Fear the Crab

I participated in “Bartertown” at Other Realms yesterday. I had a bunch of Games Workshop miniatures that I needed to get rid of, plus some random bits and pieces from other manufacturers. These were all complete models, parts and accessories that I knew I would never get around to, so why not see if I could recoup my losses or get stuff I needed?

Continued ~

Finished another round of miniatures painting:

Old School

These models are quite old; I can’t remember how many years ago I picked them up, but it may well be in terms of decades. The Terminators have gone through a dramatic change, if you remember the newer models pictured here.

I’m not sure if I can legally field this version in a legal game, because the #1 rule is “What you see is what you get” (hereafter acronym’d as WYSISYG). Grey Knight Terminators are supposed to have a melee weapon and a Storm Bolter, but that’s not what’s shown on the models. I don’t think many people would give me flak about it, though, since their armaments are equipped as standard and I’m not trying to add additional things.

Friday (29 May) was the last full day of Las Vegas vacationing for us. Naturally, when accompanied by people who are not as interested in gambling, the only other activities available after the sightseeing road trips are exhibits and shopping.

We met up with The James as a chance to catch up on old times, and he didn’t seem to mind tagging along. It had been over a year since I last saw him, so it was nice to get together.

Continued ~

Thursday (28 May) was another drive to another canyon, but this time the distance was much shorter. We went to Red Rock Canyon, ~18 miles west of Las Vegas, where the rocks are, naturally, quite red.

Chuckwalla

Continued ~

We arrived in Las Vegas on Tuesday evening (26 May), late enough to do little but eat and shower. Since we were staying at the Main Street Station, we ate at the Triple 7 restaurant. Tried the pale ale, and it wasn’t too bad, except I’m not a big fan of fruity flavors in my beer. I don’t recall what kind of flavor it was supposed to be, as I didn’t spend all my time studying the menu.

The reason for the quick bite and bath was because the next day was our journey to the Grand Canyon. By car. That meant waking early enough to grab some breakfast (at the Garden Court buffet) and wash up before the big road trip. We started driving at around 0700, I think.

Continued ~

The sleep study wasn’t very restful. I know a part of it has to do with sleeping in a strange place with all kinds of equipment hanging on my face, but I believe it had less to do with that than with the constant interruptions by the technicians. And the sleeping pill didn’t seem to do shit.

I didn’t have a clock to judge how many hours would pass, but I know on three occasions the techs came into the room to adjust the sensors. I was awake enough to realize what was going on, but I wasn’t quite at that level of coherency to try and ask why they were doing this. The techs would peel off the adhesive that held the sensors to my cheeks and neck, and either replace or reattach them again. Hopefully they unclogged my pores with all that facial treatment.

Continued ~

I just returned from a family vacation to Las Vegas. Stayed for four nights from Tuesday to Saturday. I do intend to document my adventures in the desert, but I’m going to post them on the corresponding day instead of all at once. Consider it like a one-week delay between events.

Meanwhile, tonight is the sleep study appointment. I’m very interested in knowing the results, and hopefully I’ll be sleepy enough to provide the doctors and techs with enough data to diagnose whatever it is I’m affected by. I have the expensive sleeping pill to help me pass out, and I think I will bring an extra blanket just in case the room is too cold, or the pillows are too flat.

I know I said that I would focus on completing the Grey Knights miniatures in my possession, but that was after I spent two weeks painting this figure:

Sisters of Battle - HQ

Continued ~

I’ve been painting Games Workshop miniatures on and off during the recent couple of decades. It’s usually been a sporadic affair, casually shoved into the skein of my life whenever fancy took me. As expected, the results of such endeavors feature little worth displaying, particularly since I don’t consider myself to be qualified for competitive painting; no Golden Daemons or Slayer Swords for me.

Continued ~

This morning at The Office, I went to the cafeteria to get breakfast.  It’s an average routine for when I neglect to bring oatmeal or my squishy bowl set, and I had a few dollars squirreled away for such occasions.

Upon receipt of my breakfast special (eggs, bacon, potatoes), I noticed that only one register was in operation, and it was at the espresso bar.  Fair enough, it’s happened before, and all it means is that I will be waiting behind people eager for their fix.

The order in front of me got mixed up in the space between the clerk and the customer, as a mocha shake was created with regular chocolate instead of white as was ordered.  Why the customer elected not to observe the preparation of her drink could be attributed to a lack of attention or caring, but she chose the moment the clerk handed her the shake to question its contents.

All that did was create a slight delay as the clerk had to make the correct mocha shake.  I figured, it’s no big deal for me; I’m only at work.  Yet in the midst of this new preparatory adventure, the clerk asked if anyone in line wanted the mistaken order.

Heck, I’ll take it. Ordinarily I’m a regular coffee guy; black, and nothing funny in it. I don’t mind an occasional espresso, and I do prefer a mocha to a caffe latte (except I’ve grown to hate when baristas feels they have to get all fancy and add stupid cinnamon/chocolate art designs in the foam). I told the clerk to pass it my way, and he seemed grateful enough to charge me half-off. Score!  Bonus!

Smug with my new and cheaply-acquired drink, I made the journey back to The Office. I took a sip with each 5th step, not out of any adherence to a set cadence, but just because that’s how long it took to savor and swallow.

I opened the door to the main hallway with my near-frozen fingers (it’s hard to hold onto a cold shake). I keyed in my security code to The Office door. I turned the handle to open the door, so that I could sit at my desk, eat my breakfast special of eggs, bacon and potatoes, and drink my mocha shake with regular chocolate instead of white.

And as the handle turned enough to open the door, I dropped the fucking shake.