Orthos's page

Orthos wrote:

Waterhammer wrote:

Rain. In June. So confusing.

Going to be the norm for Scint and I going forward. Summer is the Rainy Season in Chengdu, primarily June and July.

K look forward to you teaching us all to swear in Chinese.

Since I won't be working I probably won't get a ton of exposure compared to Scint. She on the other hand has repeatedly stated that she'll need to learn all the bad words in Chinese so she'll know when her students are using them.

Had my final telehealth visit stateside today. My estradiol dosage is getting turned up and they're arranging a six-month supply of both that and spiro. I should be set and settled for my medication for more than enough time to find an endo in Chengdu.

Just need to do the same with my GP and my standard meds.

Comes running out to the battle, sword drawn, huffing and puffing.

You should be able to move your character in the map linked just above my avatar/under my name :)

---

Bandits
Bertram
Tawny
Kizz
Dahlia
Rowan
Happs and Beetle
Squakowk

Healing magic once more flows over Kizzirark's wounds, stemming the worst of the bloodflow.

Dahlia and Tawny's strikes don't manage to pierce the beetle's thick shell, unfortunately, though Kizzirark's attack makes up for it. Rowan moves into position to join the fray.

Beetle vs Kizz: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13 damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Though its movements have slowed some due to its grievous wound, the beetle is still more than capable of giving back its own, and its retaliatory strike barely manages to successfully strike the badger. The horn gores deep, driving well into Kizzirark's lower torso.

1d20 - 2 ⇒ (19) - 2 = 17

The unconscious bandit and the leader Happs remain lying where they are, unmoving.

Roused from his distraction, Squakowk joins the battle!

Unseen, the final bandit continues his flight into the wilderness.

Even you should have seen this coming.

We made it to Chicago! Sunday was hell, the plane was delayed two hours due to a missing screw and when we did finally arrive it was almost 11 PM.

We got up early Monday morning, had to go back to the airport as it was the closest place to get bus/tram passes, then take the tram to downtown and wander around to find the consulate... only to find it was closed June 2 for a Chinese holiday. A closure that was not mentioned on their website at any point.

We wandered a bit more, grabbed some food, and headed back to the hotel then crashed for a few hours. Got up, got dinner, headed back and vegged for the evening.

Today went MUCH better. Other than a minor hiccup with the paperwork we were able to get in, get done, and get out of the consulate with instructions to return Friday to pick up our stuff. We then met up with my uncle and his family - fellow black sheep of my extended family who I haven't seen in years or ever in the case of their son/my cousin - and went to the Lincoln Park Zoo, grabbed lunch at a nearby sandwich and burger place, did more zoo, then drove back to the apartment.

Tomorrow is planned to do the museum, aquarium, astronomical society, and some other stuff that's all indoors as we're expecting rain, once again alongside the uncle and family.

SQUEAK?

In other news this is the first time I've gotten my hair cut since I started growing it out. Asked them to only trim the ends and clean up, they did some layers and it looks and feels really nice. Significantly less tangly than it generally has been, which is nice.

Maybe you could get away with that if you're that blasted roadrunner.

The rest of us Suuuuuuper Geeeeniuses need to actually follow the instructions. Le sigh.

We're going to Chicago tomorrow to get our Chinese visas - Scint's for work, mine spousal.

I have an uncle who lives in Chicago with his family. To keep a VERY long story short, he's a fellow black sheep of the family, essentially kicked out back when I was in my teens in the late 90s for getting divorced and remarrying. He lives there now with his (second) wife and their son, who'd be in his late teens or early twenties now, I don't know precisely.

I haven't spoken with him in over twenty years.

I have no idea how he's going to be, whether he's going to be safe to talk to about Stuff, etc. He didn't flinch when we talked on the phone and I mentioned I wasn't on speaking terms with my parents (just said "Well welcome to the Black Sheep side" and laughed at a joke Scint made), so that's definitely a plus.

We'll be seeing him first Tuesday and spending a decent chunk of next week with him and his family. So here's hoping it goes well.

Orthos wrote:

ONLY THREE MORE DAYS until the flight to Chicago. We'll be spending the whole first week of June there. Some of two of the days will be spent at the Chinese embassy getting paperwork done for our visas, but the rest is all to ourselves.

Got in touch with an uncle I haven't seen in twenty years - a mutual black sheep of our family - and we'll be spending at least some of the week with him and his family, seeing the sights and getting toured around.

Go visit the Field Museum and see the life-size reconstruction of Sue the T. rex!

RAAAAAAAAWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!

ONLY THREE MORE DAYS until the flight to Chicago. We'll be spending the whole first week of June there. Some of two of the days will be spent at the Chinese embassy getting paperwork done for our visas, but the rest is all to ourselves.

Got in touch with an uncle I haven't seen in twenty years - a mutual black sheep of our family - and we'll be spending at least some of the week with him and his family, seeing the sights and getting toured around.

Just FYI, I haven't heard back from JB after messaging him after the last post, so until he shows back up I'm just going to pan over Squakowk's turns for now.

Also apologies for being AFK so much this past weekend. We had to surrender our dog to new owners due to getting ready to move overseas later this summer and not being able to take her with us. It's been an emotional roller coaster here IRL.

Well that was quick. All books are spoken for! Thanks those who expressed interest - see your PMs for responses!

Scintillae wrote:

And it's over. I've turned in my keys, cleaned my classroom, took down everything. It hurt more than I expected.

I am truly terrified of everything I'm going to have to say goodbye to when we leave the country. But at the rate health care costs are rising, we see no alternative other than to emigrate as soon as we retire.

If you could reasonably do so sooner I'd encourage it, but I completely understand the issues of work being a hangup until then.

She went to her favorite pizza place - they allow dogs around the outdoor seating - and had a nice long walk around the city downtown.

Tomorrow we're going to "Toto's Tacos", an Oz-themed Mexican place here in town.

All other plans for the week have been scrapped or postponed. We are spending time with Sophie this week.

Saturday will be her last day with us, as we're taking her to her new family that evening. The days between now and then will be spent (outside of work) doing all the things she loves, walking to all her favorite places, taking her to her favorite restaurants, and spoiling her rotten the last opportunities we have to do so.

My eyes hurt.

Sophie has found a home.

One of Scint's students recommended his brother. He's got a partner and two kids, has a flexible work schedule that will give him a lot of time with her, and is willing and able to keep up with her energy and her antics. We're confident this'll be probably the best result we could have asked for, all things considered.

We'll be taking her over and saying our farewells on Saturday evening, after we cram as many last trips to her favorite restaurants, walks around our town, hugs, snuggles, couch times, and rope tug into the next few days as we can.

We honestly couldn't have asked for a better situation. A loving and active family for her to grow up alongside with kids to play with is basically the perfect environment for her. She is going to be a cornerstone of those kids' lives.

At the same time, I know there's going to be many nights in the near future where I get up from my computer to head to bed and reflexively turn to the couch expecting to see her there and usher her to her bed to tuck her in. Or times I wonder why it's so quiet in the house and go to see if she's asleep on Scint's bed or sunning outside in the yard. Or wonder why her leash isn't hanging on the coat rack.

It's going to be so quiet in the house and I'm going to cry so much.

But the important thing is she'll be safe, happy, and not in a cage, and with people who will love her.

These are probably the last posts I'll make with this alias.

Goodbye my sweet, bright-eyed girl. Never stop smiling.

Sophie has found a home.

One of Scint's students recommended his brother. He's got a partner and two kids, has a flexible work schedule that will give him a lot of time with her, and is willing and able to keep up with her energy and her antics. We're confident this'll be probably the best result we could have asked for, all things considered.

We'll be taking her over and saying our farewells on Saturday evening, after we cram as many last trips to her favorite restaurants, walks around our town, hugs, snuggles, couch times, and rope tug into the next few days as we can.

We honestly couldn't have asked for a better situation. A loving and active family for her to grow up alongside with kids to play with is basically the perfect environment for her. She is going to be a cornerstone of those kids' lives.

At the same time, I know there's going to be many nights in the near future where I get up from my computer to head to bed and reflexively turn to the couch expecting to see her there and usher her to her bed to tuck her in. Or times I wonder why it's so quiet in the house and go to see if she's asleep on Scint's bed or sunning outside in the yard. Or wonder why her leash isn't hanging on the coat rack.

It's going to be so quiet in the house and I'm going to cry so much.

But the important thing is she'll be safe, happy, and not in a cage, and with people who will love her.

These are probably the last posts I'll make with this alias.

Goodbye my sweet, bright-eyed girl. Never stop smiling.

Busy weekend leading into a busy week. Had a Sophie visit with prospective adopters on Friday. Farmer's market visit and NWN quest today. Another NWN quest tomorrow. Errand to get our phone situation sorted out again on Monday. Another adopter visit on Tuesday. Therapy Wednesday. Another NWN quest Thursday. Another adopter visit next Friday. All of this on top of normal weekday work schedule.

Orthos wrote:

Kobold Catgirl wrote:

** spoiler omitted **

** spoiler omitted **

The internet may have gotten us into this mess in at least some part, probably a large part, but it also is providing an open view of the absolute idiocy of everything that's going on, as well as giving us all a clearer understanding of the stupidity and malice of many of the people around us that, in person, used to be concealed behind a veneer of civility.

** spoiler omitted **

Sue the Zombie T-Rex?

Don't mind if I do!!

Now, what to sue for...

Ba dum tish!

Tyrannosaurus Rexes are known for their superior kickboxing skills.

*FLYING DINO KICK!*

All's fair in war!

I hope they're enjoying watching their little "angel" spend his life in prison.

I would be willing to wager almost everything I own that they're sitting at home ranting about how the justice system was "weaponized" against their innocent child and how he's still not responsible/not to blame.

I've seen waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too many people in similar or the exact same situations who demand even to the judge's face that there's no way they or their kid could have been responsible and some ludicrous conspiracy is more "likely" and how it's a failure of justice and the meddling of (insert political, social, racial, LGBT, etc. group they don't like here) who are the REAL criminals here.

Sorry, shipping trucks have been melting in the heat, we’re trying to get some support from Acme but their help line is a bunch of birds.

My good friend, you do not know the half of it.

Also all the capitalization quirks are giving me some Homestuck flashbacks, and I'm not sure I'm ready for the PTSD.

0_0

Nobody at this point, I wasn't able to get online Monday as expected so if someone didn't reply by this point I'm moving on. ^^

Some small-scale NWN stuff, possibly some errand running. Will be a rather quiet weekend all things considered. May take the opportunity for a Goodwill run to get some of this stuff out of my office.

Plaid - the Conclave has been overrun by Scottish Presbyterians - send in more Swiss Guards

I thought plaid meant the Conclave had achieved impossible speed records.

Here's an attempt at setting up the map! Let me know if anyone's in the wrong place.

Freehold DM wrote:

Math is evil.

{quickly skims character sheets of everyone in thread, notes lisamarlene's and Freehold's inventory; much secretive dice rolling behind screen}

Freehold's jade amulet of protection from Alton Brown grants a +4 to his Fort save. Similarly, lisamarlene's fresh cookies rations grants a +2 to her save. Everyone else in the thread takes 1 point of Taint from the corrupting effects of mathematics in the Shadowlands OffTopiclands. Celestial Hippeh Lawyer, due to your current low hit points and very low caffeine points, this proved fatal; you are now "pining for the fjords."

Wait- that can't- Noooooooo... {fades from existence }

Ah, but I have the Pact of the Numerologist class feature! I am immune to all Math-based deductions and divisions, while retaining full advantage of all additive and multiplicative benefits thereof!

Rule logarithm and log tan rule all!

... oh, you're dead. Well, even I can't divide by zero.

Fantasy Monster: Strung Poppet

Strings from a puppet just attached to you, what could go wrong?

WHAT ARE THESE STRINGS?? WHY AM I NOT [Nostradamus B.I.G.] ENOUGH?1? LEAVE ME THE [hackensacken] ALONE!

** spoiler omitted **

The internet may have gotten us into this mess in at least some part, probably a large part, but it also is providing an open view of the absolute idiocy of everything that's going on, as well as giving us all a clearer understanding of the stupidity and malice of many of the people around us that, in person, used to be concealed behind a veneer of civility.

Waterhammer wrote:

Take your sword to the grocery store. If you can toss the pineapple into the air and slash it in two, before it hits the ground; the pineapple is ripe.

Ah.

While others were studying produce, you were studying the blade.

Hilarious side note- autocorrect originally changed had this as "While Orthos was studying produce, you were studying the blade."

Now I want a picture of Orthos just looking at a tomato or something, concentrating intently.

Mission Accomplished

So, the honest question: Is FaWtL better with or without me? I feel like I get people upset, then I want to argue with them (yes, Orthos, I nearly killed myself holding in a response to your post, but that is not FaWtL's purpose nor place), and I feel like I detract from the overall vibe of the place.

I absolutely want you to stick around. I'm basically exactly the same myself, to the point where I have to step away from various threads on a regular basis to avoid getting into long drawn-out arguments all the time.

Sure, we disagree about things. That's life. The things we disagree about aren't things like whether people should have rights based on their skin color, sexuality, identity, or nationality. So everything else can be water under the bridge.

Even when I don't agree with you, I tend to find your posts some mixture of amusing, intriguing, and enlightening. I think we as a community here in FAWTL would be less for your absence.

I'll be the first to argue and disagree if I feel like you've put your foot in your mouth, but I wouldn't ever wish you to leave over it.

If there's anyone in Kansas or near enough, or if you know someone in that area, and they happen to be looking for or interested in adopting a dog, please share this link with them. Our baby girl needs a home.

Orthos wrote:

Scintillae wrote:

Orthos wrote:

NobodysHome wrote:

I am... bemused.

I'm old enough and cynical enough to laugh at/scorn Tik Tok "life hacks" as only a Gen Xer can. "Really? You call that a 'hack'? Did you parents give you a trophy when you learned to tie your own shoes? Or can you do that yet?"

In seriousness: No, their parents didn't, because their parents probably never taught them that. They're young adults and late teens learning all this stuff on their own from the collective work of their peers and/or from doing research on the internet, and sharing what they discover back into that collective work.

We shouldn't be mocking and jeering them. We should be pointing at them and saying "They're doing what their parents should have done years ago - educating and improving themselves and learning new things - and choosing to share it with others rather than keep it to themselves."

GenX, and some of the older Millennials, are the ones failing to teach them these things in the first place - the TikTok self-educated "hack" trends are happening because someone in those older brackets failed to pass that education along somewhere earlier in their lives, and they had to learn it for themselves somehow.

The number of times my dad has made fun of me for not knowing how to do something he never taught me...

SAME.

I got beaten once because I asked him what cleaning product I could use on a task he'd assigned me. He told me to try elbow grease. I'd never heard that idiom before (I think I was seven or eight), so I pulled every product out of the cupboard one by one trying to find it.

Yep, sounds like a lot of the situations I was in as a kid.

Ask a sincere question the adult thinks is stupid but never actually explained before.
Adult gives a sarcastic or rhetorical answer.
Kid, not knowing better, takes it seriously.
Adult gets angry the kid took it seriously - or, more often, says the kid is "being a brat" or "being a smartass" in families that are okay with cursing - and punishes the kid.

With exemplars like this, is it any wonder I decided early in my life I didn't want kids? Even before understanding I was ace or the entire Everything of modern American society, economy, and culture.

So it's been a while since I posted here so I should probably do an update.

Scint and I got married back in February (on Valentine's Day no less, that was a complete accident), she accepted a job offer in March, and we are moving to Chengdu in China in the summer.

So the past several weeks have been one roller coaster after another of the various things we need to do before moving away. Last two weeks were getting a handyman to repair the damaged walls downstairs, including repainting and installing new drywall and all that fun stuff. Next is removing and replacing all the carpets down there.

On top of that we're in talks to sell the house, looking for a new home or foster care surrender for Sophie (she's not a breed allowed in China, and probably wouldn't survive the flight even if she was, due to the way boxers' and pits' respiration is structured and her being large enough she would have to ride in the unpressurized cargo hold), needing to get new phones (Androids don't work as well over there as iPhones apparently and we're both on separate plans so we'll be getting new iPhones on new plans), setting up VPNs (because China), making arrangements to mail/ship what stuff we can't pack and bring on the plane with us, having to schedule and then make the trip to Chicago to get our visas from the Chinese Embassy, and a host of other things I've no doubt forgotten or haven't gotten to yet.

The next month is going to be busy as hell.

I am... bemused.

I'm old enough and cynical enough to laugh at/scorn Tik Tok "life hacks" as only a Gen Xer can. "Really? You call that a 'hack'? Did you parents give you a trophy when you learned to tie your own shoes? Or can you do that yet?"

In seriousness: No, their parents didn't, because their parents probably never taught them that. They're young adults and late teens learning all this stuff on their own from the collective work of their peers and/or from doing research on the internet, and sharing what they discover back into that collective work.

We shouldn't be mocking and jeering them. We should be pointing at them and saying "They're doing what their parents should have done years ago - educating and improving themselves and learning new things - and choosing to share it with others rather than keep it to themselves."

GenX, and some of the older Millennials, are the ones failing to teach them these things in the first place - the TikTok self-educated "hack" trends are happening because someone in those older brackets failed to pass that education along somewhere earlier in their lives, and they had to learn it for themselves somehow.

Is there a map of the layout, or can we just assume there's plenty of appropriate buildings to hide in where we can block their exit when we reveal ourselves?

Here's a map! The entrance is the south, the barn/storehouse is the western building, the northeastern building is Oleg and Svetlana's home, the north-central building is a larger-sized badger room, and the southeastern building is mouse/etc.-sized rooms.

Yep. This checks out.

Pain

You create from pain. It's the deep, overwhelming agony that builds up over a lifetime of suffering. Sometimes you can't tell where your scars ends and you begin. You pour out your pains into your art because you can't bear to hurt this much and have nothing to show for it. Your suffering will be pointless if you can't make something of it, so you make it into art. This is how you reclaim everything you'd otherwise regret, by making those painful experiences into something of worth. Art is a battle to conquer your suffering, to make your agony into something you can take pride in. Every piece is a hard fought victory over something that would have only eaten away at you otherwise. It's proof of your desire to live and heal, to be more than just your wounds.

... welp. I... can't argue with that.

quibblemuch wrote:

But... how did they find Google without Google?

*mind blows*

[age check]They asked Jeeves.... [/age check]

You know the law! Never mention that name in my presence!

So I took one of those silly internet quizzes; this one claiming to provide a single word for the emotion or motivation at the heart of the quiz-taker's creative drive. I clicked through the multiple-choice questions, scoffing the whole while, like Hannibal Lecter handed the psychological testing ("Agent Starling, you think you can dissect me with this blunt little tool...?")

The result:

Discontent

You create from discontent. Most of your life has been spent being uncomfortable in your own skin. This body is just another house that's never felt like home. You don't know how to be at ease in this world or this life. Art is a way of running away, of forgetting yourself and escaping to a more comfortable place. To cope with an unhospitable reality, you create more welcoming worlds to consume your work and your waking hours. But the foundation of your art has always been your discontent with the real world and your life within it. Lurking behind the inviting scenery you dream of is the desperate desire to be anywhere but here. It is a world constructed as a respite from this one. Such vivid fantasies are the dream of one who considers reality a prison.

...

Well played, internet. Well. Played.

Well now you have to share it.

I don't trust cake, not after what SHE did....

I hope it works out well for you. I fear I've already crossed that point of no return myself a few years ago, outside of some nasty letters.

Gib pets, hooman?

I haven't had fried okra in forever. That may need to go on my bucket list before we leave the US.

Yep, waterfowl hunting.

IIRC they were originally bred as hunting dogs - I want to say specifically birdhunting?

To Google!

Insert joke about "starting every D&D campaign by fighting rats" here.