I Can See the Light, Perhaps

It was August, 2004, and the new version of the WOD was getting to be released.  This WOD 2.0 (recently rebranded as the COD) was going to 'fix' many of the things that were thought to be wrong in the original releases as well as simplifying the line as a whole.  First came a new core rule book as well as the new V:tR (replacing V:tM).  While the idea of an overall core rule book was great, some things were left to be desired.  The same held true for V:tR; it was very close to the original, but there was something missing.  What was supposed to be three months later, became six months later with the new W:tF over W:tA.  It was okay, at least more together than V:tR overall.  Then came M:tAw later in 2005.  Then a whole new idea in P:tC.  For the next three years came new enterprises: C:tL, H:tV, G:tS-E.  Each one was good, and I kept getting the supplements that looked good, especially the ones for the 'short' run lines.  Then, of course, came the moment when everything fell apart.  The  company went to an online POD exclusive model.  I was stuck without access (at that time) to get M:tC, D:tD, and even B:tP.  I still tried to keep tabs on the company, but I couldn't/ wouldn't be able to get the new products.  I moped.  Until, until.  I noticed that they were expanding the so-called "20 year" line for the original products with both updates and some new material.  While going through my old, damaged books, I started feeling a renewed sense of wanting to get back to the older ways.  This also fit in with my expanding online connectivity.  Still, I wonder how far I should go.  For you see, there is one more thing to explain.  Next time.

It's Getting Darker

It all started in 1997.  I had hear about for quite some time, and one September day, on a whim, I finally decided to check it out.  Unfortunately, the book I wanted was out of stock at the local comic/gaming store.  So I got something else instead, V:tDA.  I was overwhelmed.  I mean, I had already known about a lot of the basics, but it still blew my mind away.  Two days later, I went back and bought the Companion as well.  A month later, I was finally able to get V:tM 2nd one morning.  I went back later that afternoon and got the VPG 2nd ed as well.  If I had gotten that first, I am not sure I would have been so enthralled as I was.  While on a trip that November, I was able to get M:tA 2nd as well as the PGS.  Just before Christmas, I picked up W:tA, and just after Christmas, I got the WPG 1st and Axis Mundi.  January came with another trip and C:tD and the Book of Worlds (still my favorite supp ever).  February or maybe March saw my first pre-order come in, KotE.  It just snowballed from there.  Every trip it seemed, I would find an older edition to pick up. 
Almost monthly, I would be getting at least one new supp in.   Then it all cam crashing down in August of 2003.  The line would be ending, only to be replaced with something new.  That is the subject for the next post.

Belated, But Still Here

I thought that I would have had enough to have a new post on my regularly scheduled Wednesday afternoon.  I had had the opportunity to draft and schedule a post, but I thought I would have had the time that I usually do.  Unfortunately, I was so busy last week that I ran out of time to do anything.  Here I was, planning a really big post for last week, when all of my plans got derailed at the last minute.  First, I ran out of time on Wednesday decorating the store for the holidays and I ran out of time to blog.  Thursday and Friday were even busier with Thanksgiving and Black Friday to worry about.  Now here I am on Saturday morning with two different blogs to update, not to mention everything else I have to do.  No one told me social media would be so hard.  Looks like I have to wait until this Wednesday for my really big post, if I can find the time.

Title To Be Determined Later, For Obvious Reasons

I don't really know what to blob about this week.  To be honest, I do have lots of ideas, but I don't really want to write about any of them right now.  Or do I?  Still trying to muddle through signing up for Facebook  for both myself and the store.  Just wish I could have figured out more sooner before starting out.  I had some really good ideas about some of my favorite topics again.  Just not feeling it yet.  Maybe another sentence or two and I will have something. Wrists tiring out already.  What is different about this keyboard that makes it so hard to type efficiently, at least more me.  Moving it isn't helping out much. Although this position seems to be making progress.  When other really loose digits, or fingers, don't always react kindly, needlessly even, seek specialist.  I always like to include an acrostic when I can.  Maybe that will be a clue to next week's post.  Or maybe not.  I like to keep you guessing, but I am pretty sure that I will be writing about that next week.  And to think, I came up with that off the cuff.  I am too tired to try and spell the longer synonym.  Go on now, on to the next one.

I Have Just Joined FAcebook. . .

and I have no idea what I am doing.  Seriously, I barely have any idea what social media is all about.  I just joined because I though that my store really could use the exposure a Facebook page could create.  In fact, such exposure ifs the only reason why I have a blog right now.  I don't want to go into all of the details.  In fact, I am not sure I could relate all of them.  Getting onto Blogger was only a side consequence of getting a Google My Business account, as well as the accompanying G-mail account and the spot on Google+.  To be honest, after multiple tries, I still can't get my business verified. At least to the point where all the features have been unlocked.  I tried at least three times to get the initial listing, possibly under more than one person.  Now, even though I am the only one who can manage it, nothing I can do seems to allow me to claim myself.  I don't even know all the functions I have available with Google. I now also have to deal with Facebook.  I think I am in over my head, at least a little.  I tried to get a book to help me out, but it was temporarily out of stock.  Hey, I own a book store.  Using a book is my go to for most situations.  I still don't have a good closing line.  I will just end it here.

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, And Everywhere Else

It is forest fire season, and there is smoke everywhere.  Really, just this morning I has to drive through over a half a mile in thin smoke.  Mostly overhead and not directly in front of the car, but it was still distracting.  I could even smell it inside with the fan on recirculate.  By this afternoon, the skies around the store at least seemed clearer.  I could not really smell anything when I was leaving.  I am somewhat afraid of what I will have to drive through after I leave here.  Once this past week, if not more than that, the flames were close enough to be seen from the road and firefighters were combating the blaze.  Okay, it was barely a weak line of dead leaves on fire, but still.  Oh, I have used that already. I haven't looked at the poll results yet.  I had to check on the store blog first to make a minor change I didn't have time to install last Saturday.  I am running out of time, so I had better close out now.  I need a good sign off here; I can't think of anything right now.

The Applications of Fairness

As I have mentioned, I really like working puzzles and games.  Earlier today, I was working a puzzle of the type called 'Code Crosswords' or simply 'Codewords'.  To solve, you must find out what letters have been substituted with numbers and fill them into the grid.  Every letter of the alphabet is used.  Sometimes, letters are given for a few of the numbers.  This puzzle did not; you needed to figure out the 'Q' to help solve it first.  Unfortunately, I couldn't determine the 'Q' exactly between two choices and I had to make an educated guess.  I made the right one, but my problems continued.  Normally, only common to uncommon words are used.  This publisher frequently uses unusual words.  One of the words from today wasn't even listed in my regular dictionary; I had to look in a second one afterwards just to make sure it was a real word!  Furthermore, this publisher has a habit of using multi-word phrases as a single entry.  Not compound words, actual phrases.  Maybe it is just me from having gotten to another publishers rules, but I find this publisher's techniques to be a little unfair.  If I had started with them, maybe I would accept their construction rules.  Since I started with another publisher's rules, I have a problem with this one's.  I would cite an example, but I don't want to show my ignorance if the example was actually for common then I thought.  On a further note on games, as I was updating the store website recently, I noticed that I now have the option for installed a game application to the site.  While such an option would greatly appeal to me,  I worry that it would not go over too well with the site' target audience.  The main option is a row-clearing game, typically found everywhere.  What do you think?  There are options for limited branding to the site's design, but it still seems off for the website.