My Blog

A new subculture

silverknight — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:42:14 GMT

I'm playing Astro Empires at the moment and i must say it is a very nice game. You don't have to install anything at all. Just sign up and you are good to go. The best part is that it is completely free!!! Though be warned it is addictive :) Game link: http://ceti.astroempires.com/?ref=C.34188 My nickname in game is "SilverKnight" -------------------------------------------------- There are forums, tribes (called "guilds") --- but you can only be on one at a time, and lots of conversation. There is even POLITICS (with a game that is world wide based on fighting wars with spacefleets). The link above is my Ceti server link, I also have one in Alpha, Beta, and Delta. With four servers, and a forum server, it's easy to fill the need to talk about whatever, and some things that words can't express well enough you can do actions (like attack the person who angered you --- by moving your fleets to his planets and blowing things up) There combines a lot of fun aspects. Kinda explains why I haven't done much on tribe lately.

Now what?

silverknight — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 18:09:27 GMT

Back in February, I was trying to buy a house, because we wanted a place for my grandchildren, and apartments were just not satisfactory. March I was forced to leave the apartment, and tried to save up the money to get the house deal started.... the financing fell through. April and May, we still were struggling to get things moving, when our kids were also suddenly homeless. June the financing came through finally (Son-in-law's father co-signed), but the house seller vacillated, for a MONTH. The seller wound up getting less than the original offer for stringing us along for that month, which cost us more than we had. June 30th, my job situation changed. The Bad : the client passed me over for hire. The Worse : I got let go entirely. The really Good : the client is logging the hours I would have worked and continuing to pay the agency, and the agency will continue to pay me as though I was still working at that site, until I start working at a new site. That allows me to seek out higher paying work, without having to worry about how the bills are going to get paid. I'm the first and only temp given severance pay in the agency. Bonus : the client manager gave me a really nice reference letter. July 1, we moved into our house. Eris has a sense of humor, and Hecate really knows how to stir the pot.

Update of the situation with Michael, my wife et al...

silverknight — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 03:27:11 GMT

The stab wound in Michael's back is almost completely healed. He'll eventually get back to working for a living. Stef hates the place, and wants to get into a new place to live... can't blame her. They both were subpoenaed to testify... they did what they had to do. The eventual result is not in doubt... the person who attempted to kill Michael will NEVER see this side of the bars again.

Something fun I plagerized off of Lliana's blog.

silverknight — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 03:01:55 GMT

Please leave a one word comment that you think best describes me. Then copy and paste this in your blog so that I may leave a word about you!

House deal fell through

silverknight — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 19:00:40 GMT

VA won't finance. They tightened the lending guidelines so fewer veterans can get the loans, simply because the VA had their funding cut AGAIN. Our kids can go and get killed in Iraq, but as soon as they get home, they are too expensive to actually keep the promises made. I'll get the credit dents dealt with and I can get a conventional loan in 6 months. The fact is, under the last administration, the situation I have today would have been a no-brainer approval. "Support our troops" is not just a political slogan. Your magnetic yellow ribbons don't get me very far. We need to have an actual VETERAN in the White House, not a draft dodger, or a chickenhawk. I did not vote for Clinton, either time, and I did not vote for W either time either. We have had nearly four presidential terms of anti-veteran bias in our government. Needless to say, I am encouraging any young folks to NOT join the military in any capacity, until we get some adult supervision in the White House.

Some drama from my wife's blog.

silverknight — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 19:41:16 GMT

First one of my credit cards calls because the online bill pay didn't work. Then this person living at the apartment we are staying with Michael at got into a fight, and then the chickenshit stabbed Mike in the back! Michael made sure the fight went outside so I did not get hurt, thank goodness. Then came the cops, the detective, and the apartment manager came up to see if I was ok, while Mike went to OHSU. This day needs to get over so I can have a better one tomorrow. --------------- The asshole who did the backstab is in police custody, and he's being tried as a career criminal. He's not gonna see this side of the bars for the rest of his miserable existence. Michael is coming home from the hospital today, the hole in his back sure was ugly. I'm of the view that if you are going stab someone, do it in the front so you can look the victim in the eye so he can feel your hate as you kill him. Only a coward stabs in the back. Stef was breaking down crying from this situation. It was good neither she or our dog got hurt. If that asshole hurt my dog, I would kill him. If he hurt my wife, I would pare his skin with a potato peeler until he begged to die. He's lucky he did not hurt either them.

More house buying stuff

silverknight — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 01:40:57 GMT

Just added Stef to the loan, and navigating the VA paperwork makes me wonder if the federal government has stock in Weyerhauser or Boise Cascade.

Moving day sucks

silverknight — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 00:02:13 GMT

Roomate was a blubbering useless cement block around the ankles. The boarding for the cats fell through. The 3 pickups we had lined up fell through because of miscommunication about time.so... we rented a UHAUL truck... no problem. Storage acquired, check. Time to "giterdone"

Holy Shit!

silverknight — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 20:20:36 GMT

The house seller accepted the offer. We finish the paperwork TONIGHT. Closing date April 12. Offer given was $186000 for a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom house, fenced yard. Ay-yi-yi-yi! I'm happier, but I'm totally in terra incognita... I am a little anxious. Anxiety is not a normal emotion for me. After it closes, party at my house. I like that phrase : "my house".

Question to get to know my friends better.

silverknight — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 03:10:42 GMT

1. Can you cook? 2. What was your dream growing up? 3. What talent do you wish you had? 4. Favorite place? 5. Favorite vegetable? 6. What was the last book you read? 7. What zodiac sign are u? 8. Any Tattoos and/or Piercings? 9. Worst habit? 10. Do we know each other off line? 11. What is your favorite sport? 12. Negative or Optimistic attitude? 13. What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with me? 14. Worst thing to ever happen to you? 15. Tell me one weird fact about you: 16. Do u have any pets? 17. Do u know how to do the macerana? 18. What time is it where u are now? 19. Do you think clowns are cute or scary? 20. If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be??? 21. Would you be my crime partner or my conscience? 22. What color eyes do you have? 23. Ever been arrested? 24. What is your favorite drink? 25. If you won $10,000 dollars today, what would you do with it? 26. What kind of bubble gum do you prefer to chew? 27. What 's your favorite place to hang at? 28. Do you believe in ghosts? 29. Favorite thing to do in your spare time? 30. Do you swear a lot? 31. Biggest pet peeve? 32. In one word, how would you describe yourself? 33. Will you repost this so I can fill it out and do the same for you?

Damn It!

silverknight — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 14:55:55 GMT

Well, house sale deal fell through because the co-borrower lost his job. So I pre-qualified myself with my wife's income as part of my income (so she herself is not on the title so her credit is not an issue) at $190K so I am making a new offer on another house this week, and it will not fall through. Problem : I now need temporary housing for 2 months for me, my wife and a house trained dog. Money is not the issue, but finding shared housing that accepts a couple especially with a dog --- no room at the inn it seems. I really do not want to piss all my money at a hotel ... at $35 a day for 7 days we are talking $800/ month for the privilege of living in meth and hooker infested death trap --- they "generously " discount it for weekly so it comes out as $600 a month but it still has no tenant rights whatsoever. Hotel is clearly the worst option (even living in a tent is better in some ways --- it's slightly safer)... but all the better options are slamming the door at me. People are too caught up in their own little dramas it seems. It will eventually be fine, because by Beltaine or so, I will be in my own HOUSE and there won't be any fucking landlord trying to kick me out.

Now for some real excitement

silverknight — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 16:41:38 GMT

I'm trying to buy a house. Big enough to have my grandkids eventually grow up there. (note they aren't born yet) $256K for 5 bedrooms, 2 bath, split level. Financing can be a bitch.

Birthday turned out much better than expected

silverknight — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 09:59:09 GMT

I first had sushi for lunch with Ian who I haven't seen for too damn long. Then Ian gave a ride from there to an errand I had to do. Then after that...Dinner at Newport Bay Restaurant, where Stef had halibut and chips, and a cup of clam chowder, while I had battered Calimari as appetizer, and shrimp scampi over angel hair pasta. Yummy. Washed it down with an Alabama Slammer. After that we went to Chopsticks for Karaoke. Stef's kids brought a Black Forest cake (my favorite...chocolate AND cherries). Had a couple of pieces, loved them, and then shared the rest of the cake with anyone who would have some cake. Had some of the girls falling in love with me over that one. Enjoyed 5 Ameretto sours, 4 of which were bought by other people for me. Really cool. That doesn't even count in the phone calls from the rest of my blood relatives I still give a shit about, which was really nice (last year they lost track of me and could not wish me well on my birthday). I also enjoyed the snowglobe my parents sent me...it has a model of Yankee Stadium under a New York skyline. I love it. At Chopsticks, I got the chance to sing about six times or so...got to dance at least 3 times. Had at least 5 to 7 girls flirting with me. And everyone knew I was the birthday boy, and we enjoyed our time.

Last day of 4-0

silverknight — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 14:55:09 GMT

Tomorrow I turn 4-1. Why am I so less than enthusiastic? Next week I still have to go to the VAMC to get a physical in the process of getting a primary care physician. I'm still having to work to pay the ever growing bills. I'm still trying to get my driver's licence issue straightened out so I can legally drive again. Another year older, and I still need caffeine to remotely give a shit.

Another thing about the county jails

silverknight — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 12:40:51 GMT

In my short period of time in Columbia County jail, I found a glaring problem in the county jail system. There is systemic religious bigotry, that is so pandemic, it is worse than intentional bigotry. The jail system is not as equipped as the state prison system to accomodate religion outside of the protestant paradigm. I did not see this as intentional by the jail personnel, but the conversion by the iron bars is internalized so they really can't see anything wrong with trying to force feed the protestant Jesus. Punishing the jail personnel won't change the problem. The problem is systemic. Ideas anyone?

"Justice" in Columbia County

silverknight — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 04:30:54 GMT

About 2 years ago, I plead on an FTA charge, and expected that to be the end of the ordeal. The problem was that the judge at the time (Wally Thompson) was trying to set me up for a contempt charge to send me to jail for six months plus. So he had the clerk lose the paper receipt and reissued a warrent for my arrest in August of 2004, and kept re-invoking it to keep it from dying by statute of limitations. Well, during a federal investigation of Columbia County, that judge was found to be unqualified (he never passed the bar exam). Another judge took his place. I got arrested in Portland this last Friday, on an old warrent with a bail of $50,000 (that's FOUR zeros). After spending a weekend at the Portland Justice Center (the food sucked, but otherwise tolerable), Monday I was transferred to Inverness and kept in holding cells for transfer to Columbia County. At least the food was edible there. Tuesday morning at 10 AM I was on a transport to Columbia County Jail. I was in the booking area for 8 hours. That is not a typo. 8 hours. Arrived at 10:45 and went to A-pod at 6:45. At 8:45 I was transferred from A-pod (intake/maximum security) to D-pod (Medium security). I missed being put on the docket for that day. The reason it took 8 hours to book me : there were a lot of DOC transfers from OSP, causing a huge clusterfuck, and a lot of frustrated deputies. Because I had to be tried in St. Helens Municipal court, I had to wait until Thursday, because the presiding judge had to split time between Scappoose and St. Helens, and I missed all the time slots for Tuesday. Thursday afternoon, I got a video arraignment, where the charge of contempt was dismissed totally... I had two eyewitnesses deposed to go to trial if I needed them. With a new pay agreement on the old conviction put into place I was released, no more charges. The new judge made sure all the paperwork was done, in order, with faxed copies to me, and I make my first payment to Columbia County next month. Not everyone in Columbia County are part of the kelptocracy there, but with a Federal investigator nosing around, people suing and WINNING cases of civil rights suits, you'd think that most of the kleptocracy would have been run out. Still, the head of the CENT team which is supposed to stop the flow of meth has been taking protection money from "favored" cooks and busting those meth producers not paying the bribe money. This is an open secret in Columbia County. This same officer, Phil Edwards, is also KNOWN to plant meth as evidence on people he's trying to put away, even if they have no history of usage, let alone distribution. There are quite a few people that would want his hide, and if Christian hell exists, he's certain to burn in the same section as every other evil bastard that ever was. The bottom line, the kleptocracy lost this battle. I'm out of jail, with my destiny ENTIRELY in my own hands.

I got a new hobby

silverknight — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 00:03:59 GMT

Fire spinning. I tried it out at the Guild Conclave. Liked it. Want to do it more. It's as fun as sex.

My interview by Ian

silverknight — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 00:38:18 GMT

Interview rules: 1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me." 2. I will respond by asking you five questions. I get to pick the questions. 3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions. 4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post. 5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions. The interview questions by Ian: Q:Do extracorporeal entities speak to you? What do they say? A: Yes. Usually it's ,"Please don't hurt me" but only during a Goetic ritual. Q: What was the last book you read? A: I've re-read Phil Hine's "Condensed Chaos." Since it is the text book I am teaching out of, I better be familiar with what's in it. Q:Tentacles, good or bad? A:Now that depends on my mood. How kinky do I feel? Am I craving calimari today? Q:Describe last nite's dream, or the last one you recall. A:I was bicycling in the dark, and had a parade of people following me because I was the only one who seemed to know where I was going. Q:If you were someone's companion animal what would it be? A: I'd be a cat. I'm too stubborn to be a dog, so, I'd be a cat.

Updates

silverknight — Thu, 25 May 2006 04:56:50 GMT

Well, George is doing much better. My student Sunsong is having progress, but at the same time her opponents are using delaying tactics to confuse the issue. The disturbing news I heard is that the daughter of the roommate of my student Sunsong was one of two underage girls molested at SAB by the same person. Called up George to get his take of which actions to take, and which spells to cast. He said I was being NICE. Talked to the moms of the kids involved. I'm going to do whatever it takes to make sure they get healing, and justice. Needless to say, the molester is going to be faced with two choices : Turn himself in and confess everything, or die, horribly, painfully, and with company if anyone attempts to magically stop the spell I cast. After all, I AM a SORCERER. This monster will learn that there are consequences for every action, and since his attitude proves he is a weak mageling at BEST, the consequences will be quite dire indeed.

Healing for the Binder

silverknight — Sun, 07 May 2006 22:32:47 GMT

I just got back from visiting George. They are doing this thing on Monday... they will insert a catheter in through his groin through the vein into his heart to observe the inside of his heart. If they can do repairs right there, they shall. It may require further corrective surgery later. I had a similar procedure 10 years ago. I can tell you with no fear of contradiction that that situation sucks. For those of you who can visit him over the next couple of days, he is in the VA, 8th floor room 130 bed 1. That should also give you folks a better link for throwing healing energy his direction.

SAB

silverknight — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 05:17:26 GMT

Going to my sixth Spiritual Anarchist Beltain. This time I got about 10 people coming with me. The students are all making things happen to make this trip a good one. Coordinating all this activity this week is a challenge. Anyone got a case of Strega?

Requiem

silverknight — Mon, 16 Jan 2006 05:25:41 GMT

Well the body viewing is done. That was no fun at all. At least I helped the family with the deceased child. I hope to not have to repeat this work any time soon.

Complications

silverknight — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 06:21:56 GMT

A student of mine, recently initiated into the Guild, had a cascade of bullshit hit her hard. Her son died of a heroin overdose, prompting the police to come and investigate. They got offended by the anti-GWB posters on her walls, and wrote some nasty things in their report to paint her as an unfit mother to CSD, resulting in them taking her youngest child from her house. Now I am busy writing a requiem for her now deceased child. Anyone know a good lawyer for her that will do more than the public defender (which are lawyer interns with no motivation to aggressively defend their indigent clients)? I'm wondering what next...going to be interesting.

Lordy Lordy look who's 40

silverknight — Sat, 07 Jan 2006 04:16:24 GMT

Damn I am!

The holidays

silverknight — Thu, 29 Dec 2005 03:28:20 GMT

This season has been mellow. Even the news on TV doesn't bug me. I am just getting mellow.