New Compy/Water Tower Hybrid

I've constructed a new computer.  It's a watercooling setup, which seems a little counter-intuitive for electronic equipment.  It's been a fun project, and I've been enjoying learning more about water cooling.  While I did construct a mostly new computer, I didn't upgrade the videocard, yet.  I'm thinking about waiting until Starcraft 2 comes out, and upgrading around then.

Torchlight

I've recently been playing Torchlight.  It's a classic dungeon runner, made by ex-blizzard employees.  It's like a cross between Nethack and Warcraft 3 and Diablo II.  Though it is funny to say, unlike online multi-player games, you can pause or stop playing the game whenever you like.  This has really been the defacto for computer games since quite some time, but seems to be changing with MMORPGs and online FPS games.

Bear Valley, Burgdorf, Goldfork

     In the past few weeks, we've visited Bear Valley Hot Springs, Burgdorf, and Goldfork.  As the weather cools down, visiting the different springs becomes a great outdoor experience.

     Burgdorf Hot Springs is under new management, they have added a septic system, and electric solar panels to heat the the changing rooms and provide electric lighting.  As well, they've put some paving stones around the edges of the pool.
     Goldfork was a relaxing visit.  One of the lower pools has a sandy bottom and a waterfall from the upperpool, that made for a perfectly relaxing enviroment.
     My first trip to Bear Valley hot springs was probably one of the last trips to bbe made to the hotsprings without the aid of snowshoes or crosscountry skis.  The walk was a little treacherous, as we didn't take the footbridge the first time, and ended up fording the river a few extra times.  But it was a worthwhile trip and the springs there are gorgeous.

Books and things

I've recently finished the Great Book of Amber, by Roger Zelazny.  The Great Book of Amber is great because it is 10 books combined into one.  Zelazny crafted a fantastical universe where the powers of order are pitted against the forces of chaos, and all the above are continually plotting intrigues.  The book is written in a first person perspective, which sometimes leans into stream of consciousness styling.  A fun read and an interesting universe.

New/Used Car

Recently swapped out the Explorer for a Toyota FJ Cruiser.  This vehicle has four wheel drive, which should ferry us around the parking lot in the ski hill better than the Explorer.  We've already taken it camping and broken it in a little, and it's definately a fun SUV to drive. Yay!

Monkey Island

I've recently been enjoying the computer game Tales of Monkey Island.  It's a fun game in the vein of Kings Quest or Space Quest.  It has precursors from that era, too.
The 3D rendered game brings a new aspect to those past games of puzzle questing.  It looks like they have a Sam and Max game that also is available in installments, though I haven't looked at them yet.  The Sam and Max game from long ago was one of my all time favorite for the sarcasm of the characters, and zanyness of the plot.

Bookdrop

Rules: Don't take too long to think about it.
Fifteen books you've read that will always stick with you. First fifteen you can recall in no more than 15 minutes.

1. the count of Monte Cristo by dumas
2. the city of god by augustine
3. three musketeers saga by dumas
4. the black tulip by alexander dumas
5. les miserables by victor hugo
6. shannara saga by terry brooks
7. lord of the rings saga by tolkien
8. white company & Sir Nigel by arthur conan doyle
9. Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stephenson
10. Hocus Pocus by Kurt vonnegut
11. hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy saga, by douglas Adams
12. the good samaritan strikes again by patrick macmanus
13. Quentin Durward by Walter Scott
14. the haunted mesa by louis l'amour
15. tom sawyer by mark twain