The Iron Zerg Works

11:53am: Growing pains
I apologize to those involved for sticking this in livejournal first, but everyone it concerns and those interested hang out here so:

Things are going great. The job is great, my fiancee is incredible. Life is starting to move along. I feel like I might actually be on the path to adulthood. However, every path is not without it's bumps.

So, how does this concern all of you?

Well, for the most part, and this is a very tough thing for me to say (hence the typing in livejournal), but I don't feel like can be a regular member of the Friday night game anymore. As I mentioned above, things are going great with life, but the amount of time and energy that is required to keep all the plates spinning, so to speak, is immense.

As everyone in game has noticed (due to my lack of presence at the last FOUR sessions), my job keeps me away from Raleigh more than I thought, and when I'm in town there just seems like I need to do so much more than I expect. One of those priorities has always been game; for the last 3 going on 4 years I've spent every possible Friday night I could roleplaying with a tremedous group of players and an absolutely incredible GM. I cannot speak enough about how incredible the experience has been, and how it's (without a doubt) changed and improved me.

Hence the post. Most roleplaying games are easy to walk away from. It's more a matter of, "I'm just not feeling it" whether it be from myself or the group. People simply get tired and out grow things. What makes this difficult is its absolutely not the case with the game James runs every Friday night. It's unbelievably difficult to express how deep and comprehensive the experience is; I've tried to explain it to my best non-Friday gamer friends, and it never comes across. They just don't get it. Seeing, feeling, and experiencing is believing.

However, for where I am right now, and where I want to be in ten years, I'm just in such a critical position to really do what I enjoy doing, with the possibility of living an extremely comfortable life. But right now, that payoff is requiring an incredible investment of time and energy, leaving very little room for other circles. And unfortunately, the cirlce that is being squeezed out contains much of my gaming life.

I've always loved fantasy gaming, from D&D to video games to MMOGs to the Friday night game (which requires its own category. It is and deserves to be much more than just "another" game). But as I grow up and out, I'm finding that part of my childhood is slowing shrinking, to where I can't maintain having every fantasy I want with every reality.

Anyway, I the decision doesn't make me a happier person, but it's what I need to do now. I can't give some aspects of my life the full attention that it deserves, nor do I feel like it's fair to deprive other people of the chance to involve themselves with such a fantastic experience. Hopefully, even as I leave the world, some of the characters I've created can continue to live out their lives. The best part about the worlds that have been created it is the fact that even with I, David, are not in them, they keep moving foward.

So for now, I'll take an exit, happy with the belief that goodbye doesn't mean things are over. Don't fret, we'll work out a transition. I'll be in touch with you this week to work out the exit strategies. Honestly, there's only one character I'm really concerned about, but considering he's invincible, I don't think there's anything even I can do to stop him :).

I'll be in touch.

4:25pm: It's like a virtual sandbox
I do sales for Mizuno. I use most of what I learned in school everyday at work, except for a couple things.

Since it's out there, but no one ever sees it...and you're all pretty cool, I thought I'd post this link.

http://runbirdtech.googlepages.com/playground

I really enjoy the marketing aspect of business, so every now and then when I'm bored, I'll play around with branding ideas.

That's the spot where I put anything I would consider decent marketing collateral.

For what it's worth, enjoy.

8:44pm: Update, pass due
Sorry for the lack of postage here on the journal.

Here's the latest news flashes.

1) I asked Ashley to marry me about a week ago. She said cried. And said yes. *whew*

2) Bonny, Keith's wife, had their first child on Friday. She's a healthy baby girl named Violet. Bonny did fine, although she ended up having a C-section.

3) Work is work, so far so good.

Hopefully I'll back in the game next week.

9:48am: It's the most homicidal time of year.
You know those Christmas songs by Mannheim Steamroller? The one's with the electric guitars? Those are pretty cool, the first couple times you hear them. Nay, even the first dozen...

...however as this Christmas season continues, not only will I be tracking sales and profitability, but also the relationship between number of Christmas songs heard and number of times one considers mass homicide.

I really think there's a relationship. And if I find it, I'm sure you'll all hear about it, "This story and more...at 5 o'clock!" style.

10:27am: Where'd I put those matches...
Anyone ever have one of those days at work?

You know, one of those, "Hello? Does anyone ELSE work here?" type days?

Gah.

10:01am: Bah Humbug
So here I am at work. It's Friday, and the best thing I have to look foward to is game tonight.

Unfortunately, one of the employees thought it would be a GREAT! idea to have a Christmas party.

Yey, so not only am I stuck here at work for 10 hours, I get to be late for game because of over zealous Christmas spirit. I wonder, is it too late to pretend I'm Jewish?

7:47pm: We all have our superpowers.
It's days like today that make me satisfied, yet depressed at the same time. It's days like today that I feel like William H. Macy from Mystery Men.

"God's given me a gift. I shovel well. I shovel very well."

It's like that. Only with selling shoes.

7:28pm: It's the most awful time of year...
Retail. Sucks. Especially now. This time of year is awful. Not so much for the work, but just how much of it there is. And it's not like I don't like the place I work at, or the owner; both are great. It's just as the store manager, I have to be there. A LOT. But I guess that's why I get paid the big bucks.

However, there is one very big upside to all of this. Friday nights. And we're heading into JSG this week. Words cannot express my excitement, nor can they begin to touch on how much I'm looking forward to game tomorrow. Not to put any extra pressure on the GM or anything ;).

Anyway, as I've said before, not only do I think this Fantasy rotation was the best rotation since I joined the group three (I think) years ago, I found it to be one of the most enjoyable sessions, period. Which has a lot to do with my eagerness to get into JSG, since it's by far my favorite genre.

So, let's all focus on getting through work tomorrow and make it a great start to JSG!

PS - Part of my inspiration for writing this was looking at some of the source fiction that James has incorporated in his game. And let me tell you this, if the invasion ever comes, screw fighting. I'm re-rolling Tyranid.

8:28pm: More fantasy quizzes

Which Classic Story Role Do You Play?

- You Are The Wayfarer Guide "I'll show you the way." Your deep insight and quick wisdom never ceases to amaze those around you. You are the guiding light for many of those you know and are not afraid to help anyone else who asks. Not very many acknowledge your tremendous help and effort, but you do not mind that so much. You've seen what is in store for them, and will be there should they need your help. You enjoy people in general, but are very selective of who you let see the real you. Others see you as an enigma of sorts, a mystery that is seemingly ever changing. Take this quiz! Quizilla | Join | Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

6:42pm: The Hardest Run
So six months ago, I was pretty out-of-shape and a little overweight.

Right now, I'm sitting in a hotel room at the Outer Banks, having just complete my first marathon.

It seems surreal to think that just a few hours ago, I was suffering through 26.2 miles of pounding, wondering if I was even going to finish.

But I did. I'm glad I did. I'm even happier that I put myself up to the challenge those six months ago.

6:03pm: Do it for the Kittens
As mentioned in last Friday's game. I thought I'd post some websites I G'd up for the employees.

http://wolfpack10k.googlepages.com/salesfloor2

and in reference to an email from an employee who didn't want to condone killing kittens, but does like chinese food...

http://wolfpack10k.googlepages.com/andy

5:30pm: Halloween Costumes
So, you think you have a great costume for Halloween?

Try to beat my 5 year old nephew.

He's going as Batman. With a lightsaber.

He's awesome. If you asked him who he is for Halloween, he'll tell you exactly that, too.

"I'm Batman. With a lightsaber!"

7:04pm: <td align="center"> Dave Patterson --
[noun]:

A human transformer (Robot in disguise)

'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com</td>

---

What's up with these quizzes today. I'm on a roll. Let's hope some of it supercharges into my dice for tomorrow's game!

8:03am:

You scored as Serenity (Firefly). You like to live your own way and don�t enjoy when anyone but a friend tries to tell you should do different. Now if only the Reavers would quit trying to skin you. </td> Serenity (Firefly) 88% Millennium Falcon (Star Wars) 81% Babylon 5 (Babylon 5) 69% Nebuchadnezzar (The Matrix) 69% Enterprise D (Star Trek) 69% Andromeda Ascendant (Andromeda) 63% FBI's X-Files Division (The X-Files) 63% Moya (Farscape) 63% SG-1 (Stargate) 63% Galactica (Battlestar: Galactica) 44% Deep Space Nine (Star Trek) 44% Bebop (Cowboy Bebop) 44% Your Ultimate Sci-Fi Profile II: which sci-fi crew would you best fit in? (pics) created with QuizFarm.com

---

Firefly #1...Millennium Falcon #2...sounds like I really am Chance Malix!

5:33pm: Assertive and Right

You scored 52% Confrontational and 87% Logical!

You're not afraid to speak your mind, which is great because you know what you're talking about. You won't let people walk all over you, or stand for bad ideas, so you can work with just about anyone.

Best match: Any but Aggresive and Wrong or Power-Compromiser

11:43am:

The Bachelor Deliberate Gentle Sex Master (DGSMm) Straight-up. Studly. Congratulations, you are The Bachelor. You're an honest, good-thinking guy, and though you're very sexually active, people don't perceive you as a male-slut or man-whore or guy-dick-putter-inner or whatever. You have a sterling reputation. You're a careful person, perhaps too much so for your friends' tastes, but girls like that in you. You probably don't kiss & tell. And you definitely don't brag. You know you don't have to prove anything to anyone. It's as if you believe in monogamy, so long as it's with lots of different people. Our guess is that you've got some kind of word-of-mouth going with the girls out there, and that in the future, your sex partners will get even more plentiful, and more attractive, too. Your exact opposite: The Manchild Random Brutal Love Dreamer You will settle down eventually, and make an excellent husband. You seem like the type who is into the idea of making copies of yourself, so you'll probably have lots of kids. Bear in mind, meanwhile, this can get expensive. ALTERNATE ENDING: You will die broke and alone. Vermin will feast on your ragged body for five days before the groundskeeper notices. The thing is, when somebody dies in a public restroom, the natural odor of his decomposing flesh is often masked by the feces smell. ALWAYS AVOID: The Wild Rose CONSIDER: The Dirty Little Secret, The Intern Link: The 32-Type Dating Test by OkCupid - Free Online Dating.

-----

Okay, so that part about wanting to make lots of little copies of myself, that's totally true. I don't know if it's true in a scarycreepy kinda way...but whatever. Thanks for the test, folks.

10:56am: Death of a (shoe) salesman.
I am Al Bundy. That's what I do for a living. I sell shoes.

Ok, so it's not that bad. I work in a specialty sports store that actually fits people to running shoes. And yes, you should be properly fit to your running shoes, especially if you intend to do anything besides kick around in them. Basically, manufacturers build different types of shoes to match up with different foot types. Therefore, for the most comfortable (and hopefully injury free) running experience, you should probably go somewhere where they'll look at your foot type, watch you run, and match you with the correct shoe category.

In a nut shell, that's basically what I do all day, minus the other "stuff" that comes along with being a store manager. Which brings me to my point, running to get in shape.

The bottom line, coming from someone who knows is...it's a very, very bad idea.

Let me qualify that by saying running is an awesome experience, its an extremely good way to stay in shape, have fun, and generally see and do things most normal people don't get to, well, see and do. However, it's the part that involves 'getting' into shape that's the problem.

While running is a great way to burn calories, tone your muscles, and otherwise stay in shape, it's also tremendously stressful on the body. When you run, you generally put between 3 to 5 times your body weight in force on your feet, legs, back, etc (Hence the "pounding" your body takes when you run). Some people have more efficient strides, some less, hence the range.

If you're, say twenty pounds over weight, when you run, you could be exerting up to an additional 100 pounds of force on your body. Now, knowing American culture, if you're only 20 pounds over weight, then you're doing pretty good!

Which brings me to my point here, and what kills me on a daily basis. The absolute worse part of my job is having to be nice to folks who come in, 100 pounds overweight, bitching to me about how it hurts when they run. Yes. It will hurt when you run. Here's a nugget of wisdom for you, folks. Running hurts. No shoe is going to stop that. Especially when you're 100 pounds overweight.

Again, running hurts. It makes your body hurt. If running hurts so much that you don't enjoy it, or at least the satisfaction of running doesn't outweigh the pain, then stop running. There are plenty of other ways to get back into shape:

1) Don't eat so damn much. Yes, that is BY FAR the easiest way to lose weight. Avoid fatty foods, greasy foods, and foods with a lot of sugar in them. Sugar, if not used, is converted directly into fat. And, unfortunately, alcohol converts extremely easily as well :(. When you order food, or cook dinner, cook less than you think you can eat. Don't supersize, don't double the meat. I'm not saying stop enjoying eating, just be conscious of what you're putting in your body. That's all.

2) Low impact. Join a gym, ride the stationary bike, do the elliptical machine, swim, lift weights, or just walk. You don't have to put up with the agony of running to get into shape.

3) Find an outside game you like to play, and play it. It doesn't have to be a normal sport. Even things like dodgeball and kickball have adult leagues here in Raleigh. Go out and join your local kickball team. Hell, I have a couple friends who sword-fight to stay in shape.

Anyway, that's my rant for the start of a new week.

Just remember, working out and staying in shape should be fun. Be conscious of what you eat. Exercise doesn't do you any good if you go for that triple whopper with cheese, supersized afterwards. Lastly, it all takes time. Even if you only lose 1 or 1/2 a pound a week, look towards the long term. Where will you be next year? :)

And lastly, if you do decide you really, really want to run to stay in shape, go to a specialty running shoe store, get fitted for your shoes, and don't be surpised when running hurts. Don't be in a hurry to run a marathon, and take satisfaction in getting back into shape.