Zifferent

We Have Zubbles!

2009-06-25T16:06:23Z

Received this in my email today:

Hello to all of you awaiting Zubbles Magic, the World's First
Colored Bubbles! Thank you for your support and patience over
the past few years! We are thrilled to announce, to all of you
before anyone else, that the first bottles for public release
are currently in production and a limited supply will be ready
to ship sometime in the next couple of weeks. As a result, we
are ready to take pre-orders on our website:

http://www.zubbles.com.

We regret that we are only able to take orders for the U.S. and
Canada at this point. To those of you from other countries, we
apologize for the delay, and rest assured that we are working to
make Zubbles available to you very soon.

Thank you again,
Marc

JAMM Companies, Inc.
info@zubbles.com

Bwahahahaha. Finally a purchasable real product, after how many years of promises? Well pre-order anyway.

Welcome Back -or- The Good Bad Good Bad Weekend

2009-06-23T13:04:47Z

My weekend started Thursday with a Michigan based brewery beer tasting after work in downtown Monroe (So metropolitan. I know. Y'all are jealous.) I tasted many great brews, and was extremely impressed with Monroe county's own brewery Original Gravity Brewing in Milan, MI. I tried their smoked jalapeno and Belgian (lambic-style) brews. Yum.

Afterward, we were hungry and the wife, a new found friend and I headed to the Mexican eatery across the street. *Insert diabolical music snippet here* The food tasted good, and off to home sleep off the happy beer buzz.

Friday, the wife wasn't feeling it and so stayed home from work. I wasn't sick in the least and had a productive day, leading into another quiet but productive drinking evening, this time at home. After sleeping for two hours I had to get up, and to put it mildly, it was Old Faithful on the flip-side all night long.

Understandably I was feeling queasy, sleepy, irritable and more than a bit tender Saturday morning. I did what any Dad would do. I took two anti-diuretics and made Becca drive the car up to Kensington Metropark (awesome park by the way.) Despite my previous bouts with evil, I had a good time. I read some of my book Legacy by Greg Bear while watching the kids swim, helped Toby attempt to fly a kite and once I felt up to it rented a peddle boat to tool around the lake with Toby as my skipper. A good time was had by all, and heat exhaustion that a day spent in the sun can bring was brought to a pleasant end by cool shower at home.

Woke up Sunday morning, went to church and then off to my dad's for father's day. About now I'm beginning to feel like an over-inflated beach ball so I didn't eat much of the yummy ribs my dad made. My dad offered me a beer, so I drank it, but continued on with plain water the rest of the day. Other than that, it was nice seeing my family and I was grateful to be able to catch up with a post-op Uncle Art who is doing better than expected, although he is obviously antsy to get back to his normal active life. He's not one to stand still for long.

After I returned home, the wife went off to the store and I stayed home to fold the clothes and do laundry. As it turns out, I was able to fold the clothes. I had no energy, was now extremely uncomfortably bloated, and it was becoming obvious to me that I was dangerously dehydrated. Of course the gallon and a half of water I was consuming in order to take control of final issue didn't help any with the primary or secondary issue.

Monday morning I awoke with a dehydration headache, called in sick to work, brought the kids into day-camp and proceed to sleep and drink fluids, plenty of fluids, lots of fluids, and was mostly normal around eight-o-clock hydration-wise. Hooray. And the rumblings in my belly region foretell of an impending and probable sudden end to my beached-dead-whale-laying-all-day-in-the-sun syndrome, though hopefully not in as violent a fashion.

The will of Wheaton

2009-05-08T17:37:56Z

I've seen this opinion expressed in several places now, including possibly hearing it a couple times at con, but I'm now curious.
Who out there feels that Wil Wheaton now owes Penguicon, something? (Usually showing up as a Nifty next year, or some such.)
And why?

On my way to Pendwort Calms

2009-04-30T13:27:00Z

So I've been working slavishly on fixing the gaping hole my bathroom ceiling, post pipe leak. And you know what there is no piece of drywall that is lightweight while balanced atop a ladder, holding a drill in one hand, and simultaneously holding the drywall up with my head and free hand, and a mouth full of screws. Also I've learned that while squaring out a hole it is best to use a straight edge of some sort or be stuck forever measuring and remeasuring and recutting the same piece of drywall over and over again.

In short I'm exhausted. Only one more frikken day!

Cider Update

2009-04-27T13:19:34Z

The last of my cider, 4 gallons of it, the one inoculated with english cider yeast is to be bottle this evening. That said, I decided to risk a tasting yesterday.

It tastes strongly malic (it's the first thing I noticed as cracked the seal on the carboy) and a hint of acetic, tart but not bad. Tannins are present, but not noticable after the second sip. It is otherwise dry and clean without any noticable flaws. This cider unlike the others did not clear, so much haze is present, but it doesn't taste yeasty so I'm not worried. The only decision now is whether to carbonate or not. If I prime the cider the yeast may not completely consume the priming sugar by Penguicon. Which would result in a slightly sweeter version of the cider. If I go this route it would be good for the temperatures to stay up as it would facilitate the residual yeast in quickly carbonating the brew.

The alternative is to bottle it as a still cider, which would be true to style (english cider) , but I'm worried that it may not age anymore without the sugar boost.

I also made chicken paprikash last night and used the cider in lieu of water or milk in the spaetzel. Yuummmm! That brings back so many memories of childhood.

I'm off to Boston

2009-04-15T10:44:11Z

I'm off to Boston and it's more than a feeling that I'll find peace of mind if I don't look back.

What is it?

2009-04-11T16:23:39Z

I want to know what the difference between Facebook and Twitter is; short of Twitter's lack of apps (a positive in my opinion.)

Both are geared towards short regular updates and social networking.

Teh Cute it Noms

2009-04-10T23:54:36Z

Just thought I'd share

The good the bad and the cider

2009-04-09T04:12:38Z

I feel compelled to write about cider today. I've recently depleted two-thirds of my home-brew stash of cider. Mostly only because I've yet failed to bottle the last carboy, and refuse to open it due to fear of infecting it with nasty bugs until I do find the time and energy to clean, disinfect, fill and cap the bottles (a time consuming pass-time to be sure.)

And so I'm caught. I've developed a taste for cider, possibly stronger than my love for it's barley brethren, and yet I live in freaking America where good cider is impossible to find.

Shame of all shames, I've started testing various commercial ciders. Now commercial ciders are not necessarily evil, but American ones are almost universally immorally indecent. The problem is that Americans, particularly US Americans, prefer consistency over occasional brilliance. Hence any brand that I come across in the states is filtered, immature, or the mortal sin: kool-aid.

A couple weeks ago I purchased WoodChuck. Those in the know, understand that there is little to enjoy in this thinly-veiled alco-pop. To put it succinctly, it tastes of apple-juice pack, throw in a Jolly Rancher, let it sit a few days, filter any complex tastes out (just in case) and carbonate the shit out of it. It's bubbly alcoholic cider, heavy on the bubbly. Sickly sweet with an aftertaste of malic acid that will turn your stomach, this is not cider. It tastes like apple juice with grain alcohol and extra sugar. The only good thing to say about it is that it is consistent. But consistent in a McDonald's hamburger way. Bad every single time. More than two will turn your insides out. The expletives on how bad this one is never end, unfortunately. It's the cider for people that don't like beer, but want to appear macho. Verdict: If there's nothing else to drink but this; I'll drink water.

So next, I ran across StrongBow. Admittedly, this is an English cider, but I'm almost certain that any self-respecting English cider-enthusiast gives it wide berth. While not sickly-sweet, it has a certain aspartame quality that while dry asserts itself prominently on the tongue. If that weren't bad enough it appears that they send this one directly from the fermenting vat, through a series of filters (god forbid that cider be freaking cloudy) and then bottle and sell it directly. It frankly tastes of a cider only a month or two old and since they filter all the wee yeasty beasties out before bottling, it's never going to get better. Sure it's shelf life is measured in years, but a good bottle of real cider only improves. Hence, it's major flaw (other than the strange sweet aftertaste, particularly strange considering it's marketed as a "dry" cider) is that it exhibits a full-on malic body slam. Apple candy central is where this one will always be. The verdict: Drinkable in that I can have more than two in a night and not become nauseous, and it's the only one out of the three, despite it's filtering exhibits REAL cider-like flavors (think wet dirty socks, I know cider drinkers are strange.) If nothing else is offered I could drink this.

Finally, I found a beverage called Hornsby's Hard Cider. I wasn't in the mood for beer and this looked good. First the alcohol content is above 5%. Real apple juice will produce a drink with more than 5% alcohol. This was a good sign, and not because I want to get a drunk on. This one upon pouring produce a real head. That stuck around for a while. To me this indicates the presence of proteins and the lack of filtering within an inch of it's life. The taste? Well it's not bad. It's not great. It doesn't taste of artificial apple flavouring, so it may have been aged (or at least innoculated with lactobacteria, not a bad thing) It's very clean tasting which is to say I have no complaints other than it lacks that essential funkiness that makes cider, cider, but good. Not too sweet and I like my ciders bone dry, but it did have hint of sweetness that didn't distract. The verdict: Boring but the most drinkable of the lot.

Beware of the Drones

2009-04-02T12:53:22Z

According to the Free Press, Homeland Security is dispatching a Predator Drone to watch USA/Canada border.

These are military air craft. They cost 10.5 Million dollars. They are a freaking weapons platform. And I know what you're thinking to yourselves, you're thinking that Zifferent has truly gone off the deep-end with his paranoid BS this time. But consider this, how many pilots flying Cessna's along the border constantly would 10.5 million buckaroos spend? Consider that the Predator drone's maintenance doesn't come cheap or at least not as cheap as a Cessna mechanic. Is it still a good idea?

I don't know, and I'm not even certain what they are looking for. A Canadian invasion? Seniors crossing the border for cheap pharmaceuticals? Yoopers smuggling contraband Molson and Sleeman into Michigan? Mexicans going the long way around?

Frankly, I can only see a few valid and yet not equally sane reasons for this kind of surveillance. (In order of decreasing sanity) One is the 'War on Drugs.' Another is the 'War on Terror.' And the other is to keep US citizens in the country. Ok maybe that last one one does reek of bat-shit, but after reading The Handmaid's Tale (great book btw) by Margaret Atwood (one of those rascally Canadians) it's hard to see these things and not scream "SEE!"

zifferent @ 2009-03-29T14:09:00

2009-03-29T18:29:49Z

Ran across a fun site:

http://www.badpaintingsofbarackobama.com

It's a site that features and in fact only has bad pictures done by people of Barack Obama. Click for a new one.

Some are obviously children's paintings, and I don't think those are so bad.

A few I actually like.

But many are way out there, like tripping on acid while in the White House kind of crazy!

Like flaming tacos and underwear, Mexico Obama.
I think it's supposed to be suggestive of something, but I can't quite grasp it.

The Great Gazoo Obama:

This one is just creepy and I don't why.

And this is one that I actually like.

And another that I don't find too bad.

Please visit the site and post some of the ones below that you found disturbing or enjoyed! This could be fun.

Oh lord, if I currently believed in a higher being right now, I wouldn't be talking to you.

2009-03-29T06:03:46Z

So (midwestern slang for "catch this bullshit if you can wrap your mind around it" ) So, I had a small leak emanating from a joint in the copper pipe that feeds our upstairs bathroom, which I've found out through deduction actually only feeds our toilet intake. By small leak, I mean less than a quarter-gallon a day. Like, drip [30 seconds] drip. Highly annoying that I had to take the ceiling drywall out, but otherwise nothing that a bucket couldn't handle till I got a round tuit.

So today I finally get up to the task and cut the pipe, only to find that the fittings I've purchased don't actually fit half inch outside diameter copper pipe that is actually five eights. I knew that, but everything I've read has confirmed that an eighth larger is par for the course. So it the don't fit and the hardware store is closed, and figuring that the valve is closed; I've got time on my side.

WRONG!

After telling people that the toilet and nothing else is out of order in the upstairs bathroom (nobody wants the unflushable turd!) and feeling safe in the knowledge, I laid myself down for a long spring's nap. Nope!

It turns out that despite the faucet and shower working, even with the valve shut, and I've tried with both valves shut, that it appears that (and correct me if I'm an idiot here, please!) waste (grey) water is coming fucking back down the supply line, because anyone standing beneath the pipe downstairs gets a nice shower when the water is turned on. WTF! That doesn't even make sense.

I'm absolutely livid. It's almost two in the morning and I feel like it's noon and I've had a half a pot of coffee. And here's why.

The people we bought the house from were nice people. My wife knew the family. And while we were aware that the domocile was purchased as flip home and that the couple was inexperienced at home repair (a bad combination to be sure) the house has been around for a hundred years, literally, and while it had issues nothing in the inspection nor numerous walkthroughs nor the legal paperwork pointed at ongoing problems or at least gross negligence. Permits were pulled and inspections were done, right?

Hence, when the wife and kids complained that the upstairs bathroom water tasted funky; we thought nothing of it. And now we know. Although it still makes no sense.

Perhaps I'm mistaken. Maybe there is some deeper plumbing mystery that I'm unaware of and maybe needs to be solved. Where is fucking Scooby Doo and Shaggy when I God Damned need them!

Huh! I don't know where to start. Do I call a plumber and then a lawyer or vice-versa. Should I patch the line for now or leave it be. These are the stupid issues that I'm left with and if comes down to a complete reboot with the plumbing situation; who pays for that shit? Me as the the home-owner or the shits who put it together wrong in the first place; knowing that a supply is not a drain. And why doesn't water shoot up my drain holes; is it some kind of super check-valve?

I have no answers.

What I've Been up to this Evening

2009-03-20T03:19:13Z

The CPU fan (not original) on the eMachine was going, so much so that no one was allowed to shut down the machine for fear it wouldn't come back up. And while the it's my server machine, it's also almost 5 years old and a Celeron to boot so I didn't want to spend a fortune for a new heat-sink.

So I looked at Newegg and picked out a few , did a few Internet searches for extra comparisons and reviews as well as shop around for better prices and I came up with this monster. The Big Typhoon CL-P0114. It was a steal for only 19.99 and free shipping and I've had good luck with refurb products before.

I had to remove my MB to install this bad boy. Not something I enjoy with a homebrew computer, much less a proprietary shitputer.

Yes that's damn near as big as my head. It looks like it belongs on a friggen Harley; not a sissy ass computer.

About half the size of my MB, it sports a 120mm fan!

And it barely fits in the poor old eMachine case. BTW I can barely hear it. Much better than the screaming 70mm ball bearing fan on the old CPU cooler.

Want

2009-03-05T18:30:41Z

Topobo! Only $500 for a two motor set. Gah!

Meme

2009-03-03T14:17:33Z

Comment on this post and I will give you 3 subjects/things I associate you with. Then post this in your LJ and elaborate on the subjects given.

My topics given by custardfairy :

Homebrew, Politics, Sci-Fi

Homebrewing is simple it only requires one attribute, all it requires is patience. And an iron liver. Two! two things, patience an iron liver and an overwhelming desire to clean things. Three things...

Since the election, politics has again become that boring thing that happens in Washington with the exception of loudmouth ultra-wingers, that annoy the crap out of me.

And do I need to remind anyone on my list the the coolest convention in the tri-state area evar, Penguicon is only 59 days away! Avast! Register now, and well, uhmm. Register now! Start building your costumes, planning your parties and stocking up on liquor, it's going to be a humdinger!

Just for now

2009-02-21T04:58:05Z

Annie Lenox

is a sweet sweet vessel of sexy filled to the brim.

...Just sayin.

Not a Torch or Match in your Inventory...

2009-02-12T15:19:52Z

My new favorite Nerdcore Rapper, MC Frontalot (Yes I do live in a cave. Why do you ask?):

I also highly recommend the awesome I <3 Fags.

Arrrrrrrrrrrrr

2009-02-07T07:10:57Z

Been drinkin'. Feel a bit like a piratey. Arrrr, I don' t know why any more'n you do. Just piratey that's all.

Let's Just State the Facts M'kay?!

2009-02-01T05:20:08Z

So in my pursuit of a web-surfing Valhalla, I've come across many interesting sites. Some bookmarked; some not.

But in all my life, I enjoy the most 'zines of all stripes that have either busted and offer their past content on as a website or still active and co-post to the web. The writing is often top-notch, witty and edgy. (like the now defunct crank.com which as close as I can find is an interview with the author)

Recently my drunken pursuits have taken me in a new direction, and I've found the still alive, Modern Drunkard Magazine. Of course to most of my audience it's probably obvious why I think this is interesting. It's a whole magazine that's devoted to the functionally drunk lifestyle. Like the aforementioned zines, the writing never fails to elicit an evil giggle or ten while reviewing their online content. My only regret is that I don't have the money or the marital capital to burn to subscribe. Perhaps it may come up in conversation with the wife, but then I would have to admit to her what is already obvious to myself, and once labeled there are consequences; frankly that I don't want to face yet. And that is even beside the point that I'm attempting at cutting back on my drunkard behavior if only because I want to experience more of life sober and although it's not an issue yet; drinking only slightly harder than I did (I've already cut back a bit) could result in serious troubles in every aspect of my life as well as overwhelm my current goals.

In the meantime I'm beginning to find a happy medium and found that I can read MDM without feeling guilty or finding that I don't measure up. The writing is good enough that I find that it's something I could enjoy knowing that I've skirted limits of problematic alcoholism, without actually using that as a template for future activities.

On the other hand, addicts often lie to themselves (and others) and I don't exactly have a clear conscience while perusing the articles. The precipice is in sight and that shakes me a bit. Everything there is both right on point and is easily designed to alleviate the guilt of a budding alcoholic, and that scares me as it should. As it encourages the very same behavior that I'm currently finding out can become a problem in the future if I don't step lightly.

The extra interesting bit is that I've just found out that the magazine holds an annual convention this is both bright and shiny and dark and ominous. Drinking, drunk and conventions are like peanut butter and chocolate to me. This is either very cool or very scary.

Post-op. He's alive!

2009-01-29T03:29:59Z

So much bad. Way too much bad. Yet, such a moderate species of bad comparatively to those around me that I have to conclude that it is only an annoyance.

Anyway, I'd rather focus on the positive. It is after-all one of my goals for this year (no resolutions; only goals.)

Without further ado, I give you the good, the great and the meh. But nothing negative, damnit! I promise.

Drinking is down. How much down? Well that's hard to tell. More importantly, my starved coping mechanisms, mostly well developed in my non-substance abusing folk, are becoming stronger. How do I know?

Well the answer to that deals with everything else I care about in life that is beginning (careful or we might scare it away!) to take more importance in my life and are starting to bear fragile and precious even if meek fruit.

Well, mostly. It seems that work is a gluttonous-bastard of a habit and will take anything I throw at it. Granted this was one of the things I've neglected and while it had begun to whither on the vine fed by my attention, it was the least of my issues because money is the one thing that kills everything else. While love of money may be the root of all evil (no proof) lack of money is at least its opposite but equal. So the conclusion all along has been while work may suck and I could care less, somethings are worse than lucrative employment at a job that I dislike. Where I'm at now, I'm moving back towards leading the pack. At my fullest, I can be a tough act to follow.

Neglect in 2008 has been almost a theme, despite my gains in Penguicon life, and family has been an easy victim. My hope has been to change that. My wife noticed the change today. No greater victory is there than this!

As far as Penguicon, things are better, but not exactly where they need to be. I'm afraid that I'm pulling attention from other pursuits into Penguigon, so I'm reluctant to devote myself fully. It may be silly, but I see my attention as a limited resource. I have much work to do, and have no doubt that I can complete it all. Effort is all that is required. But next year is up for grabs, I need to go to school to earn a degree, and consequentially put most of my effort into that.

Anyone with the skill, time and motivation to take up the banner of media is welcome. It's the toughest job you'll ever love, I can guarantee it.

Crafty Meme

2009-01-19T16:37:22Z

The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
- What I create will be just for you.
- It'll be done this year.
- You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a story. It may be poetry. I may draw or paint something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!
- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you have to repost. We can all make stuff!!

Muhahahaha!

Ode to Scrumpy

2009-01-16T03:13:16Z

Almost two weeks ago, I'd bottled most of this year's cider (9 gallons) in what was to be the biggest bottling fest ever, note that this isn't fun; well, at least until you get to drink the dregs, yum. I decided today was a good day for an interim taste test.

The results are both unsurprising and pleasant, the wild cider is the flavor winner hands-down. I haven't had anything commercially brewed quite like it, and I believe it can only get better from here on in, as that has been the trend. Phenomenal showing. Definitely a redo for next year.

On the now kicking my ass side of things, the champagne yeast cider goes down way too smoothly for something around 9% alcohol. And how do I know that my ass has been booted?

Anytime while playing Nethack, you become frustrated because vi keystrokes don't work, you know something is wrong. For instance:

[typing] : wq
[me] (swearing under my breath) WTF? I don't care about my wardrobe just save dammit.
[typing] : wq
[me] (facepalm) Awww shit, I've been drinking, yeah, stronger than I thought. ooops
[typing] :wq
[me] Doh!
[typing](frustrated at the ever-increasing brain-flatuence) <Shift> S, y

Heh...

To bad I'm not a Penguin

2009-01-15T12:02:40Z

So apparently according to this chart it is FuckFuckFuckCold in SE Michigan this morning. That's right, -21 degrees celcius.

As I sit here, warm in my sweater in my heated house, I'm contemplating the sorry state of the suit rental business. Now granted I understand that the suits have to fit a wide variety of clowns from porky pig to twiggy, but I was very disappointed in the fit of the jacket in particular.

Those who know me know that I'm a fairly scrawny little bastard, but when I tried on the jacket, buttoned I could pull out the front out nearly a foot. When I mentioned this to the lady, her reply was a shrug of the shoulders and "It's a rental." That's when I realized that she's right, if I wanted a good fit I would have to own my own, but how many times in my life do I need a tuxedo? I mean, the last time I went penguin was my wedding almost ten years ago and before that was prom seven years before that. I can't justify buying something that I'll only use roughly once a decade. The tux would be either out of style or it wouldn't fit any more by the time I got around to wearing it again.

So I can draw two conclusions from that. One rentals suck, but are a necessary evil. And two I need to get invited to more black-tie events.

Of course, it makes me wonder how they can rape my wallet so hard if the quality is below par. My wife's dress cost less (much less) than the rental fee.

A Theme for 2009

2009-01-01T06:03:01Z

So much of our habits, both bad and good, are forged in the fires of our pain and quenched in our fears.

On Friday after Christmas I was again sick. There were symptoms, scary symptoms. And upon doing an Internet diagnosis, which might I say is a terrible way to figure out what is going on in a person's body, easily 98 percent of all Internet assisted self-diagnoses are completely wrong, I came to the mistaken conclusion that I had destroyed my liver and was dying. It was rubbish but convincing. By Sunday my cold (yes a cold) subsided, my appetite returned and all systems were go again.

So much has happened in the past months, many personal battles fought, but unfortunately I couldn't find any resolution. On seemingly every front of my life I felt battered and much of the damage was self-inflicted. The recent, short-lived but intense illness clarified it all. Along the wild ride of feeling my mortality, I came to some hard-won conclusions. Especially pertaining to my skewed and conflicting priorities of late.

I realized that I needed to take my life in a new direction earlier, but couldn't see. I had no compass to point the way. My priorities are clear now. The way out is as simple as a refocus and more intense focus on the things that matter, and to leave behind the vestiges of my past that have been holding me back. Without a doubt what truly matters to me is family, work, health and friends. What is holding me back is my binge drinking, obsessive Internet and computer gaming, and finally an overarching melancholy starting initially at work that had begun to fester into all aspects of my life. The important things are tied tightly together by the fact that they don't mix well with the other set of destructive behaviors.

With the greater part of the holidays behind me, I can now without reservation say that many things will change and all for the better.

Some among you will be happy to find out that there will be a renewed push for all things Penguicon from now until the convention. Graphics will be completed before the end of the current holiday weekend. I have the graphics laid out already, I just need to put them together in a aesthetically pleasing manner. After that I'm working to get a demo-program book out for perusal at the next concom meeting so that come time to flow data in it'll be more of a paint-by-numbers operation.

I plan to light up my fitness plan as best as I can around my responsibilities. Work, family, and friends come first but as I only need less than an hour a day, I don't see that as an issue. I even went ice-skating in the rink outside my building today, although having not skated in a decade or so, I seem to have lost any skill I may have had before.

I plan on continuing my violin lessons, both because it's quality time spent with my son and I enjoy it completely. On a separate note related only in that it's an art form, I want to pick up art, any art back up on a regular basis again. The benefits to my sense of well-being are immense.

Finally, not winter semester as I'm not a person that deals well with overwhelming responsibility; I want to go back to school, but it will wait till the current iteration of Penguicon has passed. I want a degree. Achingly bad, I want that piece of paper. So as much as it pains me Penguicon 2010 will not be a project on my plate. Too many directions being pulled at once and I can only provide so much focus at any time to only a handful of projects. I will attend the occasional SMOS and attempt to stay in touch, and you can bet your boots that I'll be there for the big show.

While it appears that I'm taking on many new year's resolutions; I prefer to look at it as taking on a new year's refocusing. I'm sowing seeds now that I hope will bloom for many years to come, bringing me the joy that only having strong friendships and family can provide.

Happy New Year! And peace to all of you.

Christmas at the D's

2008-12-26T03:38:41Z

Onto my Christmas post. I had possibly the most wonderful Christmas since my childhood, and believe it or not, it did not include (much) beer or drunkenness. I am truly blessed with a really good, real family.* It started off inauspicious enough with the wintry drive to my aunt's house in Farmington hills, and the harrowing drive up a steep, unplowed, dirt road. Once there my uncle offered me a beer from his private selection. I accepted and had a very nice white beer from a in-state brewer (I forgot to look at the brand.) The Guinness I brought with me was enjoyed by my father and another uncle (that's why I brought it.) I had a Guinness myself with the succulent pork roast and the now standard Christmas tilapia (one of my aunts is a pescitarian.) All that went without a hitch, and left to that and the gifts might have been an unremarkable but pleasant Christmas.

I mentioned that my aunt lives at the top of descent sized (slightly wooded) hill, right? Well after dinner everyone broke out their sleds and we all went sledding for two hours in her back yard. We had a blast, and only one person hit a tree head on, but no one was seriously injured.

Once inside my aunt brewed some exemplary French Roast, of which I partook two cups, and we unwrapped presents. Now a bit of background, my father is a notoriously bad gift-giver, most everything he gives goes back to the store from whence it came. This year he and my step-mother hit the nail on the head every single time. It's absolutely unprecedented in the history of my family. I received a curious, highly-polished, double-cylinder object that once opened reveals a cigar humidor stocked with a really nice cigar on one side and a two-shot flask full of Irish whiskey in the other. My wife opened up a Dali Lama daily reflections calendar. Toby got nice magic show kit, and Monet an elaborate fairies pop-up book.

The ride home was uneventful, and all in all a very relaxing and fun holiday to balance out the increasing insanity and stress I've been feeling since Thanksgiving.

Merry Christmas everyone!

*Illustrative of the docility and open friendliness of my family is the remark from my wife after the first time she attended a family get-together that she couldn't comprehend how everyone just gets along and honestly enjoys each other's company. Such a thing didn't exist in her world. I think to this day she prefers my extended family to her own birth extended-family.