filkertom

December 10, 2009 9:26 PM 12/10/09

What is it about cold and snowy days that make you feel like you want to just curl up into a little ball under a ton of blankets.

I’m not talking about those days of bright sun and brisk cold that make you feel sharp and aware with a tang in your nose. I’m talking about the days of bitter cold where any exposed skin becomes taut and cold as if you’re made of ice yourself and all you touch feels slightly sticky as if you would be stuck if given even a moment’s hesitation.

Yeah...it’s cold here.

I even had trouble getting into the hatchback today. Well...not getting into it exactly. The cold was so bad that the latch mechanism of the door was gummed enough that the door wouldn’t stay closed. Someone watching me would have probably mistaken the situation for a bad situation in a comedy film of some sort. I got angry and repeatedly slammed the door and watched it bounce back almost immediately about a half dozen times before my brain finally engaged and I got out the hair dryer to heat up the latch.

Never was there a better excuse to buy a remote starter. Unfortunately that’s a bit out of my price range right now.

People on the road today were idiots as usual. A ton of large SUVs and trucks and luxury cars that just don’t have a clue on how to actually drive. I drive a 28 year old hatchback with a low-slung suspension and manual steering and manual brakes and I have more control on these roads than most of these yutzes.

I did manage to score an inexpensive little A/V transmitting pair from a local friend that allows me to play and control the unused satellite receiver in the garage. This is pretty cool because sometimes I miss certain shows while I’m working out there and while I don’t watch a lot of TV I do kind of like a couple of shows.

Speaking of the workshop I was sitting out there tonight trying to get something working and all of a sudden there was this cold draft. Turns out I forgot to staple plastic over the two large gable vents out there. I managed to get the one covered but not the other. I’ll do that tomorrow hopefully.

Been writing in a small black notebook about the world in The Unlicensed. Worldbuilding in red ink with a fountain pen. Go figure. It’s good I started doing that because there were some things I didn’t understand about the people I’m writing about.

Y’know I never really understood that whole “my characters tell me what to write” thing. I accepted it because it fits and makes sense but I’ve never really experienced it until now. It’s actually a pretty cool feeling and one that is oddly completely comfortable to me. Again. Go figure. :-)

The temp is dropping and so are my eyelids. ‘Night all!

Spot-cleaning done. Litterboxes changed out. Firing up a bowl of al-Waha Bounty, when that is done I will tuck the hookah away. Then there will be possibly a brownie and more sleep.

Had fun with doombuggie and J. last night. Got to try Starbuzz Blue Mist, which I'd heard a lot of good things about, and it was reasonably tasty. Plus smoking from doombuggie's Khalil Mamoon is always a pleasure; a KM is on my "next year in Jerusalem" list. Oh, and I got six two-liters of ginger beer.

After I got home, not so good. I had a bout of dysphoric hypomania, and my back was killing me and only stopped hurting if I lay very still. Hello insomnia, my old friend! I laid listening to i-Doser sleepytiems files for two hours. Nothing but lying there fretting. Took some Benadryl and Valium. Nope. I got a few hours in between six and ten.

Then this morning I had to make a very intimidating and important phone call. Scary as hell and rattling, but mission achieved. Tonight I have to change out the litterboxes and do a few more last-minute things before tomorrow's inspection. And hopefully that will go smoothly and I can finally relax for a day or two.

rehd_fawx is watching CORALINE for the first time and squeeing hard. It's a perfect movie for her and I am glad it is making her happy. I need to watch it again.

( PLAGUED RPG - What would you do if you lost your magic? )

I wrote the formal complaint email and sent it off to the ombudsman. I should ("should" being the operative word, I'm sure) hear back by Wednesday morning. Thank you so much, everyone who offered your support and cheered doombuggie on! I had him read over my letter before I sent it, and specifically asked that all corresspondence be CC'ed to him.

Inspection on Tuesday. I need to empty out the litterboxes. That'll wipe my back out for a day or two, but it needs to be done.

Got plans with doombuggie tonight. Gonna snag his friend J., gonna hit Fiesta so I can grab some ginger beer and see if this year's Christmas aisle is worthy of taking rehd_fawx to when she visits (if it's not, I'll probably snag her some Jaffa cakes and stuff so she'll still have some imported goodies. Then it's back to doombuggie's to fire up the hookahs. Since he already knows his Christmas present is a tin of Starbuzz Kiwi Strawberry, I might as well give it to him now. He has a bunch of flavors I haven't triedyet that sound good, and I have that Bounty flavor.

Uhhhhgh, I had to take some Benadryl and now I am wiped out. Goodbye for a few hours, world.

December 5, 2009 9:17 AM 12/5/09

So it’s been almost a month since I’ve posted anything - sorry.

Things are going okay. We’re paying our bills and other things well enough.

First snow here this week. Whoop-de-doo. I am frankly tired of snow. Thankfully I managed to get the tractor and plow into the garage so there won’t be any issues once it snows more. (If it snows more. Global warming is a definite reality as far as I’m concerned.)

Still writing on and off but I’m not focused on it yet. I’m working on reorganizing the workshop so one area is a space just for writing but that’s slow going. Will probably build more shelves out there this coming week so I have better storage.

Drew up plans for a box outside the garage window so I can store the firewood outside in a dry space rather than in the garage because I want to reclaim the space under that window. Planning on building another workbench for that spot using the wood I already have and maybe a 2x4 or two from the local big box store.

Also drew up a framework to put on the outside of the shed to be able to store the jon-boat on top of the shed instead of off to the side of it.

Managed to get the grill and the non-working motorcycle into the shed this year so the yard is actually fairly clear of junk. Still a lot of dead vegetation to be handled but with the snow that’s waiting until next year. Though I really really want to get proper lights for the walkways even if I have to use non-green AC run lights.

It’s funny because I figured out how to make simple LED pole lights using standard copper plumbing pipe and a regular AC lighting transformer. Polish the copper but don’t coat it so it patinas properly and they should look pretty cool. Not sure if my wife would like them or not so I’ll probably have to make one first to show her.

Have friends coming over this afternoon to do paper RPG stuff which is going to be good fun. Unfortunately that means a buttload of cleaning because we’ve been a little lazy since the Thanksgiving holiday. It’s mostly just clutter anyway so we should be able to knock that out without too much issue. (Ick. I just remembered that I have to clean out the fireplace. Fun.)

Picked up a free Compaq EVO N610c notebook and loaded Ubuntu 9.10 on it and it seems to just frakking work which I’m quite grateful for. Got a 2.2ghz processor to upgrade it and wedged wireless into the thing in place of the internal modem and it just rocks. Pretty damn solid for such an old notebook.

Managed to get the carb on the 024 working right. Someone screwed up the rebuild and I had to switch the solenoid on it but now it runs like a champ. Just in time to have to replace the exhaust. *grin* And I managed to start the truck using a pair of pliers across the relay terminals so I can at least move it. I may just wire a starter switch on the dash - at 497k miles diagnosing wiring issues is a bit of a pain.

Or, an account of doombuggie's vast awesomeness.

On my last visit to MHMR, I signed a form allowing doombuggie access to my information there. There are times when he can describe my symptoms better that I can, and times when he has a better grasp on what's up with my meds. And there are times when I really need a friend to advocate for me.

Yesterday was one of those times.

I had an appointment with a nurse I hadn't seen before. I introduced doombuggie (by his legal name) as my advocate, and confimed that I'd signed a consent form. She did not look happy about me having an advocate present. There were only two chairs, and I was going to cede the empty chair to doombuggie, because the chilly weather can't have been kind to his fibromyalgia. That was when the nurse snapped "Which one of you is the patient?". Now, neither of us has an gender-ambiguous name or appearance, and I'd already introduced him as my advocate, so clearly she wasn't in any doubt, but merely harassing us. Anyway, she insisted I take the chair, and when I tried described my symptoms, she kept interrupting me and contradicting me, especially when I tried to describe my sleep patterns.

Then she started giving me a hard time for coming in to see her and not my regular doctor's nurse, and for coming in on a day when my regular doctor wasn't in. Now, this isn't something I have any control over; the appointment clerk sets up the appointment and you take what they give you. She wouldn't refill my meds, I'd have to come back to see the other nurse on a day my doctor was in. I was shaking badly at that point, and doombuggie just let loose. Said her behavior was uncalled for, she was rude and unprofessional, her actions were making my symptoms worse... I admit I fled down the hall at that point, partly because I was wigging out, and partly because I was trying not to burst out laughing from all the awesome, so I might have missed a bit of the closing kickassery. But honestly, I think they heard it in the waiting room; doombuggie's voice carries.

So we made the new appointment (it's on the 11th), and talked about writing up a formal complaint (I intend to). And when I got home I took a meganap, and the kitties snuggled around me.

Ah, doombuggie, why you gotta be so awesome?

Been looking for a place to post your fanfic? Got an idea for a story you want to see written? Know of that one fic that just begs you to tell about it to others?

Then look no further: multi_fiction

Here is a place for all your fanfiction needs. We offer fanfic, challenges, and recs in every fandom you can post about. Come share the fanfiction with us, whether it be yours, ours, or rec some complete strangers.

There are very few rules, but all are there for your benefit. We have a friendly atmosphere with a welcoming friends list. Give us a try.

octopon - Pirates of DarkWater fandom asylum.

gotham_gazette - Batman fandom asylum for all batfans.

vagrant_story - Vagrant Story fandom asylum. Pending/WIP.

Please keep in mind that I will be retiring Vagrant Story and Gotham Gazette if no further interest is shown.

And,

Please feel free to join commedia; a personal project of mine, aiming to review and analyze comics (and other selected media) that feature DC Comics' The Joker.

It is currently a WIP because I am still going through my 500+ hardcopy!issues collection. I do not download torrents/scans.

Two important polls need to be voted on, as seen here explaining two routes the asylum's project can take. IE: spoiler free reviews, spoilerific reviews, etc. This asylum will continue to be WIP until further interest is shown.

I am also open to affiliating with other comic book and/or Batman related asylums, except for RPGs.

They're doing inspections next week, so I spent more than I should have to get cleaners in. So that was me having to be awake from around noon to around two. But it doesn't stop there, because I am expecting a Hookah-Shisha.com package from UPS, and the only way I can be sure of getting a UPS delivery without a hitch is by having the door open. Thankfully, the screen door latch is fixed! But UPS is yet to arrive, although the tracking info says all is well.

Did I mention that it's raining and chilly? 43 may not be cold in New England in December, but it is in Texas. And the rainy, especially, makes me stiff and sore.

I've got semi-plans with doombuggie, but if UPS doesn't show soon they won't be able to happen :( I'm miserably cold and stiff anyway. I just want to be warm.

( Mod Cooperative - a place where players and mods come together to help each other out! )


( Old School RP - a place to advertise games that follow old school rules of RP. )

I finished my second run through the anime series of Hikaru no Go the other day. Time for a drabble.

Title: Roland Emmerich Only Wishes...
Fandom: Hikaru no Go
Summary: "The quake, centered in Tokyo..."
Word count: 205
A/N: Unabashed crack.

( The apocalypse does indeed begin with a whimper... )

My grandmother sent me this "cutesy" email forward about how awesome dogs are and how aloof and uncaring cats are.

I sent her pictures of her great-grand-kitties.

I have an upset tummy and a slightly whiny back. Oh, for a bottle of ginger beer and a gentle backrub! I might have to use my Hitachi Magic Wand for its officially intended purpose.

More stress today; had to call to switch my Medicare Part D insurance plan to one where I wouldn't have to pay a premium. Enrolled over the phone. My hands were shaking the whole time. I almost dropped the phone.

Tomorrow I need to get ahold of Molly Maid so I don't have to worry about my place being a sty for the inspection on the 8th. Why the hell they are doing inspections now is anyone's guess. I just hope it's not the 3rd, because if it is I'll have to reschedule my MHMR appointment.

But I am valiumed up now and sleep will be soo.

By the way, hearkening back to my earlier post--this doesn't spoil anything, since you can see on the Yuletide list of requested fandoms that no one asked for it--I did not get assigned to write for Richard Adams's The Plague Dogs. I decided, when I accidentally included it in the list, that rather than redo my list I'd just go read the book once and for all, even before the assignments came out, so I got it from the library.

I got through Ulysses easier than this. This is...guys, I have written some interesting metaphors myself in my time, some of them admittedly more purple than should be seen outside of crackfic, but this takes them all:

...Rowf's rump slid suddenly forward as smoothly as a turd from a healthy anus...

I can't even facepalm. It's too squicky.