And so, to quote the movie, another year passes. How is it with you?

Because, having finished Spring semester and going now into Summer, I feel like I should talk a little bit about the past year.

But first, let's give it up for air conditioning, and its presence in my room. Because heat with humidity sucks the suck fantastic. It's another way in which Oregon is vastly superior to the world - hot? Maybe. Humid? No.

The tornado warning (!) last week was interesting, too.

Anyway. About this time last year, I was freaking out a lot, trying to figure out if I was getting into SCSU, realizing that otherwise I was going to need to move to Rhode Island to go to URI like, right then. Working a lot.

So, over the course of 2006, I:

1. Started and completed my first real sustained bout of employment working for The Man. It told a lot of things to me and to others, but what I think showed up the most was that when push comes to shove, I can show up, get the job done, and get it done well. In the dark. In the rain. In the cold. Sick. In the early morning. In the repressive heat. Now, I'd been telling people I could do that sort of thing for years, but I got believed a little more after CC. I also got paid, which was pretty cool.

2. Since 2004, I've been taking fairly extensive trips at least once a year. In '04, I lived in London and travelled Europe. '05 was my jaunt to PA to meet Sarah and see U2. In '06, I drove across the country. It hasn't been all that long, relatively speaking, since it bothered me to go to Portland, and let me tell you that I5 is light years better than Hartford ever hoped to be. I wasn't even sure I could do 10 hours in a car, and then I spent a week doing just that. Plus saw some interesting stuff.

3. While I've lived in away from my parents for years, and lived in various different arrangements, 2006 was my first experience with hunting down, renting, moving in to, and living in an apartment. Not coincidentally, the first also required me to live in a hotel for a week - another first. It's gone ok. I'm in a good place in a good neighborhood, and unlike some other landlords, mine does not randomly extort money from people. It turns out, contrary to my mother's expectations, that I can actually live on my own, and it appears that I can actually cook, although Sarah can tell you all sorts of entertaining stories from the attempts.

4. I wasn't sure about moving away from everything and everyone I knew. Mostly this has gone ok, but only because of that new communications tool, the Internet. If I am not precisely in Oregon all the time, at least we can still game and whatever, which is a lot better than what it must have been like back in the barbaric Phone Age, when dinosaurs called the Earth. On a landline. Too, I've met some new people here, and had fun with old friends in new ways, and that's been pretty good, to tell the truth.

5. Oh yeah, speaking of phones, this whole cell phone thing. I like mine. It's working out ok for me. I'm still a fan of the text-based communication (sure am glad I live in the IM age) or just, yknow, going and talking in person, but it's a pretty handy device, I must say. A heretical infernal device of evil, to be sure, but a little evil is good from time to time.

6. Oh, and I went to school for the first time in two years. That's the big one, isn't it? It's been...interesting. At the end of my undergrad years in '04, I had spent the better part of 18 years in school, and I was burnt out, exhausted, and never wanted to set foot in a classroom again. I expected to take a year off, of course, and expected to go back for grad school, but I wasn't really anticipating the experience. Too, I was not the best student through my HS and undergrad years, and it showed, which worried me some.

Little did I realize that over my two year break, I would end up deeply missing being in school. And I did. And, while SCSU isn't quite OSU (it, and I, are a lot different), it's been a pretty good place to be. I worried a lot about what being in grad school was going to be like, and I shouldn't have. I have the most supportive faculty ever, the classes, even when they suck, are fantastic, and it's really the best academic experience I've ever had. I've had fun, I'm doing something I really enjoy doing, and I'm pulling the best grades I've had since about 8th grade. I pulled As my first semester, and while I don't know my grades for this last semester, they should be good. I'm happy about that.

So it's all generally worked out. CT's not the greatest place in the world (tossup between Oregon and London there), but except for the infernal heat and whyever the hell I'm being attacked by spiders, it hasn't been too bad.

As to what's coming up on the next season of The Rabbit Show, I'm taking two classes over the summer, one of which is an internship that should be interesting, once I figure out where I'm going for it. For fall, I also have three classes (which I may drop to two), followed by a single class in the spring for my final project. During this, I'll have actual work to do as a graduate assistant, plus being a member of the graduate student affairs committee. Busy, to be sure, but interesting.

And to bring it around to what I quoted in the beginning, how is it with you?

We'll start with the actual IM conversational stuff, then move on to the funny D&D stuff.

[15:24] Whir: Dried ramen? So you cooked it, then let it dry?
[15:24] Dwip: No.
[15:24] Dwip: I crunched it up into small pieces in the package, dumped it into a glass, dumped the seasoning packet in, shook vigorously, then ate it.
[15:25] Whir: WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!!?!

[03:00] Dwip: I'm going to drive to your house and beat you up.
[03:00] Whir: Fine. Then we can game.
[03:01] Dwip: *laughing helplessly*

[20:50] serenadingwords: No! Not the Futon of Orangeness!

[00:27] TontoMarius: And he's right. But the version we got was so anti-sucking.
[00:28] serenadingwords: you have interesting phraseology.
[00:28] TontoMarius: Yes.
[00:28] TontoMarius: Or should I say anti-no.
[00:28] serenadingwords: I'm confused.
[00:28] TontoMarius: Must remember this for when kids are teenagers. "Dad, can I use the car?" "Anti-no."
[00:28] TontoMarius: "Dad, you're WEIRD."

[00:49] serenadingwords: Hey! That was gratuitous bringing up of my checkered past!

...Aaaaaaand the D&D stuff: Best of the Online Game.

Biff the Understudy: At last, we have a program that indulges the need of all gamers to sit around and pointlessly throw dice!

joesf (Tanner): we are dramticaly rescueing our friend in our own particular idiom
Mael (Shinji): He's not my friend. He's not your friend. He's the fucking plot point.

Mael (Shinji): I hope they kill us all for sucking so bad.
joesf (Tanner): you suck

Tanner: flurry of blows [1d20+4 = 16]
Dinendal: WOw, how do you get your d20's to roll double didgit numbers?
DM: Heh.
Shinji: Hax!
Luke Combs (Narit): hax!

Chad Riley (Dinendal): quit Tai Ch'iing around and hit them!
Mael (Shinji): He's stretching for the combat. XD
joesf (Tanner): oh, hit them, my bad
DM: At least he's not Chai Teaing.
Mael (Shinji): Lamest thing said tonight, right there.
DM: Yes.
DM: I felt that I had to, however.

Dinendal: DIEDIEDIE [1d6+2 = 3]
DM: ...
Dinendal: Or shave.
Shinji: I weep for our future.

Lucas: What's going on, and who the hell are you?
Lucas: (he was out when you guys showed up to the ship)
Colbar: I am COlbar Skywalker, I'm here to rescue you
Dinendal: Aren't you a little short for a Cultist?
Shinji: Stab him in the face.
Lucas: I can't, I'm laughing too hard.

Dinendal: So who has Profession: Row Boat Captain?

Blue Dragon: PCs, party of six, your table is ready...

Diernan Snowmantle: Come, my friends. Follow me.
Diernan Snowmantle steps into the oak and disappears.
Tanner fololows
Colbar follows along hesitantly
Eclaire hops into the tree.
Dinendal follows his friends. Grinning ear to ear.
Sophie looks straight ahead, unblinking.

DM: You find yourselves in a rather different clearing than the one before. Set amongst various large trees are all manner of wood and earth buildings in the midst of a forest.
Dinendal: Great!
Sophie trips over a root.
Eclaire: Oh no!
Dinendal: That was intense. Let's do it again
Eclaire picks Sophie up and sets her on her feet.
Dinendal looks straight ahead, unblinking

joesf (Tanner): yes i bought rations
Sophie stares blankly at a roll.
joesf (Tanner): they should last me twice as long
Campaign saved.
DM: You buy small rations. They do a die less dama...oh wait.

Eclaire: <- voted for horses!!
Dinendal: Votes for horses!
Tanner: do you have the money for one
Sophie stares at the ballot box, unblinking.

Zalaznar Crinios: What can I do for you?
Eclaire: Hi Criosis! We're wondering if we can borrow some horses.
Zalaznar Crinios: Horses, you say?
Tanner: or riding squirrels if ya got em

Eclaire I stop my horse.
Eclaire: Hold on guys, something's "sharky."
Erik (DM): To your horror, the brake pedal fails!

DM: Snorg drags in an antelope for breakfast.
Erik (Snorg): Well, deer, I guess.
Snorg carves off a big chunk, roasts it, and hands it to Grom.
Dinendal dines on halfling rations.
Mael (Eclaire): Superroaster 5000
Erik (Snorg): Snorg's oven works better than mine.
Erik (Snorg): And the dragon's even better still. It has an electric, you know.
Dinendal: Electric doesn't always cook evenly
Erik (Snorg): I bet his does.

Dinendal: Bulls Strength Stabby [1d6+4 = 6]
Orc, 1st-Level Warrior: Egads! I've been stabbed! Call an ambulance!
Orc, 1st-Level Warrior: Why me? It's always me. They ALWAYS SHOOT ME. IT'S NOT FAIR.
Orc, 1st-Level Warrior: I WANT A RAISE.
Dinendal: should I confirm the crit ?
Orc, 1st-Level Warrior: Nah, I'm dead. AGAIN.
Orc, 1st-Level Warrior: It ALWAYS ends up like this, I swear. There's just no justice in this world for orcs.
Orc, 1st-Level Warrior: Everybody's always beating us down.
Orc, 1st-Level Warrior: I mean, here we are, just trying to live our lives, doing a little raping, a little pillaging, hang out with the boys, have some fun, and the next thing you know, everybody's trying to kill us! What's up with that? WHY US?
Orc, 1st-Level Warrior: All this stuff about, yknow, give peace a chance? Nobody gives orcs a chance! It's always "OH NO! ORCS! KILL THEM!" and there's a big fight and we always lose. Where's the peace? Where's the love? Orcs need love too!
Orc, 1st-Level Warrior: AND SO YOU SEE THE BIAS INHERANT IN THE SYSTEM! WE'RE NOTHING BUT CANNON FODDER TO YOU PEOPLE! YOU HATE US! WE DO NOTHING TO YOU AND YOU HATE US! DOWN WITH THE GAMIST-ADVENTURIST COMPLEX!

[02:00] Whir: [neogeek] Well, not gaou, but the noise vampire dinosaurs make because it's like sucking the blood out of consumers. Still trying to figure out what the sound would be though.
[Mael] You're not a vampire, or a dinosaur, or a vampire dinosaur.
[neogeek] Of course not, it's not a full moon tonight.
[02:01] Dwip: Vampiric weredinosaur?
[02:01] Whir: Don't give him any ideas.
[02:01] Dwip: I should stat one of those for D&D.
[02:02] Dwip: Like, you walk into the cave and get assaulted by a pack of vampiric werevelociraptors.
[02:02] Whir: Hm.
[02:02] Whir: I bet you could do it with eTools.
[02:02] Dwip: I'm sure I could.

Well, it turns out that velociraptors in D&D are represented by the deinonychus. So:

Weredeinonychus, Human Form
Medium Undead (Augmented Humanoid, Shapechanger)
Hit Dice: 5d12+3 (36 hp)
Initiative: +6
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 25 (+2 Dex, +8 natural, +4 chain shirt, +1 light shield), touch 12, flat-footed 23
Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+8
Attack: Longsword +8 melee (1d8+4/19-20) or light crossbow +6 ranged (1d8/19-20)
Full Attack: Longsword +8 melee (1d8+4/19-20) and slam +4 melee (1d6+4)
Space/Reach: 5 ft/5 ft.
Special Attacks: Pounce, blood drain, children of the night, create spawn, dominate, energy drain
Special Qualities: Alternate form (deinonychus), alternate form (vampire), low-light vision, scent, dienonychus empathy, damage reduction 10/silver or magic, fast healing, gaseous form, resistance to cold and electricity 10, spider climb, turn resistance
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +9, Will +4
Abilities: Str 19, Dex 15, Con --, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 12
Skills: Bluff +9, Climb +8, Handle Animal +5, Hide +21, Jump +16, Listen +23, Move Silently +10, Search +9, Sense Motive +9, Spot +21, Survival +10
Feats: Alertness, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Lightning Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Toughness, Iron Will, Run, Track
Challenge Rating: 6
Alignment: Always evil (any)
Advancement: By character class
Level Adjustment: +11

Weredeinonychus, Deinonychus Form
Large Undead (Augmented Humanoid, Shapechanger)
Speed: 60 ft. (12 squares)
Armor Class: 26 (-1 size, +4 Dex, +13 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 23
Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+12
Attack: Talons +12 melee (2d6+8)
Full Attack: Talons +12 melee (2d6+8) and 2 foreclaws +8 melee (1d3+4) and bite +8 melee (2d4+4)
Space/Reach: 10 ft/5 ft.
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +11, Will +7
Abilities: Str 27, Dex 19, Con --, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 12
Skills: Bluff +9, Climb +12, Handle Animal +5, Hide +23, Jump +20, Listen +23, Move Silently +12, Search +9, Sense Motive +9, Spot +21, Survival +11

Weredeinonychus, Hybrid Form
Large Undead (Augmented Humanoid, Shapechanger)
Armor Class: 27 (-1 size, +4 Dex, +13 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 23
Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+12
Attack: Bite +9 melee (1d8+5)
Full Attack: Bite +9 melee (1d8+5) and 2 claws +5 melee (1d6+3)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +11, Will +7
Abilities: Str 27, Dex 19, Con --, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 12
Skills: Bluff +9, Climb +12, Handle Animal +5, Hide +23, Jump +20, Listen +23, Move Silently +12, Search +9, Sense Motive +9, Spot +21, Survival +12

For unlisted categories in the later two forms, use the first.

ph34r! With great ph34r!

A partial list of my Wikipedia search history for the day.

Madame de Pompadour
List of French Royal Mistresses
Catherine Henriette de Balzac d'Entragues
Francoise-Athenais, Marquise de Montespan
Poison Affair
Also 15+ assorted other mistresses.
Fanny Hill
Pope Pontian
And about 10 more popes.
Hippolytus of Rome
Antipope
Sedevacantist Antipope
Zladko Vladcik
Colonial America North of Rio Grande
St. Augustine, Florida
Castillo de San Marcos
Basilica
Roman Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA
Pope Benedict XVI and Islam

The thread, such as it is, starts with Whir and I talking anime, goes to Madame de Pompadour, then to my amazement at a list of French royal mistresses existing on Wikipedia, down through several of them, a couple of plots, until we wind up on Pope Innocent X, who was not, and down through Popes until we hit Pontian, then to Hippolytus and thence to Antipopes, where we eventually hit Zladko and a certain very bad parody song.

We leave off for a time, then pick back up with Colonial North America (I was watching Last of the Mohicans), which then went to various early colonies, ending with St. Augustine, FL, thence to various attractions, thence to a survey of cathedrals (I think I got there through Santa Fe, NM), thence to basilicas, lists of archdioceses (It's cool that the US military has their own), and on to the current Pope and matters pertaining to.

Clearly, these things are all related. Yes.