Redwolf's Journal (continued)

... while it lasts, 'cause tomorrow I turn 31. Whee. Really more of a collection of scattered thoughts. My driver's license was set to expire tomorrow, thusly I hauled myself out of the bed far early than I would have liked Friday to go down there. Some research had shown me: A) Colorado adult licenses must be renewed every 5 years, B) Last time I got a renewal form in the mail, C) You only get to renew every *other* time by mail (up to a certain age and barring some conditions), and D) The DMV doesn't send notification those years when you're supposed to renew in person. So... pay attention. It was a pretty simple process, $15.60 or thereabouts, a cursory eye exam, a new photo and now I have a slip of paper until my new license shows up. Finished Resident Evil 4 recently. That took me a lot longer than most games, but then I didn't play constantly and was away for most of a week in there. Good game, and reasonably challenging, but I'm not interested in th...

Back again after a couple sick days and a vacation to California. I must say it does feel odd to be back at work. Stranger still, there's proof outside that Durango really does have a winter. I cleaned a few inches of snow off my truck before coming in to work today at a snail's pace on messy roads. Whee. Knew there were reasons I didn't like snow. It is needed, though, I must admit that. It's been a dry, dry winter thusfar. The trip was good. I didn't attend as many panels/classes as I probably should have, but that's normal for a con (or major SCA event, for that matter). I visited a mall that had valet parking and a Lego store (Mmmm... Lego store). I was introduced to World of Warcraft and L5R the card game - I don't plan on picking up either as a habit, though I see the fun in them. I was subjected to a relatively small amount of con angst. I picked up a few comics, but didn't spend nearly as much as I have before on 'stuff.' I met a few ...

... and back Monday. First vacation of the year. Yay. Everyone hold their respective forts while I'm gone. ;) Happy birthday to April and Cat while I'm gone.

Not the best Christmas ever. Possibly my worst, but not terrible either way. I've had worse regular days. Picked up Resident Evil 4 going into the weekend. 'tis easily one of the most difficult games I've played in years. My daily progress is usually playing a scene and dying until frustrated, then coming back later and finally getting through a couple areas until getting creamed by another host of villagers or a boss. Oy. Opened presents early (though still on Christmas day), then went back to sleep. The scratchy throat I had Saturday developed into what I now suspect is a case of acute bronchitis. I feel better than yesterday, so my plan remains to take it easy and see if it improves. I got a fair bit of money for Christmas. Yay. The dryer, however, reached the point of being unservicable. Boo. So about half that Christmas money is going to a new dryer. Oh, I considered getting parts and trying to fix it myself, but I'm afraid there might be an underlying proble...

Well, let's see... - I've received my Christmas bonus. So while the holiday isn't going to be any cheaper than any others, I'm no longer in quite so tight a spot as to have to keep an eye on my bank account with each expenditure. - My shopping is done. I've a couple things at home to wrap, but everything else is in the (usually capable) hands of various shipping agencies. Altogether, I guess Christmas isn't looming as nastily as it was. Not that it's a day I'm really looking forward to over any other either. I guess it's something, though.

Thankfully, that's different different from being upset about it. Thanksgiving was okay, but it wasn't *Thanksgiving*. With my folks still playing campground hosts in Big Bend National Park (in southwestern Texas), I didn't get to spend the holiday with family. I knew this well in advance. I was invited to join another get-together, but passed. I might have enjoyed myself to a degree, but it still wouldn't feel *right*. Instead, I did a small bit of cleaning, relaxed, and treated myself to pecan pie. I also got a call from my dad saying they were going to stay an extra month, thereby being away for Christmas too. He's offered the loan of their car here if I want to drive down for Christmas, but... a drive that's close to 800 miles in late December during a holiday period sounds somewhere between "less-than-fun" and "dangerous." I'd also have to take some days off (not that I have a shortage of paid leave time) and figure out how to do...

Star Wars. Transformers. Star Wars Transformers: http://www.starwars.com/collecting/news/hasbro/news20051107.html