Computer Maintenance

Well, I recently got a strange inkling to take a peak inside my computer. One of the case fans has been making a whine for a while, now. So. I got a wild hair, and decided to finally investigate. With the utmost deftness, and a wary eye, I unscrewed the side panel and slid it open, careful of any tentacles that might come out and grab my hand. Computer demons, you know, you don’t want to mess with them!

I was surprised, though. There were no demons…and the inside was actually fairly clean. In fact, there was just a wee bit of dust on the blades of the CPU’s fan. The rear case fan had some, too. This made me scratch my chin, thinking. Where was all the dust? I mean, I hadn’t opened the machine in over eight months!

Then…it dawned on me. I forgot the case–a sexy Lian-Li–had a filter in the front! So, I popped the bezel and…a hacking cough later, I found where all the dust had gone. The filter was so full that it was nothing but dust. Of course, when I popped the grill covering the filter, that’s when I sent a cloud of dust into the air. I think I sneezed three times before I got the damn thing to the sink.

There I washed it and let it dry. To my amazement, I was able to get all the dust out of it and return it back to the computer as clean as it had been when I first built it. Note to self: make sure to get a case with a filter.

I’ve been thinking about revamping the computer. In fact, with the red lights on the motherboard (why A-bit decided to put them on there I don’t know) I think it’s ready for–dare I say it?–modding. Actually, my idea is to find a side panel that’s different than the dragon panel I’ve had for years, something space-themed, replace the green-lighted fans with red ones, and call the computer the “Meteor”. Then, I’d find another case for my old MP system and put white-lighted fans in it. That one would be titled the “Quasar”.

In the future, if I ever built an entirely new machine, I could continue the space theme. Hmm…if only they had orange-lighted fans. The Meteor might look even better, then.

Geauga Lake

Well, while I’m here, I might as well speak my thoughts on a particular happening in the amusement industry…

Geauga Lake, the park that Cedar Fair bought from Six Flags two years back, might be in trouble. It is premature to know whether or not the recent ride removals and future plans to remove three more of its coasters are any indicator that the park may permanately close. However, one thing is for certain, the place has become a money pit for Cedar Fair–just as it was for Six Flags.

At first, no one really seemed to bat an eye when Batman: Knight Flight, the park’s ex-Vekoma Flying Dutchman coaster, was disassembled and carried off to King’s Island. And that was only because it seemed there were too many coasters crammed into the park. Well, after two years of Cedar Fair not making money on Geauga Lake (only losing it), it would appear that they’ve decided to take drastic measures.

They’re systematically looking at what attractions are worth relocating. There are rumors circulating that Dominator is on its way out and over to Kings Dominion and Thunderhawk is going to be sent to Michigan’s Adventure. So. Cedar Fair might be planning on shutting down the park, or simply putting it back to a waterpark with a handful of older coasters–the ones that were already there when Six Flags took it over. That would make sense to me.

If they were going to close it entirely that might not make the best business sense as there are many who do come to the park during the summer when it gets hot. I’m guessing they’re just going to move the attractions that just don’t seem to fit Geauga Lake’s clientel. That’s my guess.

I think it’s a good decision, too, if that’s the case. It would allow, by removing the coasters crammed around the lake, more room to expand the waterpark. Plus, Cedar Fair has some surplus rides to distrube amongst the ex-Paramount Parks it just recently purchased–some of which desparately need new attractions!

Candles, Cannons, and Courage Excerpt

The excerpt below is from Candles, Cannons, and Courage. Please, read the post below this to read an overview of this story and its plot. The following scene is when Pierre confronts Catherine.

The news about Robert McCabe had arrived shortly after dawn. Yet, Pierre hadn’t really had time to properly consider its impact until now. He wondered if…if Catherine was the culprit. Robert, of a certainty, just due to the very nature of his design, had numerous enemies who’d love to see him dead. He shook his head. It all seemed too convenient, too easily dismissed. Or, was it?

Pierre looked out across the battlefield one last time. It was growing late, nigh onto dark, though, the disquieting scene was still quite visible to the eye. Red-coated soldiers littered the ground, most dead, others scarcely clinging to life, all forming a vast sea of red. The mangled corpses and moaning injured were enough to turn any sane man’s stomach, including his.

He stood there for a moment, his short hairs on end, viewing the horror that he’d never escape. It was all too much to ever forget. The acrid smell, the bodies, the moans, and the heat—battles were always hot. War was not a pleasant affair, to say the least. And he had no desire to repeat this foray. His life, God willing, was going to be peaceful and happily spent with Charlotte by his side.

Charlotte. The very sound of her name on his tongue made his heart beat just a little faster. She was…she was beautiful. Those lush auburn waves combined with those rare gold-brown eyes made her seem exotic. Well, in a way. He couldn’t say why, but she was the only woman…the only woman he had ever truly wanted. She was worth more than most. And not just for her looks.

She had fire. Charlotte. She had a will and spirit of her own. He couldn’t tame her. No man could. That was possibly why he felt so strongly for her. She wouldn’t be his woman. No. He’d be her man. Just as soon…

“Monsieur.” Dominique You had trudged up the embankment to stand beside Pierre. “That was quite the battle, yes?”

“Quite.” Pierre had finally gone blind of the scene for a moment. He had really wanted to keep it that way, at least, for as long as he could, because he was certain that red mass would haunt him forever. “I believe the British will trouble us no longer.”

“Oui.” Dominique laughed, gruffly. He slapped Pierre’s back. “That they have.”

Pierre turned from the ramparts. He followed Dominique down the embankment and to the muddy road just beyond the canal. Tonight, as soon as he found his horse, he’d be riding hard back to the house. Charlotte. He needed to ask for her hand; he needed her warmth by his side. And, Catherine, well, she was Catherine, she could hold her own. She needed him no more. With Robert gone, her threats mattered naught. Then again…

He had a nagging suspicion she had come into a more lucrative deal. What it was, he could not fathom, nor did he really want to. He was of no desire to become host or hostage to her affairs. Catherine was resourceful. And she had sharper fangs than any real viper. Her venom was her schemes, too. Yet, shouldn’t that trouble him further?

Suddenly, a rider on a black gelding bolted down the rampart. He reined his mount to a near skidding halt in front of Pierre and then jumped from the saddle.

Pierre glanced at Dominique; both traded puzzled brows.

“Monsieur de la Mille?” The man was but a boy; the saber and pistol tucked behind his belt seemed a bit ridiculous. “The General,” he panted, “would like to see you.”

“The General?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Did he say the reason?” Pierre wiped a sleeve across his forehead to dry the perspiration which had collected there. The boy appeared to be just a hair’s breadth over fifteen or sixteen.

“No sir.” He looked anxious to ride back. “He only said to find you at once and…and bid you welcome to the House.”

Pierre nodded; the boy clambered back into his saddle. With a spray of mud he set the black into a gallop away from the ramparts.

The house the boy referred to was the Macarty place, which General Jackson had commandeered as his temporary headquarters. It was a white-plastered structure, typical of New Orleans design. There wasn’t really much that could be said of it otherwise.

Pierre arrived at the Macarty House just as dusk was changing into night. General Jackson was found in the parlor, standing before the crackling fireplace, an arm draped on the carved mantle, looking pensive. It was something the flame-haired Jackson seemed unlikely to do.

The other soul present in the room was a dejected-looking Jacque Villeré. He stared blankly into a glass of liquor, barely even noticing Pierre.

“Sir,” Jackson intoned, “it has come to my attention that you are an intimate of a certain Lady McCabe.”

“Oui, monsieur.” Pierre sighed. Why couldn’t he ever escape that woman’s talons? She might haunt him worse than the war. “Though, ‘was’ would be more…accurate.”

“As I suspected would be more the case.” The General moved away from the fire. He gestured toward a pair of chairs. “Sit, if it pleases you, sir.”

Pierre took the offered seat.

Jackson went to a nearby table where a crystal decanter of some dark liquor sat—presumably the same stuff Villeré mulled over. He poured two glasses and gave one to Pierre and took the other for himself. “Whiskey,” he said, “the finest Tennessee has to offer.”

Pierre received the glass with a thankful nod. The whiskey was warm going down and had a slight bitterness to it. It set his stomach a little at rest, but could scarcely quell his anxious heart.

“While General Villeré”—Jacque’s head came up upon hearing his name spoken—“sat trapped in his house by British sentries, he learned that a certain Lady had been aiding the enemy.” Jackson paced in front of the fire. “It seems that Lady might possibly have been the Lady Catherine McCabe.”

“Catherine?” Pierre blurted her name. “How could she…how could she have…?” He trailed off, truly understanding the severity of her schemes.

“She’s a most ambitious woman, monsieur.” Jacque Villeré’s sudden words gave even General Jackson a start, let alone Pierre. “It appears as though she’ll cease at nothing till she digs her claws into what she truly desires.”

“Desires?” Pierre was lost. What could Catherine desire that she didn’t already have?

“You see,” Jackson began, “with the recent loss of her husband she has received a considerable stipend.” He cleared his throat. “And as such it allows her pursuit of another romantic prospect—the one she…she desires above all others, you see.”

A sudden jolt of alarm coursed up Pierre’s spine. He saw it so clearly now. Catherine would stop at nothing. She wanted him. Well, he wasn’t about to be ensorcelled by any of her devious charms and doings. No. He was done with her. She could crawl back in her lair as far as he was concerned. Charlotte was his future.

“Moi?”

“Precisely.” The General threw back his head and took the entire shot of his whiskey. “So, as you see, we’re in dire need of your aid, sir.”

Pierre did not like this. No. He did not like this one bit. The viper had stuck her fangs into him for the last time.

Abruptly, he discovered his stomach had settled and his heart had slowed. Rage began to bubble to the surface. His cheeks went red with it. Catherine was not going to win this round.

“My aid, monsieur, you have.”

“Splendid.” General Jackson sounded relieved. “I bid you good-luck, sir.”

Pierre’s mount had been brought to him as he quit the Macarty house. He rode the roan at a respectable speed, neither exactly at a canter or a gallop, but somewhere in between. The beast seemed to understand his mood. There was to be no delay, but then, there was no need to break one’s neck either in reaching Catherine. Why couldn’t he be riding for Charlotte?

The McCabe residence had the shutters drawn when Pierre arrived, though some light did seep out onto the porch. This was not unusual during the winter as heat could escape quite easily through the tall, broad windows that were so useful during the summer.

Pierre sat his horse for a moment, trying to collect his thoughts. What was he going to say? What was he going to…to do? He hadn’t really decided yet. There was not a chance he’d be able to persuade Catherine into admitting she was a spy. Besides, she was considered on the level of a noble here in New Orleans. Just as Robert McCabe had been, she was a prominent and respected citizen.

Dismounting, Pierre headed up the stairs to the front door. He found it was ajar. His hackles suddenly rose, urging caution. So, he un-tucked the pistol from behind his belt and slowly pulled the hammer back until it clicked. He nudged the door open with a knee and slid through the narrow gap.

The foyer was alight with the glow of the overhead chandelier. In fact, the drawing room and the parlor were lit as well. The rooms had the feeling of being prepared for a guest—him. Yet, there were no signs of life. Neither Xavier nor any other of the McCabe’s slaves were anywhere to be seen. Catherine appeared to be missing as well.

Pierre deftly made his way into the drawing room on his left, which had a fire ablaze on its marble hearth. The furnishings were all still there. No attempt had been made to move them. The place was as grand and plush as it had always been.

Abruptly, a glint of something white caught Pierre’s attention. Lying on the mantle was a folded letter. He opened it to reveal a florid handwriting which could only have belonged to Catherine. It was addressed to him.

Dear Pierre,

Truly I was of no desire to remove my person far from your amiable presence. However, unfortunate circumstances swayed my reluctance. Pray, this reaches your eyes. That you suffered no ill effects.

With Robert gone I shall be left to my own devices. Please, do not look for me. I have gone through great means to hide my relocation. Surely, you must understand.

I wish I could see you, feel you next to me. Mayhap we shall encounter each other some day in the near future.

Sincerely,
Lady Catherine McCabe

The letter was short and to the point. Catherine had skipped town. She was gone. Both relief and sadness washed over Pierre. He cursed himself for the feelings. However, they were there.

Where Catherine had went, he could not assume. She could have left on a British war ship or, more likely, had gone to Barataria Bay. Yet, there she would stick out like a sore thumb. No. She had “gone through great means” when designing her scheme.

Pierre folded the letter up and placed it in his pocket. He’d need it as evidence for the Americans that Catherine had missed her fate with justice.

Suddenly, a hammer clicked on a pistol.

Slowly, Pierre turned around. Into view came the glorious figure of womanhood he had so many times sought out in a ballroom crowd. That full bosom, those silvery pools, and that lustrous tangle of blonde curls. Catherine was no doubt a beauty. This evening she wore a green silk banded with thread-of-gold at the waist and hem—she looked, well, stunning.

She stepped towards him, pistol raised at his chest. There was something…something in her eyes that made Pierre take a step back. She edged forward, still training that pistol at his heart. “Pierre,” she whispered, “we could go away from here in company.”

“Madame,” he said, “I believe we are far from that.”

“Oh?”

Catherine opened her full, rosebud lips for a kiss, which Pierre instinctively partook. She was so warm and inviting, so…so real that she sent fire into his very being. She coiled her arms about his neck, bending her head back for an even deeper exploration of her mouth. Pierre locked his tongue with hers, fighting it, willing it. Charlotte…

The thought chased all lust from his head. He pushed Catherine away, sending her reeling into a nearby chair. “You are not…”

“Not what?” Catherine demanded.

“What I need.” He turned away from her, forgetting why he was there. His feet were in motion towards the doors before he knew it.

“Pierre,” Catherine called. He turned and saw the flash of the muzzle just as he felt the ball tear into his gut. Catherine dashed from the room, a whirl of soft green silk, tears staining her ivory cheeks. That’s when the blackness took him.

Candles, Cannons, and Courage

I’ve found it quite fun writing a period piece. I know I’ve always had a fondness for the 18th and 19th century–when women were ladies, and men gentlemen. Well, that’s what everybody wanted to think, anyway. It’s just a different time. People were far more hypocritical yet more innocent than they are now. So.

I know I’ve mentioned it before, but I’ve been hard at work on Candles, Cannons, and Courage, a story about romance and war. The story starts out with the Hensford family, a daughter and father, who, because of a letter, leave (quit) their home in Baltimore and head to New Orleans. This where I need to explain the basic plot of the story and its characters for things to make any semblance of sense.

Henry Hensford: a Baltimore businessman (shipping magnate) and a veteran of the high seas. His once flame-red hair and beard have since gone to gray. Nearing fifty, he has never remarried since the death of his beloved Marie. Taken by a fever, she died shortly after childbirth. Though, he has had intimate relations upon occassion with Josephine, Marie’s younger sister.

Charlotte Hensford: Taller than most women of the era (5-9). Has lustrous auburn hair and rare gold-brown eyes–a product of her father’s English-Irish blood and her mother’s French ancestry. Unlike most women of her time, Charlotte is very willful and outspoken. This characteristic is generally attributed to her having been raised without a lady present.

Pierre de la Mille: the son of a successful sea captain and plantation owner’s daughter, he is considered a businessman and is well-respected amongst both New Orleans elite and not-so-elite. He is tall and slim and has the charisma of a rogue.

Josephine de la Mille: Pierre’s mother and Henry’s love interest. She is Charlotte’s aunt.

Louisa Horne: Charlotte’s best friend.

Catherine McCabe: The villianous of the story. She is blond and beautiful and has viperish schemes. She is in love with Pierre.

Well, those are the main characters of Candles, Cannons, and Courage. The plot is quite simple, though started out more complex than I would have wanted. Here’s the summary:

Pierre is smuggling goods in New Orleans backwaters for Robert McCabe. He takes some from the stash for himself or his own side enterprises. The problem is, though, Robert wises up and realizes he should put some checks and balances in place. He has a manifest kept in two places–at the stash and at the house. Pierre realizes if he is to continue his own smuggling from Robert McCabe, he’ll need to modify both manifests so that they match the inventory he’s snatched from. However, in order to do this, he’ll need access to the McCabe’s residence. So…

He uses his charms and gets into Lady McCabe’s good graces. In fact, he soon becomes her lover. He learns that Robert is hardly ever around except, and isn’t very nice to Catherine either. He’s able to change the manifests at the house, but soon Catherine learns of what he is doing and wants to be part of it. She threatens to tell her husband otherwise. So…he has little choice but to abide.

On one particular evening, Pierre has to hastily leave the McCabe’s residence as Robert has come home unexpectedly. He gets home and finds that his mother has taken ill. The doctor, when he is called, isn’t sure whether she’ll beat the fever or not. Pierre, knowing about his mother and his uncle’s relationship, decides to write to Henry Hensford. When Henry reads the letter he immediately decides to close up the house and head for New Orleans. He brings Charlotte and Louisa Horne (her friend) along with him.

As soon as Pierre and Charlotte meet they lock eyes and then grow a steady attachment. The only person in the way is Catherine. However, before Catherine can truly do anything to change Pierre’s mind of Charlotte, the British arrive at New Orlean’s doorstep. Robert continues to abuse her, and thus a plan is born in her head–she’ll aid the British under her husband’s name via letters, and if the Americans find out…Robert should be hanged for treason, which will leave her with a considerable stipend and allow her free pursuit of Pierre. However, this plan backfires when the British learn it is her that is aiding them.

Lady McCabe has told the British leadership the open routes the smugglers use. They thank her for this. Meanwhile, she decides to do her beloved Robert in with poison. General Jackson learns of Catherine’s betrayal of the Americans, though has no really solid evidence to prove her guilt. So…he learns of her want of Pierre. He asks Pierre to persuade Catherine to give up the necessary information.

The Americans have won; the British are on the retreat. Pierre goes to Catherine only to find her gone. However, as he reads the letter she left for him, she comes into the room with a pistol aimed at him. She wants him to come along with her, but he says she is not “what he needs” and turns his back on her. She shoots him.

Henry comes upon Pierre bleeding on the parlor floor of the McCabe’s residence. He takes him back to the de la Mille’s house in New Orleans and removes the ball. Pierre survives and asks for Charlotte’s hand in marriage. The two of them marry. Catherine, meanwhile, is on her way to Jamaica with the British fleet.

Unacceptably Bad Service

I decided to take my parents out for dinner. I let my mom choose the restaurant–big mistake there Well, actually, I only blame her in jest. She chose Fatz Cafe, which is a local chain around here. They cater to families and college students. The food is a mix of various items–really it’s like the selection say at Applebee’s. Anyhow.

I said OK, since I hadn’t eaten there in a long time, and last time I had it was fairly good. So. We get there and were seated within a minute–normal. We even let two cute college babes go ahead of us. Everything seemed normal. Then, we got a guy for a server. I knew we were in trouble, then. Guys suck as servers. It is a known universal fact. There are the rare occassions, but mainly, I believe in what I say.

The same guy was waiting on the table behind us. The people there had to call the manager over to get their food! They’d been waiting on it for 35 minutes. And, what was it? Hamburgers. That’s insane! Well, the manager brought the food out, but, guess what? It was cold. It’d probably been sitting back there while the idiot that was serving them was doing who knows what. To make a long story short, they got their dinners for free.

Then, it was our turn. Oh joy. My dad went to order chop steak. The guy was like: “um, we don’t have anymore, sir. We ran out.” What the hell? Chop steak is made from hamburger meat. LOL So, that pissed my dad off. He had to order something else. My mom ordered some Asian salad which proclaimed to have “fresh, crisp greens” in it. Right…It might normally, but oh, guess what? We ran out of lettace. So, what did they do? They (the kitchen staff) decided they’d try and pull a fast one. They found some shredded lettace and simply used that.

What a bunch of freaking idiots. I ordered a philly cheese steak. Mine was the only one that was worth a…you-know-what. Anyway. They ended up giving my mom her dinner for free. I don’t know, but that waiter was an idiot, so was the kitchen staff, and that manager sure heck needs to go back to managerial school.

The thing that gets me is that they already had run out of all this food and were still letting people come in. And they’re open until 10! LOL I hate to be those people. The college kids were going back to school today–so maybe they had a rush early on. I don’t know. But…Damn people…come on! Get your act together. Else, there might not be a Fatz Cafe in town for very much longer.

Amusement Park Scare-Nights

I thought I’d comment on the latest trend in the amusement park industry–Halloween scare mazes. While not an entirely new concept–Universal Studios, for example, has been holding scare-a-thons for quite sometime–it seems this year (this season) every park is in on the act. Just about every park from Universal to Six Flags Magic Mountain to Carowinds to Knott’s Berry Farm are planning on having some sort of Halloween event. If you ask me…it’s a bit ridiculous.

All right, I can see the advantages in running such an event. You get extra revenue when the park might otherwise have been closed. Also, it’s usually an evening affair, which means none of the rides are likely to be operated. This keeps overhead down. You only need to provide the “scare”.

At Carowinds and many of the other ex-Paramount parks, Cedar Fair, the new owners, have decided to erect “scare” mazes. The mazes just won’t be dark with people in costumes jumping out at patrons, either. Park managers are planning to incorporate props and special effects, like a haunted house basically but even more makeshift than that. In fact, I think Carowinds has done something like this before–they called it Scarowinds (oh, how original). This time around they’ve changed the name slightly. Anyway.

Being a theme park and coaster fanatic myself, I’m not really all that excited about these events. Personally, I’d rather have them hire a few people to run some rides Now, in some circumstances, say in colder climes, I can understand doing a scare-night to bring in customers when otherwise the gates would be closed. But, I think it’s mostly just a gimmic and a waste of time. My opinion.

What’s Up

Gees, it’s sure been a while since I last logged into the ol’ blog…

Seriously, it’s amazing how busy things can get between work and life. I mean, not that my life is as hectic as some others, perhaps, but, I’ll be honest, when I get home from work, well, I’m generally exhausted. So. Besides, working from 10AM to 7PM is tiring. Oh sure, you’d think it wouldn’t be too bad since you can sleep in somewhat, but that’s not the case. By the time you get home you have to cook, eat, laundry…which leaves very little time for anything else but to maybe watch some TV. Any spare time I do get, though, where I’m not feeling wasted, is spent working on my various literary…endeavors.

The lair, as you can see, has suffered for this–as well as a few other things. I’ve placed this post under the “site” category because I have done some behind-the-scenes work to the lair, which might not seem obvious. I’ve updated some of the links on the links page that desperately needed updating. Soon, I do plan on continuing with the blog. Like I said, it’s been rough with everything going on–there’s only so much time!