Monthly Naomi Photo
The best part about this photo? Ben took it.
Naomi, by Ben
Where Was I?
Hellacious work week. Don’t want to talk about it.
The Graduate
More Touch Trouble
Remember when I wrote that things were working out with the iTouch? There’s been a frustrating turn.
I had loaded up the Touch with about 4 Gigs of podcast tunes. Everything ran swimmingly. Then I powered down the device. When I turned it back on the next morning, all the podcasts were gone.
The apps, as usual, were untouched.
Gah!
Happy Father’s Day!
A couple of mornings ago, Naomi stomped into the kitchen with a big grin while I was emptying the dishwasher.
Naomi: “ROAR!”
Me: “Ooh! Are you a scary dragon?”
Naomi: “No, I’m a Daddy!”
Me: “What do daddies say?”
Naomi (dropping her claw hands): “I love you.”
Me: “Daddies roar and say ‘I love you’?”
Naomi: “Yes. Bye!”
Exeunt, giggling, pursued by roaring Dad.
The Free RPG Day Haul
I dashed off to Le Valet d’Coeur to pick up the the Free RPG Day goodies, and I missed out on all the dice, the software and two books. All the gaming tables were filled with people actually playing the free games, which is much better for the store and the industry than having a bunch of people lining up to grab the freebies and then run away.
You know, people like me! (Though, in my defense, I did have to get Maggie’s birthday gift and pick up a new-to-me TV from Tal & Erik [thanks, guys!]).
Here’s the haul:
- Corporation: Grab the Cache, Dragon Warriors & Paranoia - a trio of digest-sized books from Mongoose Publishing. I’m a sucker for anything pocket-sized.
- Geist: The Sin-Eaters – ghosts and busters from White Wolf. Full-sized, glossy cover. Up to their usual gorgeous standards, and chock full of session-specific advice for novices.
- Hero’s Bane – a quickstart from a new gaming outfit called Claymore Entertainment. Looks sharp.
- Kidnapped in Hollow Earth – I am going to have to pick up the complete rules for this game. Two FRPG offerings have me sold.
- Khyber’s Harvest – an introductory adventure for the 4e Eberron. I’ve never played Eberron, so it’s all-new to me. I gave the Adventure Tile to Naomi to play with.
- Pathfinder RPG Bonus Bestiary – Gorgeous art. Paizo’s monster books are top-notch.
- Rogue Trader: Forsaken Bounty – a quickstart set in the Warhammer 40K universe. This is one of my huge gaming blindspots. Slick and full-colour.
I missed out on the Castles & Crusades Primer. I’ll have to pick that up on eBay when they start showing up.
Month+1 Day Ben Photo
Ben’s just like a worg-rider, except he’s not an orc and that’s not a fantasy-lit wolf.
Yee-haaa!
Dang!
In my hurry and delight to pay off my student loan and remove all reminders of that fiendish experience (save for the diploma they paid for, naturally), I cancelled the bank account from which the payments were drawn. I maintained that account expressly for that purpose, and I didn’t want to pay one more dollar in service fees needlessly.
Well, it turns out that I use the account for one more thing. Receiving income tax refunds from the federal government.
Oops!
Now I have to call the bank to see if they have the money (which they shouldn’t) and either get them to mail me a cheque…because I don’t have my client card any more…or send the money back to the feds so they can send the cheque.
D’oh!
Hammer Time
Lou gave the kids tool sets and scrap wood today. They’re getting ready to build their own lemonade stands.
Stimulus Package
I’m about to make purveyors of kitchen supplies and unassembled Swedish furniture a whole lot richer in this recessionary economy. One of the unforeseen consequences of splitting up is how many household goods will go missing. I was prepared for the big pieces, like a bed and kitchen set, but there’s something disconcerting/amusing about making pancakes in the morning, looking at the measuring spoons and Pyrex cups and thinking “I’m gonna need some of those.”
Since I didn’t win the lottery last night, I can’t go crazy and start completely from scratch. I’ll still have things stored in the basement, like a Sears brand TV that my parents bought 20-odd years ago, and then I’ll repurchase gradually what I can’t replace immediately, and maybe try to apply a different set of priorities. The coffee machine is a must-have. The coffee grinder, though convenient, is less-so.
To the store!