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Posted: 16 Dec 2009 04:14 [ permalink ]
Tarken tells you 'Ah seems it was a bug of mine from when I tuned it a
 while back. Forgot to round up my distance equation :)'
Tarken awarded you 1 task points for completing 'Minor bugs and various 
awarding' task.
Tarken tells you 'for the love of god, please take that off your plan :/' 
Posted: 22 Feb 2009 00:50 [ permalink ]
12 sister alysia aug 27
  13 angel sept 18
  14 lear dec 13
  16 prince masaj 1/20
  17 feli jan 25
  18 raztax feb 7
  19 zoo feb 8
  20 raztax feb 11
  21 alex feb 21
Posted: 14 Feb 2009 16:32 [ permalink ]
rape prots list
  12 sister alysia aug 27
  13 angel sept 18
  14 lear dec 13/jan 20?
  15 eidilon cross in naked
  16 prince masaj 1/20
  17 feli jan 25
  19 zoo feb 8
  20 raztax feb 11


Posted: 12 May 2005 18:19 [ permalink ]
Heres the history of our medicine.

"I have a sore throat."

2000 BC : "eat this root

1200 AD : "That root is heathen, say this prayer."

1500 AD : "That prayer is superstition, drink this elixir.

1800 AD : "That elixir is snake oil, Take this pill.

1900 AD : "That pill is ineffective, Take this antibiotic.

2000 AD : "That antibiotic is artificial, Here why dont you eat this root."


Posted: 06 Jan 2005 19:02 [ permalink ]
[16:41]:Mardus <fnord+>: you are one!  [16:41]:<fnord+>: Aydjen eyes Fnord
suspiciously.  [16:41]:Ewige <fnord+>: help me mardus =P  [16:41]:Windmill
(fnord+): Ewige tells you 'rhiiibit! Ribbititit *croak*  hriiibit!' 
[16:41]:Mardus <fnord+>: hoho  [16:41]:Len [fnord+]: Why isn't there a
"fnordly" adjective?  [16:42]:Mardus <fnord+>: hahahaha  [16:42]:Mardus
<fnord+>: I thought you were just kidding  [16:42]:Ewige <fnord+>: no.. 
[16:44]:Ewige <fnord+>: /obj/race/t/frog-ewige  [16:44]:Ewige <fnord+>: make
it go away =(  [16:45]:Juicer [fnord+]: hehe  [16:45]:Ewige <fnord+>: i know
what caused it  [16:45]:Len [fnord+]: Want me to cast restore on you?  :-) 
[16:45]:Ewige <fnord+>: i just don't know how to make it go away 
[16:45]:Ewige <fnord+>: thats not a bad idea  [16:45]:Ewige <fnord+>: go stand
outside  [16:45]:Ewige <fnord+>: i brthere  [16:45]:Mardus <fnord+>: uh :P 
[16:46]:Ewige <fnord+>: you see...  [16:46]:Ewige <fnord+>: i went to visit
shar  [16:46]:Ewige <fnord+>: and he was at sera  [16:46]:Mardus <fnord+>:
come back you frogger  [16:46]:Ewige <fnord+>: and sera frogged me 
[16:46]:Ewige <fnord+>: yay len fixed it =)  [16:46]:Ewige <fnord+>: next time
i need a wiz, i'm gonna go see len instead!  =)  [16:46]:Mardus <fnord+>:
sera-frog? well you should tell z about it  [16:46]:Len [fnord+]: I just
defrogged a wiz.  :-)  [16:47]:Ewige <fnord+>: why? i imagine most wizzes
shouldn't be at sera  [16:47]:Ewige <fnord+>: i just kinda sorta went to visit
shar without warning  him =P  [16:47]:Mardus <fnord+>: why? you kinda showed
us just now  [16:47]:Ewige <fnord+>: well it didn't affect anybody else eh? 
[16:47]:Ewige <fnord+>: i must run, spent too long on here  [16:48]:Mardus
<fnord+>: everything should have a damn wiz check  [16:48]:Ewige <fnord+>: i
bug em next time, i gotta go =)  [16:48]:Mardus <fnord+>: later 
Posted: 06 Jan 2005 19:00 [ permalink ]
[16:41]:Mardus <fnord+>: you are one!  [16:41]:<fnord+>: Aydjen eyes Fnord
suspiciously.  [16:41]:Ewige <fnord+>: help me mardus =P  [16:41]:Windmill
(fnord+): Ewige tells you 'rhiiibit! Ribbititit *croak*  hriiibit!' 
[16:41]:Mardus <fnord+>: hoho  [16:41]:Len [fnord+]: Why isn't there a
"fnordly" adjective?  [16:42]:Mardus <fnord+>: hahahaha  [16:42]:Mardus
<fnord+>: I thought you were just kidding  [16:42]:Ewige <fnord+>: no.. 
[16:44]:Ewige <fnord+>: /obj/race/t/frog-ewige  [16:44]:Ewige <fnord+>: make
it go away =(  [16:45]:Juicer [fnord+]: hehe  [16:45]:Ewige <fnord+>: i know
what caused it  [16:45]:Len [fnord+]: Want me to cast restore on you?  :-) 
[16:45]:Ewige <fnord+>: i just don't know how to make it go away 
[16:45]:Ewige <fnord+>: thats not a bad idea  [16:45]:Ewige <fnord+>: go stand
outside  [16:45]:Ewige <fnord+>: i brthere  [16:45]:Mardus <fnord+>: uh :P 
[16:46]:Ewige <fnord+>: you see...  [16:46]:Ewige <fnord+>: i went to visit
shar  [16:46]:Ewige <fnord+>: and he was at sera  [16:46]:Mardus <fnord+>:
come back you frogger  [16:46]:Ewige <fnord+>: and sera frogged me 
[16:46]:Ewige <fnord+>: yay len fixed it =)  [16:46]:Ewige <fnord+>: next time
i need a wiz, i'm gonna go see len instead!  =)  [16:46]:Mardus <fnord+>:
sera-frog? well you should tell z about it  [16:46]:Len [fnord+]: I just
defrogged a wiz.  :-)  [16:47]:Ewige <fnord+>: why? i imagine most wizzes
shouldn't be at sera  [16:47]:Ewige <fnord+>: i just kinda sorta went to visit
shar without warning  him =P  [16:47]:Mardus <fnord+>: why? you kinda showed
us just now  [16:47]:Ewige <fnord+>: well it didn't affect anybody else eh? 
[16:47]:Ewige <fnord+>: i must run, spent too long on here  [16:48]:Mardus
<fnord+>: everything should have a damn wiz check  [16:48]:Ewige <fnord+>: i
bug em next time, i gotta go =)  [16:48]:Mardus <fnord+>: later 
Posted: 08 Dec 2004 05:32 [ permalink ]
AWESOME: An adamantium sune-ate crafted by Silea Excellent: A red christmas
hat with a jingle bell Great: A silk sode, A silk sode, A small white kitten
and The collar of Gan  Eyir Good: An adamantium sune-ate and A small white
kitten


Posted: 02 Dec 2004 05:26 [ permalink ]
eq in inventory

AWESOME: An adamantium sune-ate crafted by Silea Excellent: A red christmas
hat with a jingle bell Great: A silk sode, A silk sode, A small white kitten
and The collar of Gan  Eyir Good: An adamantium sune-ate, A small white kitten
and Ring of infravision


Posted: 22 Nov 2004 23:44 [ permalink ]
AWESOME: An adamantium sune-ate crafted by Silea Great: A silk sode, A silk
sode, A small white kitten and The collar of Gan  Eyir Good: An adamantium
sune-ate and A small white kitten


Posted: 21 Nov 2004 02:58 [ permalink ]
eq not being worn in combat: AWESOME: An adamantium sune-ate crafted by Silea
Great: A silk sode, A silk sode, A small white kitten and The collar of Gan 
Eyir Good: An adamantium sune-ate and A small white kitten Fine: Ring of
infravision

well, except ring :-p


Posted: 19 Nov 2004 05:35 [ permalink ]
Damage from combat (for tank eq) seems much greater than rot tune. Starting to
just have items in inventory from now on to gauge rot factor

AWESOME: An adamantium sune-ate crafted by Silea Great: A silk sode, A silk
sode, A small white kitten and The collar of Gan  Eyir Good: An adamantium
sune-ate, A small white kitten and Ring of infravision


Posted: 18 Nov 2004 17:24 [ permalink ]
AWESOME: An adamantium sune-ate crafted by Silea Great: A silk sode, A silk
sode, Ring of infravision, A small white kitten and  The collar of Gan Eyir
Good: An adamantium sune-ate and A small white kitten


Posted: 15 Nov 2004 20:58 [ permalink ]
Unnamed Silk sode damaged in combat. New conditions:

AWESOME: An adamantium sune-ate crafted by Silea Great: A silk sode, A silk
sode, Ring of infravision, A small white kitten and  The collar of Gan Eyir
Good: An adamantium sune-ate and A small white kitten


Posted: 14 Nov 2004 07:07 [ permalink ]
AWESOME: An adamantium sune-ate crafted by Silea Excellent: A silk sode Great:
A silk sode, Ring of infravision, A small white kitten and The collar  of Gan
Eyir Good: An adamantium sune-ate and A small white kitten

l
Posted: 12 Nov 2004 19:03 [ permalink ]
AWESOME: An adamantium sune-ate crafted by Silea Excellent: A silk sode Great:
A silk sode, A small white kitten and The collar of Gan Eyir Good: An
adamantium sune-ate and A small white kitten


Posted: 11 Nov 2004 19:00 [ permalink ]
AWESOME: An adamantium sune-ate crafted by Silea Excellent: A silk sode Great:
A silk sode, A small white kitten and The collar of Gan Eyir Good: A small
white kitten and An adamantium sune-ate


Posted: 09 Nov 2004 19:17 [ permalink ]
Condition at login 11/9

AWESOME: An adamantium sune-ate crafted by Silea Excellent: A silk sode and A
small white kitten Great: A silk sode, A small white kitten and The collar of
Gan Eyir Good: An adamantium sune-ate


Posted: 08 Nov 2004 03:58 [ permalink ]
Condition on logout: AWESOME: An adamantium sune-ate crafted by Silea
Excellent: A silk sode and A small white kitten Great: A silk sode, A small
white kitten and The collar of Gan Eyir Good: An adamantium sune-ate


Posted: 06 Nov 2004 16:01 [ permalink ]
Condition on login: Worn items: AWESOME: An adamantium sune-ate crafted by
Silea Excellent: A silk sode, A small white kitten and A small white kitten
Great: A silk sode and The collar of Gan Eyir Good: An adamantium sune-ate


Posted: 05 Nov 2004 18:42 [ permalink ]
sune-ate with names has taken a condition shape.

AWESOME: An adamantium sune-ate crafted by Silea Excellent: A silk sode, A
small white kitten and A small white kitten Great: A silk sode and The collar
of Gan Eyir Good: An adamantium sune-ate


Posted: 05 Nov 2004 16:14 [ permalink ]
Condition of test eq when I first logged in:

Worn items: AWESOME: An adamantium sune-ate crafted by Silea Excellent: A silk
sode Great: A silk sode, The collar of Gan Eyir and An adamantium sune-ate


Posted: 04 Nov 2004 22:21 [ permalink ]
A silk sode, Exc, No name

A silk sode, Great, Named

An adamantium sune-ate crafter by Silea, Awe, No name

An Adamantium sune-ate, Great, Named

The Collar of Gan Eyir, Great, Named


Posted: 04 Nov 2004 22:18 [ permalink ]
Worn items:

AWESOME: An adamantium sune-ate crafted by Silea

Excellent: A silk sode

Great: A silk sode, The collar of Gan Eyir and An adamantium sune-ate


Posted: 11 Oct 2004 17:05 [ permalink ]
Congratulations! You have just completed Charitable endowment!   Bank transfer
from Damogran (Newbie Help Warehouse) of 244543 gold


Posted: 30 Aug 2004 23:36 [ permalink ]
Grizzt tells you 'well... if I die tonight, you can get my corpse and
dowhatever you want with it...'

You emote to Grizzt (*trying to sleep*) 'goes 'EWWWW!' in disgust at you.'

Grizzt tells you 'Your own personal stuffed n00bwiz :)'


Posted: 05 Apr 2004 17:24 [ permalink ]
The karate tournament went well. All the little kids were fun. It made me sort
of miss being in a big dojo (meaning more the the 4 people I have trained with
for years). The tournament was open to any of the Okinawan or Japanese karate
styles, but the host was shorin-ryu so there was definitely a majority of that
style represented. There were also several shotokan practitioners represented,
the style I'm more familiar with, as well as some others. I was amused that a
few of the shorin-ryu judges seemed to constantly need to compare to shotokan
and make disparaging remarks. As with many things there's always a couple. I
found it funny, because it was often coming from people who obviously had
little experience in shotokan. Was it an inferiority complex making them
constantly compare and justify their style in comparison to shotokan? They
never talked to me, just over and around me, so I didn't really say much about
it. I was a guest judge and frankly I've never felt particular need to justify
the style I learned, much less compare it to a style, albeit with similar
roots, that I have little to no experience. It is what it is. I appreciated
that my instructor never tried to justify shotokan, there are differences in
style, each school thinks they are right and has different strengths based on
how they do things, we (at my original dojo) are learning shotokan with all
its inherent strengths and weaknesses. I did get to have a pleasant short
conversation with the director and head sensei, Ken Bladyka, at the
<http://www.okadojo.com> who were the tourney hosts. I was pleasantly
surprised and might take him up on his invitation to come by and visit the
school sometime. Perhaps I should start over as a spanking new white belt, I
do sort of miss the larger dojo atmosphere.

I'm a bit behind on my mail, so I'm a few issues behind with this. After my
week of vacation I'm slowly sifting through my mailbox. For more on the EFF
dissection of certain sections of the USA Patriot Act and why they should be
allowed to sunset, please see <http://www.eff.com/Privacy/Surveillance/Terroris
m/PATRIOT/sunset/>


Posted: 25 Mar 2004 17:14 [ permalink ]
Gen, Genny, Genevieve, Generator

NOT Jen (!!), Jenny, Jennifer (!!), Guenivere, Gwen

What's in a name? As a child I hated my name. I was a tom-boy and Genevieve
was far to feminine for my tastes, not to mention no one ever got it right
anyway! What was worse than having a feminine, unusual name, was being called
the wrong name all the damn time! "What's you name, little girl?" "Genny" "Oh,
hi, Jennifer." <i>My name isn't Jennifer you fat, ignorant, oblivious wretch!
If I had wanted you to call me Jennifer, I might have said that was my
name!</i> At least that's how I remember it now.

Now, I really like my name, it's different, it's a little unusual, and yet
still I get Jen and Jennifer all the damn time. It's like having a builtin
sorting mechanism for obliviousness. "Hi, I'm Gen." "Hello, Jennifer." <i>If
you are trying to be more formal by using my full name, you've instead just
made youself look like an idiot by using the wrong name.</i> I understand that
you meet someone and maybe later that day or some other day, you might not
recall their exact name. That I can forgive, but the real morons show
themselves when they call you the wrong name directly after you've introduced
yourself. I'm not perfect with names, I make mistakes I accept that others may
not realize that I'm Gen with a 'G' if you've only ever heard the name. Unlike
Mary, marry, and merry there really is no subtlely different way of
pronouncing Gen and Jen unless you really go out of your verbal way. So if
someone introduces themselves and you really don't want to call them that, at
least make it an obvious joke or gaffe. "I'm Gen" "Gennyyyyy!" "Gen-ER-ator!"
"G-g-g-g-en!" "Gen-tle with me please"

A special purple nurple goes out to the people who see 'Gen' or 'Genevieve' in
print or e-mail and still (!) type 'Jen' or 'Jennifer'. You've just typed it
right to send me e-mail, don't you think you might do it right in the
salutation??? Or forbid, the people who are replying to my mail and
immediately underneath my signed e-mail 'Thanks, Gen' 'Jen- blah blah blah'.
<i>No brownie point for you! So you wanted me to do some work for you, wow,
look, right to the bottom of the pile. I hope you didn't need that too
quickly.</i>

I'm pretty laid back, I understand that people might not realize immediately.
Hell, I've struggled with family who still don't get it. But I do notice, I
often correct, and if you still don't "get" it, that my name isn't jennifer, I
just dismiss you as being a moron and not worth my attention.

It's my small pet peeve. But I love being a Genevieve, it separates people out
quite well. Are you worth my time? Or are you too oblivious to bother with? I
recommend everyone give their children unusual names, it's a great litmus test
for the people you will inevitably meet.
Posted: 23 Mar 2004 16:22 [ permalink ]
So I have been following a couple of kitty journals, mainly because I like
looking at kitty pictures, aren't they so cute!!!!! Today someone posted about
toilet training a cat, now that is serious business! My two are approximately
an appropriate age to try such a thing, both young, still impressionable...
and damn, they like using the litter box that is upstairs next to the toilet!
Garth loves the water, up to now I have to keep all toilet lids shut. He has
an intense, abnormal, fascination with water. He has even jumped into the
shower! As a little kitten I started closing the lids since I was worried he
would jump in and have difficulty getting out. Don't need any stories of cats
in the sewer, alligators are enough. He's big enough now that there is little
hazard of that, now it is to keep him from playing in the toilet water.

So my curiousity was piqued, if nothing else it would be an amusing read,
perhaps even useful. Warning, warning, warning, I was laughing so hard by the
middle of the article I couldn't finish. My coworkers have more proof of my
insanity and I almost snarfed the yogurt I was eating. This article is very
earnest, but there is a certain hilarity to imagining cat using a toilet, much
less training said cat to do so.

<http://www.karawynn.net/mishacat/toilet.html>
Posted: 22 Mar 2004 16:30 [ permalink ]
Here some new pics of my kitties.

<http://www.dartmouth.edu/~saurg/Fidget-Arrival/Fidget-Arrival.html>

<http://www.dartmouth.edu/~saurg/GarthFidget-Meeting/GarthFidget-Meeting.html>

One of the funnier ones is:

<http://www.dartmouth.edu/~saurg/GarthFidget-Meeting/GarthFidget-Meeting-Pages/
Image2.html>


Posted: 21 Mar 2004 22:40 [ permalink ]
<http://www.livejournal.com/~triqster/
Posted: 18 Mar 2004 22:33 [ permalink ]
I sat on the cliff amongst the bushes by the big waterfall. My steward was
washing again. I have tried to teach her to lick herself clean, but still she
does not get the concept. I swear she is like a child. She gets out from the
waterfall and the water trickles until until there is almost none left coming
down. I wait for her to come out, then patiently lick her trying to drive the
concept through. I jump to the ledge by the small waterfall and murmur, I want
to give her a kiss for trying so hard even though she is a little slow
sometimes. 

My steward spots the scrungee beast and flushes it out. It is a brilliant
blue, my favorite. It twinkles in the light. One whack of my paw and it goes
flying. I love the chase! Rushing down the center trail I run after it
smacking it as it runs. It finally takes cover under caves of the padded
hills. I will have to get my steward flush it out of hiding, but perhaps
later.

I go to look for my morning breakfast, but she is late. I don't know how I
stand her sometimes, though I suppose she has her positive points. I speak to
her about the importance of timeliness as she hurriedly prepares my meal. That
is when I notice something amiss. She is keeping something from me, I sense
it. She prepares a second meal on the sly. I hide from her and spy as she
takes the center trail to one of the mountain passes that has been blocked by
felled trees. She glides between the seemingly untraversable blockage. And
then I hear her giggling, laughing, and talking. My anger is piqued!

As she wiggles back out I see the trail, nearly invisible and quickly filling
with scrub from the collapse, I dart by her as I see my chance. I find myself
in a wonderful lovely valley, gently cliffs line the sides and a cave with a
ledge above appears at the end. There is another here! I see the sweet damsel,
she is lovely to behold. Delicate features grace her face and form. I am
dazzled. She shyly watches my barrelling approach. then the monster grabs me,
tossing me out of the valley, beyond the collapse of trees. I roar mightily in
discouragement. I hear my damsel's plaintive plea echo back. I must save her,
I will save her!

My steward has been sneaking in past the beast to bring dear morsels to the
sweet princess and whisper encouraging words to her heart. Yet my fears are
not allayed, she may still be playing to the beast. The dull witted creature
my be helping the beast not knowing any better.

I have taken stock, I await my opportunity. Sweet damsel, stay strong, I will
save you!


Posted: 16 Mar 2004 20:42 [ permalink ]
I'm feeling a bit sick,  fevered, and tired. Drained, ready for spring,
dreading another snow storm. I think that' why I found this funny... scary,
but funny. <http://www.warblogging.com/archives/000806.php>

I do have a new kitty though, her name is Fidget. For now she is in isolation
from Garth to give her time and space to recuperate from URI (kitty cold). She
is not doing badly, but I don't want her passing it to Garth. He spent the
morning cooing, murmuring, and mewing at her door. He's run by me a couple of
times to get in, I think he wants to play and his nose is out of joint that
there is someplace he can't go. He is the king, I should have named him Elvis.
Fidget is a sweet, very playful fidget. She loves to move and squirm and she
loves to be pet. She's also a scratcher. If I have a toy she wants she will
claw at it and my hand becomes collateral damage, I'm working on the play
no-claw concept. 

It's made things a little hectic as I need to spend time with her, then I need
to spend time with Garth, each separately. I want to make sure she is getting
enough social time so she doesn't really feel isolated in her new house. It's
been a little tiring for me since when I'm in with her I really can't do
anything other than read, I did balance my checkbook too. I try to play with
her awhile, then just sit in with her so she can relax and do her own thing
and not fear that I'm going to leave. When I leave her, I need to spend time
with Garth reassuring the boy that I haven't forgotten him. Because of some
illness that she came home with I'm trying to keep them separated for 2 weeks,
this is definitely going to be a challenge.

This just gives me excuses for why my writing exercise is not going well, but
I don't accept them as good excuses. 

I finished reading Hussein by Patrick O'brian, one of his early books but not
related to the Jack Aubrey naval series. It was a fun fiction about the
adventures of an Indian mahout (elephant rider) during the British occupation
of India. Fun, light reading. I'm part way into Post Captain and Joseph
Campbell's The Hero of a Thousand Faces.

I think I'm allergic to something in my house. I'm much better at taking cats
to the vet than taking myself to a doctor... I have no regular one and I'm not
even sure what kind of doctor I need to see. I find the human medical
profession baffling with the number of kinds of doctors doing things with
words I don't know. My last experience trying to get a doctor didn't sooth my
fears. I called trying to get an appointment with a doctor because I thought I
had pneumonia and was turned away because the person who could help me was
out. That did nothing to make me trust hospitals and doctors, I never called
back. I hate being prodded and poked like cattle. Fresh air and exercise,
that's what I need. Now if spring would just cooperate.
Posted: 11 Mar 2004 19:07 [ permalink ]
I haven't gotten any writing done the last two days. So I've fallen behind a
bit on my 1500 words/day. I'm not concerned though. I knew that yesterday
would be an off day because I had work then art class in the evening. It makes
for a mentally exhausting day. So I will need to put in some extra work to
keep to my goal. The weekend is coming up which will provide some prime
writing opportunity.

The painting class has been frustrating, but there are a number of factors not
all of which are bad. When I first started taking some of these art classes I
went in with an open mind and little expectation. I had not done much drawing
so I was starting fresh and could only get better. It was a release and a way
to do something different. Now I am better, more experienced so I have higher
expectations, thus frustration when I feel I haven't done as well as I think I
should. I don't think that kind of frustration is bad though. It is motivation
to get better, learn from your failures, and grow. I may never be a great
artist, but I can still strive. I just need to keep an open mind to what I am
being exposed to and not stop. I'm not going to give up, the frustration just
makes me want to try harder, learn more, free myself. Frustration at a
failure, even if it is your own standard, is not bad. I just think about how
I'm going to express the frustration. I am learning a lot from the class about
composition, colour theory, and art. At the end of the day it's important that
I grasped something from the experience.
Posted: 11 Mar 2004 16:39 [ permalink ]
In my continuing rant regarding the USA Patriot Act, here is part 4 of the EFF
analysis of various sections. Excerpted from:

EFFector    Vol. 17, No. 8    March 10, 2004          donna@eff.org

A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation  ISSN 1062-9424 In the
280th Issue of EFFector:

* Let the Sun Set on PATRIOT - Section 209: "Seizure of  Voice Mail Messages
Pursuant to Warrants"

Welcome to part four of "Let the Sun Set on PATRIOT," an EFFector  series on
the battle to let some of the most troubling provisions  in the USA PATRIOT
Act expire, or "sunset."  Each week, we profile  one of the 13 provisions set
to expire in December of 2005 and  explain in plain language what's wrong with
the provision and  why Congress should allow it to sunset.  This week we look
at  Section 209,  which violates your privacy by making it easier  for the FBI
to listen to your  voice mail messages.

Before PATRIOT, the privacy of your voice mail was protected  by the Wiretap
Act.  This meant that in order to listen to  your messages, the FBI had to
secure a wiretap order.  These  orders are like "super" warrants - they have
even stricter  Constitutional requirements than do warrants for physical 
searches.

After PATRIOT, however, your voice mail is governed by the  Electronic
Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), a statute that  gives you much less legal
protection against government spying.  Now, instead of needing a wiretap order
to listen to your  voice mail, the FBI can use other legal processes with
weaker  privacy-protection standards:   

* If you haven't listened to your voice mail messages and they  are 180 days
old or less, the FBI can use a search warrant to gain access to them. * If you
have listened to your messages, or if they are older  than 180 days, the FBI
can use a special court order for  stored communications, or a subpoena. * In
some cases, the FBI may be able to simply ask for the  voice mail, and your
phone company may give it, without  fulfilling any legal requirements at all.

As a result, the privacy of your voice mail is substantially reduced:

* Before PATRIOT, the FBI could gain access to your voice mail  only by
showing facts to a judge that demonstrate "probable  cause" to believe that
you are committing a crime.  Now, under  certain circumstances, it need only
demonstrate "reasonable  grounds" for the search to get a court order - or, if
it uses  a subpoena, mere "relevance" to an investigation. 

* Before PATRIOT, the FBI eventually had to notify you if it  listened to your
voice mail messages.  Now if they use a search  warrant, the only way you'll
find out is if the FBI uses your  voice mail against you in court.

* Before PATRIOT, the FBI could listen to your voice mail only  if you were
suspected of one of a limited number of serious  crimes.  Now it can gain
access to your voice mail messages  for any kind of criminal investigation
whatsoever.

* Before PATRIOT, if the FBI listened to your voice mail  illegally, it
couldn't use the messages as evidence against  you - this is the so-called
exclusionary rule.  But the ECPA  has no such rule, so even if the FBI gains
access to your  voice mail in violation of the statute, it can freely use  it
as evidence against you.

Section 209 is a perfect example of the opportunism shown by  the Department
of Justice in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist  attacks.  Knowing that a bill
tagged as "anti-terrorist"  couldn't fail to pass, the DOJ loaded PATRIOT with
its entire  wish list of new powers, regardless of whether these powers 
specifically targeted terrorism.  Section 209 is one such power -  expanding
the FBI's ability to search your communications in  any criminal
investigation, terrorism-related or not.  Yet  the DOJ never indicated that
the previous law significantly  hindered its investigations, much less put
stumbling blocks  in the fight against terrorism.

Passed by Congress in a climate of fear, Section 209 effects  a dangerous and
unnecessary reduction in citizens' privacy.   EFF strongly opposes its
renewal, and we urge you to oppose  it, too.  We also support the Security and
Freedom Ensured Act  (SAFE Act, S 1709/HR 3352) and encourage you to visit
EFF's  Action Center today to let your representatives know you  support the
bill: <http://action.eff.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=2866>

We'll look at Section 220, which allows the FBI to get search  warrants for
electronic evidence that can be served in any  jurisidiction in the country.


Posted: 10 Mar 2004 18:18 [ permalink ]
Coffee, coffee, COFFEE, CoFfEe!!!!! Wheeeeee! And it's good for you! HA!

<http://www.cnn.com/2004/HEALTH/conditions/03/09/coffee.diabetes.reut/index.htm
l> Excerpt: "CHICAGO,BIllinois (Reuters) -- A study done in Finland, the
heaviest coffee-drinking country, provides more evidence that the world's most
widely consumed beverage may ward off adult onset diabetes, researchers said
on Tuesday.

Women there who drank three to four cups of coffee daily had a 29 percent
reduced risk for the disease. Among men, the same amount lowered the risk by
27 percent.

The apparent protective effect, the mechanism of which remains a mystery,
increased with consumption. Women who downed 10 or more cups a day had nearly
an 80 percent lowered risk, while men who drank the same cut their risk by 55
percent."

And for even more proof <http://www.cosic.org/health/benificialeffects/>

Now I need another cup, I'm totally jonesing.


Posted: 08 Mar 2004 03:47 [ permalink ]
I had been trying to update my LJ regularly, trying to for daily, but I've
been kind of slacking the last week. 

Today I started a writing project. In the spirit of <http://www.nanowrimo.org/>
. I'm going to try to do a lot of writing for the next 2 weeks. My goal is
21000 words which is about 1500 words a day. Unlike the website mission I'm
not doing going for one story, I'm just going for the quantity over several
threads. I also reduced the actual time period to make it slightly more
realistic given other scheduled things. I figure I can work up to doing the
month of writing in Novemeber maybe. So this will be a loosening exercise.

Today I wrote about 2400 words of a story, not a bad start at least, and I
don't think the whole thing completely sucks. No, I didn't just copy and paste
the same word, sentence, or paragraph over and over either. :)
Posted: 03 Mar 2004 16:04 [ permalink ]
I've been posting lots of civil rights and freedom of speech items and
articles lately.  It's not the only thing going on in my life. I've just been
busy and not felt in a sharing mood. I think it's good to get this information
out or it's just something to think about idly. I'm not trying to make
everyone into activists, I don't even consider myself an activist, but I think
being aware of things going on around you is important too. 

Excerpt from EFFector    Vol. 17, No. 7    March 2, 2004      donna@eff.org

A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation  ISSN 1062-9424 In the
279th Issue of EFFector:

* Let the Sun Set on PATRIOT - Section 207: "Duration of FISA  Surveillance of
Non-United States Persons Who Are Agents of a  Foreign Power"

Welcome to part three of "Let the Sun Set on PATRIOT," an EFFector  series on
the battle to let some of the most troubling provisions  in the USA PATRIOT
Act expire, or "sunset."  Each week, we profile  one of the 13 provisions set
to expire in December of 2005 and  explain in plain language what's wrong with
the provision and why  Congress should allow it to sunset.  This week we look
at section  207, which extends the duration of secret government wiretap
orders and search warrants.

Section 207 makes wiretap orders and physical search warrants  issued by the
FISA court last longer.  The FISA court is a secret  panel of judges
established by the Foreign Intelligence  Surveillance Act of 1978 to authorize
government surveillance  in foreign intelligence and terrorism investigations.

Prior to PATRIOT, FISA wiretaps had a maximum duration of 90  days and could
be extended in 90-day increments.  PATRIOT now  allows a maximum duration of
120 days, with one-year extensions  available.

Also prior to PATRIOT, FISA warrants for physical searches and  their
extensions were good for no more than 45 days.  Now the  warrants are good for
up to 120 days, with extensions for up to  one year.

FISA wiretaps and search warrants already lack many of the  safeguards that
prevent govnerment abuse of criminal taps and  warrants.  For example, orders
are issued using a lower legal  standard than the "probable cause" used in
criminal cases and  are subject to substantially less judicial oversight,
while  surveillance targets are never notified that they were spied on.  
Therefore, time limits are a key check on this secret  surveillance power:
they help ensure that the government intercepts only particular conversations
between particular  people, and searches only particular places for particular
evidence, regarding particular crimes, as required under  the Fourth
Amendment.

The time limits for FISA wiretaps and searches were already  generous compared
to taps and warrants available to the FBI  in criminal investigations.  For
example, regular criminal  wiretaps are issued for 30 days, with 30-day
extensions  available.  A 30-day criminal tap on average intercepts the 
communications of nearly 100 people, most of whom are innocent bystanders. 
FISA taps, which now last at least  four times as long (and sometimes up to a
year!), are bound  to violate the privacy of many more innocents.  Yet 
PATRIOT weakened these checks without the DOJ ever having  to show that the
previous time limits had hindered  earlier investigations.

Even before PATRIOT, if the time limit on a FISA wiretap or  search warrant
was running out, the FBI could go back to the  FISA court for an extension, or
in the case of an emergency,  could even conduct searches or wiretaps without
FISA court  approval.  Therefore, PATRIOT 207's extension of the FISA time 
limits is an unnecessary expansion of power with only one clear  "benefit": it
reduces the amount of paperwork the FBI has to  do in order to maintain
continuous surveillance.  This  paperwork isn't unnecessary busy work - it's a
procedural  check designed to protect our rights under the U.S.  Constitution.
 Needlessly reducing such checks on secret  police power doesn't make us safer
from terrorism.  Instead,  it makes us less safe from government abuse of that
power.

EFF strongly opposes renewal of Section 207, and we urge you  to oppose it,
too.  We also support the Security and Freedom  Ensured Act (SAFE Act, S
1709/HR 3352) and encourage you  to visit EFF's Action Center today to let
your  representatives know you support the bill: <http://action.eff.org/action/
index.asp?step=2&item=2866>

We'll look at Section 209, which makes it easier for the FBI  to listen to
your voice mail messages.


Posted: 26 Feb 2004 19:37 [ permalink ]
In a continuing rant about the evils of the USA Patriot Act. Here's part two
of a critique by EFF <http://www.eff.org> about the USA Patriot Act.

Excerpted from EFFector    Vol. 17, No. 5       February 25, 2004  
donna@eff.org A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation  ISSN
1062-9424 In the 281st Issue of EFFector:

* Let the Sun Set on PATRIOT - Section 206: "Roving Surveillance Authority
Under the Foreign Intelligence  Surveillance Act of 1978"

Welcome to part two of "Let the Sun Set on PATRIOT," an EFFector  series on
the battle to let some of the most troubling provisions  in the USA PATRIOT
Act expire, or "sunset."  Each week, we profile  one of the 13 provisions set
to expire in December of 2005 and  explain in plain language what's wrong with
the provision and why  Congress should allow it to sunset.  This week we look
at  section 206, which allows the FBI to conduct "John Doe" roving 
surveillance.

Imagine that the FBI could, with a single search warrant, raid  every house or
office that an individual suspect has visited over  an entire year - every
single place, whether or not the  residents themselves are suspects.  Suppose
that the FBI could  do this without ever having to identify the suspect in
question.   This is what Section 206 allows in the communications context.

Section 206 authorizes intelligence investigators to conduct  "John Doe"
roving surveillance - meaning that the FBI can  wiretap every single phone
line, mobile communications device  or Internet connection that a suspect
might be using, without  ever having to identify the suspect by name.   This
gives the  FBI a "blank check" to violate the communications privacy of 
countless innocent Americans.  What's worse, these blank-check  wiretap orders
can remain in effect for up to a year.

Section 206 amended the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act  (FISA) so that
a wiretap order issued by the secret FISA court  no longer has to specify what
type of communications that the  order applies to.  This allows investigators
to engage in  "roving" surveillance, using a single wiretap order to listen 
in on any phone line or monitor any Internet account that a  suspect may be
using - whether or not other people who are not  suspects also regularly use
it.

Roving wiretaps are allowed in regular criminal investigations,  so it might
seem reasonable that the PATRIOT Act made them  available to intelligence
investigators.  But FISA wiretaps lack  many of the safeguards that prevent
abuse of criminal wiretaps.   For example, orders are issued using a lower
legal standard than  the "probable cause" used in criminal cases, are subject
to  substantially less judicial oversight and typically last at least  three
times longer than criminal wiretaps.  Surveillance targets  are never notified
that they were spied on.  Most important, and  also unlike criminal wiretaps,
the FISA court can issue "John  Doe" wiretaps that don't even specify the
surveillance target's  name.  

The bottom line: further relaxing controls on FISA surveillance  by adding
roving capability is a recipe for abuse and likely  violates the Fourth
Amendment's requirement that search warrants  "particularly describ[e] the
place to be searched, and the  persons or things to be seized."

EFF strongly opposes renewal of Section 206, and urges you to  do the same. 
We also support the Security and Freedom Ensured  Act (SAFE Act, S 1709/HR
3352), a PATRIOT reform bill that would,  among other things, limit the damage
done to privacy by Section  206 - it would allow the FBI to get roving
wiretaps on identified  suspects, and John Doe taps on specific phone lines
and Internet  accounts, but not John Doe roving taps.   We encourage you to 
visit EFF's Action Center today to let your representatives know  you support
the bill: <http://action.eff.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=2866>

We'll look at Section 207, which extends the period of time that  FISA
wiretaps can last.


Posted: 26 Feb 2004 16:47 [ permalink ]
I'm a Finger Painter at Heart

I started my new art class last night called High Energy Acrylic Painting. The
instructor is a hoot, he's a slighter older hyperactive man, John, who talks a
mile a minute. It was fun though hot and tiring. After a two and a half hour
class I was almost sweating I was so hot, but as I was driving home I was
trying not to bounce off the seat I was so hyper as well.

He is trying something a little new in a class environment. The emphasis of
the course is to stop painting with your conscious mind and move down deeper.
To that end we are doing high volume, high energy, quick works designed to
make you let loose. It's a five week course.

Week 1 Project:

Phase 1: 7 9"x12" paintings in 1 hour

The Rules: 4 colors - Green, Blue, Orange, White; Must cover entire page with
paint.; White must be paint, not just white canvas.; Must use each of the
colours even if it's just 1 spot.

Phase 2: 14 paintings from the first 7

The Rules:Chop each drawing approximately in half across vertical axis; Tape
off approximately half the drawing (Strip of tape across); Paint on one half
of the picture.; Must make at least 1 stroke, but can do whatever.

Phase 1 for me was a lot of experimentation. I started out trying to think of
subjects. My first was Garth, my kitty, recalling some of my recent photos and
drawings of him. I quickly realized that I needed to do more just
experimentation with the paint, strokes, how it mixes, how water affects it,
etc. While similar to oils it is a bit different too, and I don't have tons of
experience in either. 

Only one other of the first seven had a subject, albeit a very loose one of
the guy sitting across the room. The rest were fairly abstract color washes
and experiments. As time was running out I looked at my palette and I had an
inspiration, possibly a screw loose. I realized that unlike oils where you
theoretically want to be careful getting it on you, mainly because the
turpentine or other cleansing products are toxic and some oils have lead in
them, that acrylics are safe. You still don't want to eat them, but safer in
terms of bodily contact, not that I'm good at keeping the oils off me either.
I wanted to feel the paint and to get messy, so that's just what I did, stuck
my fingers and hands right in. 

I like getting dirty, I like feeling what I'm doing. So I started finger
painting, partly because time was running out and my brush was too small for
my liking, and partly because it just looked so damn fun. I like the
tactilness of feeling the paint and the surface and getting your whole body
into it. Wow, it came out so cool! It was so much fun smearing paint of the
canvas, just getting right down into it, smudging and streaking and dabbing.
It's such a primal experience. Sometimes I picked up the brush to make a
particular stroke, but I used my fingers and hands a lot. It was definitely
freeing. 

So at the end we put up all the 14 drawings times 8 people on the wall and it
was this burst of color and creativity.


Posted: 25 Feb 2004 19:00 [ permalink ]
OMG! Hot guy alert! 

I've been watching Angel season 2. OMG, Christian Kane, the guy who plays
Linsey, is soo hot!!! And he's in a country music band!!!! http://www.kanemusic
.com/ 

I'm in lust!


Posted: 24 Feb 2004 18:47 [ permalink ]
I'm tingling because it's almost....

BASEBALL SEASON!!!

I'm almost ready to break down and get cable so I can watch some games.

I'm a Red Sox fan. (It might somehow explain my fascination with rooting for
the underdog.) But I've always liked Clemens. I don't begrudge him any of his
success since he left the Sox. I'm happy for him. I think it's cool that he
and Pettite are now down playing for the Astros, playing for the love of the
game especially in Clemens case. So I was reading an article about how they
are doing down there. I loved this:

From ESPN article <http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2004/columns/story?colum
nist=stark_jayson&id=1741823> "KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- When you're the new guy,
there is always That Moment. That Moment when it hits you. That Moment when
you realize where you are -- and where you're not.

And so, inevitably, it hit Andy Pettitte late on a disorienting Sunday
morning, out there on the back field of his new spring home, the Osceola
County Sports Complex.

It wasn't that strange brick-red Astros jersey he was wearing that told him he
wasn't a Yankee anymore. It wasn't the sound of the steers mooing at the rodeo
-- yeah, the rodeo -- next door.

It wasn't even the thought that he knew virtually none of the 33 other
pitchers and catchers working out all around him, except for that old guy with
the name "Clemens" on his back.

No, it was that bunting-and-baserunning lecture that did it. The one where the
coaches "were telling me how to dive back to first base so I won't blow out,"
Pettitte laughed later.

Bunting. Diving. Sliding. Running down the first-base line without getting
called for interference. These were things that were actually dealt with
Sunday on the first day of the first spring training of the rest of Andy
Pettitte's baseball life."

Welcome to the National League, boys! I love baseball.

cast go at SOX!!!!!!
Posted: 23 Feb 2004 23:51 [ permalink ]
I've decided to make a new diet plan.

Generatin' Diet

The Plan:

1)Coffee, lots of coffee. Tea, lots of herbal teas, esp green, blueberry,
ginger, mind enhancing, detox, and energy combos.

2)All other food in moderation.

3)More coffee!!! More tea!

4) Rigorous exercise 2x/week. Light exercise 2x/week.

I'll be famous in no time.

On an unrelated note, I was reading a news article the other day about a
Shakespeare marathon, read all the bards plays aloud in a group over like 36
hours. I can't find the article. That sounds so cool. I would love to have a
group to read his plays. I should get back into doing theatre again.
Shakespearte party! Come as your favorite monologue!


Posted: 23 Feb 2004 16:21 [ permalink ]
Garth seems to be feeling better, not only is he eating mostly normal, but he
attacking me as usual. I realized what a nice kitty he was while sick, now
he's back to his antics. I have gotten quite adept at giving him pills though.
Pop it in, down it goes, I don't think he's even minding so much. Or he's
gotten really good at holding them in his mouth and hiding the pills in a
corner where I can't find them. He will soon have a playmate, Fidget. She's a
9 mos girl from the shelter. Garth is a big boy though I think he might be
bigger than she. I'm hoping she will teach the boy some manners.

Winter needs to be over.

Saturday I cooked a ham, candied sweet potatoes, and green beans with almonds.
yummy, yummy, though I'm going to have ham sandwiches until next week I think.
It was a little pre mardi gras feast. I gave Garth some of the ham, but he
didn't like it.

I finished reading the Silmarillion, almost done with the Epic of Gilgamesh,
and my lot of Patrick O'brian books should arrive today or tomorrow. I went
swimming last night and realized how out of swimming shape I am, not that I
was ever in good swimming shape. I was done to 145lbs on Saturday. I have been
fluctuating between 149-145 the last week. 145 seems to be a threshold weight
for me, I can't seem to get below it. I'm trying to get down to 130-135 which
according to the BMI indexes and such an ideal weight, though on the high side
of ideal.

Art class starts this week which I'm looking forward to, but it means no
boxing for next 5 weeks. No boxing is serious bummer. I've been feeling really
pent up and restless lately and that has been the safety valve. Not to mention
it's an amazing workout. I love that kind of sore, the kind that several days
after wakes you up during the night to stretch your tummy from the ab workout.
Yoga is nice, but the boxing is so agressively spiritual. I wish they offered
boxing more than 1 day a week.
Posted: 18 Feb 2004 19:30 [ permalink ]
I think I'm going to redo my living room arrangement. I was reading a magazine
and got some ideas. I wish I could justify getting a projector or 2, front
projectors that I could mount on the ceiling or an inconspicuous shelf. I want
do be able to project movies and images on my walls. I also want to get some
more lighting. Ideas, pouring forth, so much... wheeee. I wonder how much
projectors run.... have to look into lighting stores... hmmm... I need a new
tv, the one I have is too big, too bulky. I totally want one of those flat
panels... or a digital projector I could hook my DVD player to and project
right on the wall. Or get a screen I could mount over my double doors put
could be put away when not wanted.

Now I really want to take a week off from work so i can finish painting the
living room. And I need to figure out where I'm gonna put my kick ass bistro
table... Once it's warmer I'll put it on the deck. hmmm
Posted: 18 Feb 2004 03:08 [ permalink ]
So apparently our border patrol agents have eidetic memory or I'm fairly
memorable. There has been a US Border Patrol checkpoint the last month or so
on the highway I sometimes take home. I've only had to stop 3 times in the
last couple weeks, sometimes because I take a different route home, sometimes
because they aren't actively checking at the hour I'm going home. I think this
was the second time I talked to this particular officer.

The guy looks at me, I smile back knowing what he's going to ask more or less.

"You've been through this checkpoint before, haven't you?"

"Yes, yes, I have." Smiling at the absurdity of this.

"OK, have a nice night."

"G'night."


Posted: 17 Feb 2004 20:52 [ permalink ]
You ever been thinking about something and have a sort of break through in
your thoughts? You get intensely horny and giddy and pieces just start falling
into place.

Woooooo! I want to have sex!
Posted: 17 Feb 2004 03:56 [ permalink ]
This and that.

Dinner menu: Baked burritos 1 lb ground chicken 1 package Old El Paso burrito
mix (not the taco mix, actual burrito mix is better) 1 16oz can refried beans
1 16 oz bottle of salsa (thicker is better) 1 package 8 flour tortillas,
burrito sized (width approx. 8-9") 1 package shredded cheese (monterey jack)

Preheat oven to 375. Brown chicken. Toss in burrito mix and 1.25 cup of water.
Empty cans of beans and salsa. Mix well and simmer for 5-10 min. Scoop a
mixture into tortilla shells and line in a casserole pan (8x10" or 9x11" pans
work well). Spread remaining mixture on top and sprinkle cheese on. Put in
oven ~15 min for cheeese to melt.Eat, refridge, reheat, eat some more.
Generally makes 4-5 decent sized meals.

Pot of Tea Blueberry tea with ginger root. Ginger root makes great tea. Just
buy a root and slice off thin pieces, steep in hot water. It especially goes
well with blueberry or green tea.

I got in the mail the renewal form for one of the charities I support. Check
out <a href="http://www.eff.org">Electronic Freedom Foundation</a>. They do
some great work defending online rights and freedoms. 

It seems likely <a href="http://www.deanforamerica.com">Dean</a> will be
dropping his presidential nomination bid. It saddens me, though I've heard
some rumbling that he may transform his campaign and the grassroots support it
has generated. Sometimes I feel disillusioned by democracy. This is one of
those times. Come on Wisconsin! Don't let it die!


Posted: 15 Feb 2004 17:02 [ permalink ]
My kitty, Garth means a lot to me. He is not actually the most affectionate
cat I've known. He can be very aloof and independent sleeping in a separate
chair often even though he could have my lap or sitting across the room
staring at me. But I know when he chases me or snuggles up in the early
morning hours purring like a train he really does love me too.

I had to take him to get castrated on Friday. The day before Valentine's day I
had my best male friend castrated, kind of ironic, no? I really had to do it,
the timing was just coincidental. Male cats will spray urine to mark territory
and are very difficult to keep home because they want to search for mates. I
dropped him off at the vet in the morning. When I got to work I got a call
from the vet saying he wouldn't let them take bloodwork and asking if they
could try sedating him first. The bloodwork which I had opted for is an extra
precaution before putting him under anesthesia. My little fierce warrior, he
won't even let people pet him unless he wants to be pet. I fretted all day,
pacing and worrying about him. I know it's not an uncommon procedure but I was
still worried about my little guy. 

He was fine when I called late in the afternoon and I was quite relieved. They
said he might be a bit groggy from the anesthesia, but my Garth got home and
wanted to play. Though he was a bit unsteady on his feet still and when he
climbed up to the chimney mantle, his new feat, I took him down so he wouldn't
try to jump and misjudge distances. Saturday was different and he basically
slept just about the whole day. I was a little worried, but he was eating and
drinking so I just kept an eye on him. He had been licking his wound a lot
which he is not supposed to do so. I'm continuing to check it to make sure he
heals.

He's doing better than I am. I failed. I brought my drawing to the gallery to
submit for the member's exhibit and got cold feet going up the stairs. The
form said I had to put it up for sale. My mom had suggested beforehand that I
just set a very high price thus deterring most potential buyers. Even with
that thought, I couldn't give up my favorite drawing. I just couldn't bear to
part with it potentially being sold. I guess I'm not up for this as well as I
thought. I'm now wishing even more that I had gotten the other drawing matted
and framed, because I feel a bit less sentimental about that one. So my
failure is really two-fold, not getting the new drawing matted and not being
able to part with my favorite drawing. 

I'm not defeated. I realize that I just need a larger body of work. Once I'm
overwhelemed with too many pieces in my studio room, then I will be happy to
have a few sold. At least that's my current plan. I also need to take better
pictures of pieces so I have a good record of things I have done. Not that
every chicken scratch needs to be documented, but I'm realizing the importance
of having some documentation.

And on a side note, 40% commission by the gallery? That's the cut they were
taking. I knew it would be high and I'm not necessarily surprised. I am just
now curious what a standard commission is. I had never really thought about
it.
Posted: 11 Feb 2004 05:13 [ permalink ]
Now I remember why I got season concert tickets. I've been having a rough last
few days, frastration and extreme restlessness have topped the lists. 

I realized I had a concert to go to tonight as I was trying to get the trash
taken out for trash day and I was late for work. The day went by slowly and
short staffed. Tuesday is a yoga night which means rushing out of work on time
to get to the gym. Tonight I would have to cut out of yoga early in order to
get to the concert. Yoga ends at 7, concert starts at 7, something had to
give, but I really didn't want to miss my workout. I had a lot of things to
contort out of my system.

As I was walking to the car after work I realized it was still light out, just
barely, and also pleasantly cold, not bitter. So at the last minute I decided
to take a really nice walk in the fresh air, rather than trying to rush to the
gym, then rush to the concert. I had a great walk, went for about an hour and
a half, and then relaxed went to the concert.

I remembered why I got season concert tickets and how great it is to be young
and single with disposable income. The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet was awesome,
classical guitar. They were doing a selection with a mostly Spanish overture,
so a fair bit of rhumbas and tangos with some other pieces mixed in. It was a
perfect break into my bad mood, relaxing yet energizing. 

Music, live music, is such a great break to winter doldrums and other life
stress. My drawing is still not matted, yet I feel like I can face at least a
few of my frustrations again. I also figured out I have tickets to a concert
on valentine's day, I wonder if I can sneak Garth in, mi amor!
Posted: 06 Feb 2004 20:02 [ permalink ]
I've been intrigued by sidewalk art and murals that are integrated into their
environment (sides of buildings, etc). I know that a lot of graffiti art
(most?) are just gang tags or graffiti tags. But there are instances of more
than just tags. (For example I read about some guys who did work in the
tunnels and sewers under NYC, these would basically only be seen by the
homeless living down there or people who caught glances through grates. These
were more than just tag work. - ref. The Mole People, can't think of author)

And then there is the work that is essentially fleeting in nature. I would
love to be good enough and have the courage to do shit like that. Not that I
would try to do 3-d stuff, but just that kind of temporary art for the
enjoyment of random strangers. This guy is so talented, I'm in awe.

http://www.snopes.com/photos/arts/sidewalk.asp

http://www.kurtwenner.com/
Posted: 05 Feb 2004 21:07 [ permalink ]
So I got a <a href="http://www.avagallery.org">AVA Gallery</a> newsletter and
was reading through the various news of upcoming exhibits and such. When I
noticed that a member's exhibit coming up with submits due middle of February.
Since my New Year's Resolution is to submit at least 1 piece before the end of
the year, this would satisfy that resolution. (Now given that I may satisfy it
so early and with so little effort I may have to retroactively increase my
resolution.) I'm considereing one of two pieces and I just have to decide.

Of course this led to the "I need to mat and frame it" so that I can submit
it. If you've ever had to frame stuff... it's frickin' expensive. Inexpensive
frames with glass can easily run you $20+ for 9x12" to $50+ for 20x30", then
you still need to get matting. Now hopefully you've made something that fits
into a fairly standard size - 9x12, 11x14, 12x16, 12x18, 14x18, 16x20, 20x24,
20x30, etc - and that's a big if... especially for bigger pieces. And now you
have to deal with matting, did you make something for an opening of a standard
size? Maybe not, probably not. So I had to deal with making a custom mat. 

Now my first thought was to hit the art stores in town and see what they had
to offer since I don't have a ton of time to wait for orders to come in, but
first I went online to see what kind of prices I might expect. Now I've used a
mat cutter...once. I don't really know what makes one better than another or
how to judge them. So my first pass into pricing left my boggled, I found hand
cutters for ~$20-$50 and table cutters for between $50-$1500. Yes, you read
that right, $1500. My initial thoughts of what I wanted/needed were a table
cutter that could handle larger mats without too much trouble. (I like working
big.) And since I'm not mass producing them or needing usually to cut lots of
them at a time a relatively inexpensive one ought to serve my needs.

In town one store was out, the other store only had a hand cutter for ~$24. So
I ended up getting that a t-square and a mat board that would fit for ~$42. I
would like to invest in a table one at some point, but hopefully I will be
able to manage at least the few projects I have with the hand cutter.

One might wonder why you need a mat cutter when it is essentially just a razor
blade on a gizmo. Apparently it is difficult to hand cut mat boards, though I
don't really understand why. Everyone I have talked to who has cut mat boards
say it's a big pain in the ass to do without the tool. Plus you can get nice
even 45degree cuts that look nice. I guess in the end part of framing is
presentation and sloppy mat boards can detract from what is important.


Posted: 03 Feb 2004 05:45 [ permalink ]
I realized I need to stop putting off and making excuses for not getting more
work done. I was sort of inspired by the http://www.nanowrimo.org site. So I
went home ate a quick dinner, played with cat to try and tire him out (it
didn't work), then started working with breaks when Garth needed attention or
climbed my easel or bit my ankles... I'm not totally happy with it, but it's a
start.

http://www.dartmouth.edu/~saurg/Art-Garth/Art-Garth-Pages/Image0.html

And the photo I used as a basis:

http://www.dartmouth.edu/~saurg/Christmas2003/Christmas2003-Pages/Image15.html
Posted: 02 Feb 2004 21:11 [ permalink ]
Work shmurk, Monday blues,

Why am I at work today?

My nickel of pay....

---

It's Monday, Punday!

Wiggle my toes in haiku

Wrap my booty too!


Posted: 01 Feb 2004 16:22 [ permalink ]
I went to Dave Holland Big Band tonight. I love live jazz. It's great
energizer to cold weather or any weather for that matter. You always leave
jazzed. I especially love big band jazz, I was thinking about it at the
concert. I'm no musical critic. I don't know all the terminology. I played
trumpet way back in elementary school and I can't read a lick of music really
any more. I just know how it makes me feel... usually horny and hyper. I think
like a big band, a sort of rhythmic cacaphony. Various instruments makes
themselves heard above the rest for a few moments then pass back into this
complicated cacaphony of rhythm. Most people seem to sit there listening
politely, maybe tapping a hand or a foot.. Not me, I fidget terribly during
the concert, swaying to this beat, then bopping to that, feeling each
discordant note jar me out of complacency. It's kind of this whole body
experience. Mind like a jazz band, Number Nine.


Posted: 29 Jan 2004 23:24 [ permalink ]
Garth's Morning

I woke up this morning. First I stretched my hands way out, then I stretched
my feet way back, then I stretched my back way up pulling my feet and hands
back close. Yawwwwwwwwwm, I opened my mouth wide to stretch my jaws and face.
With a flick of the tail I slowly strode up the bed. I saw my woman's head
sticking out the covers and I purred. She was lying there so peaceful, she
ought to be up just like me!

I looked at her again, awww, she is sound asleep. I think I'll give her a
little peck to wake her up slowly. I moved closer nudged the blanket out of
the way as I smelled her fine scent. She's always a little salty when she
wakes so I gave her jut the gentlest of licks on the tip of her nose. She
stirred slightly, murmuring at my attention. I murmured back putting my mouth
just inside her ear. She's so nice and cozy just starting to wake up. I nestle
my head down deeper to find her neck.

I can finally hear her heart beating and feel her blood pulsing warmly. Mmm,
it's making me sleepy again. I start giving her little licks. She tastes so
good. I need to stretch my paws. She likes the little licks and light kneading
of my claws, I can tell. She squirms under my touch which just makes me more
content. I am almost asleep again.

A hand comes out of the covers to push me away. Aww, I just want to cuddle,
play later. But her hand just keeps playing with me, so I attack it with glee.
Time to get up! Time to get up! What will the day bring to me!


Posted: 29 Jan 2004 02:36 [ permalink ]
I had a random mood to take some snapshot of my drawings. Not particularly
well-shot, nor great pieces of art. My favorite is the first framed drawing of
the sleeping woman. She looks so peaceful. It's doesn't quite have the same
effect in my photo. ah well. This is just some of the stuff I've done in
class. I'm missing a couple of ones I like which I gave to my mom.

http://www.dartmouth.edu/~saurg/art-snap-2004/art-snap-2004.html


Posted: 29 Jan 2004 01:49 [ permalink ]
<http://www.howstuffworks.com/question298.htm>


Posted: 29 Jan 2004 01:45 [ permalink ]
I love paastrami. I adore a good pastrami grinder, though let me tell you good
ones are very hard to find. There are lots of bad pastrami "sandwiches, subs,
and grinders made by imbeciles. A good pastrami sub is to die for, I've only
found 2 places that make good ones. I'm very fortunate one of those is quite
close to where I now live. I think the people doing it have to be greek,
though all greek grinders are not good either.

But what the fuck is pastrami? I don't even know what animal it comes from! I
don't think it's one of those faux meats, like bologna, that rightly should
not even exist. I would guess it's cured and spiced.. but the hell hell am I
eating? is it pig? Criminy, now it's bugging me that I don't know what it is,
I've always taken it for granted.
Posted: 28 Jan 2004 04:53 [ permalink ]
My cat is so weird... He's been sitting at the bathroom sink watching the
drain. He wants to pry out the drain stop so he can carry it around the house.
He figured out how to get it out several days ago. Now I have to stop the
drain and put water in the basin to detour him. So far that has worked. He
will whack at the water, or sit and stare at it, but he won't ignore it and
pry the drain stopper up. Do you know how disgusting the drain stopper looks,
the part that goes down the drain? Ewwww! I bet he would bring it right into
bed with him too.

I always thought I was a wolf person, but I think I prefer the company of
cats... Maybe I'm more a lion or tiger or cougar. Or maybe I'm a just wolf who
enjoys the company of cats. Sometimes I'm a bear... and sometimes a hawk...
and sometimes a dolphin... but usually a wolf.

Past present future, it will make sense.


Posted: 28 Jan 2004 03:05 [ permalink ]
Sick, feverish, blah. Almost half through Silmarrillion which is awesome. 

You ever wonder if "lite" in food packaging means "we are too lazy to make
something with taste."
Posted: 26 Jan 2004 17:35 [ permalink ]
I had a fairly productive weekend. I had a great karate workout. I watched 3
movies - S.W.A.T. with hunky Colin Farrel, Peter Pan excellente, and I Capture
the Castle a chick flick romantic comedy with Marc Blucas from the Buffy tv
show. I also finish Master and Commander by Patrick O'brian but I have to wait
for Post Captain to come in. :( I have the 3rd book of the series, but H.M.S.
Surprise came in before Post Captain. So since I had to wait to read it, I
ended up reading about a third of the Silmarrilion. I also cleaned my house,
played with the cat, and danced with my fantasy gentleman.

I'm feeling frenetic and inspired almost bummed I have to volunteer for the
Dean campaign tonight and tomorrow because I really want to do some writing
and more reading of the Silmarrilion.  I also started a LiveJournal at
<http://www.livejournal.com/~triqster/> at the urging of friends. I will be
basically synchronizing the two for now.
Posted: 23 Jan 2004 23:47 [ permalink ]
Congratulate len on his black belt exam for jujitsu/aikido tonight! He'll
pass, but I can still kick his ass, don't let him try to tell you otherwise.
Posted: 23 Jan 2004 15:50 [ permalink ]
Eureka *light bulb* stun Those moments in life that you feel changed, your
understanding of life expanded. In highschool I had an english teacher, Mr.
Poirot, who made me appreciate english. I was in honors english, but I didn't
appreciate the subject, I found it cold and static. He taught class in an
unconventional way. The class was divided into 4 sections, we had reading
assignments, each day a different section had papers due (Fridays Mr. Poirot
had a paper due), one person from the section would read their paper aloud,
and there would be discussion. The discussion didn't have to discuss the paper
and often meandered in random directions though that was the theoretical
jumping off point. The papers could be about anything as long as it was in
some way tied to the book we were reading. I didn't feel bound by "discuss the
significanace of water in the book' or 'explain the role of friendship over
the course of the story' or 'how is religion significant in each of the
characters lives.' I could write about what moved me and I learned
appreciation of literature. Blue Highways by William Least Heat Moon, I still
remember the book, the paper, reading it in front of the class, the discussion
that followed, and the moment.

Universes:Slanguage, contemporary poetry in ensemble theater. Wow, stun. 5 NYC
Bronx poets giving a look at life, history, culture, and language. Awesome, go
see them if you have a chance.


Posted: 22 Jan 2004 01:58 [ permalink ]
This is taken from an actual e-mail conversation with a somewhat troublesome
staffmember. As background I work for a graduate school in computing support.
It is a small school so everyone knows each other. 

<StaffMember>:Good morning - My computer continues to freeze quite a bit.
Early last week *bleep* said it should have its desktop rebuilt, but that it
will take a full day to accomplish this task.  It needs to be done on a
Saturday or a Sunday, or on a weeknight after 5pm, but it needs to be done
soon, before the computer dies.

<Me>:<StaffMember>, the Computing department works standard hours just like
the rest of *bleepschool*. We have no staff on Saturdays/Sundays or after 5pm
on weekdays.

<StaffMember>:Then obviously it will have to be done during the day if this is
going to solve the freezing problem.

<Me>:Of course, if you want to give us a good day the work can be done, I will
put it in the schedule. In general Fridays are bad as we are often swamped
with students.

<StaffMember>:No problemo.  Whatever is good for you.  Just let me know.

<Me>:OK, tomorrow it is. I will be by first thing in the morning to pick it
up.

<StaffMember>:Sorry <Me> - My computer cannot be taken away for a day when I
have a class going on.  Friday is a better day to do it.  If not, it will have
to be sometime next week that is not on a Wed/Thurs.

<Me>:OK, this is why I asked you to name a day, that is not Friday, when we
could do it. Please write back with a date when it is most convenient for you
and I will schedule your computer to have an overhaul.

<StaffMember>:Tuesday, the 27th of January is probably best next week.  If
not, then Monday, the 26th.

<Me>:I have your scheduled for Tuesday January 27.

Lesson of the day: When negotiating a schedule don't say whatever/whenever
unless you mean it because that means "at your convenience."


Posted: 20 Jan 2004 21:59 [ permalink ]
I flew all the way here. And, boy, are my arms tired!

It's been a busy couple of weeks. I've been doing some writing and prep work
for the on-going rpg I'm in. I also put in a bunch of work for a weekend
one-shot and reunion of old friends. I actually put a bunch of effort into the
one-shot character, much more than I would have ordinarily put in for just a
one-shot game. I used it as an opportunity to work on some of my stylistic
writing skills. The other reason is that I know the gm puts a lot of thought
and effort into his games and his campaigns hold a lot of memories for me. His
fantasy world, which is based in Tolkien lore, has a lot of depth and history
to it.

The work on the one-shot paid off in a variety of ways. I had a great time,
more fun than I was even expecting considering that the house host was in my
mail delete filter for being too rude to read. (He was not the guy running the
game.) More significantly for me, the gm complimented me on my writing which
was very encouraging. I respect his opinion a lot, especially about this since
he was both an english major, now lawyer, and I know from experience that he
is a very good writer. He also wanted to name his next pet after one of my
first characters in his campaigns that really influenced many of the things
that have occurred in his world. That's soooo cute! :)

So it was a busy weekend. Friday night I went to a concert double bill. The
Brad Mehldau Trio started it, followed by the Bill Frisell Trio. All told I
enjoyed the first more, I felt energized by intermission. The second was ...
interesting. I think it may have worked better in a more intimate venue, but I
didn't find the music as compelling. Though watching the bassist almost make
love to his instrument on stage was amusing. He was also very cute. I enjoyed
watching people who were quite obviously in love with what they were doing.

Saturday morning started early at 5am. I was on the road by 6am and arrived to
the game by about 8:30. From there it was pretty much constant action, in and
out of game. It was great seeing people some of whom I haven't seen in a
couple of years or more. The group is great, there were of course a few in
character blow ups, but fortunately it did not move out of the game. (Having
been in a game where some in character arguments left the game for real life,
I was glad that everyone stayed civil and even work as a group for the most
part!!! I didn't want some of those bad old memories drudged up.) The game
went into late Saturday night/Sunday morning, adjourned for a few hours of
sleep then finished middle of the afternoon Sunday. I watch a little football
then hit the road for home. 

Once home I had a hyper kitten to attend to and some relaxing and sleep to
catch up on before the work week started.

The only down side this week has been that an art class I was looking forward
to has been cancelled. Blah! But I still have a nice concert to look forward
to on Thursday. Whee.

Feeling energized and motivated, albeit still a bit sleep deprived.
Posted: 14 Jan 2004 17:11 [ permalink ]
Garth in the Christmas tree.

<http://www.dartmouth.edu/~saurg/Christmas2003/Christmas2003-Pages/Image15.html
>
Posted: 12 Jan 2004 17:09 [ permalink ]
Happy Monday! Happy Punday! Have you made your pun today?

Garth apparently did not like my going back to sleep after my alarm went off.
So he tried to bean me with a potted plant, a nice hard ceremic pot, no wussy
plastic one would do. Fortunately his aim was off and I got a face full of
dirt as the pot hit inches to the right of my head. Bad kitty!

Thoroughly absorbed by the Patrick O'brian books, must get more. Do I have to
go to work today? I just want to read.
Posted: 10 Jan 2004 01:49 [ permalink ]
Total of 150038875 experience spent on character.

woo
Posted: 07 Jan 2004 16:10 [ permalink ]
Recoverring from birthday blue.


Posted: 04 Jan 2004 06:52 [ permalink ]
Ode to a lazy day.

I never dressed today, spent all day in my pajamas. Woo. I wrote for some
hours, danced with my cat, ate, and wrote some more. Woo. What a nice day.
Posted: 02 Jan 2004 22:54 [ permalink ]
I've been unpacking and spent the morning organizing things in my house. It's
the after-christmas straightening. So I was going through a box of presents,
it's sort of like Christmas all over again as I now remembered the gifts I
got. Socks from a family sock business, bowl/dish set my uncle made, a book
from my dad, the famous magic wallet from my mom (think of the cascading tile
toy made into a wallet, it's very cool), etc. 

But it's funny. I was at the pet store the week before Christmas. And I had
been looking at the birds. The photography instructor had a couple of small
birds at his house where we had been taking a class. Growing up I had Jake, a
cockatiel, who lived in my room, or more correctly I lived in his. It was
always "the bird's room", not mine, to which I tease my parents endlessly. My
godparents actually had an entire room just for all their birds. My godmother
is a bit ... uh... eccentric, in a good way. And so I was thinking of whether
I should get a bird. I considered the mess and cleanup I would be taking on.
Then I envisioned Garth, eyes bright and wild, thinking about a snack, I
laughed and thought perhaps this wasn't really a good time for a bird. I
wasn't even sure where I would put one anyway. Then I unpacked my Grannie's
present. She has been slowly giving away various things from her house over
the years. Little pins and jewelry, heirlooms, lace doilies, silver spoons,
etc. This year she gave me a parrot. It's a carved, wooden, painted parrot
with a hanging metal perch. It was a gift to my grandfather, passed away some
years now, from his staff many years ago. It has been hanging in the edition
living room for some time. (It's called the edition, because it's actually a
second living room which is part of the edition to the house.) So I got my
parrot afterall! 

I also have my little Italian bistro all set to go! I have the table in a
corner for now with the 2 chairs on either side. My fav sculpture of the
archangel Gabriel hangs over the table. Now I just need to get my espresso
maker out to where it's in a more useable spot and I will be able to sip
espressos by the window. Mmmm.
Posted: 02 Jan 2004 06:16 [ permalink ]
Happy New Year!

I had a nice holiday, but as with some things i was also happy to get home. I
got a garage door opener as my "big" present, but also got some other cool
things including some artwork that my uncle wanted to get rid of. One piece is
an original fragment from a sculpture that I call the boxer, it is a bust of a
man. I also picked up a sweet black rod iron bistro table with glass top and 2
chairs in a similar style. I picked it out, but my parents paid as a
soon-to-be birthday present. Woo!

Highlights: Some of my young cousins who I wanted to nicknamed sniffly,
drooly, sneezy, and coughy. A bunch had colds which they gave to me and I
subsequently lost my voice. I sound very funny when I have lost my voice, it
changes from a squeaking frog to deep sultry bravado. 

They were cute none the less. They really liked my kitten who I took with me.
They chased him around. He finally realized he could hide behind the Christmas
tree to escape them. He then found that climbing the tree was fun too. And
then decided all those pretty ornaments must have been put up for him. I have
several pictures of Garth in the Christmas tree which I have to upload soon.

My mom's family who we were visiting is big. Not everyone was there, but we
had ~20 people for Christmas day. My mom has 12 siblings, 8 brothers, 4
sisters. We actually have "stages" and people come and go over the course of
the week, so you may not see everyone who is visiting. People I saw: 

Mom and Daddy, Artie and Attie (2 older cats that Garth got to terrorize)

Jacques(uncle, gay) and Grannie live on the farm

Ruth(aunt, gay, recently split from gf), Monet(cousin,sniffly, 1 yr old)

Ceci(a, gay, partner home), Georgia(c, 3 yrs old), Owen aka O.Henry,Oboe,Drooly
(c, 6mos)

Tom(u), Youngmi(a,korean), Sienna(c, 8y), Francis aka Growler(c, 6y)

Sarto(u), Arianna (c, 8y, musical prodigy-violin), Julianna(c,5y, contagious
flu)

Bruno(u), Caitlin(c,15y), Michaela(c, 12y), Avila(c, 5y), Angela(c,14y,
Dominican, partly reason for uncles separation unfortunately, nice girl been
through a lot)

Bill(u), Trina(a, my dad's sister), Luke(c, 30y) Katie (c), Katie's financC)
whose name escapes me, Gabe (c, 22y), Anna (c, 20y)

Abe(u), Kathy(a), Elysha, Ben, Hannah, Katherine, Elisabeth, Terese, Maria (al
cousins ages 14->toddler), Captain (8mos shepherd puppy)

I think that's all the family I saw, plus friends of the family.

My new year's resolution is to put together a portfolio of artwork and enter a
peice into an exhibition.


Posted: 22 Dec 2003 22:08 [ permalink ]
I've been watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 5 on DVD. I think my
favorite character is Anya. She is sooooo cool. To see things anew all the
time. I love it.

,
Posted: 21 Dec 2003 07:32 [ permalink ]
I shopped for Christmas presents for a bunch of younger cousins who I will be
seeing over Christmas. It's always fun shopping for little kids. I like
spoiling my young cousins.

Then I went for dinner and conversation/football at friends. I felt completely
emotionally detached. I was bored but I didn't want to look like an ass and
just leave. I could hardly think of anything to say for most of the evening I
only managed a couple of witty quips and some colossal misunderstandings, like
how a 5'3" woman couldn't fit into military aircraft she had been trained to
fly, turns out she was deemed too small after 2 years of training, not too
big. 

I sometimes feel like I have nothing in common anymore with my friends. They
talk about tv shows I don't watch (I have no cable/satellite tv) and they
whine about disfunctional families and make me squeamish with horror medical
stories. My family isn't perfect, but I get tired of listening to the same
old. As I sat at the table I could almost see the conversation whirling around
me, but never getting too close and I just didn't care. The chair was
uncomfortable and I day dreamed of all the things I would have preferred
doing. I must be a horrible friend.
Posted: 16 Dec 2003 05:17 [ permalink ]
The hazards of a natural bristle toothbrush from Germany: kitten thinks it's a
great toy and drags it around house.

But it makes me wonder, what is it that artificial bristle brushes have that
make them not agreeable to the cat?

Which would you prefer? A toothbrush the cat would play with or one he won't
touch?

Though for the day.
Posted: 14 Dec 2003 19:22 [ permalink ]
I'm addicted to Dixie Chicks!!! Woooooooooo!


Posted: 12 Dec 2003 23:51 [ permalink ]
I am way behind in getting Christmas stuff done. Sigh, I'm going to have to
get a lot done this weekend. I need to shop, get cards done, and write up some
stuff for rpg's. This is supposed to be fu, right? OK, here's a smile :) and I
am going to try to look forward to it, rather than dread.

From a conversation with len about going to a movie tonight:

me: though if I end up in jail I can count on you to bail me out? :) :) :)

len: What else are friends for, if not to help with bail?


Posted: 10 Dec 2003 20:25 [ permalink ]
Wisdom from my father:

Be wary. Our sources now say that the polar bear is simply a rectangular bear
with a coordinate transform.


Posted: 09 Dec 2003 23:50 [ permalink ]
Disposable Society We have become such a disposable society, just throw out
the old, buy new. What if we biotech goes so far that we can do that with
people too? Lose a limb? Just start a new life. Bad eyesight, just correct the
DNA and start fresh. Would you like to fix something about your children so
they are perfect, maybe in a few years you will be able to. Just a random
thought of the day.
Posted: 08 Dec 2003 21:40 [ permalink ]
I've been a little sluggish about the blog lately. I've just had stuff on my
mind so nothing coherent to say. I really need to get my butt in gear and get
my christmas cards designed and started. I have an idea in mind, but I'm still
considering some of the design details. I'm not sure it will work how I want
it to. 

We got 2.5feet of snow over the weekend which gave me a good excuse to not get
the cards started. I was shovelling a lot... I also got a bunch of my artwork
hung while I was stuck at the house. Now I'm feeling even more motivated to
finish painting the living room so I can hang some more stuff. 

I saw Master and Commander (movie) yesterday after finally getting my driveway
cleared enough that I could leave the house. Awesome. I've become a real
addict to historical fiction, so I went out to buy the Patrick O'Brian book.
Amusingly the movie Master and Commander is not the same as the book of the
same title. The movie script is based on scaps from a bunch of the books.
That's fine with me, I will enjoy the books that much more. Joy, happiness,
there are like 18 books in the series, this will probably become my next brain
candy obsession. I've been working my way through Democracy in America. I'm
going to finish the first volume before I pick up M&C which looks to be a fast
read.

I'm volunteering at the Dean for America campaign office tonight. Woo. I'm
kind of excited. I will probably just be doing some data entry, but I'm happy
to be getting into the process. 


Posted: 01 Dec 2003 23:24 [ permalink ]
Thanksgiving holiday was ok. I don't have a lot of respect for my dad's family
because most of them are completely obsessed by wealth and status. Sadly, the
ones I now find most interesting are the ones that have had major crises is
their lives. They seem to realize there is more to life now.

I did get some of my artwork framed which I'm very excited about. I need to
attach some moutning hardware and decide where to hang it. I'm think it came
out real nice, so that is sort of cool. It's really ecouraging and inspiring
seeing some of them framed and everything.

I feel like Scrooge. Bah humbug!


Posted: 25 Nov 2003 23:01 [ permalink ]
Erwain [party]: do we need a conjumage too?

Boot [party]: naw, I think we can idle without one :)

Erwain goes 'Heh' at you.


Posted: 21 Nov 2003 18:22 [ permalink ]
[18:02]:Grimsh <fnord+>: hmm.. anyone know that area that I've coded that has
the 'end the war' quest? [18:03]:Stalgrad {fnord+}: i know of it [18:03]:Shar
{fnord+}: battlefields? [18:03]:Stalgrad {fnord+}: but don't know i t well
[18:03]:Grimsh <fnord+>: what do you call it? [18:03]:Grimsh <fnord+>: making
a list of my areas.. and I don't really have a name for it :)
[18:03]:Superelak <fnord+>: warzone? [18:03]:Grimsh <fnord+>: well.. that's
what I call it.. [18:03]:Grimsh <fnord+>: but I doubt mortals call it that
[18:03]:Aelynn (fnord+): end the war i call it [18:04]:Boot [fnord+]: oh, that
one, I think it's called battlefields [18:04]:Superelak <fnord+>: they'll call
it what you tell them to call it! [18:04]:Boot [fnord+]: nog [18:04]:Shar
{fnord+}: rebels/battlefields are most common I guess [18:04]:{fnord+}:
Stalgrad agrees with Tobaksson fully. [18:04]:Grimsh <fnord+>: I work for them
:) [18:04]:<fnord+>: Jaina snores loudly. [18:04]:Superelak <fnord+>: paste
that line into your notebooks, people :)


Posted: 21 Nov 2003 15:32 [ permalink ]
I went to the Looney Tunes movie last night with some people I know.(It was
hysterical!)  I realized that my bad mood has become more dangerous. I am now
feeling the desire to avoid socializing. When I wanted to be social there was
no one, and so now I would rather find ways to satisfy my social needs alone.
Besides no one wants to be around some one who is down and I would just assume
not show my soft underbelly for someone to gut me. 

I got up early with the cat. I set my alarm for 6am and found he is getting up
even earlier than that. I'm going to try to keep his schedule, we'll see how
my sleeping schedule goes, I may end up burning on both ends since unlike him
I don't sleep all day. I did read my chapter in Democracy in America to start
the day. 

I am also fasting for the day in hopes of breaking the mood. I need to find my
resolve and focus. I can feel it out on the edge, but I need to center it. I
will fast the day and then go to the this evening gym to sweat out. 


Posted: 20 Nov 2003 04:49 [ permalink ]
I am trying and failing to break out of this grumpy mood I'm in. I want to
give a shit about something, but nothing much focussing my attention right
now. I could use a hug, I hate feeling needy. blah. Concert was ok tonight,
even fun, Worlds Music Percussion Ensemble (student group), they even had a
guest capoeira group performing. Good mood lasted for almost 15 min after
concert then fell again. 
Posted: 19 Nov 2003 19:45 [ permalink ]
I have been very distracted last week or so, not really concentrating on
anything "important." I haven't kept to my goal of reading a chapter a day. I
have gotten to karate last couple of weeks which is good. I had gotten very
lax about going over the busy summer.

I wonder if the changing weather is affecting my mood or if I'm just on the
down cycle. I've been watching movies, reading comics, mudding, and rpg'ing.
My art classes are finished/finishing up, which reminds me I need to decide
what to take next semester. 

My obsession has been a role playing game that a friend of mine is running.
I'm thinking about it constantly, writing stuff up for it, etc. I guess it's
good to be inspired. It has sparked some written creativity, so that has been
good. He has been using his live journal to chronical it, a lot of info is
here. Though not all. <http://www.livejournal.com/~kpram/> Other than that
light, things have been slow and tired. feh.
Posted: 14 Nov 2003 19:17 [ permalink ]
Bored, bored, bored. Blah, I hate being in socializing mood and having no
friends to call to do stuff with. Blah, Blah, Blah. That's been my mood this
week. I have concert to go to tonight, Wayfaring Strangers, irish music. It
shoukd be good, going alone of course. Does it count as social if you will be
surrounded by people you don't know at the concert, but probably won't say
much more than hi or excuse me? Sigh, I hate wanting to be social and having
unsocial friends. What is a friend? What is friendship? Are friends just
people that you can do stuff with occasionally, but provide no
emotional/social support? Support is for the weak, I don't need it and don't
have it so I guess it works out.
Posted: 13 Nov 2003 21:07 [ permalink ]
<http://www.dartmouth.edu/~saurg/Garth2003/Garth2003.html>
Posted: 07 Nov 2003 21:36 [ permalink ]
A cute guy came by and as we were talking he touched my arm. I miss human
contact. I miss the times when I had friends who would hug. Blah. Feeling kind
of emotionally low, just trying to plough through it. I am going to a concert
tomorrow, the school jazz band, alone of course. :) They usually put on a good
show, that should kick me out of this minor funk I'm in. 

I do have an idea for a personal project that I'm excited about. Can't say
more, it's secret. Shhh!
Posted: 05 Nov 2003 23:37 [ permalink ]
I've decided to take some civic responsibility. I contributed to the Dean for
America campaign and am going to my first meetup tonight! I'm kind of excited
and sort of nervous. I've never really taken an active role in politics or
campaigns. I'm curious of what it will be like. And who knows maybe I'll meet
some nice people. I'm going to hit the gym first for boxing, I need to sweat
out some of my pent up energy.

Movie recommendations: Bug (a sort of chaos theory movie about what happens
when a boy steps on a bug) and Interstate 60 (with Cyclops from X-Men movies,
very cute. It's about following dreams, well done.)
Posted: 30 Oct 2003 22:08 [ permalink ]
Quote of the day: I'm like a stick of dynamite, already lit. Don't make me
wail on you too, sister! <http://www.gpf-comics.com/> 10/30/03 comic
Posted: 30 Oct 2003 21:51 [ permalink ]
Finally feeling better after 2 trips to the hospital for bronchitis, then
broncheal spasms. It's been hard few weeks, been so sluggish. I took 3 day off
from work, ended up sleeping and mudding. I felt like such a slacker, but it
sucks to have constant breathing problems. I sympathize more with people who
have to deal with this ongoing. I hope I can kick it all soon. I'm on some
pretty serious meds, making me a bit loopy.

Updates on life:

Drawing class: going ok. I'm forcing myself to do the pencil drawing, rather
than my preferred charcoal. I'm starting to feel more comfortable, but the
dynamic of the class is only mediocre. I want their to be more critques on
composition and style, but most people are silent. The one outspoken person I
find rather annoying and his comments very mechanical, but he wants realistic
drawings and I want interesting drawings, an ideals clash. 

Photography: awesome, developing is so much fun. I just need more time... to
take pics and to fiddle in the darkroom. It has encouraged me to set up my art
room better so I can hang some works/in-progress.

Gym/Karate: Need to get back into things, I am dying for a good workout, but
it's hard when even small physical activity incapacitates me. This will
correct itself soon, I hope. Garth (kitten): adorable, hyper, spastic. I took
him to the vet today she used lots of terms like spunky and sassy and going to
be very independent probably. I think she was trying to put it nicely that he
is going to be a handful. :) I love having him, it's nice to come home to a
pounce and run around the house.

Reading: Just started Democracy in America by Alexis de Toqueville. It was
written in the early part of the century. I've been feeling some political
urges, signed up for the online Dean2004 campaign (USA). I'm trying to do a
chapter a night, though it already has some kitten bite marks on the cover.
Very good read.

Work: Got and installed Panther. WOOOOO!
Posted: 22 Oct 2003 00:00 [ permalink ]
I'm sick. I have been sick for 2 weeks. This is crappy.
Posted: 08 Oct 2003 05:43 [ permalink ]
Art classes going well (drawing and photography). I have been very excited by
then, though I'm not doing enough outside of class. That is partly due to my
new kitten, Garth. He's a real cutie and had his first vet visit today. It was
all I could do to keep him from running everywhere and exploring, very
inquisistive and not shy. Maybe I could learn something from him. :)

When I get home he wants to play a lot, and if I don't I have found he gets up
in the middle of the night to play. He also really likes to be into whatever
I'm doing, my book on bears now has bite marks, as do my drawing pencils, and
computer screen was saved in knick of time.

He hasn't been so good for my social life since I like spending time with him,
but I'm having fun. I just need to find a way to do some of my work at home.

Ha! The vet gave him some medication today. They said it might make him a bit
sleepy and sluggish. Ha, nothing can slow my little hurtling ball of fur. He's
as hyper as ever.
Posted: 07 Oct 2003 19:42 [ permalink ]
Cowboy up!
Posted: 03 Oct 2003 21:25 [ permalink ]
New kitten! I picked him up last night and he is soooooooooo cute! He is 7
weeks old and is white with patches of grey tiger stripe. I haven't come up
with a name yet. I have considered naming him Storm (becausing it started
hailing very soon after I got him) and Garth. But he hasn't really told me
what his name is yet.  He is a bundle of energy. Last night he explored the
house a bit but was a little cautious or perhaps tired. He was completely
crashed asleep when len came by to see him. (Len will be getting a kitten
soon, I could see his resolve crumbling faced by the cute bundle curled in his
arms.) He slept with me and I can tell he will be good for my getting up
early. He woke up bright eyed at 6am and ready to play. My new lesson is if
he's staring at my half asleep face, don't blink. He tried to pounce my eyes
as I was looking at him staring at me with these adorable blue eyes. This
morning he was a bundle of energy with no concern about his new surroundings.
He seems to like to pounce legs and feet, I more than once had him tackle my
pant cuff while I was walking. I left him sprinting around the house, tackling
furniture, and poucing invisible fiends on the floor. Who knows what kitten
chaos i will be faced with this evening...
Posted: 01 Oct 2003 17:51 [ permalink ]
Yankees lose Game 1! YAY! Cubs win Game 1! YAY! Sox play tonight! GO SOX!!!!
Sox vs Cubs in the World Series, I can dream! Pedro! Pedro! Pedro!
Posted: 27 Sep 2003 20:31 [ permalink ]
Wanted to mention that Len came by for Hong Kong movie night. And damnit, I
have like 3 pencil sharpeners and I can't find any of them :(
Posted: 27 Sep 2003 20:03 [ permalink ]
It's easy to do things you want on your own, it becomes habit. Lately I have
been a bit antisocial. Oh, I go to my weekly gaming group and see people at
the gym, but I hardly have to say or be anything that matters. In an rpg I can
become someone else, at the gym I can work out, say a few words to people, but
stay in my own little world. Work is my most social activity because I chat
with some of the people in my office. 

I had been lazy lately. Last year I signed up for tickets at the college's
performing arts center. They bring in all sorts of great shows, and last year
I had the added excitement of seeing my childhood friend perform who is a
singer in Ulali a trio of native american singers. The tickets are expensive,
but nothing like shows in NYC or the like. And with the discount you get for
doing season tickets, it's not bad. Sometimes you have to treat yourself. I
call it taking myself out on a date. :) So yesterday I got the season tickets
again, tonight is the first show. Whee, going to La Bottine Souriante. This
time around I invited people to come with me. Bingo, I actually got 1
repsonse, so I will actually have company for 2 of the shows. (Not a date, a
married female friend) I didn't expect many to respond since it was short
notice and a number of my friends are poor or not interested in this kind of
stuff, but I'm glad I asked.

To further fight my antisocialness I also invited some people over for dinner
and a Hong Kong movie night. So last night I had 4 people over, we had
spaghetti and watched The Hitman with Jet Li. I burned the garlic bread
slightly, but otherwise all went well. It felt good.

The only downside was a discussion of a friend. It's a long, convoluted story
that would be great for a soap opera, alas this one is real. The long and
short of it is that he is often not allowed by his gf to hang out with his
friends. So last night he was not allowed to come by for movie night, because
another man had been invited even though this other person wasn't coming.
Sigh. 


Posted: 26 Sep 2003 23:52 [ permalink ]
Banba gives great advice on stalking, err, I mean, dating and people.
Posted: 24 Sep 2003 19:33 [ permalink ]
My new drawing class started last night. I had a blast. I was feeling kind of
drained from work, but the class really picked up my spirits. As normal I left
class in a sort of hyper-stimulated high. There is a new teacher. His style
and focus is definitely different, but I want to go in with an open mind and
soak in all he has to offer. I think overall this has potential to be a very
good class.   For the first time there are more men than women in the class.
And it should be an interesting dynamic. We are a diverse lot. There is an
engineering professor, concert pianist, architect, high school student, and 2
people who I'm not sure there professions yet. The cute guy in class is the
10th grade high school student, so I have to watch my thoughts. :) We have to
keep a weekly journal for class, our thoughts in visual format. Homework!
whoah. I think it will be good, I need to do more drawing outside of class so
this will be a good motivator. The other big thing is that I usually drawing
on largish format in charcoal, so I will be trying to do more pencil drawing.
I'm excited, spirits high.  And tonight is boxing at the gym, so the fun
continues. Boxing and yoga have been my primary gym activities. I need to get
bac into the rhythm of going to karate on Saturday morning, but with the time
change to even earlier in the morning and just general summer busy I have been
lax about going.
Posted: 20 Sep 2003 02:50 [ permalink ]
I have found recently that I would rather be lonely, than rejected. This makes
it hard to try to find friends to do stuff, because I run the scenarios and
decide it will more likely than not end in no one who wants to do stuff.
So the paradox I am trying to solve is how to satisfy my urges to be social
that don't require the involvement of other people.
Posted: 18 Sep 2003 18:59 [ permalink ]
No sightings of my german prince this morning at coffee break. sigh. Though
the scenery of others was not bad. Though I didn't escape work, I had to make
good with an emeritus professors who is teaching this term. He is a nice prof
though, volunteer fireman too, and very funny so I didn't mind.