Yes, I finally played a game of Might and Magic VII all the way through! As I'd never done a role playing game before, my first attempt was with a team Laura helped me select. She then used a special editor program to make it easier for me. My second attempt, with the crew above, was only with minor assistence. Laura piped in a healthy gold supply, grandmaster skills in alchemy, water magic (so I could have 'Lloyd's beacon' and 'town portal' spells), and perception. Other than that, they advanced without "cheats".

I've got a new team began, a Paladin/Archer/Druid/Sorceror combo. But I'm going to try it without the special assistence, and see how I do.

December 4, 1999

"Happy To Have Stayed Home"

Waking to 33 degrees (0 C), encouraged us to postpone our big plans for the weekend. At first we were going to go with Glen and Mother in a two car caravan to Sedona to see the Christmas lights there. But with the higher elevation, the unusually chilly weather here would be positively frigid there. So we then considered the lights at Winterhaven. Laura looked it up on the web. Next week, Tucson is also hosting the Fourth Avenue Street Fair. Next week, it could be warmer, and we could see the street fair earlier in the day. The Christmas lights will be much prettier if we're not trembling with the cold

I adjusted my plans to a shopping trip with Laura and Shayna. I need to buy 33 yards of fabric for mattress covers and a navy zipper 25 inch or longer. I rushed things out of the dryer and on to hangers, so they wouldn't wait long for me. But a small, seductive voice whispered in my ear "You'll have a much more pleasant day if you stay home" It did seem nice not to have to traipse from store to store. I asked Laura if she'd mind a trip to Ahwahtukee later next week. "No problem", and after a kiss to Laura, I climbed the stairs back to the house and they pulled off on their journey.

Julia, who decided to stay home earlier, would welcome company anyhow. We got to talking. In between another load of wash, I cleaned up the sewing room a bit, and readied a black skirt for its new elastic, all while our conversation went on.

Four hours later, I began to wonder what was keeping Laura and Shayna. A half hour later, the white Pontiac appeared. I expected Laura to come and tell me to help bring supplies in. That's not what she said when she came in. She told me to call Anton and tell him they arrived home safely.

Huh??

Laura was keen to get some special pens for her cartooning, and went deep into the central parts of Phoenix. Before the art store, she thought she'd show Shayna Bert Easley's Magic Shop. After a preview of the store, they headed back to the car. But it didn't start. It made a horrible noise and white smoke came out from under the hood. After fifteen minutes, Laura got it started and she gingerly guided it home.

They never made it to ANY of the stores they'd planned. If I had went, I would have no more fabric than I do now.

Not only that, the air in Phoenix was chunk-style foul. Laura's having some trouble breathing after the assault on her lungs.

It's far better for her to take it easy and rest. A good video or two is enough excitement tonight. All settled and getting caught up in the plot, we heard a light rap on the door. The movie paused, we let Mother in. They came back, disappointed and frozen. All the lights were the same. Just simple white lights everywhere, with none of the variety of displays that Tucson's community has. We didn't miss a thing, she assured us, just before going back to warm up in their cozy quarters.

December 5, 1999

"Some Engineers Aren't Swallowing Too Well"

Is the lander here?

somewhere???

It's 6:01pm. Do you know where our Mars Lander is? Hopes are dimming as it's been three days with no word home.

Hmm-mm, maybe the Martians found it and dismantled it before it could start sending its data. Would that be better than it being a screw-up of the engineering teams? There's an unfortunate history of such things as bad O-rings and descrepencies between the various team's measurements, owing to different systems. That's how the last Mars endeavor was likely exploded to bits. They ought to decide before they begin, whether they're going to use inches, points, picas, centimeters or whatever. You know, communicate?

Later ruminations . . .

Did you know 7-up from Mexico tastes differently than US-bred 7-up? The Mexican fish restaurant uses 7-up bottled there. It is sweeter than the American variety, which has a stronger lime flavor, and more of a bite.

I would have thought there would have been more of a uniformity to the recipe. Is this based on "marketing studies" which showed the preferences of the people from the two countries, or something unplanned? It's not important. Sometimes uniformity is a bad, boring thing. But sometimes it's good, like, for instance, uniformity in use of measuring systems.

It doesn't matter what they're drinking, there's a bunch of engineers that aren't swallowing too well at the moment.

December 6, 1999

"A Contest"

Thought is coming slowly tonight. As both the computers are occupied, I am staring at a white rectangular sheet of paper. Shayna is using one computer for a Spanish class project, and Laura is on the other. Now that I've had that big bodacious win in Might and Magic VII, Laura is also starting a game of her own, with no cheats. She declared a contest between the two of us. She's determined to win, for she's studying the book ('Prima' strategy guide') and taking notes!!

Do I have a chance against such dedication? My heroes are calling for their leader to command them. Ah, lo, a computer has opened up. I hear them, and I must be a good general! I will speak with you again, after the war.

December 7, 1999

"Battling a Bad Habit"

BAD habit...

NOT all of our battles are of the epic kind. Some are small and niggling. For instance, I've got a bad habit. I've had it since I was about ten years old. By now, thirty years later, you'd think my finger ends would be bloody stumps. But each tearing of the flesh has healed up, until the next time. I can quit for a while. But without constant attention, I'll pick without thinking until pain pokes me into awareness.

WHY do I do this? I have vivid memories of my grandfather's fingers. A few looked quite the same. Gramma delicately blamed it on some chemical he used when working. Later, after he died, she did, however, admit he had been a nervous man. His leg would swing back and forth constantly while in church. She mentioned how he'd twiddle his fingers. I'm fairly certain that when those fingers were atwiddle, some abrasion was going on.

SO I can blame it on heredity. Chewing fingernails would have definitely been a healthier habit. What can I do about it? Laura and Julia gently remind me whenever they catch me at it. It helps. I've had all fingers looking like this left index at various times in my life. Having the worst damage down to only two or three fingers is an improvement. Still, there's been a few seasons when my hands were virtually unsullied. It takes the mindfulness of a Buddhist monk, though. Perhaps if every time I catch myself, I take a deep breath and think a peaceful thought, I can again have pretty hands.

SO why am I telling all of you this? Perhaps I will work harder to overcome this. Maybe the thought of periodic finger pics, so I won't have so many periodic finger PICKS, will help. Shall we find out?

December 8, 1999

"A Colorful Contest"

Can our color preferences reveal anything about our personalities? Way back when I was in high school, I bought a book called the Lucsher Color Test. I had a lot of fun picking the colors, and seeing what the analysis was. Generally, I agreed with the conclusions.

The book was forgotten about. I'm not even sure I still have it. No matter, for the test has surfaced on the web.

It's the same eight precise color variations as the book featured. Here's my early morning choices.

My Picks, and reactions to them

Red Orange - warm, warm, warm
Yellow - bright and sunny, cheerful, cheerful, cheerful
Navy Blue - peaceful, peaceful, peaceful
Warm Brown - comfy and warm like a blanket
Gray - like sleep, I could use some more sleep
Coolish Greenish - kind of cold, but less irritating than the remaining choices
Fushia - irritating, irritating, irritating, but that BLACK is SO worse
Black - cold like death

Now, my preference for warm colors could be influenced by the chilliness of the house. So take that in mind when you read the results.

Test Results

Your Existing Situation
Easily affected by her environment and readily moved by the emotions of others. Seeks congenial relationships and an occupation which will promote them.

Your Stress Sources
Strives for straight-forward relationships, founded on mutual trust and understanding. Wishes to act only in conformity with her own convictions. Demands freedom to make her own decisions without being subjected to interference, outside influence, or the necessity of making compromises.

Your Restrained Characteristics
Feels she is receiving less than her share, but that she will have to conform and make the best of her situation. Able to achieve satisfaction through sexual activity but is inclined to be emotionally withdrawn, which prevents her from becoming deeply involved.

Feels that she is receiving less than her share and that there is no one on who she can rely for sympathy and understanding. Pent-up emotions make her quick to take offense, but she realizes that she has to make the best of things as they are.

Willing to become emotionally involved and able to achieve satisfaction through sexual activity, but tries to avoid conflict.

Your Desired Objective
Seeks success, stimulation, and a life full of experience. Wants to develop freely and to shake off the shackles of self-doubt, to win, and to live intensely. Likes contacts with others and is enthusiastic by nature. Receptive to anything new, modern, or intriguing; has many interests and wants to expand her fields of activity. Optimistic about the future.

Your Actual Problem
Fights against restriction or limitation, and insists on developing freely as a result of her own efforts.

Your Actual Problem #2
Wants to act freely and uninhibitedly, but is restrained by her need to have things on a rational, consistent, and clearly-defined basis.

I've got exceptions to some of the results. For instance, I don't think I'm emotionally withdrawn. I also don't feel there is no one I can rely on, either. I do feel I can rely on Laura and Julia. I might sometimes feel like I'm not 'getting my share', in terms of quality alone time with Laura, in this crowded household. Yet I certainly don't demand to make decisions without necessity of compromise! That's so false. I recognize this necessity. I may not like it, but it's impossible to get along in this world without SOME compromise.

But this is just a test. It's more reliable than astrology or palmistry, as color does have emotional vibrations. But it's hardly exact science. I don't feel it's a restaint to insist on rationality. I DO want to act freely and unhibitedly, but what actually restrains me is the things that need doing. I could just spend each day doing what ever fun thing amused me. But there's this thing called work, and the knowledge of what will happen if I ignore those necessary tasks . . .

That alone restrains me from the life of sloth. The test creator would only reply, See, that's the RATIONAL aspect of yourself, reminding you of the realistic consequences of your actions.

I'd love to stay and talk about this some more, but you see, I've got this thing called WORK . . .

Talk to you later!