I'm listening to this album right now (by Red Hot Chili Peppers) and feeling nostalgic. It came out 10 years ago and used to be one of my favorite driving songs. I have very fond memories of driving down the Las Vegas Strip listening to that album with Michelle, Paul and Lisanne.

In fact I used to really enjoy driving a lot. Every time I did it was like a mini-vacation from life. But now I have chronic headaches and eyestrain and likely am not helping that by being at the computer for most of the day.

My car of 11 years (from 1996-2007 ish) was taken from me too due to being ruled by Canadian law to be unfit to drive. I've gotten $4k back for a savings fund, but it's still sad... that car was a big part of my late teens and young adulthood, and took me on that last, long journey from California to Quebec five years ago.

Well, I've had a pretty hectic week and sadly, it's not even done yet. So don't expect me around till next week. :/

First of all, there were delays in getting the new apartment ready for us, so we had to wait for a few days for that. (Plumbing and etc.)

Then we finally had the clear to move but the movers weren't ready to go, so we could only bring what would fit into the car.

Except we didn't have a car any more, because apparently my old Saturn didn't pass the final inspection, and they basically told us ON the day we were going to move that my car had to be taken out of circulation.

So now my car's sitting in some junkyard somewhere, or already turned into scrap, after I obsessed for months over whether I'd ever get to see it again, whether it'd still work after sitting in a garage for all that time, and etc.

I slept through the bus ride mostly. (My car is still sitting somewhere, waiting to get registered. Darn holidays!) Man, I didn`t realize how exhausted I was. I'm so burned out right now I could probably sleep for days if I let myself.

My inlaws like my cookies. Yay. :D I think the chocolate dipped macaroons are the best I've made, especially. I even got making the chocolate dip juuuuust right.

I'm going to eat soon and then there will be present opening, probably! Jon and I are sleeping in the room with the computer while we're here so I can use it allll I want. >.> I actually wanted to upgrade the Darksiren Wiki and actually PUT more stuff on it while here... maybe! and work on Nekigame char.

More soon! ooh...I just heard people trying 'Paint it Black' on Guitar Hero (2?) and it made me think of Cat. I hope she got her b-day present!

The new Dwarf Fortress adds some interesting complications to the gameplay. One of the biggest features is multiple level maps, and how water dynamics have been adapted towards this.

Specifically, concerning wells: you actually have to divert a water source on the level beneath where you want your well to sit before you actually build it. This takes a lot more work than previously required, because first you need to find a suitable water source on the map, then figure out how to arrange the floodgates and levers to make a reservoir, then dig a well shaft down several levels.

Well, technically you don't NEED to dig down, but I did it because that way I could potentially divert water to lower levels of the map in the future. Except I'm probably going to end up starting my current game over again. Digging well shafts can be dangerous... there was a fall at one point and I lost one dwarf and severely injured another. It was a four or five story fall, ouch.

Well, everything's been taken care of now. I've got my visa extension, I've arranged to take some time off from RP, I've told pretty much everyone I had to that I'll be gone. I even got my car back, it's running just fine, and gasp! We even got the new parts fitted on it. They're not painted, but my car finally doesn't look all ripped up on the front bumper/driver's side any more. Woo!

I just need to get my car registration done. :P But the appointment isn't until next week, so we're just going to go drive to my inlaws' tomorrow.

Right now the schedule looks like this:
- August 15-19 (or 20) at my inlaws' place.
- August 20-24? we'll spend back home just unwinding, cleaning up around the apartment and such.
- August 25-28, we visit Montreal.

The time periods are give or take a day, but the order is right. Right now I really ought to be packing... but before that, I'd like to post some words of support for Lumi and her boyfriend, who are going through tough times right now.