Resurrection of a Skill Twenty Years Deceased…
Wednesday, October 19th, 2011 | Crafting | No Comments
…in which I talk about relearning to sew.
It’s not that the concept of sewing had become foreign to me. I still had all practical knowledge of hand-stitching, and even the operation of a sewing machine. It’s more that the finer points of sewing, what makes it a craft and not a utility, had been lost to time. Over this past week, however, I have relearned and retrained myself in the art of joining fabrics.
Impulse Overdrive…
Wednesday, October 12th, 2011 | Video Games | No Comments
… in which I talk about picking up a new game, completely on a whim.
As of late, with financial and time constraints, I haven’t been buying as many games as I used to. It’s not that I used to buy a ton, I’ve always been pretty conservative, but I’ve really learned to curb my impulse and unnecessary spending. I’ve also found, at least in recent years, that I am fairly immune to most conventional marketing. No matter how cool an ad makes something look, I find that I can pretty much ignore its call unless I have a genuine, vested interest in the product. To that effect, when I buy a new game, it’s usually with much research and a pre-order for a much anticipated release, or a late release buy after the price has started to slip. Yesterday, however, I saw the release of Forza Motorsport 4 on a passing Tweet and decided that I really needed a new driving game.
The Arts and Crafts of Beer…
Wednesday, October 5th, 2011 | Life | No Comments
…in which I talk about the art of craft beer.
This past weekend I went to the 2011 Denton Homebrew Showdown in which 14 beers were entered to see who made the best craft beer in Denton. Not only was it an opportunity to sample a wide range of beers, but more specifically it was nice to try out a lot of the creative ideas spawned right here in Denton. I had been invited to participate but seeing as how I still view my brewing as kind of “cheating,” I didn’t feel justified in entering the contest. Additionally, I would have had to provide 5+ gallons of beer and since I only brew 2 gallons at a time, I would have resulted in an oddly mixed batch of beer. I had a good time and enjoyed the selection, but I left with mixed feelings about my own processes.
Your Head Will Collapse But There’s Nothing In It…
Wednesday, September 28th, 2011 | Board Games | No Comments
…in which I talk about an unfounded fascination with Lovecraftian games.
I’m going to plainly state up front that I’ve never read any Lovecraft, nor do I have more than even a passing understanding of the entire Cthulhu mythos (I had to Google the spelling of Cthulhu, even). This has not, however, stopped me from developing an almost insatiable appetite for Cthulhu based board/card/dice games. I’ve got four in my game closet now, and every time another one pops up on my radar, my ears definitely prick up. Of course, even in the light of this obsession, there’s still one Cthulhu game that I can’t foster an appreciation or excitement for: Arkham Horror.
The Importance of Insignificance…
Wednesday, September 21st, 2011 | Life | 2 Comments
…in which I talk about pointlessly trivial current affairs.
By the mere fact that I’m going to write this entry, I myself become a hypocrite by jumping on the trolling hype of a topic that, in my mind, deserves not even the passing of conversation. However, in witnessing, and even being roped into all of the debate and debauchery surrounding this insubstantial first world issue, certain ideas and opinions have come to mind and I feel, as a result, that I must at least share these thoughts.
What Day Is It?
Thursday, September 15th, 2011 | Blogging, Family, Work | No Comments
…in which I talk about having lost track of time and how it’s time to get back on track.
So, yeah, I kind of slipped a little bit there. Lets just say things have been crazy lately and I’m hoping that the end is near. I’ve really missed my writing sessions and have regretted not keeping it up, but the last few weeks at work have been so maddening that I’ve had no insight or energy upon getting home to even bother typing a word. Things are calming down no, so I hope that by next week I will be resuming my regular update schedule.
Welcome to my Seven Day Work Week…
Saturday, August 27th, 2011 | Work | No Comments
…in which I talk about the hell week that leads up to the first day of school.
As you may notice, today is not exactly Wednesday, but then again, by the time I got to Wednesday, not only did I have no concept of what day it was, but I was so behind on my work, I wouldn’t have been able to blog even if I’d had the energy to do so. This is the first week of classes here at UNT and for me, that means it’s the busiest week of the semester. Additionally, its the first week of the Fall semester, also known as the new Academic year and the new Fiscal year. Being that I am the solely responsible for getting all of the computer classrooms ready, as well as the computer lab, as well as hiring student employees for said lab, and making the majority of purchases for not only the lab, but the IT office in general, it’s been a pretty crazy week. And what’s worse, my week started last Sunday and once again, I’m back in the office.
My Constitution Has Failed Me…
Wednesday, August 17th, 2011 | Life | 2 Comments
…in which I talk about my loss of superhuman healing powers.
There was a time, years ago, where I would almost never get sick. During my time in college, I found that I would only get sick once per year, and even then, it was usually just a fever that burned up to 103° and then pass within 24 hours. I always figured it was my body’s way of burning up everything that could possibly infect me for the next year. Yeah, it was a stupid comic book theory, but it’s what I went with and it worked for me. In more recent years, however, that any invulnerability to illness that I once had, has passed on with age. All this means is that I am no longer guaranteed to be one of the survivors when “Captain Tripps” goes marching.
The Grass is Most Definitely Greener…
Wednesday, August 10th, 2011 | Home | No Comments
…in which I talk about the futility of lawn care in the Texas summer.
So, when I was growing up in Connecticut, we didn’t have a lawn at all. We lived in the deep woods surrounded by rich deciduous trees that would support nothing beneath their canopy but a thick layer of mulched leaves and moss. In those youthful days of frolicking in the rough, often brambly undergrowth of the New England forestry, I dreamed of nothing more than a lush green lawn with grass so thick it was like carpet that tickled your toes on warm summer days. What I got, however, was a house in Texas with a dry, desolate excuse for a lawn, with grass that is almost perpetually in hibernation.
The Mechanical Equivalent of Heat…
Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011 | Cycling | 3 Comments
…in which I talk about cycling in the Texas summer.
I’ve refrained from complaining about the heat because I know everyone is sick of Tweets declaring the obvious “It’s Hot” sentiments, or even worse, photos of thermometers, which are often suspect. Nevertheless, I feel like I should write a little bit on riding in the blistering sun because it seems like any time someone learns that I’m still riding every day, they respond with a sentiment of awe or amazement. And while I do in fact continue to ride, I am more filled with a sense of pride rather than surprise at my persistence and dedication. But more than anything else, I’m proud of my change in outlook.
I ♥ Tim Schafer
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