I'm heading home again. I haven't spent a weekend in Cali yet, that isn't a bad thing. This weekend is GP Phoenix. The last time there was a GP in Phoenix, I day two'ed it with a Ray Powers Special. In an Illusions/Donate environment, I played WW and ultimately got owned by Hunted Wumpus/Armadillo cloak. Meh...oh well, I wrecked Donate decks.
This time around it's Ravnica Sealed with Cold Snap draft day 2. I'm good at sealed so I hope to day 2 it yet again.
It's all in the cards.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Buca di Bojo!
YaY! I was lucky enough to spend some time with the Bojanowskis last night. I was invited over for some food and gaming. Had some pretty amazing Mexican food and got to talk some shop with Dan. Afterwards we played a couple games.
Tsuro - Metro lite. This is Wizkids first board game and it bears a very very strong resemblance to Metro.
Blokus - This game was hella fun. It has a certain Tetris feel to it and players can plan turns in advance. Of course, all of that could come crumbling down by one persons play.
Overall it was a great night. I like hanging out with the Bojanowskis and it was good to see familiar faces here in SoCal.
Tsuro - Metro lite. This is Wizkids first board game and it bears a very very strong resemblance to Metro.
Blokus - This game was hella fun. It has a certain Tetris feel to it and players can plan turns in advance. Of course, all of that could come crumbling down by one persons play.
Overall it was a great night. I like hanging out with the Bojanowskis and it was good to see familiar faces here in SoCal.
Monday, August 28, 2006
Fantasy Football - 2006
So I flew back to Arizona this past weekend to see Marnie and draft in my dad's Fantasy Football League. It's a $100 buy in. You run the standard players. The only different rule is that if you draft a quarterback, you get all the quarterbacks for that team. For instance, if you draft Warner, you get Leinhart too. There were 15 teams and each has 2 slots for QBs (1 starting 1 bench). I think it's a nifty rule and doesn't screw someone who might get "warner'ed".
Here is the team I drafted -
QB - Jake Plummer
QB - Rex Grossman
RB - Carnel Williams
RB - Duece McAllister
RB - Ryan Moats
REC - Tony Gonzalez
REC - Plaxico Burress
REC - Jerry Porter
REC -
REC - Sinorice Moss
K - David Akers
K - Phil Dawson
DEF - Seahawks
DEF - Browns
I can't remember who the other receiver is, I'll find him. As you might have guessed, I got stuck picking 15th. My 1st/2nd round picks were Plummer and Carnel Williams. I am not at all happy with this steaming pile of players, but there is a lot of potential. I had Chris Sims as my backup QB (which would have been money) but he's on the same bye week as Plummer. My dad stole Mike Bell in Round 5, so my sleeper was gone. And no Joe, my other receivers don't include Justin McCareins.
Here is the team I drafted -
QB - Jake Plummer
QB - Rex Grossman
RB - Carnel Williams
RB - Duece McAllister
RB - Ryan Moats
REC - Tony Gonzalez
REC - Plaxico Burress
REC - Jerry Porter
REC -
REC - Sinorice Moss
K - David Akers
K - Phil Dawson
DEF - Seahawks
DEF - Browns
I can't remember who the other receiver is, I'll find him. As you might have guessed, I got stuck picking 15th. My 1st/2nd round picks were Plummer and Carnel Williams. I am not at all happy with this steaming pile of players, but there is a lot of potential. I had Chris Sims as my backup QB (which would have been money) but he's on the same bye week as Plummer. My dad stole Mike Bell in Round 5, so my sleeper was gone. And no Joe, my other receivers don't include Justin McCareins.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
What you see when the Pillsbury Doughboy bends over...
So I've been in North County for almost a week now and I have made some observations, specifically where things might be different than Arizona.
- There are a ton of donut shops. Like every other stripmall has a donut shop in it. They are all over the place. Do So. Californians love donuts that much that they can justify having this many donut shops.
- The humidity is killing.
- Still don't have internet at home.
- And best...I saw Bojo yesterday. It was good to see a familiar face.
- There are a ton of donut shops. Like every other stripmall has a donut shop in it. They are all over the place. Do So. Californians love donuts that much that they can justify having this many donut shops.
- The humidity is killing.
- Still don't have internet at home.
- And best...I saw Bojo yesterday. It was good to see a familiar face.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Ok...I'm here
I made it and am at my second day of work. Well, it's not really work. Boy did I miss doing this type of job on a regular basis in an office. I'm having a lot of fun already.
I found a place to live. Evidently, I am now living "in the Valley". Everyone either is or once was a skater. My roomates are cool. I will be getting internet at the house sometime this week (they have to take back the wireless router because it was broken and I'm going through WoW withdrawal). One of my roommates works for a TV station owned by Cox Cable, so I'll be getting cable in my room, at a discounted rate with every...single...channel Cox has to offer. I may never leave my room again. On Sundays, everyone gathers and someone cooks and we socialize. It's like something out of a movie.
I have to readjust myself to the humidity. The Jeep doesn't like the hills in North County. It's having troubles going up the hills. Hopefully the $700 I spent to fix some stuff won't go for not. I also have to get a mattress/boxspring. Right now i have a double-stacked air mattress. It's not very comfortable at all, but I have a plan.
And it's not really a job. It's a hobby where I have a desk and I get paid.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go find an abandoned house with an empty pool.
I found a place to live. Evidently, I am now living "in the Valley". Everyone either is or once was a skater. My roomates are cool. I will be getting internet at the house sometime this week (they have to take back the wireless router because it was broken and I'm going through WoW withdrawal). One of my roommates works for a TV station owned by Cox Cable, so I'll be getting cable in my room, at a discounted rate with every...single...channel Cox has to offer. I may never leave my room again. On Sundays, everyone gathers and someone cooks and we socialize. It's like something out of a movie.
I have to readjust myself to the humidity. The Jeep doesn't like the hills in North County. It's having troubles going up the hills. Hopefully the $700 I spent to fix some stuff won't go for not. I also have to get a mattress/boxspring. Right now i have a double-stacked air mattress. It's not very comfortable at all, but I have a plan.
And it's not really a job. It's a hobby where I have a desk and I get paid.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go find an abandoned house with an empty pool.
Monday, August 14, 2006
The Girard Goes to California
First off, I would like to say congratulations to Chuck on his recent opportunities. I hope things really work out for him and I'm looking for some great games coming out of that department of Sony.
I have a bit of an announcement of my own. I will be starting a new job on Monday, August 21st. This position will require me to relocate to southern California, specifically the Carlsbad area. Like Chuck, I will be a Game Designer as well in my new position. My first assignment when I get there will be to work on a game based on a popular MMORPG. It will be fun to once again work with my friend Mr. Bojanowski.
This means that a chapter is closing for me. I will no longer be an employee of Decipher. I've thought about what I wanted to say in this space. I could go out with a bang and just smear the name all over the internet. Confirm suspicions, blast business practices...the list could go on. I'm not going to. I'm going to say that some of the most influential people in my life and my experiences with them have come from working at Decipher. This company gave me my big break in the industry and I will never forget that, however it is time for me to move on.
If anyone needs to get a hold of me, I'm at dvader20 (at) yahoo (dot) com. The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades.
I have a bit of an announcement of my own. I will be starting a new job on Monday, August 21st. This position will require me to relocate to southern California, specifically the Carlsbad area. Like Chuck, I will be a Game Designer as well in my new position. My first assignment when I get there will be to work on a game based on a popular MMORPG. It will be fun to once again work with my friend Mr. Bojanowski.
This means that a chapter is closing for me. I will no longer be an employee of Decipher. I've thought about what I wanted to say in this space. I could go out with a bang and just smear the name all over the internet. Confirm suspicions, blast business practices...the list could go on. I'm not going to. I'm going to say that some of the most influential people in my life and my experiences with them have come from working at Decipher. This company gave me my big break in the industry and I will never forget that, however it is time for me to move on.
If anyone needs to get a hold of me, I'm at dvader20 (at) yahoo (dot) com. The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades.
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Friday, August 04, 2006
Foreshadowing
There might be some more information regarding this and a certain Free Agent game designer in the coming days. Stay Tuned.
Monday, July 31, 2006
ATTK42
I remember Jay wanting to get that for his license plate.
So, I played in the Grand Prix PHX trial this past saturday at Jeff's store, Mana Werx. It was Ravnica sealed with Coldsnap draft top 8. Notables there from "our" crew were myself, Dan Voigt, Michael Bahr, and Jay Webb. There were only 16 competitors, so 7 points should be good enough to get in.
It would seem that every time I play in a sealed deck event, I don't get bombs. I get good solid cards that, when I hit my curve, seem to overrun the opponent. Here are a couple high lights from my sealed (which was less than stellar) -
Vinelasher Kudzu
Rakdos Ickspitter
a 5/5 wurm
Brainspoil
I had a good curve going on, brainspoil was my real only way of dealing with bombs. I had a couple 2for1 cards, which probably were the reason I made it to top 8. I beat Jay and lost to Dan during the Swiss. Dan wouldn't draw, we were both 2-0 and he didn't feel comfortable drawing.
Top 8 draft was coldsnap. The only knowledge I have of this set is what I saw at the pre-release event. This format is bear heavy, if you have a bear that can survive the other bears than you are in good shape. Here is what I drafted -
Juniper Order Ranger - 2nd pick, 1st pack
Phyrexian Snowcrusher
Surging Sentinels
Kjeldoran Gargoyle
Swift Manuever x2
Field Marshal - 2nd pack, 1st pick
Gelid Shackles
Ronom Unicorn
Kjeldoran War Cry x2
Kjeldoran Outrider x3 - my "better" bears
Grim Harvest
Chill to the Bone x2
Gristle Grinner
Gutless Ghoul
Zombie Musher x2
Disciple of Tevesh Szat x2
Garza's Assassin - 1st pick, 1st pack
Sideboard -
Luminesce x2
Deathmark
Gutless Ghoul
Disciple of Tevesh Szat x2
Grim Harvest
a couple Aurouchs that I hated
a bunch of junk
I decided to go with just 2x Disciples because I had the 2x Zombie Mushers clogging up the 4 slot and figured I could get by with just the 2 (plus there was a good amount of damage cards that just damaged for 1 and I didn't want to trade a 4coster for a 1 or 2 coster). 2x Zombie Mushers is tech, I played zero snow covered lands (as the same as Dan Voigt), but these guys were insta threats the minute they hit the board, meaning they shot straight to the top of KTM. The Outriders turned into 3/3 first strikers with the Field Marshall out. I played 1 Forest and only had to wait 3 turns once to draw it when I had Juniper in hand, that guy is truly stellar.
Finals - Me vs. Dan Voigt
He was kind of upset that I wouldn't give him the byes. He told me that the ratings cutoff was back in April and now he had enough rating to get some byes, but back then he didn't. I told him that I would be attending GPPHX, so I would be utitilizing the byes. We sat down and played.
Game 1 - Got the bears when I needed and supped them up with the Field Marshal. He hit a couple Ripple damagers (I believe he said he only had 2). I was able to push through for the win. The curve was hit and I was able to have an answer when I needed it (a swift manuever or war cry).
Game 2 - Again, another great game by both players. He was down to about 3 or 4 life and I was at 11. He swung with 2 fliers and played the red howl from beyond and I was toast.
Game 3 - Another close game, I was getting into howl from beyond range and he was around 7-8 life. I also drew into 2x Luminesce, which were key. He said he was 1 mana away from killing me when I was at 13 or so. I dropped the juniper and then started dropping guys. He had a flier that kept hitting me. I was down to 4, he had a 2/2 flier, on the previous turn, he chumped against my juniper and snow crusher. He swings for 2, I take it, he plays the new relentless assault. I had the swift manuever and that was that.
I had a pretty solid deck and was able to draft enough answers and I'm excited about playing in GP PHX. The prizes weren't spectacular (which is one of the reasons why I didn't want to deal for the byes), 20 packs to first and 10 to second. I gave Dan 2 packs, so I had 6 draft sets and he had 4. All in all, a pretty good day.
So, I played in the Grand Prix PHX trial this past saturday at Jeff's store, Mana Werx. It was Ravnica sealed with Coldsnap draft top 8. Notables there from "our" crew were myself, Dan Voigt, Michael Bahr, and Jay Webb. There were only 16 competitors, so 7 points should be good enough to get in.
It would seem that every time I play in a sealed deck event, I don't get bombs. I get good solid cards that, when I hit my curve, seem to overrun the opponent. Here are a couple high lights from my sealed (which was less than stellar) -
Vinelasher Kudzu
Rakdos Ickspitter
a 5/5 wurm
Brainspoil
I had a good curve going on, brainspoil was my real only way of dealing with bombs. I had a couple 2for1 cards, which probably were the reason I made it to top 8. I beat Jay and lost to Dan during the Swiss. Dan wouldn't draw, we were both 2-0 and he didn't feel comfortable drawing.
Top 8 draft was coldsnap. The only knowledge I have of this set is what I saw at the pre-release event. This format is bear heavy, if you have a bear that can survive the other bears than you are in good shape. Here is what I drafted -
Juniper Order Ranger - 2nd pick, 1st pack
Phyrexian Snowcrusher
Surging Sentinels
Kjeldoran Gargoyle
Swift Manuever x2
Field Marshal - 2nd pack, 1st pick
Gelid Shackles
Ronom Unicorn
Kjeldoran War Cry x2
Kjeldoran Outrider x3 - my "better" bears
Grim Harvest
Chill to the Bone x2
Gristle Grinner
Gutless Ghoul
Zombie Musher x2
Disciple of Tevesh Szat x2
Garza's Assassin - 1st pick, 1st pack
Sideboard -
Luminesce x2
Deathmark
Gutless Ghoul
Disciple of Tevesh Szat x2
Grim Harvest
a couple Aurouchs that I hated
a bunch of junk
I decided to go with just 2x Disciples because I had the 2x Zombie Mushers clogging up the 4 slot and figured I could get by with just the 2 (plus there was a good amount of damage cards that just damaged for 1 and I didn't want to trade a 4coster for a 1 or 2 coster). 2x Zombie Mushers is tech, I played zero snow covered lands (as the same as Dan Voigt), but these guys were insta threats the minute they hit the board, meaning they shot straight to the top of KTM. The Outriders turned into 3/3 first strikers with the Field Marshall out. I played 1 Forest and only had to wait 3 turns once to draw it when I had Juniper in hand, that guy is truly stellar.
Finals - Me vs. Dan Voigt
He was kind of upset that I wouldn't give him the byes. He told me that the ratings cutoff was back in April and now he had enough rating to get some byes, but back then he didn't. I told him that I would be attending GPPHX, so I would be utitilizing the byes. We sat down and played.
Game 1 - Got the bears when I needed and supped them up with the Field Marshal. He hit a couple Ripple damagers (I believe he said he only had 2). I was able to push through for the win. The curve was hit and I was able to have an answer when I needed it (a swift manuever or war cry).
Game 2 - Again, another great game by both players. He was down to about 3 or 4 life and I was at 11. He swung with 2 fliers and played the red howl from beyond and I was toast.
Game 3 - Another close game, I was getting into howl from beyond range and he was around 7-8 life. I also drew into 2x Luminesce, which were key. He said he was 1 mana away from killing me when I was at 13 or so. I dropped the juniper and then started dropping guys. He had a flier that kept hitting me. I was down to 4, he had a 2/2 flier, on the previous turn, he chumped against my juniper and snow crusher. He swings for 2, I take it, he plays the new relentless assault. I had the swift manuever and that was that.
I had a pretty solid deck and was able to draft enough answers and I'm excited about playing in GP PHX. The prizes weren't spectacular (which is one of the reasons why I didn't want to deal for the byes), 20 packs to first and 10 to second. I gave Dan 2 packs, so I had 6 draft sets and he had 4. All in all, a pretty good day.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Chucking the Rock
^400, 1.8 miles biked, 1hr45min Basketball
Holy smokes. Two things that I know for a fact. 1 - I'm fat and b - I'm a white guy. With all that being said I was able to hold my own for the most part on the court. I ran three games, first to 15 by 1s/2s. I dragged ass for the last half of each game, but I was still able to come up with a couple steals, drove the lane a couple times and had 2 airballs from the perimeter (hey, it's been a long time since I've run it back). Afterwards, my brain was like "yea!!!!, let's go ride a bike" and my left calf was like "do you have any idea how much this bastard weighs?"
This moment as been brought to you by the aussie and Team Lischke Cycling. I miss the nagging.
Holy smokes. Two things that I know for a fact. 1 - I'm fat and b - I'm a white guy. With all that being said I was able to hold my own for the most part on the court. I ran three games, first to 15 by 1s/2s. I dragged ass for the last half of each game, but I was still able to come up with a couple steals, drove the lane a couple times and had 2 airballs from the perimeter (hey, it's been a long time since I've run it back). Afterwards, my brain was like "yea!!!!, let's go ride a bike" and my left calf was like "do you have any idea how much this bastard weighs?"
This moment as been brought to you by the aussie and Team Lischke Cycling. I miss the nagging.
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Maybe we are Por.. Mon....
heh...if you've seen Clerks II, you will get the title. Hey, it's making a come back.
I think that Marnie and I have sunk to a new level of laziness. We are having groceries delivered today between 1 and 3. We ordered our groceries online (here) yesterday and they are delivering them today.
It's pretty hot out you know, so it's...justifiable.
I think that Marnie and I have sunk to a new level of laziness. We are having groceries delivered today between 1 and 3. We ordered our groceries online (here) yesterday and they are delivering them today.
It's pretty hot out you know, so it's...justifiable.
Friday, July 21, 2006
Interspecies Erotica
admit it, you wouldn't look away either.
and I saw Mr. Brad Defruiter's name in the credits.
and I saw Mr. Brad Defruiter's name in the credits.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Monday, July 17, 2006
Fatty Fatty 2 by 4...
^400 - ~2 miles on the bike, 40 minutes basketball, 10 minutes sauna
Last week I decided it was time. I went and got an LA Fitness membership. It is about a mile from my work in between the home and the job. It has a basketball court (which I am very happy about), raquetball courts, normal gym stuff, lap pool, sauna, hot tub. I got the buddy pass for the registration fee and there is no contract. Marnie thought that I might be crazy and didn't think that I would go.
I went this morning for the firts time. The guy who signed me up said they had a digital scale that would go over 350 but alas, he was mistaken. I know that I'm over 400, but I'm not sure how far over. I can't really count calories like Tom, so I'll put what I did for the exercise up top. Today I started slow. The bike killed me.
Does anyone know if it's ok to take an ipod in the sauna?
Last week I decided it was time. I went and got an LA Fitness membership. It is about a mile from my work in between the home and the job. It has a basketball court (which I am very happy about), raquetball courts, normal gym stuff, lap pool, sauna, hot tub. I got the buddy pass for the registration fee and there is no contract. Marnie thought that I might be crazy and didn't think that I would go.
I went this morning for the firts time. The guy who signed me up said they had a digital scale that would go over 350 but alas, he was mistaken. I know that I'm over 400, but I'm not sure how far over. I can't really count calories like Tom, so I'll put what I did for the exercise up top. Today I started slow. The bike killed me.
Does anyone know if it's ok to take an ipod in the sauna?
Friday, July 14, 2006
Me and the Sponge
my neighbor took a picture of my spongebob that I have at my desk. I had some crabby patty gummis today. they rocked.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Is it a Clone Card or a Wild Card?
Went to the Coldsnap prerelease today. Nothing spectacular at all. I mean there aren't even any chase rares in the set really. I went 3-1 losing 1 match to the 20/20 indestructable land that becomes a creature, I was cursing Chuck the whole time because this seems like the type of card he would build a deck around.
The set isn't very good imo. The format is weird as well. My mana base was very fragile even though I had 2 amulets, a snow rampant growth and the elf dude. In the games that I won, I pretty much just curved for the win.
Afterwards I headed up to Casino Arizona for some gambling. I did average at poker, I think I was down about $50 or so and was getting bored real quick. There was this obnoxious lady that would call with absolutely anything. Twice she rivered me out when I was way ahead and that's where I lost a chunck of change. I decided to try some blackjack. This was a bad idea, I lost a significant amount of money playing black jack, but here is the high/lowlight -
I get dealt A/8, the dealer is showing something like a 7. He points to me. I say stay. He says you have 19. I'm like "uhh, thanks, should I hit on 19?" He said is good to help thin out the shoe (it's freaking constant shuffle). I hit and snag a 6. I can't possibly hit again, so I stay. Dealer flips over a J for 17.
WHY IN THE HELL WAS I SUPPOSED TO HIT ON A A/8???
Someone with BlackJack experience please explain that one to me. thanks..
The set isn't very good imo. The format is weird as well. My mana base was very fragile even though I had 2 amulets, a snow rampant growth and the elf dude. In the games that I won, I pretty much just curved for the win.
Afterwards I headed up to Casino Arizona for some gambling. I did average at poker, I think I was down about $50 or so and was getting bored real quick. There was this obnoxious lady that would call with absolutely anything. Twice she rivered me out when I was way ahead and that's where I lost a chunck of change. I decided to try some blackjack. This was a bad idea, I lost a significant amount of money playing black jack, but here is the high/lowlight -
I get dealt A/8, the dealer is showing something like a 7. He points to me. I say stay. He says you have 19. I'm like "uhh, thanks, should I hit on 19?" He said is good to help thin out the shoe (it's freaking constant shuffle). I hit and snag a 6. I can't possibly hit again, so I stay. Dealer flips over a J for 17.
WHY IN THE HELL WAS I SUPPOSED TO HIT ON A A/8???
Someone with BlackJack experience please explain that one to me. thanks..
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
I Looked Up In The Sky
and I went to see Superman Returns. I have to admit I'm a little rusty when it comes to all the little things that I should be noticing (I should have went and seen it with Tuttle). I thought it was a pretty good superhero movie. It was freaking long...like...really freaking long.
I think Kevin Spacey did a good job. I was kinda "ehh" on Kate Bosworth. And of course every...single...freaking time I see Brandon Routh all I see is Hayden. I don't know if that is creepy or not, I'm leading towards creepy.
I think it's better than average, but it falls way short of my top 100. I enjoyed it, I think I would have enjoyed it more if it was about 30 minutes shorter.
I think Kevin Spacey did a good job. I was kinda "ehh" on Kate Bosworth. And of course every...single...freaking time I see Brandon Routh all I see is Hayden. I don't know if that is creepy or not, I'm leading towards creepy.
I think it's better than average, but it falls way short of my top 100. I enjoyed it, I think I would have enjoyed it more if it was about 30 minutes shorter.
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