Us poker sharks were foolishly invited to a Microsoft colleague's beautiful house for an evening of poker education from her son and his croupier young friends. This is much faster poker that I was used to, with doubling blinds every 15 minutes. Games tended not to last too long and unless you held your nerves and tells in check, you were plundered. Which I was, big fat loser first off the table.
Scorned, I vowed revenge. I inherited another players chips and made a nice stash out of them, before being plundered again, gaaah! So the young 'uns, engorged with success and all my money retired upstairs to continue the game. M'colleague and I played them again, and I carefully danced my way into a healthy looking pot. He tried to make me flap with an all in, but I just caught the tiniest twitch of his little finger as he drew his hand away from his chips and decided to call him. He had nowt, and I smugly retired him from the table. My thirst was up for more casualties, and shooed another guy off the game with the most outrageous bluff, so it was one on one with the last kid on the table. After the river, he called all in, and I couldn't refuse as I was looking at getting an ace high flush, the turn card took me one step closer, then the river card...! Aaaagh! Exactly the wrong card for me and just what my remaining opponent needed. We split the game cash 70\30 so I at least only came away $5 down instead of $20.
Not a bad poker night, but it was a little serious for what was a casual social evening. I reckon I'm ready to hit the high roller tables now.
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Nita comes to visit!
I had the pleasure of my girl's company for a week, my company kindly granting my request for conjugal visits while imprisoned in this lab. It was exciting meeting her at the airport, and she took her sweet time getting through customs, having mislaid my address and claiming to have no money on her. US Customs are very officious so she must have charmed her way in, she was very excited to be here.
It was strange having her here as a guest in the apartment, so I had to fetch after her the whole time instead of arguing about who's going to wash the pots. Plus having hardly seen her in 3 months meant we had to get used to each other again as well as show her around this other life I've been living here in the US.
The Sunday after she arrived, we and m'colleague went whale watching with a touring company from Anacortes, about 2 hours drive north of Seattle. It is a good time of year to spot humpback whales but we came across killer whales first, they are not shy creatures, and this took up our time. The whale pods like to hang around at San Juan island (red is where we found them)
Oh look, an eagle!
There was work still to be done here, so while I toiled, Ms Nita explored Redmond, Bellevue and Seattle and then we went on a trip into the enormous countryside. The weather was great to start with at Snoqualmie
We tried to make it to Sunrise to get a good look at Mt Rainer so I could convince mah'aam that it actually existed. By the time we got there, it had wrapped itself up in a huge bank of fog and clouds. Bah!
But it did come out the next day and the only place to view it in a hurry is the Space Needle.
Our chums on Bainbridge Island invited us to a pumpkin party for the Saturday before m'lady had to leave. M'colleague and I had stocked up on tools and practiced on a couple of pumpkins so we went all out and decided to carve a pumpkin inside a pumpkin. We had in mind that if there are all these tools and websites, that these parties are an excuse to compete with your skills, but we were the only ones doing this and it took ages. First of all, we had to go to the pumpkin patch
This is wild corn, very pretty and sadly inedible
And here's what we carved, mine is in the middle and is meant to be a flaming monsters eye behind some trees, and m'colleagues is on the left, a graverobber scene. The one on the right is by Gus, the sarcastic preacher. He provided many good giggles that night.
Here's a whole mess of them. third from the left is Nita's.
I had to drive so it was fun watching everyone stagger to and from the excellent warm cider and rum bowl. We drank this and tea for me around an enormous bonfire, swapping stories of drunken depravity. Despite my best efforts, the preachers story was the grossest, and he wasn't even drunk!
Then the next day, I had to take her to the airport for home, and these next two weeks here are really going to feel long. I've missed family, friends, my house and my girl and I'm getting weary of being here working this hard for this long. I've found a couple of old friends hunting around on the internet that I've not heard from for years which really cheered me up.
M'Colleague and I finally found some drinking buddies, on our last weekend here! Bah, but they will keep for when we come back.
It was strange having her here as a guest in the apartment, so I had to fetch after her the whole time instead of arguing about who's going to wash the pots. Plus having hardly seen her in 3 months meant we had to get used to each other again as well as show her around this other life I've been living here in the US.
The Sunday after she arrived, we and m'colleague went whale watching with a touring company from Anacortes, about 2 hours drive north of Seattle. It is a good time of year to spot humpback whales but we came across killer whales first, they are not shy creatures, and this took up our time. The whale pods like to hang around at San Juan island (red is where we found them)
Oh look, an eagle!
There was work still to be done here, so while I toiled, Ms Nita explored Redmond, Bellevue and Seattle and then we went on a trip into the enormous countryside. The weather was great to start with at Snoqualmie
We tried to make it to Sunrise to get a good look at Mt Rainer so I could convince mah'aam that it actually existed. By the time we got there, it had wrapped itself up in a huge bank of fog and clouds. Bah!
But it did come out the next day and the only place to view it in a hurry is the Space Needle.
Our chums on Bainbridge Island invited us to a pumpkin party for the Saturday before m'lady had to leave. M'colleague and I had stocked up on tools and practiced on a couple of pumpkins so we went all out and decided to carve a pumpkin inside a pumpkin. We had in mind that if there are all these tools and websites, that these parties are an excuse to compete with your skills, but we were the only ones doing this and it took ages. First of all, we had to go to the pumpkin patch
This is wild corn, very pretty and sadly inedible
And here's what we carved, mine is in the middle and is meant to be a flaming monsters eye behind some trees, and m'colleagues is on the left, a graverobber scene. The one on the right is by Gus, the sarcastic preacher. He provided many good giggles that night.
Here's a whole mess of them. third from the left is Nita's.
I had to drive so it was fun watching everyone stagger to and from the excellent warm cider and rum bowl. We drank this and tea for me around an enormous bonfire, swapping stories of drunken depravity. Despite my best efforts, the preachers story was the grossest, and he wasn't even drunk!
Then the next day, I had to take her to the airport for home, and these next two weeks here are really going to feel long. I've missed family, friends, my house and my girl and I'm getting weary of being here working this hard for this long. I've found a couple of old friends hunting around on the internet that I've not heard from for years which really cheered me up.
M'Colleague and I finally found some drinking buddies, on our last weekend here! Bah, but they will keep for when we come back.
Autumn falls
Autumn in very dramatic here, I think the vegatation was very water starved this summer, despite the Doozers hosing the place down every three days, so there are fireworks on the ground and Turner in the sky.
Friday, October 14, 2005
John Peel Day
Today is one year since my favourite broadcaster threw a seven, so I'm listening to my playlist
Hope you in the UK had a chance to see a band playing today
Hallowe'en soon
Mine is on the right, m'colleague posed, good likeness?
Hope you in the UK had a chance to see a band playing today
Hallowe'en soon
Mine is on the right, m'colleague posed, good likeness?
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Black, black! The end!
This is good news of course. Our project end day looms, October 16th, and I've just got to host a few international demos to finally have something to show everyone, and release me from these terrible bonds of slavery. At least for a while, there is much still to do.
To help ease the pain, my bit of fluff is coming here to Seattle to see me for a week, so you may see a few more social entries.
The absence of entries so far has been of course due to work, and I haven't the will to whinge about it. If you want an earful, go see m'colleagues blog.
To help ease the pain, my bit of fluff is coming here to Seattle to see me for a week, so you may see a few more social entries.
The absence of entries so far has been of course due to work, and I haven't the will to whinge about it. If you want an earful, go see m'colleagues blog.
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Wine Review #9
Bogle
Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 13.5%
Clarksburg, California
Smell
Winter sea breeze, almonds and leather
Taste
The flintiness of a Sancerre with a smooth meaty redcurrantiness
Whippets factor
9/10, alcoholically modest compared to some of the wines I've reviewed, but is was so tricky to nail down the smell, I've snorted half of it.
Top Trumps
Cooking - 7
Name - 3
Buy a case - Definitely, here's all my money, bring more, now.
Hand to hand combat - 8
Charisma - 9
Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 13.5%
Clarksburg, California
Smell
Winter sea breeze, almonds and leather
Taste
The flintiness of a Sancerre with a smooth meaty redcurrantiness
Whippets factor
9/10, alcoholically modest compared to some of the wines I've reviewed, but is was so tricky to nail down the smell, I've snorted half of it.
Top Trumps
Cooking - 7
Name - 3
Buy a case - Definitely, here's all my money, bring more, now.
Hand to hand combat - 8
Charisma - 9
Monday, October 03, 2005
This week, I are been mostly listenin' to...
John Taverner - Svyati
Steven Isserlis (cello)
Eternal Memory
Ralph Vaughn Williams
Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis (the Ralph and Ted closing credits music)
Raymond Scott - Reckless Nights and Turkish Twilights
The Toy Trumpet (listen and watch the world go by, especially particulary dim people, AKA, Ren and Stimpy background music, the Army episode)
Mark Lanegan - I'll Take Care of You
Shiloh Town
Autechre - Incunabula
Windwind
Radiohead - OK Computer
Karma Police
Monolake - Momentum
Atomium
Plastikman - Consumed
Consumed
Plastikman - Closer
Ask Yourself
Theorem
Plash
Motorhead
Louie Louie
Ace of Spades
PhD
I won't let you down
Pixies - Bossanova
Rock and Roll
The Romper Stomper Orchestra
Pulling on the Boots
The Breeders - Last Splash
No Aloha
Eagles of Death Metal - Peace Love Death Metal
So Easy
The Duke Spirit - Cuts across the land
Cuts across the land
Fades the Sun
Patients
Wooden Heart
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
Hello to the Floor
Sonic Youth - Dirty
Youth Against Fascism
Dead Kennedys - Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
Let's lynch the landlord
PJ Harvey - Dry
Plants and Rags
The Undertones
Teenage Kicks
Thankyou to John Peel for the support of most of this music, and the influence it has had.
Steven Isserlis (cello)
Eternal Memory
Ralph Vaughn Williams
Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis (the Ralph and Ted closing credits music)
Raymond Scott - Reckless Nights and Turkish Twilights
The Toy Trumpet (listen and watch the world go by, especially particulary dim people, AKA, Ren and Stimpy background music, the Army episode)
Mark Lanegan - I'll Take Care of You
Shiloh Town
Autechre - Incunabula
Windwind
Radiohead - OK Computer
Karma Police
Monolake - Momentum
Atomium
Plastikman - Consumed
Consumed
Plastikman - Closer
Ask Yourself
Theorem
Plash
Motorhead
Louie Louie
Ace of Spades
PhD
I won't let you down
Pixies - Bossanova
Rock and Roll
The Romper Stomper Orchestra
Pulling on the Boots
The Breeders - Last Splash
No Aloha
Eagles of Death Metal - Peace Love Death Metal
So Easy
The Duke Spirit - Cuts across the land
Cuts across the land
Fades the Sun
Patients
Wooden Heart
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
Hello to the Floor
Sonic Youth - Dirty
Youth Against Fascism
Dead Kennedys - Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
Let's lynch the landlord
PJ Harvey - Dry
Plants and Rags
The Undertones
Teenage Kicks
Thankyou to John Peel for the support of most of this music, and the influence it has had.
Wine Review #8
Penfolds
Shiraz (80%) Mourvedre (20%) 14.5%
South Eastern Australia
Smell
Prunes soaked in Armagnac deep inside a granite cave
Taste
Lavender ice cream, blackcurrants soaked in Smirnoff Silver
Whippets factor
8/10, sloshed outback crock botherers straight to the frontal lobes, a ferrrricing noooightmaaare!
Outstanding feature
I don't have to share this one, it's all mine! Also the Mourvèdre calms the Shiraz down a bit, which helps when you are drinking an entire bottle on a school night.
Shiraz (80%) Mourvedre (20%) 14.5%
South Eastern Australia
Smell
Prunes soaked in Armagnac deep inside a granite cave
Taste
Lavender ice cream, blackcurrants soaked in Smirnoff Silver
Whippets factor
8/10, sloshed outback crock botherers straight to the frontal lobes, a ferrrricing noooightmaaare!
Outstanding feature
I don't have to share this one, it's all mine! Also the Mourvèdre calms the Shiraz down a bit, which helps when you are drinking an entire bottle on a school night.
A brief trip home
Hello folks.
Many things have happened, most of all the realisation that 30 mins every odd day blogging is a pain in the ass and it's 30 minutes less I have to spend bathed in the LCD glow of my laptop. My skin is not looking so good.
So while the wife is away in Barcelona, and I'm free from caffeine addled ravings for 72 sweet sweet hours, here's the skinny.
I've been back to the UK to ensure my girl doesn't leave me, we'll see how long that holds, and to beat the visa system somewhat. Work was insanely busy of course, but I managed to hold back a weekend to retreat to Glastonbury with my lady. Jet lag and workaholism had me weary so it took until Sunday for me to wake up a bit.
The only B&B in town with rooms was run by Hare Krishna disciples, something I only twigged when I spotted the orange curtains, pics of indian folk and the odd deity dotted around the house, then finally, the annoyingly repetitive musical mantras they played us for breakfast. They were kind and friendly people though, and made us feel very Hare relaxed and Rama comfortable. I believe it was about 25 Krishnas per person per night, not bad.
We saw Bath, a dump apart from the Roman bits, and the only decent food is the French Bistro round a back street near the Abbey, book a table. We went up to the Tor at midnight in the full moonlight. Of course there were the space cadets up there talking about UFOs, it adds to the magic of the place, but the real show was mist rising from the fields down in the Levels, lifting away from the grass and pouring slowly and gradually downhill over bushes and trees then disappearing.
Worthy Farm minus the Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Abbey
Many things have happened, most of all the realisation that 30 mins every odd day blogging is a pain in the ass and it's 30 minutes less I have to spend bathed in the LCD glow of my laptop. My skin is not looking so good.
So while the wife is away in Barcelona, and I'm free from caffeine addled ravings for 72 sweet sweet hours, here's the skinny.
I've been back to the UK to ensure my girl doesn't leave me, we'll see how long that holds, and to beat the visa system somewhat. Work was insanely busy of course, but I managed to hold back a weekend to retreat to Glastonbury with my lady. Jet lag and workaholism had me weary so it took until Sunday for me to wake up a bit.
The only B&B in town with rooms was run by Hare Krishna disciples, something I only twigged when I spotted the orange curtains, pics of indian folk and the odd deity dotted around the house, then finally, the annoyingly repetitive musical mantras they played us for breakfast. They were kind and friendly people though, and made us feel very Hare relaxed and Rama comfortable. I believe it was about 25 Krishnas per person per night, not bad.
We saw Bath, a dump apart from the Roman bits, and the only decent food is the French Bistro round a back street near the Abbey, book a table. We went up to the Tor at midnight in the full moonlight. Of course there were the space cadets up there talking about UFOs, it adds to the magic of the place, but the real show was mist rising from the fields down in the Levels, lifting away from the grass and pouring slowly and gradually downhill over bushes and trees then disappearing.
Worthy Farm minus the Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Abbey
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