Category: Untidy Heap

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Updates for the week of 2010-08-29

  • Fear of the majority, BY the majority (http://j.mp/9y5D5W) – Some good thinking by Dave, here. #
  • Too drizzly for beach; covered patio has turned into Uninformed Republican Echo Chamber; too loud to write. Hello internet/haven, I'm back. #
  • Sand castles are criminally overlooked as a valuable learning tool. Kaylee's first lesson: Water Always Wins. #
  • I Don't Want Directions (http://j.mp/cehG3V) – Yes. This. #
  • RT @apelad: Mtn Dew hasn't tasted the same since they took the oun ai out. #
  • Well. That was a pleasant dream. Since I'm awake now, I think I'll just stay up — perhaps for the next several days. Yes. Very pleasant. #
  • Kaylee, on our evening walk, holding hands: "I'm going to be wherever you are, Daddy. Forever." #toolucky #
  • Listened through about 50 #podgecast and #ktng episodes; am caught up on both that show and my yearly recommended homoerotic snark intake. #
  • Kaylee: "I'm going to write your name in Curses, Daddy." (She means cursive, but I find her version much more… compelling. Heh.) #
  • Dude, I thought those robot things were MADE UP. — RT @DenverPostBrk: Car crashes into Transformer in Broomfield http://dpo.st/bJyuDs #
  • Scott Pilgrim vs. The Last Airbender (http://j.mp/aEs5sx) – Excellent. #
  • Adrift: They’ve been waiting for me for a month, give or take. It’s a shock, followed by rage; I’ll never find Kae… http://bit.ly/9Sdtx9 #
  • Sand Castling http://flic.kr/p/8vPKiR #
  • Man, my neighbors are acting a lot like people right now. I don't particularly like people. #
  • 8/27/2010 (http://j.mp/cfe9sj) – Best part about this is her smile. #
  • Great online happy hour conversation with @bg_meg, @bafadam, and a dozen other awesome folks. Skype just justified its existence to me. #
  • I'm at another wedding, Twitter. VERY much doubt it will be as awesome as the last one. #nevertellmetheodds #
  • OMG THE FAMILIES (almost) SAT ON THE WRONG SIDES OF THE AISLE. Crisis averted, and may I be the first to say "whew". #boringweddinglivetweet #
  • The processional is "Joy of Man's Desiring". #dirty #getdownwiththybadself #
  • Holy crap that's a lot of bridesmaids. Literally; a lot, such as for parking. #
  • Can't actually see the ceremony around the camera crew. Yeah. Crew. #yikes #
  • The next portion of the EVENT is labled "Giving of Bride". #grammar #cavemanwedding #
  • Good things: bride and groom both look lovely; the priest is VERY good at this wedding stuff, and has a positively charming accent. #
  • Priest: "Some people anjoy a good SNAFU during a wedding… such as *turns* when we find out the best man forgot the rings." #ilikethisguy #
  • Fir the record, the best man didn't forget the rings, and WE SERIOUSLY CAN'T SEE A FRAKKING THING AROUND THE CAMERA GUYS. #
  • Ceremony is over. I think. The camera crew is clapping. We all take our cues from them. #
  • Servers greet us with cold beers before we hit the receiving line. The camera guy needs to talk to the beer guy. #
  • The string quartet's making a game attempt at a Beatles cover. #
  • The quartet's set off on the the musical trail of tears that is "Hey Jude", so there's the next 20 minutes of our life spoken for. #
  • I really don't think they considered all their lyrical option when they selected "Yesterday" as an appropriate wedding reception number. #
  • Oh. My. God! Twitter: I have encountered appetizer genius — shrimp breaded in coconut shavings. SWEET MONKEY LORD that's good. #
  • Back to the camera crew, which is now YELLING at people to move to more 'natural' positions for candid shots. #
  • I am informed, Twitter, that I will have the opportunity to live tweet YET ANOTHER wedding in October. #giddy #cannotcontainmyGLEE #
  • Annnd now the quartet has leapt, headlong and heedless, into "Danny Boy". #bridesdadisirish #itstheonlyeiresongweknow #
  • We are sitting with a senior couple that wouldn't much mind BEING when I grow up. Kissing. Nuzzling. Playing pranks on each other. Adorable. #
  • Wedding has a Prince of Persia SavePoint http://flic.kr/p/8wcNyf #
  • Very touching, tearful toast from the bride's proud father. #slainte #039; #
  • INCREDIBLY British toast from the groom's father. If the humor were any more dry, we'd have to seal the toast with tap water. #
  • Reception band unleashes "The Fields of Athenry ". Let the free bird fly, indeed. #
  • Watching foine, foine Irish ladies on the dance floor give me excellent reasons to look forward to old age with me love @DaphneUn. #
  • Reception band has broken out the ABBA. #wheresMJ #
  • Guys, @DaphneUn can cut a rug. If you ever wanted to challenge her to a dance-off; don't. Unless you need to share the floor with awesome. #
  • Hey Twitter; was anyone else aware of @DaphneUn's previous life as a cabana-girl? I, for one, was not. #intrigued #highschoolwasboring #
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Updates for the week of 2010-08-22

  • Exposed @maureenjohnson to Wonderpets. She wandered out of the room afterwards, singing the themesong in Ming Ming's voice. #whathaveIdone #
  • "Look Despondent" (http://j.mp/92nDW2) – That was the command I gave MJ and Kate before snapping this shot. #
  • RT @maureenjohnson: Goodnight, Twitter. http://twitpic.com/2f7ec4 (that's mah puppy, right there) #
  • Want. DnD sports team tees. http://is.gd/ek2Hx #
  • Kaylee's 5th birthday today. http://bit.ly/bgGvBX She approaches this event with her normal reserve and composure. http://bit.ly/9uxcu5 #
  • RT @gamefiend: RT @myzt: The inescapable truth within "Inception": if you run a VM inside a VM inside a VM, everything will be very slow #
  • RT @theoriginaledi: That. Is a GIANT. DOG! :O http://twitpic.com/2f7ec4 (Jake isn't that big, @maureenjohnson is just jar-sized.) #
  • Best part of @GregStolze joining a comment-versation is his insight. 2nd best? My blog software: "Hey, welcome back – beer's in the fridge." #
  • This weekend (while all y'all slept off Saturday) I wrote about Nerd Stuff. It's here: http://bit.ly/93lsNw – Good comments. #
  • Bukowski's 90th birthday today. http://bit.ly/cvHr12 #
  • The thing I like about Bukowski is the disbelief in his own work. Not lack of /faith/, but head-shaking bemusement at its success. #
  • What I don't like about Bukowski is his advice to only write when struck by bolts of inspiration. I wasted years following that advice. #
  • Had a chance to examine @maureenjohnson's #jars this weekend. The occupied ones were nice, but the empties? All. had. labels. #
  • Via many RT people: “Hallowed Ground” — photos of stuff the same distance from the WTC as the “Ground Zero Mosque” http://bit.ly/b2oLW0 #
  • Tried to describe the Wedding of Awesome to work-related people. Gave up when the looks of horror became too pronounced. Kind of pity them. #
  • Adrift: I round the next corner. Jon and Deidre are waiting for me. Weird – they went the other way. De’s hair is … http://bit.ly/9MSxod #
  • RT @colleenlindsay: Eat prey. Love, with A1 sauce. #eatpraywhatever #
  • Anyone have a nice, stable space in which to get some work done? Yeah, my neither. #displaced #
  • Riled and grumpy. Trying to remember the road to Buddha is bumpy. This helps http://bit.ly/cF8UJz (http://bit.ly/absIuT) #
  • Random Average: A funny thing happened on the way to the Ruins http://bit.ly/9PEfAN #
  • So, that wedding I tweetcasted. Wanna hear the processional music? http://bit.ly/8X1xij(style%20c).mp3 – You're welcome. #
  • So, that wedding I tweetcasted. Wanna hear the @parrygripp processional music?http://bit.ly/cdvzeG (click on "Style C"). You're welcome. #
  • Adrift: When we split up, I ran straight into another time distortion. VITS found a place for Jon and Deirdre to w… http://bit.ly/bUfCDL #
  • Finally off to see Scott Pilgrim with @DaphneUn. But first, need to find the perfect soft drinks to bring, with complimentary power-ups. #
  • Scott Pilgrim, the Movie (review): what it lacks in depth of field (compared to the books) it totally makes up in clarity. Really enjoyed. #
  • Also: Scott Pilgrim's Toronto is the Dark City experiment, conducted on GenX – a time-detached place gleefully mixing tech eras. Loved that. #
  • LEVEL EIGHT: DoyceT vs. PubRevisions _ Round 3: Sudden Death! FIGHT!!! #
  • Car says the outside temp is 104f. #fallisintheair #
  • By the way: I love my Toyota Matrix. Love. My car. #
  • Hmm. Seem to have forgotten my phone at home. #Imnotpanicking #whywouldyousaythat #
  • Parasitic fungus controls ants (http://j.mp/aEBz1V) – The title along gives me the start (and finish) of a campaign-length game. #
  • Good Morning and welcome to DIA. (Or, as I like to call it when I have to get up at 4:30am, DIAF.) #mmohumor #zzz #
  • RT @robtrimarco: Look, Friday, don't give me any lip. Just shut your day-hole and hurry this shit up. #
  • How fun was the #dnd game with @cyface last night? I'm now really annoyed I deleted all my (legit) rulebook pdfs a few months back. #
  • (Also? Not entirely sure HOW I deleted the pdfs. Didn't think I had. I may not love the game, but I'd never willingly nuke old characters.) #
  • RT @parrygripp: I composed a wedding processional for @PaulaSimone and @herzwesten! You can listen to it here: http://bit.ly/ayTQxD #
  • RT @AntSteele: Eavesdrop and people watch in public places. One of the best ways to saturate your brain with realistic dialogue. #writingtip #
  • Oh goody. The in-laws have started the Obama-bashing. Time to queue up a podcast in the other room. #
  • I'm knackered, people – sleeping during the flight did not substantively counteract the 4am start this morning. #
  • Turned up to Eleven (http://j.mp/9jDIBt) – If this is the stuff that got cut, I can't wait for the actual episode. #
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Updates for the week of 2010-08-15

  • August 10, 2010 (http://j.mp/9VbNO9) – Every day is roleplaying practice. #
  • How did we ever organize anything on the fly without cell phones? #
  • Oh dear, it's a boy. #ultrasound #
  • Whoa. @wilw just attacked me from 2005. in reply to wilw #
  • Gaaaah. Scott Pilgrim comes out this week, but I haven't gotten #6 yet. I MUST KNOW WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE I GO SEE WHAT HAPPENS. #
  • Adrift: We all head in opposite directions, the Voice In The Speaker shouting threats as we go. I round a corner a… http://bit.ly/cAxhwQ #
  • Today on #terribleminds I babble about wasting time, leaving junk on the floor, and acting like you're five: http://bit.ly/dxN126 #
  • What would Google 2007 think of Google 2010's 'net neutrality' recommendations? Not much. http://bit.ly/aCQfbZ? #
  • Random Average: I play Wizard 101: Confessions of a wizened wizard http://bit.ly/aQEFqT #
  • Finally got a desk of my own at The Job. It is (of course) directly under the AC vent. Now know why desk was available in the first place. #
  • Whoa. De just blew my mind, talking about the gears turning behind Urban Fantasy. Check it: http://is.gd/eeYEO #
  • Client just told me that if we send out workbooks/syllabus to students before a class, it'll guarantee no one will actually attend. What? #
  • Okay, I'm done. I've done all the doing. To dos are to done. Home now, please? #
  • Today, ladies and gentlefolk, I will attend my daughter's 5th birthday party, followed by THE most gamer-nerdtastic wedding in history. #
  • Twitterfolk! I WILL be tweeting today's @maureenjohnson-officiated wedding. Before that, however, expect bday party tweets. #thepriceyoupay #
  • Let the bouce castle olympics begin… http://flic.kr/p/8sdDMT #
  • Man, my unfollows tomorrow are gonna be EPIC. #stillnottweetingthewedding #
  • That is, #nottweetingtheweddingYET #
  • Blow Mark 5 http://flic.kr/p/8seofr #
  • OKAY. Birthday shenanigans complete. Recharging ghost rock canisters then off to live-tweet 2010: The Weddingening. #
  • Twitter, we need a hashtag for The Wedding. @ some suggestions to me. Right now I'm thinking #mjswildride #
  • I will be tweeting from the Wedding Geek Epicenter in 1 hour. Officiated by #revmj @maureenjohnson, starring @PaulaSimone and @herzwesten. #
  • Porkpie. Chucks. Smartphone. Caffeine. D20s. I find myself suitably attired for war. Let's do this #weddingthing #revmj #
  • For the record, EVERYTHING I tell you about this wedding is true, no matter how unlikely sounding. You'll need to remember that, later. #
  • .@Loisunpublished: "I feel as if we should all be afraid…" Personally? I'm terrified. #revmj #
  • I present @herzwesten and @paulasimone http://flic.kr/p/8sgx3D #
  • Introducing #revMJ with Wedding Stuff http://flic.kr/p/8sgERv #
  • Boutini- bootenee- the boys' flowers http://flic.kr/p/8sgPMR #
  • The groom is resplendent in his pink classic chucks and emerald tie. +2 equipment bonus. #
  • The processional is a custom-written song from @parrygripp, sing along! "They're getting married… At a wedding." #revmj #
  • #revmj "Friends, enemies…" Ceremony begins with the story of how @herzwesten and @PaulaSimone met. Kinda. I don't recall the bank robbery. #
  • Our next music number is an original performed on a lap synth. "Sisty's getting married… to your dream… Dungeon Master." Catchy. #
  • #revmj shares a moving quote from a famous french mime. #tears #
  • #revmj "Do you promise to live every week like it's Shark Week?" "We do." #
  • I'm sorry, the vows are too awesome to fit on Twitter, but involve robots, brains in jars, and promises to level up together. #
  • And now, via the best man, a reading from Pathfinder, Chapter 10, Spells, Chain Lightning. #tears #
  • And now, the couple rolls a d20 to determine the success of the marriage. #
  • #revmj is a little concerned by the roll, but continues. #
  • There will be video of this. Oh yes. #
  • The couple then breaks a glass in a bag. Don't ask me: there's still nerd stuff I don't know. #
  • The best man couldn't finish his reading, so they jut hug and move on. #
  • This last part sounds kind of official. Oh. OHHH. #
  • With this, tweet 4001, I'd like to present @herzwesten and @PaulaSimone, husband and wife. "You may now kiss each other while we all watch." #
  • The couple now takes care of the Official Part: logging into Facebook and changing their Relationship Status. #ding #levelup #revmj #
  • The recessional is the Venture Brothers wedding song. Yeah. #
  • The wedding tweeting is about to become the reception tweeting. I need to go pick out me character for my table's dungeon crawl. #
  • The groom's chucks (and mine) http://flic.kr/p/8shixz #
  • (And I apologize for typos and missing letters; this little keyboard is starting to smoulder.) #
  • Facebook relationship statuses now updated. "It's complicated." #
  • You will rarely hear me say this, but that's some good hummis. #yum #
  • The centerpiece and my wedding gift. http://flic.kr/p/8skSos #
  • For the reception dinner, I'm playing Thoris Axebreaker, a dwarf warlord. The Aboleth Slime Mage is going DOWN. #
  • The Wedding RPG is the work of the groom http://flic.kr/p/8shSBV #
  • Correction, the game is the groom hackage + monster hunter… And I might end up playing the Aboleth. Hrm. #
  • Cake Topper Number One http://flic.kr/p/8smziC #
  • Cake Toppers number Two http://flic.kr/p/8siwM4 #
  • Cake Toppers number 3 (bullywugs) http://flic.kr/p/8smBYQ #
  • The cakes are coming out. Review the pictures to see the xorn, intellect devourer, DRD, and bullywug cake toppers. #inowpronounceyouNPC #
  • In the interest of full disclosure, the live-tweeting slowed down because it's become tipsy-tweeting. Unrelated: I recommend Denver brewers. #
  • Ohhh… Ed. RT @barenakedladies: http://tweetphoto.com/39069254 Anybody recall seeing me put on sunscreen before the waterpark? #
  • RT @DaphneUn: Awesome day. Busy day. Fabulous wedding. Very sleepy now. #zzzzz #
  • Tomorrow's blog post: "All Stuff is Nerd Stuff to Somebody" #
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Updates for the week of 2010-08-08

  • Bluetooth Labeling (http://j.mp/bRAqRT) – Heh. Yeah. I use a bluetooth headset very occasionally — but when I'm done, I take it OFF. #
  • The question isn't 'How did I end up with 4 deadlines on the same week as a new contract start?' The question is 'How did I not expect it?' #
  • RT @ChuckWendig: A mission for writers today at #terribleminds if you care to sidle on over there. http://bit.ly/cFks5X #amwriting #
  • Once again, my procrastination saves me money: if you want to pre-order a Kindle 3, they've sold out. #
  • Lunchtime. Still alive. Trying to retain my mind well enough to crank out wordcount in four hours. #
  • Stunted Dragons (http://j.mp/9Frreb) – Some good thinking from Rob. Need to see if my DA players are available again… #
  • Am now 32 pages into a 64 page RPG campaign, and finally reached the point where it's time to write up the first encounter. \m/ #doingitrong #
  • Camera lens coffee mug (http://j.mp/csbHVQ) – Marking as a possible gift for someone with a new SLR. #
  • Report: Google and Verizon to strike deal on 'tiered' internet (http://j.mp/ahR5Da) – Jesus, what happened to "don't be evil"? #
  • Update on the Google/Verizon link from earlier. Not evil: http://is.gd/e4APB (thanks, Fred) #
  • If I tweaked my WP comment template and now every comment page for every post shows ALL comments for ALL posts, ever, WTF did I DO? #
  • I've been away most of the day, but let me see if I understand today's current events: Emma Watson's hair broke twitter? #srsbzns #
  • I'm sure I'm not the first person to make this comparison, but… http://bit.ly/b3elId — http://bit.ly/asv8My — it's kind of uncanny. #
  • Kayleeism for 'faucet': 'water chugger'. #
  • RT @HollyWoodward: "I admire anybody who has the guts to write anything at all." -E.B. White #
  • Drinking pink lemonade at a backyard barbeque while Hank Williams plays on a boombox. How'd I end up back in South Dakota? #help #sendwifi #
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Updates for the week of 2010-08-01

  • RT @maureenjohnson: Revisions are like ZOMBIES. You can never kill them. You think they're dead, and they JUST KEEP GETTING UP AGAIN. #
  • Last week's interview = today's offer. Still sinking in. Meanwhile, other work to do. #
  • Damn, the security guy at this building would CLEARLY be happier, retired. #
  • Last week's interview = today's offer. Still sinking in. Meanwhile, other work to do. #
  • Metric system around the world (http://j.mp/cYYAIs) – SIGH #
  • Hmm, I seem to have volunteered to guest-post. Hot damn. http://is.gd/dOH3u #terribleminds #
  • Pro tip: when sending email requesting I complete the incredibly time-sensitive attached files, you should actually attach the files. #
  • Apple tree in the front yard is sagging almost to the ground with the weight of midnight downpour. (And a LOT of apples, actually.) #
  • The only rationalization I can come up with. http://is.gd/dORdn #
  • Turf dancing in the rain (http://j.mp/alrqKe) – Kind of amazing. #
  • FOUR HOUR meeting in T -25 minutes. Goodbye Thursday; see you next week. #
  • *bursts out of meeting-water* *gasps* *sinks beneath the waves* #
  • Rewatching the 2nd half of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Season Three. Zuko's spamming a series of ME2 loyalty missions before the big fight. #
  • Classic “Writer” Hat… (http://j.mp/ddk5Sf) – Something for the un-wishlist. #
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Updates for the week of 2010-07-25

  • Went to see Inception. Fantastic. Go see. I will, again, as daughter-emergency had me on my cell in the lobby for 10 MINUTES of Level Three. #
  • Sorcerer's Apprentice. Good fun. Five year old liked it — her favorite part was the kissing. #thatdoesntbotherme #WHYwouldyousayitbothersme #
  • Universal Mechanic (http://j.mp/a1RZyW) – Earmarking this for game hacks. #
  • Lazyman's "grilled" cheese sandwich for lunch. Thinking about the day I taught my nephew to make these things. Miss that kid. #
  • Alex Fleisig (http://j.mp/9MnM8p) – I highly suspect you'll find something in here you'll like. #
  • Preparing to jump through a series of flaming hoops. Circus audience appears to be late. Hrm. #
  • RT @glyneth: RT @cleolinda: RT @shutupjosh: Welcome to the Internet, where men are children, women are men, and children are the FBI. #
  • Sometimes I think if I didn't spend so much time searching for a regular job, I could be happier and better at my current irregular life. #
  • The Con is On (http://j.mp/aaufUq) – Every year I'm not there, I wish I were. #
  • Sequel to Avatar: The Last Airbender (http://j.mp/dqbMUG) – Aww00t, indeed. #
  • Watch Out for — EVERYTHING! (http://j.mp/9umxx9) – Pretty much every conversation with EVERYONE, once we mention the pregnancy. #
  • RT @maureenjohnson: @neilhimself I think there is a whole line of Gaiman inspired beachwear waiting to be made. Please call it Sandman. #
  • Libraries: the next bit Pop-Culture Wave. http://is.gd/dCedv #
  • Libraries – the next big pop culture wave: http://is.gd/dCedv #
  • RT @doctorow / @agpublic: I find that most movies made before around 1990 unfold *glacially*. [Yes. This.] #
  • MAN, I am a feedback junkie when it comes to my work. I'm not entirely sure that's a good thing. #
  • Oh, fuck you, Word10, you crash-without-backup-piece of crap. Fuck. You. #
  • What's that, Word10? You kept a recent backup? Why didn't you tell me? I didn't ASK? What… WHAT… Nevermind. It's fine. No, don't talk. #
  • Dear Dream Brain: Bacteria do not actually GO FERAL and ATTACK when you point a microscope at them. Signed, Your Conscious Self. #
  • Random Average: Wrapping up Diaspora, Shakespeare-Style http://bit.ly/cnGwma #
  • In Boulder with @daphneun to see Taming of the Shrew. Not sure how the show will be, but the pizza at Ado's was outstanding. #
  • So; Taming of the Shrew. Verdict: the pre-show pizza was really good. @DaphneUn and I have strong, parallel opinions on the production. #
  • In short, my opinion: doing Shakespeare, you have complete freedom in production choices; utter constraint in The Words. Blog post, I think. #
  • Also: Taming the Shrew would totally work rewritten as Dom/sub romance/seduction. Honestly, it might ONLY work that way. Has it been done? #
  • I'm still ranting about that Shakespeare production last night. http://bit.ly/a0rsAc #
  • Totally. How many do you need? #
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My business card

This is what I’m going to get printed up next time I get cards.


Yes, really.

Lots of white space to scribble personalized notes on and, seriously, this is pretty much all you need to get in touch with me. Email, comments, phone… it’s all there if you know what you’re looking at.

And… okay, let’s be honest: if this isn’t enough information for you — if you need more hand holding to locate and contact me? I’m probably okay with not hearing from you.