Beginning the "Great Pack"

My Everlasting SoulMate somehow got picked to head up the move. Mostly, this was because I have my hands full working, coordinating the metric butt-load of paperwork for the new house, and hassling negotiating with the current owners about things we want fixed. To be fair, I am working on my office a bit at a time...but progress is slow.

I did get my act together (mostly) for the recent "e-cycle" event. For those that don't know, that is when one of these technology recycling companies comes to your area and (for a small fee) will take all your old electronic devices off your hands. Then they take them, strip them down, sort the pieces into different types of materials, then crush the crap out of them and reclaim all the useful compounds. Very ecologically responsible. And, in my case, now I don't have to move all that stuff! I took several old servers, monitors, workstations, a broken VCR and several other old bits and pieces. Don't worry fellow geeks...I still have plenty of good stuff left. [grin]

The ESM has been hard at work, packing the rest of the house. She's got quite far in the short time she's been working on it. There is still a ways to go yet, but there certainly are a lot of sealed boxes cropping up and an ever decreasing amount of our stuff visible.

We decided that the days of offering beer and pizza to our friends in exchange for the use of their muscles to move, were over. So, we're going to break down and hire professional movers to come do the heavy lifting. I still plan to move our computer, audio, video and kitchen-type breakables myself. Frankly, I just don't trust anyone but myself to move my 42" LCD, my workstation or any of the rest. Then, if I screw up and damage something, I can only beat my own head against the wall. Everyone else's noggin' is safe.

Looks like we only have a few more hurdles to get over before the closing date looms. Our seller resolution list is mostly done, and the few things that are left are either in the works to be done, or they have decided they won't do. I'm a little disappointed about the couple of items they decided were too much, but our real estate agent tells me that's the way these things go right now. I can do nothing but accept that as the truth, kick some sand around in frustration and then move on.

I just want everyone to know I just found out I am psychic. You want to know how I found out? I was following the Rockies game on the computer tonight, and when the top of the ninth came around and they were down 4-0, I had my moment of clarity. Barmes was on first with one out, after being hit by a pitch. Here comes Spilborghs to the plate, and I said to the screen, "I bet he grounds into a double-play." Sure enough, on a 3-2 pitch he grounds into the DP! Things just haven't went their way in NY this trip. I hope they can turn their mojo around tomorrow.

Nighty-night y'all. Sundown, out--

My Absence

So here's the thing. I got back from vacation and immediately had a ton of stuff at work to do, even though before I left I had carefully planned for things that could go wrong and completed a bunch of stuff so it didn't go wrong. It never fails. No matter how much I try to anticipate, crappola goes wrong I never saw coming. Ugh.

So, I spent a whole week working 47 hours a day cleaning all that mess up, only to have the next week eaten by training. Yep, you read right...a whole week's worth of I.T.-type training from 9am to 5pm. Now, I will admit the subject was enjoyable, but the amount of time away from my daily routine became somewhat long towards the end. I guess I can't complain too much...since I was the one who set up the training. :-)

At work we are getting a new packaged intranet system, and the training was for my department to become familiar with all the inner-workings before we have to start training/helping others move information into the new system. The gentleman that came from the company to train us was very nice, but VERY German. Dark hair, square jaw, thick Bavarian accent, the works. Since I put the training together, I got elected to organize lunches and such for him during his visit. The conversations we had over our meals together were enjoyable and I learned a ton.

For instance, I had not known that Germany has what our trainer described as a "church tax." If you belong to a church, the government automatically deducts 7% from your paycheck each month to give to the church. Consequently, there has been a sharp decline in the number of active church-goers in recent years. Stands to reason for sure...but was not something I had any inkling about.

Once I got through the week of training, I spent last week catching up on all the things I didn't get done the week before, plus showing off the new intranet software to some of the high muckity-mucks, plus scrubbing the plans and specifications for one of the new facilities we're building. We are getting ready for the final 100% construction documents to come out, so we can break ground in two months. I'll post in the near future more about that project and my role...but suffice to say it has taken a LOT of my time of late.

Then, to top it all off...I caught cold! IN JUNE!!! How screwed up is that?!? And, to add insult to injury, I came down with it on Friday night. Now I'm a reasonable guy...if I have to be sick, make it during the week! Then I can at least get some extra time off...but oh no! I HAD to get sick on a Friday and ruin my weekend with it! Grrr!! I am feeling some better today, but still not 100%...maybe 75%.

Oh, as a side note, the Rockies have been on a tear lately, haven't they! Last three series have been sweeps! I'm glad to see they're almost back to .500 now. Hopefully the next time they lose won't start another 10-game tail-spin. Tampa Bay starting tomorrow for three...and the Rays have also been doing well. Maybe we'll get a little of that old Coors Field magic back and keep on rolling!

Delays, delays...nothing but delays!

Sorry for the delay.  The large amount of snow we received somehow caused me to suffer temporary amnesia, and I forgot I was supposed to post!

I’ve been working on my interactive fiction some, however not as much as I’d hoped.  Seems like work has been occupying more of my brain lately than I’m happy with.  But, I’m just glad to have a good job right now, so I guess I won’t complain…much.

Anyway, I have made some progress in my map and rooms, but mostly in working with the language and getting all manner of “gadgets” to operate correctly.  I've also been experimenting lately with what the Inform folks call extensions.  They are previously written scripts that extend the basic syntax and functionality included with Inform.  One can include these in their own projects by simply placing the extension file in the appropriate folder and adding an Include statement.

I have been working with two extensions specifically, the first of which adds a ton more things you can do with objects, like cleaning, breaking, throwing, kicking, climbing all over, etc.  The second is for dealing with liquids, like filling containers, drinking, putting out fires, etc.  These are the kinds of things I really enjoy!  The more realism I can bring to my story, the more I like it.  I know there is an eventual limit to what I can include, however right now I am in experimenting mode and this is my opportunity to see how much I can cram in and still make the story functional.

I think I have a few beta testers lined up as well.  As soon as I get something to a playable stage, I’m going to let these folks start beating up on it and getting feedback.  We’ll see how that turns out.

In other gaming news, I signed up on Friday for the open beta of CitiesXL from Monte Cristo.  It’s a PC city-builder simulation in the grand tradition of SimCity.  But, this thing is a quantum leap forward for the genre.  Instead of just building your own city, there will supposedly be online “planets” where you and others can build your cities, trade with each other and interact as if you were on the same planet together.  And, it is a persistent world, so even if you aren’t there, things continue to move forward. The graphics look awesome and the amount and depth of customization is amazing!  I would be so stoked to get on the beta and give it a shot.  Here’s hoping…

The Rockies are playing like the club I remember…unfortunately.  We’re 4-8, have lost the last four, and we’re tied with San Francisco for the bottom of the NL West.  I know it’s early in the season, so I’m not getting really depressed yet.  This is just a slump, I hope.  But, it was just getting too depressing watching them lose to Arizona, so I came down to my office and put on “Rock Star” with Mark Wahlberg.  Haven’t seen that movie in a while, and while it’s definitely not Oscar material, it is fun to watch and the soundtrack gets the old metal-head in me going!  I guess I need to get on Amazon and find the CD.  If you remember the hair-metal bands of the 80’s fondly, check the movie out sometime.  It’s decent entertainment, even if you aren't trying to hide from bad baseball!

-- Sundown, Out.