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Today Northern Mirkwood, Erebor, and Lake-Town are added.
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... which is why, although I have spent a great deal of time in Chicago, Sacramento and Ocala, the one place I truly hate is Dallas Texas, and even though I hate and despise Dallas with every fiber of my being, we are seriously considering moving back within the next two years. Because there is a big beautiful old house on a very large plot of land which is ours for the taking and the fixing up. Talk about a devil's bargain.
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I am a naked silvan elf dancing in a gloomy forest!
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Take it, fix it, sell it for a profit, and move somewhere you will like!
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... which is why, although I have spent a great deal of time in Chicago, Sacramento and Ocala, the one place I truly hate is Dallas Texas, and even though I hate and despise Dallas with every fiber of my being, we are seriously considering moving back within the next two years. Because there is a big beautiful old house on a very large plot of land which is ours for the taking and the fixing up. Talk about a devil's bargain.
Been to Dallas. Hated it.
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Take it, fix it, sell it for a profit, and move somewhere you will like!
I can't. It's Whingey Wizzard's childhood home. He loves that house.
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I am well aware of how stupidly expensive houses can get in other parts of the country. I grew up in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex, and while they have nothing on California, it isn't uncommon for homes to run upwards of $750k.
And as far as the "ruralness" of South Dakota, well, it was definitely an adjustment. I do miss the convenience of living near a big city, but owning my home is worth it.
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Dallas itself is miserable. The surrounding area isn't so bad.
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For tech workers, it hasn't been a monumental hit: My mother started as an M.D./Ph.D. at U.C. Berkeley in the 1960's, and the house she bought was just under 4 times her annual salary. Now, 50 years later, if we look at an "average" software engineer, she makes around $150k/year, and the house is "only" around 8 times her salary. So worse, but not monumentally worse.
Junior tech workers are looking at 15-20 times their salary, so it starts to hurt.
But teacher's salaries have not remotely kept up.
- In 1968, My mom was technically a teacher, at that "just under 4x salary" point.
- In 2002 when we were looking, I had just left teaching so I can state for a fact that the house was suddenly at the 16x point. Already unaffordable without two incomes, preferably one making more than a teacher.
- In 2018, that house is now nearly FORTY TIMES a teacher's salary.
And people whine and moan and wonder why our schools are doing downhill and we can't keep good teachers.
Take a look in the mirror, pay them what they're worth based on real estate prices, and maybe, just maybe, they'll understand that you appreciate them a hell of a lot more than a stupid Staples gift card once a year and they'll stick around.
It makes me grateful that I'm in the position I'm in, but sad and angry that we're in such a ludicrously-home-acquisitive society that no one can afford to help the schools any more. (I exaggerate -- the SchoolCare program brings in around $200k a year. But with several thousand families donating, it means that those who are giving what they can are still hard-pressed for free cash.)
Anyway, tirade over.
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Pact Worlds starts shipping next week!!
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Well, I'm sure Ivan's heard this one many times, but the best part of South Dakota is that it's not North Dakota. The Dakotas have places that can make my "very rural" upbringing feel positively metropolitan.Thank you! Admittedly, the house is old and a bit on the small side, and it needs a lot of work, but it is mine. One of the perks of living in a rural area of South Dakota (not that there is much in the state that isn't rural). We paid $20k plus interest over the past 6 years. Came out to around $22k with interest. The house is over 100 years old, just under 1,000 square feet, and we have 2 lots of land (somewhere between 1/3 and 1/2 an acre).We just paid off the house! No more rent! Not too many who can say they own their house, free and clear before they turn 35. :) Landlord just has a form to sign when he gets back from Florida, and the deed will be ours.Wow... SOOOOOO jealous!
We'll be lucky to have our house paid off free and clear by the time I'm 70.
Of course, there's the whole, "Living in the S.F. Bay Area" thing, plus a bunch of refinancing, but congratulations!
i would go absolutely insane.
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... which is why, although I have spent a great deal of time in Chicago, Sacramento and Ocala, the one place I truly hate is Dallas Texas, and even though I hate and despise Dallas with every fiber of my being, we are seriously considering moving back within the next two years. Because there is a big beautiful old house on a very large plot of land which is ours for the taking and the fixing up. Talk about a devil's bargain.
i will visit you exactly once to make it worth it!
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All I’m sayin’ is that I love Ocala! It’s gorgeous, and my neighbors are, frankly, the best. Ocala isn’t a paradise (not enough game stores, crime areas can be found “just over there,” and everything shuts down after about 9), but I’m really glad we live here.
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Exams start tomorrow for the kidlet. There needs to not be a snow day. We cannot deal with a reschedule at this point. We're playing the 'who can have a nervous breakdown first' game. Kidlet is winning, but by a narrower margin than you might think...
This trimester needs to be over. So badly. And now we're to the part of the school year where being on a trimester schedule starts. They've already done almost as much classwork as the kids who are on a semester schedule do all year. And there's still a third of the year to go. >.<
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All I’m sayin’ is that I love Ocala! It’s gorgeous, and my neighbors are, frankly, the best. Ocala isn’t a paradise (not enough game stores, crime areas can be found “just over there,” and everything shuts down after about 9), but I’m really glad we live here.
The countryside and horses are pretty, and it beats the hell out of Crystal River.
I'd rant about how my former school district has been in the news this week, but it's "political".
So glad I got out of that festering cesspool of a town.
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All I’m sayin’ is that I love Ocala! It’s gorgeous, and my neighbors are, frankly, the best. Ocala isn’t a paradise (not enough game stores, crime areas can be found “just over there,” and everything shuts down after about 9), but I’m really glad we live here.
Honestly the only thing I can go on is a single drive on FL 40 to head through the Ocala National Forest. To me and my knowledge of Florida, it didn't seem obviously better or worse than any other South Georgia...err...northern Florida towns.
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One of the more terrifying places on the planet. Approximately 45-50 miles from Tac's house.
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Hey, Nobody, did you catch the part where I asked
"Can you please email me the current files on Norathar and Whingey's sorority wizard?"
Just checking. Obviously I won't be able to look at them until after I get the kids to sleep tonight anyhow.
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Wisconsin is known for it's winding roads and a robust deer population to test your reflexes so you can't twiddle on your phone because you're lost on one of our many winding roads (don't worry, you won't get any reception anyway), our folksy charm (nosey judgemental a**+#~&s) and local museums for the most minute or ridiculous achievement (seriously, there's a mustard museum not two miles away!).
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Exams start tomorrow for the kidlet. There needs to not be a snow day. We cannot deal with a reschedule at this point. We're playing the 'who can have a nervous breakdown first' game. Kidlet is winning, but by a narrower margin than you might think...
This trimester needs to be over. So badly. And now we're to the part of the school year where being on a trimester schedule starts. They've already done almost as much classwork as the kids who are on a semester schedule do all year. And there's still a third of the year to go. >.<
I'm siphoning as much snow as I can to our noreaster, but it may not be enough...
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Wisconsin is known for it's winding roads
as long as the milkmaids are just as curvy, I have no complaints.
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And ridiculous festivals! Every weekend during the spring and summer is littered with cow chip throwing contests and tractor pulls!
And every year the bureau of tourism is worried "oh my god, are we gonna have enough cow chips!"
I'm pretty sure there's enough cow s@*~ if you really look for it.
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Hey, Nobody, did you catch the part where I asked
"Can you please email me the current files on Norathar and Whingey's sorority wizard?"
Just checking. Obviously I won't be able to look at them until after I get the kids to sleep tonight anyhow.
Yep. I'm on the wrong computer. But I'm pretty sure they're on my public Google drive. Let me PM that to you...
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...I am unsure what that means, but okay. Going pretty good other than the whole car stuck in a ditch thing. We just paid off the house! No more rent! Not too many who can say they own their house, free and clear before they turn 35. :) Landlord just has a form to sign when he gets back from Florida, and the deed will be ours.Busy! Exhausting! Trying not o blue my wind/stamina enough in TKD! You?Hola! How's things?Ivaaaaaaaaaaaan~!Hey all. Just came to say, thanks Freehold.
This is the view out my front door. Yes, that is my car. Yes, it is stuck.
... it means, "my talk-type can't fully understand me when my nose is stuffed," apparently. XD
Originally, I wasy trying to say that I'm trying to build up my wind/stamina enough (for being successful in) TKD (that is Taekwondo).
All I’m sayin’ is that I love Ocala! It’s gorgeous, and my neighbors are, frankly, the best. Ocala isn’t a paradise (not enough game stores, crime areas can be found “just over there,” and everything shuts down after about 9), but I’m really glad we live here.The countryside and horses are pretty, and it beats the hell out of Crystal River.
I'd rant about how my former school district has been in the news this week, but it's "political".
So glad I got out of that festering cesspool of a town.
As I don't live there and don't go there often (except in just passing through), I will refrain from commenting on Crystal River. :D
As we attend private schools, our experiences with them have been pretty great (if heavy-handed on the homework).
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Madison has takoyaki, samurai and anime film festivals, an energetic downtown and college campus, and bike trails, hundreds of miles of bike trails.
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All I’m sayin’ is that I love Ocala! It’s gorgeous, and my neighbors are, frankly, the best. Ocala isn’t a paradise (not enough game stores, crime areas can be found “just over there,” and everything shuts down after about 9), but I’m really glad we live here.Honestly the only thing I can go on is a single drive on FL 40 to head through the Ocala National Forest. To me and my knowledge of Florida, it didn't seem obviously better or worse than any other South Georgia...err...northern Florida towns.
Ah, yeah, 40 won't pass anywhere near our house. XD
One of the more terrifying places on the planet. Approximately 45-50 miles from Tac's house.
OH MY WORD!
Yeah, I know that place! That's hilarious!
We pass it every time we go to see anyone on my wife's side of the family! XD
Never actually stopped there. Can't imagine why...
>.>
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Madison has takoyaki, samurai and anime film festivals, an energetic downtown and college campus, and bike trails, hundreds of miles of bike trails.
Still needs milkmaids.
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All I’m sayin’ is that I love Ocala! It’s gorgeous, and my neighbors are, frankly, the best. Ocala isn’t a paradise (not enough game stores, crime areas can be found “just over there,” and everything shuts down after about 9), but I’m really glad we live here.Honestly the only thing I can go on is a single drive on FL 40 to head through the Ocala National Forest. To me and my knowledge of Florida, it didn't seem obviously better or worse than any other South Georgia...err...northern Florida towns.Ah, yeah, 40 won't pass anywhere near our house. XD
One of the more terrifying places on the planet. Approximately 45-50 miles from Tac's house.OH MY WORD!
Yeah, I know that place! That's hilarious!
We pass it every time we go to see anyone on my wife's side of the family! XD
Never actually stopped there. Can't imagine why...
>.>
See, now that is EXACTLY the kind of place where Shiro and I would insist on pulling over the RV, and we'd wander back on with hundreds of dollars' worth of utterly random junk.
Which yet again explains why we're not allowed to shop together any more.
(Did I mention the It's Sugar incident three months ago? I think I did. NobodysWife left the two of us alone in It's Sugar for only 15 minutes. The total damage was nearly $400 between the two of us. She was... exasperated...)
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Madison has takoyaki, samurai and anime film festivals, an energetic downtown and college campus, and bike trails, hundreds of miles of bike trails.Still needs milkmaids.
That's what the energetic downtown and college campus meant.
Edit: Or maybe I forgot to mention them.
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All I’m sayin’ is that I love Ocala! It’s gorgeous, and my neighbors are, frankly, the best. Ocala isn’t a paradise (not enough game stores, crime areas can be found “just over there,” and everything shuts down after about 9), but I’m really glad we live here.Honestly the only thing I can go on is a single drive on FL 40 to head through the Ocala National Forest. To me and my knowledge of Florida, it didn't seem obviously better or worse than any other South Georgia...err...northern Florida towns.Ah, yeah, 40 won't pass anywhere near our house. XD
One of the more terrifying places on the planet. Approximately 45-50 miles from Tac's house.OH MY WORD!
Yeah, I know that place! That's hilarious!
We pass it every time we go to see anyone on my wife's side of the family! XD
Never actually stopped there. Can't imagine why...
>.>
See, now that is EXACTLY the kind of place where Shiro and I would insist on pulling over the RV, and we'd wander back on with hundreds of dollars' worth of utterly random junk.
Which yet again explains why we're not allowed to shop together any more.
(Did I mention the It's Sugar incident three months ago? I think I did. NobodysWife left the two of us alone in It's Sugar for only 15 minutes. The total damage was nearly $400 between the two of us. She was... exasperated...)
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See, now that is EXACTLY the kind of place where Shiro and I would insist on pulling over the RV, and we'd wander back on with hundreds of dollars' worth of utterly random junk.Which yet again explains why we're not allowed to shop together any more.
(Did I mention the It's Sugar incident three months ago? I think I did. NobodysWife left the two of us alone in It's Sugar for only 15 minutes. The total damage was nearly $400 between the two of us. She was... exasperated...)
You had mentioned It's Sugar once, but I'm not sure if it was in this thread or your Ask NH thread.
And think about this...that Statue of Liberty yard decoration...it was there when Aiymi and I drove by there...is approximately 6' tall at the head. That RV better have generous storage and a good suspension.
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Finally.
intrigued...
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I am a naked silvan elf dancing in a gloomy forest!
You and me both, matey.
Actually, I am on the train, though if there's much nudee Elven dancing, not for much longer.
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...I forgot the Rainbow kept the rod of wonder. They've made the fight hilaribad.
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My new Video card just arrived. Now to uninstall the old one and install the new one and the new hard drive.
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~grumbles~ So it looks like I am going to have to do this the hard way. Have a good night everyone. Time to reformat the computer and reinstall everything.
~grumbles~ So it looks like I am going to have to do this the hard way. Have a good night everyone. Time to reformat the computer and reinstall everything.
Goodnight!
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So, they're doing Pathfinder 2.0 after all.
Magnuskn must be dancing in his whatever German history professors dance in.
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So, they're doing Pathfinder 2.0 after all.
Magnuskn must be dancing in his whatever German legal professors dance in.
... but as it turns out, they upped the treasure drops to 365% the WBL, and made it so PCs can make all magic items from first level...
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I'm not going to get worked up about Pathfinder, 2.0 both because it was inevitable, and even if I don't like it I still have s!*&loads of Pathfinder books and they have Starfinder.
I'm not going to get worked up about Pathfinder, 2.0 both because it was inevitable, and even if I don't like it I still have s&@*loads of Pathfinder books and they have Starfinder.
I've wanted it for years. From what I'm reading, it's exactly the game that I don't want, but there we go. Paizo has never followed my preferences when designing systems, and the whole, "streamlined but internally inconsistent"-thing that's the new hotness in game design, right now.
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Finally.
So they're on the GURPS edition schedule?
It'll be interesting to see if they can keep those promises. I know 3E-based games tend to evolve to be quite different from the base ruleset if they remain active and release more editions over time.
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The General is not amused! We just got a CRB I can hold in my hand!" "We can still get those!"
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So, I carried my laptop into my wife with the PF2 announcement pulled up, somewhat heartbroken....and she goes"ooooooooo" and smiles, then asks if it's going to cost anything.
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...I forgot the Rainbow kept the rod of wonder. They've made the fight hilaribad.
I do my utmost to slip a Knucklebone of Fickle Fortune to ALL of my groups (Crimson Throne excepted, since they get both the Rod of Wonder and no spoilering for lisamarlene.)
So far, not a single player has dared roll one, much to my disappointment.
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If we are going to protest this, I have a plan.
First, we need to march some elephants over a mountain range...