Category: Real Life

In a couple hours, I will be 34 years old, as per my birth certificate.

The past couple weeks leading up to this have been an, um, ‘interesting’ ride to say the least. A combination of major hardware issues and high-level, high-responsibility projects at work (including this Daylight Saving Time nonsense). The most numbing cold outside that I’ve had to deal with since the President’s Day Blizzard (awaiting to see the sequel to that too, given my luck). And the stresses and/or annoyances of being *so* busy, that I’ve been unable to be online with my friends online via Uru. I dearly hope that things get back into something of a routine, as that’s the best way that I’ve ever had the time to be involved in major online activities – and definitely want to make it to the St Pats Cavern Parade this year.

Oh, and did I mention that I’m trying to implement lifestyle changes, like exercise, on top of everything else? ;)

Still, the past night or two I’ve had the time to *really* reflect on life. And I’ve realized that I’m an extremely lucky person.

Back when I was a teenager, I nearly killed myself – twice. But I could not go through with it; Something deep inside me said that I could be so much more, despite the utter hell I had been going through – and would go through for the next 8+ years in therapy.

I realize, today, that I’ve actually achieved that hidden goal of helping others. I’ve been a good influence toward many since those dark times. Despite my second ‘dark time’ after 9/11, I’ve been able to find what I feel is a new and exciting niche at work (i.e. the 3rd/Night Shift) – one that has not been boring in the least, and fits well with the way I normally interacted outside of work anyway.

In recent years, particularly during UL-Prologue and what I’ve termed the Uru-Interregnum, I’ve met many people whom I would consider close friends – despite never meeting many of them. The list includes:

– Uru’s Guild of Greeters – all of them. When UU came out, one of them let me know about it in time, and though not officially a member, I have called their shard and forum my ‘home’ ever since.

– The Telador Island owners and builders. They gave me a proper focus for being online in SL (with its closure the number of times I’ve logged in has dropped dramatically). Through them I’ve also met and contributed to several great projects, including InnerLife, Numbakulla island, and the various Hollywood/Channel Islands projects.

– In Uru: SuperGram and BAD, for giving me the chance to participate in various Parades and UU events as Honor Guard. I’ve never done *anything* so co-ordinated online, even within Diablo II or Starcraft, and its been immensely fun while equally challenging. Most of the other Shard admins and co-admins as well, for putting up with me during such events. :)

– In SL: Hiro, Ice, Belaya, Adam, and the rest of the EFNet #secondlife regulars. Y’all gave me an ‘edge’ to life which has downright shocked people who know me the past 13+ years.

– More recently, the libsecondlife project within SL, and the Age Builders project in Uru. They push past the boundaries of their respective worlds, and give me a chance to understand the inner workings of both.

– And last (but definitely not least!)…

Rand Miller of Cyan Worlds (who I’ve yet to meet), and
Philip Rosedale of Linden Lab (who I’ve met at SoP/SLCC 2005).

These two people carry the torch into new and uncharted territory for their respective genres. I give them the best of luck in their endeavors.

Shorah, and peace be with us all…

Timothy Scott Kimball
aka Alan Kiesler (SL)
aka Sungak ‘Silverhands’ Alkandenes (Web/Internet/RPGs)

My interest in Second Life has definately cooled down, and ‘various reasons’ have made my interest in Uru/MOUL cool down too.

So, it’s time to shift focus here a bit.

Things I’m likely going to expand into soon:

— My car (a Toyota Pruis hybrid) and the stories behind the (now three) incarnations I’ve had of it. First modifications are already en route. :evilgrin:

— An impassioned rant against RedHat and their annoying methods to get a simple DST patch for their RHEL product. Similar rant regarding Sun and their own graft on older OS versions, just to be fair…

— The browser-based MMO game, Travian (the ‘slow’ game I was talking about last post). Hint: just starting from scratch will take you two months – at least – which makes this the antithesis of games like WoW.

— Some more about my personal life. This is something that (unlike some MystBlogs members) I’m not entirely comfortable with, so this may be a bit iffy.

Some other behind-the-scenes stuff will likely occur too, if and when I have time for it…

*wave*
–TSK

Well, the above should explain what’s happened to me the past week or so. Colds suck. :/

And I *know* I’ve been away too long when both MystBlogs AND UruBlogs have 100% new posts on their pages. Argh!

I made what may be a monumental mistake and joined an MMO of sorts; It’s browser-based (java web-app actually) and is slow (which is why I got curious about it). I blame my roommate for this one. :p A more detailed post will come later, explaining this unusual game.

Anyway, the cold is nearly over (I hope) and can finally get some more sleep without suffocating or drowning. So have a good week all. *collapse*

–TSK

Former US President Gerald Ford died earlier this week, at an amazing 93 (didn’t realize he was that old).

The markets should be closed on Tuesday as part of a national day of mourning. So I suppose I’ll get a four-day weekend (maybe), but that’s kinda bittersweet.

I actually found a story about his life on my DVR tonight (replaced a show on short notice), and was really surprised how much he did for our nation, as well as how he tried to do it. Quite good actually; I’ll need to save it…

—–=====—–

At the very least my xMas was OK. My brother and I ended up trading introductory books for different series; He gave me ‘A Game of Thrones’ (in hardcover no less!) and I gave him ‘Area 51’ (which is an interesting series). A ‘good timing’ thank-you goes to a relative of my brother’s fiance – he and his family got me a new travel-bag for my razor and related things, which I was looking into since the trip to my father’s house.

Oh, and of course I got the yearly loaf of what my aunt calls ‘pumpkin bread’ which I absolutely love; The only thing that spoiled it was the slight mold upon getting home (apparently this year it does not keep out of the fridge), but was quickly removed and I’ve been rationing it this week.

The week itself has been good at work – I got a LOT done and still have had time to do various extra stuff beyond my normal or ‘average’ duties.

There’s a couple other things going on in the next 48 hours or so, but I can post about them later.

Again, I wish everyone a good 2007, and a careful weekend.

*wave*
–TSK

I just realized that it’s been about three weeks since my last post here. D’oh.

Well, first up, the other tooth I chipped this year only needed a new, expanded filling (converting another one to ceramic format from the old silver amalgum). That was cool, if not a bit tiring.

Spent the following week on vacation, finishing with a trip to my father’s house in MO. Very nice to see him again, but huge note to self for next time – Don’t take Chicago as the connecting city in the winter! :/ American only has that city and Dallas I think for the connection hubs, so I may consider taking my next trip via DFW, but going there a couple days earlier to visit other family members in the area. I’ve apparently gained *another* week’s vacation next year (the perks of over 11 years of service in one company), so I have the means to do it if I want to.

This past week has been ‘normal’ I suppose, if you count it being the very last week before x-mas. Gah, hectic does not begin to describe it – in particular living so close to the NYC region. I’ll be doing the local family visit this evening, since I have to goto work Monday night.

Of course, last week (for those not reading on MystBlogs and/or UruBlogs) has also been the migration to Open Beta on Uru Live, as well as the moving of the ‘story’ from D’mala to the new MOUL server group. I won’t go into detail about that here, since I’ve got another (IC) weblog for that. I’m still debating if the eventual ‘common’ visitor to the new Cavern will be the old ‘T_S_Kimball’ account, or if ‘Alan Kiesler’ becomes my new presence. I suppose that will depend on what the percentage of Second Life migrants will be, and if they recognize me in the old name. I’ll cross that bridge eventually; Right now both are occasional visitors, and have somewhat differing views on things below.

And now, here we are, the last week of 2006. I’m looking forward to New Years and a really interesting 2007, and hope you’ll have one too. :-)

–TSK