Map Work - Underdark

As noted previously, I enjoy sketching out town and location maps as a means of mindless winding down at the end of a long work day.

A recent project has been to begin drawing an Underdark city, the city of Nurgilokk. Nurgilokk exists in the upper layer of the Underdark, and has connections to a number of other locations, notably the human above-ground city of Crygar.

Underdark city (Nurgilokk) in Progress...

I envision this city as a meeting place of many races and cultures. A tense but civil trading location where disparate peoples come together to do business regardless of what their more widespread racial conflicts might be.

I envision connections to the surface at Crygar to the northwest. Connections to a small drow (dark) elf city to the southwest. A river connection to a large underground lake to the south, where kua-toa boatmen would guide small rafts and boats back and forth. Kobold farmers in caves to the east and southeast. And the "main road" connection to the deeper Underdark to the north/northeast.

Whether or not the characters in our campaign, or any characters in any future campaigns, ever visit this place is irrelevant. I will sketch it out and have fun doing so. Maybe I'll finish it. Maybe not. Perhaps it will get used at some point in the future in a way different from what I originally intended. That's fine too.

If I ever finish the map, I'll post it here as well...

West Chester University 2018

The third and final meet of Grace's 2018 spring season was held at West Chester University on 3/18.

She placed 1st in the vault, her favorite event, but this was still a very pleasant surprise. She definitely had a set back in vault (and everything) after spending 5 weeks in a boot during December and January (stress fracture of the 4th metatarsal). Plus two weeks hurt leading up to the boot and a month or so of getting back into shape. All the strength training in the world doesn't make up for not being able to be practicing your skills and routines on the equipment.

First place, vault

More important, for me anyway, is the sense of team, and the fact that Grace is a part of something bigger than just herself.

Excel Gold team, 1st place, 2018

It's always nice to bring home a big trophy. Lots of medals for Roth's Crosspoint Gymnastics.

All that's left for the 2018 spring season is States, in Pittsburgh in early May. Grace has qualified and we will be going!

Gratuitous Dog Cuteness - March

It's been a while, so it's time to subject the great beyond to doggie cuteness.

Ryder thinks he's human...

Grace likes to take pictures of Ryder, and she takes some very good ones.

...but he sure is cute!

It's odd. We will have had Ryder for one year on March 19, which hardly seems possible. In a way it seems hard to remember a time when we didn't have a dog...

Evita, GVHS 2018

GVHS's spring musical was Evita. It was strange, as this is the first one in 4 years that Julia has not been involved in. Amp is still doing the costumes, and if anything is becoming more involved and not less. This is the risk of being a great volunteer I guess...

I am familiar with the show, as we have a couple of different CD versions of it, as well as there having been the Madonna/Antonio Banderas movie version. I would not hesitate to say that it is not one of my favorites. And it was also an interesting choice for the school production, as it is basically a one-role star turn, with a couple of other major (minor?) roles.

Curtain Call

As always, the production was fabulous, and I liked it more than I expected to. We had some very talented seniors in most of the lead roles, and they all did a wonderful job.

As far as the costuming goes, it isn't the best show in terms of opportunity to do great things, but everybody looked exactly as they should, so it was a great success in that regard.

The set was especially well done, with a semi-permanent two level stage with lots of movement and lighting variants.

Show after show, I continue to be amazed by the quality of the productions that the program is able to produce.

Postscript: It was Amp's intention to stop doing costumes when Julia was done with the shows; the two of them riding off into the sunset together... That hasn't happened. She did Evita just now, and has been talked into taking the job of Head of Costumes (as an actual sub-contracted school district employee - including the extensive required background checks, criminal history, FBI fingerprinting etc). She has accepted, and signed on for two years. At least. So instead of a volunteer riding off into the sunset, she's now a sub-contractor helping to run things. Funny the turns life takes.

Grace has expressed some interest in the Drama Club, and for her freshman year has picked an Acting elective taught by the English teacher that runs the Drama Club. Personally, I think she's the Drama Club producer/director who also teaches English rather than vice-versa. Anyway, now Grace might be doing the shows in her first year in high school. And Amp's committed for the near term. So now we're doing High School Musical in the fall and Annie in the spring... Plus the upper class late spring production that hasn't been named yet. Annie is a good classic show, and High School Musical should be a blast. I'm looking forward to it.

Eric Johnson - Cliffs of Dover

I get caught down the rathole of YouTube live music every so often (OK, a lot), but the one thing that always makes my jaw drop is this one. Perhaps the greatest piece of live guitar work I have ever come across.

I've probably posted this before, but so be it.

Eric Johnson, Cliffs of Dover.

I was lucky enough to see Eric in Phoenixville with Brother Dave a bunch of years back. He played this, which made me happy. And didn't play SRV, which made me sad.

Oh well. Life is a compromise.