updates: September 2004 Archives

This week marked the acceptance of a new food by the Bunker. Gnocchi has apparently found fans in all of the people living here, including the more hard-to-please individuals. The first night we made it with some leftover red sauce and meatballs, as well as some garlic-butter sauce. It was so filling, and so popular, that we are considering taking it where gnocchi has never gone before. Specifically, gnocchi curry. Stock out a big chicken, freeze the stock, using a little bit of it to make a curry, add the chicken meat, and the gnocchi for something filling and cheap.

For Kat's birthday on Tuesday, we made ricotta, parmesan, and spinach-filled ravioli in a sage-butter sauce, some breadsticks, and lots of cake. The sage-butter sauce turned out pretty good with a little bit of tweaking. 1/2 stick butter, 1/4 of a minced shallot, a teaspoon or two of lemon juice, and a chiffonade of sage. Added in that order, then slide in the boiled ravioli, let them simmer in sauce for a few seconds, then plate up and grate on the parmesan. It worked out quite well.

I'm falling behind on my exercise. I've used up all 3 of my rest days in a row getting projects done and a test studied for. That means at least 3 days of straight lifting, because I have two left this week, and no desire to use up a rest day at the beginning of the next one. Thankfully, I should have plenty of recovery time.

On the subject of working out, I am glad to report that Kat has noted a decrease in the size and "squishiness" of the "pasta pillow" aka, my gut. I've also noted that my arms have become noticably larger, even since last week. I will declare a minor victory when the worn spot on my belt becomes visable to all when I am wearing it, but current indications are good.

In other news, DaveClone, SteveClone, and Steve Horn are now playing Planetside. DaveClone has a subscription. I believe that the Steves are currently playing on limited trial subscriptions. I am somewhat opposed to subscription games. This is for two reasons. Firstly, most of them are MMORPGs. This stands for massively-multiplayer-online-role-playing-games. MMORPGs generally put you in a large fantasy world where you kill rats for a while before levelling. MMORPGs are basically a license to print money. They are socially addictive, and with their player level and item-based status, can become rather competitive. This leads to addiction, which is why you find groups like Everquest Widows online.
The second reason, and the one that actually applies to Planetside (as it is not an RPG, all equipment is available to anyone, and levels are not determiners of might), is that I object to paying monthly for a game. I'm busy more often than not. There are weeks and sometimes more than a month that go by, when I don't play a game. It seems wrong to be paying for a game that I'm not playing during that time.

So, that's the question. To play the subscription game or not? Hmmmmm...
At the same time however, Planetside costs 13$ a month. About the same as going out to eat twice (which I don't do as often as I used to), or as much as a 40$ game 4 times a year. If I play Planetside, this is actually rather economical gameplay.

The last entry was apparently the big number 100 for me. I know, I'm a slacker. I've been running around lately, trying to get stuff done, keep up the good work, etc.

One big source of relaxation lately has been Hairball's ghetto hottub. Made out of an 800 gallon livestock water trough, he hooked up two 900 watt water heaters, and two water pumps, then insulated the outside. For the final touch, he bought a big dining tent at Big Lots for 30$, and put it around the tub, keeping out leaves, wildlife, and insects. Along with a citronella candle and some chile lights, it's quite nice.

One of my other sources of occupation that doesn't have to do with education or making money is working out. I had been working out for quite some time, but lately I've noticed that I'm just not feeling it. I'm lifting enough that I can't complete 20 reps, but I'm not sore the next day. So I turned to Hot Married Becky. We call her Hot Married Becky because that's pretty much how you have to introduce her when she's in the room, but not in front of someone. Hot: Yes, that one. Married: DAMN IT! Becky: Because names are important.

Hot Married Becky, despite weighing maybe 120 soaking wet, is a champion amateur weightlifter. So, in order to give herself something to do during the work day, she made up an exercise schedule for me. It's sadistic. I did the "light arm work" 4 days ago, and I can still feel it. Hopefully I'll be patched up enough by tomorrow that I can do the regular weekly arm work. I've actually had to buy protein stuff. Mostly because meat is expensive, so we don't buy much of it, and I need plenty of protein given how much I've been wrecking my muscles lately.

I'm planning on going up to KC StuCo free day weekend (Oct 1-3) to see Jen, Eric, Lindsey, Jess, and company. I may also go up there for Ren Fest at the same time. That's the weekend that the Madrigal Choir is going, which means that I can get comp tickets, but at the same time, if you've gone a couple times, there isn't alot of new stuff there. Kat isn't going that weekend, as she's got stuff scheduled every other weekend for a good stretch, so she's looking forward to taking the time off.

Forging goes well. I got the integral knife all cleaned up. I left it pitted on the non-cutting edges because I liked the texture. It almost looks like it is made of stone in places. Once I get a camera around here, I'll get a picture posted.

Just got a new phone from TMobile for re-upping on my legacy contract. Nothing special, in fact, I'm pretty sure they were giving them away before phasing them out. But it's got a color screen and more importantly a new battery, which makes me happy.

Other random stuff, I've been told that I would look good with an ear piercing by more than one person. I don't know how much I need another hole in my head, but I'm usually willing to consider anything.

Kat and I are taking Scottish folk dancing lessons at The Centre in town. They sent a catalogue to the house, I perused through it and thought that it might be fun, so I talked her in to it. It's actually a great cardio workout. Thankfully, between lifting and martial arts, I'm in good enough shape to not be sore afterwards, but it's a good way to get the heart pumping.

What follows in my new weight lifting plan. I wasn't able to do all of Day 1 (Saturday) and I'm still feeling it. Day 2 (which I placed on Monday,) wasn't tough, but I'm still feeling it a day later. I put a rest day on Sunday, and a cardio day today (Tuesday). Wednesday should be Day 4, Thursday Day 5, then my last rest day before I start all over again.

Day 1
Heavy Chest-
Benchpress – 3x8
Incline Benchpress – 3x8
Dips – 3x10 -Couldn't do these after the benching.
Light Arms-
Dumbell Curl – 3x8 -Accidentally did 3x15
E-Z Bar Curl – 3x8 -Which meant I didn't do these
Skullcrushers – 3x8
Cable Pulldown – 3x8 -did about 8 before I couldn't do any more
Shoulders-
Military Press – 3x8
Raises (Front, Side, Back) - 2x10
Abs-
Leg Raises - 2x20
Crunches – 2x30

Day 2
Heavy Legs-
Squat or Leg Press– 3x8
Lunges or Power Cleans – 2x10
Leg Curls – 3x8
Leg Extensions – 3x8
Calf Raises – 2x20
Back-
Back Extension – 3x15
Abs-
Crunches – 2x30
Side Crunches – 2x20

Day 3
Cardio

Day 4
Light Chest-
Benchpress – 3x8
Decline Benchpress – 3x8
Dips – 3x10
Cable Crossover – 2x10
Dumbbell Flyes – 2x10
Heavy Arms-
Dumbell Curl – 3x8
E-Z Bar Curl – 3x8
Skullcrushers – 3x8
Cable Pulldown –3x8
Forearm Curls – 2x20
Abs-
Leg Raises - 2x20
Crunches – 2x30
Cardio

Day 5
Light Legs-
Deadlift – 3x8
Straight-Legged Deadlift – 3x8
Back/Shoulders-
Upright Rows – 3x8
Bent-Over Rows – 3x8
Lat Pulls – 3x8
Abs-
Crunches – 2x20
Side Crunches – 2x20
Cardio

Day 6 & 7
Rest

(Days 3, 6,& 7 can come in anywhere during the week, depending on how things go…)

Class continues. I have to have a Java program done by noon on Thursday. I'll probably start it sometime tomorrow after I buy the book. It's supposed to be reference only, but when the prof. starts assigning homework out of it, it gets to be required reading real quick. I should also pick up the genetics book for bioinformatics.

Since my refund check came in, I've been spending a ton of cash that I don't actually have. Rent, back rent, books, a little claritin, personal hygiene products, and new boxers add up. Saw a really nice sweater for $12, but then I came to my senses and realized that I don't wear sweaters for a reason. They aren't warm enough when you are outdoors, and they are too warm when you are. Sweatshirts you can strip off and stuff under your seat in class, but I wouldn't want to treat a soft wool sweater that way, it'd be rag material in a year.

Work goes, I'm playing with some new ideas, and have lots of fun. Hopefully I should be seeing some results sometime soon.

I haven't worked out in about a week and a half or two weeks, and I feel like crap. Not physically, but I feel like I'm being lazy. I'm almost tempted to offer someone else the cooking job, so that I could take out garbage and clean bathrooms or something. I wouldn't enjoy it as much, but it would take a lot less time.

Also, for some reason, I haven't talked to Lindsey in a while. She must be really busy with the whole direct-to-doctorate thing, but I miss talking to her.

On the subject of Vengeance, more specifically Tribes: Vengeance...
It rocks. I played Tribes 1 for years, like an addict, I'm certain my grades suffered. When Tribes 2 was announced, I reserved a copy early, and watched the release date pushed further and further back. And then once I got it, bugs made it unplayable, as well as having hardware demands for reasonable gameplay that were far in excess of what I had. It slowed the game down, made intense teamwork a requirement for success even on public servers, and relegated jetpack cowboys to the dustheap. Individual skill was still important, but a great player didn't shine in the same way.

Tribes 2 nearly killed the Tribes franchise with its amazing bugginess. Tribes players were among the most loyal in the world, fanatical to their game of choice, and they still are. There was, and still is nothing else like it. Online only play? Tribes was there first. Massive 16v16 or 32v32 teams? Tribes. True outdoor environments that stretched for hundreds of square kilometers. You know who.

Many of these things have been copied by other games, but the feel of tribes is still unique. Every player has a jetpack. It's the single defining feature of Tribes games. Movement and combat in three dimensions for a first person shooter was and completely unique. Incredible speeds could (and can) be attained by skilled players, in excess of 250 kilometers per hour. Yet with a few exceptions, all projectiles from weapons could be tracked by the naked eye. This combination of fast and slow meant that you rarely shot at your opponent, you shot at where you thought he was going to be by the time your projectile got there. With the speed and jetpacks, it became a game of outthinking your opponent. It would make the most sense for him to go this way, so that he has the most speed, but he has to know that I know that... etc.

Happy days are here again. The Tribes: Vengeance open beta is open for all. Back are the days of blinding fast offense, quick flag captures, and 1 vs 5 hotdogging. Speed is fast. Offense is crushing. Defense is unlikely. They've simplified the game from it's earlier incarnations, and I can't say it's a bad thing. It's different, and it's more like the classic Tribes I used to play during my freshman year.

And now, for a slightly different topic. Punishing children, or perhaps, disciplining them would be a better term. A few days ago when I was at Wal-Mart, I saw some behavior that I found very strange. A child, about 12 years old and 200 lbs was clutching a box of cereal. I forget what brand, and while I would love to just name some oversugared cereal used to sell action figures or something, I'd rather not insert facts. The boy's mother and father were with him. And as I walked down the aisle, I clearly heard the mother say to the child to, "Come on, we have more shopping to do."

The child then responded, "Shut the fuck up, Mom."

I was floored. I glanced at the father. He didn't twitch. The mother just looked resigned. And the kid stood there with his box of cereal.

Not wanting to stop, I continued to walk. Mostly I didn't want to be charged with assault on the entire family. First, a pointed finger at mom, for allowing her kid to treat her like that. Second, explain to the kid exactly what he did wrong. If he talks back, bitchslap him. I don't think that there are many situations in which I could say that someone was justified in making a statement like that to their mother. Certainly none of them involve a dispute over the purchase of breakfast cereal. Third, slap the father a good one too. And if he doesn't have a good explanation, such as "I'm the new boyfriend, I haven't fixed the kid yet." or something, slap him again. If he makes a statement that is as bad or worse than his son's, (i.e. "I talk to the bitch that way,") then deck him. Or slap him again. Really hard.

The Kung Fu guy I sometimes work out with calls it phoenix palm or dragon slap or something, but I don't think I learned the name when I was taught it. Basically, it's a slap. If you do it properly on someone's forearm, the flesh underneath the hand turns white and swells up immediately, leaving behind a white handprint. The area around the handprint is red, and the face blanches white in an instant as blood pressure drops from the shock that the system has sustained. I've never seen what such a strike might do to someone's face, frankly, I think it would be interesting.

And that's it for this post. Sorry if I didn't touch on your pet peeves, but this is my journal, so suck it up or get your own.

Much better.

I am much less bedridden than I was earlier in the week. It never quite descended to Outer Mongolian Death Flu, but I did miss Bioinformatics on Wednesday. Which is a shame, because it's my most interesting class.

Got up this morning and changed my oil, which my car dearly needed. I shouldn't have to change it again until I hit 88k miles.

Who else is tired of politics and politicians? Given the crap that they habitually sling back and forth I wouldn't trust either of the yahoos running for president with the keys to my house. I know better than to think that they are great guys, or are doing what they are doing out of the goodness of their hearts.

They want power. They want to be president. And we need someone to be the president. So that means that one of them is going to get it. This doesn't inspire confidence, but since it's problematic to give power to someone who doesn't want it, we just have to roll with it.