1 July 2009

Welcome to 3.5

Hey folks, its been a while - sorry for the long absence.  Something happened today that was important enough for me to want to make a public post about it.  Its something I just have to get off my chest.

Hey, Schwarzenegger.  Go Fuck Yourself.  There, I've said my piece.

Well, you may have noticed something new up front.  Yes, I'm going to start devoting space here to Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd edition, which is probably my favorite roleplaying game, since the 10th grade.  That would be the late 80s.  Well, it wasn't 2nd edition back then, but you get the point. I have some things I'm ready to put up but I need to contact the authors to get permission to post here.

So, what's been going on with me? Its been an eventful year.  Last summer my parents came out and visited, which is kind of a big deal because my dad is finally retired.  They live back in Florida and as you know I live out here in California, and its the first time they've both been back here to visit me.  They made a big trip out of it, they flew into Salt Lake City, then drove all over the west visiting friends and relatives, and seeing the sites like some of our wonderful state and national parks.  While they were here, we visited the California State Railroad Museum, and walked around historic old Sacramento.  I got to treat them to a ride (First Class!) in a Pullman car behind their operating steam locomotive.  It only has a 4-mile track to run out on, but they're planning on extending the line to 15 miles I think.  It was a lot of fun.  Then we went downtown and saw The Dark Knight, which was every bit the awesome it had been advertised.  Rest in Peace, Heath.

In October (Halloween, to be exact!) I bought a new house.  Well, actually, it was 3 years old, but had been 1 of 3 model homes for this development.  Nice place, got all the furniture with it.  Its 2 stories, about 2400 square feet.  You should come and visit sometime!  he he he

In February this year I learned I had passed the California Professional Engineer Exam, at least the hard parts! I had neglected to turn in the take home exam because after taking the Seismic Principles exam I was sure I hadn't passed, but turns out I was fretting over nothing.  So, I had to wait another 3 months to get my registration, in April.  So, I am now a Registered Civil Engineer in California.  That was pretty big, and there was much celebrating!  :)

I had been on the fence about running another King of the Jumpgate tournament at Kublacon this year.  Mongoose wasn't going to be renewing the license, and I really don't play anymore except to run the tourney.  I've been doing more roleplaying and board games.  Instead I was going to run a series of WFRP demos, 1 each day, and let new players share in the wonderfulness that is Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay.  But a couple days beforehand I had to change my plans.  Dad's been in poor health for a couple years now.  He's had a couple different cancers and had had every treatment under the sun; radiation, chemothereapy, and an operation called a Whipple Procedure.  He's been cancer free for at least a year now, and its been about 2 1/2 years since his operation.  He still hasn't gained a lot of weight back and takes pain medication pretty regularly.  He has "good days and bad days."

Shortly before Kublacon 2009 he had what my mom thinks was a minor stroke.  He scared the shit out of my mom and doesn't remember the event happening, and has no lingering paralysis or things of that nature, that you typically associate with a stroke.  The doctors didn't know what it was.  Anyway, mom asked me to come home, at when stuff like that goes down, you don't say no.  So I got on a plane the next day and was home in Florida for a week.  Dad was in a rehabilitation center and we visited every day, and did a lot of work around the house, helping mom out.  She really needed us there (my brother and sister also were home for a few days over the holiday weekend) so it was time well spent.

Most recently, I found my best friend from high school is headed back to Afghanistan, it must be his 4th tour.  He's been in Iraq twice I think, and this is his second time in Afghanistan.  He's been in the Army for probably 15 years now, active duty as an enlisted MP and now as an ordinance officer. Come home safe Chris.