Fear the Crab

Today turned out to be another lazy day. We were supposed to go to the dog park, but the sky was cloudy and gray, and the temperature was at the right degree for lounging around. We did eventually step out of the house because we had to go to LCC to buy books for Maile’s upcoming semester. It’s odd how the price of books just keeps going up and up. $140 for 3 books! I think they jack up the price just for kicks.

I found out today that the Japanese have what they call “costume play.” Basically it’s a big dance party where everyone dresses up in costumes of video game, manga or anime characters. They have a costume contest, of course, but the main idea behind it is just to meet people and have a good time. I don’t know if there’s alcohol involved, but I suppose mixing alcohol and anime costumes could have some dangerous results.

I had a glass of water for breakfast, scrambled eggs and pancakes for lunch, and a hamburger macaroni casserole for dinner. For dessert I had a creamcheese poundcake that was very delicious!

There is a gecko living in my bedroom. I think it’s because of all the silverfish that wander about when I’m not looking.

Today was a lazy day. Didn’t do any work, didn’t do any chores, and I also didn’t waste my time doing anything recreational. About all I did do was watch Lord of the Rings on DVD. It was very difficult to separate the movie and the book, from my perspective. The fight scenes were very nice, and I can certainly see why the movie won four Academy Awards (Cinematography, Make-up, Music, and Visual Effects). However, I can also see why it didn’t win Best Picture or Best Actor/Actress. All-in-all, I’d say the movie is okay to watch, but I’m not going to buy it for keeps.

I also watched Kung-Pao at George’s house. I had no idea prior to this that they used an original kung-fu movie and spliced in new scenes. The movie is good for a few one-time laughs and inane silliness, but as with LotR, it’s not something I’ll own.

I ate a Quizno’s sub for dinner, but I couldn’t finish it. That’s what happens when you’ve imbibed 2 cans of soda 2 hours prior. Needless to say, all that junk food has made me even more lazy. I’ll probably turn in early tonight.

No cavities. I also had no return appointment for my next six-month checkup. I wonder if I’m supposed to call, or they will call me?

I found out what was wrong with all those spec codes on CheesyMUD. Seems I forgot one itty-bitty = sign and that threw off the entire thing. I guess it’s the same as what a little atom can do when it’s split in two.

However, now it seems as though none of the code I made before is working. I’m not sure if it’s another mistake I made, or if something else is happening. I’ll have to ask Kyrol about that.

I finally experienced the air conditioner I bought for Maile for her bedroom, and it came in really handy today. The only way to beat a hot muggy day is to spend it entirely in cool comfort with a queen-sized bed and a great dane.

I seem to have broken my spec codes on CheesyMUD. Everytime I think I fix it, the same problem occurs. What happens? Well, first let me say that the code is supposed to prevent access into an area unless that person carries a ticket. If they don’t have a ticket, the code is supposed to tell them they can’t pass without one. Unfortunately, when I finished the code, anytime I tried a command I would be told I needed a ticket. In a nutshell, I had “frozen” myself and “locked” all my normal game commands (including the commands to try and fix the code). I’d hate to think what I would have done if there was no other immortal who could have helped me. I’d be stuck forever!

Work was actually busy today. There were lots of customers all wanting to buy things. After we closed the registers, I noticed a good-sized stack of traveler’s cheques and whole heap of long greens. That’s something the store hasn’t seen in a long time. Still, I’m very glad I don’t have to go to work tomorrow.

I found out today that I register for the fall semester on Aug 20, Tuesday at 1330. That’s the last day of registration. As of last week, there were only a few seats available. The pessimistic side of me is saying that now I won’t get a seat in the classes I want, and I’m going to have to spend the first week of school sitting in on classes and hoping someone will drop. The optimistic side of me is saying that the classes I want have certain prerequisites that need to be fulfilled, so my chances of getting a seat only depends on who else is pursuing the same field of computer science. I’ve already got the requirements needed to take the class, so if everyone who’s taking it with me already registered, odds are those open seats will remain open. I’ll just have to keep checking the class status every day to see any changes.

I think this will be a very stressful week for me.

I think I know the reason behind this morning’s dream, at least for the girl who had a hard time with math. Irene is taking a “practical purposes” course in math, where students use formulas to calculate everyday things like compound interest or matrices for bus schedules or airline flights. She understands the formulas well and good, but when it comes to assignments she can’t seem to cut it. The reason? They’re all word problems, and she hates word problems. She says she panics when she sees them, and I guess her brain locks up and can’t figure things out. I recommended she circle the important facts she sees in the problem, and then once all the facts are circled, put them into the appropriate variables in the appropriate formula. Here’s hoping she does well.

However, I have no idea why Booger was trying to kiss Maile.

There was an accident on the freeway that backed traffic up for a good mile. I got caught in it on the way home from work. We were stopped for a good 15 minutes before we slowly started moving again. From what I could see, some car or truck either lost control or skidded from the right lane all the way across to smash into the center barricade. I didn’t look too well, because I was more interested in getting home, and I hate rubberneckers.

Maile says I need to be more curious. I need to pry my nose into and squeeze every drop of information from whatever it is I’ve encountered, just so I can relay the entire story to her when I tell it. I told her I’ll try.

Today’s Invader Zim episode(s):
Door to Door
FBI Warning of Doom
Megadoomer
Lice

Made two more spec programs for CheesyMUD. They’re simple things, and they only force people to do things they normally wouldn’t. Much thanks to Kyrol again for helping to compile the code.

Kyrol is a golden spec god. He helped me on my little ego-trip spec program on CheesyMUD, and even tweaked it to make it better. If he were a mechanic, I’d ship my car over to have it tuned up and turboed.

Today started out weirdly. I almost threw up the omelette I had for breakfast. I had the night shift at 1830, so that meant I had to kill 9 hours before leaving for work. I’ve never been more bored in my life. What’s even more sad about that is the fact that just in my room there are hundreds of things I could have done to pass the time. Chalk it up to good ol’ laziness, I guess. I even tried to take a nap, but it was too hot, and I think I only managed to doze off for 10 minutes.

On CheesyMUD I tried to make a spec program, somewhat because I wanted to show I could contribute something, but primarily because I felt like it. The only problem was, a certain command was unavailable to me, so I couldn’t compile the code. That makes it tough to test. I felt like a prick for bugging all the higher-ups on the game to compile the code for me.

At work I tried out the new pair of boots I bought on Wednesday. A black pair of Bates-brand boots, they look like something someone in the military or law enforcement would wear. I think it even claimed so on the tag. What’s neat about them is they have a zipper on the side, so I can take my feet out while keeping the boots laced. The boots were comfortable at work, and after having them “blessed” by Irene I did a little dance in front of the jewelry stand.

Work itself was.. well, okay. That’s the best I could put it. It wasn’t dull or boring, but neither was it active enough to consider it a “busy” day. That’s what happens when our primary customers are those from overseas. Still, it felt like I got a lot of work done, so in the end I guess you could say it was worth it.

There’s not much to talk about regarding work, except to say that these days it seems the young Japanese girls are wearing less and less clothing. You can blame the pop stars for that. One day a pop star is going to promote corsets and those gigantic hoop dresses, and then all over Japan women will find it hard to ride the train.

Now that I have my very own LiveJournal, I have no idea what to write about. That’s what is so fun about it, I suppose. Perhaps I should start with a provocative, witty saying that will set the standard to which this journal will live up to..

Perhaps not.

Kyrol was bemoaning his lack of initiative in buying $250 worth of cheese in 1994. There is no doubt in either of our minds that Kyrol would have pulled down $250,000 in today’s market. That is, if he abstained from eating it all.

In the end, he would have spent that money on cheap booze and cheaper hookers, so it’s probably for the best. A few days on the night train with male gigolos would drive anybody to depths of nicotine-induced ploymorphism.

If it seems like I don’t know what I’m talking about, you’re probably right.

EDIT:  LiveJournal account was deleted, and all posts (and subsequent thoughts) have been moved to the site you’re at now.  If you’re reading this, you’re likely in the archives.

EDIT:  If you’re reading this as the last post, how was the trip backward in time?