I am officially 40 years old as of 11:31PM tonight... *sigh*
Actually, given the alternative, I will continue to enjoy my birthdays for as long as possible. Not quite ready for a dirt nap... :-)
Monday, June 16, 2008
Monday, June 09, 2008
Welcome back to work!
This morning, a co-worker from Facilities called and told us that he went into our secondary server node room and it was very hot. Apparently both CRACs failed (Computer Room Air Conditioner). It appears that we never received notification because the company that installed the software neglected to configure that room alarm. The sensors were working fine. *sigh*
Sunday, June 08, 2008
My surprise 40th Birthday Party...
GOOD NEWS! (Well, maybe not quite so good)...I had a surprise birthday party (the good part) for my 40th (the not-so-good part).
My wife put together a surprise birthday party for me...I was pretty surprised...I thought I was going to my Mom's for Shepherd's Pie... :-)
A bunch of my friends were there and there were gifts galore...of course, I had the mandatory "Over the Hill" stuff...it was a great time and I really enjoyed it.
My wife said that she could not have done it without my sister and mother's help...my family (and friends, of course) are awesome...
My wife put together a surprise birthday party for me...I was pretty surprised...I thought I was going to my Mom's for Shepherd's Pie... :-)
A bunch of my friends were there and there were gifts galore...of course, I had the mandatory "Over the Hill" stuff...it was a great time and I really enjoyed it.
My wife said that she could not have done it without my sister and mother's help...my family (and friends, of course) are awesome...
Friday, June 06, 2008
Story background, attempt 2
Falgarth Wilderscotch was born and raised outside the town of Therrel, located in the Xian woods. His father, Plourde, was a hunter/guide who would take adventurous people from Therrel and its surrounding areas to the ruins of Saklesh on hunting trips. Here it was that young Falgarth learned to respect the wild beasts and other creatures that stayed in the woods around his home. Since the woods were fraught with peril, his father taught him to use the sling and avoid traps and pitfalls. Falgarth got quite good a trap and beast avoidance but never became very proficient with the sling.
Falgarth learned herb lore and healing at the knee of his mother, Illyan, who was skilled in healing. Though it was never confirmed, some believed she had magical abilities. She was even called "hedge witch" by the town children, though never to her face!
On one trip to the ruins, his father was gored in the leg by a wild boar. Plourde was able to kill the boar with the help of the group he was leading but unable to continue the journey. After some argument about leaving Plourde behind at camp or returning home, Falgarth successfully toke over the group, leading them in and out of the ruins without further incident. Unfortunately, Plourde never fully recovered from the goring and later died from infection. Illyan was distraught as she was unable to cure her husband, though she tried valiantly. She sent Falgarth to her ancient uncle in town to learn more about healing and herbs so that something like this would never happen again.
"Uncle", as he was known to Falgarth, was a very old and wise man, skilled in healing and arcane arts. He owned a well-known apothecary. Noticing the skills that Falgarth held, he was suitably impressed. He put Falgarth to work in the apothecary, working with customers as well as gathering and preparing herbs and poultices. Seeing the lack of arcane knowledge, he decided to fill that gap.
The political climate changed in town as people that were against the use of magic came into power, and magic came into disfavor as the "Devil's Work". Aware of this, Uncle hired a young fighter to train Falgarth in the use of the staff and dagger. Falgarth quickly became proficient at these weapons, though his sling was still a very weak area.
Soon after, while Falgarth was out in the forest getting replacement herbs (which sometimes took as long as a month), Uncle was taken in, tried and convicted of knowledge arcane by a kangaroo court. The penalty was death and all his lands and apothecary were taken and sold. When Falgarth returned, he realized he was living the life of a criminal in the eyes of the Elders of the town. He had to flee or be killed. When he went back home to his mother, he realized that she, too, was taken and murdered as a hedge witch. He decided to leave town and return when he became more powerful. He was going to challenge the Elders…someday.
Falgarth learned herb lore and healing at the knee of his mother, Illyan, who was skilled in healing. Though it was never confirmed, some believed she had magical abilities. She was even called "hedge witch" by the town children, though never to her face!
On one trip to the ruins, his father was gored in the leg by a wild boar. Plourde was able to kill the boar with the help of the group he was leading but unable to continue the journey. After some argument about leaving Plourde behind at camp or returning home, Falgarth successfully toke over the group, leading them in and out of the ruins without further incident. Unfortunately, Plourde never fully recovered from the goring and later died from infection. Illyan was distraught as she was unable to cure her husband, though she tried valiantly. She sent Falgarth to her ancient uncle in town to learn more about healing and herbs so that something like this would never happen again.
"Uncle", as he was known to Falgarth, was a very old and wise man, skilled in healing and arcane arts. He owned a well-known apothecary. Noticing the skills that Falgarth held, he was suitably impressed. He put Falgarth to work in the apothecary, working with customers as well as gathering and preparing herbs and poultices. Seeing the lack of arcane knowledge, he decided to fill that gap.
The political climate changed in town as people that were against the use of magic came into power, and magic came into disfavor as the "Devil's Work". Aware of this, Uncle hired a young fighter to train Falgarth in the use of the staff and dagger. Falgarth quickly became proficient at these weapons, though his sling was still a very weak area.
Soon after, while Falgarth was out in the forest getting replacement herbs (which sometimes took as long as a month), Uncle was taken in, tried and convicted of knowledge arcane by a kangaroo court. The penalty was death and all his lands and apothecary were taken and sold. When Falgarth returned, he realized he was living the life of a criminal in the eyes of the Elders of the town. He had to flee or be killed. When he went back home to his mother, he realized that she, too, was taken and murdered as a hedge witch. He decided to leave town and return when he became more powerful. He was going to challenge the Elders…someday.
Story background, attempt 1
Lymri Oakenstone was a Dwarf, born and raised in the town of Sildran, located in the Theelzeeb woods. His father, Thyme, was a carver with a flair for indulgence. Thyme was well known locally, both for his wood and stone carvings as well as his "other appetites". Here it was that young Lymri learned about wood, stone, wine, women and song. Since the woods around their home were dangerous, by necessity his father taught him to use the sling and axe, as well as a few other weapons, including weaponless fighting skills. "You never know when you will be caught with your pants down", he used to say to Lymri…in fact, several times his father mock-attacked him while he was in the Loo! Needless to say, constipation wasn't a problem in this household; you did your business and got outta there!
Lymri doesn't remember his mother, except that she was a very beautiful woman. He asked his father about her once, when he was in his tweens, and his father cuffed him and said that she was "gone". Lymri never forgot that day, nor did he ever ask again, for this one time he saw real pain in his father's eyes…where merriment was the norm.
One morning, after a very rowdy evening down at the local tavern, a bleary eyed Lymri was awakened by the town's only constable rapping at the heavy oaken door. At the same time, there was a light tapping on the glass window by his lifelong Halfling friend, Elway. He rapped on the window again, and to make sure that he got Lymri's attention, he turned around and dropped drawers; this worked. It's not every hung-over morning that you see a full moon before noon. Going over to the window instead of answering the door, he opened it and yanked Elway inside.
"You need to get out of here! The constable is downstairs to arrest you for murder!", Elway said with whispered alarm.
"What are you talking about?!?", Lymri half whispered, half moaned. He held his head and tried to remember last night. When would he learn not to try and out-drink the Forsythe twins? They always cheated by switching places and only having half as much to drink. "I didn't kill anybody!"
"I know that! It was those idiot Jameson brothers that did it. They raped and murdered the Judge's daughter. Everyone pointed to you, since they saw you get spurned by her last night. You liked right mad at that. You know if it came down to your or my word against the Jameson brothers who would win, don't you? Your father is downstairs now, covering for you. If you don't get moving, the constable will get suspicious and haul your Da in for obstruction of justice. You and I both know what that would do to him!", Elway pleaded. "He won't last a week in that dungeon".
That got Lymri's attention right quick! He got his bag of stuff that he always kept ready (remember the Loo incident?) and snuck out the window right behind Elway and away from the center of Sildran and out through the woods. He would have to return to clear his name, if he wanted to see his father again.
To make ends meet, his skills as a carver and mason were quite useful in the various monasteries in surrounding towns and villages. With skills like his and the low rate he charged, the monasteries never asked too many questions, figuring that everyone had crosses to bear.
Lymri lived in this manner about 10 years or so, learning new skills with the hammer and chisel. Yet he was his father's son; he still missed the carousing and adventuring of his youth. Deciding to do some exploring back home, he arrived discovering his father had died because he confessed to the murder, trying to save his son. He also found out that the Jameson brothers soon after departed for parts unknown and his friend Elway was missing. To make restitution to the Judge, the property of his father was seized and sold, so Lymri had nothing but what was on his back. Turning his back on the town, he decided to go into the world and see what he could find and to see if he could find any traces of thos eJameson brothers to exact revenge for the murder of the girl, trashing of his name and the death of his father. He suspected the disappearance of his friend was also somehow tied into this. This revenge was going to take a while - a loooong while.
Lymri doesn't remember his mother, except that she was a very beautiful woman. He asked his father about her once, when he was in his tweens, and his father cuffed him and said that she was "gone". Lymri never forgot that day, nor did he ever ask again, for this one time he saw real pain in his father's eyes…where merriment was the norm.
One morning, after a very rowdy evening down at the local tavern, a bleary eyed Lymri was awakened by the town's only constable rapping at the heavy oaken door. At the same time, there was a light tapping on the glass window by his lifelong Halfling friend, Elway. He rapped on the window again, and to make sure that he got Lymri's attention, he turned around and dropped drawers; this worked. It's not every hung-over morning that you see a full moon before noon. Going over to the window instead of answering the door, he opened it and yanked Elway inside.
"You need to get out of here! The constable is downstairs to arrest you for murder!", Elway said with whispered alarm.
"What are you talking about?!?", Lymri half whispered, half moaned. He held his head and tried to remember last night. When would he learn not to try and out-drink the Forsythe twins? They always cheated by switching places and only having half as much to drink. "I didn't kill anybody!"
"I know that! It was those idiot Jameson brothers that did it. They raped and murdered the Judge's daughter. Everyone pointed to you, since they saw you get spurned by her last night. You liked right mad at that. You know if it came down to your or my word against the Jameson brothers who would win, don't you? Your father is downstairs now, covering for you. If you don't get moving, the constable will get suspicious and haul your Da in for obstruction of justice. You and I both know what that would do to him!", Elway pleaded. "He won't last a week in that dungeon".
That got Lymri's attention right quick! He got his bag of stuff that he always kept ready (remember the Loo incident?) and snuck out the window right behind Elway and away from the center of Sildran and out through the woods. He would have to return to clear his name, if he wanted to see his father again.
To make ends meet, his skills as a carver and mason were quite useful in the various monasteries in surrounding towns and villages. With skills like his and the low rate he charged, the monasteries never asked too many questions, figuring that everyone had crosses to bear.
Lymri lived in this manner about 10 years or so, learning new skills with the hammer and chisel. Yet he was his father's son; he still missed the carousing and adventuring of his youth. Deciding to do some exploring back home, he arrived discovering his father had died because he confessed to the murder, trying to save his son. He also found out that the Jameson brothers soon after departed for parts unknown and his friend Elway was missing. To make restitution to the Judge, the property of his father was seized and sold, so Lymri had nothing but what was on his back. Turning his back on the town, he decided to go into the world and see what he could find and to see if he could find any traces of thos eJameson brothers to exact revenge for the murder of the girl, trashing of his name and the death of his father. He suspected the disappearance of his friend was also somehow tied into this. This revenge was going to take a while - a loooong while.
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