In an effort to deal with them, I went to Wal-Mart and bought a slingshot (one of the few projectile weapons at which I do not suck) and some shot. It's child's play to slip out the back door, lean around the side, and nail a squirrel. Problem solved, right?
Wrong.
Seven times -- seven, in the past week -- I've looked out my window and seen deer eating out of our birdfeeder. I'm not sure how to handle this one, except to buy more birdseed.
Let's see, what else has happened ... except for obscene heat, unearthly humidity and intermitten rain (which, though pleasant, only makes the heat and humidity worse), not a great deal. Meadow's doing well in school, which ends in a few days ... that's about it.
KSF
Dragonbait
Home at last, after too long ... and now that I'm here, I can hardly wait to go back. But not for the scenery.
Once again, I get ahead of myself.
I visited with Ailin for a time, then we parted ways -- she to prepare for her coronation, I to return to the Guildhall for a time. Before we left, though, I asked her to hold my katana until the knighting, and she gave me a volume of Elven language to study. I have, of course, been studying ... though of course, languages are decidedly not my forte.
I was home for two days, and received word that the Council had moved the coronation substantially forward. So, back to Morambar, where I talked with Ailin, angered Zen (Knight to the former Queen), saw Keairen, and witnessed the coronation .. in which I played a small, accidental part. I cried out, "All hail the Queen", and all did -- very loudly.
Then there was a surprise visitor -- a unicorn, apparently giving nature's blessing to Ailin's -- I suppose I should call her "Queen Ailin -- rule.
There was another visitor, a Captain Skylarik, whose racist and too-familiar comments about Ailin and the elves succeeded in rubbing me quite the wrong way. He and Ailin have some history of a less-than-pleasant nature, but I did not press her for details.
The next day, I received a letter from Ailin, right after she left on a royal tour to the gnomes, fae, and other elven cultures. I had a week back here at the Guild before Ailin returned from her trip. This is good, as I miss my current home (and my still-unnamed horse probably needs some rest) ... yet I also miss Ailin more than I probably should.
Eventually, she and I must work out some sort of time-sharing agreement. I firmly believe that the Guild is where I am supposed to be, yet where I want to be is with her.
On other fronts, I've finally managed to speak with Itsmeh -- who, as it turns out, is rather indirectly related to me. Her mother, before the girl was born, asked me to take care of her if anything were to happen. Hence, she's my goddaughter and ward. So I have the dubious pleasure of teaching this girl (who is determined to think of herself as a commoner) to read and write, and cope with her lot in life (which is decidedly not what she ever expected). Surprisingly, I look forward to this task, having never had children of my own.
Ailin returned, and came to the bar to find me. Amusingly, she also got her first major hint of my own past -- specifically, the appearance of BlckRobe, who also dropped by for a visit. Well, a visit and the use of my quarters. He gave her a telepathy pendant (which, I expect, will enhance her own natural abilities) to communicate, and gave me a burial shroud which supposedly once contained a man who refused to remain dead. I have moved the shroud to the mini-shrine in my quarters until I can find a better place for it; I make no claims to ownership. And Ailin showed me a gem golem butterfly she was given by the gnomes; very interesting, fascinating craftsmanship.
Mostly, though, I was just pleased to see her. But our reunion was not meant to last; she had to go prepare for some sort of hearing (a phrase which, given our history, gives me the willies).
The next day, I had another reunion -- when Pryde dropped out of the trees above me in the clearing. Glad I was to see her; although she hasn't lasted as long as some of my animal companions over the years, she certainly has her share of personality.
And, of course, usefulness. For no sooner had I returned to the bar than I encountered two sailors who were clearly with Skylarik's crew. They came seeking Ailin. Now, it is part of my duties to "screen" visitors seeking our members, and this I did ... but I admit, I may have been less than polite. The highly dubious status of Captain Skylarik has me unenthusiastic about such things.
Once again, I get ahead of myself.
I visited with Ailin for a time, then we parted ways -- she to prepare for her coronation, I to return to the Guildhall for a time. Before we left, though, I asked her to hold my katana until the knighting, and she gave me a volume of Elven language to study. I have, of course, been studying ... though of course, languages are decidedly not my forte.
I was home for two days, and received word that the Council had moved the coronation substantially forward. So, back to Morambar, where I talked with Ailin, angered Zen (Knight to the former Queen), saw Keairen, and witnessed the coronation .. in which I played a small, accidental part. I cried out, "All hail the Queen", and all did -- very loudly.
Then there was a surprise visitor -- a unicorn, apparently giving nature's blessing to Ailin's -- I suppose I should call her "Queen Ailin -- rule.
There was another visitor, a Captain Skylarik, whose racist and too-familiar comments about Ailin and the elves succeeded in rubbing me quite the wrong way. He and Ailin have some history of a less-than-pleasant nature, but I did not press her for details.
The next day, I received a letter from Ailin, right after she left on a royal tour to the gnomes, fae, and other elven cultures. I had a week back here at the Guild before Ailin returned from her trip. This is good, as I miss my current home (and my still-unnamed horse probably needs some rest) ... yet I also miss Ailin more than I probably should.
Eventually, she and I must work out some sort of time-sharing agreement. I firmly believe that the Guild is where I am supposed to be, yet where I want to be is with her.
On other fronts, I've finally managed to speak with Itsmeh -- who, as it turns out, is rather indirectly related to me. Her mother, before the girl was born, asked me to take care of her if anything were to happen. Hence, she's my goddaughter and ward. So I have the dubious pleasure of teaching this girl (who is determined to think of herself as a commoner) to read and write, and cope with her lot in life (which is decidedly not what she ever expected). Surprisingly, I look forward to this task, having never had children of my own.
Ailin returned, and came to the bar to find me. Amusingly, she also got her first major hint of my own past -- specifically, the appearance of BlckRobe, who also dropped by for a visit. Well, a visit and the use of my quarters. He gave her a telepathy pendant (which, I expect, will enhance her own natural abilities) to communicate, and gave me a burial shroud which supposedly once contained a man who refused to remain dead. I have moved the shroud to the mini-shrine in my quarters until I can find a better place for it; I make no claims to ownership. And Ailin showed me a gem golem butterfly she was given by the gnomes; very interesting, fascinating craftsmanship.
Mostly, though, I was just pleased to see her. But our reunion was not meant to last; she had to go prepare for some sort of hearing (a phrase which, given our history, gives me the willies).
The next day, I had another reunion -- when Pryde dropped out of the trees above me in the clearing. Glad I was to see her; although she hasn't lasted as long as some of my animal companions over the years, she certainly has her share of personality.
And, of course, usefulness. For no sooner had I returned to the bar than I encountered two sailors who were clearly with Skylarik's crew. They came seeking Ailin. Now, it is part of my duties to "screen" visitors seeking our members, and this I did ... but I admit, I may have been less than polite. The highly dubious status of Captain Skylarik has me unenthusiastic about such things.
COF Amazingly, the person I expected to get offended did, in fact, not get offended ... or if they did, it was impossible to tell.
On the other hand, Topaz (who started the thread) did get offended, at least until I explained that she wasn't the target of my disgust. And the person who was my target offered what I think was supposed to be a rebuttal. I'm not sure. They -- actually, he -- quoted my post, then offered up commentary which seemed to have nothing whatsoever to do with what I said.
Just for S&G's, I posted a half-photo of myself. *Shrug.* Those who know me will understand why it was only half a photo.
CR Was dragged, quite against my will, into an argument about "losing salvation" ... which, in my opinion, is about as doctrinally important as whether or not Adam had a belly-button. Let a girl rant at me for a bit (not whom one might expect). Talked with daughter; always a pleasure. Discussed one of Raven's stories. Tried to keep Silver from going ballistic with anticipation (Ontaros was due to visit her in less than 24 hours).
PM Nada.
RM Okay, people ... specifically, those of you who have been hounding me to see Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. You can leave me alone now, I've seen it.
And those of you who've been telling me how great it is probably need to check into rehab, because you've obviously been experimenting with some brain-killing concoction. It wasn't that good.
Oh, I'm not going to say the movie was totally without merit; the first twenty minutes or so was quite amusing. Palpatine / Sidious / Emperor / whatever fighting Yoda and destroying the Senate chamber at the same time was excellent symbolism. The involvement of Senator Bail Organa (played by Jimmy Smits) was a much-needed touch.
And yet ... I'm sorry, but I'd like to pimp-slap both Obi-Wan Kenobi and Padme Amidala Skywalker. I mean .. these were the two people closest to Anakin, and they couldn't see him turning nasty? Padme married her stalker, for pete's sake! What kind of imbecility does this require? And Obi-Wan was a Jedi Master ... but apparently whatever aspect of the Force allows him to sense danger was out to lunch whenever Anakin was in the vicinity. MORONS!
I'd also like to smack George Lucas for his "Overhyped Lame Villain" series. Boba Fett, Jabba the Hutt, Darth Maul, Count Dooku, and General Grievous ... all hyped as being the big baddie of their movie, all ultimately bit-parts. I stopped falling for it ages ago, I'm just tired of the hype.
Speaking of Grievous (and it was indeed grievous; very sad indeed), why was the "big baddie" of this movie a sickly, cowardly cyborg who couldn't walk twenty feet without coughing ... up until his big fight with Obi-Wan, when he suddenly becomes a world-class athlete in perfect health? I'm sorry, but that's dumb.
Along similar lines, we have the big fight between Anakin and Obi-Wan. Two men, doing backflips and swordfighting to make any ninja stare in awe. And they're doing it on a planet of molten rock. Let me restate that, because it's important. Two men, being athletic, and surrounded by magma ... and yet neither of them got winded or even raised a sweat?! NO! No, Lucas, that doesn't work. And with everything you poured into the special effects, don't tell me you couldn't think to sprinkle a little water on the actor's faces.
I could continue, of course, and talk about continuity flaws aplenty ... I could even be nice and talk about the fact that JarJar kept his yap shut, or how Chewbacca was always (out of canon) supposed to be older than the rest (and thus, his appearance in this movie made sense) ... but instead, I'm just going to close with a simple statement.
The true Star Wars trilogy, the first trilogy, started excellently and went slowly downhill, though it never bottomed out. This second trilogy started on the bottom and slowly came up .. what a shame it never reached the level of "good". Both were good stories, but both trilogies ended as mediocre.
Community Member
Mmmm... Deer. I like deer, we never see any around here. My state's nothing but road, road, ro- you get the point ~_^
I'm gonna run off now, a few more things I want to check out before Ont wakes up, I'll TTYL 'Bait. >>Glomp<< Ja ne~!