The Patent Dragon's Zone of Soul Retraction

So much for my pre-trip relaxation and preparation. This evening's been a bust so far, courtesy of Christmas tradition,and I'm trying to catch up on sliding real easy into the extended weekend. My writing target has been met, and TDD-704 Every Silver Lining... is, bar spellchecking, ready for a roll-out commencing when I get back from Operation Funplex.

I'm not sure what the IT facilities will be like at my destination, but I am hoping to be able to post LIVE from "Patent Saturday HQ", and maybe feed my fish in Ultima Online. There will DEFINITELY be a post tomorrow of some sort, but I may miss Friday if things don't work out - not exactly a crying shame, but there you go.

May just post again later, or just after midnight. Later, True Believers!

Redskins win!

Redskins win!

REDSKINS WIN! Washington 23, Seattle 17. Whoooooo!

Meanwhile... Things are slotting into place for Operation Funplex, as shopping for gear yields TWO successes that plug some yawning gaps. My formal dress option is now pretty much sorted - pity I couldn't do a "dry run" this evening. Tomorrow - the packing begins...

Development News... Chapter 5 of TDD-704 Every Silver Lining... is now into its "epilogue" sequence, and that could be finished if I can focus after the football (Chiefs-Steelers). This epilogue is VERY important to what's coming up, so I better get it right. Thankfully, I'll have some "quality time" to shepherd what comes next (the Christmas Special, and work on The Secret Adventures of Mane-of-Night, Season 3) into some kind of order very soon.

And finally... Packing list, packing list... now, which boots do I take...?

This time next week will be Day Two of Patent Saturday 2011... but right now, I'm nursing a wounded toe - with no problems arising thus far, apart from an occasional tweak - and adding to my prospective trip wardrobe. Nothing excessive - in fact, one could say it'd be the only thing one could say wasn't of that ilk. :D

In the meantime, work on TDD-704 Every Silver Lining... creeps forward some almost every day, but Chapter 5 is still not quite complete. When I get some time this weekend (huh, some hope), I'll try to push ahead, with a view to having a "clear plate" for next week. I had briefly toyed with the idea of reserving Thursday and Friday night for "fun" and Friday morning and afternoon for the "creative retreat" portion, but there's hardly enough time to do both justice. The Christmas Hols are coming up, and hopefully I'll be able to grab some free time.

Of course, that doesn't mean that I'll neglect any good ideas that come my way...

Well, the laptop's back, and operational, so that's one source of hassle addressed, with a week and a day to "Operation Funplex". Holy crap, that's nothing like long enough...

Doesn't help that this machine has required virus checks and updates, consuming an entire evening - no, wait, it was Pokemon Black that did that - and cue Difficult To Cure by Rainbow, as we go for "The Win"...!

I expect to make more sense tomorrow.

Now this is more like it. Yes, there have been one or two household jobs to attend to, but I managed to deal with those, and extract another hard drive, this time from a dead computer. Data recovery was a complete success, and there are now two "gutted" machines beside my desk - getting closer to counting Mission 101 Task 59

59 - Learn to upgrade PCs

as a *SCORE* - I know what a graphics card looks like now. However, completing this Task will require me to install a new component into a functioning machine, and return that PC to fully functioning condition, and that's the scary part. Right now, I'm running out of operational computers - they're actually outnumbered by the Game Boys and DSes in my possession (monochrome Game Boy, DS Lite, DSi XL)...

More Mission 101 News... My first "prop" (or more rightly pair of props) for Task 88

88 - Create usable stage/screen/cosplay props of three pieces of costume or equipment from my own projects

are coming along nicely, after a mid-week complete about-turn in design. The main components are ready - just about - and all that's needed now are suitable fastenings, which may require some more knotting research.

Operation Funplex News... Gonna have a look at some potential costume options, after one spectacularly fell through last weekend (and I still have no go-ahead to send the offending item back and get my refund). Hmmm...

And Finally... They've done it again - the Rush song "Face Up" on "Roll The Bones" has "Brighthawk soundtrack" potential!