Russell Duhon
Nov. 3rd, 2009
07:21 pm - Game Night? Other Hanging Out?
Is anyone interested in a game night or other hanging out on Wednesday or Thursday this week?
Oct. 1st, 2009
01:05 pm - Spirit of the Century!
So, I'm thinking of running another Spirit of the Century game, and I was wondering who was interested? People who have already played it could either play their current character (as-is or tweaked some) or make a new one.
For those not familiar with the game, Spirit of the Century is set after World War One (the Great War), and the players are pulp heroes/antiheroes. When trying to do things, you aren't just rolling for success, you're rolling for awesome. Players are strongly encouraged to participate in the creation of the story, not just let take what is given them (though the GM has veto power, he tends to allow things that are interesting, even if they throw his plans off track ;) ).
If you're interested, post here, and let me know when generally works.
Sep. 20th, 2009
09:58 pm - Ikebana Gathering!
I was talking with ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
hurkon the other day, and we came up with the idea of an ikebana (Japanese flower arranging) gathering some Saturday soon (while the Farmers' Market still has good flowers). We'd go to the market, get one to two bouquets per two to three people, then go somewhere with a good bit of table space (potentially somewhere outside, if not too windy) and do some ikebana.
Each person would just have to bring a container or two they think would be fun to arrange flowers in. For the style of ikebana we would be doing, the containers should generally be at least somewhat wide (at very least having an opening, say, three inches in diameter), and it should be easy to reach into the bottom of them, and they should be capable of holding something like half an inch of water at minimum. Beyond that, just about anything goes. Bringing scissors and shears good for small plants would be useful, but not necessary for everyone to do, and I'd make sure there were enough kenzan (pin frogs, the things the flowers will stick in).
You can see random examples of ikebana I've done on my flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/99071083@N
Post if you're interested, with what Saturdays work for you (and any time restrictions you have on those days; the basic flower shopping and ikebana portion would probably take about two hours, more if people are having fun).
Aug. 17th, 2009
02:40 pm - District 9 This Evening
So, looks like we're (so far, Chang, me, and Amanda) going to see District 9 this evening at 7:50 (east side) or 9:10 (west side). The movie looks really really good, and we'd really really enjoy seeing it along with other people. So come along! Let me know what time works best if you're interested.
Jul. 30th, 2009
08:36 am - Random Gathering of Doom, 8 pm, Our Place
Today, July 30th, 8 pm, 1024 Summitview Pl, Bloomington, IN. Ask if you need directions. There will be epic activities like . . . hanging out, and maybe watching something, and quite possibly cookie baking!
Jul. 15th, 2009
01:48 pm - New Apartment Party!
Time: 7:30 pm, Wednesday, July 15th (Today)
Location: The Cupboard Under the Stairs, 1024 Summitview Place (turn into Summit Pointe, which is a well marked complex behind Bloomington High School South. Continue until you approach the end of the road. Park in any non-covered space in the parking lot on your right (or any other lot if those are full)).
Join Us, and Together We Shall Rule The Galaxy!
Feb. 24th, 2009
03:00 pm - An Ideal Husband Saturday the 7th at 2pm
See title ;)
Between Chang's fairly restricted schedule (no Friday or Saturday evening performances) and when people said they were available, it looks like we'll be going to the Saturday the 7th performance at 2pm.
Let me know if you want to attend. I'll buy the tickets, so we have a block of them (it is assigned seating), and people can reimburse me.
Feb. 15th, 2009
09:56 pm - An Ideal Husband Play Performance Gathering
An Ideal Husband will be put on at the Ruth N. Halls "Theatre" on campus soon, and Chang and I want to organize a gathering.
The play is showing the 27th and 28th of February, and March 3rd through 7th. There is a 7:30 pm performance every day, and an additional 2 pm matinee performance on Saturday the 7th.
If we can see it Tuesday through Thursday or at the matinee performance, we should be able to get tickets for $12 or less. If cost is an issue for anyone who really wants to go, talk to me.
Amanda has voiced support for a showing on the 6th (and I bet the 7th would be better), as she will likely be arriving in town on the 6th.
Who's interested, and what are people's availability restrictions?
Dec. 1st, 2008
09:32 pm - John Barrowman Exposed on the BBC!
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/cardi
Sadly for some friends, this would be BBC radio.
Oct. 26th, 2008
Sep. 13th, 2008
12:34 pm - Memetics
01. Kara
02. Kevin
03. I'm just fine, thanks.
04. Fiona
05. Aditi
06. Mary
07. Silly question.
08. Caitlin
09. Chang :)
10. Mary (hopefully ;) )
11. Aditi
12. Chang
13. Mary
14. Me! (insert squeal here)
15. Kara. I say cowboy outfit.
16. Kara
17. Me
18. ?
19. Most everyone, really.
20. Amanda
21. No idea.
22. No idea.
23. My boss, of course.
24. Darth Vader
25. Chang
26. Chang
27. Chang :)
28. Caitlin
29. Chang
30. Mwahahahahahahaha!
Sep. 3rd, 2008
07:58 pm - Reubenesques
. . . are what I shall call my new panini creation.
To make, layer on rye bread the following in approximately this order:
A couple thin slices of pastrami
A couple thin slices of corned beef
Some sauerkraut
Slices of sweet peppers
Chopped onion sautéed in butter until soft
A thin slice of raclette (or other semi-soft french) cheese
Then grill panini-style (you can do this in your favorite skillet, putting a heavy skillet on top to weight it down. That works best with two paninis (so the top skillet doesn't tip), for about three minutes per side at medium high heat. Make sure it gets hot enough to heat the sauerkraut (next time I might add the sauerkraut to the onions as they finish sautéing, so it is already hot).
I shall also be engaging some third-world workers to create knock-offs of Flemish masterpieces.
03:42 pm - So, I'm going to be in Chicago tomorrow
Getting a visa from the Brazilian consulate. Ah, the fun of short-notice trips to conferences.
Chang and I will depart sometime before 5 am, get there by 10 (hopefully; it is a few blocks north of millenium park), take care of my consulate fun, then wander about in Chicago for a few hours before heading back (which probably means go to the Field Museum).
There will still be gathering at our place in the evening, starting at 8. We will be celebrating Caitlin's completion of the world's most thrilling standardized test with hanging out, watching television shows, and drinking.
Be there or be octagonal.
Aug. 31st, 2008
03:56 pm - BBQ Dragon
Want.
Really, really want.
Not $90k (or even $40k) want, though. Especially without a backyard.
Jul. 12th, 2008
11:11 am - Last post in England
Should be for a while, eat least. I'm sitting in Heathrow, with twenty minutes until my flight starts boarding. It has been a blast, but I'm so very much looking forward to being back home.
See everyone soon (hopefully there will be some sort of gathering on Sunday).
Cheers! :)
Jul. 5th, 2008
05:03 pm - I present my Coat of Arms
Created at the Victoria and Albert Museum and conveniently emailed to me.
I really like the Victoria and Albert Museum, even when the loud soul and motown was interfering with my appreciation of ancient Chinese artifacts. If I have time, I might well go back and purchase some tickets to their paid exhibitions.
I intend to watch the season finale of Doctor Who tonight. For some reason, I completely do not care about Doctor Who spoilers, so I feel watching it right as it happens is well worth it. I was contemplating trying to see a play, but they cost money I'd prefer to save, plus I'm exhausted from a long day viewing two museums (Natural History and the aforementioned). I had intended to also see the Sikorski Museum, which should be open on this first Saturday of the month, but they seemed to have forgotten (it was on the door, too).
Book prices in England are awful. I finished the ones I brought, and was intending to purchase another, but prices are pretty much double or more US prices across the board. It is extremely annoying.
Happily, fruit and cheese prices at the grocer are pretty cheap. I've been munching on clementines and grapes while having cottage cheese and red leicester, and I have some very fresh mozzarella I'm going to very much enjoy.
Tomorrow it will be more museums (in the West London area containing the British Museum and the like), plus going to a pub in the evening with a guy at Imperial College London (actually a university) whom I met at the conference last week. Luckily, he is not one of the students knifed over two hundred times and set on fire earlier this week, possibly during the theft of a couple of PSPs. London has been having something of a rash of knife murders this past week -- luckily, a rash of knife murders for London is a slow week in most major cities, so I'm not anywhere near worried for my personal safety.
I've also been becoming informed on some stuff happening with the London Mayor's office, but that's probably not too interesting to most :)
So yeah, back to my room to munch on fruit and cheese shortly, probably while doing some work stuff and watching TV.
Jul. 4th, 2008
10:42 am - People Sleep on the Steps of the Apollo Victoria Theatre
I think it is for tickets, since the sleeping bags look quite nice, but I only see one or two when I walk past, so I can't imagine the demand is great enough to require it.
British television has really amazing amounts of gambling, I've found, including frequent giveaways that involve answering a 3-option multiple choice question that most people with a pulse can answer -- for which there is a fee to enter -- that are effectively lotteries.
Another thing I've noticed is that there are frequently shows about the US and Canada. Not shows from the US and Canada, shows about the US and Canada that are produced by UK companies. I've noticed a cops show, a show about moving large buildings, and several others that seem to fit this mold. A very British voice narrates while most of the people who talk on screen have US or Canadian accents.
Jul. 3rd, 2008
10:04 am - I found a place with straight straws
Spudulike. It sells baked potatoes. Unfortunately, baked potato toppings in England seem to be very different from baked potato toppings in the US. I had the second most normal item on the menu (after chili con carne, which I wasn't in the mood for) -- cottage cheese and chives. Other combinations on the menu include 'tuna and sweet corn', 'prawn cocktail', and 'chicken tikka'.
Also, I ran into a downside of the tube that surprised me a little. At some times it is too popular, so they will temporarily close stations. The Victoria Underground Station was temporarily closed this morning (to people entering trains; people left trains just fine, of course).
Jul. 1st, 2008
10:45 am - Everywhere there are bendy straws!
I've noticed that approximately every single straw in England is a bendy straw. This is strange, because it seems most restaurants in the US have moved to straight straws. The bendy straws are narrow, so I don't like them as much as the generally slightly wider straight straws (I like to drink more rapidly).
I'm finding it interesting to explore Victoria Station and environs. It is a large place, with many things in and attached to and surrounding it. I like it.
Jun. 30th, 2008
09:57 am - Today's xkcd is hilarious and painful.
http://xkcd.com/443/
I've discovered that I'm quite lucky in my room location. The back of the building is right up against Victoria Station's rails. My room is in the front, where the sound is extremely reduced.
Something I forgot to mention: on the way to London, I shared the bus for a stretch with a 96 year old man who has ridden the bus every day between Norwich and a nearby town for over 20 years. He's been featured on the news several times, apparently. The driver gave the other riders a little background, and clearly knew him quite well.
Upon my return, there will definitely be gatherings. Of course, my return isn't for nearly two weeks, but I miss my friends.
I watched a show that went over the top 40 romantic movies as voted by their watchers after the euro cup final last night, and while I liked the show (I'm a sap for romances), I probably shouldn't have watched it. *blows kiss at a far too distant Chang*
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