Further Assimilations

Much too long since I've posted anything of substance here. I need to slow down my life a bit, take the time to catch a breath and write about what's in my head... that was one of the big things I'd planned to do with the Newton, and I'm not taking the opportunities I might with it.

This weekend I played the first game of Dungeons & Dragons that I've played in what I think is 20 years. Kinda funny, too, since (due to slightly confused, over-experienced players and GM) at any given moment a roll might be decided by a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd edition rule; and, since most of the players knew more about Jackson's Lord of the Rings movies than they did about D&D, we tended to be playing our elves and dwarves Tolkien-style instead of TSR-style. I had a good time though, and the other people in the group seemed to also.

Last weekend I raised my heart rate by playing Laser Tag in an arena in Salem with raininva, rhaps, and shrewlet. We wanted to play against each other, but ended up on the same team with about 8 kids against about 12 other kids. My laser tag gun was doing terribly at range, so after a while I hunkered down and ambushed the opposition repeatedly until they learned what I was up to... then I moved to the other end of the field and kept doing it. Still, I wasn't that happy with the game until we got out; then the scoring computer reported that I was the top scorer for both teams. Rhaps was heard to remark, "Old age and treachery over youth and vigor, every time." :)

I've found an exercise machine at the gym that gives me natural movements (protecting my Borg hip) while giving me a real workout. Three-quarters of a mile in 10 minutes burns about 130 calories; I'm down to 188 pounds now. Now if some of what remains will just move to more asthetic locations... on the other hand, a girl in a passing car shouted that I had a "nice ass, there" yesterday, so I suppose I'm not doing too badly.

Shrewlet and I are going to DC this weekend to spend time with a good friend. I only wish I had time to drop in on some of the VTSFFC people I know up there!

First time we went to the gym, I walked a mile, felt fine, was pretty proud of myself.

Second time (today), I walked two miles to prove to myself I could. Now my feet hurt and I'm sore all over. However, the massaging foot bath I bought Rain helped with the first bit, and ibuprofen will knock out the second, so I'm still pretty proud of myself.

Gonna stay at two miles until I'm comfy with it, though. I can't wait until I can do five comfortably.

I have been moving heavy furniture and kicking up serious dust since Wednesday afternoon. Now, I have a cheap bargain respiratory tract which is allergic to everything, so by last night I was sore from the neck down from lifting and carrying, and my nose was plugged solid.

I can breathe now, but everytime I sneeze I still feel a burning sensation in the muscles of my back. And right now, everything I eat or drink tasts like dust.

On the other hand, now when meiran comes over to do her video editing, she won't take one look in my office and refuse to associate with me ever again. So that's a plus. Also, there's now enough floor space that I can actually walk over to my desk, slide the chair out, and sit down normally, instead of doing the complicated "hop-hop-pirouette" I had to do before.

Now if only that @$%&* new hard drive would get here...