Tuesday – 29 July 2008
No marshmallowy alarms this morning. I take that as a good sign.
This morning’s work music is: Ride of the Valkyries.
I have both frozen mocha goodness and a bagel sandwich. Win-Win.
Attack the day…
Friday – 25 July 2008
It’s SysAdminDay!
In honor of this, I once again bring your Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie’s System Administrator Song.
Last night, I hung out with Allie and her friend, David; I haven’t seen her in close to a year, I guess. She’s in town for a CF treatment. When I talked with her earlier in the week, I told her that I’d come visit her. I asked if she wanted anything. Her response: Tiramisu. So, I picked some up and took it to her. It was a fun visit.
I got back home around 11:00. I turned on the TV and watched the tail end of The Late Late Show. I thought about hopping on PokerStars, but realized at 12:30 that I was tapped. So I called it a night.
Stray Toasters
Loosely translated: “To the road monkey in front of me this morning: You could have turned left – into your designated lane, even though there was oncoming traffic turning right… into their designated lane.”
Namaste.
Monday – 21 July 2008
A new week begins.
Last night, Perry and I spent a few hours in Paragon City – I played Corvus Nox, he played his Reforming Demon character. We joined a team that was running a few missions in the low to mid-20s. The team was “top heavy” with Tankers. This was a good and bad thing:
I’ve mentioned before that Corvus Nox can heal, but that he’s not a primary healer. I tried making this point more that abundantly clear to my teammates. I think that the multiple deaths helped to underscore my point. Nevertheless, thanks to Double XP weekend, I put three-and-a-half levels on ‘Nox.
In an amusing side note, I ran into another character on the server named “CincinnatiJen,” who was a Bengals fan. In fact, the character concept was that of a super-powered Bengals fan. I commented to the player that, as a Ravens’ fan, I found it amusing. I’m not sure whether he/she knew enough Latin to know that “Corvus Nox” (roughly) translates to “Night Raven.” Oh, well.
And… I got my Rikti Monkey last night!
I’m not sure what to name him.. er.. her… um… it… though.
I wasn’t tired when I went to bed, so I used a crossword puzzle to help induce sleep. It worked… about 20 minutes later. I should have just stayed awake – I had one of the most disconcerting dreams I’ve had in a long time. It not only woke me up, but rattled me enough to make getting back to sleep difficult. *grblsnrkx* Thus, when the alarms went off this morning, I turned them off – with gusto – and returned to The Dreaming for a bit.
It’s Monday, but I’m hoping that wasn’t a harbinger of things to come.
On the plus side, Take Me There, by Blackstreet and Mya, greeted me on the morning commute and I have sauteed spaghetti for breakfast.
Stray Toasters
Attack the day…
Namaste.
Friday – 18 July 2008
Welcome to the weekend.
This morning’s goal was to sleep in. Apparently, my body had other ideas: Despite turning off the alarm, I was up a little after 7:00. And 8:15. And somewhere around 9. I got a call from Perry at 9:15 and decided to finally take the hint that I wasn ‘t really going to get much/any more sleep. He asked something that made me laugh though: “Did you take the day off because of [City of Heroes‘] Double XP Weekend?”
I’ll try the sleeping in thing again tomorrow.
Assuming I get in gear and out the door in short order, I’ll probably head up for a cup o’ Joe with Perry before heading to lunch with and Steph (former coworker of his). Maybe I’ll just go post-lunch.
This afternoon’s agenda includes (but is not limited to) some cleaning… although, I may sneak in a little game time, too. And the idea of hitting some balls at the driving range isn’t entirely off the table, either.
To paraphrase Samuel L. Jackson, I’ve got “nothing but air and opportunity.”
Stray Toasters
Quote of the Day
From a conversation with SaraRules about Mamma Mia!, a movie that she wants to see… and that I’ve agreed to sit through:
SaraRules: Entertainment Weekly called Mamma Mia! “exuberantly vapid”
Me: Yeah…
Me: I saw something along those lines online last night
SaraRules: Awesome. I can’t wait.
Me: hahaha
SaraRules: Dude, I’m sorry, but it’s a hollywood move musical based around the music of ABBA. How can anyone expect it to be art?
Me: High hopes?
Me: Wishful thinking?
Me: Miracle?
SaraRules: Pshaw. Delusions
SaraRules: Pshaw, now i have ABBA running through my brain.
Me: I’m sorry.
SaraRules: Hell, I’m not. Finding it on iTunes right now. 
Me: I love you… but sometimes, you scare me.
SaraRules: Because I like ABBA?
Me: No.
Me: Because you’re actively seeking ABBA out on iTunes. 😉
Time to start/finish getting ready to jet.
While at lunch,
So, there’s no way to get a fistful of fish without getting all goopy, is there?
Ah, the joys of sushi.
Sunday – 13 July 2008
And on the first day, Rob worked.
Amen.
That’s right: I made like Kool Moe Dee and went to work. loonybin88 and I did a server upgrade today – we had to unrack, swap memory and hard drives and re-rack 18 servers. And like Big Daddy Kane, we got the job done.
After that, we headed to Olive Garden to have dinner.
And, when it’s all said and done, my work week is officially 20% done already.
Booyah.
Stray Toasters
In Ulthar, no man may kill a cat. In Utah, no man may marry a cat. These rules were made because of the ramifications of them happening before.
It amused me greatly.
I don’t know how much Aha’s Take On Me influenced Mr. Bowie’s decision to take the video for Underground in this direction, but take a look at the similarities:
I am apparently in need of a gaming session. I just went to look up part the lyrics to Manic Monday… but typed “Manic Monkday” instead. *blink blink*
Project: Rooftop has released their list of finalists from the “Superman: Man of Style” contest. I’m partial to entries #2 and #12.
Check out the DeviantArt gallery of Cat Stagg.
(
Doll on a Music Box/Truly Scrumptious
When did the term “jet lag” come into use?
Subnetting/Supernetting == *bleargh*
Wednesday – 02 June 2008
I started to wind down a little after 1:00 last night/this morning… and it wasn’t a gradual decline, either. It was more like a shelf edge. Seeing the signs, I got up and promptly started the end-of-the-day rituals. I attempted to read a few pages of Snow Crash before calling it a night. I think I read a paragraph (maybe two!) before the text degraded into indecipherable gibberish. I put the book down and went to sleep.
I vaguely remember turning off Alarm 1 this morning. I distinctly remember turning off Alarm 2… and sprawling across the bed for what I swore would be “just a minute.” The next thing I know, there were landscapers outside my window. I checked the clock – it was well past time for me to be under way. I was done – including a shower, brewing coffee and a rousing game of “What Am I Going to Wear Today?!” – in just over 30 minutes. For those of you who are unfamiliar with WAIGtWT, the rules are very simple:
So far the day looks good. I keep having the nagging suspicion that there’s something that I had tentatively scheduled for this evening… but I can’t put my finger on what it was.
Oh, well… the show must go on.
Namaste.
Being done with the work week is a nice thing.
Lunch at Jitterbug == good
Stray Toasters
Pow!
Thursday – 26 June 2008
Last night was a relaxed night. After work, I headed to Dr. Volt’s to pick up this week’s comics. Home. Dinner. City of Heroes. I was invited to join a team for some Tsoo missions and nearly tacked on two levels before logging off. And, in an unusual turn, I felt tired fairly early – so early that I was showered and in bed a little after 12:30.
When the alarm went off this morning, I wasn’t quite ready to roll out of bed and face the morning, so I laid in bed for a few minutes… which turned into me falling asleep again. I woke up when alarm 2.0 went off. After staring at the ceiling and walls for a few, I got up, got ready and got under way.
Of course, I didn’t notice that I had left The Leash at home until I got to the office. Fortunately, the monitoring/notification software that sends alerts to the pager has a web interface. So, really, I’m just cutting out the middle man, not to be confused with The Middleman.
I need to decide whether today is a sushi day or a workout day. Bah.
Stray Toasters
It’s a sushi day.
Decision: Rendered.
Namaste.
Tuesday – 24 June 2008
After work, I headed home to figure out what to do with my evening. I decided that I’d watch The Middleman and then head to the grocery store to pick up a few things for dinner. Turned out that the 8:00 episode was a rebroadcast of the pilot. So, I went to the store first. Came home, started dinner and watched The Middleman. I had another thought on how to “define” it. Somewhat. It’s The X-Files meets Men in Black, leaning most heavily towards MiB.
After a little channel surfing (including a 45-second delay on Boomerang – man, Super Friends really did blow), I found the second hour of Beverly Hills Cop on Bravo. And there I sat. I haven’t watched BHC in years… and I have somehow not purchased it yet.
After ‘Cop and The Late Show (featuring a really funny Will Smith interview), I decided to call it an early night.
Stray Toasters
The reason that I ask is this: I was in Target last night and there were copies of this issue in the news rack next to the candy and gum. Something that I’ve noticed here in Utah – and it may exist in other places, but I haven’t noticed it – is that when a magazine cover is deemed “too racy,” they put an opaque plastic insert in front of the magazine, so that only the title shows. And, lo and behold, this issue was one of them.
Namaste.
Sunday: Coda
Today was a good day in the valley.
I met
Next, I went to visit SaraRules’ folks.
Then, it was on to Chris’ to play Matt and ‘Mano for a rematch of the game where they royally spanked us. We weren’t sure what they were going to bring, but we came loaded for bear. When the dust settled, I had lost three pieces, but they were mostly there to keep my two other pieces from dying. And that’s exactly what they did. Chris and I had won.
Not a bad wrap-up to the day.
Stray Toasters
I should have been in bed long ago. Time to rectify that.
Namaste.
Sunday – 22 June 2008
When I got home from breakfast last night/this morning, my upstairs neighbor had what sounded like a classical music playing. I pretty much ignored it after noticing it… until I noticed that I was hearing the same phrase over and over. For about an hour-and-a-half. I figured that it must be a DVD, replaying the music on the menu screen. I went to bed and thought no more of it.
When I woke up this morning, it was still playing.
And two hours later, it’s still going strong.
Chris bought a Parallax ‘Clix figure last week. He saw the cards I did for Galactus and Phoenix and asked if I’d mind doing one for Parallax. I told him that I didn’t mind; this is what I came up with:
Once again, the hardest part was trying to come up with the quotes to put with each power. But, on the whole, I’m quite happy with the results.
Stray Toaster
Some of the usual suspects are meeting for lunch at Jitterbug… then I’m going to make an effort to get some drawing done. And then, it’s back to Chris’ to play ‘Clix with the guys from Far West.
I’d better get a move on.
Namaste.
Saturday – 21 June 2008
This morning’s title ran – actually, it was more of a “casual stroll” – through my head as I was typing the day/date for this post. I took it as an omen and just went with it. The line was from a commercial bump between Saturday morning cartoons… back when NBC actually showed cartoons, way back in the day.
Yesterday, I rolled out of work at 2:00. I have to say: It was nice to be done for the week that early. I’m going to shoot for it again next week. I left the office and headed to Dr. Volt’s to pick up two weeks’ worth of four-color goodness. Next on the docket: Lunch. I headed to Jitterbug;
From there, I headed home for a few before heading back out for coffee and dinner.
This morning, I was up (slightly) before the alarm went off. I think I have a handle on my team for today’s games… but I still want to find a backup. Just in case. Either way, I need to find pieces that I will be happy with for all three rounds.
Stray Toasters
Time to get a move on.
Namaste.
This morning’s meeting was not a complete waste – they showed of a couple of projects that one team has been working on that looked pretty cool. Other than that, I would refer to it in the same manner that I once referred to a meeting at the USPS: “upper management ego masturbation.”
I didn’t know what I wanted for lunch. I was on the fence, leaning towards Pho, when JoeT said that he was going for lunch, too. The only problem: He didn’t know what he wanted, either. We opted to head to Dask’s for gyros. Good call.
Stray Toasters
/break
