The Transformer next door blew up at about 8:00 last night, scaring the bejimies out of me.

Internet was a little rocky, as a result of the morning power lines and so I was skittish and stayed away from the computer much of the day yesterday.

Brother is out of his apartment again. He screwed up again. Idiot. I love him, but I hate this side of him. Keeps putting off the LL, and then doesn’t understand when he gets notice.

Going to JKG tomorrow morning to sign some papers.

Not into writing at all. There are some elements of my life going well… others I don’t know where I stand, or what I can do. Just take it as it comes, is all I can do, I suppose.

The landscaping guys trimmed the branches and the local power lines, so all was quiet in the grotto this morning after a crackle and popping. FPL came out and had us up and running in less than three hours.

It’s amazing how quiet a house can be with no A/C, no refrigerator hum, no computer cooling fans or high-pitched monitor whines, I was nice to lie down and read… I could hear Newt’s breathing as well as his purring quite clearly.

Now that I’m back on current… Newt’s running around the house low to the ground, and doing a little cat dance on my freshly changed sheets. I have no Idea why he likes fresh sheets, but it’s a simple pleasure. 🙂

I picked up ut2k3 for 19 bucks at toys r us… not bad, considering most folks went to best buy and paid 35. I offered Sappho my receipt to take to circuit city. They will refund the difference if it’s within a few weeks of purchase.

It moves really fast, and gave me a good excuse to update my video drivers, and to pick up direct x 9. The level editor is almost more fun than the game is.

I’m bidding on a nostromo n50 speedpad on ebay… not just for unreal, but for a lot of macro-things that I’ve implemented…They’re going for next to nothing online.(maybe $14, with shipping) I want to play with all the crazy features on There. I really enjoy the company There, and hoverboarding is a hoot.

Taking myself out to dinner tonight, I think… I don’t feel that it’s terribly premature to celebrate a bit…. though perhaps I’ll treat my self to takeout, since I’ve been living on the cheap save for twice out with friends. I’m in the mood for something delicious and made by a strange kitchen.

As another special reward, I’ll buy myself a copy of UT2003 rather than being a dirty pirate, too.

until later, dear journal!

Well, doing a 9-6 m-f gig next week, contract work, we’ll see how it goes. I’m still waiting to seriously hear back from JKG and MM…Sent follow-ups today. MM would like me to tour the facility soon.

A friend pointed me to Zombie and mummy… a palm drawn cartoon featuring the undead. fun to look at, but needs something more. Can’t resist palm-drawn zombies and mummies, though.

demian5’s (which is interesting, though perhaps a tad too “wiener-centric” I think the camel-thing is cute, even if it needs to be a bit more discerning in the ways of love.

Four people have already joined the vampire game! There are a couple of pop-ups, I hear, though I didn’t see them with the blocker. It’s a lot of fun, so far. I like turn based games like that… reminds me of the old bbs days.

I wish that I had a way to verify answers to the many questions in my head. It’d be nice to know what the questions mean, too. I’m good at internal debate. So good, in fact, I can convince myself of just about anything, if I put my mind to it. I’m good at external debate, too, but I’ve not had a chance to polish those skills in a while. I can honestly say that I’ve not seen a debate community of any sustaining value yet on LJ. I’ve seen a lot of argument communities; I think that many of those are stuck in an ad hoc or ad hominem school.

I wonder if it’s a bad idea that I’m checking the Iraqometer daily, but avoiding most of the news coverage? I’m trying my best to get unbiased information, but it seems that it doesn’t exist. I don’t want the opinions of newscasters, I just want information, cut and dried. It’s bad enough that the meter gets some of its info from sources that I consider to be weak.

I’m not one for being embarrassed by knowing that others are critically aware of me. Not sure if that’s a strength or a weakness, or both. It’s true that very few people have opinions that matter to me, but I take those opinions very seriously, even if those precious few don’t realize it.

There’s a quote by John Donne…overstated and clichéd, but still quite accurate to my mind right now.

No man is an island. Entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend’s or of thine own were. Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

I need to remember in my heart that everyone is a part of the whole. It can be really easy for me to discount the value of others in the scheme of my life, save for a few major players.

Looks like Bro has managed to wheedle an extension with the landlord… who knows how long it’ll last, but at least it’s something. I’m keeping my fingers crossed, but not my eyes.

poem/hat quiz

‘Babar’ Creator Dies

Cecile de Brunhoff, who created the adventurous elephant Babar in 1931, has died in Paris, France, at the age of 99. She created Babar to entertain her three sons with stories before bed. Later, her husband, Jean de Brunhoff, who died in 1937, illustrated the enchanting tales, therefore creating characters Celeste, Zephir and the “Old Lady,” who takes care of young Babar after his mother dies. Cecile was born on October 16, 1903

Bro’s off to a painting gig, so that’s something.

Newt’s running all over the house, trying to get a look at the garbage man outside… He can’t seem to figure which window is best to look out of, so he’s peeking through one window for a microsecond, then dashing to an alternate sill, and then repeating the process. He’s talking a bit too; I’m getting kitty doppler effects.

Well, I’m off! Until later, dear journal.

Today’s a new day.

Opportunity and Good Fortune is there for the taking.

Got a lovely email from Rachel today, and it brightened my day considerably.

I’m off to the mall to look at and ponder Easter goodies…I think maybe I’ll make Newt a basket filled with cat grass. Never to early to sneak a Cadbury egg for myself, either.

Yikes… 17 year old dreadlocks for sale on ebay.

A little creaky today, but not so much so. I need to call Kforce regarding the TAG situation, if there is one.

Looks like the gang at FMM are going to try UT 2003.. I’ll have to see if I can get a copy. It looks like Santie had some trouble running it on his XP system… I wonder if Kev, Troy or any of the other XPers are having similar problems? I’m glad that Win2k is the system of choice at my place.

Not much into writing lately… minds’ been occupied by this, that and the other.

Today’s horoscope –

The time change hit me pretty hard, I can roll with the punches.

Downloadable toons!

why the kabalarians are bunk – Where it asks for your name, so it can do a “Name Analysis”, type in “Cthulhu”.

I wish I’d had these prop handouts for Cthulhu when I was playing it.

I think it’s sort of neat that in about 100 million years or so that Phobos will likely crash into the surface of Mars, and form a ring of debris around it.

They found a colossal squid… bigger than a giant squid.

Looks like Santie put a good word in for me on Friday with the Meter made folks… that’s nice to know.

Well! Today was especially nice.

I got to spend the afternoon with my keen littler big sis, ldy, and met penguinboi face to face, too. My eyes are all puffy today, not sure of what caused that. I look forward to Ldy & p-boi’s shots of the time there. God gabs, and a tasty lunch of enchiladas and margaritas… I’m still pretty full from a 2pm lunch. We had a nice walk down by the new river, and experienced city parking.

In the mail from JKG when I got home tonight –

That’s exceptional news, too. With any luck, I’ll get installed over there shortly.

But, until that is solidified, my first 8-8 shift is tomorrow.

Up by 5:30 tomorrow, do the 3 S’s
leave 6:40 on Rt 31 n to Atlantic and 441, get to TAG by 7:45.
South to Southgate, west to TAG.TAG 1/4 mile down

I got this Email today…(links added by me for ease of ref)

I look forward to seeing how it’s evolved. I know that they suffer a labor of love…I should swing by before they paint it.