Fear the Crab

Plagued by stomach cramps throughout the night. I must have eaten something bad. As a result I am very tired at work, and have resorted to catnapping inbetween webcomics and email.

Happy news is that I got paid again today. This happiness is tempered by the fact that I need to replenish the accounts I tapped to make the holiday presents happen. I should be thankful that a full-time job leaves me less time for spontaneous spendage.

My xmas loot consisted of money, clothes, and video games. Time to make merry! I got the Zelda for the GameCube and Dawn of War: Dark Crusades for the PC. They be orgasmic! Except I found out the Zelda for the GC is mirror-imaged from the Wii version. Everything, including the map, is swapped. Only the text remains the same, but it’s got me wondering if Link was a lefty to begin with. Who got the switch?

Do not take my ponderings to be an indication of dislike. I love the new Zelda game. I love the puzzle-solving (however simple it might appear to be) and I love the story. I also love the fact that I spend every minute of gameplay wondering if Midna is going to betray me. I have not beaten the game yet, so spare me the gory details until I discover the evisceral truth for myself.

I don’t know. There’s just something about the way Midna treats you that makes you think there’s a knife ready for the space between your C-4 and C-5. The little fairy from before would just annoy you, but you knew it wouldn’t lead you into the lava pits.

Dawn of War: Dark Crusades is turning out to be a fun game. I didn’t like the single-player campaigns from the first two (starting out with less than the full complement of units was rather unappealing), especially since they forced you to play as a particular army. I spent more time playing the 1-time skirmishes, which while fulfilling the instant gratification category, never really gave a sense of accomplishment.

Thankfully DoW:DC satisfies my lust for achievement with its campaign mode. Now I can choose any of the selectable armies, start with the full complement of troops and buildings available, and can determine my own course of success. Plus, earning wargear for my leader and an honor guard of veteran units gives a sense of progression, a reward beyond the increased landgrab. I’ve already taken over the planet with the Necrons, and have started a new campaign with the Space Marines.

My brother stopped by to spend a couple of weeks with the family. He returns to California today.

I’m working at The Office. My hire was approved officially and I started on the 16th of November. My first day was like I had never left! And that was actually a pretty accurate statement.

The keycode to enter the office door was the same as when I was a student.
I was given my old chair, seated at my old desk, with the same computer I used when I was a student.
When I was logged in, my account had all my old settings and files.

I just hope my paycheck’s not the same.

I’m not riding my bike to work. My mom does not wish me to risk myself on the commute during traffic. While I’m fairly certain a ride into town won’t be THAT hazardous, it’s not wise to argue with someone who was paralyzed because of another driver’s idiocy. My mom’s an example that despite oneself driving correctly and safely, there are others out there that can and will kill you. Take any commute on any day at any time, and you’ll find at least one driver who’s proving to be a hazard to himself and everyone around him.

The city does have a “master plan” to make the islands safer for bicycles. The statement for this master plan is “Honolulu is a bicycle-friendly city where bicycling is a viable and popular travel choice for residents and visitors of all ages.” There are over 6 separate pdf files, which makes it a bit unreasonable to look at everything in one sitting, so I haven’t actually read through the whole thing.

In the end, I hope it enables me to finally take the journey on bike.

I’ve been using my bicycle more and more, and have made a couple of journeys of over 12 miles (one way). It takes me approximately an hour and a half to get from my house to the uni.

Speaking of the uni, I seem to be on the cusp of acquiring a full-time job there. I applied and interviewed for a programming job in my old department, and was “recommended for the position.” Apparently, the department staff submits their recommendation for the job to the Board of Regents, who then approves the hire. Since the position I applied for isn’t considered a very important one (to the BoR anyway), Human Resources will make the decision on their behalf.

Everyone tells me this is just a formality, and I’ve pretty much got the job. I don’t like claiming something that’s not true, though, so based on a technicality I really don’t have the job. Who knows? Maybe one of the HR staffers’ daughter’s heart was broken because of me.

I hope to get the job. It’s in the field I studied for, and in the department I used to work for, and it pays me more than any other job I’ve ever had. Plus, it will let me ride my bike on more frequent long-distance journeys.

Anyway, I have peach cobbler, so I’m happy.

Worship the power of bulleted lists!

• Graduated with degree in computer science
• Looking for job
• Continuing to work part-time for dental lab
• Started using a bicycle to get around

Out of all that, I think the bicycle thing is the most exciting. I mean, graduating is fine and good and all things pleasant, yes. The diploma looks nice, too.

But not as nice as my bike!

So far I’ve just been pedaling to and from work, to and from Maile’s house, which is only an area of roughly 4 miles between everything. Already I’ve had two flats, one in each tire. So far things have been good, and I’m able to take the hill up to my house with relative ease (at the lowest gear, of course).

The real challenge will come on Friday, when I will journey far and beyond my norm and head to Ala Moana during morning rush hour. I will brave the traffic congestion of cars, the broken sidewalks, the throngs of bus stops, and the poorly-timed traffic signals, just to get a haircut.

According to MapQuest, the distance is approximately 12 miles. MapQuest also says that the total driving time is 18 minutes, which is correct if one is driving at 3 in the morning and is lucky enough to catch all the green lights. I figure it should take me about 2 hours, give or take 15 minutes, for me to traverse that distance. I’ll probably leave the house 3 hours before my appointment to account for red lights, pedestrians, and minor equipment malfunctions.

Hopefully I’ll survive.

There’s a new EP out. Listen and learn! And buy. You dare not trifle with the divine retribution of the bunny!

http://www.coincidencetheory.com/

There’s a link to where you can purchase the EP online through CDBaby. Read the stellar review about this debut album and wonder at the wonderfully wistfully writing skills.

One of the cories died, so now I have 3. Maile gave me her two sterbai cories to up my total to 5, and now everyone seems a bit more active. Perhaps the similar markings lead each to believe there’s more than what really exist.

Argento is getting big. He also seems to have a gap in his gill cover, which from what I’ve read online, seems to be a minor genetic defect. Most reports indicate that the fish can still live to a ripe old age, so I’m not too worried.

I have approximately two more weeks of school left, and if all my grades are of passing level, I should receive my diploma in a couple of months. During that time I’ll have to find a job. I’ve only had one interview so far, with a private firm, but I’ve sent apps and resumes to many places.

Maile and I expect to be in Las Vegas late May, for vacation. My family is flying there, too, so it’ll be a nice outing.

Seems many people I know are living in or moving to the San Francisco area.

Titan von Longhaus
April 5, 1995 – January 30, 2006

Due to a rapid infestation of pond snails, and the untimely deaths of a few panda cories, I decided to donate the remaining pandas and pygmies and completely break down the 10 gallon tank. No more Poppy⁵ and Fezzik⁶, and I was sad to see them go, but I don’t think they were getting any happiness in a tank that crowded with snails.

I instead bought a 20 gallon tank, and this time I used a thin layer of sand as a substrate. I threw away the undergravel filter because it just kept giving me problems (likely because I wasn’t doing anything to get the most out of it). I added some taller plants, attached some healthy java fern to my old driftwood, and bought one of those big bell decorations, the kind that acts as a large cave, with plants attached.

I just added a new angelfish, and four of what they call Agassiz’s Cories. Maile helped to pick them out. Agassiz’s cories look like julii or sterbae cories, with lots of small dots peppered on their bodies. I don’t know the different variations of angelfish color patterns, but this one is semi-striped.

I’m trying to come up with names. So far I have Raya for the angelfish, and Estrella⁴ for the cories. Any suggestions are welcome!

EDIT: I have decided to name the angelfish Argento. At least, that’s now the new front-runner until I hear something better. The angelfish looks more silver than it does striped, though it does have some stripes.

‘Nudder EDIT: In keeping with the Italian theme, the cories are known as Pepe⁴, since their many dots make them look like peppered cories.

Which Action Hero Would You Be? v. 2.0

You scored as Captain Jack Sparrow. Roguish,quick-witted, and incredibly lucky, Jack Sparrow is a pirate who sometimes ends up being a hero, against his better judgement. Captain Jack looks out for #1, but he can be counted on (usually) to do the right thing. He has an incredibly persuasive tongue, a mind that borders on genius or insanity, and an incredible talent for getting into trouble and getting out of it. Maybe its brains, maybe its genius, or maybe its just plain luck. Or maybe a mixture of all three.

I have decided that my fish will receive names (again). The 5 pandas will all be known as Poppy⁵ because I like the name Poppy. The 6 pygmys will all be known as Fezzik⁶. Done.