GEORGE TOWN, Grand Cayman – The dead rose from their graves in the East End cemetery during the dark, wee hours of Sunday morning, Sept. 12. Continue reading 6944 –
6874 – Letting the days go by/let the water hold me down
Pretty cool… a lot of anonymous activity in last Sunday’s entry… folks debating about heading down to Orlando this for the honeymoon. I agree, it might be a good idea to postpone. It’s rare that I see anonymous non-spam activity. Hope the entry is helpful!
I got 17 out of 18 on the arcade sound quiz. (I missed the one about Zelda/FF/Bad Dudes – I was never a good nintendroid.)
Why is something so destructive, so lovely?
Danny likes “reality tv”.
Amish in the City and the Survivor series, in particular.
I remain a skeptic and suspect behind the scenes scripting.
Big Kahuna has been very generous to me lately. I think that having a work ethic while other people act like little punks might have something to do with it. I got a new chair, she offered to take some call this weekend, and some other nice fringes. Hopefully that’ll mean a raise sometime soon, too.
Heartbreaking case last night… old man with Alzheimer’s. He’s a habitual wander off, and apparently his caregivers can’t give him the attention he needs. He’s constantly taking off on his family. The last time he took off, he had a moment of clarity and tried to commit “suicide by cop”.
Now none of my LJ mail is making it to me automatically. Forgive me if I don’t reply immediately.
I’ve had lovely chats with Sammy, Whims, Phillykat, Jen and K lately… it seems I only rarely get pinged from AIM, ICQ, or MSN anymore, with last night being a pleasant exception.
Speaking of the first two… I’m glad to hear Sammy’s back in CoH, and There’s having trouble opening up on my system. I think it’s something to do with the new update. Reinstalled, and it works fine now. Had a grand time running around and getting reacquainted with folks.
Duran Duran got back together… Why couldn’t it have been The Talking Heads ? (A whole album is streamable from there.)
Building a cultural bridge through monkey-chanting Continue reading 6874 – Letting the days go by/let the water hold me down
6873 -Friday, Already?
Well, I saw the bag lady this morning seeking shelter from the rain under the BK awning. Either she, or a well-made duplicate created to confuse and console me.
EN is going to start as tech next Wednesday, and the Sunday after that. I foresee a week or tow of babysitting from home, just in case, and then I’ll have every other weekend off.
Had a good time talking to him about Earthdawn, Magic cards and Etc.
Dear diary, you make me sick – Article
Keeping a diary is bad for your health, say UK psychologists. They found that regular diarists were more likely than non-diarists to suffer from headaches, sleeplessness, digestive problems and social awkwardness.
6871 – Wotta Maroon…
I live in the future, but I’m not a clone, or a hologram, or anything exciting like that.
6870 – I remember the responsometer malfunction of ’97.
Power was off at work until about 2pm… when the server woke back up, it emailed me, asking for permission to stay awake, so I told it to go ahead. Big Kahuna, Rogers and I went in and unpacked all of the other hardware. I got the office up and running in about an hour and a half… one of the benefits of being in a hurricane environment is knowing how to pack and unpack in a blink. The building was *hot*.. sealed up for three days without A/C makes the third floor like an attic, but the place got cranking with cool about the time I left. Too late for me, I was a walking river by that time. (Two floors of machines, telephone and other hardware had to be put back together. I’m leaving it to the office-folks to put pictures and such back. No water damage, but the wind really played havoc with the branches everywhere we went.
Today will be a more straight-forward day.
Disco-Hitler. It’s him. He’s the supervillain I’ve been wondering about. (more musical villains here) It’s been around for ages, but every time I rediscover it, it kills me.
Ivan looks like he’s keeping a Southerly course, sneaking up the West Coast of Florida. Still too early to fret, but at least the weekend isn’t wrecked.
The World of Warcraft demo is looking neato! Here’s a peek at Whimsy’s Night Elf… note the plunging neckline, and freakishly large hands. good size for wallpaper… I like the little flowers on the Guardian Tree’s feet and organic feel of the whole place. I’m envious, because she’s a druid and can shapeshift into a bear! However, I think I’d have more fun playing the giant tree.
Clickie to biggie.
A 3D chocolate printer in the works. That’s a really cool idea… a *lot* of potential there. Made out of lego. superb thought.
Episode 11 of Making Fiends is here!
America’s Army is pretty cool. It’s a fun bit of military recruitment, disguised as a FPS. Graphics are nice.. I wonder how many folks have been convinced to join up as a result? I’m doing the medic training… it’s interesting and educational.
KILLDOZER II: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO
once again, Clickie to biggie.
The closest thing to a mech I’ve ever seen. Look at the size of the thing!!! That’s not forced perspective… it’s just fricking enormous. (spun into from here)
6870 – I remember the responsometer malfunction of '97.
Power was off at work until about 2pm… when the server woke back up, it emailed me, asking for permission to stay awake, so I told it to go ahead. Big Kahuna, Rogers and I went in and unpacked all of the other hardware. I got the office up and running in about an hour and a half… one of the benefits of being in a hurricane environment is knowing how to pack and unpack in a blink. The building was *hot*.. sealed up for three days without A/C makes the third floor like an attic, but the place got cranking with cool about the time I left. Too late for me, I was a walking river by that time. (Two floors of machines, telephone and other hardware had to be put back together. I’m leaving it to the office-folks to put pictures and such back. No water damage, but the wind really played havoc with the branches everywhere we went.
Today will be a more straight-forward day.
Disco-Hitler. It’s him. He’s the supervillain I’ve been wondering about. (more musical villains here) It’s been around for ages, but every time I rediscover it, it kills me.
Ivan looks like he’s keeping a Southerly course, sneaking up the West Coast of Florida. Still too early to fret, but at least the weekend isn’t wrecked.
The World of Warcraft demo is looking neato! Here’s a peek at Whimsy’s Night Elf… note the plunging neckline, and freakishly large hands. good size for wallpaper… I like the little flowers on the Guardian Tree’s feet and organic feel of the whole place. I’m envious, because she’s a druid and can shapeshift into a bear! However, I think I’d have more fun playing the giant tree.
Clickie to biggie.
A 3D chocolate printer in the works. That’s a really cool idea… a *lot* of potential there. Made out of lego. superb thought.
Episode 11 of Making Fiends is here!
America’s Army is pretty cool. It’s a fun bit of military recruitment, disguised as a FPS. Graphics are nice.. I wonder how many folks have been convinced to join up as a result? I’m doing the medic training… it’s interesting and educational.
KILLDOZER II: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO
once again, Clickie to biggie.
The closest thing to a mech I’ve ever seen. Look at the size of the thing!!! That’s not forced perspective… it’s just fricking enormous. (spun into from here)
Protected: sweetheart only post
6869 – Tuesday Morn…
Broward PSA
All Broward County Public Schools will remain CLOSED Tuesday, September 7, 2004 as restoration efforts from Hurricane Frances continue. Students, teachers and other school-based instructional staff should NOT report to the schools. Principals and Assistant Principals should report to their respective schools.
District offices and facilities WILL reopen tomorrow. All full-time District employees, including administrative and supervisory, clerical, maintenance and facility service employees should report to their normal work locations. All food service employees should report to their respective work locations as well.
The decision was made to keep the schools and offices closed for another day because of the power outages that persist at several dozen District schools, along with potential hazards to children presented by downed power lines, busy intersections where traffic signals are not operating due to power outages and storm debris that may prompt children to walk in the street to school and bus stops. There is also a concern with the ongoing restoration efforts involving the use of chainsaws and heavy vehicles to cut up and haul away downed trees and branches, as well as the major operation by Florida Power & Light Company to restore electricity to the area.
An additional issue involves scattered sewage and water disruptions throughout the county as the result of power outages. Pumping stations and sewage treatment facilities have been impacted, causing some sewage backups, sporadic water service and boil water orders.
Students, parents and District employees should monitor the District’s Web site at browardschools.com, call the District’s Rumor Control Hotline at 754-321-0321 or monitor local media for updated information regarding the status of the schools.
More Information on District’s Status
/PSA
– Regular Scotto-Entry –
Ah, how nice to sleep in my own bed. It’s been a long few days. Thank goodness I didn’t go to a shelter… I would have gone totally insane. I’m very thankful. The funny thing about hurricane Frances was how many “experts” came out of the woodwork.. like they all have a direct line to Thor/Zeus/Mamma Nature. I wonder how the homeless folks did, under bridges or other semi-public cover? Bro did ok, as did the Mother.
Ivan 5-day Tracking – Ack. D&J may have a houseguest again. I’m not officially worried yet.
Yum… fresh oranges. Nice breakfast, and for some reason, I rarely get ’em. Tasty, and good to eat in the middle of the night as a snacky-snack.
Off to work after a quick phone call…Let’s see how things go. Power was off at the company building earlier, so I may go to an off-site location (probably Big Kahuna’s house) to continue. I *think* RI is off this week.
I love the fourth piccie of Newt. He’s got a little Santa beard! (he caught a light-monster in his jaws.)
Freeware replacements for commonly warez’ed programs
I use openoffice and it’s excellent. I’m going to make a point of sniffing around phpEDIT and SharpDevelop
If you’re not in the mood for useful utilities, there’s these nifty games. (many are decent clones of $$ games) I’ve dug FreeCiv for a while now… good to fall back on when between other games. There’s a palm version in the works too! (hasn’t been updated since June ’04. ouch!)
As always, check for spyware!
America’s Army looks really nifty… I’m pulling that down tonight.
A few storm-related doodles
Caught in the middle of Frances.
My noggin was throbbing for about two of the days… I suspect it was the pressure change, and my general cabin fever-ness.
My barely legible script reads “hurricane hurts my brain”
Newt happy to be back at HQ!
I don’t know where my arms are.
Hangaroo Hangman with a mouthy kangaroo – (thanks enigma!)
Archives –
1 year ago – Harvest moon, auto-cashiers, acim two-level split, lynching, cluster move, gender genie, newt-bounce,
2 years ago – Sleestaks and Oatmeal, Sculpey and Fimo, Bewitched, cave photo, bad prefixes, dog snoods
3 years ago – lj drama regarding cheaters,lovely long chat where blackie burped, the scents of rose, lavender, gardenia, violette, and muguet (burts bees), Skeletor, Back in 1997, there was an exorcism performed on Mother Teresa, saints.
4 years ago – Suzy goes to jail, actors, cravings, dwbh
Later Journal-gator!
6867 – Home again, home again, jiggety jig
Back at home base – Power was still out when I arrived, so Dan and I went to publix to get some dry goods and water for me to wait it out here. We had some serendipitous encounters with another shopper… Dan (the big goof) kept prodding me to get her number.
Obligatory tiny quicktime movie of gale-force winds.(~700k) Warning, loudy-loud wind-whoosh.
Power is been back on now, though spotty. Cell phones are still kind of weird in this area, too.
I’m now shaved, showered and re-goatee’d. I’m regretting the office tomorrow.. a lot of work ahead. But, it’ll make the day go by that much more swiftly. I figure the majority of the morning will be putting machines back where they belong, and getting the network back to aces.
Newt’s so happy to be home, he’s practically dancing. I’m delighted to have my own bed again, too, though it wasn’t really a hardship staying with D&J. They were very helpful and gracious… I appreciate being able to stay there. Janet’s cooking is a lot better than I remembered. The scones were especially good.
Ivan is due next weekend. Some frickin’ supervillian is testing his weather machine, I just know it.
Who knows what stuff I missed on the blogs I read…I imagine I’ll get caught up eventually.
Um.. Paris Hilton’s publishing her “memoirs?” It’s a pity that there’s even a possible market for that. 
Snopes link for anyone else that mentions that whole “757 or missile?” pentagon crash thing. Read it top to bottom… it answers every question posted with logical and well-researched answers. I guess it’s rearing up again, because the anniversary is drawing near.
6864 – still here still here….
Still no power at my place tonight, so I spend one more here at Danny’s. (Beats going black to a dark, hot shoebox.) There’s still a wind advisory and a flood watch, but the worst of Frances is over. Wind and water still whistles and batters the outside.
We all went for a midday wet-walk to the gas station, and around the lake to assess damage, and breathe some open air. It’s messy here, with a number of blown over fences and snapped trees, but the houses look ok and everything seems mostly intact.
Cell phones are still kaput here, and the land line is spotty.
The Winn-Dixie was open, and people were in and out… not crowded, but had a lot of movement. I think that we’re going to get some Chinese Takeout for supper tonight.
The Gamajin movies were a huge success.. Everybody liked ’em, and power only blinked a little bit while watching them.
I wonder how the TV news is able to have so many reporters on the coast… they must be placed just far enough apart up and down the line so that they can’t see one another’s show-lights.
I’ve got about 150% the hits in the first three days of September over the entire month of August, thanks to the hurricane, I’m guessing. (averaging 1813 hits an hour??)
Dear Hurricane Ivan:
Leave me the hell alone. I want to spend next week at my own damn home. Please just shoot North, and harmlessly spin some fishies.
Thanks.
I missed the JLU episode I was really wanting to see.. the one with the Question. I’ll have to seek out a torrent of it when I make it back to base.
6863 – Broward County situation report
6862 – And still I wait.
Well, I was hoping to go for a walk this morning… get out of the containment field that is the house. No luck.. the wind outside is at a very strong level, and the rain is coming down in sheets.
Dan’s working on grading, and Jan’s watching TV evangelists, so I figure I’ll feed my own obsessive action by working on the journal a little bit this morn. I prefer to read Real Live Preacher to watching any carnival barker on the tube.
Jan’s making cranberry scones for breakfast this morning…they smell really good.
Though the hurricane is moving exceedingly slow, I have high hopes that I’ll be home tonight, or at worst tomorrow morning. I’m looking forward to sleeping in my own bed and having the apartment to myself (and Newtself). Though it’s a two-bedroom house, three people tend to bump into one another a lot.
I have a half-gallon of ice cream in the freezer at home…I wonder if power stayed on long enough to keep it ice-creamy.
Latest reports are that there are 2 million people without power, and Frances is now downgraded to Category 1.
6861 – the saga continues
from yesterday afternoon – phones were out – I can see that my writing style changes a little bit, depending on how comfortable my sitting position is.
Getting tired of waiting out the storm here… looking forward to going back home and putting my house in order. Ivan is coming up right behind, and if Frances doesn’t get moving, I may never get back home.
Dan and I went into the back room to read “Lord of the Rings” and “Reaper Man” respectively, while J watched a video in the living room about how Harry Potter books, violent video games and other media trends toward the supernatural promotes a lifestyle set on the path to damnation. Sort of a “gateway drug” kind of thing.
I’m feeling a little worn thin, and wonder how my other pals are hanging in there.
Medicare premiums are going up 17.5% next year. Continue reading 6861 – the saga continues
6866- 09/04/04 – 11:58 am
Reading in Dan’s room while he grades lab reports. The poor guy spends more time grading than the student takes to do the report, I suspect. He’s putting together grading templates now, to make the job easier.
It’s quiet right now, the only sounds being those of Dan typing, Janet
working on a pattern, and Newt bebopping around the house, in search of
that hidden cricket.
Dan talks to himself a bit while grading. I’m going to watch myself over the next few days, to see if I gab solo as often as these guys… I suspect that most of my internal monologues stay inside.
some hurricane piccies:
Dan walking by the lake, pre-storm – we visited the ducks, which looked
rather like a crossbred crew of lovely mallard and ugly muskie.
it was pretty dark inside the house with all the aluminum shutters up – the only natural light available was via the front door.
newt seemed to like the new terrains available to explore, lots of
surfaces, nooks and crannies to sniff out. He doesn’t seem to like hanging out with Dan or Janet much… I suspect that they’re a confusing “new furniture” to him.
I haven’t shaved since Wednesday, so scruffy is the fashion statement this week.
sent via palmtop
6860 – Dial-up is slo-ow.
Dan snores, and it makes me laugh. He’s about 1/3 Doug sound level.
The 2nd movie – Return of Gaimajin was even better than the first. good hurricane karma, I got them by helping with Charley.
Newt’s being naughty… hissing at Janet a lot. (A bit at Dan, too. I don’t think he’s happy sharing space with them.) If I pick Newt up, he quiets down and purrs like a fiend… I’m an anchor of familiarity in this place.
Danny pointed something out to me on the way to his place yesterday… how do new and used car lots empty out so fast? Where do they put ’em? I theorized that there’s some hidden underground parking or more likely that they’re accordianed in the back. I got a call from Wilt, and he told me that no wood is going on my windows.. just tape. Ugh… I’m glad I was smart and packed up all my important tech and took it with me.
I’m glad I left on Thursday, because I hear that the roads are now mobbed with folks trying to get the heck out of there.
Dan’s house is super-prone to little power-flickers at this point I’m glad I had a candle in the bathroom while I took my morning shower.. I’m glad that I’ve got a surge bar and that lappie is on battery power.
Wind’s kicking up pretty good, now… I’ll have some nifty movies to upload from the palm after the storm.
Another J factoid – She’s never, ever stopped talking when I’ve been within earshot. Talks back to the TV, and steps on other people talking, too. I wonder if she ever has a quiet time? I think that maybe her own voice is a comfort to herself? I suspect it’s a nervous habit, to take her mind off of other things.
Mighty windy and wet at this point. Lots of boil water orders, though not in my region quite yet.
Waffles for late breakfast today – clearing out the freezer in case of a long term power out.
All in all, Still safe and sound. Still mostly have power, a/c and light.