? I guess it is. I just can't believe that anything which took .05 seconds to produce and was mostly written drunk could be that good...

I know some of my readers hate fanfic to death or beyond, but if you can stand it, do read her Draco Trilogy. I'm dying to talk to non-fandom people about it. And she's right. It has gotten SO much better as it's gone along.

I still need to read Chapter 11. I hear it has a surprise/controversial ending. *chuckles*

1. Would you like to know the precise date of your death?

No, I don't think so. Because then I'd be worried about it, or try to cram too much stuff in before it. I prefer not to know.

2. Do you have a favorite sexual fantasy? Would you like to have it fulfilled? (Details are not necessary in your answer.)

A favorite? At a particular time, yes. But it changes. I don't have one particular fantasy. Plus, when they get fulfilled, I move on to another one. *winks*

3. If you had to be trapped in a TV show for a month, which show would you choose? Consider the setting, the characters, the lifestyle, etc.

After some thought, I think I'd have to go with Star Trek: The Next Generation. On the Enterprise, with Riker the womanizer (hubba-hubba!), Data, Barclay, Jean-Luc Picard. Oh, and the holodecks. Oh yes, I'd be a candidiate for Holodiction, big time!

Plus, TNG didn't bleed crewmen so much as TOS did. DS9 pretty much boldly stays where it has always stayed (yes, I know they moved it). It did have Avery Brooks and Andrew Robinson (whom I've met!), and I've heard it got better again near the end, I still think I'd prefer TNG. Never liked Voyager much.

Buffy and Firefly and Babylon 5 and Alias are all cool, but way too deadly. Ed and West Wing are fun and quirky, but only if you're really involved with what's going on.

And I'd do Survivor. In a heartbeat. Since I already applied once (and didn't hear back at all), I would still do it.

Catching up on old things...

1. Suppose God (or your deity of choice) grants you one miracle. Consider the world in which we live. Consider your life and family. What would you request for this miracle? Are you sure that is the best way to use it? You only get one.

Ah, but wishes can be twisted, even by God/the Gods. Just ask anyone who's read THE LATHE OF HEAVEN. We may wish for no racial conflicts, but then everyone is the same color of grey, and then where would we be?

And to wish for diseases to be cured...definitely a good cause! But in researching these diseases, we find out many more things that are useful to us in our everyday lives.

So, I only get one, and I have to decide the best way to use it. I think I am not qualified to make such a decision. But for simplicity's sake, I choose to have discovered cures for all forms of cancer. Not that I want the discovery myself, but that it becomes known.

2. I believe that prayers do get answered, but I realize not everyone agrees. Have you ever had an experience where you truly believe your prayer was answered? If you don't believe in such things, how come? What is your philosophy on prayer?

Since I don't really believe in an all-powerful god, I don't really believe in prayer to him/her/it. However, I do believe in the power of the person, and positive thinking/positive energy can do miracles in and of themselves. So no, I've not had a prayer fulfilled that I can recall.

3. Have you ever lost a pet? That is, have you ever had a pet get loose, run away or be stolen? Did you get it back? How did the loss impact your life?

Growing up, we lived on a cul-de-sac at the bottom of a long street, near the water. We let our animals out (cats and later a dog) without fear of any harm coming to them. Collar for the dog, and occasionally one for the cat, but not often.

If anything happened to our girls now, in our apartment...if they got out of our apartment, down the two flights of stairs and out the other door, my heart would be in my throat. We live on a VERY busy street, and the only time they've been outside has been in cat carriers to the vet and back. I would be freaked.

4. Getting together with family at the holidays is great, I just love it. Most of all I love the food. What is your favorite holiday food?

Mashed potatoes. With lots of butter and gravy!

5. One thing I've noticed about the holidays is that no one makes Pumpkin Pie like my Grandmother. She has totally spoiled me on her recipe, I just don't like the taste of anyone else's Pumpkin Pie. Are there are dishes or desserts that someone in your family fixes better than anyone else?

Ick ick ick! I *hate* pumpkin pie.

My sister makes a killer chourico stuffing. I love my mom's fried chicken. No one can make it like her.

6. Since I have no brothers or sisters, I am always wondering what it would have been like. Now that I am older, it kinda stinks that I will never be an Uncle. Do you have any siblings with children? How does it make you feel to be an Aunt or an Uncle? If not, would you like to be have nieces and nephews? Would you make a good relative to them?

Heh. My husband inherited 9 nieces and nephews when he married me. Being one of seven kids, we have a lot of us to produce nieces and nephews.

I'm not as involved with them as I could be. But I didn't have a lot of cousins growing up. My father was an only child, and my mother's family lives in the midwest, so we never saw them much. Fortunately I had my 6 sibs to keep me busy. We're close, some of us anyway. I enjoy being an aunt, but I have too many relatives to go overboard. And my family isn't close like others I've seen/heard about. We get together every now and then, and at holidays, but that's about it.

7. I am putting together a CD of great holiday music. Do you have any suggestions of what songs (title/artist) I should include?

Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses. Any Christmas carols sung by anyone. That's the one thing I miss the most about school and church - singing/singing along with the choir.

BONUS: How would you feel knowin' prejudice was obsolete and all mankind danced to the same beat?

Pretty cool, actually.

1. Do you get sick very often? What illness do you find that you've had most frequently?

I don't get really sick very often, but I take preventative sick days/measures. If I'm feeling unwell, I know it's better for me to take a day off and rest up than to struggle into work, make myself sick or sicker, and take a longer time out sick to recover from pushing myself.

That said, I get colds pretty often.

2. I know a man who flat out refuses to go to the Doctor's office. You'd need an ambulance to get him near a hospital. Not me, I'd rather go as soon as I feel sick so I can get better. Do you mind going to see the Doctor when you get sick? Do you know anyone who just refuses to go to a Doctor when they get ill? Any idea why they are like that?

I don't mind seeing the doctor at all. I love my doctor (no, not THAT way!), and he always listens to me. Lou is also pretty good about going to see his doctor, though I usually have to poke at him a bit if he thinks it's something that'll pass and I don't.

3. How about visiting the Dentist? Do you go get a check-up every 6 months? Or do you dread going?

I hate it, but I go every six months to get my teeth cleaned. My dentist is my sister's brother-in-law (my brother-in-law's brother), and he's really good.

Now Lou...I can't get him within 10 miles of a dentist. We both have dental phobia, but I've gotten past mine. I wish he'd go for just a cleaning. *sighs*

4. I've heard about a diet pill called "Thermolift" that allegedly gives you quite an energy rush (oh boy mentioning this will surely bring us all a ton of Google hits won't it?). Although I've thought about getting some of these pill for the times I need a boost, I'm probably not going to take the plunge. Have you ever taken any diet pills, energy pills or energy drinks? How did they make you feel? Do you still take them? How come?

Heh. No, no diet pills or energy crap. I took No-Doz once, and couldn't stop talking for two hours. Dawn (my friend who was driving us back from a visit to another friend) said that she'd never seen anything like it before. All I remember is being very tired. I don't recall a word I said.

For dieting, I use Weight Watchers. There is no better program out there, period.

5. Have you heard about "Gastric Bypass" surgery that many celebrities are doing to lose weight? (The process reduces the size of your stomach to facilitate weight loss) What are your thoughts on this procedure? Would you ever consider it? How would you feel if a relative were to decide to undergo the procedure?

Depends on the relative. Again, go with the Weight Watchers above unless you have some serious problems. If the relative was so overweight (not that any are) and in desperate need of a kickstart to losing weight, I'd want to make sure that it was okay for everyone involved, though.

6. What do you think the opposite sex needs to experience to fully understand what it is like to be your gender?

Menstruation. 'Nuff said. Of course, I haven't had a child myself yet...

7. And to lighten things up a bit before we go...What's the most worthless gadget, infomercial item or "looked like a bargain" item you have ever purchased or owned?

Heh...we got a free vacuum marinader when Cooks.com sent us the wrong package. I ordered an extra bowl for my KitchenAid Stand Mixer and got the marinader instead. They said I could keep it. It's not been much use.

Now, since I didn't buy that myself, it probably shouldn't count. I have some Pampered Chef items that I had to have and never use. Like the tart shaper. Then again, I haven't used the tart pan...yet! Or my flan pans. I must bake at Christmastime.

BONUS: Why can't every day be like Christmas?

Because it would be cold all the time in the northern hemisphere and hot all the time in the southern. Duh!

Do you think that retroactive continuity is a good or bad thing in games? Is it a valuable GM/player tool or a cheat? Are there appropriate places for using it? Inappropriate places? How have you successfully used it or seen it used in a game? How about unsuccessfully?

I have only experienced it in its good form, so I must say it's a great tool, and a great cheat. And sometimes, it's a way for the backbrain to get things out into the game, if you don't stop and think too hard on it.

A perfect example of retconning came from WEF, back when I was running it. Oberon showed up, after being thought dead/missing for some time. He started to put all his children through interviews about what they thought about Amber, what Amber meant to them, what they'd be willing to do for it, etc. It was sort of an heir test.

Well, Benedict got very upset with his questioning, stormed out of Oberon's office, and tore apart his room, and left Amber for a long time.

Then, he returned at a PC's birthday party, and made a big show of pledging himself to another NPC, who was trying to resurrect House Barimen in the Courts.

The NPC, Cybele, managed to get Benedict, another NPC named Samuel (former assassin), and a PC (Brennan, and one of the more dangerous of the PCs) to pledge to her, all for various reasons (Brennan was her consort).

And then later, I realized that this had all (obviously) been a maneuver by Oberon. He had picked Cybele as his heir, and managed to get her surrounded by top-notch people who had pledged themselves to her, to protect her and see that she got the training she needed to run Amber.

I didn't plan it this way; originally, Benedict was just pissed at the powerplay Oberon was attempting. But then I thought about it. What if the act was a sham? What if he wasn't REALLY pissed, but Oberon and he planned it?

And it took off from there. Everything that I had planned fit perfectly with this new take on it. Samuel was the first to figure it out (as an NPC, he had access to a number of PCs who told him various things, and he put two and two together) and then presented it to Brennan. Who agreed with him, and then they agreed to not speak about it to anyone. Definitely not Cybele!

Of course, by the end of the game, everything happened as Oberon wanted. It was such a retcon, though. I've had smaller ones...usually where I do something and wonder why (usually an NPC says something) and then later it makes sense.

I may end up doing it in my ATF game, but again, only if it fits. I just killed off a PC (player wanted to switch characters, and I couldn't think of a valid reason (nor could he) for his PC to not stay with the group), and if circumstances warrant it later, I may retcon the death. It was only witnessed by an NPC, and maybe something messed up his recall of events.

But only if it works for the plot. Or if my backbrain tells me what was really going on much later.

CNN.com - Gibson to appear in new 'Mad Max' film

It'll be called "Fury Road," at least according to this article on CNN. It'll be interesting to see what sort of flick this will be, considering how "Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome" ended.

Courtesy of Slashdot.

Seeking Perfection in Shoe Lacing, With 43,200 Choices

The main reason I'm reporting this is because of my high school Speech and Debate class. (We never did get to the debate portion.) One of our assignments was to deliver instructions on how to do something, in front of the class. We were forbidden from even attempting to demonstrate how to peel a potato, because that had been done to perfection in a previous year, by someone who went into the whole potato famine as well as describe how to peel a potato, and made the teacher weep and laugh.

So, why this ramble? Because I did mine on the different ways to lace your shoes.

Many of you won't believe this, but I used to be a shy, quiet girl. One of the reasons I took this class was to be more comfortable in front of groups of people (even though I was also doing drama at the time for the same reason). I had a fear of getting up in front of people. HUGE fear. This class helped me get over it. That, and drama, and choir.

I don't recall the grade, but the class did think I did okay (they also graded and commented on the presentations). And I learned how to ladder lace as well as other lace styles I've completely forgotten.

Technical Difficulties

(Flash required)

I am sitting on my loveseat, listening to Duran Duran's Seven and the Ragged Tiger on my iPod, surfing the web.

Meanwhile, the sugar cookie dough I made nearly an hour ago is refrigerating in the kitchen.

Anne is having her annual cookie party tonight, and this year she's letting us bring our own cookies. I am bringing an experiment - I'm making sugar cookies and putting cinnamon chips on top of them. We'll see how they do.

I listened to Rio while I made the dough. This is the first real test I've been able to do with the iPod, since I don't have any sort of car adapter yet. So far, so good. Only big problem I see is the case I have doesn't have room for storing the seriously long cable I have, since the remote makes it that much longer.

I have almost all my Christmas shopping done, and hopefully everything I ordered online will be here by the 24th. Amazon is screwing me for some reason...a batch that insists everything Usually Ships in 24 hours hasn't moved in the past four days. *sighs*

I love making cookies. Even though I get frustrated when things don't turn out like I think they should, even when I get upset at myself for messing things up or dropping items/ingredients...it is still fun for me. I have more cookies to make for the office Christmas party next Friday, but I can do some of that on Wednesday (going to see LotR:TTT, but I have the rest of the day off) and the rest on Thursday night.

I will have to see if Lou's going to make his grandmother's cookie recipe this year or not. He did not last year, and I think his father was terribly disappointed. But they are a bit frustrating to make (like all old-fashioned recipes these days, I think), and he didn't have fun when he made them two years ago. Maybe I can try to do it.

So, my dear readership - what's your favorite cookie type?

Mine is the Tollhouse Chocolate Cookie recipe, but done as bars, instead of cookies. Yum.

ScoopMe! - ...And to All a Good Night

I want to be Zoﾎ, and I want to marry Wash. Or the other way around. Whatever. I love this couple.

And here, I would like to think that I am sorta Zoﾎ, and I do know that I did marry my very own Wash.

Another reason to watch Firefly, oh yeah.

Oh, and to complete the ME (that Mutant Enemy, not *moi*) love...

I have to rip someone a new asshole for the image of Cordy and Connor humping that has left scar tissue in my brain and caused this uncontrollable twitching in my eyes.

Yeah, what was up with that idiocy? Did they not replace Cordy with the real? Is she a pod-Cordy? Gaaaah...

Courtesy of Doyce.

1. So, what do you want for Christmas this year that you probably won't get?

TiVo or ReplayTV.

2. What do you know you will be receiving for Christmas this year?

Oh, probably the red wine glasses I asked for, since people now know that I don't want glasses that are RED, but wine glasses for red wine.

3. If you had the means to do so, what presents would you get some of your fellow bloggers? Be specific, it's more fun that way!

I'd buy everyone who had an Amazon list everything that was on it. I don't have time to be more specific than that right now.

4. Do you support any organizations that provide for the less fortunate during the holidays? Or do any volunteer work?

Nope, and nope. I may drop some change into the Salvation Army bucket, but that's about it.

We give in other directions.

5. Each year about this time, I notice Church attendance seems to spike, then drops off sharply after Christmas. It tickles me that these folks think they are pulling a fast one on the Big Guy. What is the most recent thing guilt has motivated you to do?

To clean up the crap littering my office. Like laptops that need to go to Service & Repair.

6. According to the commercials, the only way to truly tell someone you love them on Christmas day is to let them "Unwrap a Jaguar" automobile. Are there any examples of excessive commercialism and/or blatant disregard for the "Christmas Spirit" that really get under your skin?

That's about it. There's also a Lexus commercial like that, I think.

7. I remember a song where the singers wished they could teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony. What would you like to teach the world?

That it's okay to have different views on this. Respect others.

I just wish I could teach myself that first.

BONUS: Do they know it's Christmas time at all?

If they celebrate it, then yes. If not, then what's the point of converting them to our crass commercialism? Are they Christian? If not, then they don't need to know about it, thankyouverymuch.

Hail, Princess Llewella!

Take the quiz here.

Courtesy of Ginger.

Han Solo makes the Switch.

There's even an Ellen Feiss reference. Made me laugh enough to get the blood pumping this morning.

Courtesy of Ginger.

1. Christmas cards -- how many do you send out? Is there an obligation to reciprocate if you receive one? How do you display the ones you receive, assuming you display them at all?

Let's see...I think this year it was about 40, maybe a little less.

We put the ones we get up on the high railing around our kitchen/entryway. It's about eye height, and we can usually put the back of the card in the space between the ledge and the wall. (I'd call it wainscoting but that's really not what it is.)

2. If money were no object, would you hire a personal shopper to do your Christmas shopping for you?

No. I love doing Christmas shopping! Most of mine was done online this year. That's probably why I love it.

3. As a late night talk show host, you need to book a guest for your December 23rd show who is highly relevant to the Christmas season. Whom would you choose? (The person does not have to be famous.)

Oh, I don't know...I don't book talent! Umm....someone who looks like Santa Claus?

Which Edward Gorey Book Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Courtesy of Lisamarie, but seen on others' blogs too.

The Advertising Slogan Generator!

Courtesy of ***Dave.

Can't afford 3 hours out of your busy schedule to see LotR:TTT? Then just head here for the 10 minute version!

Spoilers abound...so don't go unless you want to know...and laugh!

1. What holiday or holidays do you celebrate this time of year?

Christmas. My birthday at the beginning of the month, too.

2. What was the best gift you have ever received?

Umm...I'd have to say the TV and DVD player my in-laws gave Lou and me for Christmas three years ago. We totally didn't ask for it, and it was a great surprise.

3. What was the worst gift you've ever given?

The tinsel Christmas Tree in a Yankee Swap a few years ago at my old job. The point was to bring the tackiest thing in your house that you had and put it in the box. Lou had gotten this thing from one of his clients, and it was just awful. So I put that in, and it ended up with a Jewish family.

4. Where will you be celebrating the holidays? Are you hosting? Going away?

Not hosting, though we will have friends over for Christmas Eve, I think. We go to Lou's parents Christmas morning after we open our presents, for breakfast and present-opening, then we head to my mom's for presents and food in the late afternoon.

We also have had friends over for New Year's Eve, since it's another friend's birthday and he and his wife always do something together.

5. If you could spend the holidays with someone who isn't around, who would it be with? Why?

I'd like to spend the holidays with my dad. He died when I was 15, and I never really got to know him.

The Brick Testament

I particularly love the thought balloons, especially on the horses in the Noah's Ark story...

Courtesy of Ian.

VSD, Part Two, Begins

Go Cassie!

Clash star Strummer dies

Joe Strummer, the leader of legendary Seventies punk band The Clash, has died aged 50.

A moment of loud, jangling guitars instead of silence, please.

What Weird Quote Are You?
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Theoden gets his turn at a diary!

This is posted just for those who don't have Cassie's LJ already bookmarked. ;)

Happy Christmas everyone!

I hope Santa was good to those to whom he visits, and that everyone got what they wanted.

Me, I got a ton of stuff that I wanted, but still no TiVo, which I was not expecting, but had hoped for. However, I did get some cash, which I might be able to throw together to get the bare-bones version, and then upgrade myself with a larger HD later. We'll see.

Apples to Apples was my Secret Santa gift from our friends' gift exchange, and I brought it to my family Christmas party, where it was HUGE hit. So much so that Lou and I left (I was losing my voice and not feeling 100%) that I left the game there. There was 11 people playing when last I counted, with all ages, from the pre-teens to their parents. Lots of fun. Now we just need to get the expansion card sets...

The white Christmas we were supposed to get turned out to be a wet Christmas instead. Lou's just as happy about that, though I'm disappointed. I love snow. We may still get snow overnight due to falling temperatures, but it won't be the same. Still, the winds are heavy and I won't be going to work, or to the movies, tomorrow. I think I'll save that for Friday.

We're supposed to go to Edaville Railroad tomorrow, with dinner afterwards at Fireside, my favorite place for prime rib. But Lou's brother is illing, and his wife is feeling the beginnings of a cold and trying to stave it off, so it's possible that we may not go after all, and reschedule for a later time.

Sleep well, everyone. Pleasant dreams.

1. So, have you been naughty or nice this year? Both? Gimme details!

I've been nice. I'm rarely ever naughty. And no details, sorry!

2. Are there any Christmas television commercials that you look forward to each year?

Commercials? Oh, I love the cheese commercial where the girl left Santa cheese and got a ton of presents. I also love the old Staples commerical where everything is gift-wrapped, including the dog. I like new, inventive commercials. I hate the Lexus commercial, but I do like when the guy gets the dog to bring the keys to the woman on the couch. That's cool.

3. Are you the type that likes to know what you are getting as a present (do you rattle the boxes?) or do you like suprises?

I rattle the boxes just before I open them. Usually to check for LEGO.

4. Have you ever been scared of those "mall Santas?" Is there anything at "the mall" that does scare you?

No, and the food courts. Even though I eat there on occasion, they frighten me.

5. We've talked about Holiday foods you love, so what holiday foods do you hate?

Egg nog. Ick. Can't stand the nog.

6. Have you ever forgotten to buy someone a gift? How did that situation play out?

No, we're pretty good about that.

7. Describe (or post a pic of) the tackiest holiday yard decorations you've ever seen?

Edaville Railroad's Festival of Lights. Most especially the plains of Africa section.

Bonus: Can the people on TV see me or am I just paranoid?

You're just paranoid. But I'd wear the foil hat just to be sure.

1. Acquaintances have come to visit, bearing an unexpected holiday gift. "Unexpected" as in, "You don't have one for them." What do you do?

Feel embarrassed, apologize, and send them something later. Probably something home-baked.

2. A dear family member has gifted you with something truly hideous, which would never, ever go with your decor, your lifestyle, or your aesthetic. What do you do with it?

Give it away to someone else, most likely. Or just pack it away. Or find out if they meant it as a joke, which is possible with my family!

3. It's Christmas Eve. Rushing into a store to pick up some last-minute gifts, you are accosted by a gent who, politely, spins a tale of woe for you about being short on the rent. He sounds convincing. What do you do?

Ignore him and keep moving. I've seen scams and am immune to them, as much as I can be. This would have to be a scam.

1. What was your biggest accomplishment this year?

Writing nearly 6k words for NaNoWriMo. I hope to do 8 times that next year, and finish my novel!

Oh, and making my WW goal! Whoo!

2. What was your biggest disappointment?

Only writing nearly 6k words for NaNoWriMo. I should have been more committed.

Oh, and losing sight of my WW goal at the end of this year. I need to get back on track.

3. Will you be making any New Year's resolutions?

To get back on track with WW. But I don't tend to make New Year's resolutions because they don't mean much to me.

4. Where will you be at midnight? Do you wish you could be somewhere else?

At home, in the apartment, with the husband and probably a few friends. This is where I wish to be, too. That is, if I wasn't a millionaire and lounging on a beach somewhere tropical!

5. Aside from (possibly) staying up late, do you have any other New Year's traditions?

Well, for the past three or so years, we've had two friends over and we play video games and hang out. Another friend's birthday is the 31st, so he and his wife always have plans of their own.

Before Lou and I moved in together, we used to get a hotel room and go out to eat and watch a movie before heading back to the hotel. That was a nice tradition until I was no longer necessary.

What three fantasy books/series would you recommend to other gamers? Why? What particularly makes them suitable for gamers to read? Would they be particularly good for novices or better for experienced gamers?

Oh, interesting topic! I need to catch up on a few older WISHes, but I can start on this one.

Three fantasy books/series?

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings (The Hobbit, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King) by J.R.R. Tolkein

The Deed of Paksennarion (Sheepfarmer's Daughter, Divided Allegiance and Oath of Gold) by Elizabeth Moon.

The last choice is a tough one. I could go with The Curse of Chalion, but I've put the OTHER penultimate paladin book(series) in here already. I could go with other Bujold books, but while they're fun, I don't see "gamer" in them when I read. No one, and I must admit No One, could do Miles' justice in an RPG. The first Amber series is good.

So, I'm going to go with the first few of the Joel Rosenberg Guardians of the Flame (The Sleeping Dragon, The Sword and the Chain, and The Silver Crown).

Now, for why I chose these...

Tolkien is the classic. The one to read to figure out just how cool elves and dwarves are. To understand just what rangers can do. To know just how kick-ass wizards can be. Ents, orcs, wargs. It all started here. And be sure to note that I included The Hobbit. For just how sneaky a rogue halfling can be, this is a good start.

The Deed of Paksennarion inspired my first long-term AD&D character, Brianna. I wanted her to be picked a paladin by the gods, not have her choose to be one. I think that, coupled with Curse of Chalion, are THE two paladin books.

And what gamer hasn't wanted to, at least once, play in their game world? The Rosenberg Guardians of the Flame series allows the players to do just that, good and bad. It gets a bit more muddled, to my eyes, as the series goes on, and there is a distinct lack of main female protagonists (though there are women gamers/characters, they aren't the main character(s) of the series.

LotR as a bad D&D game!

DM, sitting behind the screen making notes and talking to himself: "Let's see, there are three of the PC's, all almost epic level, plus 50 level 3-5 fighters, plus 500 level 0 warriors and commoners. That's the equivalent of, hmmm, a 27th level party, I guess. They are fighting 10,000 1st level orc fighters, plus some leader types, with siege weapons and explosives. I guess that is an encounter level of, let's see, 576!!!! Oh crap! This system is so broken! They can't all die here! I already bought the next module!

DM (to players): 1000 eleven bowmen show up to help you defend the fortress.

Courtesy of Ginger.

1. Which Blog post of yours was one of your favorites of 2002?

Eep. Urk. Gah. I have no idea. Let me get back to yo on that...

Okay, now that I've answered the other questions, I have time to review this.

I have a few contenders.

Most recently, I have my amusing rant about trying to find a parking place at Brown.

From January 2002, I have a post where I talk about Grissom, Chaffee, and White, and my connection to the Apollo missions.

But I think I'm going to have to go with my t-shirt entry. I had a lot of fun writing that one up. And now I have new shirts. *whines*

2. Were there any "old acquaintances" that should be forgot this year?

Umm...no. Wait...no, he was last year's news, come to think of it. So no.

3. Did you finish what you started last week?

Heh. No, no I didn't.

Oh, save the comics! I got as far as I could with the supplies we have. Go me!

(hmm...I didn't blog about that. I bagged and boarded about four years worth of comics that had been piled up. Fortunately we don't get a lot of comics. But now I have all of Midnight Nation in one place as well as Midnight Mass (both complete in their runs), and I can finish reading those. Plus the collections of KoDT, Girl Genius, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Rising Stars, and others I need to catch up on. Waay far behind on my comic reading.

4. Will you be doing anything to celebrate "New Year's Eve?" Any traditional food or drinks you associate with "New Year's?"

Friends are coming over, with more friends! Pat & Betsy usually have their own celebration, since today is Pat's birthday. But they're doing stuff during the day, so they'll be stopping by tonight. Kevin will be coming over, sans Corey, who will most likely be spending his New Year's Eve online on Evercrack. And Jack's coming down and will be staying over, so we are having a bit of the gathering.

No real traditional food or drink, tho. We will most likely play Crash Team Racing or MarioKart, which are traditional. :)

5. What was the coolest present you got this year?

My iPod. Oh yeah, baby, oh yeah!

6. The day after Christmas, around 3pm, I drove by a car where the driver and his passenger were each drinking a beer; there was no mistake about it. I was shocked, because I'd never seen anyone actually do this. And wasn't sure what I should do about it. What would you do in the same situation?

Call the cops on my cellphone and report them.

7. Have you ever driven a car while drinking alcohol? Ever driven drunk or known anyone who has? How'd that turn out?

No. Driven drunk? Well, I've must admit I've driven "buzzed" but I have only been really really drunk like about 3 times in my life, and most of those were before I was legally able to drink.

I don't do it anymore. Lou won't even let me drive if I've had a glass of wine with a big dinner. So everything turned out fortunate for me, and I will not drink and drive again. It's just too risky.

Bonus: Why'd you have to go and make things so complicated?

Hey, they were like that when I found them! Don't go blaming me for YOUR issues. *grumbles*