Warogobogo

…relax, it’s just a nonsense word

Doc Update!

1: As announced earlier elsewhere, the doctor took the stitches out of my shoulder and told me I’ll be cleared to go back to work as soon as I feel up to it. Given that my arm is a bit weak from lack of use and still has a tiny bit of pain in the shoulder, I reckon I’ll be off work at least another week or two.

2: I finished reading “I Am Half-Sick Of Shadows”, the fourth Flavia de Luce novel by Alan Bradley. It was, as they all have been, a darned good read and a good mystery.

3: I’ve also finished Doc Savage: The Lost Radio Scripts of Lester Dent. It’s a pretty interesting read and look back at how radio scripts were written. Considering that pretty much each episode was a self contained story presented in 15 minutes, they are pretty good tales. It would be great if somebody could produce them again, probably for internet radio.

4: My Sweet Little Pork Tamale Of Love, Grace, is doing very well in her battle against diabetes. She has lowered her numbers significantly in the last month or so. GO GRACE!

5: Lucy and Sasha, AKA The Girls, are fit as canine fiddles and living the good life. Whoever thought that saying “a dog’s life” or “treated like a dog” was a bad thing?

6: I am still about 10 1/2 months and 364 entries away from my goal of 500 Doclopedia entries, but I’m chipping away at it. I’m more than halfway through my repat tackling of the alphabet and I have an idea of what the next couple of themes will be.

7: On another writing front, also mentioned elsewhere, I’m going along nicely on my rewrites of the previous four DogCon/CatCon fictional convention reports. The first one was rather short, so it’s getting some serious beefing up. The second and fourth are getting a smaller dose of love and the third, massive one, is getting only a minor polishing. Seeing as how those four will make up about 90 entries…AND I need to start the fifth one (which I’m writing in advance) by the end of July…I’ll start reposting them on the fiction blog about the end of March.

8: And because I have nothing to do with my free time but write, I’ve also started on a Secret RPG Writing Project for eventual sale next year. More on that several months from now.

9: I’m also getting things together for a webcomic and an ebook, because I’m insane.

10: My veggie garden plans are not firmed up yet, but I’m just waiting for the rainy season to pass and then it’s on, baby!

And now, I have chores to to before writing, or my wife and dogs will beat me about the head and shoulders.

Boogie Like Your Butt Is On Fire

…unless, of course, your butt does catch fire

DogCon 3: The Trip Home, The End

We are home. Naps were taken, imaginary stuff was put away, Sharon left for home, The Girls napped some more, Flash is sleeping in his imaginary cat tree, Abby is imaginarily browsing on the shrubbery on the yard and Joe and the Magic Bus are both back in the secret underground Doc Cave.

For those of you that stuck all of this out to the end, thank you. I am flatly amazed that I’ve spent nearly a month doing these reports. I think we can all safely assume that my LJ gas tank is full again and I shall reume regular posting.

I think we can also agree that Uncle Doc REEEAAALLLYYY needs a vacation. At least a 2 week driving vacation. Hopefully to GenCon next August.

We shall see.

The Lady In The Car Was Loaded In Every Sense Of The Word

…and so was her gun

DogCon 3, The Trip Home, Part 2

We are stopped for dinner (cooked on the bus) in Seligman, Arizona. By midnight, we should be in Barstow, where Joe says we have to stop for some sort of calibrations. We’ll be there an hour, then we’ll head for Bakersfield and then north on I-5 and home. We should walk in the door of stately Cross Manor around 8:45 am.

There are a whole lot of Route 66 fans here in Seligman tonight, as there often are in the summer months. They are heading east in classic 1950′s era cars and have been doing this since 1976. Classic Rock fills the air and so does the smell of BBQ.

More bloggage later.

Junior Muskrat Goes To The Post Office

…to mail off a box of musk

DogCon 3, The Trip Home

This morning, we had a big breakfast at the Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, then continued our homeward trek. We did stop for a few minutes to admire The House Of Glass, which is made of many tons of broken glass that has been heat fused together into walls, floors, etc. It is open to the public, but closed on Mondays, darn it.

Right now, I’m driving, Grace and Sharon are watching a movie and the critters are playing World Of Warcraft. Every so often, I hear cat/dog/goat sounds of triumph and derision.

We will be in Albuquerque (where, as we all know, one must be very careful of which way one turns) for a bit of leg stretching and dog walking. There might also be ice cream buying.

More bloggage later.

My Life In The Land Of Crazy Ladies

…many of whom I am related to

DogCon 3: Epilogue

For the third year in a row, I attempted suicide by pie at the “Post Con Cool Down Party”. I think I came closer than ever this year. Grace, Sharon & the critters also overdosed on pie and are, even as I type this, fast asleep.

We are 4 hours out of Wilted Springs and headed west. The autopilot, Data, is driving and will stop in Amarillo, where we will sleep until it’s time for breakfast at the Big Texan Steak Ranch. After that, I will drive during the day and Data will take over at night. It won’t quite be non stop, but I still estimate us being home in under 40 hours.

And now, I’m off to bed.

A Poodle Named Yankee Doodle Ate A Noodle And A Strudel

…then he started to doodle

DogCon 3: Day 4, Part 1

Hoo Boy, that Traveller game last night was FUN. We were told at the beginning that we were diplomats & spies posing as traders, but throught the first hour, we “woke up” to the memory that we were working for different agencies/factions. Of course, nobody knew that anybosy else had a secret agenda. I’m telling ya, by hour 4, there was some cutthroat wheeling & dealing going on, to say nothing of bribery, threats, strong arming and outright kiling.

In hour 5, three bottles of single malt scotch appeared and the wheeling & dealing got even more interesting:)

This morning, after checking out of the hotel, the Cross Family Sideshow went to brunch at “Chez Mom’s” with about 20 of our friends. We ate an obscene amount of food.

After brunch, I ran a short (2 Hour) Over The Edge game titled “Garbage Day”. I had 7 players and it went well.

Next up was the big “Cats VS Dogs LARP”. Winker sat this one out with Abby, but Lucy & Flash both got their game on. 90 minutes later, the canine team won by a mere 14 points. I expect the kitties will be ready to throw down again next year.

I’m pretty sure everyone who came to the con spent the last 2 hours the Dealer’s Room was open in that room. You could almost see the odor of sweaty gamers in the air.

The last event of the con is always the “I Hate/I Love…” seminar/bitchfest. It lasts 2 hours and is very funny.

Once the con is over, everyone (well, almost everyone) waits about an hour, then gathers in the main hall to chat and eat pie. This is mere minutes away from happening.

Once the piefest is over, the Joneses will begin motoring back to Maryland and we shall head the Magic Bus back to California. Another DogCon will be history.

More bloggage later.

The Clever Girl Who Liked Secrets

…other peoples secrets

DogCon 3: Day 3, Part 1 (and part of Day 2)

Busy busy busy! Quick recaps of con things past below.

Yesterday…

3:00 -4:00: Seminar (panel): “Old Gaming Farts Tell All”
Went very well. I was surprised how many young folks showed up to listen to a bunch of us greybeards talk about the old days.

4:00 – 6:00: Cruising Dealer’s Room & Other Con Areas
Bought games…watched games being played…marvelled at the cool terrain and stuff in the minis games

6:00 – 7:00: Pizza Dinner
Ate at “JimBob’s Texas Style Pizza”, which is a whole lot like Chicago style, but (if you want) served on a cornbread-like dough with heavy emphasis on beef (or, in one case, goat) in many forms. Yummy!

7:30 – 10:30: I’ll GM my segment of the “Open To Close Dungeon”
Big fun! My segment saw 9 players (maximum is 12) fighting their way through a cavern filled with undead spiders and a grove of poisonous fungi. When I left them, they were trying to decide if they should fight or run away from the Lich on the 8th level.

11:00 – 2:00: The Secret Event. I have no clue what the hell it’ll be.
The theme was “Doctors Only” and we all got appraised and then assigned costumes. I was Fu Manchu & Spike was Doctor Demento. Doc Mystery, who is a real life doctor, got to don a ripped shirt and be Doc Savage. There were at least 45 different doctors, with multiples of some (especially the Whovian, Sherlockian & Trek kind). A splendid time was had by all.

Today…

8:00 am – 12:00 pm: GMing “All This And World War, Too”
This was a time travel game in which the characters were trying to either stop or change or insure WWI. I used Basic Roleplaying rules. It went very well, with the final outcome being that the war did take place, but was over in less than half the time and the Computer Age started WAY early.

12:00 – 12:30: Eat & run
Burgers…onion rings…chocolate malt

12:30 – 2:00: The all pet (& human) LARP “Castle Of The Undead”
The Girls & Abby were on the winning team! (Flash was in an All Cat LARP that Grace described as “half sleeping cats, half crazy cats on speed”) Winker was a cleric, Lucy was a thief and Abby was a fighter. It was, by human standards, kinda slow paced, but by dog & goat (and parrot, pig, cat and miniature horse) standards, it was pretty thrill a minute.

2:15 – 3:15: Rehearsal for the radio play “Mobsters VS Monsters”
This went pretty smoothly, as you might expect from actors who have had the script for over a month.

3:30 – 4:00: Actual broadcast of the above.
An amazingly hitch free broadcast, during which most of us played multiple parts. The sound effects guys where incredible and the band was quite talented, too.

4:30 – 6:00: Seminar (panel): “Ok, Go Ahead And Tell Us About Your Character”
This was less horrific than you might expect, mostly thanks to a 5 minute limitation on each audience member. We panelists got only 3 minutes to critique each character as presented. We tried to be positive, even when said positivity involved lying our asses off.

6:00 – 7:00: Dinner
Sushi!

7:00 – 8:00: Shower & Catch Breath
Mission accomplished!

Am now starting Traveller game. Rumor has it that ’round midnight, single malt scotch will drop by.

Slug Fondue

…the next foodie craze

DogCon 3: Day 2, Part 2

Too busy partying at the “Doctors Only Party” to write up the day. Will do it tomorrow. And speaking of tomorrow, my rather insane schedule…

8:00 am – 12:00 pm: GMing “All This And World War, Too”
12:00 – 12:30: Eat & run
12:30 – 2:00: The all pet (& human) LARP “Castle Of The Undead”
2:15 – 3:15: Rehearsal for the radio play “Mobsters VS Monsters”
3:30 – 4:00: Actual broadcast of the above.
4:30 – 6:00: Seminar (panel): “Ok, Go Ahead And Tell Us About Your Character”
6:00 – 7:00: Dinner
7:00 – 8:00: Shower & Catch Breath
8:00 – 2:00: Play in a Traveller game

More bloggage at some point.

The Heartpounding Adventures Of Doctor Tempest And The Steam Devil

…from the January, 1887 issue

DogCon 3: Day 2, Part 1

Ok, here is my day so far…

Breakfast was at “Waffles From Outer Space”. Once again: BACON & BUTTER SYRUP!

10:00 – 11:00: Seminar (panel): “Son Of Ask A GM Anything”
This was the return of the infamous seminar from last year in which our then pregnant with twins moderator got the rest of us to sing Bohemian Rhapsody. This year, we had a packed house and answered many great and sometimes strange questions, about half of which actually pertained to gaming/RPGs. Unsurprisingly, our moderator again brought her karaoke machine. This time, the whole bunch of us sang The Time Warp and Sweet Transvestite from Rocky Horror Picture Show. I’m told that you could hear that final “Let’s do the time warp again” on the other side of the convention center.

11:00 – 12:00: Cam Slave Booth visiting friends at GenCon
Ok, so I’m known for using some hyperbole from time to time, but…but…THIS WAS THE MOST AWESOME EXPERIENCE SINCE THE INVENTION OF THE ORGASM! Holy shit, I mean, I’m seeing GenCon and talking with my friends from New Hampshire and strolling the dealer’s room and meeting folks I know at booths and…WOW! Worth every penny I spent on it.

12:00 – 1:00: Lunch
Was at a hot dog joint called “Dogville”. My chili dogs were so good, I almost wept.

Now it’s off to get the muddy spa treatment with Grace, The Girls and about 10 friends.

Secret Monster Hunter Yumi

…more fake anime

DogCon 3: Day 1, Part 2

Ok, so let’s review my schedule and see how my day went.

11:00 am – 1:00 pm: Running Toon game “The House That Jerks Built”
This game went very well, as it has the last 52 times I’ve run it. Oldest player this time: 46 Youngest player this time: 11 Percentage of house actually constructed: 15% At what point in the game did everything explode?: just past halfway.

1:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Lunch & Dealer’s Room
Lunch was Mexican food off a taco truck. Muy bueno. I spent a surprisingly small amount in the Dealer’s Room, but had some excellent chats with folks.

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Seminar (panel): “Neglected Games”
This was a pretty good seminar. Many old (and some not so old) games were discussed.

5:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Seminar (watching): “Dungeons & ?”
The idea with this one was to mix fantasy/dungeon crawling, with other genres. My idea for “Dungeons & Disco” was roundly reviled.

6:00 pm – 7:30 pm: Dinner and a shower
First off, the place we ate at, “Big Slabs O’ Meat”, was spot on in the truth department. Grace had a steak that covered more square footage than out main bathroom and I had a porkchop that, had it been much bigger, would have been outside rooting around in the restaurant garden. Also, by the time out friends Sam & Paul were done with their beef ribs, it looked like an siesmosaur had died on their plates.

The critters got big bowls of chow, too and I swear, Flash (weight: 6 pounds) ate 7 pounds of fish.

8:00 pm – midnight: Playing in a game “The Lost Valley”
This game used the Basic Roleplaying system and was a pulp adventure into an African valley where dwelled the descendents of some lost Crusaders. It went very well and I doubt any of us husbands will be sleeping on the floor tonight.

Midnight – whenever: a nightcap & chatting
After getting Grace back to our room (where the critters were all still in food coma land), I went to seek out friends and have a wee dram of the good stuff. Naturally, I had 3 wee drams and we closed the joint.

I’m now back in the room and soon to bed. Tomorrow’s schedule is…

10:00 – 11:00: Seminar (panel): “Son Of Ask A GM Anything”
11:00 – 12:00: Cam Slave Booth visiting friends at GenCon
12:00 – 1:00: Lunch
1:00 – 2:30: Spa Trip
3:00 -4:00: Seminar (panel): “Old Gaming Farts Tell All”
4:00 – 6:00: Cruising Dealer’s Room & Other Con Areas
6:00 – 7:00: Pizza Dinner
7:30 – 10:30: I’ll GM my segment of the “Open To Close Dungeon” (this starts when the con starts and ends when the con ends. GM’s work 3 hours or more, players take over from other players.)
11:00 – 2:00: The Secret Event. I have no clue what the hell it’ll be.

More bloggage tomorrow.