Bata Baby

The brave new Whirled is now accessible by the public as it's gone into its beta testing phase. While still in development, it sure gives a good idea for the potential of this Whirled. Love live the curd and tofu goodness!

Below is the corner of the Whirled belonging to Three Rings. It's actually their offices so you can clearly see what kinda kooks work there. Who else would have a giant octopus couch, pool table, full bar, and secret room hidden behind a bookshelf?

My Whirled is actually only accessible by friends, so you'd need to join (link in the Notable Pokeables) and friend me. You'll note that even in a fake world, my plants are always dieing.



"It's a Brave New Whirled!" -- Daniel James

Wonder Boy

I have the most adorable nephew. I know that people say that and we all roll our eyes because everyone says this. But believe me it's true. He's almost 2 and is quite possibly the cutest child I've ever seen. He's actually just always so sunny, happy, and more surprisingly clean!

I've decided he's going to be an engineer. I know I'm supposed to allow him to decide such things, but I'm selfish. This kid can figure out anything. I've had to ask him how to turn on some of his toys and he gives me this, "oh your so silly look". Well at least I hope that's the look rather than, "My aunt is a total moron".

I was able to tie my visit to my mom with his birthday. I feel it's my duty to spoil him rotten, which to mean means books books and more books. Unfortunately, there are some horrible children's books out there. What are these people thinking? Stringing together incoherent thoughts does not a book make. No thank you, I'll be buying him the classics. So look out world, make way for my duckling!

"There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million." -- Walt Streightiff

Hair Today

There's a lot of things you're really not prepared to hear. I wasn't prepared to hear that my mom had breast cancer. The big C is something we all fear in some way. Perhaps that's why we really know so little about it. We know it's bad, we know it will change everything, but we still know nothing.

Apparently there are several different kinds of cancer and what kind will determine the course of treatment. I can't believe I ever found myself hoping my mom had any type of cancer, but ever since I found out, we've been hoping it was one kind over another. Suffice it to say, we didn't get what we hoped for really. It could have been worse, sure, but we were hoping to avoid chemo. This means after her surgery there will be chemo and radiation. This whole process will take months and then far longer to recover enough to feel "normal".

So I can only hope that her treatment goes well and that she doesn't experience some of the side effects. I could care less if she has no hair, but it's everything else that worries me. I'm glad I'm going home soon just to reconnect so I can feel a little more secure in everything. It will also be nice to show mom that I'm only a flight away.

"Courage is being afraid but going on anyhow." -- Dan Rather

DE Phone Home

There's a very specific tone of voice a person gets when the conversation isn't going to be one you like. It's almost like they're grabbing the armrest and preparing for an emergency water landing. My mom had that tone of voice, and I immediately assumed I had screw something up. In the past that would've been a pretty good assumption.

Frankly I wish I had screwed something up. That I can be ready for, that doesn't suck the air from your lungs and leave you searching for something to say that either expresses your feelings or reassures. She was scared, something I really haven't heard before that I can recall. I found myself asking the appropriate questions, but really I don't know how I managed.

At some points, my relationship with my parents has been rather rocky. But I'm quite glad to say that isn't really the case anymore, and I actually quite enjoy visits and phone calls. I find myself quite proud of all of us. After that phone call, I found myself even more proud of my parents. I won't need to have a pink ribbon to show my mom my support, I'll be calling and visiting as much as possible to make that very clear.

"Sooner or later we all quote our mothers." -- Bern Williams

Head Shoulders Knees

It's been 2 years since I hurt my knee and I can't believe how much it can still hurt. Even thinking about running outside to wave to Dina only to step off the stoop onto a tiny patch of ice gives me the creeps. I just keep remember reaching down to grab my knee and feeling it bent the wrong way. I wanted my mother more then than I ever have.

I'm forever grateful that Dina saw me and stopped. Had she not, I have no idea how long I would have been there. But the nice thing is that I know she will always stop. If I decide to have surgery to replace the severed ACL and clean up the joint, I have no doubt she will be there handing me my crutches. She'll bring me some fluffy fiction, chocolate cake, and a ice tea. She'll do this all while holding my hand and making me laugh about something stupid. While I often joke and call her cranky pants, it's so nice to know she's there.

It's been a long time since I felt like the other shoe wasn't going to drop. She's already seen my shoes and gone with me to the store to buy more.

"Anyone who believes the competitive spirit in America is dead has never been in a supermarket when the cashier opens another checkout line." -- Ann Landers

Soul Mate

The phrase soul mate gets tossed around constantly. It's in every trashy book I read with vigor, and every B romantic comedy. I have found my soul mate, and I don't even feel cheesy in saying so.

My soul mate is wonderful bringing me both a sense of comfort and a salty tang. It's tomato goodness coats everything bringing me unimaginable joy. My dear ketchup, the most important of all condiments, I shall never forsake you.

Sure, we have fights like all soul mates, but we forgive and move on. I've all ready forgiven my love for covering me head to toe in the middle of a restaurant. I shouldn't have shaken you so vigorously, I was wrong. It's just a shame that innocent bystanders also had to rinse you out of their hair. It's ok because we forgive. I didn't need that shirt or my new jacket, it's not your fault some careless fool took you for granted and didn't screw your top on the way you like. My clothes, our table, and all the people near by have already forgiven you... for we will be reaching for you again as soon as the next basket of fries arrives.

"Those who forget the pasta are condemned to reheat it." -- Author Unknown

Creative Waste of Time

I'm not an artiest, I've accepted that about myself. Yet here I am with my shiny new graphic pen trying to create silly things for Whirled. Whirled is a game that's still in beta testing for Three Rings. Well it really isn't a game but rather an environment where games can be played to earn money to use to buy other things to spruce up your little section. Anyone can upload content to the catalog for sale and eventually cash out for real money.

I think the whole thing just gives me an excuse to try to teach myself Flash and create some goodies. I know I won't actually make anything off it, but it's a nice way to waste a few hours. Once you find a decent group of people, it can be rather fun in there.

How silly is it you ask? Well I spent a good amount of time making a cucumber wearing a snorkel that will dance. How many people can say that... or would want to? Dance cucumber dance!

"Music begins to atrophy when it departs too far from the dance." -- Ezra Pound