Rambling along

[mikekn]

February looks to be a very weird month.  Most of my weekends are free, but the weekdays are filling up fast.  This is pretty weird for us.

Last week was shire meeting, which took much longer than needed, and didn't really cover that much.  I need to finish up the exchequer report, but that requires getting a hold of the previous exchequer, and I'm not having much luck with it. I need to call her this week and get her to bring everything to dance practice this Friday.

Attended the Newcomers meeting, saw one person who had been to a previous meeting several months ago, but who we haven't seen since.  It was good to know we hadn't scared her off :)  Hung out a bit with Althea and Grimm - need to see them more often.  Watched Neale play the latest Resident Evil game - pretty cool, but I'll stick to PC games.  Speaking of PC games...Amy was off babysitting for some friends that night, so I wound up playing WoW 'til late in the evening.

Saturday was set aside to work around the house, catching up on all the stuff I've let go since we returned home.  My original plan included going out to an SCA event (Fields of Gold) to see how all the folks in the Golden Seamstress competition made out, and see some folks get awards, but that didn't happen.  I did manage to get all the laundry, dishes and trash taken care of, as well as some general picking up around the house.  Played a little WoW from time to time, but nothing too serious.  Amy came home in the afternoon and crashed until evening.  After she was up and about, we went out for dinner and did some grocery shopping.  After that we caught up on Huff (Showtime series) so we could clear some TiVo space.  Still need to catch up on all the others, plus finish watching last season's Alias so we can start watching this season.

Sunday I played WoW while Amy slept in, and then played some more while she made lasagna (yummy!).  We went over to Sabatina's in the afternoon to play poker, watch the Super Bowl (ads) and just hang out with folks.  Good time was had by all, but a lot of the folks with kids left early so I didn't get to hang out with them as much.  I need to find time to catch up with Margarete one of these days.

Monday was supposed to be fencing practice but it got canceled at the last minute so I played (you guessed it) WoW most of the evening.  I'm finally starting to figure out some good ways for my character to make some cash.  He just dinged level 28, so now I need to head back to Darnassus to get more Druid training.  Neale also set me the Expert Fishing book, so I can start building my fishing score again (it's been stuck at 150 for weeks).

Tonight is a planned WoW gaming session - going to take on our first instance dungeon.  Should be pretty cool, but it's another evening that I'll be playing WoW all night (it's eating my brain!).

The rest of the week is brewers guild meeting, dinner with my mom, and dance practice.  Somewhere in there I need to do some brewing, work on taxes and maybe pull together an entry for a local brewing competition.

I'd like to do a brunch and a movie on Sunday, but Constantine won't be out yet, and I'm not sure what else will be worth seeing - maybe Lemony Snicket (in spite of several bad reviews of the books, I think the movie would be entertaining).  (Not to say that I think Constantine will be worth seeing, I just want to see it).

I'll probably be doing a gaming evening next Friday (18th) and maybe a gaming day one of these Saturdays.  My first thought was the 26th, but there is an archery thing I'd like to go to that now, some I have to pick another time.  Thoughts?  Suggestions?  Questions?  Answers?

Comments

[cvirtue.livejournal.com]

which took much longer than needed

Shocked!

Anyway, I'd been meaning to drop you a note about a silly thing to do if you're bored someday. Well, someday without snow on the ground.

Y'know when you get off the blue route highway onto, um, Rt. 30 (?), there's that stone beehive on top of the wedge between the offramps? John and I climbed up there one day. You can't go inside, but it was still a fun thing to do.

[mare-in-flames.livejournal.com]

You can't go inside,

Ya better hope not, it's the tomb of a Native American chief. That's why it was left there and the highway built around it, and such.

This is what I'm told by local Eagle Scouts, who, apparently, at the time of their ceremony, have to take an oath to protect that thingy.

So next time you climb up there, leave a flower or something. :)

[cvirtue.livejournal.com]

(noise of pondering)

I tend to doubt it -- the thing didn't look at all old up close. We figured that the highway guys had some spare time and some extra granite and made it. I forget what was under the big blocks, but my meory is something like asphalt, although it was several years ago and I suppose there could have been some native american substance that would seem like it at first glance. There wasn't any sort of label or plaque.

I think any of you who are able, should go look at it up close and see what you think -- or correct my memory! Maybe I can google on it and find out more.

[mikekn]

I'll have to second the doubting. I used to drive by there all the time when the construction was going on - the whole place was a blasting zone. I can't imagine them blasting around something then were required to protect.

It's not far from where I work - I wonder if I'd have time to pop over and take some pictures.

[cvirtue.livejournal.com]

It took a bit to climb, since it was so steep. How's the snowpack there? We parked in one of the nearby parking lots and walked, but it was summer.

My google search didn't turn up anything, but that's not conclusive. I don't have a AAA book for that reegion anymore; it should be mentioned in there if it's a known site, I would think.

I don't want to stomp on anyone's mythology, but I'd really like to know -- burial or not.

[mikekn]

It's probably too snowy and wet to visit right now, but I am curious as well.

[cvirtue.livejournal.com]

You could probably get a decent shot from the edge of the highway, if I'm remembering correctly.

[metageek.livejournal.com]

Ya better hope not, it's the tomb of a Native American chief.

If so, it's a highly unusual one--burial mounds are made of earth, not stone; and large ones aren't found east of the Appalachians in any case.

I suppose it could be a twentieth-century tomb, made with power equipment; but that seems unlikely, since, by that time, the natives had mostly been driven off of any land that desirable.

[mikekn]

Well I did some more digging, but couldn't find out anything. I did find a neat site with a history of the road, but no mention of the mound: Blue Route

[cvirtue.livejournal.com]

When I was in CA, there were some highway bollards installed which were cylindrical with rounded tops. They looked a bit phallic.

Some of the local Indian (continential Indian) community venerated one of them as, argh, can't remember the male deity's name. Poured milk and honey over it regularly, the usual sort of thing. They didn't care that it was put there by the highway; it was a penis shaped rock and qualified. Other Indians thought they were embarrassingly looney.

[beckishadow.livejournal.com]

Is it one of the limekilns?

[mikekn]

Nah, too new looking and no openings. Doesn't look too much like the limekilns up on Germantown and Butler.

[cvirtue.livejournal.com]

I don't think so, because, IIRC, it's not hollow, has no entrance, no smoke vent, and isn't made to be airtight. It's just... there.

After typing this, I did a google image search. Here's one in Illinois:
http://dnr.state.il.us/orep/nrrc/cultural/limeKilns/images/klinSm.jpg

It doesn't look anything like that, either.

[hughcasey.livejournal.com]

You do realize that WoW came up 6 times in that entry.

We may have to consider... an intervention. (grin)

[beththeevilone.livejournal.com]

What instance are you doing? The deadmines? Or heaven forbid..gnomergan? That place is a wicked hard time..did it in my mid 30's with a full group and it was still TOUGH. Good luck if that's what your tackling.

My character has hit 43, but I have to take a week off due to midterms. Also if it wasn't addictive it wouldn't be a good game.

[mikekn]

Nope: Black Fathoms Deep. Our very first instance :)

We had four quests to do there, and we got pretty far, but no one finished all four. By the time we were out (2.5 hours later) I was half way to level 29 :)

Yeah, I tend to think of it as addictive in a good way - mostly because you can stop for a week and pick right back up later.

[mikekn]

Well, ok, but could we do it in game? :)

[sansobel.livejournal.com]

You are busy!!! I remember me and UO and how much time it used to take up. Now the SCA does that. LOL. OOOOHHHH Brunch and a movie???? If you do that may I go? I have not seen Lemony Snicket movie yet. See you tonight.

[mikekn]

Sure! Amy and I are going to figure it out this morning and send out an email (and LJ post).

[mare-in-flames.livejournal.com]

Mike, want to go to Venetian Games instead of Bhakail Revel this weekend? They have games... gaaaaaames.... shiiiiny..... I'm going because I haven't seen Gabe and Sonja in a while.

[mikekn]

Damn, that one looks like fun. It's even got a brewing competition. I'll have to talk to Amy. I think we were both looking forward to another free weekend.

[suba-al-hadid.livejournal.com]

For what it's worth, I nejoyed the Lemony Snicket movie, even though it took liberties with the story from the books.

[rarcke.livejournal.com]

Hey Mike? Can we bring some people to game night? Namely Andrew/Hair, our buddy Karl and the new shire girl Laura who wants to meet people?

[mikekn]

Sure - that would be great! Laura has been to the house once a few months ago (for a newcomers/gaming night). You need any deals or directions? (saw the locked post right?)