I'm back from Ixtapa!
Not a bad trip all said and done. The primary goal was to (finally) get my open water certification for scuba diving, which I managed. I liked the second day of diving (I just about threw up on the first) and if nothing else gives me something to do when I'm on my next vacation.
Last time on a beach I was riddled with angst, despair and loneliness (and turned 40). This time I just read all my books, got a tan instead of a burn, didn't drink nearly as much and just chillaxed. The days were filled with sitting on the beach, the night with, well, TV. That may sound like an odd thing to do, but since I don't watch TV at home, it (sorta if you think about it) makes sense on vacation.
Despite that, I think vacation nights would be much better bringing someone along. Traveling solo is usually undertaken by those who are outgoing, adventurous and make friends easily. In other words, the opposite of me, at least in that regard. I'm still going to do it, because lying on a beach and swimming in the ocean is relaxing and as I tend towards the hyper-tense, I need that sort of thing.
And next time I'm bring more books. I went through one just on the trip down there. Oh, and actually use the Spanish-language software I bought so it doesn't take me a week to figure out "On y dos" doesn't mean hello.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Coincidence?
Got an email from Spike today after an eight months communication blackout. Which is weird because I was wondering what she was up to the other day when I was reviewing the blog.
I was actually pleasantly surprised. I think it has been about a year since we first met (or maybe off by a couple of weeks). Anyways, I'm wondering if she was doing a bit of a year-in-review herself. The note was brief, indicating that she had an interesting few months but "didn't want to bore you with the details".
Since I'm a nice guy I told her to bore away. Which kinda sounds like I'm encouraging her to make a career change to excavation or something now that I think about it. Anyways. I gave her the quick update (I've been working), asked her how the dogs are and that's about it. Should be interesting to see what she has to say but even more so, when she actually says it.
Would I see her again? It would depend on her of course. I still like Spike. She's one cool dudette. And with hindsight, I think we share a common personality quirk: too independent for our own good sometimes. That's about it really. Cautiously optimistic. Any kind of optimistic for me is progress.
I was actually pleasantly surprised. I think it has been about a year since we first met (or maybe off by a couple of weeks). Anyways, I'm wondering if she was doing a bit of a year-in-review herself. The note was brief, indicating that she had an interesting few months but "didn't want to bore you with the details".
Since I'm a nice guy I told her to bore away. Which kinda sounds like I'm encouraging her to make a career change to excavation or something now that I think about it. Anyways. I gave her the quick update (I've been working), asked her how the dogs are and that's about it. Should be interesting to see what she has to say but even more so, when she actually says it.
Would I see her again? It would depend on her of course. I still like Spike. She's one cool dudette. And with hindsight, I think we share a common personality quirk: too independent for our own good sometimes. That's about it really. Cautiously optimistic. Any kind of optimistic for me is progress.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
We last left our hero.....
I may be updating this again. But first I need to buy a new suit. Not that has anything to do with the blog itself but I still gotta.
Then again, I may not, depends how bored I am.....
Let me explain. Or rather, let me ramble and there should be a nugget of info or two in the verbal dross.
On Friday I was IM chatting with a co-worker, let's call her Chefette (again, a fake name to protect the innocent. Which probably means I'll have to cook up something for all my co-workers). We were discussing some stuff that happened over a group lunch (sushi) and somehow the conversation turned to writing. She complimented me on my writing ability (paltry at the moment) and asked if I had a blog, so naturally I referred her here. A little reluctantly as I mentioned I had taken a hiatus.
So, I went home and started reading the old entries. It is a classic writing trick: put something together, then put it a way for a while to get some distance. Pick it up again then cringe at spelling mistakes, mixed metaphors and general lack of any literary ability whatsoever. At least that has been my experience.
And there are some cringe worthy entries here. But there is also a pattern.
This entire endeavor was undertaken with two goals in mind:
"Back Then" I'd say I was pretty depressed. A litany of "I'm sick, I'm bored, I'm stressed, I'm horny" were the obvious main themes. Up until about a year ago.
With hindsight almost as good as my 20/15 post-surgery peepers, I think it is fair to see that my lack of satisfaction at work (balls out full-of-hate at times) was more of a contributor (facilitator?) than I had previously thought. Physically, stress kills you immune system, so the string of cold after cold makes sense. The lack of motivation as well. And the boredom. And the frustration with everything Ad nauseum.
I'm doing pretty good now.
I am sick at the moment, but that's really because of the fact that I work for an airline. Haven't had a cold since last winter (although my stomach is still trying to kill me). Boredom is still a factor in my life but not as much as it had been. I'm getting out more (i.e. I'm getting out) and even though we just went through hell on a big project at work (with some additional infernal influence for the next while) reading what I had gone through in previous jobs really put it in context. It wasn't bad at all, all thing considered.
So I'm headed to Ixtapa the week after next (finally getting the darn SCUBA cert). This trip I'm actually going to do some of the things to get me out of the hotel bar: surfing, jungle canopy tour etc. Of course I may not, but only if I find something else to amuse myself. Oh, and I'm bringing SPF 60 and a paint roller this time.
The question of course is: am I going to keep this (Random 0) rolling? I don't know. It depends on whether or not I have something to say. Contentment after all is the absence of conflict, which drives almost all narrative. Not much of that around here.
Of course, next year I'm finally buying a house, so I'm sure that will add some pandemonium in my life. In the meantime, when I feel I have have something to say rather than just report, I'll come back here.
Then again, I may not, depends how bored I am.....
Let me explain. Or rather, let me ramble and there should be a nugget of info or two in the verbal dross.
On Friday I was IM chatting with a co-worker, let's call her Chefette (again, a fake name to protect the innocent. Which probably means I'll have to cook up something for all my co-workers). We were discussing some stuff that happened over a group lunch (sushi) and somehow the conversation turned to writing. She complimented me on my writing ability (paltry at the moment) and asked if I had a blog, so naturally I referred her here. A little reluctantly as I mentioned I had taken a hiatus.
So, I went home and started reading the old entries. It is a classic writing trick: put something together, then put it a way for a while to get some distance. Pick it up again then cringe at spelling mistakes, mixed metaphors and general lack of any literary ability whatsoever. At least that has been my experience.
And there are some cringe worthy entries here. But there is also a pattern.
This entire endeavor was undertaken with two goals in mind:
- Keep writing, no matter how innocuous the subject material.
- Keep a kind of on-line diary so I could go back and see what my life was like "back then"
"Back Then" I'd say I was pretty depressed. A litany of "I'm sick, I'm bored, I'm stressed, I'm horny" were the obvious main themes. Up until about a year ago.
With hindsight almost as good as my 20/15 post-surgery peepers, I think it is fair to see that my lack of satisfaction at work (balls out full-of-hate at times) was more of a contributor (facilitator?) than I had previously thought. Physically, stress kills you immune system, so the string of cold after cold makes sense. The lack of motivation as well. And the boredom. And the frustration with everything Ad nauseum.
I'm doing pretty good now.
I am sick at the moment, but that's really because of the fact that I work for an airline. Haven't had a cold since last winter (although my stomach is still trying to kill me). Boredom is still a factor in my life but not as much as it had been. I'm getting out more (i.e. I'm getting out) and even though we just went through hell on a big project at work (with some additional infernal influence for the next while) reading what I had gone through in previous jobs really put it in context. It wasn't bad at all, all thing considered.
So I'm headed to Ixtapa the week after next (finally getting the darn SCUBA cert). This trip I'm actually going to do some of the things to get me out of the hotel bar: surfing, jungle canopy tour etc. Of course I may not, but only if I find something else to amuse myself. Oh, and I'm bringing SPF 60 and a paint roller this time.
The question of course is: am I going to keep this (Random 0) rolling? I don't know. It depends on whether or not I have something to say. Contentment after all is the absence of conflict, which drives almost all narrative. Not much of that around here.
Of course, next year I'm finally buying a house, so I'm sure that will add some pandemonium in my life. In the meantime, when I feel I have have something to say rather than just report, I'll come back here.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Mosey
This is probably going to be my last blog for a while. Really, you should have seen it coming: the posts have been increasingly infrequent and shorter. To be honest I haven't had much to say lately.
Looking through my posts, this whole blog thing has been, for lack of a better term, a way to vent (although still going for the funny) and frankly I don't have much to vent about right now. Life is okay. Not grand but not too bad either. So really, I don't feel the new to spew digital vitriol on a semi-daily basis anymore.
Of course, there's still the day-to-day little nuances that make me red in the face but I can only complain about traffic, the inconsistencies of upper management, the vagaries of dating in my middle age (Dark Age?) so often before even I'm tired of hearing it. You were probably sick of it a long while ago.
Maybe this is a healthy step for me. Or maybe it's just that feeling of contentment and safety that occurs right before the escaped mental patient sticks a knitting needle in your eyeball. Hey, I said I'm content, not an optimist.
So thanks to all who checked in on a semi-regular basis. Here's hoping some of my life's follies made you laugh, maybe made you think (long shot) or at least gave you a two-minute diversion now and again.
I may be back though. Life (and blogging) is like that.
Cheers!
Moby
Looking through my posts, this whole blog thing has been, for lack of a better term, a way to vent (although still going for the funny) and frankly I don't have much to vent about right now. Life is okay. Not grand but not too bad either. So really, I don't feel the new to spew digital vitriol on a semi-daily basis anymore.
Of course, there's still the day-to-day little nuances that make me red in the face but I can only complain about traffic, the inconsistencies of upper management, the vagaries of dating in my middle age (Dark Age?) so often before even I'm tired of hearing it. You were probably sick of it a long while ago.
Maybe this is a healthy step for me. Or maybe it's just that feeling of contentment and safety that occurs right before the escaped mental patient sticks a knitting needle in your eyeball. Hey, I said I'm content, not an optimist.
So thanks to all who checked in on a semi-regular basis. Here's hoping some of my life's follies made you laugh, maybe made you think (long shot) or at least gave you a two-minute diversion now and again.
I may be back though. Life (and blogging) is like that.
Cheers!
Moby
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Song & Dance
Alright, I'll get to what I promised in a sec but first a rant (you knew that was coming).
Steam: ever since Capa sung the praises, the Steam online games store has been insinuating itself into my gaming habits. With the good stuff coming at half-price if you wait long enough and some decent casual games coming in at under twenty bucks, I've found there's no need for me to go to the video game store. It wasn't a great need in recent times as the number of PC titles on the shelves there have dwindled to a mere handful but none the less.
However I recently picked up Puzzle Quest: Galactrix which is of course the sequel to Puzzle Quest. Now, after I got the original title I ranted that it cheated. And it does. But once you get past that (which took me a while) it's not a bad game.
Galactrix on the other hand possesses a new, enhanced version of the cheat engine which makes it such a frustration to play it's aggravated my Turrette's Syndrome to "driving on the Deerfoot in rush hour" levels. So it got uninstalled. Without going into any detail, let's just say that if a game developer has to resort to the kind of bald-face, obvious, cheating-like-a-bitch cop-outs to make a game seem challenging, I hope they all get laid off and have to go dumpster diving for hospital trash for a living.
Ahem.
So, last week. I finally managed to get the weekend scuba boot camp done sans dreaded-disease. It was good. Not great but good. I do want to actually try out the whole schtick underwater because a ten-foot vat of chlorine may not give the same experience as a coral reef. With that in mind, I'm attempting to snag a last minute deal to go somewhere tropical the following week but things look iffy. Not that there aren't places to go, but the phrase "cost based on double occupancy" is damaging my calm. I could get the services of a high-end escort and fly both of us to a five star resort for a week at the same cost of me going by myself. Seriously. I know that a hotel room is the same cost if it's one person or two but the savings of a flight and a bit of the food etc should shave off a bit. The fact that in some cases it was actually less money if I booked for two people rather than just myself really steams me.
Sorry, that was another rant.
On the bright side, David Byrne was amazing. Four encores. An amazing performer without a doubt and always money well spent. I also was dragged out by Kiki to a local band performing at a wonderful little dive. Their repertoire is pretty much classics from the sixties to the eighties but that ain't a bad thing if you're looking for music your familiar with. That's the whole appeal I think: the crowd there was composed of folks who heard it all when it was fresh and new (and I'm starting to trundle int that bracket) but they seemed like they were having a blast, which is what it's all about really.
I was the designated driver (and Kiki owes me for that) but it actually fit my mood quite well and I had a good time. Of course I always wonder at Kiki's motivations: she has all these single girlfriends and tends to make a point of "he's not with me". Which I pretty much translate as "look ladies, fresh meat". Not exactly a bad thing but I still ain't looking, so I hate to get their hopes up. And yes I need to get over myself.
Steam: ever since Capa sung the praises, the Steam online games store has been insinuating itself into my gaming habits. With the good stuff coming at half-price if you wait long enough and some decent casual games coming in at under twenty bucks, I've found there's no need for me to go to the video game store. It wasn't a great need in recent times as the number of PC titles on the shelves there have dwindled to a mere handful but none the less.
However I recently picked up Puzzle Quest: Galactrix which is of course the sequel to Puzzle Quest. Now, after I got the original title I ranted that it cheated. And it does. But once you get past that (which took me a while) it's not a bad game.
Galactrix on the other hand possesses a new, enhanced version of the cheat engine which makes it such a frustration to play it's aggravated my Turrette's Syndrome to "driving on the Deerfoot in rush hour" levels. So it got uninstalled. Without going into any detail, let's just say that if a game developer has to resort to the kind of bald-face, obvious, cheating-like-a-bitch cop-outs to make a game seem challenging, I hope they all get laid off and have to go dumpster diving for hospital trash for a living.
Ahem.
So, last week. I finally managed to get the weekend scuba boot camp done sans dreaded-disease. It was good. Not great but good. I do want to actually try out the whole schtick underwater because a ten-foot vat of chlorine may not give the same experience as a coral reef. With that in mind, I'm attempting to snag a last minute deal to go somewhere tropical the following week but things look iffy. Not that there aren't places to go, but the phrase "cost based on double occupancy" is damaging my calm. I could get the services of a high-end escort and fly both of us to a five star resort for a week at the same cost of me going by myself. Seriously. I know that a hotel room is the same cost if it's one person or two but the savings of a flight and a bit of the food etc should shave off a bit. The fact that in some cases it was actually less money if I booked for two people rather than just myself really steams me.
Sorry, that was another rant.
On the bright side, David Byrne was amazing. Four encores. An amazing performer without a doubt and always money well spent. I also was dragged out by Kiki to a local band performing at a wonderful little dive. Their repertoire is pretty much classics from the sixties to the eighties but that ain't a bad thing if you're looking for music your familiar with. That's the whole appeal I think: the crowd there was composed of folks who heard it all when it was fresh and new (and I'm starting to trundle int that bracket) but they seemed like they were having a blast, which is what it's all about really.
I was the designated driver (and Kiki owes me for that) but it actually fit my mood quite well and I had a good time. Of course I always wonder at Kiki's motivations: she has all these single girlfriends and tends to make a point of "he's not with me". Which I pretty much translate as "look ladies, fresh meat". Not exactly a bad thing but I still ain't looking, so I hate to get their hopes up. And yes I need to get over myself.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Stay Tuned!
The final resolution! Underwater wackiness! The Former Head of Talking Heads!
But right now I'm too busy to go into any kind of detail. Soon, my precious....
But right now I'm too busy to go into any kind of detail. Soon, my precious....
Friday, February 13, 2009
Steamed
Another week and no news. On the thing. You know. The lump. So that's good, but there's still the "discomfort" I'm experiencing. And I think I may have figured that out as well.
I've been working out lately. Well, okay for the past ten years, but the past year I've been running. So follow along Moby's Patented Spurious Logic (Patent Pending):
Let me guess, too much information. Well that's okay because I'm going to consider the matter closed as soon as I go buy some parachute pants.
I had totally forgotten that I had tried the demo for Sins of a Solar Empire a while back. But I tried it again anyways. Still don't like it. But since Steam just put Left 4 Dead on at half price, I'm downloading it now. Zomb-Aid, biatches!
I've been working out lately. Well, okay for the past ten years, but the past year I've been running. So follow along Moby's Patented Spurious Logic (Patent Pending):
- First, the soft fatty tissues on my inner thighs started to be used up, reducing the radius of my upper thighs: therefore I bought new (smaller) pants.
- I started growing muscle beneath the fatty tissues, thereby expanding said radius: therefore things got tight.
- The, er, subject on the side where "my ears hang low" is where I'm feeling the pain.
- Ergo, I've been compressing one of my boys every time I sit down. Thus the swelling.
Let me guess, too much information. Well that's okay because I'm going to consider the matter closed as soon as I go buy some parachute pants.
I had totally forgotten that I had tried the demo for Sins of a Solar Empire a while back. But I tried it again anyways. Still don't like it. But since Steam just put Left 4 Dead on at half price, I'm downloading it now. Zomb-Aid, biatches!
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Waiting Game
Okay so I haven't heard anything yet. Call me paranoid (knew I could count on you Capa) but I'll feel much more comfortable next weekend.
I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, I'll be considering what game to buy next. Maybe Sins of a Solar Empire. Heard it's good...
I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, I'll be considering what game to buy next. Maybe Sins of a Solar Empire. Heard it's good...
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Why Are We Waiting?
Still no news yet. Still waiting. You know if this process hadn't taken about a month to get to this point, I'd say that's a good thing. But with the incredibly laconic response time of the medical profession I've experienced in this province, I'll start to be cautiously optimistic next Monday.
And since I'm re-scheduled to take my scuba course this weekend, I'm catching a cold. Of course.
On the good news side, our new office space is quite amazing. Had a tour of the fitness center today and it doesn't suck. And considering some of the women on the tour, it certainly bodes well for the gym experience days of yore (remember Red Sonja?). Provided I don't get something removed, which means I won't be interested in the gym or the patrons. I know, positive thinking.
But ya gotta admit it would prey on your mind as well.
So I've been distracting myself with gaming. Specifically, Defence Grid: The Awakening. I've never been a huge fan of tower defense games, but the presentation and 3D-ness, not to mention the pure logical thinking, is a lot of fun. I'm starting to see why Capa made such a fuss about Steam. And for $20, it certainly is in the "impulse buy" price-range.
And I gave LOTRO another go (I had three weeks left) but ended up uninstalling again. It really was just a World of Warcraft wanna be and frankly WoW wither bores me (repetitive) or annoys the hell out of me (the other players). All I can really say is that they took a very, very respected and rich milieu and white-washed it with mediocrity. 'Nuff Said.
Except I'm kinda miffed at the way the downloadable content for Fallout 3 was presented. You have to be a member of Live for Windows. You have to purchase "points" for the content (and of course you have to buy more points than the content is worth) and from what I've been reading you need to do some serious computer configuration to get to the point where you can even download it. Seriously: I want to give them money in exchange for a product. They (Live) seemed to forget that a basic exchange of legal tender for the goods and services desired for purchase has been going on for centuries. You name a price, if I agree to said price I give you legal tender and in exchange you give me what I am buying.
Can't quite seem to do that in this situation. They have made it too complicated (well, okay annoying) and the price is significantly higher than stated in real world terms (ie money). Ergo, I give them no cash, they give me no product and I go spend it on something else offered by an entity that understands these simple, well accepted principles of consumerism.
And no, I'm not going to go download it. At some point, they will be releasing a couple more of these expansions (hopefully they will have figured out how to provide them) and eventually wrapping them into a single bundle on a physical medium which I will purchase from a retailer. Maybe.
And since I'm re-scheduled to take my scuba course this weekend, I'm catching a cold. Of course.
On the good news side, our new office space is quite amazing. Had a tour of the fitness center today and it doesn't suck. And considering some of the women on the tour, it certainly bodes well for the gym experience days of yore (remember Red Sonja?). Provided I don't get something removed, which means I won't be interested in the gym or the patrons. I know, positive thinking.
But ya gotta admit it would prey on your mind as well.
So I've been distracting myself with gaming. Specifically, Defence Grid: The Awakening. I've never been a huge fan of tower defense games, but the presentation and 3D-ness, not to mention the pure logical thinking, is a lot of fun. I'm starting to see why Capa made such a fuss about Steam. And for $20, it certainly is in the "impulse buy" price-range.
And I gave LOTRO another go (I had three weeks left) but ended up uninstalling again. It really was just a World of Warcraft wanna be and frankly WoW wither bores me (repetitive) or annoys the hell out of me (the other players). All I can really say is that they took a very, very respected and rich milieu and white-washed it with mediocrity. 'Nuff Said.
Except I'm kinda miffed at the way the downloadable content for Fallout 3 was presented. You have to be a member of Live for Windows. You have to purchase "points" for the content (and of course you have to buy more points than the content is worth) and from what I've been reading you need to do some serious computer configuration to get to the point where you can even download it. Seriously: I want to give them money in exchange for a product. They (Live) seemed to forget that a basic exchange of legal tender for the goods and services desired for purchase has been going on for centuries. You name a price, if I agree to said price I give you legal tender and in exchange you give me what I am buying.
Can't quite seem to do that in this situation. They have made it too complicated (well, okay annoying) and the price is significantly higher than stated in real world terms (ie money). Ergo, I give them no cash, they give me no product and I go spend it on something else offered by an entity that understands these simple, well accepted principles of consumerism.
And no, I'm not going to go download it. At some point, they will be releasing a couple more of these expansions (hopefully they will have figured out how to provide them) and eventually wrapping them into a single bundle on a physical medium which I will purchase from a retailer. Maybe.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Scanned
Well, I had the ultrasound on the giblets today. I'm proud to say that I was calm, cool and collected. Well, except when driving to the clinic. I'm never calm cool, nor collected when I'm behind the wheel. Anyways, not a painful experience by any means.
However I have come to the conclusion that I will never, ever date someone in the health care industry for the simple reason that I could not handle that the person I'm with handles ... bits ... all day so nonchalantly. There's gotta be some mystery you know?
Speaking of which, the results go to my doctor in two to three business days. The Doc said they would call me if something shows up, so I'm going to jump out of my skin every time the phone rings. Which means once or twice in the next week. Of course it may be worse that they don't call if it's good news. I'll still be paranoid if I get a call a month from now.
It all kind of sucks though: I have the scuba lessons the weekend after next and I really want to use the training to go swimmin' with bow-legged wimmin somewhere down south. But it's the kind of situation where you can't really make any kind of long term plans. Cuz you never know. I've been reading up (gods bless the Internet) and if they find something, there a whole of laundry list of what that "something" could be. Most involve surgery. Which scares the hell out of me. Not because of the surgery itself, but I've been watching too much Scrubs lately and, well, I worry about mistakes. Like waking up and finding they took out my kidney .Although it wouldn't be as bad as the poor bastard who was supposed to get the kidney operation.
So I'm taking my usual "if it's the worst thing that can happen, it's already happened so there's nothing you can do about it" attitude with the occasional panic attack.
You know, the everyday routine mind-set of Moby.
However I have come to the conclusion that I will never, ever date someone in the health care industry for the simple reason that I could not handle that the person I'm with handles ... bits ... all day so nonchalantly. There's gotta be some mystery you know?
Speaking of which, the results go to my doctor in two to three business days. The Doc said they would call me if something shows up, so I'm going to jump out of my skin every time the phone rings. Which means once or twice in the next week. Of course it may be worse that they don't call if it's good news. I'll still be paranoid if I get a call a month from now.
It all kind of sucks though: I have the scuba lessons the weekend after next and I really want to use the training to go swimmin' with bow-legged wimmin somewhere down south. But it's the kind of situation where you can't really make any kind of long term plans. Cuz you never know. I've been reading up (gods bless the Internet) and if they find something, there a whole of laundry list of what that "something" could be. Most involve surgery. Which scares the hell out of me. Not because of the surgery itself, but I've been watching too much Scrubs lately and, well, I worry about mistakes. Like waking up and finding they took out my kidney .Although it wouldn't be as bad as the poor bastard who was supposed to get the kidney operation.
So I'm taking my usual "if it's the worst thing that can happen, it's already happened so there's nothing you can do about it" attitude with the occasional panic attack.
You know, the everyday routine mind-set of Moby.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
And in Other News....
A bit of follow-up on Spike:
She did eventually email me back. Apparently, giving her Fallout 3 for the X-Box 360 freaked her out a bit but me wanting to kiss her (and we had kissed before) freaked her out a lot. We're exchanging the occasional email, but that's as far as it goes. Didn't work out like I had wanted it to, but few things do.
And now, back to gaming:
World of Goo has me hooked. Available on Steam for $20, it's a physics puzzler with some amazing gameplay. A great source of fun! Proof positive that taking a simple concept, wrapping in some creativity in the presentation and viola! you have a great game! Or a musical instrument, I can never remember which.
Speaking of Fallout 3, I'm waiting anxiously for the new downloadable content on Jan 27th. I may get sidetracked by other things (see last post) but if nothing else, I'm easily distracted.
So much so that I went and got Lord of the Rings Online. Yeah, yeah, another MMO after I said I swore off them but I was bored. Okay so far but I can see myself canceling after the free month is done. It's really just more of the same.
Oh! And this looks cool.
And that's about it really. A lame update, but just so everyone knows my so-called life still goes on.
Update: Wow, that didn't take long. Just uninstalled LOTRO after about 6 hours play. That's beats the record set by EVE Online...
She did eventually email me back. Apparently, giving her Fallout 3 for the X-Box 360 freaked her out a bit but me wanting to kiss her (and we had kissed before) freaked her out a lot. We're exchanging the occasional email, but that's as far as it goes. Didn't work out like I had wanted it to, but few things do.
And now, back to gaming:
World of Goo has me hooked. Available on Steam for $20, it's a physics puzzler with some amazing gameplay. A great source of fun! Proof positive that taking a simple concept, wrapping in some creativity in the presentation and viola! you have a great game! Or a musical instrument, I can never remember which.
Speaking of Fallout 3, I'm waiting anxiously for the new downloadable content on Jan 27th. I may get sidetracked by other things (see last post) but if nothing else, I'm easily distracted.
So much so that I went and got Lord of the Rings Online. Yeah, yeah, another MMO after I said I swore off them but I was bored. Okay so far but I can see myself canceling after the free month is done. It's really just more of the same.
Oh! And this looks cool.
And that's about it really. A lame update, but just so everyone knows my so-called life still goes on.
Update: Wow, that didn't take long. Just uninstalled LOTRO after about 6 hours play. That's beats the record set by EVE Online...
Thursday, January 15, 2009
How Can I Put This?
Er, okay, so. Well. Ummmm....
Okay, I'll come right out with it: I found a lump. On the left one.
This happened last weekend I while I was trying to figure out why I had a recurring ache in ... that area. I had thought that since this happens when I run a lot, and when I stopped running it went away, it had something to do with running. So I did the ol' Internet search.
So when I discovered that this could be a symptom of testicular cancer, I learned very quickly how to do a self-exam. And sure enough....
So I went to my local drop-in medical clinic and waited. And waited. And waited. And was told to go home as they were closing soon. Come back the next day.
So I went the next evening. And waited. And waited some more. And told to go home again.
So the next morning, I called in sick, went to the clinic and waited, but not as much. The doctor did her thing (yes, her, which was actually not a problem) and said that it should be checked out.
So I have an ultrasound in two weeks. Two weeks was the soonest I could get one. Trust me, I shopped around.
And so, I'm waiting and worrying. It's probably nothing, statistically speaking. But of course you tend to worry that it could be the worst: it's going to kill you; or the second worst: the cure is so bad you might as well be dead.
Regardless, if there is something there that shouldn't be, it's knifey-knifey slicey-slicey time. And since the doctor will be "in the area" anyways, I'm going to ask to get my tubes tied: Two stones with one bird.
See? I can even make bad jokes when I'm terrified!
Okay, I'll come right out with it: I found a lump. On the left one.
This happened last weekend I while I was trying to figure out why I had a recurring ache in ... that area. I had thought that since this happens when I run a lot, and when I stopped running it went away, it had something to do with running. So I did the ol' Internet search.
So when I discovered that this could be a symptom of testicular cancer, I learned very quickly how to do a self-exam. And sure enough....
So I went to my local drop-in medical clinic and waited. And waited. And waited. And was told to go home as they were closing soon. Come back the next day.
So I went the next evening. And waited. And waited some more. And told to go home again.
So the next morning, I called in sick, went to the clinic and waited, but not as much. The doctor did her thing (yes, her, which was actually not a problem) and said that it should be checked out.
So I have an ultrasound in two weeks. Two weeks was the soonest I could get one. Trust me, I shopped around.
And so, I'm waiting and worrying. It's probably nothing, statistically speaking. But of course you tend to worry that it could be the worst: it's going to kill you; or the second worst: the cure is so bad you might as well be dead.
Regardless, if there is something there that shouldn't be, it's knifey-knifey slicey-slicey time. And since the doctor will be "in the area" anyways, I'm going to ask to get my tubes tied: Two stones with one bird.
See? I can even make bad jokes when I'm terrified!
Monday, January 12, 2009
Update on Lack of Updates
I know, I know. But something ... significant ... may be brewing. No not that. No, not that either.
This is new.
And scary.
You'll know when I do.
This is new.
And scary.
You'll know when I do.
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Habits & Cravings
But first, I got rear-ended today. I was attempting to turn left on my way to the gym, but two factors made me stop:
The guy in the pick-up truck behind me was also going way too fast for road conditions, slid on the previously mentioned mush and wham!. Actually more like thunk. Got out, assessed the damage (none, not even scratched paint), told the guy "No harm, no foul". He seemed quite relieved. He was pretty apologetic too, which just goes to show, sometimes accidents just happen regardless of how cautious/incautious a driver is. I was a bit shaken but not stirred. Besides, the adrenaline rush made for a good work-out.
But back to the title: Now that my six weeks of working part-time (due to being forced to take my remaining vacation before year end) is finally at an end so I need to get used to working five days a week again. May be tough: I'm nat'r'lly a slacker. Obviously. Of course it's starting with a month/quarter/year end with added complications due to good if short-sighted business decisions over the holiday season. So I better get used to it again real damn quick. Gonna have fun next week.
This weekend though was punctuated by two odd "cravings". I had the sudden urge to flop on the couch, turn on the tube and watch TV. I don't have cable and peasant-vision (ie broadcast television) is non-existent in my building. Weird. I tossed the cable over a year ago and didn't miss it until now. "Miss" may also be too-strong a word, but sometimes you just want to veg out watching the boob-tube. I'd consider going for basic cable except that it's still too expensive and the fact that any time the cable company tries to do anything I lose my Internet for a week.
The second craving hit me last night: very abruptly and with no warning, I wanted a Coca-Cola. I actually wanted it so bad I could, quite literally, taste it. So I went to the local Mac's (and on this one rare occasion, was not accosted by homeless looking for handouts) and got myself a litre. Came home, filled a glass with ice, poured my self a tall one and man it tasted good. The rest of it is sitting in the fridge now, probably until it looses all its fizz.
I'm not a pop (soda, soft drink, whatever) person. Very odd considering my ravenous sweet-tooth. If I do drink it, it's at a restaurant and it's ginger ale. Mostly because you get charged the same amount for a thimble of rancid orange juice at a restaurant as you do for a full litre at the grocery store. So for me, that was a bit weird.
As for habits, like the work-thing, I need to get back into going to the gym at least four times a week. Christmas is always bad for that due to time constraints, lousy weather and in my case, being a member of a gym located in a mall. I could say that I reduced my frequency due to spending time with Spike, but since we only saw each other five times over two months, that would be a bald-faced lie.
Oh yeah, that's pretty much over with by the way. Not sure why, but she wants me to go away. She didn't actually say anything because she hasn't returned my calls. She did mention when we started out that she prefers to just ignore a guy when it isn't working for her as she "doesn't like conflict". So I went away (that's what I told her answering machine at any rate). I said that if this was the case, not to call me back. Easy for her, and closure for me.
Too bad really: I do like her, but I'm getting that the timing is lousy and that she's not really ready for dating yet. At all. Of course I'm also sure that it's something I did/said/didn't say/didn't do but trying to figure out what is a good way to make your brain asplode. This is one of the principle reasons why I'm out of it, the whole dating thing. But you knew that (as I've mentioned it on numerous occasions here).
The other habit is of course, nicotine! I've re-signed-up for SCUBA courses again and there's the same concern that my lung capacity is exceeded by the volume of a Kinder Surprise egg. We'll see I guess, but right now I'll just consider cutting down a bit. This will be assisted by the recently enacted law whereby establishments that have a pharmacy on-site cannot sell tobacco products. Kind of makes sense (in a were-going-to-ban-it-without-banning-it kind of way). On the other hand, if there's such a health concern, why not outlaw selling things like pop, chips, candy, bacon etc from these same stores? I guess they'll do that the day they have a picture of a dead fat bastard with his shirt off on a pack of Ding-Dongs.
Well, the end-effect is that I can't get my carton of smokes from the usual places (the grocery stores) that I go to as part of the routine. Which means that the only places I can get cigarettes now are gas stations and convenience stores, which all charge about a buck a pack more than the grocers did. But since gas is now at about half the price it was six months ago, I'm good.
And now, back into the routine/habit that I haven't had a change in: computer games! Maybe next time, I'll do a 2008 wrap up on my view of the state of gaming. Which reminds me, the habit of blogging more than the inane details of my unremarkable existence? Ain't gonna happen....
- The idiot in the pickup truck coming on my right was doing about 60 in a 30 (playground) zone and swerved into the lane I was turning into and
- the slurry of snow and dirt made my tires spin without even hitting the accelerator
The guy in the pick-up truck behind me was also going way too fast for road conditions, slid on the previously mentioned mush and wham!. Actually more like thunk. Got out, assessed the damage (none, not even scratched paint), told the guy "No harm, no foul". He seemed quite relieved. He was pretty apologetic too, which just goes to show, sometimes accidents just happen regardless of how cautious/incautious a driver is. I was a bit shaken but not stirred. Besides, the adrenaline rush made for a good work-out.
But back to the title: Now that my six weeks of working part-time (due to being forced to take my remaining vacation before year end) is finally at an end so I need to get used to working five days a week again. May be tough: I'm nat'r'lly a slacker. Obviously. Of course it's starting with a month/quarter/year end with added complications due to good if short-sighted business decisions over the holiday season. So I better get used to it again real damn quick. Gonna have fun next week.
This weekend though was punctuated by two odd "cravings". I had the sudden urge to flop on the couch, turn on the tube and watch TV. I don't have cable and peasant-vision (ie broadcast television) is non-existent in my building. Weird. I tossed the cable over a year ago and didn't miss it until now. "Miss" may also be too-strong a word, but sometimes you just want to veg out watching the boob-tube. I'd consider going for basic cable except that it's still too expensive and the fact that any time the cable company tries to do anything I lose my Internet for a week.
The second craving hit me last night: very abruptly and with no warning, I wanted a Coca-Cola. I actually wanted it so bad I could, quite literally, taste it. So I went to the local Mac's (and on this one rare occasion, was not accosted by homeless looking for handouts) and got myself a litre. Came home, filled a glass with ice, poured my self a tall one and man it tasted good. The rest of it is sitting in the fridge now, probably until it looses all its fizz.
I'm not a pop (soda, soft drink, whatever) person. Very odd considering my ravenous sweet-tooth. If I do drink it, it's at a restaurant and it's ginger ale. Mostly because you get charged the same amount for a thimble of rancid orange juice at a restaurant as you do for a full litre at the grocery store. So for me, that was a bit weird.
As for habits, like the work-thing, I need to get back into going to the gym at least four times a week. Christmas is always bad for that due to time constraints, lousy weather and in my case, being a member of a gym located in a mall. I could say that I reduced my frequency due to spending time with Spike, but since we only saw each other five times over two months, that would be a bald-faced lie.
Oh yeah, that's pretty much over with by the way. Not sure why, but she wants me to go away. She didn't actually say anything because she hasn't returned my calls. She did mention when we started out that she prefers to just ignore a guy when it isn't working for her as she "doesn't like conflict". So I went away (that's what I told her answering machine at any rate). I said that if this was the case, not to call me back. Easy for her, and closure for me.
Too bad really: I do like her, but I'm getting that the timing is lousy and that she's not really ready for dating yet. At all. Of course I'm also sure that it's something I did/said/didn't say/didn't do but trying to figure out what is a good way to make your brain asplode. This is one of the principle reasons why I'm out of it, the whole dating thing. But you knew that (as I've mentioned it on numerous occasions here).
The other habit is of course, nicotine! I've re-signed-up for SCUBA courses again and there's the same concern that my lung capacity is exceeded by the volume of a Kinder Surprise egg. We'll see I guess, but right now I'll just consider cutting down a bit. This will be assisted by the recently enacted law whereby establishments that have a pharmacy on-site cannot sell tobacco products. Kind of makes sense (in a were-going-to-ban-it-without-banning-it kind of way). On the other hand, if there's such a health concern, why not outlaw selling things like pop, chips, candy, bacon etc from these same stores? I guess they'll do that the day they have a picture of a dead fat bastard with his shirt off on a pack of Ding-Dongs.
Well, the end-effect is that I can't get my carton of smokes from the usual places (the grocery stores) that I go to as part of the routine. Which means that the only places I can get cigarettes now are gas stations and convenience stores, which all charge about a buck a pack more than the grocers did. But since gas is now at about half the price it was six months ago, I'm good.
And now, back into the routine/habit that I haven't had a change in: computer games! Maybe next time, I'll do a 2008 wrap up on my view of the state of gaming. Which reminds me, the habit of blogging more than the inane details of my unremarkable existence? Ain't gonna happen....
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Vote "NO" on Resolution 2009!
Happy New Year one and sundry!
As I sit here and digest the MSG-laden Dim Sum meal I grazed at for the past two hours, I ruminate over the year that was known only as "2008". So what happened?
So over all, 2008 wasn't a fantastic year but over all I'd say it was better than the previous. 2009 looks to be "more of the same" as I'll be saving up for the big event in 2010: real estate.
My resolution for 2009? Nada. they never work anyways.
As I sit here and digest the MSG-laden Dim Sum meal I grazed at for the past two hours, I ruminate over the year that was known only as "2008". So what happened?
- I only moved once! That beats last year and the year before! Hopefully I'll bring that down to 0 in 2009.
- The new job! And for the first time in a decade, I'm actually enjoying it. The benefits are amazing and hey, the bonuses aren't too shabby either. Here's hoping I don't get fired in 2009!
- Waist shrinkage! The running program I've tried has reduced the 36 inch waist down to a svelt 34 incher. Hitting forty means I gotta work to stop what weight I do gain pooling in the middle bits of me. In 2009, I feel confident enough to go scuba diving without being mistaken for a miniature whale.
- Romance! Well, kinda. I'm thinking Spike isn't as interested in me as I was in her, as she hasn't returned my phone calls since Xmas. In 2009, I'll be resuming my "I don't date" policy. And to think I passed up a tumble with a flight attendant at the Xmas party cuz I'm a "nice guy"...
- Travel! The Hawaii trip was just the beginning of the Mid-Life Crisis Tour. '09 will a see trips to the Dominican and Cancun for the express purposes of scuba diving and looking at young women in bikinis.
- Education! I didn't take any classes last year, but this summer I'll be taking one of a) motorcycle operation b) gun safety course or c) sky diving. Depends on my mood. Naturellment this is merely an extension of the Mid-Life Crisis activities.
So over all, 2008 wasn't a fantastic year but over all I'd say it was better than the previous. 2009 looks to be "more of the same" as I'll be saving up for the big event in 2010: real estate.
My resolution for 2009? Nada. they never work anyways.
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