Sunday, June 22, 2008

Don't look now, but I think summer's here

I hit some tennis balls yesterday. Man, did that feel awesome. I have to try to that every day. I even got about 15-30 minutes of volley in with a friend.

Time is so … I don’t know what the more accurate term: relative or non-existent. I have no concept of time when I’m outside in the summer.

I hope I can say this with no ill effects, but summer is here. Tending to the herbs. Tennis. Writing (and reading) in the gazebo. Tan lines where my rings are.

New content rolled out in the Kingdom: Hobopolis.

I haven’t read any of the threads, but there's been a lot of chatter about it on Wiki and in the forum. I haven’t’ ventured there yet, because (and here’s the kicker) it costs 10 million meat.

While I’m quite a market whore, I’m not a market player or meat farmer by any means. I unloaded quite a bit of my duplicate inventory and extra food stuffs in the last two softcore runs, but it’s taken me three years to raise around six million meat (and I was happy at that amount for my adventure style and purposes). Really most of the profit has come post-NS13. I think I’ve been averaging between 200,000 and 300,000 a run.

I had big plans for this meat: outfit items for tattoos, the 99 red balloon trophy, etc.

Other than Hobopolis there are a lot of newer goals I am playing towards. I really need to take a look at what I want in order to do more focused adventuring. There’s a lot of long-term trophies I’m shooting for: perming the six Spookyraven skills, perming the zero level skills, the six level 30 trophies, battling 240 black puddings, eating 420 herb brownies, getting the cursed pirate tattoo, having a couple pirate skeletons in my closet … and on, and on.

And for the life of me, I can’t figure out how the elemental (hotform, coldform, etc) trophies work.

All and all it’s been a great weekend. Yummy coffee. Fun tennis. Good episode of Doctor Who (and watching RENT!). The only down side is it ends.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Memory Lane's Soundtrack

I flipped on the television in passing on Friday evening. It’s a terrible habit. Either I discover I’ve just missed something awesome or a program catches my eye and I’m delayed from my original destination.

Anyways, passing by, I flipped on the television and there was Aaron Rodgers. If you haven’t heard, he’s the Packers’ quarterback. That makes you pause a moment, doesn’t it? There he was in the red jersey, taking snaps, falling back and throwing perfect passes to Donald Driver.

He said THE FIRST mini-camp was going well. He was getting used to the habits and instincts of the O-Line. They were learning his snap count and cadence and now it’s just that journey to build chemistry.

Aaron Rodgers, quarterback of the Green Bay Packers.

Yeah.

I really wish he would cut his hair though. It didn’t work on TJ, and baby, it’s not quite hot on you either.

This morning I went into my music library to find some “new” songs to add to my mp3 player. There were only three or four on my computer that caught my ear, so I pulled out CDs I’ve burned from 2001-2004.

Wow was that a trip down memory lane. I haven’t listened to these CDs in at least three years and most of their songs aren’t on my compute—so they haven’t been in my rotation. There were songs on those CDs that I didn’t even remember having. It was quite a rush. As I popped each CD in after the other, that spectrum of emotions painted all those memories and feelings back on that musical canvas in front of me. As I wrote down which songs to transfer to my mp3 player I had troubles with song titles, and one or two I have no clue who the artist might be.

I made my way through the songs, and the effects of time shown in my memory—or lack thereof. I used to know these songs by the first three notes or chords. Now I had to push it to the middle of the song to see if the chorus would jog my memory. I also used to know the order they were in and what songs were on each CD all by knowing the first song. Half the CDs weren’t even labeled and none of them have a written play list.

So here I was, listening to each CD. I rediscovered quite a few old loves that just made me giddy as they played. I’m sure I was quite a sight to see: sitting at my computer, pen in hand, face reflecting deep concentration and then a squeal or laugh as I leaned back and clapped my hands joyful from the notes pouring from my speakers.

It wasn’t a completely joyous reunion. Some of the songs that came on made me cringe and I don’t even remember why I would have liked them. Others have bad connotations. Lost love, faded friendships and other painful times.

And there are the array of songs that are okay but were good only when I was going through a phase. Yes, there were a few country songs in that group *gasp!*

For some reason I haven’t quite figured out yet, music has always been a very emotional connection in my life, deeply rooted.

What I learned today (for those in Dan Nation... Ha, lame joke, but I love it!) is that as much as things change they also stay the same. And it was pretty satisfying rediscovering these old lyrical friends.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Benson's Boat has Sailed

RB-Cedric Benson’s destructive behavior is overshadowing team goals. It’s the second drunken charge in a month. Bears release him—maybe the Bengals can sign him.

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Hostage Situation

The rain woke me up today, which I don't mind. It has such a diverse portfolio of sounds. There's the pitter-patter on the window, tapping on the roof, rushing through the storm pipe right outside my window ...

My wake up call came at 6 a.m., and since it's Sunday, I rolled over and put the eye pillow on my face to catch more zzz's. Doing so, I started dreaming, a strange dream.

I was at some function, I'm not quite sure what. It was night time or dusk, it was in a fairly large building. There were two main rooms and about six smaller rooms where the activities were being held. The building was a basic rectangle with two stories. On the first floor was three small rooms, two on one side of the hall, one on the other with the restrooms on either side of that rooom. The larger area was at the back of the bulding. Up the stairs and there was a similiar layout only the large room was on the opposite end.

There was music and the lights were set for that typical event, mood lighting. Everyone was having a good time. And for some reason, I decided to go upstairs to see what was going on in the room up there.

I was just about to go up the stairs when a man came down. He was around 6'7" with a strong looking physique. He had shaggy dark hair that was somewhat oily. His complexion was very pale and eyes were sad.

He blocked my way as I tried to ascend the stairs. I tried to side-step him with a quick glance and a polite nod. Instead he took my hand in a handshake and said hello. I returned the gesture and tried again to climb the stairs. Instead he kept his grip and led me back to the hallway. There was some chairs next to the coat rack, and in one smooth motion we sat, his grip tightening slightly around my hand.

He asked about what was going on, about how many people were here. Then he asked if I read some book. I had and he was surprised when I said so. Still holding my hand, he asked what I thought of the book. We had an odd little literary conversation and I thought I had extended enough pleasantries. I stood and said I really should be going because I had to go to the restroom. He stood with me and I noticed a gun outline in his pocket. I tried to move in the direction in of the bathroom. I forced another polite, nonchalant smile, hoping to keep the panic off of my face.

He released my hand and I continued making my way to the bathroom, but he caught my arm from behind and pulled me around to face him. This time he had the gun drawn. My knees gave under me, but he held tightly and pulled me up to stand.

With the gun pressed into my side, he pushed me forward still with the vise-like grip on my arm.

I don't remember too much from this point. He held us hostage in this room, but the whole building was on lock down, I'm not sure if he was working with multiple people or how he was able to hold us all captive alone. The phone lines were cut and he had a device that scrambled cell signals, so no one's cell phone worked.

Somehow the police were notified because they caught the guy as he was trying to put everyone in bus and take us someplace else. It was a scramble to find everyone who was in the building.

So anyway, that was my strange dream. I woke up at about 9:15, which was a shock. While I don't start my Sunday's too early, I'm usually up and around by 8 at the latest. Guess the dream threw me off.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

And with a wave of my magic wand ... I bring you this post

First, I have to confess to you.


I'm cheating.


I'm writing this Saturday and scheduling it to post on Sunday, so I don't miss that traditional post. There, I just let all the mystic and wonder out of my sails. The white rabbit in my hat has been exposed and I really didn't make the Statue of Liberty disappear. Damn.


I'm doing it this way because I'll have to be a busy bee this morning *wink, wink* to make a big birthday brunch for my parents. And to write, post, adventure and cook would mean I'd have to wake up by at least 5:30. And dagnabit, Sunday is my day! I ain't getting up at no 5:30 AM! So there.


The sun just went under. It's windy and cold. Now it's back--still windy and a little chilly. I don't know if I can take it much longer. Okay now I'm inside and there's this bit of dandelion fluff following me around.


A couple of weeks ago I found mojito mix in the store. This was thrilling because it's quite labor intensive to make mojitos. Totally worth it because they're oh-so-yummy. You have to mull the mint and sugar, make sure all the sugar gets dissolved (the part I never completely succeeded at) and juice probably three or four limes to make a good sized drink. Limes aren't too cheap, so I rarely was able to enjoy a mojito.


I had my first mojito at Ruby Foos in NYC. It was a Ginger Mojito and was absolutely fantastic it was also huge, so thankfully we ate a lot so I was able to walk through the City that Never Sleeps with a good buzz instead of stumble through it.


The mix I bought was pretty reasonable and it makes an awesome mojito (and I love that word!). I also got pear-ginger, which is good but doesn't hold a candle to Ruby Foos. And I have a passion fruit mix I'm enjoying right now ..... err, last night.


If you have a chance, give mojitos a try. And try tequila and coke if you're a tequila fan. Also a quality beverage.


So what do you think about the federal case the national media made about the Packers leaving Favre's locker (untouched) in the locker room?


Were they planning on leaving it there forever? I don't know. I would have put it in the Packer Hall of Fame, then put the bench/stool that he sat on out in the Hall of Fame too. ("Mom, Mom! I just sat on the very bench Brett Favre used to sit on!!!!!") I read that they sent the locker to Favre. I wonder what he's going to do with it ... I'm envisioning a garden tool storage area.


I also read that they didn't want to give anyone the old locker, because who wants the pressure (and maybe bad juju?) of having the Legend's former space.


It's only May for crying out loud. I can understand why the Packers would have left it there untouched in the meantime when they were figuring out what the hell they should possibly do with it. It's a lose-lose for them really. Whatever they chose someone would have read into it.

And they did.


The big talk was that how is Aaron Rodger's supposed to come into the Packers and be the leader of the team when the Legend's locker is there, starring him the face everyday. That constant reminder. YOU'RE NOT HIM.


On some radio show I heard that someone asked Rodgers about THE LOCKER and he started getting defensive.


I really hope AR got defensive because it was nothing and that's not what the media should be focusing on. Because if he was bothered by a locker he is going to have a hard time stepping out of Favre's shadow.

So in review: I'm a cheater. Mojitos are yummy.
And everyone made way too big of a deal over the Brett Favre locker.