OK. So far, no luck getting a visit to the doctor scheduled. It might have been a lot easier if we'd *had* one. Jessica and I are rarely sick, so until this point we'd discerned no reason to even sign on with a regular physician. Don't worry, I'll get into one. Just takes a bit of time, then it'll probably be a while before they can see me. In the meantime I'm taking some vitamin and mineral supplements that have been known to help out with some of the possible causes of my troubles, so we'll see where this lands us.
As Jessica has mentioned, we're going to a video game music concert this weekend, as performed by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Can't wait. I very nearly sprang for box seats for this gig... in fact, I'm sure I would have if the website had been working properly. Luckily for my wallet, it failed to operate from here which forced Jessica to buy the tickets. She was much more conservative.
She's also apparently finished shopping for my birthday, and is being awfully cryptic about it. What has the crazy woman done now? :)
(Love you, crazy woman! *goofy grin*)
I had the vague idea of maybe having J & R down for another LAN party, or other gaming event, on my birthday. August 22. Thoughts, you two? What sounds good?
15 August 2008
13 August 2008
Symptomatic
Writing in my online journal is something of a challenge for me. I am one of those people who simply cannot do it if I have nothing to blog about. Much like my writing, I need true inspiration. I need for the light in my head to go, "Bing!" and set my fingers off on their quest for paragraphs. I don't necessarily need for my muse to sing in my heart or anything so dramatic, but I do need a little something of a push. Just a nudge, really, to get me going.
It is for that reason, faithful readers, that this blog does not get updated as frequently as some other peoples I could mention. /glance-at-wife
I have a confession to make. For the last year or so, I've been writing nothing. I went through the outline of my book and discovered I'd lost all interest in creating that work of fiction. Not that it was necessarily a bad thing, that novel, it just didn't mesh with the time and place I am here in my life. I guess I could force it, but it wouldn't be the same. It wouldn't live and breathe the way I want it to. Best to just let it lie. Perhaps one day I'll come back to it in my mind and it will be there, ready for another go-round through the machinery of my typewriter.
I need a new project, something fresh to spark my interest. Unfortunately, these past several months have provided no inspiration. Working in an office doing quality assurance does not provide the stimulus I need. What do I need? That, readers, is the truly frustrating part. I have no idea what it is that might be the restorative balm for my badly blistered creative streak. My wife and I have discussed it at length and nothing we've touched upon has truly felt like "the answer."
I sometimes wonder whether there is something mentally or physically wrong with me. I do have symptoms, they are as follows:
1> I am tired all the time. From the time I wake up to the time I go to bed, I feel drained.
2> I can't sleep. I toss and turn, and when in bed I feel unbearably hot even though we turn the AC down to cool at night and I sleep on top of the covers with a fan on me.
3> I can't concentrate. I am easily distracted and I procrastinate in my work.
4> My memory is complete garbage. It requires supreme effort to remember even very simple things.
5> I can't lose weight. No matter what I do with my diet or how hard I excercise, this weight refuses to go away.
6> I have no motivation. Any goal I set for myself is usually forgotten by the next day.
7> My sex drive is very low. Basically no interests there on a day to day basis.
8> I'm frequently stricken with feelings of "unreality". Even as I write this I feel like it's someone else doing it and I'm just watching.
Maybe some friendly MD will wander through my blog and tell me what the problem might be. I know I should probably see a doctor but I can't even work up the drive to do *that*.
I need help.
It is for that reason, faithful readers, that this blog does not get updated as frequently as some other peoples I could mention. /glance-at-wife
I have a confession to make. For the last year or so, I've been writing nothing. I went through the outline of my book and discovered I'd lost all interest in creating that work of fiction. Not that it was necessarily a bad thing, that novel, it just didn't mesh with the time and place I am here in my life. I guess I could force it, but it wouldn't be the same. It wouldn't live and breathe the way I want it to. Best to just let it lie. Perhaps one day I'll come back to it in my mind and it will be there, ready for another go-round through the machinery of my typewriter.
I need a new project, something fresh to spark my interest. Unfortunately, these past several months have provided no inspiration. Working in an office doing quality assurance does not provide the stimulus I need. What do I need? That, readers, is the truly frustrating part. I have no idea what it is that might be the restorative balm for my badly blistered creative streak. My wife and I have discussed it at length and nothing we've touched upon has truly felt like "the answer."
I sometimes wonder whether there is something mentally or physically wrong with me. I do have symptoms, they are as follows:
1> I am tired all the time. From the time I wake up to the time I go to bed, I feel drained.
2> I can't sleep. I toss and turn, and when in bed I feel unbearably hot even though we turn the AC down to cool at night and I sleep on top of the covers with a fan on me.
3> I can't concentrate. I am easily distracted and I procrastinate in my work.
4> My memory is complete garbage. It requires supreme effort to remember even very simple things.
5> I can't lose weight. No matter what I do with my diet or how hard I excercise, this weight refuses to go away.
6> I have no motivation. Any goal I set for myself is usually forgotten by the next day.
7> My sex drive is very low. Basically no interests there on a day to day basis.
8> I'm frequently stricken with feelings of "unreality". Even as I write this I feel like it's someone else doing it and I'm just watching.
Maybe some friendly MD will wander through my blog and tell me what the problem might be. I know I should probably see a doctor but I can't even work up the drive to do *that*.
I need help.
22 July 2008
Survey
My wife's weird internet survey. I must say her questions are unique if nothing else. :)
You find yourself at the mercy of a mad scientist, mastermind, and dynamite raconteur. He gives you a dolorous choice. You, as the test subject for his experiment, must have your human brain exchanged for an animal's. By his warped sense of fairness, he will allow you to pick the species of beast whose brain will soon be yours. You will, he hopes, behave exactly like this animal in every way. What do you choose?
Wow. This is the opposite end of "If you could be an animal, what would it be?" I guess I wouldn't care what brain they put into my body. Could be that of a retarded squirrel destined to become roadkill at a young age for all I care. My brain's just been removed! I'm frikkin' dead!
Name five things.
Five things? Like, just whatever? OK. Here they are, the first five things that floated across my mind: Trigun collection, Tron 2.0, Mithril Chain Shirt, Star Wars Galaxies, Homestarrunner.com
A supernatural emissary comes before you and states you are a god. You search your vast soul and become self-aware of your divinity. Your first words?
"Finally! My life makes perfect sense."
Fashion magazines proclaim the mullet's return to popularity. What are your thoughts?
"Yes! YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes!" Then I promptly grow one.
Be honest. Have you ever bought a tabloid? If so, which one was it and why did you sink so low?
I can honestly say I've never purchased one of those. I have, however, looked at their headlines on the racks with deep amusement.
A drakee draws near! Command?
>Attack
*nee* *nee* *nee* *thwak!*
Thou attacks the drakee!
Thou hast done 24 damage to the drakee.
Thou hast defeated the drakee.
Thy experience points have increased by 10.
Thy gold has increased by 24.
Let's have a look at your philes. I see three right here:
1. Bibliophile
2. Heterophile
3. Video...game..phile?
If the governments of the world decided to freeze all culture into the likeness of a single era, which would you vote for and why?
Gotta also say the 80's. I loved everything about it, and it was there and gone so quickly I didn't get to enjoy it.
What is the most ridiculous thing you've shouted in a public setting?
"I love eating nuts! Just not in my stuff!"
And finally, if someone offered you a customized robot, what would it look like and what would its functions include? Would you name it?
Gotta be T3-M4 from Knights of the Old Republic. I'd have him tricked out with all the latest modifications and we'd go around fixing starships and...
Ahh. Dreams.
You find yourself at the mercy of a mad scientist, mastermind, and dynamite raconteur. He gives you a dolorous choice. You, as the test subject for his experiment, must have your human brain exchanged for an animal's. By his warped sense of fairness, he will allow you to pick the species of beast whose brain will soon be yours. You will, he hopes, behave exactly like this animal in every way. What do you choose?
Wow. This is the opposite end of "If you could be an animal, what would it be?" I guess I wouldn't care what brain they put into my body. Could be that of a retarded squirrel destined to become roadkill at a young age for all I care. My brain's just been removed! I'm frikkin' dead!
Name five things.
Five things? Like, just whatever? OK. Here they are, the first five things that floated across my mind: Trigun collection, Tron 2.0, Mithril Chain Shirt, Star Wars Galaxies, Homestarrunner.com
A supernatural emissary comes before you and states you are a god. You search your vast soul and become self-aware of your divinity. Your first words?
"Finally! My life makes perfect sense."
Fashion magazines proclaim the mullet's return to popularity. What are your thoughts?
"Yes! YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes!" Then I promptly grow one.
Be honest. Have you ever bought a tabloid? If so, which one was it and why did you sink so low?
I can honestly say I've never purchased one of those. I have, however, looked at their headlines on the racks with deep amusement.
A drakee draws near! Command?
>Attack
*nee* *nee* *nee* *thwak!*
Thou attacks the drakee!
Thou hast done 24 damage to the drakee.
Thou hast defeated the drakee.
Thy experience points have increased by 10.
Thy gold has increased by 24.
Let's have a look at your philes. I see three right here:
1. Bibliophile
2. Heterophile
3. Video...game..phile?
If the governments of the world decided to freeze all culture into the likeness of a single era, which would you vote for and why?
Gotta also say the 80's. I loved everything about it, and it was there and gone so quickly I didn't get to enjoy it.
What is the most ridiculous thing you've shouted in a public setting?
"I love eating nuts! Just not in my stuff!"
And finally, if someone offered you a customized robot, what would it look like and what would its functions include? Would you name it?
Gotta be T3-M4 from Knights of the Old Republic. I'd have him tricked out with all the latest modifications and we'd go around fixing starships and...
Ahh. Dreams.
11 July 2008
The Boy Who Lived (to quote)
I didn't even know it, but apparently there exists a House Mackenclaw. (See the comments.) Since I'm the man of said house, I guess that makes it mine. I'm going to be keeping track of points, and apparently we're up by 500 due to knowing the title of a song.
Quiddich, anyone? House Terrydor?
Quiddich, anyone? House Terrydor?
01 July 2008
Delusions of Gondor
So! Evening 1 of the Lord of the Rings Online test, after coming back a year later.
(Again, I want to stress that I'm not giving up playing EQ with my friends or CoH with my wife. This is just something I'm doing for kicks in my spare time.)
So far, so good. It could just be me, but they would appear to have done some things to the color balance and bloom filters of the game to make it appear even *more* visually appealing. This game, for reference, was already renowned for being one of the prettiest out there. That they could somehow make it even more so is really impressive.
Gameplay-wise, it's still very similar to WoW. So much so that I occasionally wonder why I'm not over playing Blizzard's offering rather than this one. Still, it's not entirely to their detriment. The gameplay is ripped off of WoW, yes, but it is very solid as a result and therefore not a complete waste of ingenuity. To say nothing of being *cheaper* and, in my opinion, prettier.
Strong points:
Unbelievably good-looking world, especially at night
Good lore backdrop
Amazing encounters with things like Ringwraiths
Unique crafting system
Mild points:
Storyline (jury's still out on this one, haven't seen much of it)
Combat system
Character customization and appearance (better than a lot of games, but bland)
Weak points:
Mini-quests
Some animations (walking) and sounds (girl fighting)
That last one might confuse you. Seriously, though, when women fight in this game, they sound a lot more like they're in a porno than in a fight for their lives. You'd just have to play and hear it to realize what I'm talking about.
Anyway, I'd give it a 7.5 of 10 overall, with a 10 of 10 for value. I wouldn't pay full price for it, but for ten bucks, it's a hell of a lot of game.
Thumbs up!
(Again, I want to stress that I'm not giving up playing EQ with my friends or CoH with my wife. This is just something I'm doing for kicks in my spare time.)
So far, so good. It could just be me, but they would appear to have done some things to the color balance and bloom filters of the game to make it appear even *more* visually appealing. This game, for reference, was already renowned for being one of the prettiest out there. That they could somehow make it even more so is really impressive.
Gameplay-wise, it's still very similar to WoW. So much so that I occasionally wonder why I'm not over playing Blizzard's offering rather than this one. Still, it's not entirely to their detriment. The gameplay is ripped off of WoW, yes, but it is very solid as a result and therefore not a complete waste of ingenuity. To say nothing of being *cheaper* and, in my opinion, prettier.
Strong points:
Unbelievably good-looking world, especially at night
Good lore backdrop
Amazing encounters with things like Ringwraiths
Unique crafting system
Mild points:
Storyline (jury's still out on this one, haven't seen much of it)
Combat system
Character customization and appearance (better than a lot of games, but bland)
Weak points:
Mini-quests
Some animations (walking) and sounds (girl fighting)
That last one might confuse you. Seriously, though, when women fight in this game, they sound a lot more like they're in a porno than in a fight for their lives. You'd just have to play and hear it to realize what I'm talking about.
Anyway, I'd give it a 7.5 of 10 overall, with a 10 of 10 for value. I wouldn't pay full price for it, but for ten bucks, it's a hell of a lot of game.
Thumbs up!
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