MyLyphe

Ok so I told Seth that I’ve been playing a little game called World of Warcraft. You’re thinking- “that is for geeks.” You’d be semi-correct, but the numbers don’t lie (my hips occasionally do). 7 million players online. The I thought you could dabble in such a game but I was poorly mistaken. I’ll take the blame for where I’m at, but second goes to Josh.

I met him at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy my sophomore year and he’s is in my top 5 male friends. He resides in sunny Chico, CA and told me of an addiction to the game he had already worked through and uninstalled the game completely. Whereas this might have been a deterrent for most, it was the affirmation I needed to start my journey. I always wanted to try it and he was the first person I knew that had a real experience in the best selling MMORPG to date. I’m in.

I purchased the game at Compusa (getting them to price match Bestbuy’s sale that week) and waited 3 or 4 days to install. I had to figure out my character and such. I won’t go into all the details but I’m a human warlock. So the first few nights I met a few people and did my fair share of “grinding” (accomplishing quests and killing stuff), but at that level you’re not too committed. You reach level 10 fairly quickly. This is a milestone of sorts. You start to really grow your character. Now for those readers shaking their heads- stop it. You can’t judge it until you do it- if you’re a gamer you’ve never done anything like this- you don’t just get cool weapons and clothes. There are auction houses, mail systems, flight patterns- the whole nine. It is like opening your mouth to a fire hydrant. At first it just drains you, but then it hooks you. You have to level up.

Back to Josh. So I call him up and tell him I’ve started playing and he literally moans. He goes into how his wife was going to kill him, how he’ll have to gently bring this up, and how me being involved won’t help the situation (she knows how Josh and I are). My plan of attack- no pressure. I didn’t call and bother. No annoying emails. Just silence and when he called I said it was a blast. It worked. He’s back in- resurrected his player ($25) - totally worth (lvl 41 priest). That takes months to do. So currently i am at level 18 (almost 19) and have officially played for 2 days 9 hrs or so. I’ve met lots of people who help – scary how much the pseudo world supports each other. Why aren’t we that nice to perfect strangers?
MSNBC recently had an article here that that should give you some insight on WoW. It isn’t just for geeks- yes it contains a lot but you don’t have to feel lame about picking up a copy and shelling out the 15/month (60 Day Time Card).

I've taken a few screenshots lately that I've enjoyed (I'm still new)
Stal and I get a bit tired and had a lapse like Joey and Ross-

This guy apparently picked the wrong name-

Here is the geeky part- feel free to join me but before you sign up email me at Tom@Tech-AL.com I can give you 15 days free in addition to your free month. I am on Bloodhoof server under the name Methusal. OK sorry.

I haven't come across Black Rob yet, but given his lack of hits and the number of Blizzard Servers - he might be on.

So a few months back I had said goodbye to my favorite DVD player of all time. The Sony DVP-NC655P had served me really well for about 3 years when it just stopped reading disks. It reported that they were dirty or unreadable. Just like every other American I went out and purchased a new one. But something in me just couldn’t give up on it- I mean, it was 5 disc – which sounds stupid but was really nice and had 2 s-video outputs and component (progressive). It was pretty bad for back in the day. So yesterday I decided to get it out of the closet ( I don’t throw much away – especially when it means so much to me). I opened it up just to see what was happening inside – heck I can’t break it anymore than it already is. So what I saw when a disc was inserted was interesting. The loaded disc was put into position and the read head tried with all its might to interpret the data. One problem- it wasn’t spinning. What do you think I did? Of course I gave it a flick. Get that bad boy spinning- and much to my surprise it worked. There is some sort of inertia problem. I don’t know if the little motor is weak (probably on its last leg) or just needed a bit of lube to get it back in working order. So I tried some lube first. That didn’t exactly work. Yes I made sure that I didn’t get any on the lens- I’m no moron. But that just didn’t do the trick. So now I know I’m gonna need something that gives me some sort of access to this disc while protecting the innards from dust and such. Hey- I’ll make a hole big enough so I can stick my finger in there to get it started!

It may be ghetto- but it works my friends. I used a great bimetal hole saw and made a few templates to make sure the positioning was correct. Then I made the commitment and made it permanent. Then I used some scrap cabling from an APC usb to RJ-45 cable that I’ll never use and cut that badboy to length then pulled out the wires. This made for a nice clean rubber protector for my precious fingers (I’m a hand model). So here is the finished product.


It works (for now) and I’m pretty happy. My dad made fun of me:(

Ok I am writing this a bit late, but the memory is still fresh. After some great expectations and some late let-me-downs we finally got on the road. We asked pony if he wanted to join us and he agreed- but did let us know that if there was a GA game on tv he wouldn’t have- nice- what a friend. We got on the road a bit later than we’d wanted to, but away none the less. We got to Chattanooga and HAD to stop at Sticky Fingers. I’d say they’re in my top 5 places, if not top 3, for barbeque/ribs I’ve ever had. After a full stomach I had planned to pick up probably the 3rd most important camping addition I’d been researching for literally months- the Eagles Nest Outfitters Single hammock. Luckily it was just about 4 miles down the same street as lunch. We got there and they had the color I wanted- the purchase was made and a full gear review will follow in the next couple days.

We met up with Seth who was in his element with his hood raised in the bi-lo parking lot talking to some yokel youths. We went in and made the necessary food purchases- which we’re perfecting I might add. The more we camp the better we prepare. Here’s the food list that serves us well:

Dinners:
Hamburgers with Montreal seasoning
Hotdogs and leftovers

Lunches:
Precooked chicken/steak in FLOUR tortillas with cheese- (we found out corn isn’t good)

Breakfasts:
Grits/oatmeal
Jimmy Dean sausage WITH sage – no compromises
Bisquick shake and pour pancakes with Aunt Jamima syrup

The hike in was great- ran into a copperhead and it wanted nothing to do with us. It was a long dark walk and my ankles actually hurt for the first time- oh well. This was the first time I used my iPod to pass the time. Since we’re all out of shape other than pony saying he was glad he played Frisbee during the week we’re usually focused on getting there and thus very little chit chat. I was listening to Harry Potter’s 6th book- the Half Blood Prince. It was a very good book- I didn’t finish it until a few days after camping but it was excellent.

We arrived after about 45 minutes to an hour. The site we kind of stumbled upon by just wondering off trail to see a view from the ridge. Most of it is very uneven but there is a great place to line the tents up that is very level.

We settled in made some dang good burgers and chilled for awhile. This was the first time I got to try out my hammock.

Man was it great- more than I could’ve asked for. I want to elaborate but again I’ll wait for the official review.

I slept like a wee babe with the creature comforts we’ve accumulated- nothing overkill but just right. The next morning I had grits and they hit the spot! If only I had my usual tall frosty glass of milk.

Essentially all we did was chill and eat. I regret not venturing down to the river- it is so beautiful down there. I really enjoy this campsite- the area is so nice- and it was just chilly enough to require a fire all day. Another plus to this particular campsite is the amazing abundance of fallen trees- easy firewood.

Stal, Seth and I cut and cut some more- Stal stacked it into a couple nice piles- and we used just about every log.

We had the best lunch ever – using the precooked steak to make some excellent quesadillas. Mine was perfect- as good as I could make at home- I just had to watch closely.

Seth burnt his bit and Stal just about destroyed one side- but that is a quick fix with another tortilla.

We played some cards and the next night was even cooler- which is great because we all have sleeping bags that are comfortable down to around 20degrees. The next morning was pancakes- YES! This is my new favorite addition to our camping meals! First of all – who doesn’t like pancakes? It only requires water, some shaking, and pouring. The safest way to make them are by making smaller or “silver dollar” pancakes. I make audible yummy noises. We packed up and hiked out- boy is it nice not having all that food on our backs.

We hit wendy’s and then had a nice drive home. Pony was quite antisocial as usual- I hate that he cant get over himself- life is too short to not enjoy yourself and the company of friends. At least Stal, Seth, and I had a great time- good memories made

Well I can’t say that I’ll miss the heat too much- although it is supposed to have one last go at sweating us out. Julia and I were in Tennessee this past weekend visiting my parents and my grandparents. What a great drama-free weekend. We started out early Friday morning- trying to avoid traffic- which we did successfully. If you leave around 6:15ish, you’ll most likely have great traffic flow. If you’re going from Birmingham towards the Knoxville area, it’ll take just about 4 hours flat.

I was listening to the fifth Harry Potter book- the Order of the Phoenix. Man is that a tough book to stick with. If you’ve read this one, you understand. We arrived around noon and got back in the car to head for lunch. We came back and hung out then my dad headed on to High Point for the biannual furniture market.

Saturday morning- oh man. I accidentally slept in until 8- which in my defense is 7 central. My grandfather gave me a hard time and told me I was gonna help him plow some potatoes. Let me tell you- mr/ms skeptic reader- that was more fun than I could’ve ever expected. First of all, the tractor he uses for his hobby farm is just tiny! I felt like a little kid on a powerwheel- it just happens to weigh 1700lbs. What a great bonding time for us.

I let down the plow and up came the ‘taters. OH MAN! The soil is so amazingly fertile and turned so easily- he really works at making the soil just perfect. We then gathered them up in buckets and took them back to show the girls. We were covered in mud but man was it fun. The fun didn’t end there though- man oh man we headed to their big farm- which really is pasture and a smattering of hardwoods. They’ve 30 head of cattle and riding around on the 6 wheeler is just my thing. It will go literally anywhere. The only limitations are in your head- and it is safe too- full roll cage if you get turned over- I haven’t come close. I did have to earn my keep though- I had to fix a few things and trim up around their little farmhouse. What a great set of memories.

We came home Sunday around 9 and arrived here around 1:15. We took about a 20 minute nap and I built a stand for my little pancake compressor to raise it up enough to hook it to my air hose reel. We went to Bump & Stal’s house and had a nice dinner and a relaxing evening- we watched most of Harry Potter’s third book- The Prisoner of Azkaban.
I am getting jazzed up already for next weekend- the big camping trip is on for Friday morning – Sunday WOO HOOO! I’ll have a good blog for that one.

This weekend was a mixed bag- some good times and some too frustrating to mention. Originally we had a real trip planned outta town- but ended up with a glorified extended trip to the land. Dave showed up a bit late but we were really stoked to have some fresh stories and such in the mix. He has a bit more experience than the rest of us – so it was cool to listen to what he’s been through. If you haven’t read Stal’s blog you might not know that Dave was a Ranger. He is the ONLY one of us that can expound on sniper school. I bet he’s jealous that he can’t speak of any programming classes or any finals totally in binary. Top that one Mr. Makemyowngillysuit.

Dave hadn’t been on the trail Stal and a handful of other contributors had blazed. One quick firewood gathering break turned into a nice stroll. Tons of spiders with amazing webs- I can’t believe I didn’t take pictures of them. (Insert super cool spider images here) We thought it’d be cool to turn off our lights on the trail. Dude. Crazy dark. Dave told some more cool stories about walking miles in this kind of darkness. I figured I could do that- there stood a tree right in the path that I would’ve met squarely- that could’ve been bad. We finished up the walk, headed back, hit the hay.

The next day after introducing Dave and Pony to field surfing, they both headed home- that was a tad bit annoying, but hey Stal and I had fun anyway- we cleared better spots for the tents and a few 3.0 modifications, then we packed it up and headed home.

The frustrating part of the weekend I guess was the bang for the effort. It is a lot of work to get out there and back. At least Stal was there to understand the irritation. And in all fairness- the trip was worth it just to get to know Dave better. It is a lot of work- if you’re a camper- you understand. Zoë helped me unpack- she looks tired doesn’t she? I am too.

Last night was the first session with the Sunday school guys book study. Stal and I were 30 minutes late BUT did get the opportunity to tour the church campus while looking for the group. That wasn't very cool- if my wife wouldn't have called us and gave us a clue- we would have missed out on a good time.

The book we are studying is John Ortberg’s If You Want To Walk On Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat. Our reading was to cover chapter 1. The chapter started off on the wrong foot with me. The author had good intentions, I think, to make Jesus/God more approachable as a friend that wants you to join him. I had a problem with that- Jesus isn’t my buddy/pal/homie- He is my Lord. Can I casually talk with Him- of course but always with respect for His position (worthy) with respect to mine (unworthy). We miss that point too often I think. God is love and all the warm fuzzies but His position demands respect and awe. In church the message so often leans on the warm comforting understanding characteristics but doesn’t balance with their counterparts- just, jealous, and judgmental. God has to be the last three (and then some) in order to be the God of love, caring, understanding, etc. He has to discipline us – it is a requirement for love- how can the God of love let us harm ourselves and others when we sin? We are here for a handful of purposes- mainly to acknowledge and glorify Him and to reach out to a lost and dying world. Let’s not forget our place with respect to His throne. I needed to get that out there before I go further

The rest of the chapter was much better- not any more challenging than Sunday mornings with the Thomasons (they set the bar pretty high)- but still a good read. The concept is that we all have our “boats” of comfort and security that we must break free of. My boats are mainly people investments and a fear of diminishing or zero returns. The only one that can coax or demand me to get out is God- and with His help I hope to do just that.

Here is another random picture i took while in TN visiting my grandparents- I think it speaks for itself and is a really great parking reminder.

Ok folks- now some of you may know that I am located in Birmingham, AL - that's right- Alabama. I am not a native- I was born in St. Louis and lived there for 10 years. Then I moved to Vancouver, WA This is where I met my great friend Johnny. Then after another 5 years I ended up in Cincinnati, OH where I went to 3 highschools and graduated. I chose a small private college in Birmingham (Samford University) and loved Bham so much- I stayed. Ok so that is a rundown of where I’ve been. SO back to Johnny- After I moved from Washington we lost contact for almost 10 years. One day I heard thru my family that he was embarking on a short term missions project in Slovenia. Within the week he was at my home on his way out of America.

WHEW (sorry that took so long- didn't want to leave anything out)

So back to this weekend- Johnny was able to swing by and visit for a few days before taking a class in NC. So I decided he needed to spend a Saturday at the land with us (Us being Stal and I (Stal is a good friend I met at Samford)). So we got to the land around 9:30ish and I gave Johnny a quick tour and headed back to the barn. We needed a goal for the day... and it had to be cool. The barn is full of junk from the previous owner who we believe to be some sort of contractor... tons of crap in the barn for us to put something together with. This is a place MacGyver would happen upon- perfect for any plan to combat the bad guys . We found a 55 gallon drum full of bolts, fittings, and other hardware to make this dream of mine come true. The dream was to put together some sort of chariot to be pulled behind the 4wheeler because the land is steep and who doesn't think chariots are awesome?! So we began our hunt for something to inspire us - the first item that got our attention was an old ironing board... looked like something you could ride, right? YOU COULDN"T BE MORE CORRECT! We bolted the board to the 4wheeler and used some electrical cord with a piece of PVC conduit to fashion a tow handle.

FIELD SURFING WAS BORN.

Immediately we wondered why we didn't have our cameras or camcorders with us... so after several turns riding the prototype we broke for lunch at Subway. We all knew deep within our hearts that we had to document such an adventure- and to get some more tools. Back to my house we drove. We picked up some pears, tools, and cameras and headed back.

After we returned to the land we pulled out all the parts we thought necessary and came up with this way to connect it

Then we designed the sled with a few boards with some sides and cleats. The angle was made by some old door hinges and then nailing the angle into place with the sides. The bottom had a few rough spots that could’ve stopped the sled cold- so we cut out some plastic from an old 5 gallon paint bucket to make the transition smooth. I think my word picture is poor- luckily I have an actual picture for you mr/ms/mrs/other reader.
Here are both prototypes side by side.

I will hopefully put up a video that is already in the works up later this week- it takes a long time to edit these things.

Oh yes I forgot- the sweet sunglass you see the rider wearing- we also found those throwback Blue Blockers in the 55 gallon drum as well. Now they are a article for the tow-ee.

Hey again I thought I’d write and dish my weekend.

Friday the gang got together for some PF Changs- good times food was the same it has always been. We did get a $37 discount because our reservation was overshot by a full hour. Oh well- more time to gab with friends.

Saturday- early early early I put together my new wagon to pull behind the 4 wheeler on the land so that took a bit longer than expected. Stal, B$, Zoë, and I got out to the land around 10:30 or so. Stal got a wicked new chainsaw-type blade for his FS80 R- worked amazingly well. No way will I buy another regular blade. It was great having some helpful friends- we got a ton of work done. I got home around 4:30 or so and had to wash the dog and didn’t quite have time for a nap before rejoining up for a grill out at Stal’s place. Tim and Caitlin joined up and the group mix was awesome I don’t know why we don’t do that more often.

Sunday- we were a bit lazy and that isn’t an excuse for missing church- but we did make it to Sunday school- we’re still studying Ezekiel 37- dry bones- great lesson- things to work on. We went to Moe’s, Lizzy and b left and then we napped like a champ. This is kinda lame huh? We went with bump and Stal to see The Island- wanna read my review? Great! I’ll write that one in a separate post. Then I went to sleep.

Ok everyone I thought it'd be a good idea to let you into my small wonderful world. First a little about me- I am 25, married to my beautiful wife Julia, have a 3yr old chocolate lab named Zoë and work for myself. I really enjoy my Church and Sunday school class.

My hobbies can be summed up by a general "outdoor activities" categorization. This includes but is not limited to: mountain biking, camping, hiking, 4wheeling, trail maintenance, skiing, tennis, golf (when I play well), and photography. I am a big fan of building things (almost anything- bridges furniture etc.) but my tool collection is still in an infantile state. Anyone want to donate a welder?

My job is kind of strange- but it affords me the opportunity to spend a lot of time with my wife and dog. To sum up I help people (commercial mainly but a handful of residential clients) with technology. I don't want to bore you with details. A lot of my posts will link to cool articles or websites worthy of a link.