Long time....

It has been a rather long time since I've posted on this site.
I don't like re-typing everything, so if you want a brief overview of my life and what's been happening, go to:
www.xanga.com/lrdvampyre

I may be posting here again...we'll see

Till next time, take care and be good

A Week Since GAMA

So...last week I went down to Vegas for a GAMA convention. GAMA's the organization that's responsible for the Origin Convention...anyway, this was more of a "get game store owners/operators" together and discuss how to run a gaming store successfully convention.

I learned a few things...should I ever be so inclined as to start up my own store. But that's not going to happen any time soon. So, other than the seminars, seeing some of the new games coming out was also quite interesting...I wasn't keen on some of the sales pitches some of the manufacturers/publishers were giving.

All in all, I had a good time, though I did learn a few things that I know I would do different should I go down next year:
1. I will get my own room
2. Along with getting my own room, I will also make reservations that will start the day before and go to the day after

That's about it really. I'm going to try posting more...just been a little tired from the hectic schedule of the convention and then getting back into work.

Talk to you all later.

Another Test

Seeing this on a friend's blog, I just had to try it...

Smart Paladin 62% Combativeness, 16% Sneakiness, 82% Intellect, 69% Spirituality

Valorous! Noble! Or possibly just a self-righteous jerk (but with the brains to keep you alive!)... You are a Smart Paladin! Paladins are holy warriors. They are valorous defenders of the light. Unfortunately, most of them are so ardent in their defense they tend to meet sticky ends faster than you can say "rampaging red dragon." Many people look up to Paladins, while others just consider them stuck up, overbearing, or self-righteous. Fortunately for you, unlike most Paladins, you're pretty smart. Which means that you're more likely to fall into the "admired" category, rather than the "obnoxious" or "dead" categories. Much like the crusades, you manage to combine violence and religion, though unlike the crusades, you add a healthy does of intelligence. You may be a staunch defender of the faith, a valorous champion of the weak, or the stuff that jihads are made of. Which ever one you are, just be happy that you’ve got the smarts to back it up and make it work.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 60% on Combativeness You scored higher than 8% on Sneakiness You scored higher than 76% on Intellect You scored higher than 91% on Spirituality

Link: The RPG Class Test written by MFlowers on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

Vegas

So...I'm going to be heading down to Las Vegas in a couple of weeks for a convention. I'm looking forward to it, but I'm also feeling a little uneasy. Most likely because this is something that I haven't done before and I'm always a little uncomfortable when going into something unfamiliar to me.

Though, I think that's just a part of human nature actually. We tend to be a bit more defensive when not in our element...generally speaking. Some people don't ever appear that way, but I don't understand them. Mind you, I don't really understand human interaction itself...maybe I'm a little too practical (or just a bit too shy), but all the games we play, all the half-truths and blatant lies...I would like to think that life would be much easier if we could all just drop these pretenses and deal openly and honestly with one another. That's what I would like...but that would be an ideal world where respect and understanding would be the rule of the day.

Yet, even if we would only drop the facade for a little while with our loved ones and friends, maybe that would be a start to something...better? I would have to change a lot of my instinctive behaviours...I got really good at erecting different facades that sometimes I wonder who I really am. Even now, I know I behaviour differently when in different groups of people. Is this the way we are supposed to behave? Or is it just a result of social conditioning over the ages...Is there anything wrong with this type of behaviour? Am I just that oblivious to social interactions? I don't think I am...at least insofar as being able to not offend those around me when I'm with people...but I still feel like I'm missing something...not understanding something about social interaction.

Oh well...those are just some of the thoughts going through my head as I head back to work...
Talk to you later

Personalities

Okay...time to fall into the bandwagon of online personality-typing....

Here's the Dark: The Dark Side


Here's the Light: The Not So Dark Side

Go on, you know you want to...just click on either link, or both...

Falling Behind

Man, I'm slipping in keeping up on posting...then again, I don't like posting when I don't have anything to say.

I thought about ranting about Valentine's Day, but decided not to. I've already done that and really, right now the only thing that irks me about the day is the rampant commercialization of the day...and the pressure that is put onto the guys to get something for the girls.

So, really nothing much has changed in my life lately...still at the same job, still doing pretty much the same things I've been doing for the last while. I'm in the process of getting over a cold...nasty one, but the worst has come and gone. I just have to deal with the plugged nose.

I am a bit depressed about the lack of love-life that I have...yet I'm resigned to that fact for the time being. Outside of gaming, I really don't do much and I'm not interested in going to a meat market...err, I mean nightclub or bar to find someone. I think I'm doing okay without being in a relationship...I'm just getting sick and tired of seeing everyone I know pair up...oh well, not much I can do. I am happy for them...I just rather wish I didn't have to see overt displays of affections and the like. Anyway...

I'm looking forward to taking a trip down to Vegas next month...going to a convention. First time I've done this sort of thing. It'll be interesting, I think.

So, other than the slight irritation I have at the exploitation of the heart that is known as Valentine's Day, and the tiredness of being ill, I'm doing pretty good.

Post-Election

Is it just me, or are people sore losers? First, Paul Martin quits as party leader when his party leaves, and then I see comments from people I would call friends laying waste to those who may have voted Conservative.

Personally, I am offended by comments that say those who voted Conservative are idiots, farmers, and oil industry workers. I am none of those...I would like to think that I am well educated, and I neither work in or on a farm nor do I have any ties to the oil industry...except for the fact that I buy gas for my car even 2 1/2 weeks. I would really like it if these people would take a moment and think about what they are going to say before just laying waste with their comments. We live in a free country where we are allowed to have our own opinions and thoughts about anything and everything. I would like to think that I haven't gone around throwing muck on those who are Liberals, or exteremists in any party so why must these people feel the need to be so crass about other people?

The unfortunate thing is, when they make these comments they have the following effects:
1. They get people upset and angry at them and their political inclinations...debate is one thing, but name-calling and insult-hurling is something else entirely
2. Their comments have the side-effect of swaying other people's opinions for good or ill. These comments are distorted over time and soon you have people who are just willing to believe that all Conservatives are red-neck, third cousin marrying, illeterate hillbillies (no offense intended to those hillbillies out there who might read this)

There are other socio-political rammifications I'm sure, but those two are the ones that I know of. It just saddens me that people I know and consider friends can come across as very ignorant s.o.b.'s

Anyway, I don't want to dwell on this too much...there are more important things to life than petty arguements and disagreements of opinions.