2024-11-28:

Fri:
Had some meetings, met more about the translation effort.
Then another meeting with the PJL folks about what to do in certain situations the HP returns nothing. I said return an error, that's the right thing to do.
Otherwise not much else, didn't figure anything out for the book.
Did the shopping, saw my parents.
Came back here, a brief time to get ready for the concert. Now just waiting for Alyx to arrive.
Concert!

So good! She did some audience interaction, some singing, some aerial work, while playing a violin? I mean it could have been pre-recorded I woudn't have been able to tell the difference. But if it wasn't that was pretty impressive. Glad I went, even if the security lady did keep finding stuff in my pockets like three tiny screws and my silver dollar I had forgetten about. At least Alyx warned me about the knife thing, we walked that back to the car just as we got to the door. Whoops, sorry about that. And now I have an apron, a tiny record, an album of hers, a cookie cutter, and an orniment.

Sat:
Checked sites.
Worked on a gift.
Played a bit of Magicraft.
Ate lunch.
Tried to call the customer because I didn't get his address I guess. My phone is out again? How long ago did that happen? Stupid tape job! Now I have to hope the repair person texts me like he did before. Monday. So I'm out my phone another two days. Neat. Well three, I guess.
Left to deliver PC.
That went fine! He actually had an SSD, I guess I sold him the machine years ago so thanks past me! You're the best.
Came back here for a bit, then left for game.
Stan didn't make it, and we got 2 of the 3 keys to unlock the prison of the mysterious voice we're trying to help. The last one is going to be the hard one. Snarly talked to the lizardmen and I talked to the dwarves. So that's non-combat goodness.
Came back early as Sean and Mizzy had other things to do that night and did a bit of Magecraft. Got further than ever that time.

Sun:
Ordered Alyx a gift as the thing I ordered was not going to be here in time. But this one said a usual shipping time of 4 weeks? That's not going to get here on time either! Darn it! I think both gifts would be well received but I'm seeing them on the 14th next. Not enough time. Sucks. Well, they have birthdays too so one will simply have to be used for that. So there. Whichever gets here first becomes the christmas gift.

Did my reading.

Did the paperwork for last month. The extra cash and checks I got in the mail helped push it up but still not as good as last year at this time. Odd. Seems to be a busier month for some reason?

Tiny bit of Christmas shopping. Mom gets nothing unless she picks up the pace! Not even joking!

Lawn is still pretty wet, not sure about raking. Not that it's going to be anything approaching sunny any time soon.

Did another run of Magicraft. A summoner build. I really liked it. Didn't save me in the end. But I really got some good stuff.

Suddenly had my phone back. The cell beeped and it said the Frontier tech would be out soon. Uh, did I pass out and it was now Monday? But no. The phone rang a moment later, the tech said he was working on the local box- he was going to run a few more tests but it worked. Now I guess I don't have to worry about rushing back here tomorrow. Thanks, universe.

Looked into getting the VPN / internet sharing working across my two devices. Sadly I think the NAS will still be out of it. That's fine.

Of course now that the phone works, I had to get a call. Vince down the street from work. Still can't figure out his gmail password. Last time we tried to change it over the phone he seemingly couldn't use his wife's email to get the correct code (he kept giving me different ones, like where are you getting all these?) and finally it stopped letting us try. Neat. So I guess I get to do it in person.

Cleaned up, did some Sunday stuff.

Mon:
Got mom's Christimas list, I guess she gets stuff after all.
Did the server check at work.
Did a Karen test, another hour of onedrive scanning. So exciting.
Worked on the pony game, needed some answers to questions they posed.
Also worked on building block magic, added some info about rituals and time.
Hopefully saved a plant from the garbage, we'll see how it goes.
Talked to Don about some random email he sent me. I can't do anything with that file, Don, it has to be made into a DLM. you know this!

Stopped to see google guy. He had gotten it working, somehow. But he has a second gmail account for reasons, that he somehow connected to amazon. So he can't get rid of it. I tried, but it wouldn't log in with the real account or switch the account by sending a code. So weird.

Came home, raked the back leaves. All done! Now pick them up please. I saw the trucks.
Was dark when I finished, but I think it's fine. It doesn't have to be perfect.

Ate dinner, checked sites. No calls today.

Another Magicraft run. I died in the same freaking room! I should have learned, but I never learn. I'm dumb.

Tues:
It's only tuesday you say? Interesting.

Had a surprising number of meetings today. One with Don that was a surprise, one at 9:00 but I already had the Joe meeting at 9:00 so suck it that was about the translation. Don's surprise meeting was with a team basically for info sharing. A follow up with Don about his meeting with the other team about test cases and how to effectively test all these new models we're getting in. Christina came and told me about the meeting I missed. Apparently our translation files are all over the place. They can't just do copy. For instance. Seems like an oversight to me, but it means it'll be a jumble when we hand it over to prove "proof of concept." Don had the same reaction as me, uh, we have lots of languages on there. Do you think this one specifically will be so radically different we can't handle it? That right there is your proof of concept.

Did another training. This one was hilarious at the end. "Pick 3 out of 4 answers to this question" *Fourth one is clearly wrong* Uh, okay?

After all that I managed a chapter of the last game. Probably only a partial, my talking to the dwarves, I doubt it'll take too many words to write.

No haul! The garbage wasn't emptied but nothing was there? In both places. So disappointed. What happened? My sweet, sweet trash food!!!! I miss you!

One call, something about his wi-fi password. Unless your wi-fi name is airnet I can't help you buddy.

Checked sites, had dinner.

Xbox with the others.

Wed:
I. Got. Plushies!



Went to good will, and found almost a whole set of these cuties. No Twilight Sparkle though. I looked. Twice! You better believe I did. So sad that she was separated from her friends. I mean if there was this many, there should be a Twilight, right?

Some of their hair is messed up. Rarity in particular had like 6 braids. I undid them but she's frizzy as heck.

I'll ask my mother tomorrow if there's some easy, life hack, cheat code like way to help these poor girls out. She would know. She deals with that sort of thing all the time. Never found pony stuff there. At least I don't think. Maybe one thing? But not a whole set of these girls. $2 each can you believe it?

Got a few other goodies for the game, only one trip left before the big game. One santa I wanted didn't have a sticker. Boo! The last time the lady just looked up the department and gave me a price. This guy said there wasn't anything he could do. Well, whatever dude. It's a tiny glass santa. You got it for free. I will pay any fair price, just quote me one. No?

Oh right work or some crap. Uh, not much happening today. So strange I know. Christina was working with Karen about SNMP v3 but we think it's some bug we're already tracking. Systems are so complex today.

No meetings or anything, Don was out. Quiet.

Got the next chapter written. It actually was a whole chapter. I was surprised I had enough content. So I'm good for the 14th.

Speaking, of, Alyx's gift may arrive in time after all! *waves to Alyx* Delivery date seems to be the 4th, plenty of time. What was I even worried about?

After that came home, checked sites. Had dinner. Got ready for tomorrow, Sean wants to do xbox at 9:30 and I want to do another Magicraft run so let's get it done!

Got it done! Finally beat the game on simple, now I can graduate to... normal. Sigh. Still in baby mode.

Read over the latest chapter Alyx sent me, then did xbox with the others. We can't beat the stupid invasion with the shield guy. We tried so many times.

Thurs:
Gobble gobble day!

Did some christmas shopping, because I do things early not waiting until friday like some kind of normal person.

Did another Magicraft run. Didn't get too far on the "normal" mode but I did unlock a new outfit. Allows me to have 4 wands, all which auto battle for me. This means I simply have to avoid being hit. I don't know, seems like it takes something away from the game if it is attacking for me. I'll try it, but it would have been better if the 4th wand didn't have the forced auto-battle and you still could do some attacking on your own.

Had a nice Thanksgiving with the family, let's do it again, meatsacks! Little Warframe humor for you there. You get it.

My mother injured herself earlier in the week, perhaps cracking a rib? She's getting it x-rayed ... hold on... that does seem to be the correct spelling, why is it underlined? Sorry, distracted. Anyway, tomorrow. You know the old joke, you fall out a tree at 10 and you're perfectly fine. At 50 you wake up with a sore back because "you must have slept wrong." It's a crazy old life. Get better soon mom. Boy, the knee thing before, now the rib. Be more careful, I want you around a long time yet.

Let's look ahead, as we typically do. Off work tomorrow, whatever will I do with myself?

I am running game though. I'll need to look things over, but I'm sure everything is fine. It's only the second dungeon, and I have some "quests" if they want to do other things but honestly they need to get their magic going if they want to really do anything.

Then Saturday is Sean's game, the dark elf one. I'm not sure if everyone will be there or not. Was that this time?

And then more resting up on Sunday I figure. Reading. I'll find something. Oh, oh, putting the tree up! Duh! How could I forget? The other decorations, shoot I forgot to bring my iPod in from the car so I could put the christmas music on it. I would go do that but I have a cat now. Can't get up. That's the rule.

So that's it. November is mostly done. This year is mostly done. Who's looking forward to the next one? *looks for raised hands* Yeah, I get it. Stay frosty. Little winter humor for- I'll show myself out.