It's Official

Our first ass-biting cold day of the season.

Another "Getting to Know Me" Meme

You know how sometimes people on your friendslist post about stuff going on in their life, and all of a sudden you think "Wait a minute? Since when were they working THERE? Since when were they dating HIM/HER? Since when???" And then you wonder how you could have missed all that? It's seemingly pretty standard information, but somehow you feel too ashamed to ask for clarification because it seems like info you should already know? It happens to all of us sometimes.

Please copy the topics below, erase my answers and put yours in their place, and then post it in your journal! Please elaborate on the questions that would benefit from elaboration. One-Word-Answers seldom help anyone out.

1. First Name: Named for an Uncle Jim on both sides of the family and called "James" to differentiate me from both.

2. Age: 42

3. Location: Calgary, AB

4. Occupation: Software Scientist. I write security software for a company in the oil and gas industry.

5. Partner: Her name is Vancouver, she lives in Alberta...

6. Kids: None, nor are there likely to be any by reason of conviction and lack of opportunities.

7. Brothers/Sisters: One of each. We grew up largely apart due to age. I have little in common with either of them and see them about once a year.

8. Parents: Gordon and Maxine. Dead now. Given that fact and the social distance between my siblings and I, I largely behave as if I have no family at all. That makes me sad sometimes, but it is what it is.

9. Pets: None. My roomie nosarious has a cat, Spanky, who is both retarded and submissive (he likes to lie in the middle of the street and let cars roll over him and he really really really likes getting his ass spanked - hence the name). He's the ideal pet in the sense that I don't have to feed him or change the litter, just give occasional pets and scritches.

10. List the 3-5 biggest things going on in your life:

1. Planning out a large upcoming SCA event.
   
2. Looking forward to a two week road trip with friends.
   
3. Improving my archery skills.
   
4. Struggling with my weight.
   
5. Off to see the wizard.

Five Questions From bow_bitch. Five Answers From Q

1. If you had to leave Canada permanently, what country would you settle in and why?

Scotland. Of the English-speaking countries (for a wide-enough definition of "English-speaking"), it's the one I'm currently most familiar with. The climate seems decent. The folks are friendly and they have a decent market for people with my skills.

2. If you could pump a large amount of money into one area of scientific research, what would it be and why?

Cheap reliable fusion energy (or equivalent).

3. If you had the unlimited power to make things better what one thing would you change about how the SCA is run, enjoyed or reigned over - be it local, principality/kingdom wide or knowne worlde wide?

I'd relax the rules so that Kings/Princes can be chosen by alternate means. Other martial arts for example, or just a good old fashioned war. I'm tired of the "if it's not heavy fighting, it's not important" mindset.

It'll never happen though.

4. Would you ever consider plastic surgery (assuming money is no object)

I have frequently considered plastic surgery. I'm tired of being fat and ugly. I'd go for liposuction in a heartbeat if I could convince myself I'd keep the weight off. However, I've yet to determine that I can lose the weight normally (and keep it off). I'm waiting for them to be able to grow new teeth so I can get my hideous mouth fixed.

5. if you could have one science fiction story come true, which one would it be?

This one assuming I got off my ass and wrote it. If that's cheating, The Warlock in Spite of Himself would be a lark to come true. Science Fiction, fantasy creatures, psychic/magical powers and the assertion that Democracy is the best of all possible governments. What's not to love?