And so we roll around to the 31st of December again, end of a year, about to start a new year again. :)
I do tend to procrastinate on some things, but saying "I'll do that next year" is less of a cop-out when next year is tomorrow morning!
Not sure what 2022 will bring, but here's hoping things get better overall.
Following on from the most recent project (the laptop stand, which has now been painted blue) my awesome wife gifted me a Dremel set for Christmas. This opens up a lot of new options not only with wood, but also with glass and stone. Admittedly stone would put a lot more wear and tear on the bits and the motor, and glass always has the option of shattering... so the primary focus will be wood.
It's what the device is intended for, I have some wood on hand, and I should be able to get scraps to work on relatively cheap. Should be interesting to see what projects I can come up with to make.
Made little laptop stand for my laptop.
I wanted one that was a fair bit taller than the standard ones you can get, plus I wanted to use up some leftover wood and paint that I had from older projects. I made all the measurements (except one!) and made a paper template to cut out the sides. Four screws, and it was assembled. I sealed it with some varnish prior to painting but didn't do the multiple coats with lots of sanding to make it all super smooth. Mainly I was looking at putting something together and using up the materials, and it effectively cost me zero dollars.
Can't beat free! Plus I got to make something.
I think my last "going to stop playing OGame" post was in about 2019. And I probably had a few more before that too. I'm not sure why I keep coming back to it, probably because I've invested about six years into my current account. I'm ranked #403 in the world (last time I checked) but that's probably more due to other people moving on rather than due to any great skill or effort on my part. I doubt I'll be able to get much higher or crack into the three hundreds due to the effort levels between each rank. I'm happy when I build a big mega-ship on each of my planets, but I've been attacked by players with fleets of thousands of mega ships (and that's fleets with an "s" - plural).
The downside (upside?) of the game mechanics is that when you get attacked, the attacker can destroy all your defenses, blow up all your ships and steal all your resources, but the resource generators on the planets are untouchable. So if you get totally wiped out, you can just rebuild. So long as you're willing to invest the time and effort, there is no lose condition. By that same metric, there is also no win condition either. You can only keep playing, or stop playing.
So I'm back to giving up, again, The current plan is to keep logging in every now and then in order to keep the account active so that others can raid the planets. I'll probably log in at some stage and see a pile of resources there and start rebuilding again, but for now I'll try and keep my hands off it.
Because when it comes to games like this, the line between time "invested" and time "wasted" is very thin. On the plus side, I never spent any money on it, so there's that.
No idea why, but lately I've been watching a lot of videos on how to make puppets. All sorts of different types, ranging from the "cut up old shag carpet" muppets-style monsters, to foam latex insanely-complex articulated full-feature puppets to finger puppets and "kids can make it at home from old socks" style puppets.
It's a bit silly, because although I could just use the camera on my phone (or the actual video camera that I have) to record puppet shows for free, it would still need sets, backgrounds, lighting and who knows what else to put something halfway decent together. Great if there is plenty of spare cash lying around, not so good for my circumstances.
The biggest issue is that a single puppet doing on thing on the screen is inherently boring. So I'd need some fellow puppeteers in order to have two or more characters on the screen at one time. Or green screen it and try to do the puppets separately and then composite them together. That's something I can totally do, it's just a lot of extra work... and I don't have a green screen. I used to, but I sold it years ago along with my other camera gear.
I don't know how much of a puppet-making community in this town, but I don't see it being a huge hive of activity. We're not exactly known for creative endeavors. I've also had a look at fabric prices, and that stuff isn't in the "buy a bunch on a whim" range.
Maybe have a look at animation, again? I did have a bit of a go back in 2017 (and 2007 if we count my Lego stop-motion, but I no longer have the Lego and trying to do stop motion in a house with four cats is an exercise in futility!)
We're not even past Halloween and people are already putting up Christmas decorations. Glad we don't have anything in November as well, but Christmas decorations should go up in December. Maybe around the 10th or 15th. Bah humbug.
Did a first walk with the new account this morning. Went up a few levels, caught a few more pocket monsters and tagged a few pokey stops.
I've got some wooden nickels coming in, blank. And a bit of photopolymer sheet which I hope I'll be able to use to make some nice stamps for the wooden nickels. I have an idea for the design I want to do, but I want to make sure that it doesn't come across as advertising (which lets face it, it totally would be). Might need to put a bit more thought into the design.
I've also got loads of ideas for hides, but I need a workshop to build stuff in. Too many targets, never enough hours in the day (or enthusiasm in the tank)... :(
Well, first time around I joined the wrong team.
Now on the correct team, still haven't gone out and done a hunt, but managed to hit like level 12 already with almost no effort. Have way too many items so my inventory is full (over-full actually) but hoping to be able to go for a wander this weekend.
Probably while walking the dogs.
I was never a big fan of it, I avoided it for half a decade but I've given in and started a Pokemon Go account.
Set it up early this morning, then took the doggos out for a walk. It's interesting how it's geared towards "quick rewards" for new players. It was just about giving me a new level for not falling over! Caught a Pokemon? Level up. Swiped a poke-stop? Level up. Went around the corner? Level up.
After one walk this morning:
Currently there's verge collection going on here and loads of rubbish is being put out for the council to take away. Mixed in are a few nice bits as well.
Walking the dogs this morning I found what looks like a garage cleanout. Which included heaps of bits of timber - boards, off cuts, scraps and lots of spare bits. And they pretty much looked all new! Would love to have grabbed the lot (or at least the bigher ones), but we don't really have the space for it. It'll probably be gone by the time I'd gotten back there anyway. Sad... maybe next year.
It's been "fun" but the camping trip is nearly over. Dirty, dusty and tired but heading home. On the down side, due to this being a work function, can't just pull over on the drive home to stop and smell the roses. And by roses, I mean log a cache. There's one on a bridge we drive across but won't be able to stop and look for it.
Oh well, maybe in another lifetime. I doubt I'll ever be out this way when it's not for work.
Been quite busy going backwards and forwards, and trying to wear several hats at once. On the plus side, still have my phone. On the down side, missed a few meals due to being out trying to get things done - but nothing I'm not already used to.
Not sure exactly how long I'll be out here for but probably until sometime next month.
Very much looking forward to going home.
Days are blurring, I don't really have markers to define the days. It's a combination of not much to do, hours of some random task, back to not much, onto some other task. Makes it harder to mentally keep track of what day it is.
Today is Sunday. Should be at home. :(
Due to the lifting of the lockdowns in South Australia, I'm being let out of isolation early. Yay? We'll see how it goes.
Will also be interesting to see if they charge me the full $2,500 for being here, or around $780 or so (full amount divided by 14, multiplied by 4)...
Edit: this was meant to publish on the 28th of July, not sure why it's showing up in August. :/ And the bill came to $700.
Going away for work again, probably through until the end of September. At least we're staying in the top part of the country this time so it won't be as cold (and fingers crossed no rain either!)
It's been a while since I've had a longer trip like this, last two years the majority have been shorter ones.
Getting this one off the ground has been a bit chaotic, fingers crossed things settle down.
I was quite popular today, lots of messages and calls... from work.
Oh well, guess it's nice to be needed? No doubt I'll be back in the madness soon enough.
Had the usual temperature check, other than that and the work related calls, it's been very quiet. Have loads of ideas for projects that I'd like to make, though none of them are very practical so I doubt I'll ever do them. But I'm itching to have a play with the welder. First time I've ever seen an ad on Gumtree for someone giving away free scrap steel and I'm stuck here. Next time, maybe.
Currently re-watching Iron Man, which came out in 2008. I know it's a super hero fantasy movie and not based on reality. But the most unbelievable scene for me is the opening scene where they are riding in a deployed military vehicle which isn't chock full of random bags and gear.
A bit quieter today. Had the normal visit to check my temperature and ask about how I feel but other than that, nothing much has happened. Did receive a message about my brain tickle - test came back negative, as expected.
I've got the aircon on 27, that's the highest I can set it to without it kicking over from cooling to heating. I don't want it too cold so I can try and acclimatise back to Darwin weather. No doubt I'll be spending a lot of time outside when I get back to work.
Had my first brain tickler today. Can't say having the probe jammed into the back of my throat and up my nose is fun - left my eyes watery actually! I suspect this is going to happen a bunch more times before this is all over.
On the plus side, internet is available in my room now. I suspect it needed to be enabled and the mini router in each room susplies enough wifi for just that room. The walls are all metal (moveable mini buildings), and I can only see one wifi signal in the room. I think if I stood between two rooms with the doors open, I'd see two signals.
Not a theory I'm going to be able to test, I intend to have as little interaction with the other residents as possible - none at all if I can help it
At the moment it's not possible to receive things from home, so I'm stuck with the clothes I took down south. Not a huge drama, but I'm going to try and not use the laundry here. Mimimise the risk of exposure as much as possible. If I'm let out when the lockdown in Adelaide is lifted then it becomes a non-issue. If I need to do the full 14 days then I can wash clothes in the shower - though running out of laundry powder may become an issue.
One of the new joys of travelling - pick the wrong dates and you get to stay at one of the many quarantine facilities for a few days, up to a fortnight (or longer if you want to be silly and not follow the rules).
I'd done a bit of travelling around since the pandemic hit but had gotten lucky so far. This is my first time being put into isolation. Fun to see that right at the front of the welcome pamphlet they have the numbers for mental health, beyond blue, suicide assistance and so forth. Guess sitting in a room for a few days is too much for some people.
Current tasks completed:
- submit induction form with emergency contact details and medical information,
- change the aircon from a freezing 20 up to 26, just enough to take the edge off the Darwin heat,
- square away my clothes and stuff, which was pretty easy considering I don't have much (and fewer warm weather clothes since I just came from down south),
- reprogram the tv as it wasn't tuned properly
Waiting to get a brain tickler (new arrivals are tested within 24 hours of arrival), reading through the rest of the information pack and then settling down for the next few days.
Got my first dose of the 'rona vaccine today. So for (about 5 hours) no side effects, so can't complain about that. The nurse did a brilliant job with the needle - barely felt it.
Winning!
So ... had a drink of some juice earlier. Finishing off the dregs in a few bottles so I could put new bottles in the fridge to chill. Last one, had the first mouthfull and thought "that's a bit tangy, probably shouldn't drink that". Drank it anyway.
A few hours later, and my insides are definitely not happy. :(
No, that's not a typo in the title - Wher I Go (with only one "e" in where) is a variant on GeoCaching and a new (was new back in 2008) cache type - usually abbreviated as WIG.
The short version of WIG is that Garmin wanted to get some more markets for their GPS units, and a select few models had extra processing power. These were WIG enabled, and they could be used to play WIG "games". However, smart phones took off, the variety and options for apps exploded and Garmin quietly dropped the idea.
WIG is now kind of in limbo, hobbling along and not really getting support from anyone. Groundspeak (the company that owns geocahing.com) is half-heartedly supporting WIG but it is difficult to create games. Instructions and support are scattered, there's a lot of old or outdated information and a lot of the instructions were in flash videos, which is no longer supported.
Just because I'm a masochist (and I can see a huge amount of potential), I'm going to be trying to build a WIG game or two, depending on how I go. I have a few ideas that I think would be much better cache experience than just a box in the bushes.
So far, I have been struggling to even get a game to play on my phone! Most of the games are location specific, but there are some "play anywhere" games. I've downloaded one, but it isn't playing nice with my phone. There is currently one one WIG in Darwin, and I'll need to try and play that one before I have a go at building one myself.
Goals:
And due to the lockdown ... I'm not going anywhere.
Was supposed to be flying to WA to catch up with my family, whom I haven't seen in two years. Only had five days (including travel time, so more like four days) but it would have been brilliant to catch up with my Mum and Bro.
Due to the snap lockdown caused by the most recent outbreak (at time of writing), it would have been difficult to fly, and shortly after my flights were cancelled I was advised by WAPOL that I'd have to do 14 days quarantine in WA - even though I was only going there for five days.
Really bummed out, fingers crossed that we get the chance to get out there later in the year.
And by "big hit", I mean "got hit, big time".
After my post from a few weeks ago, I've drastically cut back how much attention I'm giving to OGame. It was kinda fun for a while but then it started becoming more like work. Funnily enough, since I'd stopped giving it as much attention, I went higher in the rankings due to me letting more resources build up and then investing them in construction (which can't be destroyed) rather than ships or defences (which can).
I logged in this morning to have a look and see how it was going. All my planets had been attacked, every single one.
Meh, not that I care that much. I spent a bit of time and the resources that were left propping up the mess but it's kind of hard to use a fleet of fifty ships to fight off attacks of thousands of ships. I'm guessing my account attracted the attention of the bigger players, or one of the larger alliances.
I'll keep logging in every seven days or so (after spending several years building it all up it's kinda hard to let go) in order to keep it active, but it looks like my account is going to end up as a farm for others to constantly attack for resources.
Although I can get up in front of a crowd and waffle on if I need to, I'm not the type of person who likes going to parties and hanging out with people.
We had a function yesterday with a few friends, very low-key affair. But we had people over most of the day and late into the evening - and the whole time they were here I couldn't wait for them to leave. I don't want to go be a hermit and live in a cave or anything, and it's nice to hang out with people and be social and stuff now and then. But I find it exhausting to be entertaining guests. Especially when there's a number of them.
Having said that, we did play a good game of Monopoly. Much better to have 8 players rather than two (or one). It's been a long time since I played Monopoly, and the first time I recall actually finishing a game. The games my brother and I played when we were younger just melted down into the board being divided between the two of us and constant arguments.
Glad that they've gone now, hopefully have a quiet day or two to recover before going back to work.
First one for the year, luckily this is only a short one. Hopefully back before I know it. Going to have several this year.
And I'm done, again.
Got a fair way into the game, not sure how long I was playing this time around (several years at least) but it's gotten to the point where it's more like work than relaxing. It's been a long time since it was actually fun, so I'm not sure why I kept playing.
I'm now in the top 500 world wide, but that's mostly from just sitting tight and building defences. I'm now at the level where the high-end players will send fleets of thousands of ships against my planets or send hundred of missiles from multiple planets against my single planet. I'm not dedicated enough to get much higher, and there's no win condition - it's a "perpetual war" type game, with a pay to win component. I'm definitely not giving them my credit card details!
It was an interesting ride, I did have some fun back in the day but I think I've gotten to the point where I'll enact the plan I had earlier - just log in now and then to keep my account active, but not actively play or build defences. I'm sure there are better things I can do with my time.
I've been having a few ongoing issues lately and the Dr had me do some xrays a few weeks ago. As nothing was found on that, I was sent in for an MRI.
This was my first experience with one. I know many people don't like them - but I actually found it relaxing! I think I may have nodded off as well.
I did find the noises a bit, uh, nostalgic? To me, the machinery sounded like 90's underground techno rave music. :D
Here I go again, off chasing a new dream.
After many years of looking for and trying out different creative outlets, I'm giving cross stitching a go. I've tried writing (I like the idea of it, but have no passion so all my writing comes out flat), drawing (also like the idea of it, but don't practice enough to improve), music (both digital and on physical instruments - digital came out extremely simple and synthetic, physical I don't practice enough to play properly), making stop-motion video (with LEGO - fun product but requires a lot of time and effort), actual video (I suck in front of the camera and suck at convincing others to get in front of the camera) and artisanal stuff (woodworking, metal working, a touch of painting - all have the same issue: not enough funds for tools / supplies and more importantly no work space).
So now I'm giving cross stitching a try. It's something that (so far) has been relatively easy for me, but it's time consuming and requires patience so it can look impressive to others. I've only completed two small projects so far (cheap little all-included beginner kits) and I had fun putting them together. I currently have five ideas that I'd like to put together, but we'll see how I go.
Went shopping today for supplies and bought a quantity of string (sorry, the proper term is "floss") in a few colours. I have some patterns saved that I used some free on-line tools to go from digital design to pattern (may need to print them out). Next step is getting a hold of some cloth, without breaking the budget.
Like most of my projects, I just need to focus on doing a few smaller things first to improve my skill and get better rather than trying to go all-in on an overly complex single piece and then not finishing it. We'll see how I go!
By way of quick introduction for those who are not familiar with it: Ingress Prime is a GPS-based game made by Niantic - the same company that made Pokemon Go (PG). Ingress was their previous game, and is easily summed up as "a world wide game of capture the flag".
Ingress was their original "go out and find virtual stuff" game and it had players from across the world submit locations to be places of interest. Niantic was then able to use that map to create the map for PG and make it the "instant success" that it became.
I started playing Ingress as it uses basically the same map as PG and my wife is a PG player so we could go out and play at the same locations.
What I've found from Ingress after playing for a few weeks is that it's good for exercise, but not so good for playing as a game. Unless you want to dedicate your life to it, and have a large team of players. how it works is that you go out and capture places of interest for your team. You can join the places together and when you join three, the triangle in the middle gets filled in and becomes your teams' "territory".
The more territory you hold, the more points your team gets.
The downside is that the places that you control start "breaking down", and go back to neutral after about a week. You can go and revisit and recharge them to keep them in play, but you need to be visiting them at least every six days or better yet every day. So the more territory you control, the more time you're going to be spending running around doing maintenance. I haven't done the math, but I'm sure there's a limit you'd reach where you'd be spending all your time recharging and have no time to create new ones.
Here's where it is handy to have teams - you can charge each other's territory, and you can focus on controlling larger areas. But that requires coordination and, you know, friends.
At the moment I think I'll be mainly focusing on just doing it on occasion for fun rather than seriously trying to win points. It's a fun thing to do while out jogging around the suburbs, but not something I'm willing to jump into the car and race across town to go collect or protect territory. At the moment (as far as I can tell), there's only about a dozen active players in the Darwin area so there are plenty of neutral points of interest which can be captured and controlled.
Well, this wet season certainly feels a lot wetter than last year. I don't know how it actually is, I haven't looked up the numbers. I think the difference for me is that this year I am into GeoCaching, and the rain is stopping me from going out. Actually, the rain isn't stopping me from going out - up here the rain is warm and more of an annoyance rather than cold and miserable like it is down on the south side of the country. No, it's wanting to make sure no water gets into the caches that is stopping me. Would be mighty rude to open one up and it gets a heap of water in it!
I can't remember how much I noticed the rains last year. I don't recall any times where I was looking out the window wanting to go out. Possibly was too busy with my head in my phone rather than paying attention to what else was going on around me. Or maybe it rained less? Let's go with that.
And by madness, I mean the prices!
It's been a long time since I went to the movies, and longer since I actually bought tickets. Out of idle curiosity, I looked up some prices at my local cinema to see the prices of going to the movies.
Twenty three dollars! Per person!
And on top of that, it wanted to tack on a three dollar "booking fee". What on earth? Why is there an extra charge for them to do less work? I know cinemas don't exactly have huge profits at the best of times (and they would have taken a hard hit with Covid) but I think FIFTY DOLLARS for two people to go see a 90 minute film is outrageous. And that's before snacks. And for a couple only - how bad is it for the families with two or three (or more once you add in friends!)?
That's a very hard pass from me.
For $50, we can go down to the local shops, pick up a DVD (or an older movie on blu-ray) and have $20 left over to go buy a bunch of snacks from the grocery store.
No wonder they aren't as popular as they used to be. And then they get all shocked and dismayed when people prefer to go on the dark webs and pirate stuff.
At the airport, getting ready to fly home after holidays and it is very strange seeing a plane parked up at every gate. We're on an early morning flight, but it still seems very odd. Never seen that before.
