Dark Alex's Really Long Post Thread.

[Trevor]

The game my workmates came up with today was "Sausage or Dildo."
I decided not to play.

+ 

[chefzombie]

sssooo...smokers designated areas, will those be like gated communities? where i can smoke in my own home/yard?  and can i smoke in my car while traveling, if i don't open the windows? if so, i'm in. oh, do we get free tazers?

[Alex]

As long as you are only around other smokers you can smoke. If for example, you have a child in your car then no. As someone whose lungs have been permanently affected by growing up surrounded by heavy smokers, I tend to be a bit insistent on this point. And yes, everyone gets a free tazer.

[Alex]

Day 4 of stormy weather. We took a walk yesterday down by the harbour. Hoping it was high tide because the sea was only a few inches away from coming over the harbour wall.

The water doesn't quite look as close to coming over the top of the harbour as it was here. Some waves were cresting over the top.





Kristi has finally come down with the cold that I and Ash had previously. Although, well Ash still has it.

Finally finished sorting out my paratrooper figures. I've organised them into two 5 men assault units equipped with sten guns for some close-up fighting and a ten-man squad carrying rifles and an LMG for a bit of heavier fire support. Next, it is my German Grenadiers requiring work and then my Commonwealth troops. Still debating exactly what nationality to make them. Most of my opponents equip each squad with a variety of different weapons, so no matter what the circumstances they have a role to play, while I prefer to specialise them in one particular job. Sub-machine guns for example fire extra shots but only have a 12" range while rifles are single-shot jobs but with 24" range. LMG's get 3 or 4 shots depending on the make and a 36" range. If I have an army that can have multiple LMG's per squad (like the Soviet's), then I'll take two in a 5 man group (these weapons require two crewmen, loader and firer) and use them as heavy fire support sections, then rifle squads as a firebase as sub-machine guns for assault. Oh, boy did the Soviets love those weapons. You don't really have to train people up, just give them a rapid-firing weapon and get them close. Anyway, I am digressing here. I've also got 5 Universal Carriers and a truck, so I can field a mechanised force should I so wish. I do so enjoy using Universal carriers with those twin LMG's. Not great at surviving a hail of fire, but they are light and mobile plus they lay down a decent amount of firepower.

Hooked up the TV to the net, but it only has a limited number of sites you can go to. It has Amazon, Netflix and Youtube but not our preferred streaming service I 'll have to see if I can find some way of bypassing that. Still, with access to Youtube it at least means Kristi has more of a choice of 'Paw Patrol' and 'Dinosaur Train' episodes to watch.

Going to watch some more 'Witcher' tonight. I think that actor is much more suited to this kind of role than he ever was as Superman. I think he kind of has the face of a bad guy, or anti-hero. I'd expect Superman to have a more open and trusting face.

And do less neckbreaking.

Kristi is building her Harry Potter lego set I got her and I am going to have a few can's on Hobgoblin. Now I have both books in the Realm of Chaos series I need to find some people with infinately large figure collections so we can do a warband campaign. Seriously, you roll on a random table for what followers you get and they aren't just normal races. All sorts of animals plus a ton of mutations. Your followers can be injured or grow an extra head and so on and you are expected to have something to represent this on the table top. I guess you can just order something on ebay these days but back in the 80's you had to either buy it or convert an existing model.

Just found out the Frank Zappa tribute act is going to be supporting Tragedy again. Dammit! Some sort of bastardized spelling of Pygmie Twilight.

[chefzombie]

well, i guess i stay on earth then, since curtis doesn't smoke. he doesn't mind that i do, but rules are rules. 

[Alex]

Went through Ash's toy box today and got rid of some stuff. He has more stuff than he can play with already. Worked on some D&D stuff today and continued building up my German infantry. Added a couple of riflemen squads, two assault rifle squads and a sub machine gun section. The assault rifles have a couple of LMG's just for an extra punch. They can lay down more firepower than two regular units so make a strong core for my army.

Started playing through Sorcery! Made it through book 1. Time to see how I fare in Khare.

Watched some low budget horrors last night. 'Muck' well that had plenty of boobs, and had Kane Hodder in it, who is mentioned in the credits as the man with more on screen murders than anyone else. I got the whole part about the albino killers, didn't question why they were terrorising Cape Cod on St Patrick's Day, but what the hell was the force from the swamp the killers were so scared of? Oh well, just show me more boobs and I am sure I'll forget about things like plot. 'Hostile' was better made, but depending on your outlook the ending is either depressing or spiritually uplifting. 'Cannibals & Carpet Fitters'... well I am sure you can figure that one out for yourself. I did find it irritating that the only person I was rooting for got killed, while the person I thought should be killed off was never in any danger.

Just going to go see if I can get Adh to settle down for the night.

[Alex]

I registered my interest in a new posting at Lossiemouth working in the Continous Improvement section. I know there is at least one other applicant for the job I am going for, and I suspect more people than that will be going for it too. I've also enquired about some jobs elsewhere that isn't currently available but hopefully will be soonish. Spoke with my career manager for the first time in my career. I also have the option of moving down to Coningsby but that is my last-ditch choice to avoid going onto the kinds of jobs I really don't want for my last few years in the job.

Oh well, back to work. Have a pleasant day all.

[Alex]

Turns out the job I was enquiring about is going to be advertised this week so I'll be applying for that too.

Suddenly getting out seems not to be very far off at all and three years will just fly past. Before I know it, I'll be a civilian again. The thought of being back in that world is making me feel a tiny bit nervous now. Anyone who has been in the job long term will tell you the world moves on and changes at a faster pace outside than inside and it can be a shock to your system catching up with the real world.  I guess what worries me more than anything is finding a new job. I hated looking for jobs before I joined (although since I'd had my first job at 14 I only had 2 weeks when I either wasn't working or at college). Before I met Kristi my plan was to leave once I'd served my 22 years and just scrape by on my pension. I figured as a lone man I could just about do that. That same pension won't support a family of three on its own and that means still working for a living. I'll be 49 at that point and looking to start a new career. I have no wish to extend my time by the extra three years they are offering (I get a £15,000 bonus if I sign on for those extra years. When I leave I get a £33,000 payout plus a pension that would give me a bit under £27,000 in those same three years. You tell me, is it worth it?), or work for them as a reservist.

There are a few things I'll miss, like the briefings that tell you a bit about what is really going on in the world (but somehow I always suspect that you don't get told everything), the money is good. I hate wearing a uniform though and the whole paying compliments thing is beyond a joke, not to mention the very high bulls**t factor. I've had a lot of jobs in the real world where if I was told to do the kind of tasks I have, I'd laugh and tell them to p**s off before walking out.

Oh well, maybe I'll win the lottery. In the meantime though it is back to the grindstone.

[Alex]

Heard back about the CI job today. My application has been accepted along with a pair of other guys and we have an interview on the 5th where we are to make a presentation based on Continous Improvement. All I have to do is get through the second round and think about what I am going to do for my presentation. I tend not to go for ordinary stuff, but it isn't a subject I am immediately thinking of things out of the box I can present. Still, I'll give it my best shot and see where that gets me.

[chefzombie]

best of luck to you!

[ER]

Turns out the job I was enquiring about is going to be advertised this week so I'll be applying for that too.

Suddenly getting out seems not to be very far off at all and three years will just fly past. Before I know it, I'll be a civilian again. The thought of being back in that world is making me feel a tiny bit nervous now. Anyone who has been in the job long term will tell you the world moves on and changes at a faster pace outside than inside and it can be a shock to your system catching up with the real world.  I guess what worries me more than anything is finding a new job. I hated looking for jobs before I joined (although since I'd had my first job at 14 I only had 2 weeks when I either wasn't working or at college). Before I met Kristi my plan was to leave once I'd served my 22 years and just scrape by on my pension. I figured as a lone man I could just about do that. That same pension won't support a family of three on its own and that means still working for a living. I'll be 49 at that point and looking to start a new career. I have no wish to extend my time by the extra three years they are offering (I get a £15,000 bonus if I sign on for those extra years. When I leave I get a £33,000 payout plus a pension that would give me a bit under £27,000 in those same three years. You tell me, is it worth it?), or work for them as a reservist.

There are a few things I'll miss, like the briefings that tell you a bit about what is really going on in the world (but somehow I always suspect that you don't get told everything), the money is good. I hate wearing a uniform though and the whole paying compliments thing is beyond a joke, not to mention the very high bulls**t factor. I've had a lot of jobs in the real world where if I was told to do the kind of tasks I have, I'd laugh and tell them to p**s off before walking out.

Oh well, maybe I'll win the lottery. In the meantime though it is back to the grindstone.

I.....yeah. Yeah me, too, huge career move/life change is possible, if I want it. Though mine is not with the military, much of what you're facing and thinking about and mentioning has been center of my thoughts lately too. Lot to think about.

Much stress in changes.

On one hand I just got promoted and there are reasons to stay on with this career I've put much of my life into since I was young, but on the other hand I am thinking getting out now could be something I very much want. If I stay in I know more relatively long-term absences from my family would be in my future, but there are advantages to sticking things out another year and a half and taking retirement. Namely I'd be set. 2/3rds salary and benefits til I die. For just two more years. Not even a full two years. Motivating, right? Then I'd get a big party, a nice letter, and I'd get to undertake the ceremonial kissing of a certain famous statue on the ass. (Little ritual here that few ever get to do.)

In a way I feel like a leopard at a zoo whose cage door is opening at last and I'm thinking, do I really want to go out there when the cage has been home all these years? And it's been a rush, this job? It's defined me. And the pay is good, benefits are great, it's got HUGE f**k-off clout, many fringe benefits, and yet....this is a chance to walk away and start the second half of my life while I'm still young enough to enjoy myself, be with my family, take over my dad's business, where I have put in hours around my other job. I'd get to be a SAHM if I wanted. I'd be able to.....shrug. Whatever I wanted.

They say if you think about both options in a decision and one makes you feel happy, that's the one to go with, but I don't feel pure happiness about either.

It's less than two years and I could take retirement, and it's a sweet deal. But those last almost two years might be a suckfest from Hell, the worst of my career, away from my loved-ones and working in unpleasant places. If I go now I lose 90% of what I could get long-term, but I'd be....free. Just plain free. Just....sorry, the only word is free. I'd be free.

Good luck with your decisions about what lies ahead. And though I know you don't like when it's said, thanks for your service.

[Alex]

Turns out the job I was enquiring about is going to be advertised this week so I'll be applying for that too.

Suddenly getting out seems not to be very far off at all and three years will just fly past. Before I know it, I'll be a civilian again. The thought of being back in that world is making me feel a tiny bit nervous now. Anyone who has been in the job long term will tell you the world moves on and changes at a faster pace outside than inside and it can be a shock to your system catching up with the real world.  I guess what worries me more than anything is finding a new job. I hated looking for jobs before I joined (although since I'd had my first job at 14 I only had 2 weeks when I either wasn't working or at college). Before I met Kristi my plan was to leave once I'd served my 22 years and just scrape by on my pension. I figured as a lone man I could just about do that. That same pension won't support a family of three on its own and that means still working for a living. I'll be 49 at that point and looking to start a new career. I have no wish to extend my time by the extra three years they are offering (I get a £15,000 bonus if I sign on for those extra years. When I leave I get a £33,000 payout plus a pension that would give me a bit under £27,000 in those same three years. You tell me, is it worth it?), or work for them as a reservist.

There are a few things I'll miss, like the briefings that tell you a bit about what is really going on in the world (but somehow I always suspect that you don't get told everything), the money is good. I hate wearing a uniform though and the whole paying compliments thing is beyond a joke, not to mention the very high bulls**t factor. I've had a lot of jobs in the real world where if I was told to do the kind of tasks I have, I'd laugh and tell them to p**s off before walking out.

Oh well, maybe I'll win the lottery. In the meantime though it is back to the grindstone.

I.....yeah. Yeah me, too, huge career move/life change is possible, if I want it. Though mine is not with the military, much of what you're facing and thinking about and mentioning has been center of my thoughts lately too. Lot to think about.

Much stress in changes.

On one hand I just got promoted and there are reasons to stay on with this career I've put much of my life into since I was young, but on the other hand I am thinking getting out now could be something I very much want. If I stay in I know more relatively long-term absences from my family would be in my future, but there are advantages to sticking things out another year and a half and taking retirement. Namely I'd be set. 2/3rds salary and benefits til I die. For just two more years. Not even a full two years. Motivating, right? Then I'd get a big party, a nice letter, and I'd get to undertake the ceremonial kissing of a certain famous statue on the ass. (Little ritual here that few ever get to do.)

In a way I feel like a leopard at a zoo whose cage door is opening at last and I'm thinking, do I really want to go out there when the cage has been home all these years? And it's been a rush, this job? It's defined me. And the pay is good, benefits are great, it's got HUGE f**k-off clout, many fringe benefits, and yet....this is a chance to walk away and start the second half of my life while I'm still young enough to enjoy myself, be with my family, take over my dad's business, where I have put in hours around my other job. I'd get to be a SAHM if I wanted. I'd be able to.....shrug. Whatever I wanted.

They say if you think about both options in a decision and one makes you feel happy, that's the one to go with, but I don't feel pure happiness about either.

It's less than two years and I could take retirement, and it's a sweet deal. But those last almost two years might be a suckfest from Hell, the worst of my career, away from my loved-ones and working in unpleasant places. If I go now I lose 90% of what I could get long-term, but I'd be....free. Just plain free. Just....sorry, the only word is free. I'd be free.

Good luck with your decisions about what lies ahead. And though I know you don't like when it's said, thanks for your service.

For me, I'd be going, right done this for Xyears. Time to move on and do something else and be gone without a second thought, but that is me. I am just experiencing some jitters about leaving a steady secure job and facing the world for the first time in a long time. Think how long ago it has been since the attack on the twin towers, 'cos I joined up just before that. The logical part of my brain says "Yup, you have working in that environment before, you'll do it again and all will be good" but there is that part that thinks I should stay with the safe and secure job.

It isn't that I don't like people thanking me for my service, it's more that I just wonder what exactly it is they are thanking me for. But I put that down to my general disconnect with people.

[Alex]

Yay, I've made it to another Friday.

Finding work a grind to get through at the moment. It isn't that we are being required to do more or less work, or that I'm being given annoying tasks or anything like that. It is simply that I will shortly be moving and all sense of caring has absolutely vanished. I tried today to want to do some work and there was just absolutely nothing in the tank. I did force myself to do some work, I am not simply going to sit there and do nothing but boy was it a struggle.

Kristi and Ash were both napping when I got home. I decided to let them lie and enjoy the silence for a bit.

Currently, I am enjoying the silence with the assistance of Judas Priest's 'Hell Patrol'.

Reached the 50,000-word point of my fantasy novel which I am hoping is over the half way point. I am aiming for 90 to 95,000 words, but it very much depends on how many words it takes to get the story told. Besides ever since Lord of the Rings came out, every fantasy novel has to be of doorstop thickness and come as a trilogy.

I've been planning out my presentation for the CI facilitator job in my head. Got a few ideas that I can develop, but nothing so far that strikes me as being super amazing and fantastic.

Got my 8th army Scots made up (there were only 10 of them). My desert warriors now consist of two ten-man rifle squads, a medium machine gun, light mortar, a Boys Anti-Tank rifle, an intelligence office (Sir Christopher Lee no less though) to call in artillary or air support and an officer. I've got another 30 of them to paint and build which can be from an assortment of Commonwealth nations. Next month I am ordering some LRDG vehicles and I can field them as a small raider army doing hit and run attacks on supply lines.

[Paquita]

Guys... I want to leave my job too.  It sounds like you are both going to be out of a job around the same time.  How's about we start up a company and we devise some super plan where we can all get paid but not actually have to do anything we don't want to do? 

[Alex]

Ok, so what skills do you have?

I can shoot people and fix aeroplanes, have studied electrical engineering and computer networking at college as well as being well-read in history and psychology.