Tuesday, June 26, 2007
For the first time in quite a while, I've decided to bring in a book to give me something to read while I work. It's been a while since I've read anything, in part, due to my frustrating inability to concentrate on what I'm actually reading, which has been going on for the past year or so.
It's The City Of Saints And Madmen by Jeff Vandermeer. It is (I think) the last novel I purchased (somewhere between six and 12 months ago) and it's been gathering dust, as I start reading it, then stop, forget about it, start again...ad infinitum. But hopefully not any more.
Also watched a Dream Theatre DVD that I've had sitting around for a while. Despite my knocking of the group and their flamboyant nature, when they make an effort to not show off, I can stand to watch 'em for quite a while.
Still dress like peacocks, though.
...
Still love Boards Of Canada.
It's The City Of Saints And Madmen by Jeff Vandermeer. It is (I think) the last novel I purchased (somewhere between six and 12 months ago) and it's been gathering dust, as I start reading it, then stop, forget about it, start again...ad infinitum. But hopefully not any more.
Also watched a Dream Theatre DVD that I've had sitting around for a while. Despite my knocking of the group and their flamboyant nature, when they make an effort to not show off, I can stand to watch 'em for quite a while.
Still dress like peacocks, though.
...
Still love Boards Of Canada.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Aqusitionary Ramblings.
Got Botch's We Are The Romans.
One word, many vowels:
Sweeeeeeet.
Also, Porcupine Tree coughed up a new album, Fear Of A Blank Planet, apparently some time this year, so I grabbed that as well.
Their last few albums were essentially heavy rockish sorta pop songs, despite the misguided common perception that they're progressive-rock. They haven't been doing anything remotely prog for years.
I loaded this thing up and it tells me there's 6 tracks. Over 50-odd minutes. Hmm. Back to crazy pink-floyd soundscapey stuff? Not really.
All I've decided on it at this point is that I don't hate it. Some songs are cool. The rest sound like Dream Theatre, but, you know, with a good singer, and cohesive instrumentation. Undecided on those...
I also remember why I don't like buying music DVDs. I scored a copy of that live DVD ISIS put out recently. Has an entire performance of their gig in Annandale from 2005 (the first out of two times they're played here), along with a bunch of other random performances over their career.
All good, I thought, it should be enough to keep me amused for a while.
Wrong: I forgot one important factor about ISIS. Their studio work is damned amazing and they do pull their stuff off live quite well, but they're boring as hell to watch. Doesn't help that the older recordings are poor quality. Oops.
Still, the Sydney gig was entertaining enough.
One word, many vowels:
Sweeeeeeet.
Also, Porcupine Tree coughed up a new album, Fear Of A Blank Planet, apparently some time this year, so I grabbed that as well.
Their last few albums were essentially heavy rockish sorta pop songs, despite the misguided common perception that they're progressive-rock. They haven't been doing anything remotely prog for years.
I loaded this thing up and it tells me there's 6 tracks. Over 50-odd minutes. Hmm. Back to crazy pink-floyd soundscapey stuff? Not really.
All I've decided on it at this point is that I don't hate it. Some songs are cool. The rest sound like Dream Theatre, but, you know, with a good singer, and cohesive instrumentation. Undecided on those...
I also remember why I don't like buying music DVDs. I scored a copy of that live DVD ISIS put out recently. Has an entire performance of their gig in Annandale from 2005 (the first out of two times they're played here), along with a bunch of other random performances over their career.
All good, I thought, it should be enough to keep me amused for a while.
Wrong: I forgot one important factor about ISIS. Their studio work is damned amazing and they do pull their stuff off live quite well, but they're boring as hell to watch. Doesn't help that the older recordings are poor quality. Oops.
Still, the Sydney gig was entertaining enough.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
It Yoinks And Then It Giggles
I mentioned that I had taken up D&D a number of posts ago. Now, the original plan had gone thusly: We would meet for a game every second Sunday. Not too bad. I thought I'd have a bit of trouble getting shift swaps when rostered on for those days, but I should generally be able to make it to most sessions. I'd like you to keep in mind that our first meeting was two months ago and that we have played three games of D&D since, two of which I was present for. The reason for this appears to be that Murphy's Law decided to kick in and do something about the situation by going upside my head with a shovel.
The first game we played went OK. We were all still getting the hang of things, so not much was achieved, if the FIRST GAME EVER isn't achievement enough. Everyone was able to show up to the session, at least.
The second game went well enough, apparently. I wouldn't know, because I wasn't actually there. I was rostered on, and I've learned that if you're stuck with a Sunday shift that starts at 2:30pm (and ends at 11pm) nobody will touch it. So I had to sit this game out.
I was free for the next game, so all was well until I realised a few days before that the date fell on Mother's Day. I have a mother, as did the majority of the rest of the D&D-playing folk, so we had to postpone the game. We tried for the Saturday on the same weekend instead, but that didn't work for too many other people.
The Sunday after, when the next game was then scheduled, I was unable to play, due to another 2:30pm Sunday shift. Not a big deal, apparently only two or three players did show up, not enough for a game, so those who did show up played Hungry, Hungry Hippos or something.
Another game was scheduled for the Sunday immediately after. Craig and I showed, as did The Baron von Tobeloy but nobody else. No game, understandably, was had.
A game was scheduled for the Sunday immediately after that. Emails were sent, confirmations made, and we all actually showed up for the session. Holy crap. It went well, too. I was totally useless in combat (I fired a crossbow bolt at a guy, narrowly missing him, then took a swing at him with my halberd, missing him by a lot more), but then, we didn't really fight much anyway. Just ended up destroying much of the substructure of the city we were in.
I just took a look at my roster for this morning, though, and damnit, the next Sunday we're scheduled to have a game, I have, you've guessed it, a 2:30 start on Sunday. Ironic, because up until that shift, my shifts have all been early weekday shifts. I am beginning to suspect I'm being watched, with the possibility that I'm also being laughed at by said watcher.
I've put out a shift swap email, but I think I'll be missing out on this one...
Also, I've had my nonPod stolen from work a few weeks ago. Rather sad, but it was starting to function intermittently anyway, so I wish whoever nabbed it luck in using/selling it. Lucas was kind enough to lend me his spare iPod indefinitely until I get my paws on something else, which was downright decent of him. I was just getting used to using iTunes when some sod stole Lucas' iPod from me.
So, you having fun, Big Brother?
The first game we played went OK. We were all still getting the hang of things, so not much was achieved, if the FIRST GAME EVER isn't achievement enough. Everyone was able to show up to the session, at least.
The second game went well enough, apparently. I wouldn't know, because I wasn't actually there. I was rostered on, and I've learned that if you're stuck with a Sunday shift that starts at 2:30pm (and ends at 11pm) nobody will touch it. So I had to sit this game out.
I was free for the next game, so all was well until I realised a few days before that the date fell on Mother's Day. I have a mother, as did the majority of the rest of the D&D-playing folk, so we had to postpone the game. We tried for the Saturday on the same weekend instead, but that didn't work for too many other people.
The Sunday after, when the next game was then scheduled, I was unable to play, due to another 2:30pm Sunday shift. Not a big deal, apparently only two or three players did show up, not enough for a game, so those who did show up played Hungry, Hungry Hippos or something.
Another game was scheduled for the Sunday immediately after. Craig and I showed, as did The Baron von Tobeloy but nobody else. No game, understandably, was had.
A game was scheduled for the Sunday immediately after that. Emails were sent, confirmations made, and we all actually showed up for the session. Holy crap. It went well, too. I was totally useless in combat (I fired a crossbow bolt at a guy, narrowly missing him, then took a swing at him with my halberd, missing him by a lot more), but then, we didn't really fight much anyway. Just ended up destroying much of the substructure of the city we were in.
I just took a look at my roster for this morning, though, and damnit, the next Sunday we're scheduled to have a game, I have, you've guessed it, a 2:30 start on Sunday. Ironic, because up until that shift, my shifts have all been early weekday shifts. I am beginning to suspect I'm being watched, with the possibility that I'm also being laughed at by said watcher.
I've put out a shift swap email, but I think I'll be missing out on this one...
Also, I've had my nonPod stolen from work a few weeks ago. Rather sad, but it was starting to function intermittently anyway, so I wish whoever nabbed it luck in using/selling it. Lucas was kind enough to lend me his spare iPod indefinitely until I get my paws on something else, which was downright decent of him. I was just getting used to using iTunes when some sod stole Lucas' iPod from me.
So, you having fun, Big Brother?
