... the IT man in LibraryLand
... Like a Record baby
So last weekend was one's 45 birthday.
I had a smallish gathering with the minor theme of "Bring a 45".
There was some excellent catering by Salsa Girl assisted by Freeloading Mum - although I do have to take issue with the idea that I had to give everyone a piece of MY cheesecake birthday cake!
Being the theme instigator I dutifully hauled my pristine collection of 45s from the late 80s downstairs - about 50 of them in all. Amongst their number where such gems as Samantha Fox - Touch Me, of which, with my newly acquired mature status, one is not ashamed (although probably 15 year old Phill should be).
Several others provided their own input including ElfBoy with an extensive compilation collection; Legion2 with his hauntingly familiar collection (in that shared bedroom growing up kind of way); and Badger with some prime Brit Punk. I was, however, disappointed to see no Smith & Wessons brought along.
Badger's standout contribution was providing the whole audio and phonographic equipment, without which we would have been unable to hear these gems of the songwriters craft. Impressively the turntable was a vintage 80s Marantz still in perfect working order.
Dropping the ball on the theme front were BestFriendSincePrep and StumpyRudolph, representing one's school friends neither of them had any knowledge of their 45s, or indeed of which number drink they were up to.
Representing the creative side of music were past (and future??) band mates FridgePower and Judge Mingus, along with their own personal creations.
Most parts of the party went well, although Hulk did insist on being sensitive to strangers and require alternating bouts of individual care from Salsa Girl and oneself which was the sole reason there are parts of the party that one cannot recall.
After most had taken leave Legion2 and Pirate Dave (returning from DragonMim's overshadowing 50th event which kept many others away) stayed long into the evening playing the Magic card game and helping one with ones overabundance of whisky. In fact I believe I may have been playing the game on muscle memory at one point and events and my thinking became decidedly fuzzy around the 1:00 am mark.
All in all a most excellent occasion.
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Showing posts with label DragonMim. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DragonMim. Show all posts
A Brace of Books Read
One's low post count this year can be partly explained by the lack of book reading posts.
So you should all add the 15 reviews below to the total post count for the year and be suitably impressed (imagine more review for each title and many thought provoking insights).
So you should all add the 15 reviews below to the total post count for the year and be suitably impressed (imagine more review for each title and many thought provoking insights).
Bad Things by Michael Marshall - 3.5 stars
This one was read a scant few months after reading his previous one and possibly suffered for it. A solid Michael Marshall effort but once again not to distant from his usual style and themes.
A 3.5 stars from me and read it if you haven't read anything of his in the past year.
Fate of the Kinunir by Robert E Vardeman - 3.5 stars
This one is a gaming related novel and had me interested in it's reasonably faithful adherence to one's beloved Traveller - until one of the characters pulled out his light sword to resolve a situation.
Caballistics Inc: Hell on Earth by Mike Wild - 3.5 stars
This one is a comics tie-in from 2000AD about a British occult investigation team. It is a reasonable read with the feel of the comics series.
Leviathan Wakes by James S A Corey - 4 stars
One had thought that one would have to crowd source my A to Z "C" but then I realised that this "should read some day" satisfied the criteria. Although thinking about it I guess it was technically recommended somewhere down the line by ArchEnemy or DragonMim or both, however one does prefer that neither gentleman be correct in their recommendations.
in any case it was a great read focusing on the beginnings of a space opera setting.
Looking ahead, one's "D" is looking like a prime candidate for crowd sourcing.
in any case it was a great read focusing on the beginnings of a space opera setting.
Looking ahead, one's "D" is looking like a prime candidate for crowd sourcing.
A Dance with Dragons by George R R Martin - 3.5 stars
The final step in one's getting up to date with the book series. I guess one shall have to wait 7 years for the next one like everybody else now.
Consider Phlebas by Iain M Banks - 3.5 stars
Speaking of getting up to date. This is the first of a batch donated to the library and joyfully scooped up by oneself when declared unwanted. Embarrassingly, for a fan of sci-fi, this is also the first of Banks's Culture novels that one has read. Not quite what I'd imagined from what I'd read about the setting however a fun read nonetheless.
Judge Dredd: Black Atlantic by Simon Jowett and Peter J Evans - 3.5 stars
Another comics tie-in purchased last year in a burst of completism when it was released as an ebook. An okay read with the feel of the characters.
The Mammoth Hunters by Jean M Auel - 3.5 stars
The third in the Ayla series. A bit too drawn out and first love angsty at times but mostly kept my interest.
The Third Law (Rico Dredd, The Titan Years) by Michael Carrol - 4 stars
An interesting one from the self justifying corrupt Judges perspective. Said Judge being Dredd's brother. Looking forward to any others that may come out.
The Butcher of Anderson Station by James S A Corey - 4 stars
A side tale of the Expanse series delving into the background of one of the side characters. As enjoyable as the main tale.
Grave Peril by Jim Butcher - 3.5 stars
The third in the Dresden Files, this tale of the Wizard PI and his latest case ticks along and unveils more of the wider supernatural world of the setting.
Doctor Sleep by Stephen King - 4 stars
A sequel to The Shining but more of a what happened to the character from the story. A great classic King romp of it's own.
The Fast Diet by Michael Mosley - 2.5 stars
Some investigative reading before giving this discipline structure a go oneself. Notable for having nigh half the book be recipes and testimonials.
The Omega Solution by Peter J Evans - 3.5 stars
Another comics tie-in ebook. This one has quite an interesting far far future feel to it.
Sharpe's Triumph by Bernard Cornwell - 4 stars
Another delve into the Sharpe series. The colonial India setting was evoked quite well and the battle sequence was quite well done - perhaps for having very little of Sharpe himself saving the day.
**
Now to work on a Films Watched roundup post that can inflate one's imaginary post total even further...
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**
Now to work on a Films Watched roundup post that can inflate one's imaginary post total even further...
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Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
There is one thing one quite dislikes and that is when either ArchEnemy or DragonMim is right. Naturally it is a step up in magnitude when both "gentlemen" are proven correct.
Both of them made sure to tell me that there would be much less time for frivolous undertakings such as The Tales once young Hulk made good her arrival. It turns out that they are correct as the last near-month has seen a cascade of Hulk-related happenings that have conspired to all be more important than finding the time to communicate here.
Foremost amongst these is a troublesome back complaint developed by Salsa Girl that has led to one stepping up and shouldering one's fair share of the baby load. Additionally there have been some sleep difficulties and a resultant attendance at sleep school (one is rather disappointed to have found out that falling asleep in class is not worth extra credit).
This has flowed on to a squeeze on work time made paradoxically worse (or is that ironically) by involvement in the recruitment process for one's sidekick as finally seen necessary by Supervisor Grand Chief K given all the work one is supposed to be doing.
Of course it is even worse when our two villains are correct twice over as has happened with them both welcoming and warning me about life surrounded by girls.
Having had one's rugged lone wolf-ism suffer under the triple pressures of Salsa Girl's girlishness, Hulk's daughterage, and The Tiger's petulant big sister like antics I can only grudgingly admit to the aforementioned duo's correctness.
But in this instance one is thrice cursed with having to admit to the rightness of the spoutings of the twin curmudgeons in the most painful way.
Having finished reading Ready Player One just the other day I have to say that they were both eminently correct about it being a great little pseudo cyberpunk tale that delved wonderfully into eighties film and game culture.
I give it four stars and shall never speak of their correctness again.
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Both of them made sure to tell me that there would be much less time for frivolous undertakings such as The Tales once young Hulk made good her arrival. It turns out that they are correct as the last near-month has seen a cascade of Hulk-related happenings that have conspired to all be more important than finding the time to communicate here.
Foremost amongst these is a troublesome back complaint developed by Salsa Girl that has led to one stepping up and shouldering one's fair share of the baby load. Additionally there have been some sleep difficulties and a resultant attendance at sleep school (one is rather disappointed to have found out that falling asleep in class is not worth extra credit).
This has flowed on to a squeeze on work time made paradoxically worse (or is that ironically) by involvement in the recruitment process for one's sidekick as finally seen necessary by Supervisor Grand Chief K given all the work one is supposed to be doing.
Of course it is even worse when our two villains are correct twice over as has happened with them both welcoming and warning me about life surrounded by girls.
Having had one's rugged lone wolf-ism suffer under the triple pressures of Salsa Girl's girlishness, Hulk's daughterage, and The Tiger's petulant big sister like antics I can only grudgingly admit to the aforementioned duo's correctness.
But in this instance one is thrice cursed with having to admit to the rightness of the spoutings of the twin curmudgeons in the most painful way.
Having finished reading Ready Player One just the other day I have to say that they were both eminently correct about it being a great little pseudo cyberpunk tale that delved wonderfully into eighties film and game culture.
I give it four stars and shall never speak of their correctness again.
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The Lazy Weekend
One has just completed a most auspiciously lazy weekend. Thanks mostly to Salsa Girl having to work for one and a half days of it.
Apparently when one does not set an alarm one has a tendency to sleep until almost noon (nigh moon?) - especially when it's one of those rare weekends when Sister Serials makes no crisis calls from the library.
Of course such an alarm would have been set had there been an event on, such as the gaming extravaganza at The Bastard's which was booked in for my completely free and open Saturday for nigh on a month before a last minute change to the booked for Salsa time Sunday afternoon because of some inexplicable preference for Dragonmim and Pirate Dave being at the table instead of oneself. All explained with the flimsy excuse of "more people are available then" or some such.
Sigh.
In any case I made the most of my nothing time over both days, achieving huge amounts of rest and nothing. I believe I shall enter the working week fully refreshed and ready to go, go, go.
I'll just check this one more web site then get to bed...
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Finding the Path
One's weekend consisted of several path finding attempts.
The first was on Friday eve when one, along with Legion2, had to find a way through the nigh-constant babble that is football watching with The Great Sandro. Entertaining but exhausting.
My second path finding expedition was my great journey North to collect an undelivered package from the depot. Obstacle after obstacle was placed in my path as first Saturday traffic, then abundant red lights and finally copious road works All conspired to keep me from my true path.
However I overcame and reached my destination, parked the car and made my way to the front door to be greeted by a sign that read, "Parcel pick up from side door". Finding the path to the side door one was confronted with a second sign, "Weekend pick up from warehouse door 4, ring bell".
Picking my way through a maze of parked trucks I found my way to door 4 using the clever technique of counting my way along from door 1.
Arriving I found a staff member having a break outside the open door. Upon stating my quest I was told , "nah, the bell is round the other side. Just stand in the doorway until someone notices you.".
Thankfully I was noticed in short order and then a staff member walked all the way back to the side office to fetch me my parcel and my ordeal was over.
Or so I thought.
Trying to make my way to my next appointment was fraught with roadwork redirections and much reduced speed limits which put the finishing touch on my 40 minute round trip becoming an hour and a half.
I guess there's a Caution in this for you all: make sure you are home when a parcel is delivered.
Anyway I did eventually arrive at my final path finding event - an actual game of Pathfinder at the mercy of The Bastard, with the likes of Fantomas, DragonMim and Pirate Dave as one's compatriots.
Lots of fun and sugar was had before I was forced to find the path home.
.
The first was on Friday eve when one, along with Legion2, had to find a way through the nigh-constant babble that is football watching with The Great Sandro. Entertaining but exhausting.
My second path finding expedition was my great journey North to collect an undelivered package from the depot. Obstacle after obstacle was placed in my path as first Saturday traffic, then abundant red lights and finally copious road works All conspired to keep me from my true path.
However I overcame and reached my destination, parked the car and made my way to the front door to be greeted by a sign that read, "Parcel pick up from side door". Finding the path to the side door one was confronted with a second sign, "Weekend pick up from warehouse door 4, ring bell".
Picking my way through a maze of parked trucks I found my way to door 4 using the clever technique of counting my way along from door 1.
Arriving I found a staff member having a break outside the open door. Upon stating my quest I was told , "nah, the bell is round the other side. Just stand in the doorway until someone notices you.".
Thankfully I was noticed in short order and then a staff member walked all the way back to the side office to fetch me my parcel and my ordeal was over.
Or so I thought.
Trying to make my way to my next appointment was fraught with roadwork redirections and much reduced speed limits which put the finishing touch on my 40 minute round trip becoming an hour and a half.
I guess there's a Caution in this for you all: make sure you are home when a parcel is delivered.
Anyway I did eventually arrive at my final path finding event - an actual game of Pathfinder at the mercy of The Bastard, with the likes of Fantomas, DragonMim and Pirate Dave as one's compatriots.
Lots of fun and sugar was had before I was forced to find the path home.
.
Sardine Breakfast
So, finally the lifting of one's contribution to the SOPA strike has
arrived and I can once again regale you with further Cautionary Tales.
But first, I hope everyone celebrated yesterday appropriately as it was International Day of FridgePower wherein we should acclaim how great it is to have such a personage amongst us, or something along those lines. Apparently it was also DragonMim day but unless there's cake at tonight's gaming one shall not believe it.
On a similar note today is Legion day (part deux) wherein you all may commiserate with one about having to share the parental spotlight, and lolly jar, with interlopers.
And now, on with the Caution.
Today's concerns the perils of relying on public transport to make it on time to an important meeting.
Suffice to say that the consequences of several delays makes for a quite tightly packed journey. So tightly packed that one would find oneself unable to even answer one's phone when Supervisor Grand Chief K calls to assess one's whereabouts.
However rather than turn back I persevered through all the trials and tribulations, against all the odds and risking life and limb until finally I trudged into the café to make the meeting with free breakfast.
.
But first, I hope everyone celebrated yesterday appropriately as it was International Day of FridgePower wherein we should acclaim how great it is to have such a personage amongst us, or something along those lines. Apparently it was also DragonMim day but unless there's cake at tonight's gaming one shall not believe it.
On a similar note today is Legion day (part deux) wherein you all may commiserate with one about having to share the parental spotlight, and lolly jar, with interlopers.
And now, on with the Caution.
Today's concerns the perils of relying on public transport to make it on time to an important meeting.
Suffice to say that the consequences of several delays makes for a quite tightly packed journey. So tightly packed that one would find oneself unable to even answer one's phone when Supervisor Grand Chief K calls to assess one's whereabouts.
However rather than turn back I persevered through all the trials and tribulations, against all the odds and risking life and limb until finally I trudged into the café to make the meeting with free breakfast.
.
Stepping Ahead
Well the global corporate challenge finished in the middle of last week and yours truly managed to end it all in a winning position.
You see I was able to complete the challenge, in true Millenium Falcon style, by using less steps than anyone else in my team.
I am currently awaiting for my accolades to commence.
In other stepping news Saturday afternoon saw The Great Sandro and Legion2 at one's domicile for some good old-fashioned lounge room footy watching. We all had a great time watching the mighty pies go one step closer to the Grand Final.
One's Sunday was spent with the likes of Fantomas, Gavman, Pirate Dave, and DragonMim, in the clutches of The Bastard as we took the first steps in his new Pathfinder roleplaying game campaign. He appears to have lulled them all into a false sense of security by making it a fun time but I, knowing better, have my eye on him and am ready to strike at the first sign of shenanigans.
.
You see I was able to complete the challenge, in true Millenium Falcon style, by using less steps than anyone else in my team.
I am currently awaiting for my accolades to commence.
In other stepping news Saturday afternoon saw The Great Sandro and Legion2 at one's domicile for some good old-fashioned lounge room footy watching. We all had a great time watching the mighty pies go one step closer to the Grand Final.
One's Sunday was spent with the likes of Fantomas, Gavman, Pirate Dave, and DragonMim, in the clutches of The Bastard as we took the first steps in his new Pathfinder roleplaying game campaign. He appears to have lulled them all into a false sense of security by making it a fun time but I, knowing better, have my eye on him and am ready to strike at the first sign of shenanigans.
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In the Lair of the Dragon
I'm going to gloss over the silence of the last few weeks - ignoring such excuses and incidents as: increased workload of project implementation and library refurbishment, busy social life, footy game days, gaming events, cinema excursions and many other sundry events and happenings from the lost fortnight.
Instead I am going to jump straight to the recent events without any dilly-dallying.
This Thursday last I made my monthly attendance at the fortnightly game run by The Bastard. This episode was back at it's spiritual home on the DragonMim's dining room table.
The gang was all there, Gavman with his tactical nous, Fantomas with his rules stretching nous, Pirate Dave with his rules knowledge nous, The Bastard with his rules ignoring 'kill them all' nous, DragonMim with snack providing nous, and ArchEnemy with his usual day to day brand of evil.
All in all it was a rip roaring session of goblin bashing and bastardry. I only wish it didn't take one's body several days to recover from the huge amount of snacks that DragonMim forces one to consume at these events.
.
Instead I am going to jump straight to the recent events without any dilly-dallying.
This Thursday last I made my monthly attendance at the fortnightly game run by The Bastard. This episode was back at it's spiritual home on the DragonMim's dining room table.
The gang was all there, Gavman with his tactical nous, Fantomas with his rules stretching nous, Pirate Dave with his rules knowledge nous, The Bastard with his rules ignoring 'kill them all' nous, DragonMim with snack providing nous, and ArchEnemy with his usual day to day brand of evil.
All in all it was a rip roaring session of goblin bashing and bastardry. I only wish it didn't take one's body several days to recover from the huge amount of snacks that DragonMim forces one to consume at these events.
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The Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher
This is the book that Fantomas suggested I read before reading a better one so as to not be extremely disappointed in it. Dragonmim also came to the party adding that he'd "made it through" the first two of the series - a slightly damning appraisal given his propensity for series completion.
As you may note it has taken one more than a month to finish this one - and I only made it to the end this week thanks to my twelve day Easter weekend.
It was an okay enough read although it has more of a teen feel to it than the adult fantasy it presents itself as - mostly, I think, due to the teenage protagonist (with a secret origin and a destiny) and the fact that nobody of importance (to us the readers) dies in the catastrophic events it contains. Still, I give it three and a half stars as the final 100 or so pages had me quite entertained.
I doubt that I shall seek out any more of the series, especially as I shall soon be reading that fantastic fantasy opus of which many have made recommendations.
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As you may note it has taken one more than a month to finish this one - and I only made it to the end this week thanks to my twelve day Easter weekend.
It was an okay enough read although it has more of a teen feel to it than the adult fantasy it presents itself as - mostly, I think, due to the teenage protagonist (with a secret origin and a destiny) and the fact that nobody of importance (to us the readers) dies in the catastrophic events it contains. Still, I give it three and a half stars as the final 100 or so pages had me quite entertained.
I doubt that I shall seek out any more of the series, especially as I shall soon be reading that fantastic fantasy opus of which many have made recommendations.
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Highlights of the Missing Weeks
Well time has been scooting past at great pace and suddenly I find myself several weeks beyond my last blog post.
I'm going to skim over the vast array of events that befell me in that hectic time and merely pause to point out the highlights.
Doctor Who and the Miracle of Mr Prada
One of the earliest occurrences of this lost time was my beginning the latest season of the good Doctor's show. It was not without mishap though as my usually reliable sources all failed to mention to me that it was going to begin on real TV. However amongst all my disappointment at Legion2 and Miss Amanda it was Mr Prada who came to the rescue and enlightened me to the convenience that is the ABC's legitimate online viewing platform. I was quickly able to catch up and be ready for the weekly broadcast.
Prelude to a Conference
Whilst dealing with the wonderfulness that is the public transport systems ability to interfere with my precisely timed travel arrangements I bumped into a long time friend of the legion - G O We Luv You. We had a quick ten minute information dump before parting ways - he home with his significant other and myself home to bounce back city-ward for the pre-conference dinner.
I was late of course.
And then proceeded to ask the head of our the hosting company where he fit into the picture.
Luckily I dodged the bottomless wine-glass effect and made only a good impression on behalf of my organisation - which is good because Supervisor Grand Chief K was in attendance as well.
Conference Proper
A day of fun and frivolity was had with myself and Ms Magpie enduring such things as Constitution creation and IEEE standards information sessions.
The lunch was good, and plentiful though. We did get to play with new toys in the afternoon, ask the hard questions of our suppliers, and go home early, so it all worked out okay in the end.
Game Days
An afternoon and evening of gaming got off to an unexpected start when ElfBoy mixed up his dates and arrived mid-morning.
Much 1920's fun was had on several occasions as we partook further in the Fantomas gaming experience.
The Thursday night game enjoyed the return of DragonMim (and the early bedtime of Vengeful Vic - zing!).
Further ancient battles were fought with Badger.
Strategy Day
A day of strategy planning was had by the upper echelons of the library. My planning consisted of the best strategy to get to lunch early.
A Huge Footy Day
And finally myself, The Great Sandro, ElfBoy and Legion2 all attended the great Collingwood Carlton game yesterday. As it was supposed to be a sell out we had to attend extra early which turned the afternoon out into virtually a whole day affair. Still when ones team wins so emphatically such a large time investment hardly seems to matter.
The most significant thing that happened during the game was my near knockout of Legion2 as my arms shot out in celebration of one particularly excellent goal. Had he leant forward one more centimetre in excitement then it would have been much more than his hat that would have gone flying.
There you go. The skimming is all done and it should be a doddle for me to keep you up to date with whatever strange happenings arise in the future as they happen.
.
I'm going to skim over the vast array of events that befell me in that hectic time and merely pause to point out the highlights.
Doctor Who and the Miracle of Mr Prada
One of the earliest occurrences of this lost time was my beginning the latest season of the good Doctor's show. It was not without mishap though as my usually reliable sources all failed to mention to me that it was going to begin on real TV. However amongst all my disappointment at Legion2 and Miss Amanda it was Mr Prada who came to the rescue and enlightened me to the convenience that is the ABC's legitimate online viewing platform. I was quickly able to catch up and be ready for the weekly broadcast.
Prelude to a Conference
Whilst dealing with the wonderfulness that is the public transport systems ability to interfere with my precisely timed travel arrangements I bumped into a long time friend of the legion - G O We Luv You. We had a quick ten minute information dump before parting ways - he home with his significant other and myself home to bounce back city-ward for the pre-conference dinner.
I was late of course.
And then proceeded to ask the head of our the hosting company where he fit into the picture.
Luckily I dodged the bottomless wine-glass effect and made only a good impression on behalf of my organisation - which is good because Supervisor Grand Chief K was in attendance as well.
Conference Proper
A day of fun and frivolity was had with myself and Ms Magpie enduring such things as Constitution creation and IEEE standards information sessions.
The lunch was good, and plentiful though. We did get to play with new toys in the afternoon, ask the hard questions of our suppliers, and go home early, so it all worked out okay in the end.
Game Days
An afternoon and evening of gaming got off to an unexpected start when ElfBoy mixed up his dates and arrived mid-morning.
Much 1920's fun was had on several occasions as we partook further in the Fantomas gaming experience.
The Thursday night game enjoyed the return of DragonMim (and the early bedtime of Vengeful Vic - zing!).
Further ancient battles were fought with Badger.
Strategy Day
A day of strategy planning was had by the upper echelons of the library. My planning consisted of the best strategy to get to lunch early.
A Huge Footy Day
And finally myself, The Great Sandro, ElfBoy and Legion2 all attended the great Collingwood Carlton game yesterday. As it was supposed to be a sell out we had to attend extra early which turned the afternoon out into virtually a whole day affair. Still when ones team wins so emphatically such a large time investment hardly seems to matter.
The most significant thing that happened during the game was my near knockout of Legion2 as my arms shot out in celebration of one particularly excellent goal. Had he leant forward one more centimetre in excitement then it would have been much more than his hat that would have gone flying.
There you go. The skimming is all done and it should be a doddle for me to keep you up to date with whatever strange happenings arise in the future as they happen.
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