The Lord of the Titles: The Fellowship of the Title extended edition

I have been dying to use that one for a little while. LOL

So last night I typed at the loft and this morning my hands are telling me about it. OUCH!

Anyway I said that I had something else to post about and I do. Yesterday was a blast. Val, Chris and myself went to sign them up at Bally's and then we were heading to Orland mall to visit the GW Store (Sorry Ben I did not know that you weren't working).

It all started around 12ish when I got up to the store. Val was there and we talked and chatted for a few, had a smoke and chatted some more. Chris had called the Store before I got there and said that he was going to take a shower after work and then he would be ready to go. Well 1 came and went but that was not a big deal. Then 2 came and I started to get antsy cause I wanted to go. By now the jokes about Chris needing help"taking a shower" were flying, but it was meant in jest and no malice could be found in it.

Finally Chris called and we went to pick him up. As we drove up I was unsure whether to honk or go to the door when Chris appeared. He as desperately trying to walk away but his mom was right there and they were talking about something. Then he walked down and stopped at a light post in their yard. He changed the light bulb! Val and I could not contain our mirth and broke out laughing. I was laughing more because I could just imagine his mom "Are you leaving Chris? Oh well...Um...Here change the light bulb in the lamppost. Oh well I guess you can go" She can be just a little dependent, clingy, wanty....Yeah she is a pain. Sorry Chris but it is true.

Anyway Val had this idea to joke with Chris when he got in the van. After we had said our "hello"s and "how ya doing"s Val with a straight face said.

"Hey Chris do you think you could change this light?" and tapped the dome light on the van roof. We all started laughing.

I drove them to Bally's so they could fill out the paperwork. As I did I gave them the nickel tour of my home town.

"Yeah I live over there" I point to a group of houses "You cannot see it, its is behind them."

Yeah over there is where I went to Rich Beast(East) High School," pointing down a street "and there is Forest Jail (Trail) Jr High I went there as well" a quick point to a group of buildings just past more houses.

No I don't really show many people where I grew up. What is the point? I mostly hated my childhood, the only things worth remembering are my friends and of those only a few remain. James is my "Brother from another mother" (slang for a real good friend, kind of like you Mikey) Jim is much the same and Mike...Well I have to work on that. We live only a few blocks away and yet I barely see him. But I digress from the tale.

So we get to Bally's and go inside. Dave the guy that I have been talking too and signed up with was not there but the girl behind the counter was able to help us. Into a office she whisks us and Val and Chris gave their info. Then I had to sign a slew of papers. They just got to stand there and watch, lucky devils. We all got our pictures taken and cards were received making us official. Then it was off to Orland.

The drive there was boring, up 57 and then over on 80. We got off at Lagrange and headed into town. The traffic was OK until we hit the city proper and then it slowed down. The only thing keeping us going were the police officers at every intersection, and I mean every intersection. That has got to suck, standing in the cold directing traffic with slick conditions all around and people driving like they do. With some patience we finally made it to the mall. Then the fun began.

The lot was packed. Of course being Christmas season what did we expect, easy parking? I finally found a spot half filled with a pile of snow and plowed my way in. I love driving a mini van. It was a walk to the door, but we were on our way. Inside it was crowded. Again nothing out of the ordinary for the season. The GW store was right there and we were in.

As always when entering we were greeted and immediately confronted with the standard question. "What game to you play?" in anticipation of shoving the newest releases down our throats and sucking every last dollar out of wallets. In succession we all responded "Warmachine" and that just shut the clerk down. He just stood there twitching. I almost busted out laughing. Then he tried to recover and Val finished him off with "I have been playing since Rouge Trader so don't even try it" Or something to that effect and he left us alone. I had a chance to talk to an acquaintance, Cliff who had been the store manager a year ago. He looked good and sounded good. It was nice to see him again. I may dislike GW for their practices but they are still good people. Anyway he is now in charge of regional training for their stores and was in that day to oversee some changes. My lucky day then to see him. We chatted about Eldar (Warhammer 40k's version of elves in space) and he shared some things that he had seen in the works. I really like the Eldar and even though I hate to admit it I still like 40k as a game, as do Val and Chris. So as we left we spoke and decided that we should still play, just between ourselves though and forget the stupid GW zealots.

Wow this is long, but it was an eventful day. After getting out of the GW store we thought about getting something to eat. So we headed down to the food court. BIG MISTAKE! It was a mad house with not a table to be found. I had had enough of the whole crowded mall thing and suggested that we leave and find somewhere else to eat. They agreed and we exited.

After taking a back way out to avoid the traffic madness we headed to a place to grab some grub. While on the way I mentioned "BG Fries" and Chris swooned. He loves them and I must admit that I do to. So I suggested that we hit Dean's Gyros since it was just a little off the path to return to GO. It was agreed and I navigated us there with ease. We arrived as snow started really falling and went inside.

Chris and I ordered "double burgers" and BG Fries, Val had a beef sandwich with peppers. Now I am not complaining in the least when I ask this question, I just want to know. When something says "double" that usually means two right? Well this burger had four patties on it. Again I am not complaining because it was awesome, it just threw me. The BG Fries were amazing as usual, and I ended up giving half to Chris since I was full. Yes the fat man was full, besides Chris is a growing boy and needs his fat and starch to get all big and strong. No wait the other one....Fat. Sorry Chris I just couldn't resist. Hey have you changed that light yet? LOL I am evil.

When we left Chris called GO to tell them we were on our way, which was fine. Mr. S had told everyone we were going to be late so no one was worried. We got back and started D&D. It was fun and entertaining. I keep forgetting about the character that I am running in the campaign, Xander. So at times it seems that he is sitting there not helping out, but I just forget. I always find some way to explain his lack of involvement in a positive way but that won't last. The big reason that he is there is as a plot device and healer, since the group lacks one. And in D&D having a healer is a good thing.

The game went well my players fought off 4 mega-raptors and a purple worm while on their way to parlay with the hobgoblin tribes in the south. I know that most of you have no idea what the heck I am talking about, but just ignore it if you don't. Everyone had a good time and that is what mattered most. During the game Kirby showed up at the store and that was an awesome moment. I had not seen him in weeks and so a break was taken so that I could say hey.

He is doing good. He is working for the Bulls organization, I think as a raffle ticket seller and now as a Matador. I had no real idea what that was until he explained. I will give a simple version here in case any of you see him so he can give you the full story. They are a group of large men who come out during the time outs and perform a dance set to music. Think loveabulls only large men bouncing around. They practice the dance just like the loveabulls and in fact they practice with them. Yeah that must suck (sarcasm drips like Chinese water torture). He likes it and he is having fun with it. That is a good thing.

Well after D&D we went out and bowled three games. I did ok, my last game was the best at a 156! Chris made a suggestion that made a huge difference. See I have been working out, so my arms are stronger. I was throwing the ball with all my strength, and my game was in the gutter. Chris said that I should ease up and not try and go all out with each throw. He was so right. I felt better, my elbow did not burn like it had been and my game was better. Thanks Chris!

Well that was yesterday. A extremely good day. I look forward to spending time with Chris and Val at our workout sessions. This week should be fun with several people coming home from school. I hope that finals have gone and will go well. I may not believe in luck but I will say this anyway.

Good luck to all of you!

Thanks for stopping by and reading. I will see everyone soon. Love ya!

May the Force be with you

Excelsior!!!