Dales ravings thread

[Dale]

So there's not much happening at other forums I frequent. And I don't just mean this week but the last 6 months. Even at CFC the activity is slow or irrelevant.

So thought I'd pop by and say "hi" again.

Here's a couple recent random photos too.

[Unorthodox]

 


Watcha up to these days? 

Cute kid, btw.  How old? 

[Buster's Uncle]

I can't stomach keeping track of CFC, but WPC's definitely been hurtin' this year - most days, there's less posts in the last 25 hours for the entire place than I've made here since I woke up 4-5 hours before.  I told Solver not to depend on a BE bump.

'poly is up for on-topic activity, but that has more to do with Aeson's industry than BE. Oddly, Off-Topic is way down; there's a circle of conservatrolls managing to disgust even some key inhabitants of that cesspool.

[Geo]

Oh my, has she grown the last couple years, Dale.

[Dale]

Watcha up to these days? 

Cute kid, btw.  How old?

Hey Uno!  I'd heard you hang around these parts now. 

I'm doing software development for RSM International (large global accounting firm).  Pretty busy with that actually.

That's Ruby on the slide, she's 4 now.  Riley is on the ladder and he'll be 6 in a couple of weeks.  How is your family going?  Little Talia is doing well I hope. 

I can't stomach keeping track of CFC, but WPC's definitely been hurtin' this year - most days, there's less posts in the last 25 hours for the entire place than I've made here since I woke up 4-5 hours before.  I told Solver not to depend on a BE bump.

'poly is up for on-topic activity, but that has more to do with Aeson's industry than BE. Oddly, Off-Topic is way down; there's a circle of conservatrolls managing to disgust even some key inhabitants of that cesspool.

Meh, I sort of ignore the Civ scene now.  For me the series is going in the wrong direction.  My interest has changed too.

How are you coping?  I hope you got things under control.  And your sis and mum?

Oh my, has she grown the last couple years, Dale.

She has, hasn't she?    They all have.  haha.  How's things with you?

[Dale]

Here's a couple more random recent photos. 

1. Blake, he's almost 9 now!  They grow up so fast.  BTW, both our kids had great end of year reports.  Pretty proud of them. 
2. Ruby of course.
3. Some pretty tall very old trees at this nature walk we did one Sunday.  Love doing this, getting out and just "seeing" things.
4. This is my cub scout pack.  We had to have a dress up night for Halloween.  The smoke machine was a big fail though hahaha.

[Unorthodox]

4. This is my cub scout pack.  We had to have a dress up night for Halloween.  The smoke machine was a big fail though hahaha.

SWEET! 

It's growing around the world!  Love how the kids get into it. 

Hey Uno!  I'd heard you hang around these parts now. 

Entirely OT here.  WPC got a little too quiet even with Big D trying.  I was going through some depression earlier in the year and was absent most places, now don't have time to keep up multiple places.

That's Ruby on the slide, she's 4 now.  Riley is on the ladder and he'll be 6 in a couple of weeks.  How is your family going?  Little Talia is doing well I hope. 

It's been a rough year. 

Unemployed most the year, father in law died, mother in law has a brain tumor.  Even so, things are pretty good, considering. 

Day before father-in-law's funeral, we all ran a race.  Talia (8 in April) and I mostly walked the 5 K (and I had to issue first aid to a handicapped kid along the way, but that's a long story), the boys ran it, the boss ran a half-marathon.  Costumed Halloween event, we went as DR Horrible, Cpt hammer, and the groupies.  3rd place group costumes...for something I spent literally 5 minutes on.   



Talia's in the Chinese immersion program, which I've had misgivings about.  Half her day at school is in Chinese.  Many days I wonder if it's helping or not.  The other day, she was playing in the tub, and I realized she was playing IN Chinese.  Her homework is almost entirely ONLINE too, so I'm having to teach her to type just so she can do her homework. 

Kyle's (16 next week) driving now...god I'm old.  His birthday is next week, and he's already passed his test to get the license.  Just have to take him in on his birthday. 

Alec's (12) in middle school, and trying to adjust to that.   

Meh, I sort of ignore the Civ scene now.  For me the series is going in the wrong direction.  My interest has changed too.

Me too.  The boys are into gaming now, and I mostly spend my gaming time keeping tabs on them.  Talia can play the playstation as well, so lots of playing with her, too.  The 4 of us on the couch playing minecraft is always fun. 

[Dale]

4. This is my cub scout pack.  We had to have a dress up night for Halloween.  The smoke machine was a big fail though hahaha.

SWEET! 

It's growing around the world!  Love how the kids get into it. 

Hey Uno!  I'd heard you hang around these parts now. 

Entirely OT here.  WPC got a little too quiet even with Big D trying.  I was going through some depression earlier in the year and was absent most places, now don't have time to keep up multiple places.

That's Ruby on the slide, she's 4 now.  Riley is on the ladder and he'll be 6 in a couple of weeks.  How is your family going?  Little Talia is doing well I hope. 

It's been a rough year. 

Unemployed most the year, father in law died, mother in law has a brain tumor.  Even so, things are pretty good, considering. 

Day before father-in-law's funeral, we all ran a race.  Talia (8 in April) and I mostly walked the 5 K (and I had to issue first aid to a handicapped kid along the way, but that's a long story), the boys ran it, the boss ran a half-marathon.  Costumed Halloween event, we went as DR Horrible, Cpt hammer, and the groupies.  3rd place group costumes...for something I spent literally 5 minutes on.   



Talia's in the Chinese immersion program, which I've had misgivings about.  Half her day at school is in Chinese.  Many days I wonder if it's helping or not.  The other day, she was playing in the tub, and I realized she was playing IN Chinese.  Her homework is almost entirely ONLINE too, so I'm having to teach her to type just so she can do her homework. 

Kyle's (16 next week) driving now...god I'm old.  His birthday is next week, and he's already passed his test to get the license.  Just have to take him in on his birthday. 

Alec's (12) in middle school, and trying to adjust to that.   

Meh, I sort of ignore the Civ scene now.  For me the series is going in the wrong direction.  My interest has changed too.

Me too.  The boys are into gaming now, and I mostly spend my gaming time keeping tabs on them.  Talia can play the playstation as well, so lots of playing with her, too.  The 4 of us on the couch playing minecraft is always fun.

Sorry to hear about the bad things for the year.  I spent a couple months unemployed, and a couple months doing temp work while looking.  But I'm in a really good job now.  Economy over here is getting rougher by the week.  Unemployment is about to hit the highest in 10 years and things look grim for next year for the economy as a whole.  But we'll get by. 

The kids are looking all grown up now.     We ARE getting old mate! 

Yeah gaming for me has centred on the kids too.  We play a bit of Minecraft together, and the boys play motorcross games and stuff now too.  But luckily this year we've been able to refocus the kids on more outdoor activities.  The new house (huge backyard with pool etc), scouts and just taking drives to see places on weekends has really worked to get the kids off their bums and outside.  Plus they have lots of school friends in the street now, so most weekends are usually on the kids or scooters or skateboards up and down the street.  They've even started making a communal bike track in an empty field.  It's good to see.   

Oh for Halloween we really get into it.  Dress up, put some decos on the house, trick or treat up and down the street.  For scouts we made slime, mini pumpkin carving and black cup cakes.  Was a great night. 

[Geo]

She has, hasn't she?    They all have.  haha.  How's things with you?

Could be better, could be worse. But about to become way better. I'm due at another trip to the Pacific. Plan to stand on the Mauna Loa a couple days after New Year.

So, does Riley still hates carrots?
Some of those scout cubs do interesting things with their tie.
Didn't know Australia had a scout tradition too.


And you guys getting old? Come back when you reach middle age.

[Unorthodox]

Smoke machine on the fritz.  Bet it was a cheap 400W machine...Or crappy fluid clogged it.  If you want one for the future, I have brand recommendations but no clue how/if they are available down there.   

Oh for Halloween we really get into it.  Dress up, put some decos on the house, trick or treat up and down the street.  For scouts we made slime, mini pumpkin carving and black cup cakes.  Was a great night.

Carved MINI (Softball and smaller) pumpkins?  That couldn't heve been very easy.  Those are almost universally hard shelled with very little 'space' inside once you get them cleaned.  Or were you talking a sugar class pumpkin (softball up to kids soccer ball size)?  How does that work down there anyway, it's spring, right, so where do you guys import pumpkins from? 

 

[Buster's Uncle]

Meh, I sort of ignore the Civ scene now.  For me the series is going in the wrong direction.  My interest has changed too.

How are you coping?  I hope you got things under control.  And your sis and mum?

Well, I've been in it for the people for a very long time now, and I expected BE to suck - activity is up anyway from the extra effort put in, because I remembered how V gutted the community, and kept up the SMACX stuff, which is paying off, even if BE managed to underperform my low expectations for boosting activity.  Us not being able to get arrested with Firaxis/2K PR isn't helping, but I get the idea that their support isn't worth a lot, anyway.  I'm reasonably content with how the forum's going, if I still wish there was more activity going here in Rec Commons.

Mylochka finally retired in March and has moved home, so I'm done with Texas, and Buster's Gramma is acting like she'll be 60 forever - when she's 74.

I'm still getting more hermity in RL, but the quiet life suits me, and the forum-building hobby keeps me from getting unbearably bored...  I don't think I'll ever be rid of the mood swings, but I've gotten a good deal calmer just in the last five years.  I have many, many complaints about my (non) life, but nobody's hit me all year, or is likely to in the foreseeable future, so I've definitely had it worse.

[Dale]

Could be better, could be worse. But about to become way better. I'm due at another trip to the Pacific. Plan to stand on the Mauna Loa a couple days after New Year.

So, does Riley still hates carrots?
Some of those scout cubs do interesting things with their tie.
Didn't know Australia had a scout tradition too.


And you guys getting old? Come back when you reach middle age.

Sounds like an awesome trip.  Though everyone knows you only do it to escape Euro winter.   

We got some rabbits, and Riley feeds them.  Funny thing is now Riley will eat pealed raw carrots.  Still hates cooked ones though.  haha.

BTW, had my 40th a couple months ago. 

Smoke machine on the fritz.  Bet it was a cheap 400W machine...Or crappy fluid clogged it.  If you want one for the future, I have brand recommendations but no clue how/if they are available down there.   

Carved MINI (Softball and smaller) pumpkins?  That couldn't heve been very easy.  Those are almost universally hard shelled with very little 'space' inside once you get them cleaned.  Or were you talking a sugar class pumpkin (softball up to kids soccer ball size)?  How does that work down there anyway, it's spring, right, so where do you guys import pumpkins from? 

I'm pretty sure it was the fluid.  It was a cheap fluid that I got just for that night.  The normal stuff I run through it is like liquid gold, but makes a fantastic layer of smoke.

These pumpkins were softball size and had thick skins.  Some of the younger kids needed help to scoop the guts out, but there was room for tea lights inside.  They did a really good job!

Well, I've been in it for the people for a very long time now, and I expected BE to suck - activity is up anyway from the extra effort put in, because I remembered how V gutted the community, and kept up the SMACX stuff, which is paying off, even if BE managed to underperform my low expectations for boosting activity.  Us not being able to get arrested with Firaxis/2K PR isn't helping, but I get the idea that their support isn't worth a lot, anyway.  I'm reasonably content with how the forum's going, if I still wish there was more activity going here in Rec Commons.

Mylochka finally retired in March and has moved home, so I'm done with Texas, and Buster's Gramma is acting like she'll be 60 forever - when she's 74.

I'm still getting more hermity in RL, but the quiet life suits me, and the forum-building hobby keeps me from getting unbearably bored...  I don't think I'll ever be rid of the mood swings, but I've gotten a good deal calmer just in the last five years.  I have many, many complaints about my (non) life, but nobody's hit me all year, or is likely to in the foreseeable future, so I've definitely had it worse.

Civ5 gutted the fansites as 2K made a huge effort to centralise the game at their forums.  Though ironically for tech support they now push people to CFC.  Stupid since once people find CFC they stay there.  Hence the "quality" of CFC has dramatically dropped since 2010.  The other sites are really just niche sites and need work to maintain.  You do the work, hence the payoffs.  Some other sites don't.

You still doing masks?  That seems like a good hobby to quieten down with.  You can even ebay them now for a little extra cash.  No need to loose the hermit life to sell them. 

[Unorthodox]

These pumpkins were softball size and had thick skins.  Some of the younger kids needed help to scoop the guts out, but there was room for tea lights inside.  They did a really good job!

Love it.  So glad to see pumpkin carving on the other side of the world.  Don't know if you've seen, but we pretty much supply our entire neighborhood with pumpkins, growing our own, and selling off the surplus.  Then a hundred (literally, likely more) people come over the night before Halloween and help me carve a bunch for our yard. 



Unfortunately, I hardly took any pics this year, being a little in the dumps at the time, we put on the show, but didn't really feel it ourselves so much this year.

You still doing masks?  That seems like a good hobby to quieten down with.  You can even ebay them now for a little extra cash.  No need to loose the hermit life to sell them. 

Preach it, I've even got folks asking where they can buy them...

[Dale]

We went to carols by candlelight last night.  Pretty good night, about 15 minutes of fireworks afterwards too.

I have this tradition with the kids.  Every year we take photos with the candles (they are actually little torches shaped like a candle) in our mouths, ears, nose, etc.  hahaha.  Stupid, but the kids get a kick out of it.

[Unorthodox]

Kids having fun is not stupid. 

Glowsticks and fireworks...Interesting Christmas activity. 

Even though it's been unseasonably warm this year (I'm still not even wearing a jacket, yet), it's hard to fathom fireworks for Christmas.  New Years, sure.