John
Dec. 9th, 2004
07:25 am - Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
deramani! I'm hoping to see your mug sometime soon!
John
![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/classic/smile.gif){kind=small}
cheerfulJul. 29th, 2004
07:43 am - A Long Overdue Update
Over the past few days…
…I ran Call of Cthulhu. It was one of those ephemeral games where everything clicked. It all started off with some decidedly appropriate atmosphere. I had some old candelabras that I filled. I had them arranged in strategic areas, along with some other props (scrolls of eldritch lore, a statuette of an otherworldly being). When we dimmed the lights, the feel of the gaming lair put us all in the right frame of mind.
The group arrived in a patchwork fashion. Some were early, some were late, but we got started fairly quickly once everyone made their entrances. Table-talk was relatively low; it seemed that everyone had a desire to get right down to business.
We started the game, and everyone immediately engaged their characters. The plot started with the mundane, as most horror stories do, but quickly veered off the course of everyday events. What I find humorous and somehow satisfying is an aspect of horror games, and Call of Cthulhu in particular, that often generates surprises on both sides of the Keeper’s screen. The first situation arose that was due to have a violent outcome. It was not the burly warrior that dealt a crushing death-blow to a slavering enemy. It was a botanist…with a trowel…who was in the process of pulling up his pants. We’re still laughing.
Following were many dangerous, creepy, and terrifying situations. Everyone survived, mainly because they made good choices. The game may or may not make its way to another session, but I think its got legs. We’ll see.
…Abby’s about ready to pop out her litter. A very pregnant miniature dachshund is a funny and a pitiful sight. She groans with nearly every step, and her belly almost drags the floor. I think this will probably be her last set of pups. Meri enjoys raising them, but Abby’s done her bit for King and Country.
…I’ve been thinking about the rapidly approaching ragweed season. I’ve got a prescription for Clarinex that I need to get filled.
…we’ve been given unseasonably cool weather. It suits me. I’m not a summer person. Well, not Missouri summers, anyway. I’m sure that Alaskan or Pacific Northwest summers would be great!
…we started watching Rescue Me. It may be my new favorite show. I’ve always liked Mr. Leary.
…I started re-reading R.E. Howard. I’ve always enjoyed the simplicity and directness of Conan’s Hyboria.
That’s enough for now…meanwhile, back to the drudgery.
John
refreshedJul. 28th, 2004
06:35 am - Welcome...
...to grilnog! There goes the neighborhood! :grins:
-John
chipperApr. 9th, 2004
09:40 am - Book Lemming!
Actually, the closest book to me right now is an e-book.
1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 23.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the sentence in your journal along with these instructions.
"That leaves you just ten minutes. You will have to run," said Gandalf.
amusedMar. 22nd, 2004
07:47 pm - This Evening
With a nod to deramani
Blaze of sky fire burns.
Orange leads blue in calling
an indigo dream.
![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/classic/thinking.gif){kind=small}
contemplative07:22 am - This Morning
Golden light appears.
Darkened land in long shadows,
under brilliant blue.
peacefulFeb. 23rd, 2004
Oct. 10th, 2003
10:00 am - Rokugan
Tonight's the first night of my new Legend of the Five Rings d20 campaign. I say campaign...hopefully it takes off. I played the game at Archon, and it hit me like an iron tetsubo! Everyone seems psyched. I think its due to the "newness" of the Rokugan setting.
I've created a minor fief in Crane lands called Miniama Kawa (South River). The players will be retainers of Lord Daidoji Togama, who rules a small port town with connections to the Crane-Mantis trade routes. Lord Daidoji's court is made up of some interesting characters, including a Dragon Clan Shugenja, who may have the interests of the Imperial Court as her top priority...
![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/classic/shock.gif){kind=small}
nervousOct. 7th, 2003
07:36 am - My Next Campaign
After many different temptations, I've finally settled on what RPG will be my next to run...
On Friday, The Thistledown Gamers Guild sails for Rokugan!
![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/classic/energetic.gif){kind=small}
energeticSep. 11th, 2003
08:05 am - Remembering the day...
"Alas, poor world, what treasure hast thou lost!"
Venus & Adonis
thankfulMay. 27th, 2003
02:04 pm - 39
Another year, and...
( ...a few thoughts on getting older. )
![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/classic/blah.gif){kind=small}
listlessMay. 19th, 2003
07:30 am - My Roleplaying Purity Results
Interesting...
| Your Ultimate Roleplaying Purity Score | ||
| Category | Your Score | Average |
| Hacklust | 31.13% Has conversations in between massacres | 52.3% |
| Sensitive Roleplaying | 50.63% "But what's my motivation for this scene?" | 48.8% |
| GM Experience | 34.78% Closer to a novel than to a campaign | 65.7% |
| Systems Knowledge | 75.14% Local rules guru | 88.4% |
| Livin' La Vida Dorka | 31.03% Carries dice in pocket 'just in case' | 58.3% |
| You are 46.77% pure Average Score: 65.5% | ||
cheerfulMay. 10th, 2003
10:12 am - Some Thoughts
( A few thoughts, while I have a few minutes... )
contemplativeMar. 4th, 2003
07:51 am - My Current State of Mind
I had an interchange with someone this morning that’s put me in the mood to express a bit of my philosophy. It went something like this…
I heard two co-workers talking about the weather. One we’ll call Bob, and the other we’ll call Harry. Bob cheerfully comments on the impending “warm-up” at the end of the week. Harry responds with a comment about how we have to go through a snow-filled Wednesday to get there. Bob deflates, and Harry continues out of the room.
I don’t let him leave unchallenged.
I say to Harry, (in a loud voice so that everyone in the office can hear) “ Harry, you have a pronounced talent for seeing every dark cloud inside the silver lining.”
He shoots me a look and continues out the door. I, of course, follow.
Harry says to me, “Well it’s going to be a mud-hole when every thing thaws through, and if you had a fence to put up, you wouldn’t be happy about it either.”
I reply, “I think it’s good to see bright side whenever you can.”
He grips his coffee cup tighter and accelerates.
I say, “You hate people like me, don’t you, Harry.”
He replies, “You’re just not a realist.”
I return to my desk glad in the fact that I don’t possess this “reality” addiction that Harry has.
I set the mental state of being cheerful and optimistic as a high priority. This mental state is usually observed to be something that happens to you, and not something that you can choose. I suppose it’s easier for some to assume that they’re not in control of these aspects of their personality. It’s an exercise in extreme self-indulgence to sit at your desk, glowering over the rim of your coffee cup, lamenting on the things in your life that are contrary to your desires. You have no control over some of these things that are negative, but you do control your reaction to them. I see it as an individual’s responsibility to contain the spread of their unhappiness by deciding to be otherwise.
There are folks that have real problems. God forbid it ever happens to me and mine. I like the definition given by a guy named Alton Brown …”All of life’s big problems include the words “indictment” or “inoperable.” Everything else is small stuff.” On the day that I have to deal with one of these, I know I will have a difficult time retaining my perspective.
But… I refuse to be a grump because I’ve got too much work to do, or because my boss keeps changing the parameters of the project I’m working on!
In spite of these “dark cloud” seers around me, I’m going to keep my eye on the silver-lining.
optimisticFeb. 27th, 2003
06:30 am - A Piece of Our Past, Gone
Fred Rogers died yesterday. It sucks to see your childhood getting farther and farther away.
![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/classic/sad.gif){kind=small}
sadJan. 24th, 2003
08:25 am - The Beast Within
What Is Your Animal Personality?
brought to you by Quizilla
OWOOOoooooo!
chipperJan. 7th, 2003
03:25 pm - Discovering Stevenson
I was looking around for some information on the origin of the poem, "Nobody Knows It But Me." It's the one read by James Garner in the Chevy Tahoe commercial. It struck a chord with me, and apparently is causing quite a stir on several online poetry boards. Anyway, several people said it sounded like Robert Louis Stevenson. A person had posted one of his works that shared a similar theme with the poem on the commercial. When I read it, I was dumbfounded.
This poem sums up the the feelings that I have when I create worlds to roleplay in. The things said in these verses are things that are with me every day, and at the core of my psyche. I can't stop reading it, over and over.
( An excerpt from Robert Louis Stevenson's, A Child's Garden of Verses )
Dec. 23rd, 2002
11:02 am - White Christmas!
It's Dec. 23rd...The prevailing meterological opinion is that 12 inches of snow is getting ready to dump on St. Francois county...Could it be any better?
![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/classic/wink.gif){kind=small}
giddyNov. 13th, 2002
11:34 am - Driving Towards a Game System
Just got whapped in the head with a story idea. I've got two weeks until the next session on the 30th. Now I just need the system...
Nov. 12th, 2002
09:28 pm - Randomness...
It's been awhile since I posted anything, and I find myself in the mood...
I'm recovering from my "procedure" quite well. The worst part was the ribbing I got from just about everyone. I don't mind... three kids is enough, so say I and my bank account. Of course, my luck is kicking in ... I had the tubes cut Friday, and now Meri informs me she's a week late.
I can't wait to see how deramani works the Gateway Guardians into his Marvel campaign. Knowing him, it'll be something very cool.
I'm going to start a new campaign (hopefully) on the 30th. Only problem is that I'm squirming around trying to decide what type of story to tell. Currently in my head are Superheroes (Marvel, Champions), Fantasy (Runequest, Fantasy Hero, D&D), Horror (Chill - maybe a Victorian England setting). Maybe Pendragon. Maybe Ars Magica. Something will take shape soon.
We need players! I think we're a bit stale, a little complacent. We need an injection of some new ideas. Maybe I should run something that nobody in our group has seen. That might light a fire under us. Changeling or Skyrealms of Jorune, perhaps.
The Blues are up 2-1 over than the Canucks. It's shaping up to be a great year for St. Louis hockey. We're undefeated on the road. We've been to the post-season for 23 years straight, but never won the cup. That streak's gotta break soon.
Need to sleep...
relaxedNavigate: (Previous 20 Entries)