This one is for everyone out there who’s ever played Half-Life.

Before.

Oh yes. CROWBAR

After.

Damn that was fun.

(This is all in preparation for the tree coming down tomorrow. One post to CL and all that firewood disappeared, too.)

LJ is back up!

Today I’ve been doing nothing because there was an ice storm last night and the whole city is shut down. I walked down to the corner convenience store, treading on the grass median instead of the pavement, since it was less slip-inducing.

I saw some really bad bands at Reed College last night. It was a Pick in the Willamette Week, so I decided to go. It was in the Reed College ping pong room and arcade. The first two bands only mildly sucked, but then Warbler consisted of two people with bullhorns yelling along to a PC playing mp3s. They’re from the Bay – they TRAVELLED here to perform. Wow. The last band was ear-bleedingly loud and at least they played instruments. They did so in spandex, even. They had it set up so everytime their drum machine hit the bass kick, one light would come on, every time the snare, another light would. Kinda cool for a while, but it got annoying. Thankfully, everyone’s sets were very short.

Anyways, I now have visited Reed and it certainly deserves its reputation. Everyone there was dressed like a hippie. Not that I have anything against hippies, but 100% hippies is nuts! If hippies were originally part of a counter-cultural movement, what do you call it when they completely dominate everything???

1) Complete either a) a CD’s worth of music or b) a screenplay, for submission to BlueCat this year

2) Get the house in shape (insulated, backyard etc.)

3) Start a regular exercise regimen

4) Visit at least 2 continents besides N.A.

OK I’m BACK from the Christmas whirlwind. Whew I’m tired.

I went to Atlanta and saw my mom and her new place. Boy I lucked out this year, going to ATL first meant I avoided the complete midwest snow shutdown. Also met up with Greg and little Greg, had some Waffle House, and hung out a bit. Too bad Amy couldn’t make it but sounds like she’s still going to try and get me the tour hookups for when I’m in DC in February 🙂  She works for Ron Wyden the senator from OR (along with Gordon Smith, I always forget him) and since I am a CONSTITUENT of Wyden’s, then I’m Amy’s bosses boss! Well one one-millionth almost.

In Cincy, I saw everyone I wanted to see except my friend Nick. Next time, dude. But I did get to see Dad and everyone (incl. K & ) as well as Mary, Miner and Janet, the Mauchs, and the other Janet, who is apparently a lot better off than she was earlier this month. (I heard the anaesthetic hit her pretty hard and she was out for 4 days, during which time she went through alcohol and cigarette withdrawal. Eek. I guess knocked out is the way to do it…)

While I was there I went with KG to the really-expensive-but-very-cool Newport Aquarium. The pic dump is up but some especially cool shots are:

some foot-long albino (?) gourami
a huge sea crab
clownfish in sea anemone
a tigerfish
some sixy-nining otters
a sea turtle
sharks and KG
some Gentoo penguins
a top view of the big tank

We also had a car accident but everyone is OK. And I set up a wireless access point but no one but me had a wireless computer, doh! Sounds like Dad, K, C, and C Fletcher will soon, so I guess I’ve done my duty of pushing them into the 21st century…

Back in PDX, my new keyboard arrived (a Yamaha AN1x) and the replacement for my twice-defective RAM, so I’m good. I also got Fred two new tankmates, some Australian Rainbowfish. Pretty innocuous. I thought Fred was skinny but he’s a giant bruiser in comparison!

OK that’s it. I need to figure out my new synth, and get back on PST. Work tomorrow.