Toaster's World of Xmas.
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executivetoast's LiveJournal:
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| Monday, December 8th, 2008 | | 2:22 am |
Goodness me, has it really been THAT long...
...scince i updated this journal. It appears so. On the one hand a lot has happened in that time, however also very little seems to have changed. I'm still working at the cinema, and enjoying my job for the most part, which suggests I may well be there for a good while yet, if nine months hasn't sent me mad. i bought a laptop, as I was sick of my basicly obsolete desktop playing silly buggers, and also I could afford the purchase. My sister got married. I'm not sure what the fact that this is the 3rd thing I chose to mention says about me, my selfishness, my scattershot memory, that remoteness of my immediate family in my daily existance, or that fact that it means little to the audience of this journal, most of which have barely met my sister, or even knew I had one. My health has been as patchy as ever, and the factors for making me feel less than tip top now include insomnia and stress, as well as the weather. Much of this is caused by work, with its incosistanct shifts, across all modes of time measurment, as late nights and early mornings happen by at chaotic intervals and generally mess with my head. I'm getting better at coping, but other things in my life are starting to give as way of compensation. Somehow I knew that the kind of social scedule I was maintaining when unemployed wasn't sustainable alongside job, but that didn't stp me from trying to have my cake and eat it. I'm still able to do all things I consider important, but I've had to actually decide what those are, and it comes with the cosequences of ocasionally taking the time to crash out totally and do large ammounts of nothing. I also think I'm drinking too much as a coping mecahnism. Sometimes I justify it as a way to help me fight stress and insomnia, which it does, but it also, you know, drinking too much. I'm not worried yet, but the suject has been breached here, so at least I've begin to open myself to the posibility that this is something I may need to watch in the future. It hasn't yet interfered with anything important, and I'm ensuring that it continues not too. This is the line I will not cross. Turning to the other part of my life, which in being gaming. I am quite open to that fact that my life at the moment, is work, sleep and gaming. i see no problem with this at the moment, and feel no need to worry about "getting a life" as I feel like i'm living two of them. I'm still playing a lot of MtG, particlurly since Battlenet re-opened. I think it's closure showed the Norwich magic comunity what it could loose, and this has created a stronger commitment to ensure that there will be continuing support for the game in the local area. There is not crossver between the casual night, which is now only nominally gamessoc, an the tournaments at battlenet. That and the new sunday events at battlenet. which have been fun, but patily attended and poorly oragised. I've not been doing as well at the tounnaments as previously, or as I'd like. Some of that is the whole scene getting more serious at battlenet, the level of competion is a lot higher. That and I think it took me a long time to ajust to the rotation. i think I now have decks that I am plesed with, they are powerful, and fun to play. particularly my build of Old Faithful, a BW deck that had been trough 3 standard rotations at this point (thereby containing none of the original cards at all), and is now back in the game with a powerful discard suite that has been proving effective. the game is a lot of fun right now. Live games are still a lot of fun, and as much a fixture of the week as WNM. The new mage game in particular is really enjoyable, despite the ongoing prosess of smothing all the kinks out of the rules set. My character is a blast to play, and it carving them self a nice nicely. If a WOD setting doesn't work for a hard pitten P.I., then the ST isn't doing it right. But `Tony Obscura versus the Zombie Menace', has kicked things off in style. Sabbat, and Requiem are ticking over nicely, in that I look forward to every session, but there is a bit of same old- same old creeping in. Werewolf sometimes feels like a chore, but I never expected to like the game. It's just not really my thing, it is however not wasting the time I'm putting into it, but I see no benifit in me taking more seriously, whatever the other player might desire. UKM has really picked up of late, the plot has been able to engage all of the regular charcter and re-vitalise some enjoyment in the system from some of the regulars. I'm certianly enjoying it more. D&D had been patchy, mostly my fault, and my apologies go to my players, but with everything else somethinghas got to give. Hopefully tomorrow (or tuesday) I'll find if the time I requested off work in a couple of weeks has been authorised, and i can go home and spend some time with my family. Here's to you all, and a mid-december Merry Xmas to you all. Toaster | | Tuesday, March 18th, 2008 | | 9:58 pm |
On the Mend.
It's now been a full seven days scince I got knocked down crossing Thorpe Road on the way to work. I'm still not fully healed, exactly, but I'm getting there. Have returned to work, perhaps a little prematurly, but hey. The job is fine, and would be enjoying it immensly were it not for my health problems, which frustrate.
Will be very busy next weekend, as the Easter break is a busy time at work. Between work and the accident, my gaming has been very disrupted, which is unfortunate. The problem is that cancelling everything has been a lot of hassle, possibly not helped by me not announcing the fact that I got run over to the society as a whole as I don't want everybodies pity, and more annoyingly the endless questions that I've allready been fielding for a week.
Adjusting to a new job is difficult, particularly in light on my circumstances. I just wish some people would have a little more patiance, as that's what I really need right now; some space. I don't need sypathy or understanding, I just some time to get better without people bugging me every five minutes as to when I'm running D&D.
I get very irratable nad short tempered when I'm not well.
Thank you all for listening. | | Tuesday, March 4th, 2008 | | 3:58 pm |
| | Tuesday, January 1st, 2008 | | 2:15 am |
HOOTENANNY!!!
Happy NEW YEAR!!
and all the best ot the whole motly lot of you.........
HOOTENANNY!!! Current Mood:  ishCurrent Music: Jools Holland | | Sunday, December 23rd, 2007 | | 12:03 am |
An Xmas Message
I have been back to Yorkshire and had Xmas with the family. It was extremley pleasent, but still slightly strange about being back up there when I'm so solidly based down here. Even more so now that my sister doesn't live there anymore either. Gifts given and received. wine and food, food and wine. Had extremely plesent catching up with Elliot. Talked about the old crowd and other news, his course, his family, my work (or lack of) over wine. Then Warhammer over cheap coffee and plesant converstaions. His take on the new High Elf army was both interesting and effective. A nice game, the final board state the kind that happens often in Warhammer; the crushing defeat of the army that lost the `could go either way' tactical exchange. This time it was me, but I'm beginning to understand the way the new army works. The Dragon Mage was just cool, although tricky to deal with. His different approach to the Elf players in Norwich certainly gives me some things to talk about. We also talked at length about 40k, as that is what he has been playing most of the last year. His new Eldar BFG fleet looks really good. Having actualy Xmas day here at home with Vinny and Leila. Should be a blast. Went out with Vinny today and bought lots of food for the event, looking forwards to stressful cooking, and much with the eating and drinking. Then working on Boxing day. Witch will be the kind of fun that is not. Plans however to go the pictures afterwards, which should make the complete lack of buses, and therefore effrobable trasnport more manageable. Best wishes and seasons greeting to you all. I look forwards to further adventures in the new year and wish you all the best. Appologies for not updating more often...... Merry Xmas. | | Thursday, October 11th, 2007 | | 1:40 am |
Victory is Mine!
In that I won the Wednesday Night Magic Tornament tonight. For Brian Blessed, and for me, and for Jon. This is the third glorious victory for my B/W control deck. Bwahahaha! (Which now puts me ahead of you record now, Jon. You'll have to come down and win it back, or something of the sort. i still reacon the deck you put together just before you left has the Cajhones to win the damn thing...) *This is an appology about the spelling etc. Sorry. There was wine, and....* So i feel pretty good. Still not got a real job,but, things can be far worse, and as long as that is the case, i'll not be with the worrying over much. Getting nowhere is not fun. Getting nowhere, and worrying about it all the time is actually less productive. So when in doubt, talk about gaming. Jarval's Planar Incursion has been fun the last couple of sessions, now some of the adminstatrive issues have been sorted, and should work up to a decent concusion. Team Evil is realtivly good to go. It's had probaly not enough planning, but as a campaign that is meat to run with little planning, hat so far is ok. I have some trust in my ability to cope with some stuff on the fly, with my players to not take the piss and understand that no means no, and in the fact that enough people know what goes on behing the screen for me to be honest when it comes down to it, with out ruining the tone of the game. I'm looking forward to it, should be a true colabrative effort. Live games have started off again. UKM was unfortunatly devoid of new players, due to Freshers Flu, but was fun for most present noetheless. The linear was good fun, and well run, and underlines the issues of playing an inermediate character in the system nicely, as most linears in UKM do. In that those characters with less than three or four years of OOC deveopment under their belts make it through by the skin of their teeth. We did all make it through, so no worries there yet. The other live games are all looking to be extremely interesting with a larger than usual degree of both OOC and IC politics floating around. I await the possible genius that approaches. Other stuff is undoubtly happening, but none of it springs to mind at present. Merry Xmas, and to all a good night. Toaster. Current Mood: VictoriousCurrent Music: U.N.K.L.E. Be There | | Tuesday, August 21st, 2007 | | 1:03 am |
GRR ARGGH!
Well, I didn't get the Effing job. like that suould suprise me anymore. As aparrantly I let my inner Bruce(http://www.starcitygames.com/php/news/article/2005.html) run my freaking life, and can't have anything I really want, cos somehow I deserve the misery. Occasioanlly I really hate being an optomistic kinda individual and hgaving to reort to alchohol and this live journal to have any meanighful outlet.
Fucking Games Workshop.
I'm not sure how much more I can take of this It been TWO FREAKING YEARS since I graduated. Why can't I find any decent long term employment? *head>desk*
PS: will appreciate actuall helful advice, and or sholder tor "cry" on at the moment. More Hwine..... (it hleps....)
PPS appologies for the spelling. I'm not sober. | | Monday, May 14th, 2007 | | 12:09 am |
You know, stuff.
Updating mostly out of an attack of boredom. But updating notheless. Shardlord has now ended. The last session ticked over very well. I enjoyed it, it seemed that all present also had fun, and it was unfortunate that Mary was unable to be there, but it couln't really be helped. I now have to at some point put some further, and definitavly consructive thought into Team Evil for the autumn. Which will rock, and I'm looking forwards to it immensly. Being a less contained and structured environment than either Sharlord or Ravenloft it will alow the players are greater lead in the direction of the narrative. Which means more thinking on my feet and less exacting number crunching. An idea that appeals. I've been going more often and being more involved in Errin. Which is great fun. My primary character is now six and a half, and coping. He is the position to start driving on parts of the plot. This will of course become a lot easier when the downtime address actually works, and I can start tormenting the refs with the kind of intricate planning and fool proofing that the other live games have instilled into the art of downtimes. Bwahahahaha. Or something. My first Machivellian efforts seemed appricated and I await the fall out. Speaking of live games, all three systems are pilling on the plot and keeping everything going off at once. It's really good, although somewhat exhausting, trying to juggle clandestine opperations in UKM, political infighting in Sabbat, and paradigm clashes in Mage. But its worth it. Hopefully, with Jarvals Planar Chaos game, and the return of Andrew's Ascension game the tabletop stuff will keep ticking over. Which reminds me, I'll have to plan/organise something or other when Leila comes down this summer. Really must speak to people about that. Some kind of New WOD one shot seems best. The job search continues. I feel like I might be getting somewhere, but it has felt like that before. Time will tell I suppose. I'm going to keep relying on the agencies over my multiple applications for the time. The benifits are starting to take the edge of the worrying debt I had dug my self into, but it's nowhere near enough. I need something fairly soon. At least then I can pay of my over over draft, and my debt to Vinny. That would be a start. Oh ,and allow me to buy some Future Sight Magic cards..... Merry Xmas and to all a good night. | | Tuesday, April 10th, 2007 | | 12:46 pm |
With Regards to my Vacation.
The holiday was great, albeit tiring. Italy was loverly, and the attractions spectacular and well worth see. Having to get up for 7am breakfast every day was less fantastic. Florence had windier street and more cobbles than I remember. Rome was brilliant. Got to actually see the Flavian Ampitheatre (Collesium), and it's huge. Visited the Vatican during Easter week. Memorable. Venice was truly unique. Lake Garda is mahousive. 25 hour trips acrss all of europe are tiring, but satisfying at the same time. Any way, I'm now back, I owe Vinny lots of money fot this trip, and have forms to fill out for the Government. Back on the old benifits...... | | Sunday, March 4th, 2007 | | 6:35 pm |
Musical Musings
This is response to the post on Mary's Journal; http://esoteroticist.livejournal.com/90203.html , so enjoy.... Foo Fighters- One By One Mylo -In My Arms Just Jack- Writers' Block Freemasons- Rain Down Love The Gummi Bears Theme Tune Jamiroquai- Deeper Underground Alien Ant Farm- Smooth Criminal Enjoy and Merry Xmas. | | Sunday, February 18th, 2007 | | 5:41 pm |
Recovering supprisingly well from the 24hour roleplay.
Epic Team Evil was victorious. The Good Party defeated largly by James Moran's gratuoitous min maxing. The rest of team evil really got to shine at dealing with the dungeon. The combo of overlapping smaller blags served us brilliantly. Packing that must level drain and stat drain into one party neatly cuts into the weakness of several of the monsters, as well as being almost impossible to stop. It was great to watch the mosters have the rug pulled out from under them in a stream of negative energy. We help up a lot better than expected for a party with no `tank', once we had our defencive plans on the go. Undead speedbumps and innate Harm can work wonders. The ending was a little anti-climatic due to it's brevity, but the rest of the game was fun, and I enjoyed it, and my character.
My Necromunda playtest/one shot also went down quite well, although a little thrown together. With a little more planning of the statting of the missions, it would prove much better. I'm certainly going to give it annother shot some time, as every seemed to enjoy them selves. Much crazyness with singing Cawdors, trecherous ratskins, gibbering mercenaries (thank you Tim.) and insidous mind control.
The zombie LARP is going to get most of the Kudos, certainly deserved, but it looked that as much was being run as ever, and the organisation was top notch this year. Congrats to Tori, Grant and Charles in particular.
It looks like I'm going to have to try and get on with my life again or something, which sucks. However I've only been out of work for a week, and I'm allready slightly bored. Hmm.
Any hoo. Merry Xmas y'all. | | Friday, January 26th, 2007 | | 9:04 pm |
Some kind of employment
I've been doing full time temp work for the last few days, and will be continuing at County Hall stuggling mightly against the filing system. This is something I've needed for some time, and although more tiring than i'd expected, has been overall quite good. Bwahahahaha, money! Conclusion, everything is good right now, apart from the almost constant fatiuge partially absolved by caffine. Looking forwards to a full weekend of gaming, with Wargames, UKM, Shardlord and a Guild Night. Should be good. | | Monday, January 1st, 2007 | | 8:09 pm |
Happy New Year.
I wish you a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year. I had a pleasent Xmas in Yorkshire, puntuated by trips back to Norwich to do a coule of days temp work which was sorely needed as a place for me to start from. Played lots of board games with family, which was fun. New Year was also plesant. You can't go far wrong with wine and Hootenanny. Looking forwards to things picking up and getting back to something approaching normal, or at least as normal as it ever gets around here. Again with the seasons' greetings to you all. | | Wednesday, December 13th, 2006 | | 5:16 pm |
Back once again with some kind of update....
Hmm, Where to begin? I have been sent some temp work to do from home, for which I am extremely grateful, eeven if it is quite quite dull. Gives me acess to festive funds, which is all kinds of good. The search for real work continues fruitless. Live games have all been fun, to the point of having to plan for them incessantly. Kudos to the refs, for making me want to think about my cunning plans and/or impending doom more than I should. Shardlord continues, slowly. Slower than I'd like, and I think that the players might share that sentiment, but no-one's complaining as the sessions are challenging and fun. We are approaching endgame, when things get really nasty. My plotting for Epic at 24hr RP is nearly complete. Just have to consulte the book of vile Darkness and some of the other members of the party, and I can lock it down. Oh, and clear it with the GMs.. Generally feeling tired, probably due to my sleep pattern not actaully being a pattern. Leaving now to get food before Magic this evening. Merry Xmas. | | Sunday, November 5th, 2006 | | 7:43 pm |
Long time, no ramble....
Just come back in from Shardlord. My tribe of Stone giant ghouls failed to kill anyone, but my high level ghoul rogue came *this* close to filleting the Radient Servant of Pelor with gratouitous levels of backstab damage. I'll get you next time adventurers! Greame also spectacularly failed to trun up, although having to change location twice didn't help, with the game ending up in Owen's Cafe Bar. Ravenloft is on Hiatus, due to everything going wibble. I hope to resume in the new year for more urban terror and all that jazz. Went out to Larp last weekend, and got Luther De Ville up to level three under the new system, and he is now a full member of the Lore Keepers. He survived mostly by falling over in the last encounter, and bleeding to death slowly enough to be saved. Live game are all proving interesting so far this year, with my characters plans all proceeding apace at present, although still adjusting to the new circumstances that last year's ending of major plot arcs in all three games have brought about. Written my army lists for the mahoosive siege of doom, but neither of the organisers turned up to wargames this week, so I wasn't able to get them cleared and get moving on the next stage of blag. I think that I might have got a tournament deck that I am happy with not for Magic, but We will have to see how it fare come Wednesday. I was unsucessful in my interview n Wednesday, and now have to recoup my hefty travel expenses garneerd by taking a taxi both ways out into the middle of rural Norfolk. Fecking lack of busses! Grr! Hopefully my spec submissions to labour agancies next week will garner me some tamping, as I really need the money. I think that is all for this edition of intermittent rambling...... see you all next time. | | Wednesday, October 4th, 2006 | | 12:20 am |
If any one reading this knows a way for my housemate Vinny to aquire a copy of Microsoft Office, for the installing of, the passing along of such knowledge would be much appreciated. | | Tuesday, September 26th, 2006 | | 11:19 pm |
| | 3:17 pm |
Milestones.
It verily do be mine birthday upon Monday next. Nature of related celbratory events as yet undetermined, but I'm sure there will be intoxicants involved somewhere in proceeding. I was leaning towards a festive bent, as such an occasion has yet to occur in recent times. In other words, I'm going to pick a pub or other venue suitable for drinking, and there will be a party involving Santa Hats and other Xmas paraphanalia. Date and place to be decided at the last minute. Stay alert for actual decisions. | | Thursday, September 21st, 2006 | | 3:32 pm |
Blatant Meme Theft.
Lifted from http://esoteroticist.livejournal.com/ by ways of stealth and low cunning.... 1 Grab the nearest book. 2 Open the book to page 123. 3 Find the fifth sentence. 4 Post the text of the next 3 sentences on your blog along with these instructions. 5 Don't you dare dig for that cool or intellectual book in your closet! I know you were thinking about it! Just pick up whatever is closest. "You went with Queen Cyrilla back to her home," he propmted. "You were taking care of her becuase she was sick - driven insane by her time in the pit with all those terrible men. You were to help her recover if she could and advise her if she did." - Phantom, by Terry Goodkind. | | Monday, September 11th, 2006 | | 7:48 pm |
Crazy Weekend and no mistake.
Left Norwich Thursday afteternoon, stopping off in Yarmouth for offical spec photos on the way home. Got up 6am Friday to travel to London. Make 2pm appointment at U.S. embassy easily, then stay to watch The Producers in the West End. We get back around 3am. Get up Saturady, go visit old friends from 6th form. Have pleasent afternoon, followed by pleasent evening of pubbage. Set off to travel back early sunday morning, nursing a hangover. Make it back to Norwich in time for Tomb of the Shardlord, to find that only THREE of my seven players were able to make it down. I was not going to cancel the thrid game in a row becuse of gratuitous player abcence, so I ran anyway. There will be no actual spoilers here. You motley lot will have to find out how badly things went without you when you come back. Looking forwards to term starting up, and with it resumed games. Ravenloft will be resuming, once a location has been decided upon. UEA Campus is available, Del is reserving a place on the official timetable. The other place that I'm considering, would be a Mary and Dan's, a matter which I have consitently failed to mention to Mary on at least three sperate occasions. so here it is in writing, for consideration. Am also looking forwards muchly to Live WOD, and to Wargames, where hopefully there will be much playtesting of WFB 7th ed. Goodies :). Merry Xmas and all that Jazz..... |
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