New Blog Launched

This blog is still going, but I have launched a Neverwinter Nights/RPG themed blog to chronicle my Neverwinter Nights 2 projects and my general RPG/Neverwinter Nights related thoughts. You can read the blog here: http://enoa4rpg.blogspot.com/

Foot Problems

I have had flat feet for ever and have other foot issues as a result. The vary from being uncomfortable often and occasionally I have mild pain. I've tried orthotics and have been seeing a podiatrist regularly.

I saw the foot surgeon today. Turns out I had already met him once, when I took my oldest son in for a foot problem. He said I have a tendon in the back of my ankle that is tight, and some bones in my foot near my ankle need to be fused. They should be in alignment but are not. The tight tendon will be lengthened.

I will be off my feet at home for 1-2 weeks when I have the surgery. I'll be in a splint for the first two weeks, then a cast for 4 weeks. I'll be on crutches for the period when I have a splint and cast (six weeks). Then I'll have a boot. No shoes for 3 months total. He said the tendon could rupture, but based on my current condition and the fact I am using orthotics he does not believe this is a risk.

I don't have to do this now, but will need to do it someday. I talked to him about working and my need to help my kids. He agreed that it would be good to wait a couple of years until my youngest son is 5 or so, to make things more manageable. Unless the pain gets progressively worse, that is fine with him. Shannon and I will start talking things over.

Merry Christmas

If I don't get to post again, Merry Christmas too all my family and friends who read this blog.

Go Elf Yourself

Go elf yourself!

Scary, isn't it!

Sprained Ankle

I was rushing through the house last night, trying to get something for one of my kids. I was going to fast in sandals. I know better, but did it just the same. I slipped or lost my balance, rolled my ankle and sprained it. I waited about 15-20 min to see if the pain would subside, and very quickly took the advice of my wife and went to the Emergency Room to get checked out.

My wifes folks were nice enough to drop what they were doing and watch my sons while we went out.

No break, just a sprain, but at present I can't put weight on it. I took viactin (sp) at the ER which let me sleep half the night. I have a prescription an my darlin' wife is out now picking it up for me.

With three young boys, and a severe lack of mobility I am not going to be much help. I feel guilty about burdening my wife, all though I know she's happy to help. I feel angry about hurting myself in a silly pointless manner. We were supposed to take a trip to Chicago on Sunday, but I think I've fouled that up pretty badly.

Synopsis:

My ankle is broken.
I feel like an idoit
My wife is great, and will be overburdened.
I screwed up a nice trip to Chicago.
Vicadin (sp) makes me feel good. :-)

Illness Trifecta

All three of my sons are sick today and each with different symptoms. My youngest is throwing up and has a fever, my middle son has a fever, and my oldest has upper respiratory stuff going on. I'm off work to watch them, it would be nice to split the day with my wife, but she's a few meetings she can not move so I'm up for today! If I could only get my kids to all be sick on the same day more often I think my wife and I would both miss less work. :-)

Winter Storm

We had a winter storm in Central Illinois last night and it's continuing now. Last night we had a lot of ice on the trees. I can normally walk under the limbs of the tree in my front yard, and they were so heavy with ice they were touching the ground.

It warmed up a bit in the morning and the ice melts, but we're getting some snow now. It was slick on the roads and visibility was extremely limited due to white out conditions, but it's supposed to improve by noon. Other areas were much harder hit than Champaign, IL. My folks live about 20-30 minutes west and they had no power or heat last nigh and this morning.

The company I work for is supposed to have a Holiday Party tonight. I'm speculating it will be canceled due to the storm, but you never no. Too bad if it is, it's always a fun time.

A Cold?

I think I have a cold. I'm not sure, but I have had mild fatigue for days, and today, I feel a bit foggy headed. This stinks!

Weight

I've got to get my weight under control. I'm not happy with the extra weight I am carrying and no I can do better. I've added a link to my fit day journal to share. In 2000 I was walking 1 hour a day and got down to 238 lbs. Today I am around 275. It's not healthy, I don't feel good and I'm not happy with my appearance. I need to do better.

Last year at my physical, I did well. All results from the doctor were good except my weight, I had momentum and felt like I could get that under control. Instead I've gained 15-20 pounds this year, the worst for weight gain in recent memory.

Losing weight isn't rocket science, it's like a bank account, I can only spend what I have (in terms of calories). I need to not eat garbage (I eat unhealthy snacks), I need to control my portion size and I need to add exercise.

With three kids I don't have luxury of walking for 1 hour every day as soon as I get home, but I can find other ways to exercise. At lunch I can walk, and I can get on the elliptical at home for a few minutes each night. I can try to walk with the kids.

With kids it is easier to create barriers to prevent exercise. Regardless of weather they are real or invented to give myself an convenient excuse not to exercise I have to deal with them. Staying healthy for my wife and kids should be a strong motivator for me. The strongest motivator.

Ah...well. Don't give up. Keep trying. Don't get discouraged.

Happy Thanksgiving

The bird is in the oven, the house is being cleaned by my beautiful wife and we're watching the Macy's Day Parade.

Life is good.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Got the bird and we are putting up the tree.

I picked up the 'bird' today. 21.5 lbs of turkey goodness defrosting in my fridge.

We are also putting up our Christmas decorations tonight. I know it's a bit early but it is a tradition. We started the year my wife and I got married. Our anniversary is on Nov 25th and we were very busy the week before and had the honeymoon afterwards, so we put up the decorations almost two weeks before Thanksgiving.

The next year, one of our sons was due about the same time, so everything went up early again.

Since then it's just been habit.

Bring on that Christmas Tree. Crack out those carols, the holiday season beings tonight!

22 Pound Turkey

My wife and I are hosting Thanksgiving dinner again this year. I think I need a 22 pound turkey, which is close to what I have done the past. At one point the turkey was bigger than my kids. Now my children can eat a 22 pound turkey in a single sitting. When did that happen?

No Photos

I was trying to upload photos but the blog doesn't seem to want to take them. The two photos I have included will only show the smaller inline versions, not the full sized images. Hmmm...

We put a barracuda anti-spyware/anti-virus appliance in place at work. I can read my blog, but can't post from work anymore. I didn't post from work very often. At lunch occasionally, but that was pretty rare.

It's been a long and busy few weeks at work.

Neverwinter Vault Interview

I was interviewed by Neverwinter Vault, for Eye of the Serpent, a module I created for Neverwinter Nights. The interview is posted here. Take a peak and let me know what you think!

Star Wars Humor

My wife found this clip on you tube. I found it entertaining. Someone put some work into it. Star Wars Lego/Music Video

Neverwinter Nights 2, Tired and Work Stuff

I worked with the Neverwinter Nights 2 toolset over the weekend. I converted an old TSR module for Neverwinter 1, and it really helped me learn how to use the toolset/editor. I thought converting the same module would be minimize work not related to learning about the new toolset.

The two screen shots here represent my initial at creating the external of the shirne that players will see at the end of the module. I am pretty happy with how they look. I've built a few other areas. The toolset is powerful and complicated. I have a lot to learn, but I am enjoying myself so far.

On an unrelated note, I am tired. My eldest son is serving as an acolyte at Church each day this week. I am excited and proud, but we are getting up about 30-45 min earlier to get him where he needs to be on time. UGH! I am exhausted. I need some coffee.

I have I busy week at work too. This Friday Chapter Executives from around the world will visit ISA. I will speak briefly to them on Friday, hang around for meet & greet dinner, and then go back on Saturday for lunch to help with any IT questions they might have. One week from Friday, I will install new hardware, specifically a firewall and anti-spyware/anti-virus appliance. We've got outside help, which should help the installation go as smoothly as possible.

Cold

I have a cold, or perhaps a virus, and it is quite cold today. It was freezing when I woke up and has reached 43 degrees now (about 11am). Regarding my cold, it's not bad, I am just tired and feel groggy. It's a little hard to concentrate.

There are a few sick people at work, and I took my 4 year old to the doctor yesterday, so I could have picked something up from a variety of sources.

Hall of Fame Module

The last module I wrote for Neverwinter Nights, Eye of the Serpent, made the Hall of Fame on Neverwinter Vault. The module is posted here.

Someone is reading my blog!

Someone is actually reading my blog! I didn't know anyone was, but my cousin, Chris Gould, posted a comment yesterday. It really made my day to hear from him and be back in touch with him.

On another note, I am tired. I was up WAY to late. I was invited to be interviewed from a Neverwinter Nights module I wrote that made the hall of fame on Neverwinter Vault I wrote answers to the interview questions and have my wife and friend proofing and commenting on them. I'll post them soon.

SQL Server Issues

We did some network maintenance for work last weekend. We hit a problem after changing the serivce account SQL runs under to an account with least permissions. We fixed it this week, but I'm not sure why the fix worked. I'm trying to research it. More on the issue and resolution can be found here.