Doing stuff.

Among the things we wanted to get now that I've decided to return to Burning Man was our own camp stove and some better camp kitchen. Checking online, we found a great one on closeout, and bought it, electing to pick it up at one of the local stores.

Along with a side trip to get Darby washed and picking up some stuff from kshandra's office, the trip should have been easy. It's Saturday! what could go wrong?

Dear Ghods.

From her office, Kiri's plan was to take 87 to 280 to Lawrence Expressway. But traffic was horrid! Each exit was backed up onto the freeway. We elected to skip Lawrence (a crappy interchange at the best of times) and go on to Wolfe Road... which was still jammed! We eventual worked out way clear and made it down to REI, but seriously, what the actual fuck? KCBS told us there had been an accident, but it was long cleared.

REI is my favorite toy store. We mostly planned and compared, but picked up a carabiner cup for me, a thing of lip balm with a carabiner lid for Kiri, and a small radio with weather alert channels (also on clearance.) We also looked at camp stoves, making a tentative choice; played with toys (some of the visibility stuff is going with me next year); and examined the camp food selection. This requires some explanation. Kirsten gets a commissary pass, as she work long hours for the DMV. In years past, this hasn't been a problem. But with me going, we need to feed the penguin.

We had a lot of success with vacuum sealing things like spaghetti and taco meat. But I like my breakfasts. Luckily, Mountain House makes several very yummy breakfast options. So picking up several of those over the next few months is a good idea.

We also looked at cot pads. Being able to use my sleeping bag a a blanket would really help with the random muscle twitches my peripheral neuropathy gives me. Finally, I was getting done (as a side note, if you ever see me at an event looking lost and saying "Okay" over and over... make me sit down and get me something to drink. That is the warning sign that I am shutting down hard.) so we picked up our camp kitchen...

... remember the camp kitchen? We were there to pick up the camp kitchen...

... which is light as a feather. As always, the REI staff were incredible. One more stop for weekly shopping, and we are done.

Literally,and in every sense of the word.

If anybody wants to get me an awesome WinterGift™ a good-sized REI Gift Card would work.

Fun and devious ideas.

Call of Cthulhu is traditionally set in the 1920s. But I've been thinking of some alternate settings.

• Stellarum recta sunt - In the early 13th Century, the Order of Hemes sees a world slipping into madness. Mages emerge from Twilight as gibbering madmen. Astrologers are killing themselves by the dozen, and event the power of the Divine seems to be slipping. If the Christ is not returning... what is? This is an Ars Magica game with the gloves off. Covenants would find themselves besieged by powers from outside the known Realms, and forced to fight powers that transcend Divine and Diabolical. How can mere Mages face that that the Devil Himself hides from?


• The Stars Were Right - The Stars have shifted, and the horror has mostly ended. Now, the survivors venture forth to reclaim their world, and prepare for the next time. But the world has changed, and some of the Ancient Magics linger. This would be an epic post-apocalyptic/weird magic/horror game. It's your chance to toss all the weird you want into a game. Conan leading a brigade of sentient M4 Sherman tanks? Why not? GURPS or FUDGE would be best for this free-wheeling game


• "Ils ne passeront pas" - 1916, and many are saying that the end of the world has come. They're right. Above the killing fields of France, old powers are awakening, summoned by the sacrifice of millions. In the world's capitals, men formerly thought mad are enlisted to bind these powers to the cause of final victory. And the Old Gods laugh... This is a more traditional CoC game, but more like Delta Green during the Great War

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Oh, in case y'all haven't noticed.

I've decided to use my Dreamwidth/LiveJournal more often. Growing tired of Facebook's fuckery.