Hello, blog. Miss me?

It’s late at night and I feel like writing. Not posting a link on Facebook. Not tweeting the twit-erers. Something that takes more than 140 characters to type and a sip of coffee to read.

I feel like waxing nostalgic. I remember visiting the campus of Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville as a high school student. Two classmates and I rented a billiards table. As I chalked my cue, the soothing strains of music from the band Chicago blared from a jukebox. Why did this moment mean so much to me? Because I was excited.

Thoughts of the future were racing through my brain. What would college be like? What would I learn? What kind of opportunities would that open up? What would I create? How would I make my mark on a world seems to consciously avoid changes? There was no fear in those thoughts, only awe and wonder.

So I had my college experience. I graduated with a Bachelors degree in Computer Science. Now it’s been a decade since my shadow has darkened the hallways of a college campus as a student. Where is the awe and wonder? I can’t help but think if my present self traveled back in time to meet myself at that billiards table if he, er I, would be impressed. Have I lived my life with drive and purpose? Or, have I been too cautious and lacked ambition? Could I have taken more risks? Could I have made few mistakes?

Don’t get me wrong. I am not suffering from regret. Well, America, it’s like this. The only thing that strikes me with awe as of late is the stupidity of our elected politicians. There have been changes in the system. Our country is in the process of getting turned upside down and inside out by nimwits. But I have faith that America can’t be held back for long. I wonder that if my future self came back today would he tell me how I helped elect some folks who made things right again. I wonder.

Me at Uncle Paul's Place

I went home to Centralia last week. My mother was on vacation. My aunt Darlene and her hubby Jerry were up from Tulsa. It was nice to see them again. We went out with Uncle Paul and Aunt Beverly, even though she is on oxygen after battling health issues last year.

We went to the Centralia Historical Museum. There we saw images from businesses that resided in Centralia once upon a time. There was a section dedicated to the Mine No 5 disaster. There were also high school yearbooks from years past. I discovered that there were large senior classes in the 30s and 40s.

It was great to relax and have some laughs with my relatives. I am thankful I made the trip.

This past Sunday Jason came over to help with the Kobolds LARP. Our game is almost ready for Archon 32 which is this weekend! See you there. If you run into me there, be sure to stop and say hi.

A Sharp EL-506A Calculator

In high school I bought a calculator to use in Physics class. Not just any calculator, but a Sharp EL-506A Scientific calculator. I fell in love with it. In fact I so much did not want to be without it that I bought two of them. I’d have a backup in case one of them broke.

I remember seeing the beauty and the purity of math and science. Math contained a few axioms but opened up a world of truth. With logic and deduction I could find the answers. What else, I pondered, is out there in our big beautiful world? All we needed, I presumed, are the right answers.

Sadly, I have misplaced the backup EL-506A. But I dug out the original the other night. After a quick trip to the local Walmart, I replaced the batteries and it worked like a champ.

Notice in the photo that my name is scratched into the back of the calculator. Oh my, it’s showing pi to 10 digits!