Maebius Musings

It rocks.

That is all.

Purchased thorough the following Merchant:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunaRana

Thank you, thank you, thank you to my lovely friend Nettle, for the loaning of cash since the merchant could not accept plastic.   Almost settled the tab, but it was worth the temporary debt!

3 Comments »

Recently, my son has been drawing short 4-page comic books in his spare time, and is planning on a large 8-page one featuring Bulldogs playing Baseball (The Bulldogs are the school mascot/team name).

Here is a rare glimpse into the creative process involved in bringing these works of art to life.

I present to you,  “Electro-Charles versus Hairy Potty!”

Enjoy!   Transcript as follows:

Maebius: Here is the master comic, hard at work.

The Artist: Oh hi!   I’ll start with the face… Then draw the rest of the hair… The eyes, the nose, and the mouth…

The body, his legs, his arms…  I added spears since he’s in battle.  Facing a Hairy Toilet.

Maebius: Could you read the comic for us quickly before you finish the artwork?  So that the read… viewers of this video can see the comic?

The Artist(affecting his ‘erudite’ accent):   Alright, I’ll finish it later.

Electro-Charles versus…

Electro-Charles versus Hairy…

Electro-Charles  (points to picture) versus Hairy potty (points to picture).

(turns page) Zaaaaap!

(third page) Hairy potty is terrorizing the city with his henchmen.

(while pointing out features of the illustration) Henchmen… city people…  (Maebius mumbles something in the background to acknowledge the contents of the illustration)

(turns to final page) Electro-Charles defeated Hairy potty and saved the world.

Maebius: Excellent!  We’ll have pictures when the comic is finished and coloured.   Good bye.

2 Comments »

The kid made up a song for his spelling words and we recorded him singing it. He wanted to share it with everyone, so hopefully this works….
(link to the video if the embed does not work:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_iwP9pb5CU)

This week’s spelling words, made into a song, to the tune of “Loony Tunes”.

Lyrics:
I do NOT want to play with you,
I sent you a NOTE.
Bunnies just HOP around,
I’ll get to school I HOPE.
I’m fishing with my new ROD
I RODE in the car.
TOT is for toddler,
you put things in a TOTE.
I take a bath in the TUB,
straws are mini-TUBEs.
Everyone knows what a bear CUB is,
at school we have a CUBE.
US means you and me,
we USEd up the ice-cream maker.
I can CUT with scissors,
my mother thinks I’m CUTE.
I eat BECAUSE I’m hungry,
your letter is FROM meeeeee——————————————————-!

No Comments »

Twas beltaine, and the fairie grove
Did shine and sparkle like the waves:
All mimsy were the kiddie troves,
And the mom sats in shade.

“Beware the JohnsonAnne, my friends!
The smile thats bright, the hugs that catch!
Beware the Jubjub Spare, not shun
The wonderous Mountain Clan[ch]!”

We took our crystal shard in hand:
Long time the manxome Tribe we sought –
So rested we by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought we stood,
The JohnsonAnne, with eyes aflame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as she came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through
The Tribes all chanted snicker-snack!
We joined in song, after not long
and Galumphing echoed back.

“And, has thou enjoyed the Faerie Fest?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!’
We chortled in our joy.

Twas beltaine, and the fairie grove
Did shine and sparkle like the waves:
All mimsy were the kiddie troves,
And the mom sats in shade.

3 Comments »

This week at the UU church I [still] attend, was an informal service whereupon members of the congregation had been invited to share a short excerpt from a favorite book, and how it inspired them.

One lady read from Grapes of Wrath, and shared how it changed her outlook on Humanity and Humility, reading of the horrid selfishness of people below their station. She had grown up in a wealthy NewEngland community, and formerly looked down her nose at “poor farmers” until that book made her re-think things.

One man shared a bit from Oral Microbiology and how it changed his view of our communal relationship with ‘the good microbes’.

Yet others shares inspiring sermons, quoted from Martin Luther King, Ghandi, and more traditional “English Literature” such as Flowers for Algernon, and Where the Red Fern Grows.

However, by far my favorite was an older lady who shared “The Hobbit” as her favorite book. She explained briefly that we adults are often told to get our heads out of the clouds, and how this “kids book” showed that even as an older adult, it was “OK to have an imagination”. She also referenced the new movie Avatar, as an example of world-building freedoms and whimsy-wonder.

Instead of reading an excerpt from The Hobbit, however, she admitted that she once submitted music to a “Fanzine” on Middle earth back in the 80s. She had set the first parts of Galadriel’s Song of Eldamar to music, and then launched into a lilting A Cappella song, the lyrics of which are below.

To say the fact I could honestly answer “heard a lady sing in elvish” to the question of What I Did on Sunday, is awesome.

This UU thing may not be entirely spiritually ritualistically filling, but it’s still a fun community to be growing a part of.

(My son also has now expressed interest in going as he misses the other kids. Also, he has learned not to jokingly blow out the small candle I light in the evenings after starting to understand the reasons for lighting a candle “Representing the Love and Mystery that some people call God/dess”)

Galadriel’s Song of Eldamar
I sang of leaves, of leaves of gold, and leaves of gold there grew:
Of wind I sang, a wind there came and in the branches blew.
Beyond the Sun, beyond the Moon, the foam was on the Sea,
And by the strand of Ilmarin there grew a golden Tree.
Beneath the stars of Ever-eve in Eldamar it shone,
In Eldamar beside the walls of Elven Tirion.
There long the golden leaves have grown upon the branching years,
While here beyond the Sundering Seas now fall the Elven-tears.
O Lórien! The Winter comes, the bare and leafless Day;
The leaves are falling in the stream, the River flows away.
O Lórien! Too long I have dwelt upon this Hither Shore
And in a fading crown have twined the golden elanor.
But if of ships I now should sing, what ship would come to me,
What ship would bear me ever back across so wide a Sea?

Ai! laurië lantar lassi súrinen,
Yéni únótimë ve rámar aldaron!
Yéni ve lintë yuldar avánier
mi oromardi lisse-miruvóreva
Andúnë pella, Vardo tellumar
nu luini yassen tintilar i eleni
ómaryo airetári-lírinen.

The melody was vaguely akin to “Spancel Hill” (video link)

1 Comment »

((For neko-Taka, hunter (and Maaruish Priest) in my World of Warcraft Guild))

Symphony uv Pain Guild Chartah

Prefaec

dis chartah shoodz b read adn understanded by awl Guild memberz. If yoo haz n e kweschunz or remarks doez nawt hesitaet ta contact a Officah or teh Guild Mastah. Srsly!

misshun Statement

Symphony uv Pain (SOP) iz a wurld uv Warcraft Raidin Guild awn teh Uz Farstridah RP servah. Awr focuz iz buildin a stron guild wif gud relationshipz thru gud recruitin adn teamwurk. We iz currently lukin foar memberz uv awl classez hoo wish ta posetivly contribuet ta awr guild.

Organizashun

Leadership - Officerz adn Guild Mastah

Teh followin iz a list uv requirementz foar teh Officerz adn Guild Mastah:

·         b Respectful – nawt ownlee uv teh Guild Memberz but uv everywun dat dey meets in game.

·         Willin ta halp – halp owt Guild Memberz wehnivvah yoo kan.

·         Willin ta lissen – halp Guild Memberz wif deir WOW problemz adn lissen ta new ideaz.

·         Communicaet – Talk in oficah chat adn guild chat, communicatin teh problemz adn ideaz dat yuv heerd.

·         Knowledgeable – haz gud, solid knowledge uv teh game.

·         Committeded – Officerz shoodz b committeded ta teh well bein adn advancement uv teh Guild.

·         posetiv attitueded – Officerz iz xpectud ta haz a posetiv attitueded in guild chat adn wif teh Guild Memberz.

·         Officerz iz roel modelz foar teh new adn youngah memberz uv teh guild. Officerz shoodz behaev az we wud lieks awl Guild Memberz ta behaev.

·         Abuz uv officah powurz iz nawt permitteded. If yoo feel a officah iz abusin deir powa, pleez inform teh Guild Mastah.

Ta b promoteded ta teh rank uv Officah yoo must b nominateded by a Officah adn den twotheded by anudda Officah. dis will initiaet a voet wif teh final decizhun ta b maeded by teh Guild Mastah.

Ranks

·         Initiaet

Teh rank uv Initiaet iz assigneded ta anyoen hoo loses deir rank.  Initiatez iz nawt permitteded ta meaow in guild chat nor seez bank content.

·         Recruit

Teh rank uv Recruit iz given ta new memberz hoo must furst go thru a 30 dai probationary period. Teh probationary period may b waiveded at n e tyme at teh Officah’s discreshun.  Recruitz may b askeded ta leef teh guild at n e tyme foar negatiev behavior or foar violashun uv teh Guild Chartah rulez.  Recruitz may meaow in guild chat but noes kan seez bank content. Recruitz iz also permitteded ta host guild eventz, raid, etc, but guild bank repair costz iz nawt available.

·         Membah

Recruitz hoo haz stayeded adn haz playeded durin teh 30 dai probationary period may b promoteded ta Membah at teh Officerz/GM approval.  Memberz iz permitteded ta meaow in guild chat, alloweded access ta bank content adn repair costz uv 20 gold per dai.  Memberz may adn iz encourageded ta scheduel adn host guild eventz adn raidz.

·         Officah

Same az memberz, also haz teh riet ta enforce disciplinary acshun.  May eject memberz frum teh guild in xtreem circumstancez. Officerz haz full votin privilegez within teh guild.  Officerz iz permitteded ta full access uv teh guild bank adn may distwibyut eetemz ta uddah guildmatez.

Officerz iz appointeded by teh Guild Mastah wif teh approval uv teh Officerz.

·         Guild Mastah

Teh rank uv Guild Mastah containz awl uv teh ritez adn privilegez uv a Officah. In addishun, teh Guild Mastah may veto n e acshun put in plaec by officerz.

Teh Guild Mastah servez az lawng az him or her desirez, adn a successor will b nameded by awl officerz uv teh Guild ownlee wehn teh Guild Mastah haz decideded ta resign. Teh Guild may b disbandeded at anytyme wifout prior notiec.

noat dat whiel teh Guild haz noes foarmal democratic structuer, teh Guild Masterz adn Officerz will taek teh wishez uv teh memberz into account wehnivvah possible.

·        Altz

Altz inducteded into teh guild iz automaticawly promoteded ta teh rank teh current Main iz at.  If yur Alt iz in anudda guild, we still welcum yoo ta raid wif awr, but Guild memberz will haz furst choys ta raid spotz.

Recruitment

§  We requier dat new memberz read adn understand teh guild chartah. Yoo must indicaet dis by notificashun finded awn teh SOP websiet.

§  Recruitment iz at teh discreshun uv teh Recruitment Officah adn ownlee aftah guild rulez iz agreeded ta by teh new recruit.

§  By joinin Symphony uv Pain yoo haz agreeded ta teh Rulez adn Regulationz uv teh Guild provideded in dis chartah.

§  Yoo must b 18 yearz old or ovah ta join Symphony uv Pain.

§  Yur charactah must b yur Main charactah.  We wantz guildmatez committeded ta SOP. If ur moar  inclineded ta raid wif anudda guild, pleez join dat guild.

§  Yur charactah must b Level 40 or abuv ta join.  dis iz ta keep trial account characterz frum sittin in teh guild foar monthz.  We will inviet yur Alt at yur request at n e level once yur Main iz a actiev membah.

Communicashun

* wun meanz uv communicatin wif each uddah iz teh SOP foarumz. uz dem ta tell guildmatez abowt yur game experiencez, ta post screenshotz, ta foarm a party, ta plan raidz, etc. adn ta check foar newz frum teh Guild Mastah, Officerz, or udderz. Check eet often!
* We expect awr memberz ta adheah ta teh foarum rulez.
* We uz Ventrilo sow we kan talk wif uddah guild memberz whiel in game. dis speedz up playin adn increasez teh success uv raidin. Ta uz Ventrilo yoo needz a hedset wif a microfoen adn teh Ventrilo client wich kan b downloadeded at www.ventrilo.com . Teh info foar teh Ventrilo servah kan b finded awn mai territory paeg uv teh websiet adn awr passwurd will b given ta yoo in-game.
* Teh SOP Ventrilo iz a 35 person servah.  If ur runnin a owt-uv-guild 10- or 25- man raid, ur required ta getz permisshun ta uz SOP’s vent frum a Officah prior ta givin owt teh guild vent info.  By nawt doin sow, yoo will b banneded frum vent foar a period uv tyme at teh Officerz/GM’s discreshun. Srsly!
* Wehn loggin off uv vent, maeks suer yoo “Disconnect” furst, or else yur charactah will b put in teh AFK sexshun adn will taek up a channel awn teh servah.
* Teh Guild Mastah adn Officerz haz teh riet ta eject/ban anyoen frum vent foar bein disrespectful, abusiev, uninviteded adn/or showin n e bad behavior either ovah vent or in-game.

Guild Eventz

* Officerz will organiez SOP Guild progresshun Raidin.
* It iz xpectud dat Memberz tri ta getz az involveded az possible wif deez eventz if dey haz classez suitable foar dem.
* uddah Guild eventz (5-manz, quest halp, vanilla wow raidz, etc) kan b scheduleded by Recruitz, Memberz, Officerz adn teh GM.

Guidelinez

Behavor

·         It iz xpectud dat awl memberz uv teh Guild treat each uddah wif respect.

·         Bad languaeg iz tolerateded, but if taken ta excess or if memberz complain abowt eet, teh offendah will b askeded ta moderaet deir languaeg. continud excessiev swarein kan ultimately lead ta disciplinary acshun. Also bearz in mind dat awr memberz com frum difrnt bakgroundz adn awl agez (ovah 18 yrz), racez, religion adn sexual orientashun.

·          If yoo needz halp wif eetem tradin or uddah deelinz in teh guild, feel free ta aks a Officah foar assistance.

·         Cooperashun iz sumfin we pried ourselvez awn. We wish dis tradishun ta continu. It iz nawt xpectud dat higher level characterz giev up too mutch tyme ta halp owt teh lowah level characterz; haoevah, halp iz olwayz appreciateded adn shoodz b reciprocateded.

·         agreez ta a leadah, uzually teh Main Tank (MT). Teh leadah iz teh wun hoo organizez teh run az eet progressez, sow pleez b cooperatiev. Raid Leadah (RL) or Main Healah (MH) will assign healin assignmentz.

·         Foar Offishal Guild partiez or raidz teh leadah will b pikkeded by teh Officerz.

·         It iz xpectud dat awl memberz uv a party involvin Guild Memberz behaev in teh spirit uv teh game. noes fingah pointin.  Yoo will b warneded once; twoth tyme -removeded.

·         Ta raid wif teh guild, yoo must haz installeded at least teh followin addonz:  Ventrilo, Omen3, adn dedly Boss Modz, srsly.  noes exceptionz.

o Acceptin a Guild Calendar inviet duz nawt guarantee a spot in a raid.  Class, experience, gear, adn level uv instance will deturmien teh raidin team maeded by teh GM/Officerz.
o Raid team memberz hoo continuously show up awn tyme, haz a posetiv attitueded, contribuet informashun adn iz generally enthusiastic abowt raidin will haz furst preference ovah sumoen hoo duz nawt.
o Pleez noat dat if ur ta secuer a spot awn teh raid team, yoo needz ta show up at least 15 minits prior ta teh raid, or yur raid spot will b filleded.
o If yoo noes kan maeks teh raid, pleez let a Officah nows either verbally, in-game male or send a messaeg ta thru teh websiet asap.
o If ur repeatedly a noes-show, yoo will nawt b askeded ta raid wif awr. Srsly!

·         Keep vent clear ta heer raid strat, instrucshuns, etc. frum teh RL adn especially durin lootin.

·         Minimum AFK/BRB/BIO’s pleez. RL will meaow foar breaks periodicawly.

·         nows teh fytez – kan b read at WOWWIKI or seen awn Youtueb, Project Loer, etc.

·         Loot rulez must b establisheded befoar teh group engagez teh furst mob. Examplez uv Lootin Systemz iz: needz befoar Greeded, Roll awn BOE, Pass awn BOP, etc. Pleez discuss teh mattah extensively befoarhand if thar iz teh intenshun ta uz a “non-standard” system.

·         Current Loot rulez iz az followz foar Offishal Guild Raidz:

+ Officerz reserve teh riet ta deturmien loot distribushun.
+ A Loot Mastah will b assigneded by teh GM/Officerz.
+ Rollz may ownlee b dun if eet iz a apparent upgraeded foar dat class.
+ 10 Main Raidz – Alloweded ta win 1 peec uv gear pluz Tier gear.  May roll awn Main Spec or Off Spec.  If yoo intend awn rollin foar Off Spec, den b prepared ta play dat spec wehn askeded.
+ 25 Main Raidz – Alloweded ta win 2 peecz uv gear pluz Tier gear.  May roll awn Main Spec or Off Spec.  If yoo intend awn Rollin foar Off Spec, den b prepared ta play dat spec wehn askeded.
+ n e gear nawt usable/wanteded will b shirdeded foar SOP Guild Bank foar SOP memberz ta uz.  If noes enchantah iz prezent, den gear will b rolleded by awl foar vendor/rp.
+ professhun eetemz kan ownlee b rolleded foar by characterz dat possess dat professhun adn haz meeted teh required proficiency ta uz eet.  (i.e. if Reciep: Mongooes dropz, ownlee enchanterz dat haz reecheded level 350 may roll foar eet).
+ Runz may b scheduleded ahedz uv tyme foar teh soel purpoes uv obtainin a eetem foar a specific person.  awl personz enterin dis party/raid shall nows adn agreez ahedz uv tyme dat if teh sayed eetem dropz, awl will “Pass” except teh specific person, hoo will “needz” awn teh eetem.  (i.e. Bronze Draek frum HCOZ).

·         Memberz iz xpectud nawt ta engaeg in negatiev behavior wif peeps frum owtsied teh Guild. Haoevah, shoodz teh behavior uv a external person in a party/raid b utterly intolerable (e.g. ninja-lootin, verbal abuz), awl memberz iz encourageded ta join together, adn, if appropriaet, ta warn teh Guild az a hooel against deez personz.  Namez will go awn a list uv dowz we haz haded bad experiencez wif adn doez nawt wish ta group wif in futurz runz. Srsly!

Resourcez

·         If possible, let awl peeps in a party skill up awn resourcez by takin turnz – minin, herb pikkin, skinnin.

·         We encouraeg complimentary servicez amongst Guild memberz. traid skill eetemz wich kan b maeded wifout a cool down adn if teh materialz iz supplied, teh eetem shoodz b free. Memberz iz encourageded, but certainly nawt obligateded, ta shaer looteded eetemz uv relatively modest value (traid-gudz, green eetemz) foar free. Srsly!

·         If yoo haz becom teh ownah uv a eetem thru a in-guild exchange dis duz nawt giev yoo teh riet ta uz eet az yoo wish. Srsly! If yoo meaow yoo will uz a eetem anudda Membah haz given ta yoo foar free, den sellin eet at teh AH immediately afterwardz wifout consent will b considered a serious breech uv teh Guild Chartah.

Guild Bank

·        Initiatez adn Recruitz haz noes Guild Bank content access.

·        Memberz haz Guild Bank access ta Tab 1-3.

·        Officerz adn GM haz Guild Bank access ta Tab 1-4.

·        awl depositz iz ta b maeded into Tab 1, wherin awr Guild Bank Officah will sort adn organiez eetemz into correspondin tabz.

·        Teh Guild encouragez Guild Bank uz.  If yoo seez sumfin yoo needz, den pleez taek eet. If eet iz a raer or epic eetem in Tab 4, pleez aks a Officah ta plaec eet in Tab 1 foar yoo.

·        Guild Bank gold depositz iz nawt mandatory but highly appreciateded if ur takin eetemz adn/or usin bank repairz often.

·        Yoo may nawt taek sumfin frum teh Guild Bank adn sell eet ta anudda playah or awn teh AH, nor taek sumfin ta disenchant adn uz or sell. dis acshun will b a automatic removal frum teh guild.

·        Guild Bank eetemz lef foar a period uv tyme will b vendored at teh discreshun uv teh Guild Bank Officah.  awl profitz will b returneded ta teh Guild Bank gold account.

·        If yur account iz hackeded adn teh guild bank haz bein involveded, yur rank will go down ta Recruit foar a minimum uv 30 daiz adn eet iz xpectud dat yoo will notify a Game Managah ta haz awl eetemz/gold restored.  nawt doin sow will b a automatic removal frum teh guild. Srsly!

Disputez adn Argumentz Between Memberz

·         awl disagreementz/disputez/argumentz shoodz b handleded discreetly. dis meanz noes spammin guild wif insultz, accusationz etc. awl argumentz shoodz b taken ta privaet channelz az soon az possible.

·         If a problem noes kan b resolveded pleez brin eet ta teh attenshun uv teh appropriaet GM or Officerz az soon az possible.

·         Undah noes circumstancez iz argumentz ta b carryed awn usin n e foarum siet. dis cauzz moar  problemz between Memberz adn mayks teh Guild luk bad. Teh same ruel appliez awn Guild chat, traid chat, General chat, Ventrilo or Teamspeak or n e uddah plaec wher teh disagreement kan b vieweded/heerd publicly.

·         Teh GM adn officerz haz teh final wurd in n e dispuet between Memberz.

Sanctionz

We iz nawt a guild dat wantz ta poliec eets memberz. We hoep ta uz dis sexshun ownlee rarely, but n e breech kan b reporteded ta teh Guild Mastah adn/or Officerz hoo will deal wif teh mattah.

·         Teh Officerz iz responsible foar decidin hao ta deal wif Memberz hoo re-adjus Chartah rulez.

·         Officerz haz compleet freedom uv acshun adn kan warn, fien (az reparationz, in caes uv breechez relateded ta moneyz or eetemz), demoet or remoev Memberz az dey seez fit. Immediaet removal frum teh Guild will ownlee occur in teh gravest uv circumstancez. If possible, teh breechez shoodz b discusseded by several Officerz befoar teh moar  seveer measurez uv demoshun or removal iz taken.

·         Breechez by Recruitz will faec a lowah level uv tolerance than dowz uv full Memberz; dey may b removeded wifout consultashun if deir actionz maeks clear dey don’t shaer teh general guild spirit.

·         If problemz iz relateded ta a eetem, teh class uv a eetem (raer, epic) will b taken into account.

·         Teh Guild Officerz haz teh riet ta uz deir judgment concernin anyfin dat iz nawt covered in teh Guild Chartah.

SOP Guild Chartah Amendmentz

* Teh Guild Mastah haz teh final meaow. A Officah iz nawt alloweded ta deviaet frum dis chartah or enforce rulez nawt explicitly mentioneded heerin wifout consultin teh Guild Mastah furst, except undah xtreem circumstancez.
* Teh Guild reservez teh riet ta change teh contentz uv teh Chartah at anytyme eet iz deemeded necessary ta doez sow. Agreement between teh Officerz adn Guild Mastah iz sufficient foar such chanzes.
* n e Guild Chartah chanzes will b posteded awn teh websiet az a “SOP Guild Chartah Amendment”.

1 Comment »

Been busy with sleep, work and seasonal decorating.   More better blog postings soon. ( bad grammer[sic]  intended)

While I recover and re-focus, here’s some holiday song lyrics to put you in the mood.    Not sure if it’s the mood youwant, after trying to say them out loud, but take it for what it’s worth. 

Oer yw’r gwr sy’n methu caru,
Ffa la la la la, la la la la.
Hen fynyddoedd annwyl Cymru,
Ffa la la la la, la la la la.
Iddo ef a’u câr gynhesaf
Ffa la la la la la la,
Gwyia llawen flwyddyn nesaf,
Ffa la la la la, la la la la.

2. I’r helbulus oer yw’r biliau,
Ffa la la la la, la la la la.
Sydd yn dyfod yn y gwyliau,
Ffa la la la la, la la la la.
Gwrando bregeth mewn un pennill,
Ffa la la la la la la.
Byth na waria fwy na’th ennill,
Ffa la la la la, la la la la.

3. Oer yw’r eira ar Eryri,
Ffa la la la la, la la la la.
Er fod gwrthban gwlanen arni,
Ffa la la la la, la la la la.
Oer yw’r bobol na ofalan’,
Ffa la la la la la la.
Gwrdd â’i gilydd ar Nos Galan,
Ffa la la la la, la la la la.

1 Comment »

Title says it all.

As a foil to my Mornings suck, musing, here’s a cheery one for you. 

No Comments »

Forgive the somewhat cliche and lengthy title, but it sums up my mood today (monday).

This weekend, we took the long five hour+ journey to PA to help out a friend and get some things done that needed done. It involved shopping, and sawing, and such, but was not overly strenuous in terms of physical chores.  Still, there was much productivity and Things Got Done(tm).

The amazing thing about the whole weekend, was the transformation that overcame our family (or at least my wife and I) over the course of it.  Lately, things have been a bit grey and mundane.  We dealt with a death in the family, a relative’s unrelated auto accident, and one of those every project at work deadlines Today times that crop up.  The fact I had to miss my herb class made the weekend seem initially like just another Chore.
(no insult intended to those we visited, we still were going to come regardless. *grin*)

In reality, with such an unexpectedly relaxed atmosphere, and high productivity, it felt like this was a weekend quite well spent!  The trip down was made in record time, so much so that I am almost convinced that my joking comment about “taking the moon roads” (a ley-line shortcut) was partially correct.

The shopping resulted in new shoes that make walking comfortable, and thus firming the foundations of my family.   We ate tasty food that nourished our bodies as well as my heart (huevos rancheros = divinity on a plate!).   I played at the park and watched my usually shy son wander right up and get himself involved with both a pick-up Baseball game, and a Soccer match!

It was one of those weekends that just worked. Things went right, the sun shone unseasonably bright and warm, and a myriad of magical minutiae happened.

Even the ride home, usually long and arduous, was filled with the three of us howling at the moon when it peeked from the clouds, interspersed with an unusually chatty kid who put away his video game to play “alphabet games”.  I’m sure any bystanders seeing a family of 3 driving slowly with faces suddenly stretched upwards to the window in a long Awwrroooooo, would think we were nuts.   But we had fun, darn it.

The root beer?   A tasty treat from Trader Joes, to ease parched throats along the ride. Nothing less, but perchance more.  It was magic potion faerie root elixir if the kid is to be believed.

I couldn’t have asked for a better vacation!

2 Comments »

I’m not usually one to pander to mass-marketing and commercial interests… nor will I fully ascribe to the Dairy Conglomerate as I fully realize cow’s milk is not as good for us as other sources of calcium, especially for those lactose intolerant… but you simply must see this to believe it.

“The most amazing rock opera ever made – about milk.”

I’m completely serious.

Turn down your speakers a bit for this…

http://milkquarious.com/#/trailer

…and here’s the official website, which is scary.

http://www.whitegoldiswhitegold.com/index_wg.html

And here’s White Gold himself singing a rockin music video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IF4CoQSYprc

All I can say is.   WOW.

Not sure if it’s a good Awe-kinda Wow, or a bad Awe-ful kinda WOW,  but WOW.

No Comments »