I have wonderful people around me.

kshandra gave me my birthday present a day early, thinking that I'd probably want it for the Giants game tomorrow.

She's right. Expect a lot of pictures from me in the coming days.

While playing with my new toy, the USPS delivered a package from redc1c4. It wasn't ticking, so I opened it. The new hat rocks, dude, and I'm looking forward to listening to So Many Roads after dinner tonight.

The Sword of YASD is hanging over my head....

Started an Orc Barbarian in Nethack today (my favorite "hack/slash" combo) and was having a good but unremarkable run until the second level of the Gnomish Mines. There, I found bones I had picked up through Hearse. Good pile of stuff, and I have a blessed scroll of identify.. yes! I'm getting everything identified, and see these two items:

wand of wishing (0:2)
wand of wishing (1:2)

For the non-Nethackers, wands of wishing allow you to wish for just about anything in the game. (You can't get the three items you need to enter the Sanctum, and can't wish for your own Quest Object. Also, the more artifact weapons are in play, the less likely you are to get one from a wish.) The first number there is the number of times the wand has been recharged (WoW can only be recharged once) the second is number of charges left. Once the wand is exhausted, you can keep zapping it to get one last charge out of it. Got it?

So very early in the game I had a complete Ascension Kit. Frost Brand, Gray Dragon Scale Mail, Speed Boots, Gauntlets of Power, Helm of Brilliance, Cloak of Displacement, and a Shield of Reflection. Also managed a Bag of Holding.

Also in this pile is a Wand of Death (0:6). My only thought is the original player didn't know how to identify wands by writing with them.

But now I'm doomed. Because this kind of crazy luck so early in a game, especially on the new moon (game keeps track of lunar phases, during the new moon your luck takes a hit) usually means a really stupid death lurks on the next level. You get hit with a deadly poison. You step onto a sleeping gas trap and get nibbled to death by a newt. A rat steps on a polymorph trap and turns into an Arch-Lich. But you are doomed.

Except, not only has 666 the Orc evaded doom, he's prospered. Found Magicbane in another bones pile. The portal to Fort Ludios was in the first vault he checked. He got two more wishes from thrones! He's current;y 19th level, AC -43, about 200HP, and whirling invisible displaced ginsu of cold death.

Damned if this guy may not ascend.

But there is one stupid death left lurking. A previous bone level has freaking DemonLordCon, complete with Demogorgon.

ATTACK!!!

At least the poor people in Mexico have teeth...

Tonight was the traditional "Doug and Ann Birthday Taco Spectacular" over at my mom's place. Food was very good, and I managed one taco with shell before the dentures gave up the fight. After excusing myself to the restroom to remove them (I had brought along their container just in case this became necessary) I had plate tacos, which are just as good. We avoided the unpleasant possibility of kshandra and Kylie fighting over the last olive, and Regan told wonderful stories about her day. Alas, her command of English is still somewhat limited, but she got her point across.

The title is a reference to a long-standing tradition in our family. (Which we failed to do tonight, I realize.) Tacos were a special treat growing up (hence their status as a special birthday dinner) and we were amused to learn that in Mexico they're considered somewhat common, the meal of the poor. So "I wonder what the poor people in Mexico are eating tonight?" was a required comment at taco dinners.

After tacos, a wonderful spice cake (which we brought home) and we checked in on ESPN long enough to see that Tim Lincecum led the Giants to an 8-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

Tomorrow, we're heading up for the game. Day baseball on the 4th of July, what could be better? How about the team we're playing?

BEAT L.A.!!!
LET'S GO GIANTS!!!