horouwholf

MIddle of nowhere!

2006-11-07T15:39:58Z

I need to update this thing more offten. But I figure this is as good a time as any. I'm accually supprised to have a wireless connection way out in the middle of the New Mexico desert. I'm out west visiting family and we're currently touring the wild west. I'm at the Taos Pueblo right now. The buildings these indians are living in were build over a thousand years ago. That's wild. We're going to be hitting Roswell NM in a little while too. Woot! The strange thing is, my internet gets connection out here near the village, but my cell phone is very spotty. I hope I'm not missing any important calls. I can see my parent's packing up so I've got to go, but I'll report a little later about my trip. Later all!

Still here!

2006-08-11T00:51:02Z

Much to the dismay of some folk, I'm not quite dead yet.

I don't really have anything major to talk about, but since some people have a passing interest in my life, I'll toss some info on my current status.

I am finally going to make it to Gen Con this weekend. To those who don't know, it's basically the E3 of the pre-electronic gaming industry. I'll get to meet all the designers and writers of the old and new board games, card games, and RPGs. Heading there with the Saturday night D&D group. I may even spend some time at the Twilight Creations table signing autographs because of the Zombies!!! card I'm on.

Unfortunately, going to Gen Con means I'm going to miss the first weekend of the Renaissance Festival. But aside from the first weekend, I will be attending every weekend after that. Don't know who all still reads this journal, but it would be cool to run into somebody I know there. Besides the usual motley crue that practically live there.

I've recently had a car die on me, but picked up a new one (to me anyway) last weekend. Spent $100 on an 85 Volvo. Never had one before, but I hear they're tanks. Makes for a good winter vehicle.

Because some people have asked, yes, I am still single, but not unhappily so. Still looking though. Seem that any woman I meet that's interesting, is uninterested. But that's the way they say it goes.

On a positive note, either late October or early November, I will be in an airplane for the first time. Going to be flying to Texas to visit my Parents. If I can time it right, I may even hit the Texas Renaissance Faire if I can find a pretty thing to show me around.

That's pretty much it for now. Never really been public with my life. The good stuff I don't brag about and the bad stuff I like to keep private. So y'all are stuck with the mediocre stuff. Then again, that's the majority of my existence. And that's the way I like it.

Darrell Cleland
aka
Horou Wholf

Too young for this...

2005-11-10T23:00:12Z

Looks like I won't be making it to MFF this year. I had arrangements, but I won't be able to travel for a little while. I got very sick over the weekend. Started friday, and lasted through monday. It was the flu, so it's nothing serious, but it caused some other complications. The extreme dehydration, the chemical imballanced in the body including a severe lack of potassium, and the strain of vomiting caused a minor heart attack. So since Monday night, I've been laying in a hospital bed recovering. Had to do a heart cath, so there was some surgery involved too. It's now Thursday and I'm home with a fridge and pantry full of low salt, low cholesterol foods. Yuck... But I was declared very healthy by the doctors. It was the flu that caused the attack. Anyway, sorry to those I said I'd see at the con, but they're be other cons. Later all!

Horou Wholf

I'm in!

2005-09-16T22:35:49Z

I'm now officially in my new house! I've owned for two months and have just now gotten settled in, but everything's okay. Got the cable installed so this is the first thing I did. It's going to take a little while to fill the house with memories though. For one person, it's a large house. Heck, my computer gets it's own room. That's the first room I decorate though. Lots of ren faire stuff, paintings, costuming, and weapons. My own personal den. I should have a house warming party or something in invite my friends, but not many I know would be interested in coming up to Flint. It's all right though. In other news, my parents move to Texas this coming week. It's going to be kinda tough. I've been on my own off and on for a while now, but this time, it's for good. It's going to be odd not having them live down the street for me to visit and mooch off of anytime I want. But I'll be okay. I keep waiting for things to return to normal between work and the house and the 'rents moving, but I guess I have to get used to this being "normal". Oh well. Catch y'all on the flip side.

Horou Wholf

Moving

2005-09-05T17:15:23Z

I have discovered why gamers live at home for so long. It's a stereotype for a reason. The reason gamers live with their parents until they're 30 is because they own too much damn stuff!!! And it's not normal stuff... easy stuff to move. It's books. 30 truckloads of books. And you can't move too many at once. Sure, I could have loaded all my books into a few huge boxes, but then we'd need a crane to move them. And you never know just how much stuff you own until you try to move. I've got a walk in closet that's floor to ceiling books and now matter how much I pull out and box up, it's not getting any less packed. I don't plan on moving again for a long time. And yes, I've owned the house for two months and am not just moving into it. Gamers are lazy too. :D

Unexpected Concert

2005-07-25T23:19:54Z

Wow! A buddy of mine called me up out of the blue Sunday morning to ask if I wanted to use his extra ticket to see the Detroit Symphony Orchestra at the "Dear Friends: Music from Final Fantasy" concert. How could I pass that up? I suffered at work today for the lack of sleep, but it was worth it! The program went as such:

Liberi Fatali (With the Stoney Creek High School Chamber Singers)
To Zanarkand
Terra's Theme
Theme of Love
Dear Friends
Vamo'alla Flamenco (My all time favorite)
Love Grows

Intermission

Aeris' Theme
You're Not Alone
Ronfaure
Final Fantasy I - III Medley
Cloud Smiles
Final Fantasy

Then they brought out the chamber singers out for an encore` of One Winged Angel

And if all that wasn't cool enough, while pulling out of the parking garage, I see a few car's up, the license plate "FZYOTTR" I had the driver pull along side and it was Kenny and Alphawolf! It was a very good evening indeed.

Horou Wholf

horouwholf @ 2005-07-07T00:21:00

2005-07-07T04:27:25Z

Looks like I was recruited to do one of those meme things... So here goes.

"List 5 reasons you are a dork. And make them good reasons. Justify them. Explain them. Be loud and proud of how big a dork you are! Then pick the 5 biggest dorks you know and have them do the meme."

1) One of the deciding factors in the house I bought was that it had a large enough basement to set up a gaming room.

2) I was owner of my own gaming store purely for the reason of getting all my games at wholesale prices.

3) I run a monthly board and card game meet at the local gaming store for city children.

4) I've had multiple bookshelves collapse under the weight of hundreds of gaming books.

5) I'm involved in two D&D games with different groups and am still looking to start another.

Update on my life.

2005-06-18T12:25:40Z

These last couple of months have been a turn around in my life. Sort of turned upside down and shaken around. But it's all good.

First thing, I bought a house. And it was a bit of an impulse buy. Saw one I wanted and took about 8 hours to think it over, then signed the paperwork. It was one of those offers that I couldn't let pass by. Unfortunately, it is in Flint so it didn't get me closer to anywhere. It's a three bedroom and one and a half bath, a very large basement for gaming, a attached garage which is nice, and it comes with all the appliances. The elderly woman who lived there before me spent $25k in updates so the roof, the windows, garage door and opener, washer, dryer, furnace, central air, refrigerator, stove, and dish washer are all less than a year old. Then the woman passed away and her family lives out of town so they just wanted to sell the house for quick cash and no hassle. It's in a very nice neighborhood and my house payments are $400 a month which is less than what I'd pay for rent anywhere decent. It's a good thing I paid off my camero payments. Things are going to be tight for a little while. But...

I got a promotion at work. A big one. I went from the shop floor to "Assistant System Administrator". I've gone from wearing a uniform with my name on it to wearing slacks and polo shirts in an air conditioned office. The hours are a little longer, but the pay is much better and I get better parking. Unlike production, my overtime isn't voluntary, but now that I have a house payment, I'll take it! Now I just have to take up playing golf. *laughs*

That's about it for now. I will catch y'all at a later date!

The circle is complete.

2005-05-23T00:52:06Z

I just got back from a trip to Mt. Pleasant PA, visiting Danielle and Tammy, a couple of friends from way back. Left Thursday morning and just got back this evening. Because Danielle had to work, Tammy said she had a surprise for when I got there. She was taking me to see Star Wars EP3 at the drive in theater. Wow... She didn't know this, but the first time I saw the first movie 27 years ago, I saw it at a drive in theater. I honestly got a little emotional as we were pulling in. I enjoyed the movie, but I loved the nostalgia.

Homestar Runner.

2005-05-14T05:02:46Z

I just found out that the Homestar Runner crew are going to be at the Motor City Comic-Con this weekend in Novi! Now I need to bring something for them to sign!

Now this is a cool one.

2005-04-25T23:29:06Z

Star Wars Meme by sailor_phobos

1st 2 Ltrs of 1stname + Last 3 Ltrs of last name

1st 2ltrs of moms last name+Last 3ltrs of city brn

Sith or Jedi

Jedi

Skin Color

Yellow

Eye Color

Blue

Light Saber Color

Purple

How close you are to switching sides: 51%

Username

You're Random Star Wars Quote:

The plans you refer to will soon be back in our hands.

Your Padawan (if you're a jedi)

thesqueak

Your apprentice (if you're a sith)

simbalion

You're Master

mietm

Quiz created with MemeGen!

Unexpected loss

2005-04-07T00:15:51Z

Today started out so mundane. The same as every work day has been for the last several years. On the way home, I stopped at the comic book store like I have every Wednesday for 15 years now. Instead of the owner, a friendly eighty year old man, it was his son running the store. It turns out, the owner had suffered a accident while cutting down a tree last Sunday and broke his back, neck, several ribs, and fractured his skull. At age eighty, one dosen't recover from that. Fifteen years of a friendly smile and a "I'll see you next week!" and now that's over. I didn't even realize it had been that long or how routine it had become until today.

Refreshing weekend

2005-03-14T02:08:15Z

I need more weekends like this. A visit from a good friend, and a general weekend of relaxation. First weekend in a long while I haven't worked or driven all over the state. Got some good gaming in at the weekly D&D game, picked up a few new card games, smoked a few fantastic cigars, met Elysium's really cool sister, and found a treasure to download off Bittorent I thought I'd never find. I am actually ready to go back to work tomorrow. I feel this weekend has been restful enough while still being entertaining and I haven't wasted one minute. In all, I have nothing to complain about.

Chocolate Niblet Beans

2005-01-09T03:48:04Z

Another insane video. It is humanly impossible to identify every bit of pop culture represented in this music video. And if you think that you actually have identified it all, watch it again. In fact, I'd wager a twenty spot that it can't be done.

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/cnb.php

Another year older and deeper in debt.

2005-01-01T23:04:55Z

So another year has come and gone, and I turned the bit 30 new years eve. As much as I did enjoy myself at the party I did attend, there were so many friends missed. I wish there was a way I could have made the rounds and visited everybody, wishing them all a Happy New Year in person. I wasn't really planning on making any resolutions this year, but now that I'm thinking about it, I think that getting out more often to visit friends is a good resolutions to make. I look forward to seeing all my friends soon enough. Later all!

horouwholf @ 2004-12-21T20:26:00

2004-12-22T01:32:38Z

I know this is something I usually don't do, and there are others who read my journal who don't care for these, but I wanted to post this one. It's a fun little test. (Also to test to see if it works. Never posted anything like this before.)

You scored as Neutral Good. A Neutral Good person tries to do the 'goodest' thing possible. These people are willing to work with the law to accomplish their goal, but if the law is corrupt they are just as willing to tear it down. To these people, doing what's right is the most important thing, regardless of rules, customs, or laws.

</td>

Lawful Good

70%

Neutral Good

70%

True Neutral

65%

Chaotic Good

60%

Lawful Neutral

60%

Lawful Evil

30%

Chaotic Neutral

30%

Neutral Evil

25%

Chaotic Evil

15%

What is your Alignment?
created with QuizFarm.com

Cute but sad.

2004-11-28T01:28:40Z

Found this the other day while surfing. http://albinoblacksheep.com/flash/bunny.php Still chuckle every time I see it.

horouwholf @ 2004-11-03T21:00:00

2004-11-04T02:15:35Z

I enjoy where I work. I believe the people I work for are in all, good people. I don't have a boss there I don't like, and I seem to have an awful lot of them. But... Three months ago, I put in for a vacation for this Thursday, and next Monday. Since we don't normally work Fri, Sat, and Sun, that gives me a nice long five day weekend and only have to use two vacation days. Well... Because our business has picked up soooo much, and our salesmen may have taken on more work we can handle. So for the first time since I've started, we have a mandatory weekend. It was decided that no body is exempt from working on Fri and Sat. I still get Thursday and Monday off, but they don't know about the days in between yet. I had a talk with my boss, my boss' boss, and her boss as well. I was told that it would be discussed with the management committee, and they would get back to me tomorrow with their answer. On Thursday. The first day of my vacation. So now my question is... Do I cancel my vacation to stick around and hear weather or not my vacation is canceled, or do I take it anyway and find out Tuesday weather or not I should have taken it? I'll get back to y'all when I get back from Greensburg Pennsylvania.

Kung Foo Mother of Doom

2004-10-21T00:13:41Z

I made a discovery today! Do not turn your back on somebody after a smart-ass remark, especially when this person is a mother of 3 boys. They've mastered the martial art of the "open palm to the backside"!

The Sims 2

2004-10-06T02:14:26Z

Okay, I sat and played this game for several hours today, and I really need somebody to explain the appeal of this game. I made this little guy who looked exactly like me. I thought that was pretty cool. Lots of options there. Then I got a cool little house. I think I would enjoy living in this cool little house. And I got to fill it with some neat stuff. So far, so good. Something I would have been comfortable with. Then my little guy started living and doing stuff in the house. Well... I need a job, so mini-me went out and got a job. What do you know, he's got a well paying factory job. Well, I can relate to that. So he wakes up in the morning to an annoying little alarm clock, used the john, then goes off to work. After waiting around looking at an empty house for a while, he gets home, uses the john again, takes a bath, chats and plays on his computer to keep his fun and social levels up, makes himself dinner, then goes back to bed....... Okay... See... The sad thing is, I didn't even see the irony until HIS COMPUTER BROKE! WTF? It was depressing! *sobs* I'm going back to playing Silent Storm and SW Battlefront.

Horou Wholf

Bad news at the Ren Faire.

2004-09-18T00:54:37Z

Most people that know me know that I am heavily involved in the Renaissance Festival and the Michigan Viking's Guild. Or... What was formerly the viking's guild. I don't know exactly what happened, and don't know if I ever will find out the truth, but there has been some very dramatic changes. A good friend of mine, Ed, or Inar: King of the Vikings as he's known by the rest of the faire, has been accused of some very serious charges by several other festival goers, including the ruling council of the viking's guild. There are people who are supposed to be his friends, but have decided to accuse and without consent from the rest of the guild, remove him from the guild and are attempting to have him banned from the festival. I've known him for many years now and the festival is his life. It's what he lives for and his first hobby. The guild being his second hobby. He started it as a social group, an excuse for him and his best friends to get together outside the festival season. And now, Like Caesar on the steps of the Senate, he has been betrayed by those he chose to call friends. Even if the guild survives this schism, I choose to stand by Inar's side and will no longer be part of it. Unfortunately, that may also mean being banned from the festival myself, along with all those who refuse to turn on their friend. I'll update more on this as I get more information.

Michigan Renaissance Festival

2004-08-15T02:02:23Z

This is going to be a long one.

Today was an interesting day. Like usual, the opening day of MRF in an unforgettable event. And here is a list of today's events.

Got up around 7 A.M. to get ready. Normally, I have to spend a lot of time getting into costume, but I'm never in costume opening day. Too much I want to see and would rather not be hounded for pictures all day.

8 A.M. Left the house. Wanted to leave a little early so I could get some breakfast at Micky D's. A quick breakfast for $4.13 (keep track here) there, then off to the Fairgrounds in Mt. Holly.

8:20 Got the the fairgrounds. I didn't remember it being that short of a drive and had no intention of getting there an hour and a half before I could get in. But, this turned out to be a good thing. I've never got up this close before! As I pulled into the parking spot, I felt a disturbance in the force. Really! I sat there for a second thinking "What the heck?" Then I look to my left and sitting in the car right next to me, looking back at me just as shocked is Elysium! What are the odds of that? She showed up for one day of the fest before moving to Texas with her fiance. I talked with here for a while before she had to take off to talk her way in without paying. *laughs* I then went to the entrance to wait along with the masses.

10 A.M. After some fanfaire, a speech, and some general sillyness, the gates open and with my season pass, I get a head start on the mad rush to the Pub. I'm the second person, the first guy get's all foam so I got the first woodchuck cider of the day for $5. They're $4.50, but he didn't have change yet so the rest was a tip. Sat around the pub for a while, chatting with all my old friends, meeting new friends, and having a second drink. Also $5.

11 A.M. Decided to go out and do some shopping. I needed a few minor pieces to get my costume together. Going from store to store, I ran into Scavenger who's been MIA from the MiFur scene for quite some time. I had to stop and chat with him for a little while. He helps at one of the leather booths so I bought a belt strap/mug holder so I can carry my drinking horn easier. $10. I also saw one of my favorite musical groups there, the New World Renaissance Band and bought a CD. $15. I also had to get a Thor's Hammer necklace, something very Vikingesque. $29.

12 P.M. With my new goods, I went back to the pub because I had heard that King Inar had shown up and was waiting for his vikings here. Well, the mead was passed out and we all toasted the king's health, then I got another cider. $4.50 this time. When that one ran out, Kassar of the viking's bought me another one while we talked shop.

1:30 P.M. More shopping! At another leather shop, I picked up a custom belt, $70 and an axe ring (axe holster on the belt) for $10. At the Silk Road, I had to stop and talk to the shop keeper, a very nice lady who did the robes and cloak for my costume. While talking, I decided to pick up a shirt I liked. Spent $94 on that. Around the corner from that shop was Half Moon Leather. And they had the cowl (hood and half cloak) that I've had my eye on for years. And the price had come down to $90. So I bought it. *sighs*

3 P.M. Back to the Pub! I grabbed another cider and got into a sing along with the viking guild. I found out the Gibbon the Troubadour will no longer be playing the fest. Apparently, the management wanted the rights to use his name and image as advertising without paying him. I was pretty broken up about that so I had to get another drink.

5 P.M. Okay, I've decided it's time for me to take off. I get a call from Wir3d who says she's near my home and asks if I want her to stop by. If I were home, I would have loved to see her. Would have been the first time seeing her since we separated. But I'm not so she dosen't. I make my rounds and say good bye to everybody, especially Elysium, for it might be a very long time before I see her again, and head for the front gate. While on my way, I see a store that sells moccasins and there's a black set that knee height. They fit so well, and I needed something like them for the costume so I picked them up too. $250.

That's not a typo. $250. The only excuse I can possibly have for this it the alcohol. I can't believe I did that.

Anyway, I made it home safely, although it'll take months for my credit card to recover. But fun was had by all and I encourage everybody to come out to the fair some time.

Over due update.

2004-07-16T14:20:18Z

Okay, I'm a little late on this one, but oh well. This'll be my con report along with a few other things. Of course, the report won't be very interesting. I got sick almost as soon as I stepped into the hotel and didn't get out of the room much. Friday I was active, so I got to see a few things then. Of course, I don't remember exactly what days thing happened on so it'll all just be jumbled together and the highlights mentioned. I really enjoyed 2's stand up. I was surprised he could be entertaining without all the cussing. When I listen to his show on the computer, usually his cussing is borderline retarded so I shut him off. But he was actually funny live! And there was another comic who opened for him, Spazfox. This guy was very entertaining as well and would like to see home of him at future cons. I had to catch Uncle Kage's story hour as well. Which was opened by Spazfox too doing his Kage impression which was uncanny. Kage did his routine to a packed room and as always, was the highlight of the con. One evening during the con, I did go to a rave with the girlfriend and she really enjoyed herself so we'll be doing that again I believe.

Sort of new subject... If I had to choose a convention to go to though, honestly I enjoyed Midwest better. All of the events I enjoy are there too, Uncle Kage, 2, the gaming panels, the Pawpet show, and the dealer's room, but it's not so packed, it 6 hours closer, I know more of the furs at that one, and the layout of the hotel is better. Now, that has nothing to do with me getting sick. Just with my hobbies MFF is more tailored to me. At AC, the gaming rooms are a bit small, and tucked away waaayyy in back so it gets no walk by traffic. At MFF, the gaming room if fairly large and is much closer to the front of the events so people have to walk past the large open double doors to get to anything and often stop in to see what everybody's doing. Now the smoking situation. AC has a very small lobby, and it's right next to the Elevators. The smoking pretty much has to done outside unless you want to smoke right in other people's faces trying to use the elevators. At MFF, the lobby is huge and they have a fairly large seating area off to one side, close to a smaller entrance just for smoking. I can sit and enjoy my cigars without bothering anybody.

Okay, I think that's enough right now. I'll probably get back to this a little later. Still recovering from whatever I picked up at the con.

Horou Wholf

Last day in the trailor.

2004-06-27T14:58:04Z

Well, this is it. I've got all my belongings packed neatly away in boxes, stacked around me like a cardboard castle. I probably won't have internet connection at my parents for a few days, so I don't know when I'll be back around. I'll get back in touch with all my friends shortly though. Big things in the next few months. I'll be at the MiFur BBQ on the 4th, AC with the girlfriend the weekend after that, then the Ren Faire the next few months. I just need to get settled in and have something stable. Catch y'all later friends!

Horou Wholf

Taking vacation time to work.

2004-06-16T20:17:40Z

I've taken this whole week off the get packing done so I can move by the end of the month. And I know I don't own a lot of things. But I've spent several days sorting and moving things, and for some reason, things seem to have gotten worse in my trailer. It's more organized, but after a few days of work, you'd think that it would look better. I think all I have to do now is just start throwing everything into boxes. That'll do it. Oh, for those who don't know, I'm not moving far. Just down the road back into my old room at my parents. No big deal for me though. I'm doing that so I can save up for a year then buy my own house. Well, back to work.

Horou Wholf