The One with the Calm Before the Storm

While this week was busy, next week is ridiculous. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, we have PD's to go to every day. That's right, I'm an assistant who has to go to PD. The upside is I get paid for two of them, the third I'm not sure yet. Then Thursday I go to the dentist. Ellice has an appointment on Tuesday--pray that goes well.

NBA playoffs start today. Overall, I'm rooting for Kentucky players, the Rockets or LeBron. Isn't DVR wonderful? I'll be able to watch each game in under an hour.

Coed softball is a fiasco so far, as we don't have enough girls--we had to forfeit our first game. We are going to see if we can combine with a girls team--they didn't have enough for a league this year. We'll see how it shakes out.

34 days left of school, and then baby comes, so we are in full countdown mode.

Star Trek: Ghost Ship by Diane Carey

This is Star Trek Next Generation #1; Set just after the first episode of next generation (Encounter at Farpoint), this novel thrusts the Enterprise into a horrible situation, having to choose whether to put millions of beings out of their misery all while surviving against a superpowered extradimensional creature/machine. The theme here is Euthenasia and the characters get downright belligerent in their debate. Carey takes full opportunity to explore the angst, apprehension and uncertainty of this new crew and how the command officers conflict in trying to define their roles on the Enterprise. The author really delivers in the end with a powerful finale; This book feels like an edgy, slightly more raw Next Generation two-part episode. ***1/2

The One with the Changing Table

We just rebooted the Friends Series, so in honor of that event I'm beginning my blogs with "The One with the..." in the title for a bit.

My parents came over for lamb on Easter Sunday, a yearly tradition. A pleasant visit and an enjoyable meal. Softball starts next week and I don't even have a roster so I can't call anybody; that's my biggest frustration right now. I need to fill out my FASFA.

The highlight of the week was getting the changing table for the baby's room. There was some back pain, some stripped bolts that wouldn't go all the way in, but all and all, its fixed and sturdy enough for its intended purpose. The room is coming together and should be mostly ready by August. She's due in July? Uh oh...

Lots of work and not a lot else. I've got no sports to blog about. I need new slippers.

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

This book started out funny with an excellent premise: two angels, one standard and one fallen, both friends likened to undercover agents on opposite sides of the Cold War trying to stop the Apocalypse because they enjoy the world too much to see it end. The book is advertised as in the same league as Douglas Adams's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and while it is zany, it is not in the same league. In fact, sometimes it tries too hard. In the first half of the book, there was an effort to explain the Britishisms found inside, but in the second half, they just quit trying. This book is funny in the way that a US marine brandishing a mackerel like a rifle is funny-- I didn't get it either. **

Spring Break comes to an end

It has been a productive and restful week--I have no regrets. We could have overdone it, but we didn't. We put forth a deliberate effort to take it easy, and I think it has paid off. I got some writing done, we painted the baby's room and generally picked up a bit.

UK got Coach Calipari, and while I had some reservations going into this, I find that the more I hear from him, the better fit I think he is for the program. I'm looking forward to Kentucky's future again. Michigan State and North Carolina made the finals in the NCAA tourney; we're pulling for State as UNC is approaching Ky's alltime win total and the fewer they win, the better. What's that? Football season is approaching? Don't tell Ellice...

We've put the campaign on hold for a bit and reverted to a new module-based game. There has been a lot of consternation over this, as Ellice and I want to move forward but some people wanted something fresh. We'll see what shakes out, but in the meantime the point is to have fun.

Bedtime Stories

I'm always leery when it comes to Adam Sandler movies. The last one I saw was Zohan, and that was garbage. This one however, hits the mark. It's cute, funny and doesn't fill me with the urge to leave (always a good thing in movies). It won't change the world, but Stories is a good time. **1/2

Love Stinks (DVD)

I use to really like this movie, but our most recent viewing revealed how much our temperament has changed. The language and content of this comedy are just not for us anymore. *1/2

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling

The initial volume of the fantastic magical adventure series featuring the world's most famous boy wizard. It was as good this time reading it as the last. ****

Net Force by Tom Clancy and Steve Pieczenik

This is the aptly-named initial entry in Clancy's Net Force series. While a big fan of the Jack Ryan movies, I had never actually read a Clancy novel until now. I thoroughly enjoyed this adventure. It was techie, slightly futuristic with a thoroughly modern feel. Net Force basically is a department dedicated to fighting cyber-terrorism. Alex Michaels is appointed the head of Net Force when his boss is assassinated in a gangland style shooting. This is pulled off very well, and had an exciting climax that I found riveting. I plan on following Alex Michael's adventures in the future. ***1/2