"I'm going to go back there someday"

A Filk Meme

Wed, 14 May 2008 03:28:39 GMT

Inspired by tisonlyhersef who asked “What songs do you consider essential for someone to have at least knowledge of in a filk circle?”

Below are the 259 songs which have been nominated for a Pegasus Award. Not that someone has to know all of them, (I personally recognize less than half of the titles) but these are the ones you'll probably want to know.

If you have heard the song put it in Italics.
If you have sung along to it in public (or at least the chorus) put it in Underline.
If you have sung it (in public, all the words, with people looking at you) put it in Bold

307 Ale
404: Not Found
A Boy and His Frog
A Reconsideration of Anatomical Docking Maneuvers in a Zero-G Environment
A Simple Country Doctor
A SMOF Too Blue
A Thousand Ships
A Toast For Unknown Heroes
Acts of Creation
Alien Salad Abduction
Amphioxious
Arafel's Song (Tree of Swords & Jewels)
Archetype Café
Arthur Curry
Backbone
The Ballad of Stan Long
Bang Today
Banned From Argo
Barrayaran Roses
Before the Dawn
Bermuda Triangle
Beware the Sentient Chili
Black Davie's Ride
Bloodchild
Bold Marauder
Brother Michael's Song
Calm Down
Captain Jack & The Mermaid
Carmen Miranda's Ghost
Carrion
Catatonia County Rag
Cheap Lawyer & Rebuttal
Chess (Ad Astra)
Circles
Close Your Eyes
Cockroaches on Parade
Cold Butcher
Cold Iron
Come Ye Knights
Con Man Blues
Con Spent In A Circle
Cosmic Drain
Cranes Over Hiroshima
Crimson and Crystal
Daddy's Little Boy
Daddy's Little Girl
Dairy Queen
Dancing on the Moon
Dangerous Heroes
Darkness
Das Uber Tuber
Dawson's Christian
Dedication
Demonsbane
The Destroyer
Do It Yourself
Do You Hear the Pipes, Cthulu?
Domino Death
Don't Push That Button
Doppleganger
Dragon for Sale
Dreams
Drink to the Health of the Dorsai
Drink Up The River
Drivel
Edward
Elektra's Song
Elf Glade
Emerald Green
Ender's Game
Enterprise
Everyman
Evil Overlords Anonymous
Fallen Angel
Falling Down on New Jersey
Female of the Species
Feygrass
Fire In The Sky
Flowers for Algernon
Flying Island Farewell
Fool to Feed the Drive
For The World Is Hollow
Frank Haye's Disease
Gather Day
The Girl That's Never Been
Go Home
God Lives on Terra
God Lives on Tully
God's Own Drunk
Gone Filkin'
Graviportal Polka
Green Hills of Harmony
Greensleeze
Half A Chance
Harbors
Have Some Madeira, My Dear
Heart of the Apple Lisa
Heartwarming
Heat of the Blood
Hellraiser
Herbs & Simples
Home
Homecoming
Hope Eyrie
Horse of Silver Gold
Horsetamer's Daughter
Howie's Waltz
I Am Lord
I'm Sorry Cathy It Just Popped Out
I Want To Be Peter Lorre
I Would Walk With You
Ian The Grim
In A Gown Too Blue
In The Blood (Flying Machine)
It Ain't Easy Being Sauron
Itty Bitty Titty
J for Jedi
Journey's Done
Just Desserts
Kama Sutra
Kinsey Scale
Knight's In White Satin
Ladyhawk
Lammas Night
Least of My Kind
Legolas
Lightsailor
Like A Lamb To The Slaughter
Like Their Feet Have Wings
Little Fuzzy Animals
Little Fuzzy Vegetables
Lord of Time
Lullabye (Home Is Wherever)
Lullabye for a Weary World
Madame Curie's Hands
Madcoil: Nightcrawler
Magic Carpet
Magician's Wives
Man of War
March of Cambreadth
Marcon Ballroom
Mary O'Meara
Math
Mattie Groves
Maybe It's Crazy
Kinda Mediocre, Actually
Midsummer
Mizpah
Mommy Can I Have a Spaceship?
Monster & The Man
Monster In My Head
Monster's Lullaby
Monsters In The Night
Mundane Girl
Music Has A Strong Magic
My Husband, The Filker
My Jalapeno Man
My Thousand Closest Friends
Nantucket Sleigh Ride
Nessie Come Up
Never Set the Cat on Fire
No Quarter (The Alamo) by Martha Keller & Juanita Coulson
No Quarter by Cat Faber
On The Inside
One Last Dance
Operation: Desert Storm
Our Space Opera Goes Rolling Along
Out of a Clear Blue Sky
Pearly Gate Blues (Jim & Tammy)
Pharmakoia
Planet Called Melody
Po' Boys
PQR (You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet)
Quest (Grugan of the Regulars)
Red Roses
Red Star Rising
Rest Stop
Rhinotillexomania
Rich Fantasy Lives
Road to Roswell
Robin Hood
Rocket Ride
Sam's Song
Sea of Stars
Second-Hand Songs
Serious Steel
Sex and Chocolate
Shai!
Ship of Stone
Shooting Star
Signy Mallory
Singing Banned From Argo
Smuggler's Song
Solar Gypsy
Soldier Ask Not
Some Kind of Hero
Song of Fey Cross
Song of the Ripper
Song of the Shieldwall
Starlight & Saxophone
Starship & Haiku
Starship in High Gear
Starsoul
Still Catch the Tide
Stimmen Im Wind
Strangers No More
Stray Dog Man
Superman's Midlife Crisis
Superman's Sex Life Boogie
Tech Support
Temper of Revenge
Terror Time in Lancre
Thais
The Ballad of Fleet Sergeant Ho
The Dark Is Rising
The Dark Man
The Designer
The Ferryman
The Green Hills of Earth
The Hunter
The Lady
The Library Song
The Mummy Shuffle (Kharis)
The Pilot's Eyes
The Return of the King
The S-100 Bus
The Star
The Thousandth Man
The Tyrant's Tale
The Whale Song
The Word of God
Threes
Threes Rev. 1.1
Tiberius Rising
Time & Stars
To Touch A Star
Twelve Years at Worldcon
Unreality Warp
Unreality Warp - Mediocre
Uplift
Urban Legends
Vampire Megabite
Velvet
Velveteen
Weekend Only World
Wendigoes
When Giants Walked
When I Grow Up
When I Was A Boy
When Tenskwatawa Sings
Will Ye Come Back Home?
Wind From Rainbow's End
Wind's Four Quarters
Wishful Thinking
Witnesses' Waltz
The Wizard of Macke Town
Woof
World Inside the Crystal
X-Libris

Florida: Food, Fun, Family, and Forest Fires

Wed, 14 May 2008 02:05:04 GMT

Went for a long weekend in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida with chaoticgoodchic We arrived Thursday night and came home Monday
We stayed at the Wyndham Sea Gardens Beach and Tennis Club which was a bit expensive, but the suite was very nice.

Some of the memorable moments

Dinner at Cafe La Bonne Crepe was quite good

We both had the Onion Soup to start.
She ordered the Filet Mignon
I ordered the Crepe with Gruyere Cheese, flat iron steak, caramelized onion and burgandy mushroom sauce.

We also ordered the CRÊPE VEGETARIENNE (broccoli, spinach, mushrooms, asparagus and ratatouille) to share as a vegetable dish.

The food was wonderful, and we could have easily fed 1 or 2 more people

For desert we shared BANANES CARAMEL: crepe with bananas, vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce

Playing in the surf on the beach

No, we didn't get sunburn

On Sunday, after visiting CGC's grandmother we had plans to meet up with my brother at Cape Canaveral

As we were driving up I-95 we noticed thick clouds of smoke. Somewhere near Mile 170 we got to where the fire was. Smoke was blowing across the road so thick you couldn't see through it. There were no official vehicles there telling us what to do, and the last exit was about 20 miles back, so we decided to risk it.

We drove forward, before we entered the smoke we took a deep breath and held it. Smoke was everywhere, the grass in the median was burning, and so were thetrees on both sides of the highway. After about 150 feet we were through and it was clear.

After meeting with my brother we went to the Cocoa Beach Pier were we found

The Atlantic Ocean Grill Where my brother had steamed clams and CGC enjoyed Scallops au gratin and a fully loaded potato, and I had Chicken Alfredo (I'm not into seafood)

On the way back we knew I-95 would be closed, so we tried Rt 1, but it was closed too.

We had to go west to the Florida Turnpike, which added about 2 hours to the trip, so it was 1:15 am when we got back to the hotel.

While everythig didn't go perfectly, I am very glad I went

Skip 165

Mon, 12 May 2008 15:47:20 GMT

And I'm not home yet.

My flight from Ft. Lauderdale to Boston boards in 10 minutes

more later, (probably much later)

Picture Meme

Thu, 08 May 2008 04:31:15 GMT

Stolen from yttrai

The concept:
1. Go to www.flickr.com.
2. Type your answer to each question in the “search” box.
3. Using only the first page, pick an image.
4. Copy and paste the html into your blog.

1.What is your first name?

2. What is your favorite food?

3. What high school did you go to?

4. What is your favorite color?

5. Who is your celebrity crush?

6. Favorite drink?

7. Dream vacation?

8. Favorite dessert?

9. What you want to be when you grow up.

10. What do you love most in life?

11. One Word to describe you?

Happy Birthday

Tue, 06 May 2008 11:13:11 GMT

To telynor
and yttrai

Happy Birthday wishes

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:16:53 GMT

Happy birthday to tattercoats and talis_kimberley

May your day be filled with family, friends and festivities

;)

Another Book Meme

Sun, 04 May 2008 19:53:08 GMT

Based on the "unread book meme" below is a current list of all Hugo and Nebula award Novels

Bold the ones you've read, underline the ones you read for school, italicize the ones you started but didn't finish. Add (*) beside the ones you liked and would (or did) read again or recommend. Even if you read 'em for school in the first place. Strike the ones you read and despised (or started and despised and didn't finish).

... And Call Me Conrad
American Gods
Babel-17
Barrayar (*)
Blue Mars
Camouflage
Canticle for Leibowitz, A
Case of Conscience, A
Claw of the Conciliator, The
~~Cyteen~~
Darwin's Radio
Deepness in the Sky, A
Demolished Man,The
Diamond Age, The (*)
Dispossessed, The
Doomsday Book (*)
Double Star
Downbelow Station (*)
Dreamsnake
Dune
Einstein Intersection, The
Ender's Game (*)
Falling Free (*)
Falling Woman, The
Farmer in the Sky
Fire Upon the Deep, A
Flowers for Algernon
Forever Peace
Forever War, The
Foundation's Edge
Fountains of Paradise, The
Gateway
Gods Themselves, The
Green Mars
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (*)
Healer's War, The
Hominids
Hyperion
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Left Hand of Darkness, The
Lord of Light
Man in the High Castle, The
Man Plus
Mirror Dance
Moon and the Sun, The
Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, The
Moving Mars (*)
Mule, The (*)
Neuromancer
No Enemy But Time
Paladin of Souls (*)
Parable of the Talents
Quantum Rose, The
Rainbows End
Red Mars
Rendezvous with Rama (*)
Ringworld (*)
Rite of Passage
Seeker
Slow River
Snow Queen, The (*)
Speaker for the Dead
Speed of Dark, The
Stand on Zanzibar
Starship Troopers
Startide Rising (*)
Stations of the Tide
Stranger in a Strange Land
Tehanu: The Last Book of Earthsea
Terminal Experiment, The
They'd Rather Be Right
Time of Changes, a
Timescape
To Say Nothing of the Dog
To Your Scattered Bodies Go
Uplift War, The (*)
Vor Game, The (*)
Wanderer, The
Way Station
Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang
Yiddish Policemen's Union, The

I'm painting again

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 23:49:25 GMT

Six months not painting was a bit longer than I had planned.

I have five paintings waiting to come out currently

Medicine Circle Painting, for the middle brother, current version started in 2006, original version started in 1999

Collage Painting, for the youngest brother, this one will be waiting a bit longer on the back burner

Figure Knotwork #4 (temporary title), Not yet started

Figure Knotwork #5 (temporary title), Not yet started

A Portrait of Glen McMullan, I owe Maya a painting from Conterpoint Interfilk Auction, Not yet started

Today I got some more work done on the Medicine Circle Painting. Keeping it simple as I get back into painting. I'm going to need to pick up at least one more canvas at the art supply store.

Figure Knotwork #4 is done in my head, but I still need to work out the pattern of #5

That should keep me busy for a couple of months.

Here's the skinny...

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 04:38:45 GMT

And it ain't me.

About a year and a half ago I was at my best shape
(165 lbs, pants size 32 waist)

Now I don't know if it is from lack of activity in winter, or lazy eating habbits, or stress (gee what stress?) but I am now up to my heaviest weight (185 lbs) and when I went shopping for new clothes 2 weeks ago I was up to a 36 waist.

I need to start walking and bicycling more, and watching what I eat.

Book Meme

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:56:02 GMT

From madfilkentist
Just for fun, the book meme:

Rules:

1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences (in your own journal!).

Naldeth and Parrail both turned away, sickened, but saw more pirates had come to the stockade to chat apparently idly with the captives.

"Do you suppose many turn pirate just for the chance to dress like whoremasters on market day?" The mage watched a bald-headed pirate in an incongruously lace-trimmed shirt advancing on a meek-looking girl.

From The Assassin's Edge by Juliet E. McKenna

Tomorrow is D-day

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:53:44 GMT

Roughly 24 hours from now I am meeting with my lawyer then we head over to the courthouse.

Best case scenario: We can finish it tomorrow, an agreement is reached.

Worst case scenario: She stalls for more time, won't negotiate.

If she doesn't show up at all the Divorce filing is uncontested. If she wants to drag things out and delay she has to show up.

My lawyer tells me that we have a good judge.

I am going to the office now where I will try to at least look productive. I have the whole day off tomorrow.

Bankrupt my Pants

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:38:43 GMT

I'm only 125 posts behind from being at FKO this weekend, however I left my computer at work befor coming on the trip, so I any updates will have to wait for tomorrow

I thought April Fools Day was yesterday

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 11:54:07 GMT

Peter --

[adjective]:

Sexually stunning

'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com

News

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:59:49 GMT

My Preliminary Divorce Hearing is scheduled for April 15th 2008

A side benefit is that I might be able to go to FilKONtario this year.

Believer Meme

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 23:00:39 GMT

From jannyblue

Type your first name and the word 'believes' (all in quotes) and do a google-search. Then, post the things google thinks you believe. Especially if they strike you as interesting.

According to google:

Peter believes that Paderewski had musical talent.

Peter believes that his uncle's death was morally his fault, and he decides to use his powers responsibly and become a super-hero.

Peter believes himself to be highly intelligent.

Peter believes that general communications and writing are essential in science

What Peter believes is absurd

Peter believes he won’t grow up

Peter believes that the built environment should meld into the natural environment

Peter believes he has a greater place in life than just saving one person at a time

Eventually it becomes clear that Peter believes (“because he [Jesus] said so”).

Peter believes that “uncertainty = excitement.”

My favorite technique

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 03:26:40 GMT

A little over a week ago I agreed to post on uncommon topics (it is still open to more questions if anyone is curious)

pondside asked What is your favorite technique? (That's art technique, since I'm working on differentiating between inside and outside voice)

My preferred medium is Oilpaint on Canvas, which I learned in college.

I typically start with sketches (pencil on paper) to learn the details of the "figure". I rarely worry about "placement" or "design" because I have discovered that I have an instinctive sense of design that is smarter than I am.

I start the painting with putting in broad strokes of neutral tones (Paynes Gray or Burnt Sienna mixed with Titanium White) using a really big brush (4 inch wide bristle brush) this keeps me from getting bogged on details too early. I generally try to use as large a brush as possible, to keep the level of detail balanced across the painting.

I tend to use a lot of medium to thin the oils. It helps the paint flow smoother and dry quicker. My paintings are sometimes assumed to be acrylic, because of how much medium I use. (Acrylic paint shows less "brush stroke"). It still takes a couple of days for the paint to dry. I do like working "wet on wet", for subtle changes of shade or hue, but for abrupt changes, or clean edges I need the canvas to be dry.

I try to work on more than 1 canvas at a time, so that I can work on a second while waiting for the first to dry.

A favorite technique I have come upon recently is to take a flat brush and load 1 side with 1 color, then load the other side with the another color. When I paint a line with this brush it comes out as a complex form rater than a 2 dimentional line

More Filk Stuff

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 03:52:00 GMT

Just a warning to gospog, and other non-filkers on my list.

A Boston Phoenix Article on Filking finally came out.

A rather well written article as it happens

The past few days

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:36:03 GMT

As I mentioned before My grandmother passed away last Friday.

Thank you to everyone for their well wishes, thoughts, & prayers

I am the oldest of 3 sons.

The middle brother, Bruce, now lives in Florida. When I spoke with him Saturday night he was planning on flying up Monday or Tuesday.

Sunday morning I spoke to my youngest brother, Brian. He already had Wednesday off, but needed to switch to a morning shift on Tuesday so that He and I could make it to the wake.

I hear from my parents. My father had been on a trip in Schenectady N.Y.; My mother is at their house on Cape Cod. They decide to meet at my house, drive up in 1 car together, and leave a car for me to use.

I hear from Bruce, Airline tickets are too expensive, he can't come.

Monday I go in to work. Arrange what I need to with them.

I hear from Bruce; he is flying up after all. He'll fly into Boston about 6pm, he won't make it to the wake, but he'll be there for the funeral (and by the way, do I have a suit jacket he can borrow).

I hear from Brian; he did switch to a morning shift tuesday, he needs to pick up something appropriate to wear at Boomerangs a resale store.

Tuesday I sleep in thinking it will take 1 and a half hours to get to J.P. from Worcester. Instead it takes me 2 1/2 hours (major trafic backup). I arrive about 2pm. Brian and I head north and get to my grandfather's house about 5pm.

I won't go over all the family details. In spite of my grandmother (Margo) being gone, It was good to get almost all of the family together and catching up.

Wednesday The funeral service was a nice service, My father said a few words. My cousin Stephanie sang (leaving few if any dry eyes). We all went to lunch at the Inn where my Aunt works, and talked some more. I drove back to Worcester with my mother, she continued on to the cape.

I need to plan some trips to see family this summer.

Now the not fun Post

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 04:19:03 GMT

My grandmother (fathers's side) passed away yesterday morning (march 14th). She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's a little over 8 years ago, and I hadn't seen her in about 4 years. To be honest I had already accepted that she was "gone" so this isn't a big shock. My primary concern is for my father and mother. The Wake is on Tuesday and the Funeral is on Wednesday. I'll probablly be out of touch those two days.

Gameday

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 02:42:09 GMT

Fun post First

Today I went to The Boston ENworld Gameday, and it seems a good time was had by all.

It was held at the home of viking_cat and kid_cthulhu and their two Tollers.

The first game of the morning was a Castle Zagyg adventure run by the surviving author. The game was dedicated to Gary Gygax. I played a Gnome Illusionist (/Rogue) and did quite well. In spite of my AC 10 I took no damage. I gamed with (I believe) ShadowDenizen, Bruce K., Zephrin the Lost, Nellisir, Kriskrafts, & Skinnydwarf.

The second game of the day (that I was in) had us laughing nearly nonstop. The players (and their characters) were: Eridanis (Dr. Leonard McCoy of Star Trek); Zephrin the Lost (Jim DiGriz of The Stainless Steel Rat); Anti-Sean (Zap Brannigan of Futurama); Umbran (John Crichton of Farscape); MavrickWeirdo (Maxwell Smart of Get Smart); Nellisir (Ellen Ripley of Aliens); and Thornir Alekeg (Alfred Bester of Babylon 5)

The Premise was "An indestructible device exists on the planet Oxnard, fourth planet in the Rhynarr solar system. Once every eight days this object taps into an alternate dimension and transports a humanoid individual to this world. Nobody knows exactly how the device works, who built it, or what it’s original purpose was. However the ‘Worlds Apart Intergalactic Employment Agency’ is now capitalizing upon the object’s existence by finding employment for whoever the device delivers. They are currently staffing a crew for an intergalactic spaceship."

I need to game more often.

Everyone is doing it

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 04:41:04 GMT

Everyone has things they post about. Everyone has things they don't post about. Challenge me out of my comfort zone by telling me something I don't mention often, but you'd like to hear about, and I'll write a post. Ask for anything: latest movie watched, last book read, political leanings, favorite type of underwear, graphic techniques, etc.

I have come to a conclusion today,

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 21:54:03 GMT

I am depressed; I know that a lot of you are old hands at this, while this is somewhat new to me. I am typically a positive person, but sometimes the weight of circumstances will drag me down.

Up to today I was blaming my trouble getting out of bed in the morning on the season. Cold, gray, little light (and that’s just inside my apartment) but today the weather is sunny and warm (50’s) and I’m not feeling it. For the past couple of days I have found myself crying for no particular reason, other than it felt good to let the tears out.

I realize that this is probably related to my divorce. On March 27, my lawyer will be requesting a hearing date, which I am told will then be sometime within the next two weeks. I am nervous about things going badly. I am hoping for a clean break and for it all to be over.

Because of the stress of the hearing coming up I have not felt comfortable making any plans this spring. I can’t hope to go to FKO this year (Having plans “fall through” is more painful for me than not having plans.) chaoticgoodchic just came for a visit last weekend which was great, but we don’t have any specific plans to see each other again till August. My house feels very lonely now that she has gone.

I know that I have lots of friends, and that those of you reading this are there for me if I need it. I’m not going to do anything desperate. I’m just unhappier than I have been for over a year and a half, and I’m tired, very tired. I haven’t worked on any paintings since October. I currently have two “pattern” paintings, a portrait, and a medicine circle painting waiting to be worked on.

I do have some local plans, this weekend I’ll be seeing outlander in GodSpell. The weekend after that I’m playing D&D at viking_cat’s house. I’m considering renting some videos to keep busy, I’ve been wanting to rent Season 1 of Heros. Plus I have to stay focused on the Hotel Search for Concertino09. I know I’ll make it through this, the waiting is just hard.

What can I say?

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:50:10 GMT

What a great Weekend

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 04:02:34 GMT

Friday I got out of work, went to Kelly's Roast Beef to pick up a couple of sandwitches, and then headed down to Providence Airport to pick up chaoticgoodchic. I had not seen her since Seattle in January.

We decided to go see Fool's Gold on the way back to Worcester (We were hoping to see 27 Dresses but it wasn't playing at that theater.)

As a coincidence, Saturday, March 1st was the monthly MassFilc meeting.
We arrived at a little after 5pm, and I introduced her to those who had not met her at any of the past year's cons.

I briefly went to talk to Gary about some Concertino09 details, and when I came back to the circle room, she was already singing. She must have sung or lead nearly a dozen songs over the course of the evening, but without hogging.

While there were nearly 20 people there, most people swiched back & fourth between the "singing" area and the "talking" area, so that there was usually only about a dozen in the song circle at any given time. Everyone else seemed to enjoy her being there as well.

It went well beyond my expectations.

The Scratch Tracks Arrived!

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:53:39 GMT

Squeeeee

Thank You So Much T & S (& D too)

You really didn't have to but I do enjoy them, and I have heard "finished" CDs that were not as clean and smooth as your Scratch Tracks.

I will be sharing them with chaoticgoodchic who chippped in half of the bid last year, but that is all.