Fighting the Black Rage since 1993...

Deadlands, Sunday, 3:00 pm to 9-ish. Be there or don't - game will be run in either case.


- Me

Really Authentic Guide to Real Viking Mead

by Lady Caterina del Cavallo
(Reprinted from Scum Vol. 1, #1 Winter 1990)

Producing realy authentic Viking mead is pretty easy because nobody really knows what it was like, on account of how the Vikings never wrote anything down except in those goddam runes, which nobody but people who hang out with mosses can understand anyway. It's just a dead giveaway when you make mead in a plastic 2-liter Coke bottle. You will use a glass Coke bottle if you have any class at all. So, here you go:

Boil up some honey and water. Let it sit around your bedroom until it begins to ferment and smell bad (don't confuse it with your last date). Don't forget to play it lots of authentic Viking music, like Cheap Trick doing "She's Tight," and before you know it, you and your friends will be getting really stoned on the stuff, unless Mom makes you clean out your room, okay?

Entering your mead in a contest: You need documentation, all of those bozos will tell you. What's that? It's a piece of paper proving that some Viking who probally couldn't sign his name if you held a mace to his head, or his old lady, maybe once made mead just like yours. Well, we're going to provide you with some infinitely re-usable documentation just so you can personally tell those bozos to eat your moose (metaphorocally speaking, of course).


July, 1367
Dear Sven
How are you and Mrs. Sven and all the Sventlets doing? Is she still making that delicious mead out of boiled honey and water in those new bottles you brought home from Vinland? Remember how we got so hammered on the last batch that you fell into the fjord? Sorry to hear about your sister's axe. Those moose bites can be pretti nasti, you know.

Regards.
Olaf Svensfriend

Okay, there it is. Shove this letter in the faces of all those arts and sciences geek and you're home free. Just remember to carry your drinking horn and wear cool sunglasses, even in the dark, and you, to, can look like a Viking with a hangover.....

Ok, so the original plan was to go to school, get a degree and some cert's, and then jump back into IT work following the BS that occured in 2k4. I was working customer service as an interim and doing ok at the job. Hard work, but semi-honest and somewhat steady. Sure.

So, first I get a raise. Ok, I think, standard of living increase. No problem. Kind of nice getting a few more bucks in my paycheck. Then we get bought out and that's where everything began to go horribly, horribly wrong...

First I get another raise for being such a hard worker for a whole year. Then the new company offers me another raise (about 7%) to stay and work for them. Ok, I think. Money is good and I need to keep a job until I graduate. Sure... that works...

Then, just as the semester gets nutty, we get a guest speaker at school stating that IT jobs are at an all time low in michigan. Uhm...

And then, due to a number of folks leaving because they don't want to work for the new bosses, I get offered a promotion with (can you guess?) another freaking raise. All in all, I've received over 35% in increases since starting here and its only been a little over two years.

So, I guess the question is, Should I try to stick to my original plan (trying to get an IT job after graduation) or stay where I am where they keep force-feeding me cash?

Official no-prize to the best answer...

Just got my grade for my 3rd semester Cisco class... B+. Well, there goes my goal of getting a B- average this semester. Guess I'll have to try harder to fail in my Geology class...

Dear Members and Providers,

Recently, there have been some severe miscommunications and erroneous assumptions made by certain of you in relation ro us. I am writing to bring forth the following information to your attention;

#1 - We cannot read your minds. If you are getting a bill from us it may not actually be from us, but from a doctor's office. If you are having a problem, telling us the entire issue without giving us any identifying information is not going to help us to assist you, and you're probably going to have to explain it all over again.

#2 - Our jobs require your information. If you are calling for a 'Quick Question', do us the favor of telling us who you are. We need this information to accurately log our calls and be recognized for doing our jobs.

#3 - Keep your attitudes to yourself. We are here to help you and we understand that things can be very frustrating. Calling with a gigantic chip on your shoulder about getting a bill because you didn't read your benefits closely enough to know that (insert procedure here) isn't covered/is covered at a percentage is not our fault and we would like you to know so. Please don't go 'Mm-Hmph' like you own the world, as taht just makes you sound stupid.

#4 - Be prepared. We would like to have our calls go quickly and efficiently - having your information handy to give us is appreciated.

We thank you for time and patience - let's do our best to work amicably toward a good customer service experience.

Sincerely,



A Professional Customer Service Agent

P.S. - if unable to comply, you can go and f*ck yourselves you freaking b*xc*nts!!!

Recent set of recaps...

Saw the 300 on friday with <http://she_1982.livejournal.com>she_1982</a>, <http://amazingnobody.livejournal.com>amazingnobody</a>, <http://aabrams.livejournal.com>aabrams</a> and the almight Mrs. Aabrams. Ok, that movie ruled. I'm going again with the Cam later this month and seeing it again in IMAX. Hoo-HAH!!

Saturday I just sat around and did nothing. I really wasn't up for much and, so, didn't do much.

Sunday I studied and cleaned house. Is it me, or do people just have major issues with the whole 'Clean the bathroom' thing? Does a toilet have to get all gross before someone will take a freaking toilet brush and some bleach to make it clean? WTF-BBQ?! Well, I have clean porcelin now so there. Gah.

Saw Rome and Battlestar last night. Battlestar was great, as usual, however, I have a bone to pick with HBO. What is their freaking problem putting on these stunning cable TV shows for adult watchers, and then pulling the plug on them after two seasons??? Rome ends in two episodes and is at the point where they could launch three more seasons with hardly an trouble at all. And don't get me started on Carnivale. Just because they're doing the sopranos in a few weeks... grrrrr....

Other stuff - I'm not sure if I passed the 3rd semester of my cisco class or not. I have to talk to my instructor who was away last week in Brazil. I find out whether or not I get to graduate this year tomorrow. Wish me luck, folks.

Ok, new update on the how the world turns. On spring break so I have a few minutes to speak...

Work - I am now a member of the Blues. That makes me a blue wage slave. Huzzah. Or something. At least I'm making (almost) decent money again.

Home - No changes. In fact, things are starting to backslide. I am a loaf of bread; lo, bread does not get to be excited. Bread does not have sex. Bread is vital to continued existance but has no pazzaz or joy. Bread is just bread.

School - Today I start my term assignment for my Geology class and start putting the study notes together for the last chapter of our current unit. Tomorrow I take a practice final for my Cisco Class.

Friends - Missing them all. I get to see L and Spidernoire every now and again but beyond that I'm swamped. Miss all you guys.

The Cam - is running strong with some very cool people joining up. I think its going to be a great game that will stand the test of (/checks watch) at least three or four years. Being coordinator has been a lot of fun and I really look forward to doing it again for at least one more year (starting in August). After that, I'll let someone else take the reigns, methinks...

Movie Projects - I get to start scouting locations on the first week in May for the Silent and the casting call will begin about the middle of the month. Interested parties who don't think I know you're interested can email me at the address you got for me.

Cheese - I plan to buy a wheel of cheese later this month. It will be big and cheesy. I will invite people over to enjoin the cheesiness.


Tenna San, Mellonai

- Ronin

Since its been awhile since I've posted anything good, I'll toss in for a cheap recipe for some tasty bean soup.

Ingredients -

2 Cans, Kroger Red beans ($1 on sale)
2 Cans, Kroger Whole Pinto Beans ($1 on sale)
1 Can, Kroger Stewed Tomatos (.70 on sale)
1 large Onion chopped up (About a buck)
2 Tbs Dried red peppers (About a quarter)

Dump everything into a large cooking pot (including the bean juice in the cans). Don't forget to recycle the cans! Stir vigourously for about a minute, then let slow cook uncovered for 40 minutes at low to low-medium heat. Stir occasionally to keep even heating in mixture. Serve with whatever you like or by itself; its surprisingly tasty!

Back to Cisco homework...

Hope you have a good one.

DDDDOOOOOODDDDGGEEEEE BBBBAAAALLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!

...Weird...

...I feel like I'm falling behind on everything but that none of it really matters...

...you know, one kind of rock is the source for another...

...I have class tonight and I really don't want to go...

...a sedimentary mineral can stay on the surface for a thousand years before its absorbed into the earth's crust...

...I had a Wisdom tooth pulled yesterday and I feel loopy as all hell...

...it takes 50 years to make one inch of topsoil...

...and I'm not even on drugs right now...

...the glaciers are melting and we're all going to die...

...I just want to sit down and paint for awhile; I don't get enough play time...

...tired...

...was bloody awesome. Ok, so I went home and took a nap like any proper aging goth, then got up and went forth to the Necto. It was great! I brought my little brother along with me and we all proceeded to get schnookered, dance, socialize, and have a general good time. There was some sadness due to a couple of folks having to miss (Drew, I hope you're feeling better - Kt, I'm sorry it didn't work out timewise for you) but we had a blast anyway. There's something that's just sweetly nostolgic about being up at one in the morning and knowing you have to be getting up for work in about four hours. I think we'll be going back next week for anyone who wants to join us.

Tanna'san!

Me: Thank you for calling customer service, how may I help you?

Customer: I can't get on the internet.

Me: Uhm, well, we don't fix problems relating to internet access ma'am. This is an insurance customer service line.

Customer: No, no, I can't get on the (Company Product).

Me: Oh, ok. But you can get on the internet?

Customer: I can't get on the internet.

Me: Ok... is the internet not coming up.

Customer: Its telling me I'm locked out.

Me: (figuring things out...) ok, I need you last name to unlock you.

Customer: Why would it lock me out?

Me: Well, there may have been attempts to log in that failed. You can get on the internet, though, right?

Customer: I don't understand computers too well.

Me: ...

Customer: Well?

Me: Ma'am?

Customer: Are you going to help me or what?

Me: Ma'am, can you get on the internet?

Customer: What has that got to do with anything?

...

Even though I'm not working IT I am still one of the damned.

There must be balance for a weekend to truly be odd... and so it was...

Ok, so on friday I passed out and there was much recovering (YAaayyayyaa!!!)

Then there was saturday whereupon there was much meeting madness and mucho coffee drinking. In the end, there was many decisions made, some assignments done, and much general happiness.

In the evening, there was steak. Following the steak, there was much Halo playing. Indeed, there were 5 HOURS of Halo playing whereupon I ownzed, got pownzed, and generally had a good time with L, Spidernoir, and Rivardo into the wee hours of the night (4 AM or so). I then slept for about ten hours - it was luxurious.

Alas, all was not so well on other fronts. By beloved Vicious Pussy found herself stranded on I-94 due to a vehicular breakdown (*sigh*). She was rescued, but the car could not be field salvaged. It is now on its way to the shop for analysis of its condition.

That was the quick and dirty... hope other had a better time of things.

Ok, the reorg hath been donage as follows...

City Club gathering has been rescheduled to Saturday, January 13th starting at the Tios on Washtenaw for foodage and organization at 9pm. Be there or don't...

Deadlands game has been scheduled for Sunday, January 14th starting at 3:00 pm at my place

'Volcans Addomus'

Ok, since this came up and folks have stated an interest in going, I thought we could do the group thing to City Club tomorrow night! I was thinking we could gather at some general eatery in Ann Arbor or Ypsi at 9 or so and then go from there. Any takers???