Dave 2's Blog
3/06/08
Set both of your 20-sided die to 0-0, raise the Monster Manual to half-staff and spend your 14th level ranger's next several turns hoisting a few pints of ale - even if that does mean losing some hit points along the way.
If none of that makes any sense, then you probably didn't take much notice when Gary Gygax died earlier this week. But for those of us who spent our Friday nights huddled around a hexagonal map scattered with lead figurines of dwarves and owlbears, instead of the spiked punch bowl at the junior prom, this is a very mournful week. Our nerd king has fallen.
Gygax was the co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons, and the godfather of role-playing games. The legacy of D&D is most apparent today in its huge impact on video games and social networking. (Don't fool yourself. Dungeons & Dragons and Second Life are a lot more similar than you think.) For many of us who played, however, the name Gygax conjures up the past: a short but meaningful era when we lost ourselves for hours at a time in a fantasy world created with pen and paper and lots of imagination.
I remember spending weekends (72 hrs straight), playing Dungeons and Dragons (D&D). Groups of us fighting sleep just to see what the Dungeon Master has hidden behind that next door (Master screen, anyway). Making my own Dungeons and maps to send characters to their collective deaths. Creating the Riddle Master to rival anyones 30th level Half-Giant Ranger/Monk/Cleric. Or the Dark Elf/Human Hybrid that couldn't quite firgure out if it was an Anti-Paladin or Anti-Mage...
So Long Gary, we hardly knew ye...
12/12/07
Christmas is near, christmas is here, Happy New year and blow it out your ear...
Yeah, I know, not much sentiment for the holiday spirit, eh? I hate that people think they have to go out and make something of a good spirit episode for this time of the year. It's Christmas, not go take a happy pill and spend all your money. We all forget the reason behind Christmas. Not Jesus birthday, gosh what is that all about. People forgot that the reason for christmas is it's meaning. Christ=Jesus, God, etc... mas=short for mass or meating or celebration of. I think it's gonna snow here in Salinas, been in the low 30's and upper 20's at night. No rain or snow yet, but our natural fog / AC can freeze just as well. We have a new cat (Joey) Janice found at the Post Office. By the way she made regular, (finally). The cat hates the Dog, but Toby just wants to play. Morgana must be loving the weather down in Phoenix, no fear of snow there, eh? Now go out a kill a turkey or pig for Christmas dinner, we are having Italian (too much food network for me!).
9/10/07
Chaco Canyon and Vermillion Cliffs
Well our summer vacation was to the four corners states. We went to Las Vegas 1st, and ate at Emeil's Restaurant (Oh ya babe!), BAM! Then we went down to AZ and drove route 66. Louis love the idea of driving the road immortalized in the movie Cars. He kept asking, "Where's Radiator Springs?" Sorry Louis it was only a movie. The scenery along the old mother road is something that can't be described, you have to visit it. The things people miss by driving the superhighways... Get off the main roads, sightsee, and visit the real America, man! We went through Flagstaff and headed to Monument Valley, Four Corners, Mesa Verde then Durango, Co. We had to take the DSNGRR (Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad). Such a sight, then road a bus down the mountain, still a sight. The Suburban decided to lose the emergency brake cable and we had to fix it in Durango. Then next part of the trip was my main reason for going, Chaco Canyon. If you ever wanted to investigate ancient Americans, this is the place to see. It was a 23 mile trip down dirt roads and through washes, but the destination was worth it (the drive was fun too). Pueblo Bonito and Casa Rinconada are the two sights you have to visit. Pueblo Bonito could have held 3000 people. The great Kiva of Casa Rinconada could have held 3-400 at a time. Most people say the Anazazi (ancient enemy, in Navaho) people disappeared, but after building this, they must have moved to NY and built Manhattan. The Anazazi are now being called Ancestral Pueblo, they dissipated and became the Navaho and such of the area, and they could also have merged with the Mogollon. The second reason for this trip was to take a balloon ride; we went to Albuquerque and rode a 12 person balloon. The weather was great and the ride was nice, Louis loved it too. We ate in the best southwest restaurant in Albuquerque, El Pinto (recommended by Lorraine, who, by the way, just got promoted to the District Ranger of the Vermillion Cliffs area). We left New Mexico and traveled as much of route 66 as possible back to Flagstaff, via Petrified Forest/Painted Desert. Had to stand on the corner in Winslow Arizona too (Eagles). And visited Holbrook, home of the Wigwam hotel (Cozy Cone from Cars). We then headed back up the road to Utah, Via the Vermillion Cliffs; pictures do not do it justice. We visited Lorraine and David in Kanab, UT (She was back from DC for a couple of weeks). Had some fun on dirt roads in Utah then headed home. The whole trip was perfect weather, got little rain, 70-80 degrees, moderate humidity, partly cloudy... But CA! 105 in Baker and 100 through Paso Robles (got some relief in Tehachapi). We ate at the best Greek restaurant in the world in Baker, CA, The Mad Greek (my Tzatziki is better). The trip was fun and educational for us and Louis. He had to present a journal of his trip to the 1st grade class as his homework for the trip. But now I can say... Been there, done that. 4/8/07
Easter, The resurrection...
Life teaches us a bunch of lessons. Some are hard earned, so come easy. The ones who learn from them and climb above it become better for it. Those who wallow in self pity will remain on the bottom. Most people strive to remain standard (status quo) and that is where they will stay. You should always look to see what you can do to better yourself, never settel for just the status quo. Some times that may mean you have to rebel, but this country seems to hate rebels. You can push it without becoming a rebel, you just have to be aware of your balance and how you are percieved by others. Never let you zest for becoming better squash the dreams or hopes of others. You can always achieve better with help. Align yourself with others that are on the same track. What you achieve should be shared with others. Don't forget to thank those who have helped you on that track. Never kick the fallen, show them compassion for they have just lost sight of their intended goal. Help them to see the path to advancement. Just because the leaders of this world are morons or misguided, don't let that give you the sense of doom. We have the power to change this. We have the voice and the means to better ourselfs and the lives of those around us. Voting, getting involved, joining groups or leading groups that do that which you feel is the means to your goal, that is how we can become better than we are today.
I may be a hypocrite, but that is in the eyes of those who do not feel as I do. And following our goals or making things better is not always possible immediately. All good things come to those who have patience, for that is the method of our achievment.
Matthew 5: 6-8, 13-16: Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God. Ye are the salt of the Earth... Ye are the light of the World... Let your light so shine before others, that they may see your good works...
Try not to take this a just religous babbling, these words were spoken by someone who was down, beaten, hated and unwanted; he rose above that and became a voice for his followers and others around him. He strived to better himself and those around him. He did not kick the fallen, he lifted them up, he did not beat the leaders (even tho they were corrupt or misguided), he taught them, advised them, and in the end, thanked them. He was killed for his beliefs, but he never lost sight of his goals. Jesus may have been a prophet, teacher, son or the Son of God. Believe how you want, I just place it as a story to be told. ____________________________________________________________ 3/24/07
Yeah, Yeah...
I know been a while again. Got the Relay for Life page going for North Monterey County www.acsevents.org/relay/ca/northmontereycounty . Had to go to Oakland for training. 6 hours of traffic driving to do a 4 hour training that was nothing new. Not that I could have been the instructor... but I could have figured it all out on my own.
Why is it that as we get older we need bifocals? In the past year I have gotten to where I cannot read without glasses. Driving is fine, but maybe next time I renew my License I will need them to drive.
A word of caution to all geeks and wannabe geeks, DO NOT GET VISTA, it sucks, it sucks soo bad you will wish you had windows 98. Don't even get me started on networking the damn thing. Wait for Service pack 1 or better. _______________________________________________ 12/20/06
Merry Christmas, Yeah I said it, Merry CHRISTMAS. Are we overcommercializing the honored tradition of celebrating Jesus' birth (yeah, I know, it was in June, not Dec). Are we letting the crazy anti-religion minority groups tell us that we cannot display our iconic tranliterations of the dynamically active culture associated with this time of year? BA-HUMBUG! If I want to say 'Christmas', not 'happy holidays', or 'have an uplifting joyous celebration of the annual winter solstice, depression laden, money reducing, commercialized transition period', then, by God, I will. We all know the reason Christmas is celebrated in December is because we all needed something to do during the off-season. We have Winter solstice (the shortest day of the year), end-of-year (Gregorian calendar), school transition, and coldest period (northern hemisphere anyway). Most people were cooped-up indoors, traveled very little and were depresed. What better that to celebrate something big that lasts for two weeks (hence 12 days of christmas) Its origin is (from Wikipedia):
"The Twelve Days of Christmas is a children's rhyme that was originally published in a book called Mirth without Mischief in London around 1780. Originally a memory and forfeit game, to play a circle of players were gathered and each person took it in turns to say the first line of the rhyme. When it is the first players turn again he says the second line of the verse and so on. 100 years later the game and rhyme were adopted by Lady Gomme as a rhyme that "the whole family could have fun singing every twelfth night before Christmas before eating mince pies and twelfth cake". The 12 days after Christmas were celbrated as a festival, these are the twelve days beginning on night of Christmas (December 25) and ending on the day of 6 January as Epiphany begins on (January 6). In the Middle Ages this period was one of continuous feasting and merrymaking, which climaxed on Twelfth Night, the traditional end of the Christmas season. During the twelve days of Christmas, traditional roles were often relaxed, masters waited on their servants, men were allowed to dress as women, and women as men. Often a Lord of Misrule was chosen to lead the Christmas revels. Some of these traditions were adapted from older, pagan customs, including the Roman Saturnalia. Some also have an echo in modern day pantomime where traditionally authority is mocked and the principal male lead is played by a woman, while the leading older female character, or 'Dame' is played by a man. Some people give gifts, feast and otherwise celebrate on each of the twelve days rather than just on one day at Christmas." __________________________________________
11/23/06
Been awhile eh? Happy Thanksgiving. Hawaii is the only place in the United States you can go to and say 'I've seen something different now'. You got to get away from the tourists and see the islands. Big Isle, Kauai, whatever. Go to a real Luau, ride a helicopter, or go snorkeling. Don't just go to the tourist spots, shop, surf, whatever. Go to a farmers market, get a real pineapple, guava, papaya, have some poi (it does taste like wallpaper paste). Visit all the Islands you can. Molokai and Molokini are empty, but unique. Kauai is still the prettiest and best. They need motorcycle rentals on maui and the big island. Saw an active volcano on the south end of Hawaii. All in all it was a good trip (could have been longer). You get used to the weather quick, and forget about the big city life. Mahalo and Aloha.
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05/20/06
Well... It's that time again. Relay For Life, North Monterey County, 3-4 June 2006, North Monterey County High School, 10:00 am till 10:00 am. Check out my Donation page and help find the cure to cancer. We all have our reasons for supporting the ACS and the Relay for life, mine is in Honor of my wife Janice and her conquest over Leukemia. Please help me with any donation you can spare. Remember we are all affected by Cancer. Thank you for Supporting North Monterey County Relay for Life and the ACS. Your donations are greatly appreciated.
It has been a while since my last update, but we all have things to do, eh? Morgana has a pig in the Salinas Valley Fair. It placed 6th among 300 pigs. Then she wants to move to Wyoming (Teenagers!). Just a year ago she said 'I will never live in Wyoming again' (Never say never). Serena is getting her braces. Louis is doing great in Kindergarten, hopefully he continues doing good. Hope to see you at the Relay. ____________________________________________ 01/23/06
The only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys. And why should Louis be any different. Louis has the Thomas the Tank Engine battery trains and magnetic trains. He also has the Thomas playhouse, Thomas sheets, Thomas table, etc.
Well I always liked HO trains, so when I saw the Electric HO train set on Ebay this last Christmas, I had to get it. Louis helped do the layout and he can only play with it when I'm around. It is on an electric lift, so it can be lifted to the roof of the garage when not in use (that way JA can park her precious truck inside). We have two levels with separate controls for each level. Also there are 4 sidings with a switch to control each siding separately. They have a cranky crane that really lifts, but there were no Sodor buildings. We had to improvise a Tidmouth Station and a Sodor Post Office. Couldn't find a Sodor Phone Company but there is still room. Louis loves it, but I guess it is really Daddys toy... ________________________________________________ 11/05/05
I Have Faced Fear and Eaten it
Climbing poles has got to be the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. Going up and down the ladders at 24' was nothing. I've used ladders quite a bit. Even hooking up to the line at 24' and climbing with it shaking in the wind and such was no big deal. But, as Mo said, everyone has their height limit; I found mine at about 26'. The stepped poles are 28'. The strand is placed at 28' and you have to climb to the strand, strap in, hang out, and work at that level. I went all the way up 1st time but was so shaken that I couldn't really work. I had to place 2 clamps and did one wrong, but had to descend. It took me 1 1/2 hrs to go back up and remove the clamps. It wasn't the height, it was the thought that I couldn't hold on and was going to fall. The ladder was almost the same height, but didn't scare me as much. It got better each time I climbed the pole, but I still hate it. If I ever have to climb a pole again, I will be so slow it will take me all day. At least no one fell and we all passed (U-Rah). As Judy said, "I'm on the top of the world". You can have it... I'll take Ladders...
