Utz still in

So happy! Utz hat shop still in business, a poorly-written article a few years ago to the contrary.
Big question: is a $300 Borsalino fedora that much better than a $100 Stetson or $50 "Indiana Jones"?
Answer: yes. Just touch one. Try one on (and hold it by the brim, please, not the crown).

Byrnie Utz Hats
310 Union St.
Seattle, WA 98101

Love Working in Seattle

I never thought I'd say this, but working in the City of Seattle is very cool. I thought I'd hate it.
I love it.
It turns out that the bus runs from the ferry to the front door of work. If I put in 30 minutes work each way (easy to do in a 60 minute ride) I can leave work an hour earlier than when I drive.
And I can have lunch at Pike Place Market.
Today I had beef curry Hombow.
A treat!

Ahenu - conlang creation

I've decided to invent a language. It turns out that there are a LOT of people doing the same thing. It's an interesting challenge, one that is teaching me a lot about linguistics (no surprise) and also teaching me about how culture influences linguistics. This was a surprise.
The first idea I had about the language was that it would express core concepts as a range of 5 values instead of a simple binary.
That is, instead of low/high, I would have words for very low/lower/even/higher/very high.
I have read a bit about TokiPona and Wanladigala and liked their simplicity.
Ahenu will have a simple word construction: a word has a value-vowel (one of a/e/i/o/u) and a consonent/vowel set for the core word, the 5-concept word if you will.
That's all I started with.
Things got deeper very quickly.

Not looking anymore

This is a happy post for me. I'm about to start a new job in downtown Seattle. I'm not looking forward to the commute, but the work sounds like fun and I certainly like the people I've met so far.
And lunch at Pike Place Market. Cool.

Things looking up

I've had a couple of really interesting interviews in the last week or two. I'd be happy to choose either company based on what I've learned so far.
Neither has a great commute, but getting to do Technical Writing again at last will make up for that.

A perfect day in the making

Ah. I've dropped-off my application to clean city buildings at the Town Hall; I had two slices of sausage pizza for breakfast; Frito's Scoops with Clam Dip for lunch, and enough cheap burgundy that watching snowflakes the size of a quarter fill my driveway has inspired me to go write something.
Can you get a better day than that?

Writing again

Well, I've found something to write about. I might even get to see a dollar or two from it. Not much more, but that's never been why I write.
Two Hour Wargames is interested in having me write a booklet for them. I'm planning on writing three adventures for the "Larger Than Life" pulp-era game they sell.
I've finished one and sent it to Ed for a check on style; in the meantime, I have two more ready to flesh-out.
It's fun!
And it's a "write once, sell many" that can't be beat.
Time will tell.
For now, back to work!
haha!

Pigeon was an omen afterall

It seems that the pigeon was meant to be an omen. It would have been more clear if it had shit on my shoulder or something, but one can't expect too much from omens.
Especially if one doesn't believe in them.

Eight in a row!

Ah, such a record. Can anyone match it?
I've just been laid off. March would have been 5 years at this job.
THIS MAKES 8 IN A ROW!
I dare you to claim you can match this record.

I guess now I have no excuse. I'll have to finish the rewrite of my fantasy book and send it out.
Not that anyone gets rich from writing books, but I'm only looking for a little income.
haha.

New Year begins

At least by the calendar, a new year has begun today. Many of us feel it is already about day 10 of a new year, but I can get behind the "normal" date as well.
I don't have many superstitions and even fewer rituals, but I would like to believe that how you spend the first day of the year sets the tone for the whole of the thing.
With that in mind, here's how my year has begun: I got a solid night sleep; I toasted a slice of homemade wheat/fig bread, with olive oil and sea salt; I'm writing this before I even check my email, and I've got some good coffee brewing; I'm listening to Fred McDowell's "Fred's Blues".
For the remainder of the day, I hope to get in a walk, a skirmish wargame, and some work on the book from NaNoWriMo. I also want to finish an art project for my daughter.
What are your plans for the new year?