nishatalitha

I spent my weekend playing Settlers II (and completing the entirity of level 8), catching up on housework and adding ebooks to Calibre. I don't feel the need to play Settlers for a while - probably a month or so. Ebooks are still being added, but I think I have managed to get all the ones that were causing the program to hang. Now, to check and edit the metadata on all 10,000 plus of them.

I have also been catching up on Camelot ( (spoilers) )

My brother and I have now discussed things and I now know what is expected of me in relation to my sister-in-law's birthday (a phone call, by preference and a card/gift if not or for special occasions). I still have to speak to my sister and find out if the same applies to my brother-in-law, given that I haven't exactly done anything for the last two or three years... Frankly, I think their wedding anniversary is more important, but I didn't say that to him.

Ended up coming home from work early on Monday with a nasty headache; took yesterday off for the same reason. Back at work today, but my eyes still hurt and my head generally aches. I'm eating panadol on the four hours. Given that the last time this happened, I started getting migraines and ended up needing glasses, I have made an appointment with the optomitrist on Monday.

Already tired of having sore eyes.

Bought the pattern for Dad's Christmas present (or possibly birthday present next year) today - Transportation Classics for Counted Crossstitch. I'm only going to use the good pattern of a Sopwith Camel and the only one of a Fokker Triplane. They look pretty easy and I'll probably do them on blue remaining from the Maidens of the Seasons, when they're done... that means it may be Christmas next year. Oh well.

I passed my Business terms test with 81%, which is acceptable. I lost two marks in the drafting by deliberately not putting in something because that's not how we do it at work. It's fine losing the marks in the terms tests for that, but I suppose I should do it by the book in the final exam in October, that being what really counts.

Part A of Litigation terms tests marks have been adjusted to range from 1.75 - 14 out of 20. I got 12.5, which is a pass at least. I didn't go to class last night, but I imagine my lecturer was not happy with us. I'm not happy with me for that. Hope the drafting was a lot better.

The GURPS Vorkosigan pdf is out finally and the hardback comes in October. I am currently debating whether I have enough time (and mental energy) to be in an online fortnightly or so game. Not sure about the mental energy - it looks like it would be a fun game - but I'm fairly certain the time zones and availability won't work out.

Also, purplesparkler, you should get bl9_knt to look at this.

Comrademojo just accused me of having a game crush on Alice. He's probably right. I think it's the boots and her voice.

I discovered several things about the game tonight: first my copy is missing the Sanity Meter on the left side of the screen. This is rather important in fights, since it's Alice's health level. I can see the Will Meter on the other side of the screen, which is also important; second how to use quick save and quick load, which means I don't have to restart the level every single time I die. In a level that requires a lot of coordination, this is important; third - I forget, so it can't be that important.

EDIT: I have also updated my lj layout - felt time for something new and fresh. Not sure what will be my default icon in the end, although this Alice one goes scarily well with the new colour scheme...

Back to work today for the first time in nearly a month. I did a lot of filing, was tired from about 11.00am onwards and bored enough at the end of the day to Not Care and troll Tenancy Tribunal Orders.

Wellington Anniversary Weekend was the usual sugar/caffeine high people overdose gaming weekend. I probably didn't have enough caffeine or sugar over the weekend. Next year, I think I'll buy a four pack of bottles of V, not cans.

( Kapcon Games )

Did nothing yesterday until I was due at stephanie_pegg's for the BHS game which I've now joined on a permanent basis. I'm in the process of coming up with a long term character. It should be fun.

Lectures start on 9 February, so I'll be playing frisbee Tuesday nights until then. Life is already starting to get busy.

Playing in Parallax makes me remember just how much I miss gaming on a regular basis. I miss thinking about my character and planning potential reactions to possible situations. I miss the way they invade my waking thoughts and insist I work out what they're going to do next NOW. I've been thinking about Isthian a bit lately, but Isthian has become a story character in her own right, which I've never had happen to an rpg character before. Maree tried, but Minna and Tak never even considered it.

But really, I'm too busy. I don't want to be out every weeknight and at the moment, I'm always out two nights a week, three times fortnightly and I have this reluctance to give up my weekend afternoons, which I might end up doing if I find a game I want to play in enough. I remember how busy I was when I was in two games a week and writing Hindenburg, and at the moment, it appears that I've chosen Ultimate over gaming. It's not a choice I ever thought I would make, sport over make-believe.

Have caught up with The Dresden Files and am still very much enjoying them. I like them better than I liked the book, indeed, I almost felt that Storm Front, which is based off the first book, was weaker than other episodes.

Last week I purchased Fullmetal Alchemist: The Road to Shambala (special edition), otherwise known as FMA the movie. I had picked up some spoilers but not enough to tell me what it was really about. It was very pretty, kinda bittersweet and not at all subtle in its messages. While I wanted a happy ending, I was satisfied and happy with the one I got. I wanted a happy ending because I like happy endings, but that wouldn't have meant the movie had as much impact on me.

After church today I went into the Shoe Clinic and looked at their court shoes. The young man looking after me was very helpful and I felt somewhat overwhelmed with information about different types of court shoes (netball, soccer, crosstrainers, based-off-running shoes) and found a nice pair of crosstrainers that were rather comfortable. However, they were $200, and I just don't spend that much on shoes, especially shoes I can only wear indoors, so I'll go to the Warehouse after work tomorrow. If they don't have anything, I'll check out Stirling Sports.

Used the bbq for the first time tonight and cooked saussages and onions and bacon on it, to go with baked potato and corn on the cob. It went well and I only called Dad once to check that I had the gas fitting on the right way around (I did).

Just choked on my fruit tea and got it all over my keyboard. I once spilled half a cup of Irish Breakfast in my keyboard at work and it was fine. I'm still using it. Hopefully this one will react just as well.