maximum entropy

5:53pm: heading home
I'll be in Plymouth tonight for a long cold winter. Soon to live with Sam again. :-)

5:21am: Robin has had a little to drink and a lot of no sleep
A pox on the phony king of England!

Gah, I need sleep. I seem to fluctuate between insomnia and just sleeping all day. I'm acting stranger than the guys who are taking design this semester.

Moving to MA in 19 days.

Have begun writing world stuff for d&d. Need to write Star Wars for the guys here.

And Shawn and Courtney are getting married!! Finally! This time we get to go on a cruise with them instead of getting shoved off the boat by the mean cruise lines like we were at Cilla's. The next ones have got to be Carl and Natalie or Jocy and her boy John (?). Somewhere I think I'm expected to tie the knot. Not for at least another year and a half! Ha! I'm just more worried about being able to live with Sam again after he graduates. We're working on that.

OK i'm gonna take the funny little plastic things out of my eyes and crawl into bed. Maybe I'll be able to get this whole Wheel of Time series out of my head. Like hell, I'm halfway through book 3 and it's up to book 10 already.

1:42pm: since i can't play today
I Am A: Neutral Good Half-Elf Ranger Druid


Alignment:
Neutral Good characters believe in the power of good above all else. They will work to make the world a better place, and will do whatever is necessary to bring that about, whether it goes for or against whatever is considered 'normal'.


Race:
Half-Elves are a cross between a human and an elf. They are smaller, like their elven ancestors, but have a much shorter lifespan. They are sometimes looked down upon as half-breeds, but this is rare. They have both the curious drive of humans and the patience of elves.


Primary Class:
Rangers are the defenders of nature and the elements. They are in tune with the Earth, and work to keep it safe and healthy.


Secondary Class:
Druids are a special variety of Cleric who serves the Earth, and can call upon the power in the earth to accomplish their goals. They tend to be somewhat fanatical about defending natural settings.


Deity:
Mielikki is the Neutral Good goddess of the forest and autumn. She is also known as the Lady of the Forest, and is the Patron of Rangers. Her followers are devoted to nature, and believe in the positive and outreaching elements of it. They use light armor, and a variety of weapons suitable for hunting, which they are quite skilled at. Mielikki's symbol is a unicorn head.


Find out What D&D Character Are You?, courtesy ofNeppyMan (e-mail)

10:12am: So.... Cold.....
Last night was weird. First time in 4 months that I slept alone in my bed. Normally you'd think it wouldn't be a big deal... but there was no way I was sleeping last night. I think I finally passed out in teh predawn hours, but I had some funky dreams. And the place is still too quiet. Sam moved his computer and some of his clothes back into the dorms so he can spend nights there if he wants. I think he's trying to make it a transition, mostly for me, but it's just dragging it out. I feel lost without him. No one to stay quiet for, no one to annoy awake, no one to eat breakfast with, no one to talk to... gah. Well I can see why my parents never hung out with friends; if their mariage was like this, they never wanted to go anywhere because they had everything. Thankfully Sam and I still have people in the area so all's well on the social front. At least he's leaving all the D&D stuff here, so people will have to come over at some point. Which reminds me, I need to get creative and start writing now that I have all my players.

7:24pm: TD Six
Now here's another promising storm... NHC thinks it's going to be a Tropical Storm later tonight or early tomorrow and it might be a hurricane on Thursday. Still too far out to get an accurate track but it's heading towards the Gulf. Woo storm season! And the NHC downgraded the number of named storms and hurricanes again to be a slower than normal season. Originally they thought it was going to be as bad as last year.

Tropical Storm Ernesto was a wet experience for us. IT was jsut constant raind for hours... nothing too bad, just icky. Kinda made Sam and I a little stir crazy. Riddle had cancelled classes for the second half of the day. Sam still had to go to his morning design class.

Now I have the food to feed people if they do get sent over here. Just have to make sure that Nick doesn't get sent home... parents are annoying people like that. They like their children out of harm's way. But I'm betting this planning is still way premature.... it would just be so fun! D&D all day! Star Wars too! Guitar Hero! entertainment!

Carl is in Houston this weekend so I think that's why things are kinda meh for me. I got all excited about having Star Wars to play and then one of my players goes away. What is this with people seeing girlfriends on birthdays? So the Game Mistress lost all interest in preparing the sessions (which I have to prepare a lot for because I've never done this kind of stuff before. I don't want to get caught with nothing). Maybe if I'm successful I'll find someone at home to play with. Could be fun.

It looks like i really am headed home for a while. I don't mind... it's gonna take me a bit to get on my own two feet. You know, it's that whole surrender to the will of the significant other thing. It's not like he's doing anything against what I want to do, but I'm so willing to let him make all the decisions that I need a little space to get my ambition back. Gotta have something worth sharing with him when he graduates. Just planing on getting a job that pay about $10 an hour to pay rent, health ins, school loans, and maybe a car *gasp* (I know Robin talks, but is it possible she may finally get over her last issue with driving and get her license???). I've got to see what Shelle is up to as well. She spent her summer in Europe so she can't be any more on the job ball than I am. Just remember, she is not a potential roommate. I hope when I go home Ben can move in with us. That would be awesome. I've never had a friend at home... And it's a roommate of the opposite gender. Much easier to get a long with. Mom'll have some income and company. All's good.

Well I have to go make some fried rice now. Ooh... Ben is gonna love living with me...

4:03pm: On the menus for this week...
Pot roast with pototoes, carrots and onions and probably some bread like item

Turkey tacos with home made chips

Baked chicken a la Cheez-its. Mashed potatoes, corn and other similar stuff

Pork chops with stuffing, 4-cheese mashed potatoes and corn

Tortellini and alfredo sauce

Ravioli and alfredo sauce

lots of nummies this week.

12:26am: TD5
Eddie's back Eddie's back!! Astro got a new filter. I've applied for random jobs of randomness. There's a new tropical system that should turn into a hurricane. I need new books to read and Sam is trying to get me hooked on the Wheel of Time series. Played video games today, Legos and Guitar Hero (still can't get a prefect score... frustrating). Need to clean the place up again, second load of dishes in 2 days and the dishwasher is still full. Ryan should be coming down at somepoint, but he needs to resend his itinerary. Ordered pizza today and had dinner with Sam, Tim and me. Should write more pages, should write more adventure. Must read more rule books. Sam's car has new leather. Gonna try Grandma's recipe for pot roast. That pretty much covers it.

11:17pm: TS Debbie... is not a threat
*sigh* Ever since the National Hurricane Center downgraded the threat for the season there has been NOTHING HAPPENING. I suppose I should be thankful, but really... I kinda wish for something interesting to happen. And now a category 5 storm will show up on my doorstep tomorrow.... sigh.

Shawn and Tim are back in DB and Nick will be back in 2 days. I'm having fun being the resident cook. Odd...

I also had a 72 minute phone conversation with my grandmother; certainly a new record. She was reminiscing about my greatgrandfather, my grandfather, and my dad so I wasn't about to stop her. I also managed to lay claim to my family coat of arms, which incidentally, I found out my greatgrandfather drew and painted. So even if I can't find anything online (because I won't pay for it really) now I have at least some clue.

Sam's car gets leather tomorrow. Yay!

1:25pm: weird
I was supposed to go to the beach today, but it got all yucky outside. And yes, I'm acting like a 5 year old for no better reason than that I just am. Still here in Daytona, just lingering in limbo for a while. It has however, gotten much better since Kevin got here. He was such a pain in the ass at work, but he's pretty cool outside that. He totally suckered me into helping him rearrange the Volunteer Network office. He asked if I would help hom put stuff back, but noooo, we had to set the office up completely different. Manager's perogative I guess. Should be interesting for when people come back. Although he really needs to set up his filing system now before anyone gets back otherwise it won't get done. I know from experience. But I got dinner for my troubles (I've totally been working for food these last 2 weeks).

Astro got a new tank set up and on Monday he'll get a new filter. That should make him happy despite the fact that he tried to bite me while I was putting shell conditioner on him. I guess it's a bit too late to make him friendly to people. I think I need a more social roommate before I get another pet. Maybe Lidy would move in with me somewhere.

Gah, I'm just updating for the hell of it. Shawn's coming back to DB tomorrow, and Tim just left for his 3 leg journey. Status quo... just status quo.

9:42pm:

10:21pm: How many things can go fun in a week?
Well, for the sake of simplicity, I'm including last Saturday in this week. Went to the beach with Kevin (old co-worker turned person living a floor up from me). We bought a dozen donuts and a set of those velcro mitts with the funny tennis ball. Had a good time running around, playing in the sand (yes, we played in the sand), tossing the ball, trying to trick eachother into diving for it while in the water, swimming, throwing Robin into the waves, and chatting about nonsense.

R: "Look! It's a Jesus cloud!"
K: "Huh?"
R: "See the rays, the sunbeams?"
K: "That's diffusion."
R: "Yeah, Jesus clouds."
K: "So wait, the atheist calls them 'Jesus clouds' and the Catholic call it 'diffusion.' Isn't there something wrong with this?"

Unfortunately the day ended with me being tackled. Not just bowled over and dunked, but full-sprint-shoulder-in-it-hat-flying-ribs-bruised-tackled. Owies. But I'm OK, and it was funny after I could breathe again.

Sunday was uneventful, but then Monday I went to go bug Uno's and they said they'd call me (again) to set up an interview. Gah, I hope I get the job cuz I really don't feel like doing much else at this point. But their training session is in 2 weeks so I'm still the housegirlfriend. Which reminds me, I need to clean up this place.

Then today we went and bought Sam a car. A brand new 2006 Toyota Prius hybrid. It's cute! It has a power button and no key! I'm mostly thrilled with the power button. Oh and there's no shifter. It's just a little nob on the dash. So even though it's an automatic, it's not even pretending to look like a standard.

All the boys come back to Daytona next week!!! It makes me happy :-)

12:00am: An Update
I realized that I hadn't posted anything since last month, so why not post the few new books I've read? (and the crowd cheers "lame"). I know, but being unemployed leaves me not much else to do other than be a housegirlfriend and to write my own stories. I have managed to get that whole fantasy thing of a couple months ago in order. I discovered (as everyone must eventually) one has to start at the start. So instead of spending hours writing a backstory/flashback, I've started creating the backstory one sentence at a time. And I've also discovered that I'm only creative in daylight hours, thus having to put the notebook down when the sun sets.

Star Wars: The Last of the Jedi: A Tangled Web by Jude Watson (138 pgs)
The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch by Joseph Delaney (343 pgs)
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (264 pgs)
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd (302 pgs)

I've been trying to read some of the classics that I missed in school. Mostly I've found that they're more fun when I'm not forced to assume that This Is How It Will Be! I hated that about my English classes. Utopian books are really just fictional case studies.

The one thing that did hit close to home today was watching V for Vendetta with Sam. Now that movie is freaky at points. I have to give the writers/directors credit for meshing the current conflicts into the story without making it too obvious that it was updated for this audience. Who would have guessed Brittain being taken over by religious conservatives?

Since it's been all doom and gloom for the last few days, I've also been playing Star Wars Legos. Sam went out and bought the PS2 version (I have the Gamecube) so we can carry the bonus stuff over into the second game when it comes out. That does mean that I have to play the whole thing again and get all the fun gadgets. It's kinda nice to play when Carl isn't around (hi Sam's roommate!). But I must confess, I needed to use the cheat guide twice today. *sadness*

11:39pm: More July Reading... I'm Obsessive People!
Ahh yes, more books read for the month of July, all funded by the immense generosity of my boy friend upon the occasion of my belated birthday. Go Sam. Here goes:

All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque (295 pgs)
Forgotten Realms: The Wizards: Blackstaff by Steven E. Schend (344 pgs)
The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch by Joseph Delaney (340 pgs)
Star Wars: The Last of the Jedi: A Tangled Web by Jude Watson (138 pgs)
Under the Black Flag by David Cordingly (244 pgs)
Fluke by Christopher Moore (317 pgs)
The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd (332 pgs)
An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore (mostly pictures)

I've picked up a few more classics for this next round. I recommend Fluke and The Mermaid Chair for anyone interested in good fiction.

So has anyone else been reading?

7:55pm: Sushi...
is good.

4:05pm: Reading, July
Ok, so I've finished the stack of books that I bought at the beginning of the month. I would have been finished last week if it weren't for the last book. English majors, that is one collection of pages you must own.

So here's the list:

Forgotten Realms: The Last Mythal: Final Gate by Richard Baker (340 pgs)
The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant (391 pgs)
His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik (356 pgs)
Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik (398 pgs)
Black Powder War by Naomi Novik (365 pgs)
Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick (361 pgs)
Deception Point by Dan Brown (557 pgs)
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi (343 pgs)

3111 pages for July.

Reading Lolita in Tehran is by far the most challenging book I have read in a while. Definitely part of the difficukty stems from the fact that I've not studeied English literature since I was in high school and that even then I didn't like it nor was I good at it. However, the novels Dr. Nafisi covers in her classes and in this book are discussed adequately that you don't need an M.A. in English Lit like most of her students have. It's excellent and definitely worth reading, but probably a bit of a strech for anyone who hasn't paid much attention to anything beyond the technical (like me). I do encourage anyone interested at all in Iran or literature to pick up this book.

11:17pm: Pirates!
As that this entry will contain spoilers, I will be writing it in the comments section. Don't looke if you haven't seen the movie. And if you have I want to know what you think, so comment!

10:11am: Reading List at the end of June
I only have 2 things to add to the previously posted ones. I know I said I was going to blow my paycheck 2 weeks ago on books, but guess what I did instead? Paid off my credit cards! Which despite my severe addiction/obsession with reading, made me feel much better. So I used last week's paycheck instead :-)

OK Edit to the MAY LIST:

The Great Mortality - John Kelly (303 pgs)

May Total = 3365 + 303 = 3668pgs!

and on the JUNE LIST:

Star Wars: Legacy of the Force: Betrayal - Aaron Alston (387 pgs)

June Total = 2093 + 387 = 2480 pgs

SUMMER TOTAL = 6148!!

June was a lame showing I know, but this month I have 7 books already purchased. And I hoe you understand that I'm not counting the random books that I've already read. There's no way I'm going to track those pages. I usually start in the middle of the book and flip around for a few chapters. That's how I've been keeping myself entertained for the last 2 weeks. I know that the books I've chosen are mass market paperback so they're relatively short. How much more I purchase in July depends on where the next paycheck has to be distributed to.

Reviewing those two books, the Great Mortality is a solid history about the Black Death. It follows its progression through Europe from town to town and documents their responses. It also delves into trying to figure out what the Black Death is. There is modern epidemic evidence cited as well as historical contemporary accounts.

Betrayal... I have a lot to say about Betrayal, cuz it's a Star Wars book. Aaron Alston is once again the master of a witty turn of phrase. Some of the plot needs a bit more developing, but perhaps it's part of a longer series? It does a fairly good job of wrapping itself up with only one plot thread open at the end. And Jacen is well... read it.

So far I've knocked off one of the books I bought yesterday. 6 more to go. I work today, but thankfully it's Sunday and thus ridiculously short hours. I'm the engraver on today and I've got Vanessa to sell. Should be interesting since it's thundering outside. Ugh.

11:13pm: Sanity in the Senate!
Senate rejects constitutional amendment banning flag desecration

By Laurie Kellman, Associated Press Writer | June 27, 2006

WASHINGTON --A constitutional amendment to ban flag desecration died in a Senate cliffhanger Tuesday, a single vote short of the support needed to send it to the states for ratification and four months before voters elect a new Congress.



Wooo FREE SPEECH!!! I don't know how well those of you who read this follow the proceedings of the U.S. Senate (admitedly my own following can be described as "weak"), but issue had come up that should NEVER have been brought before the senate: the flag burning issue - freedom of speech.

I'd like to take a moment to address the current political climate. WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT CHANGING THE CONSTITUTION? Especially because each proposed amendment has taken away rights, not conferred them. Granted I am not a Constitutional scholar, nor a Supreme Court Justice, but I have the general notion that Constitutional amendments are used to confer rights or define them. NOT to take them away. And since I know people will think I don't know what I'm talking about I'm going to go through them and show what I get out of them.

1) Free religion, speech, peacful assembly
2) State militias and freedom to bear firearms (has the potential for disaster, but that's freedom)
3) No obligation to house and feed soldiers (ah yes, the Revolution)
4) Right to no un-warranted search and seizure
5) Rights in the criminal justice system - don't have to testify against yoruself
6) Rights in the criminal justice system - speedy trial, impartial jury
7) Rights in the civil justice system
8) No cruel and unusual punishments
9) "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."
10) States rights

11) Federal judicial system keeps its nose out of other courts
12) Directions on how to elect people
13) No slaves
14) What's a citizen, how many Reps and something about rebel debts... (got lost in that one)
15) No race descrimination in voting
16) Income taxes (so this one takes away...)
17) What's a Senator
18) NO DRINKING (perfect example of a limiting amendment... IT WAS REPEALED!)
19) No gender descrimination
20) How to elect a President
21) Repeals the 18th
22) How long a President can be President
23) Establishing D.C.'s rights
24) You can vote too! No poll taxes
25) What to do when the President dies
26) 18 year olds can vote!
27) Senators and Reps pay raises

The only amendment that blatantly limited the rights of United States citizens was later repealed. So why is it that so many amendments have been proposed since the last one to restrict people? Have out law makers forgotten or ignored the trends?

Freedom of speech, which I think most everyone can agree now means "freedom of expression" from various Supreme Court rulings, would be directly infringed upon and limited by the flag burning amendment. While yes, these things do come up, they should be stopped DEAD in the Senate. They shouldn't be stopped by one vote in the Senate. *shudder*

12:23am: A job no one wants but everyone needs...
Mild improvement over last week. I have learned a few things that would specifically apply to my hypothetical replacement life thingy... I guess I should come up with something better.



Job Title: Young Adult In-Body Adjustment Advisor

Specific skills needed: the ability to posess young humans for a period of approximately 6 months.

Responsibilities: Write graduation thank-yous; write resume and cover letter; job search, apply and secure entry-level position in degree field; secure benefits; consolidate loan payments, financial planning; find apartments, transportation, relocation funds; visit Mommy, say goodbye to boy/girlfriend, email all friends with new address; relinquish body when all is accomplished.

Preferred skills: college level education; fluent computer and web use; interview skills; insomnia, caffeine addiction; reads comics.



I've consilidated my loans, spoken to one friend who will pass my resume on, have planned out most of my finances for the next 4 months (thank you Mommy!), and secure health insurance for the time being.

My current part time job is still rather lousy. However, they seem to have gotten over the severe blow I dealt them last week. My 12 hours was upgraded to 24 and they seem to have gotten over the fact that I failed a secret shop. Blame it all on lack of training and lack of coverage. But what does one expect from a stupid little mall store?

In completely other news, my two best friends are in Europe at the moment. Shelle is with her college buddies somewhere on the continent while Lidy is spending a month with her boy up in Sweeden. They're a cute couple. I just hope she doesn't decide to stay over there until I can afford international flights every month or so. And it seems that Cilla has settled in out in CA pretty well. With Tiffany itching to get out of Daytona, I'm the last one from the Spring 06 graduation that's hanging around. Gonna have to get creative with my social life if I'm intending to stick it out with Sam until the guys come back in the Fall. I really do want to see all of them again, but I can't determine what my future is going to be like. All I know is that I need some serious income by the time November 6 rolls around. Yay loan payments. Let's see if I can make 30 consecutive payments on time.

Hey, let me know if there's anyone interested in applying for the aforementioned job.

1:19am: Why does college have to end?
Here is the state of my affairs:

- Working part time
- Have no money
- Need a real job
- Don't want to leave Daytona
- Really do have to leave Daytona
- Got no way to leave
- Should go home to get license
- And get the plane ticket how?
- Gotta pay loans, mom, beach rent, car, health insurance with real job
- Job difficult to get
- IN DESPERATE NEED OF SOMEONE TO TAKE OVER MY LIFE FOR 6 MONTHS TO TURN IT INTO AN ADULTS

Is there perhaps free lance humans out there that voluntarily posess young adults in order to turn them into functional members of society? Cuz I really don't wanna.

I need everyone's opinion: EVERYONE'S. PLEASE help me, just a little.

I see my best option as this:

- Take Sam's offer of a plane ticket home for a week as a birthday present
- Schedule driver's exam
- Get license (it can't be that hard can it? Can it really?)
- Apply to every aerospace employer in the country for any job I qualify for
- Ask bank for car loan
- Purchase cheap car
- Get job
- Move

Does anyone have any better ideas? Can anyone let me borrow some courage?

The deadline: October 31, 2006. I've been trying to do this since February. I need a teacher? Is there anyone available?

12:59pm: Reading List
It's been a rather slow month for books, mostly because I've had to take care of bills and other such mundane stuff. However, I do get paid tomorrow so I shall be depositing much purchasing power. Especially since this check will have some overtime on it. Yay!

As it is, here are the newest books completed:

Eragon by Christopher Paolini (497 pgs)
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (371 pgs)
Deception Point by Dan Brown (557 pgs)
Eldest by Christopher Paolini (668 pgs)

This month so far is 2093 pages. Which brings me to a total of 5458 this summer.

To amuse myself through my lack of reading material I've started turning my life into a fantasy story. Imagine a moment a city that built apartments inside giant trees, with paving stone walk ways and rope bridges. An open market place that has a fountain and travelling vendors, along with a jeweler shop that specializes in engraving. Add a sky gaurd responsible for flying giant eagles and using gun powder rockets as artillery. Mix in a few familiar characters: the girl, the best friend, the boss, the ally, the antagonist and bake at 100 degrees for an hour and get out the basics of any fantasy. This tropical realm of mine is due some adventure and 4 highly educated humans are the ones who get pulled into the vortex. What they do beyond that I don't know. It's being written in a nice little journal type book. If Sam thinks it's worth it I might consider editing and typing it up. Until then, it remains almost stream of consciousness.

So does anyone have any good books that I should read? If you an believe it, next time I go into Waldenbooks I'm going to ask a sales associate to point out some good ones for me. I've actually run out of things to purchase. Maybe I should just get that new Star Wars book and then get my 10% shopping day. Borders Rewards isn't as comprehensive as the old Waldenbooks membership, but it's free so I can't complain that I get the 10% only half the time.

So.

Any recommendations?

11:31am: Wet
Alberto has managed to get everything wet. The only "damage" that has been done is Tim's car cover came off in the night. I have to dry it out and then get all the dirt out of it. Always fun.

I think the Priskilla wnet in the right direction this time: West. I am going to miss her 'though. I've already started saving up so I can fly out there to see her some weekend.

12:59pm: Alberto
Tropical Storm heading my way.....

9:36am: Problem with LJ?
Recently I've had the problem where I'll be typing something, anything, and the comment or update page will just reset to the journal page. Of course without saving the rant, rebuttle, or missive that I was writing.

I've been trying to respond to a comment on an old entry and I just can't get it posted before I've finished writing it.

Anyone else having these problems?

8:32pm: Nothin' new
I've been waiting for something really interesting to happen that I could write about, but that doesn't seem to be happening. Things at work are nice, I started engraving today. That's going to be fun. Also it seems that I will get my first solo shift next Friday. That should be an adventure and a half.

But beyond work about the only thing I have done is read. To date the summer reading list includes:

Legacy of the Jedi/Secrets of the Jedi by Jude Watson (434 pgs)
The City of Splendors by Ed Greenwood and Elain Cunningham (499 pgs)
Angels & Demons by Dan Brown (569 pgs)
A Secret Atlas by Michael A. Stackpole (604 pgs)
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown (489 pgs)
Cartomancy by Michael A. Stackpole (429 pgs)
Star Trek: New Frontier, Missing in Action by Peter David (341 pgs)
and another history about the Black Death that Tiff has.

For a total of... 3365+ pages this summer so far. :-) I am happy. Right now I'm working on Eragon and once I'm done with that I'll probably move on to Elder. All the above books are good books, but I'd caution serious "adults" to stay away from the Star Wars book and the Star Trek book. One is a kid's book, the other is just kinda childish.

Well, I'm going to go back to reading some more. Maybe if I get bored and Jenn signs on again, I'll think of writing Chapter 2 of a Delta Generation story that's been bouncing around in my head. And maybe I'll bother explaining what Delta Generation is :-)