Who Died?
I got this from Deadman's Log, who got it from Shellhawk. And it's morbid enough to amuse me on a bright spring day.
129,118 People
Back from four-day weekend trip. The 6.5 hour drive, plus half hour or so for meal & bathroom stops, became a 10.5 hour drive thanks to a trio of traffic jams. Ick.

Of course, there was a list of things waiting for me. Some of it, I wonder about. My job is not rocket science. Why do some people find it so hard?

The fire alarm was set off about noon. I joked with my boss that if I'd known how pretty it was outside, I would have pulled the alarm myself. Luckily, it was a false alarm; so no damage & no injuries.

Two books that I ordered arrived. One was Secret Life of a Vampire. I read that during the fire alarm & over lunch, pretty much. I then started Night's Rose by Annaliese Evans. I'm now up to July 2008 in my Shojo Beat. I'm almost caught up. Whee!

My tatting this past weekend was less than successful. The thread kept breaking.

FYI

People who died on May 25 (various years)

• 2007 - Charles Nelson Reilly, American actor and host
• 2006 - Desmond Dekker, Jamaican ska musician
• 2005 - Gregory Scott Johnson, American murderer
• 2005 - Ruth Laredo, American pianist
• 2005 - Graham Kennedy, Australian television personality
• 2005 - Robert Jankel, British coachbuilder
• 2005 - Sunil Dutt, Indian actor and politician
• 2004 - Roger W. Straus, Jr., American publisher
• 2003 - Jeremy Michael Ward, American musician (The Mars Volta)
• 2000 - Nicholas Clay, British actor
• 1996 - Bradley Nowell, American singer and guitarist (Sublime)
• 1995 - Dany Robin, French actress
• 1994 - Sonny Sharrock, American jazz guitarist
• 1988 - Ernst Ruska, Nobel Prize laureate
• 1986 - Chester Bowles, American politician
• 1983 - Jean Rougeau, French Canadian professional wrestler
• 1981 - Fredric Warburg, British publisher and author
• 1979 - John Arthur Spenkelink, American murderer
• 1977 - Yevgenia Ginzburg, Russian writer
• 1965 - Sonny Boy Williamson, (Alec "Rice" Miller) American Blues singer, songwriter, and musician
• 1954 - Robert Capa, Hungarian-born photojournalist
• 1951 - Paula von Preradović, Croatian-born writer
• 1943 - Nils von Dardel, Swedish post-impressionist painter
• 1940 - Joe De Grasse, American film director
• 1935 - Sir Frank Watson Dyson, English astronomer
• 1934 - Gustav Holst, English composer
• 1930 - Randall Thomas Davidson, Archbishop of Canterbury
• 1927 - Payne Whitney, American businessman
• 1926 - Symon Petlura, Ukrainian politician and statesman
• 1924 - Lyubov Popova, Russian painter
• 1919 - Madame C.J. Walker, African American philanthropist and tycoon
• 1917 - Maksim Bahdanovič, Belarusian poet
• 1912 - Austin Lane Crothers, American politician
• 1899 - Rosa Bonheur, French realist painter and sculptor (d. 1822)
• 1849 - Benjamin d'Urban, British general and colonial administrator
• 1848 - Annette von Droste-Hülshoff, German writer
• 1805 - William Paley, English philosopher
• 1797 - John Griffin Whitwell, 4th Baron Howard de Walden, British field marshal
• 1789 - Anders Dahl, Swedish botanist
• 1786 - Peter III of Portugal, consort of Queen Maria I of Portugal
• 1741 - Daniel Ernst Jablonski, German theologian
• 1693 - Marie-Madeleine Pioche de la Vergne, comtesse de la Fayette, French writer
• 1681 - Pedro Calderón de la Barca, Spanish playwright
• 1667 - Gustaf Bonde, Swedish statesman
• 1632 - Adam Tanner, Austrian mathematician and philosopher
• 1595 - Valens Acidalius, German critic and poet
• 1555 - Henry II of Navarre
• 1555 - Gemma Frisius, Dutch mathematician and cartographer
• 1452 - John Stafford, Archbishop of Canterbury
• 1261 - Pope Alexander IV
• 1085 - Pope Gregory VII
• 992 - Mieszko I first lord and knight of Poland, duke of Polans
• 967 - Murakami, Emperor of Japan (b. 926)
• 735 - Bede, English historian and monk
• 709 - Aldhelm, Bishop of Sherborne

Gaming News
My wizard finally hit with her new daily power. Finally, finally, finally. And she critically hit even (a 20 on a 20-sided die). Whoot!

We made good time driving down yesterday. At least until we got off the highway. Between the traffic, the lights, the rain and the unmarked roads, the last 12 miles took an hour.

I read two more issues of ShojoBeat and did a lot on my wizard during the drive. She jumped from 4th to 6th pretty much, thanks to Scepter Tower of Spellguard. I went 'shopping' for magic items that she'd like.

I thought that I would sleep more but I barely napped for 10 minutes. Chris and Rosemary started muttering about pod people and alien replacement (I always sleep during car trips).

I managed to slam my fingers with the car door this morning. I had a cold drink to put on them, but no ice. They are still tender but haven't bruised, yet.

My current tatting project is the butterfly bookmark for Melinda. Size 80 pink & yellow, using single shuttle split ring.

Gaming Weekend and other stuff
I'll be near Atlanta this weekend, playing Living Forgotten Realms. It's not a con, but it was supposed to be. The con dates got changed, too late to change vacation dates. But the locals stepped up and offered to run a couple games, since we were going to be in town.

We were going to leave this afternoon, and I would have worked a half-day. Instead we leave in the morning & I worked all day. That was good 'cause I was in a training class all morning and I had other stuff to do today, too.

The class was interesting. It's called "not from 'round here, are ya?" It's all about regional communication styles and stereotypes (positive & negative). It verbalized some things that I already knew.

I'm on the 2nd wing of AnneB's dragon. And I just ran out of thread on one shuttle. Oh dear.

Rosemary's game finally wrapped up the Time of Troubles storyline. Yay! Now it's time for the adventure that she started running for. The characters needed to be at least 8th to start it, so everything has been leading up to her running this module.

I read another good book recently, Amber Benson's. It's urban fantasy type & really good. I can't recommend it enough,.

First, go look at this video on YouTube. Go on, I'll wait. Thank you, Jane E for pointing it out. I'm still giggling.

Which should I do, an excerpt a day, or an excerpt a week? Poll going up.

Living Forgotten Realms Game tomorrow. I need to update my character. And do my taxes. Which one do you think is harder?

Discovery of the day: Amber Benson, the wonderfully talented actress who played Tara on Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a writer, too (in addition to a director, etc, etc, etc).
Here are her blogs & website
http://amberbensonwrotethis.blogspot.com/ and
http://www.deathsdaughter.com.

I just have to say, "Wow!"

Excerpts from my Colorado vacation – Day 1

Something a little different today. I'm still concentrating on my Palm V, so I've posted the first day from the journal I kept during my vacation last year. And yes, I am that boring.

18 July 2008

Not a propitious start. A migraine woke me up at 5 am. I managed to sleep again until almost 6 am. Exedrine migraine dulled it to a mere headache so off to work I went.

My short list soon grew. Only one item went undone. I just could not face bending over to finish unpacking that last box in the office.

I stuck it out until 5 pm. I started/resumed packing soon after I got home.

Chris brought supper from Outback and I stopped long enough to eat. Thank goodness I’d already written my packing list. This migraine makes it hard to think. I finally set out at 9:20 pm, only two plus hours later than I’d intended.

It’s 11:30 pm now and the van is packed. I’ve pulled my nightclothes and tomorrow’s outfit and then my bag went into the van.

Up and out by 5 am. Time for my aching head to rest. Long day tomorrow.

Update for the past week or so
Gaming: We finished Scepter Tower on Saturday night & Diana ran Lost Temple of the Fey Gods on Sunday. It was lots of fun. David played his Tracks character for the first time, with my Tracks character. He got to have a real moment in the sun, in the last combat.

I have pictures to post. Tatting and gaming events. But I'm busy fighting with my 'new' Palm V. So stay tuned. An actual blog post will someday occur.

TV Shows I'm Taping (& Watching)
Ashes to Ashes. BBC drama about a police inspector who is shot and finds herself in 1981. This is sort of a sequel to Life on Mars. The other inspectors are there, including the infamous Gene Hunt. Inspector Alex has been reading Sam Tyler's file (thinking he's a complete nutball) when it happens to her.

Eleventh Hour: American crime drama. Dr. Jacob Hood is an FBI consultant who investigates scientific crimes. Okay, it's not a great but it's decent.

Bones: another procedural crime drama, this one focused on forensic anthropology, etc. Luckily, thanks to my upbringing, I have no problem watching it, even while eating spaghetti. Thanks, Mom!

The Big Bang Theory: Another success by Chuck Lorre. Per Chuck's formula, he contrasts two social types, in this case highly intelligent geeks with a wannabe actress who's making her living as a waitress. I have trouble watching sitcoms because they are just so predictable. Not anything by Chuck Lorre.

Hogan's Heroes: Okay, so it's been off the air almost as long as I've been alive (almost), I still enjoy the show.

Queer Eye for the Straight Guy: Chris started taping this and I'm enjoying it immensely. A wonderful part of it is the bit at the end when the guy is on his own.

Diner, Drive-ins, & Dives: I enjoy this show but it really makes me want to take a road trip. Or five. I want to visit those places Guy F 'reviews.'

Adventures in English: BBC show about the history of the English language. Why yes, I am a word geek, why do you ask?

Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares: again, one that Chris started watching & now I watch, too. You have to be careful about watching, though, or you will never, ever, eat out again.

CSI, CSI:NY & CSI: Miami: yeah, three shows; more or less the same premise but the flavor is very different. Funny note, the city of Miami has no CSI unit.

And that's enough for one blog. Ye gods, I watch a lot of telly. That's not even glancing at stuff that's not in season.

tatting: I finished the Celtic Cross in Rozella Linden's Celtic Tatting Knots & Patterns. I should have done it with 2 different threads, though. Even with variegated, switching off so that the colors contrasted where I could, it just didn't contrast enough.

Now it's back to the burgundy dragon. I want to have it done by next weekend. I started the 1st wing.

Gaming: this weekend it's back to Scepter Tower of Spellguard. This weekend will finish it. If need be, on Sunday.

The weather's turned cold. After almost a week of unseasonable high temperatures, it's plunged down to the mid-40's. The high today was only in the 50's. Tomorrow will be even lower. And it will be raining. Um, what season is this again? I've lost track.

Reunited with an Old Friend
He actually found me through Facebook. How cool is that? It is so great to connect with him. I haven't really been in contact since he went to college.

Cool contest:
TotusMel (she of the fabulous tatting) is having a contest at her blog. Go look at her etsy shop & drool. I am not kidding.

weather: Once again, my office is just as warm as outside. But at least the lock has been fixed.

I managed to leave the house without my wallet this morning. And without my tatting. *sigh* I am having such trouble adjusting to the time change.

gaming: I may end up running 4 Jadeclaw games at Animazement this year. Should I have 1 plot ready, or 4? Or some number in between? I have no idea. I might prepare 4 and if I don't have duplicat players, I'll run the same one over & over.

Beautiful Morning
The time changed and I did not sleep well. I made use of being up 'early.' I went to the grocery, which was not open yet because the store manager had forgotten to change the time on his clock. I went to another grocery store instead. I didn't need anything major, just a few odds and ends, but they were necessary odds & ends.

It's a really beautiful morning at least. So it wasn't a completely annoying trip. And I bought doughnuts for breakast, Krispy Kreme of course. Not that there's one around here so I had to settle for grocery store Krispy Kreme, so not the same.

This afternoon is Rosemary's Forgotten Realms campaign. I really need it because having stuff to do really takes my mind off, well, Bill. I had a real crying jag yesterday, enough to give me a headache. I know, it's part of the mourning process. But the mourning process should not leave you with a headache & a clogged nose.

Does Mommy Nature Hate Me?

This was the weather Monday. Today it hit 70F. I wore longsleeves and Mary Janes. I didn't even need my jacket on the commute home.

I met a woman from China tonight. She had the 'misfortune' to sit near me on the bus when I was trying to distract myself from my headache. I chattered away at her. She seemed, well, surprised by how much I knew, like I could recognize pine trees. Huh? To me, that's like 'hey, I know what grass looks like.'

My office door went wonky this afternoon. You have to fiddle with it to leave the office. Entering it is no problem, but you can't get out easily. Then when the door locked (it's on a timer) you couldn't get out at all. Luckily, there's another door so I was not trapped. But it's still very odd.

I picked up Stories of English again. It's not a book that I can read quickly. I have to think & marvel over it. Did you know that the 'they, them, their' pronouns came from old Scandinavian? English of the time used 'hie, heo' & something else. And the verb form 'are' was adopted, too. It used to be 'be'. Like 'what fools these mortals be'.

I'm still coughing. Blech. At least most of them aren't those 'check whether I can spot my own lungs' types. The coughs are almost half-hearted in comparison.

I met someone new. I think she's a grad student, or she came/went back to college. Her name is Ally and she's an artist. Wow. She showed me a dragon figure that she is working on. It is just spiff. Then she showed me her fiance's computer art. Wow again. Both of them are so gifted. At least I have my tatting.

Winter Wonderland? Or where the heck is Spring?
Here are some pictures from Monday & Tuesday.

I Found Black Ice
Luckily I was on foot and there were no cars coming when I did. For those who don't know where I live & haven't noticed the weather there, it snowed on Sunday night. I came home early last night to avoid black ice but I had a focus group to go to tonight. I got home long after dark; and what I thought was wet cobblestones was slick with ice. There were more ice patches but I manage to navigate around those. My knee & hand hurt but they don't look bruised.


Tatting: The other tatters gave me enough bookmarks for this literacy class and enough to get a good start on the next class. Carolyn has been taking crochet classes so all of hers are crocheted. There's a nice variety, thank goodness. Katie took a picture.

Bad news, though. Really bad news. The man who taught me how to tat died yesterday. Chris had to go down to see if he has anything that he has to do; arrangements, etc. His health has been bad for years but it was still a shock to hear that he had a heart attack.

As part of a local history project, I had a heart that I had tatted scanned and added, plus a little bit about how I learned & the connection to UNC. I also did an oral history interview. I got started on a writing project but had to go back to work. The others seemed to find it interesting. It needs some polishing, though.

Gaming: Sunday's LFR game went well. It didn't even run very late. Black Raspberry Chocolate Tracks is now 3rd level. Whee. I need to do her level up stuff, now.