Reading List 2020

The annual reading list of novels, shorts, non-fiction, graphic novels, the odd poem here and there, and a few other things like some kids books of note. I generally don't list re-reads, or even often re-read that much, but a couple of books I haven't read in decades made the list with a new heading.

Gaming 

Unearthed Arcana by Gary Gygax
The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Ravnica by James Wyatt

Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

Dark Matter: 5th Edition Supplement by Mage Hand Press
Dungeon Crawl Classics Role Playing Game

Fiend Folio: Tome of Creatures Malevolent and Benign

Explorer's Guide to Wildemount by Matthew Mercer & Wizards RPG Team

The Monsters Know What They're Doing: Combat Tactics For Dungeon Masters by Keith Ammann

Mastering Magic Cards by George H. Baxter & Larry W. Smith, Ph.D.

Gurps Lite

Wedny's Presents: Feast of Legends: Rise From The Deep Freeze

Tasha's Cauldron of Everything 

The Lazy DM's Workbook by Michael E. Shea

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Poetry

A Dispatch From Seattle: or, Nervous in the Hot Zone by Sherman Alexie

Sublingual by Kiri Callaghan

Boogie Took The Cash by Jeff Eisenbrey

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Collections

A Very Scalzi Christmas by John Scalzi

Blackened White by Brian W. Foster

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Fiction

War of the Spark: Forsaken by Greg Weisman
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

The Age of Anxiety by Pete Townsend

The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski
Gideon The Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

Highfire by Eoin Colfer

Warp by Lev Grossman

Otaku by Chris Kluwe

Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski
A Man by Keiichiro Hirano (translated by Eli K.P. William)

The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives in Your Home: Welcome to Night Vale, Book 3 

by Joseph Fink & Jeffrey Cranor 

Season of Storms by Andrzej Sapkowski

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing: A Novel (The Carls) by Hank Green

The Last Emperox: The Interdependency Book 3 by John Scalzi

Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey

Tube by Ksenia Anske

Blood of Elves by Andrzej Sapkowski
The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehesi Coates

Time of Contempt by Andrzej Sapkowski

Baptism of Fire by Andrzej Sapkowski

Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

The Birdwoman's Palate by Laksmi Pamuntjak

The Tower of Swallows by Andrzej Sapkowski

The Lady of the Lake by Andrzej Sapkowski

Hell's Spells by Devon Monk 

Ready Player Two by 

Star Wars: Thrawn by Timothy Zahn

Wayward Souls: Souls of the Road by Devon Monk

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Short Fiction

Dues and Don'ts: An Ordinary Magic Story by Devon Monk

The Long Siege: Part Three of Avery Cates: The Burning City by Jeff Somers

Little Flame by Devon Monk

Ikoria: Lair of the Behemoths - Sundered Bond by Django Wexler

Naked,Stoned,and Stabbed: A Wild Cards Story by Bradley Denton

Grace by Lisa Taddeo

Terranaut: Explorer by Blaze Ward
Called to the Warrior Path by Philip G. Lewis

The Dark Hunt: Part Four of Avery Cates: The Burning City by Jeff Somers

Evacuation by Alan Dean Foster

Der Katzenprinz by Liam O'Brien

A Poor Choice by Phil Lewis

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Non-Fiction

Beautifully Unique Sparkleponies: On Myths, Morons, Free Speech, Football, and Assorted Absurdities by Chris Kluwe

Aeternum Cascadia!: The NASL and MLS Soccer Rivalry Among the Pacific Northwest Franchises: Seasons 1968 to Present by Greg Harlan

White Fragility: Why It's So Hard For White People To Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo

One Life by Megan Rapinoe

The World of Critical Role: The History Behind the Epic Fantasy by Liz Marsham

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Graphic Novels/TPB

The Magicians: Alice's Story by Lev Grossman, Lilah Sturges, & Pius Bak

Starslayer: The Director's Cut by Mike Grell

Vagrant Queen (Vol 1) by Magdalene Visaggio  & Jason Smith

American Jesus (Volume 1): Chosen by Mark Millar & Peter Gross

American Jesus (Volume 2): The New Messiah by Mark Millar & Peter Grose

Donut The Destroyer by Sarah Graley & Stef Purenins 

The Flintstones Vol. 1 by Mark Russell & Steve Pugh

The Flintstones Vol. 2: Bedrock Bedlam by Mark Russell & Steve Pugh

Code Monkey Save World by Greg Pak et al 

Punch! by Allan Amato et al

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Papers/Essays/Children's Books/Misc

Orbit and Attitude Performance of the Lightsail 2 Solar Sail Spacecraft by Mansell, Spencer, et al

Piggy and Pug by Anne Wheaton

Kat and Juju by Kataneh Vahdani

Rosie the Dragon and Charlie Say Good Night by Lauren H. Kerstein & Nate Wragg (Ill.)

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Re-reads

Splinter of the Mind's Eye by Alan Dean Foster 

Midworld by Alan Dean Foster

Ephemera 2020

The annual Ephemera posting of stuff for me to remember what I have done.  I actually have referred to these lists for a variety of reasons and it's my blog so I do this.

2020 was a year. There would have been a number other things on this list, but so much got cancelled and rescheduled that this list is very different than it should have been. That means playing in the GP in Seattle or displaying my game at a show in PDX or working various cons didn't happen.  A lot of movies in the theatre didn't screen. Soccer media covering the Reign and WoSo and regional things more or less vanished in the Spring. Tickets for shows were refunded or the shows rescheduled for whenever later. Trips just didn't get booked. The decisions to work TX and CHI shows early in the year meant I did do at least some things, but the C2E2 vibe included a lot of worry over the pandemic beginning. I oddly spent 4 hours in LA on layover that I am fondly remembering for finding a friend in the terminal we hung out with.

We did do some fun virtual things like "Zombie Cheerleaders From Hell" through The Can Can Culinary Cabaret's Theatre at Home.

I had pre-noted a number of items and slowly was changing them to different dates and / or deleting them. Plus, I really was not gonna be a first wave of go and do stuff pawn. Pawns go first for a reason.

Actually happened:

Conventions

PAX South 1/17-19 ([E]) {3}
C2E2 2/28-3/1 (Starlight Division) {3}

Soccer Media (ProstAmerika/GoalieGuys)

* Remote coverage of events and matches (mostly, until October)

Press work done remote, conference calls, and Zoom. From quarantine to May NWSL Challenge Cup announcement, through the tourney, there was a time of ongoing virtual media work with coaches, players, owners, and the commissioner. I covered a few matches as though they were local.  Got a chance to write a few other pieces like covering the Rave Green boys a few matches. This year would have included the second Reign season in Tacoma, some CLink rave green matches, and a few local scene matches for clubs like the Everett Jets. All Prost articles were also posted on the Goalie Guys site, as I worked to make that more of a habit.  I did short Reign pieces during the tourney even when not assigned to be thorough and so the GG site would have a complete picture of the season. The GG site got all of the Prost pieces without the NWSL provided pics. Was attempting to do even more and UEFA is as elitist and as much of a dinosaur as one would imagine and doesn't work with modern online media in the way US teams and leagues and the federation does. Also, got an advance copy of Pinoe's book to review, which was cool. Guested on the ROTV podcast about Pinoe's book. 

Sounders playoff coverage was in person. There were really strict rules, and that was comforting enough for me to take the assignment. But, having to decline the credential IRL for Columbus was really a harsh reminder of the year.

Live 

OLR 1 v PTFC 2 / 10-10 Tacoma, WA - Cheney Stadium - NWSL Fall Series

OLR 2 v UTAH 0 / 10-17 Tacoma, WA - Cheney Stadium - NWSL Fall Series

SSFC 3 v LAFC 1 / 11-24 Seattle, WA - Lumen Field - MLS Cup Playoffs R1

SSFC 1 v FCD 0 / 12-01 Seattle, WA - Lumen Field - MLS Cup Playoffs WCS

SSFC 3 v MNU 2 / 12-07 Seattle, WA - Lumen Field - MLS Cup Playoffs WCF

vs PTFC

vs UTAH

vs LAFC

vs FCD

vs MNUFC

Actual in person media coverage in October - December

Movies (in the Theatre)

Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)

Virtual Work (Conventions & Events)

Geoteaming

ZogCulture

Virtual Crunchyroll Expo (ReedPop/Starlight)

PAX Online [E]

Live & Stuff
Seattle Saberfit
Blade & Timber 2-8
MoPop (membership)

Bob's Corn Maze 10-14

Trips
San Antonio (plane SEA-LAX-SAT 1-16/plane SAT-SEA 1-22)
Chicago (plane SEA-CHI rt 2/27-3/1)

PAX South Bandland

Feb 8 axe throwing

C2E2

Not many movies in theatre

Soccer media 2020 version of the press box

Virtual event work from home

Bob's Corn Maze 10-14

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I also launched the website and D&D business WellDressedGandalf.com 

Storming on the solstice

 

It was storming today on the solstice. 

We stood on the beach.

High tide.

The storm was crossing the Sound.

The nearby island faded.

The peninsula and mountains across the water were long vanished.

The train tracks down the way became shrouded.

The rain and wind picked up.

Foam and waved crashed over my feet.

It was glorious.

Jedi Viking cosplay coming together

 

Because Living Here is Beautiful

 The other day down the hill at the beach. 

Time is flying

 It was actually over a year since I had stepped foot in what is now Lumen Field.

The stadium was at over 69K for the MLS Cup Final.

So, last night when I stepped in and watched an empty stadium MLS Playoffs match, it was such a stark reminder of how much has gone on, and for how long.

Book review

 Received an advance copy and reviewed it for the Goalie Guys.

http://www.goalkeeperguys.net/2020/11/10/one-life-by-megan-rapinoe-book-review/ 

Also, this ...

guested on a podcast

https://www.sounderatheart.com/2020/11/11/21559824/megan-rapinoe-memoir-one-life-review

Let's see how long this lasts

 So, two weeks ago I went to Tacoma for a thing at a stadium.  I took over the Poke Go Gym.  Dropped off a Pokemon.  

The stadium is now closed.   The HS next door is on remote learning.  There is a gate to the parking lot.  You cannot reach it from the street. 

We are at two weeks of that Pokemon guarding that one gym alone.  Considering taking bets on how long til anyone goes there and takes it out.

 

Behind the scenes virtual work

Producing a halloween happy hour event for a client.  In costume as Dustin in middle age.  Client sees this.  It is literally a set up at my dining room table.  This is 2020. 

Some CR fan art doodling while watching the newest episode

 

It was weird to be at something in person

 It was weird to be at something in person.

Anything in person.

A soccer match from the upper deck. Seated nowhere near anyone. No ticket buying public.  A few locals sitting on a hillside overlooking the stadium watching and yelling.

It was almost a year since the last match I attended.

Thorns win 2-1 over the Reign. 

Getting new music from Blue Oyster Cult is cool

 The other day as I was scrolling online I saw that Blue Oyster Cult released new songs.

The Symbol Remains is coming out in a couple weeks, and until then we got the first two songs and videos from the first BOC release in basically two decades.  

I had hoped we would someday get another record, and from the first two songs, I am looking forward to it even more than when I first saw it was coming.

"Box In My Head" and "It Was Me" are both classic style BOC.  There is some good energy in these tracks.  The videos show the band having fun, enough fun to invite back an old band member to rock some cowbell.

BOC was one of my top faves growing up, and their music holds up for me.  I still grab discs and give them a spin.  Over the years I have seen them a number of times, I want to say four, and they go out there and they kick out the jams to their fans.

Be cool if this record found them a new audience to go with their core.

Only a couple weeks to wait for the rest.

Breaking down a goal from a Rose

 OL Reign announced on August 16th an audacious move of a future draft pick and significant allocation money to grab the rights to Rose Lavelle from Washington Spirit. The audacious part is that Lavelle and her rights will not be heading immediately to Tacoma for a return to playing in Cascadia. OLR has chosen to roll the dice a bit, as it is possible Lavelle thrives and enjoys what appears to be playing in Manchester for City. Should she make a prolonged stay in England, OLR will have rolled the dice and lost a resource. The payoff would be fantastic for a player in her middle 20s who has already scored a game killer in a world cup final.

Summer of 2019 was the validation moment for Rose Lavelle, as she took on the Holland defense by herself and put the USWNT up two goals late in the final. The body language on both sides after the goal said it all. But, let's look at that goal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFrrZ4t4JJg

Rose Lavelle on the attack. A look back at the second goal of the 2019 WWC final match between USWNT and Holland in France. This is simultaneously an amazing individual effort and a team attack.

The play begins with a defensive stop in midfield by Crystal Dunn. Quickly US mid Samantha Mewis securess the ball and another US mid Rose Lavelle comes back to receive in the circle. Julie Ertz is in the center of the field behind the play and was an option and then tracks forward. From here, Lavelle attacks immediately and three offensive players begin runs.  Megan Rainoe on her far left on one wing and staying wide.

Tobin Heath is on her far right and also staying wide to continue the switching of fields maybe. Alex Morgan goes inside to begin a run in behind the central defenders but is a bit quick and holds up to get onside.  Lavelle has a defender trailing her immediately.  THREE dutch defenders all start tracking back because oh shit it is Megan Rapinoe, Tobin Heath, and Alex Morgan making runs.  Lavelle makes a nice move at pace going directly at the defense, realizes the defenders are utterly hosed, jukes a smidge and cranks a left footed shot the keeper sees a moment too late because the one defender on Rose partially shields the play. 

Suddenly it is late in the match and two nil. World champs not too long after.

The US had a single goal lead and the game was getting into the late stages. Another goal here likely kills it off. The risk of a counter and draw was very real as Holland was a very good side and capable of scoring quickly. A case could be made that had Lavelle chosen, she could also have slowed and had both Ertz and Mewis tracking to reset to. I am taking the slow and reset the play as an option off the table from the start, because that was a counter attack the moment Dunn made the tackle and Mewis gathered the loose ball. The only slowing down of this play would have come from the Dutch deciding to foul her hard or to have had Lavelle take a poor touch.

Looking to the left flank option, Pinoe was wide and briefly showed and could have received a pass and then served in something dangerous. The US has had success with this kind of ball movement, but Pinoe almost immediately realizes the ball is not coming and begins to track downfield.

Morgan had to stop her run. There was a moment that if Lavelle had released it early Morgan might have had a chance on goal, but the passing lane is poor for that move and so Morgan holds up, which also slows one of the defenders for a step as she has to still account for her. The defender that stays near Morgan is late on the shot a moment later, and not by much.

The right flank would have fully switched the ball to Heath. Heath would likely have driven deep, attempted a move, and driven the ball across to the wave of attackers that was building up at that point. Not a terrible option, as Heath on the ball with a head of steam and defenders having to track the entire US attack would have been a good move.

I for one, think Rose had go to goal on her mind from the start. Had the defenders held up or tried to stop her the ball would have gone to either flank to Pinoe or Heath and the Dutch were equally effed as the attack would have continues. Morgan was too close and would likely have been offside if the ball went to her and so the wide play either side would have made sense.

Watching the play, I see Mewis hold off the challenge after getting the ball Dunn tackled and Lavelle showing to receive the ball as the attack first option. Getting the ball in the middle of the field with a couple steps to get a head of steam is the worst thing the Dutch could have happen with a player live Lavelle. Given her field sense, she knew all of her options, saw the defense recoiling, and once she does the little step over to spin a defender she was going for it.

This sequence is a few seconds. The field and tactical shift the US collectively does in those few seconds across their mid and forward lines was on a pivot.

Rose Lavelle could be doing this to NWSL defenses in Tacoma in the near future if the OLR dice roll pays off. She will do well in Manchester, but that move feels more like circumstantial to 2020 and 2021 and being in form while getting an experience in her middle 20s as much as anything else.

How this plays out will be interesting.

(This is also on the Goalie Guys site at http://www.goalkeeperguys.net/2020/08/17/breaking-down-a-goal-from-a-rose/)

Supporting small businesses during these troubled times

I have been working to support small, local, and acquaintance businesses during these troubled times.

This is a difficult period for people financially, but it has been shockingly lucrative for some huge entities. 

So, trying to shop in ways which help those who can really use the business means sticking with my local comic shop and game store for things.  It means ordering books and music and food without spending too much time and resource where it is not needed but in direct orders.

And, it means promoting some of that where I can on social media.

Money where the mouth is, I guess.

One Grey Sock

Last night, when I got home, I did laundry immediately upon my return.

I took off my shoes outside, and put the socks and some items directly into the washer.

After a quick shower, I gathered up other items and let the laundry run.

Everything went into the dryer.

I sorted the laundry today, there is one grey sock.

For the past ten or so minutes I have gone through each folded item of clothing, the washer, the dryer, the basket, the hallway.

There is one grey sock.

That is the entire story and post.

A post I responded to

A friend asked about the pre-pandemic world. Like, what do people selfishly miss. I posted this as a response.

"People. I miss Magic across the table. DnD in our group having dinner prior to starting. Conventions and the random way I only know some people in certain cities yet none of us live in that city. Talking soccer with the Russian dumpling truck guy. Students in person and the energy they have. Saber class and actually sparring as opposed to drills. Dancing at country bars even though I am a metal head. Soccer matches in the press box with my media peeps. Concerts. It turns out even though I value my private time, I have in my 50+ years managed to get to know an awful lot of interesting people. There is no substitute for good people."

But, I already have to deal with hazmat when I come home from the temp gig. People are not wearing masks enough. There is a real need to take all this seriously, and it will be worth it. But, there are days.

Tribute to an unlikely astronaut

Knowing talented people is cool

As part of an adoption fundraiser, my very talented partner in Owl & Moose Studios Marci Heider created this for me from a pic of me at Seattle SaberFit.

Generations of work

This will not end at 46, 47, or 48.

This will not end soon.

This will take generations.

A birthday DM favor

Granted to a player for their birthday. 

Good for a re-roll or advantage or something fun.

What the press box will look like this season

A lot of streaming and Zoom chats with players and coaches got off to a start today with the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup announcement.

Zoom chats and conference calls today is just the start of covering the Utah tourney from where I am typing this.

Be safe.

Suspenders of Disbelief

Other than kids crafts and some required stuff back in the day in school, me and sewing has just never really happened.

In part, it is because of the bad thumbs, this dates back to 5th grade when I first broke my right thumb and it was set oddly.

But, we live in interesting times. So, I decided to make the suspenders for the costume pants that were made for me as opposed to just buying them.

The stitches are not perfect, I know, but the reality is the three loops for the suspender ends, the Y there the three straps come together, and the three elastic loops were in fact sewn by me.

This is more sewing than I have ever done.  

Maybe not a big deal to others, but for me it was a threshold.

And, I learned of something called tea dying.  I took the elastic strips and soaked them in tea to make them not bright white.  This project is a lot of firsts.

Finally get to play the pre

Ikoria prerelease from home, after curbside pickup.

Got the Kinnan, which is not too shabby a get for the promo.

New cards!

So much online group virtual RPG-ing

Two months of the sequester is this week.  Two months since I walked off campus and home and still only a vague potential end.  Grocery store work is a thing. So is online RPG.

My long running group character.

The new ongoing group character's back story.

Getting better at the online resources.  Time to get really up to speed for maybe summer camps and my own adventure NO MOSS, LTD.

Third regular group forming with the OR faction where I am DM.  Getting the tutorial and practice in for possible summer camps is an added bonus. 

Full Price

Vaguely venting here.

For years I have chosen, basically, employment that is not as lucrative in exchange for a lot of flexibility in a lot of different ways.

I have been able to be pretty picky about quality of life aspects of where I do the thing.

I have been able to be in work environments I prefer, even at a discounted price if I were to be FT permanent.

And now, at one of those, when given the chance to move to full price, with a large body of work that was me as a convenient cheap work horse, I have been at least given the chance at full price.

The end result was not favorable, and in the end, my life continues as it was basically, but there is now that very real confirmation that I was indeed only worth it as a cheap convenient work horse and in no way perceived as being worth full price. I get that there is competition and in no way did I really feel like I should just be granted it, but the decision not to hire is a real statement that is really loudly ringing in my ears.

The body of work I have there is lengthy and detailed and apparently has never been valued as much more than for its convenience and cost. There have been times where people have thought I was on staff because of the relationship I had with the institution and the work I did.

There is a little bitterness here, because even though business is business, this has a significant personal feel to it. My measure has been taken, and it was not up to snuff.  I cannot pretend it does not hurt personally given the length of the relationship involved. What could have been a work til retirement situation is now something that probably is the end of the line. There is a great could have been here.

I will not be making rash choices and spiting myself given the state of the world, but I really cannot imagine ever giving them my time at a discount price ever again with anything resembling enthusiasm. It will be difficult to even consider other opportunities there. I had already let it be known that I was not continuing in the manner in which previously things have gone.  This was sort of a Hail Mary in a way.
A very long institutional relationship seems to be fading to an end as I complete other commitments there this summer, if those things actually go off as potentially scheduled.  If they don't go off, I am likely already done there.

"VagueBook" rant over.

Pollen in the Extreme

Allergies are really hit or miss on the types of pollen that get me.  Some parts of the year the white fluffy stuff is in the air and nothing. But, the outrageous amount of yellow powder from the tress this year is overwhelming.

I rinsed my car, it was shiny, and the next morning it was like I had done nothing.

It's been a couple weeks now.  A  little rain looked like it might help, but we ended up with mud puddles, or really yellow pollen mud like puddles.

And then the sun came back, it was dry, and it all kicked back up in the air and on everything and I am well and truly sick of it.

Greater JeffJeffJeffopolis in Minecraft

This has been an intermittent ongoing creative mode build for the couple years we have had the console.

It actually started as a bored build of a giant soccer stadium that became the centerpiece.

There was a suggestion to build a mountain.  There are two secret entrances as of this post.

Giant play fields or stadia for various sports including ultimate, lacrosse, football, cricket, and basketball.  A disc golf course runs through the town. A water slide and a trap range.  Even a rocket is ready to launch.

The build is filled with things like giant places to play MtG or do TKD or play Quidditch. 

A couple of towers, a skyscraper, and a high up observatory are in a few of the corners.

A giant tree house structure is included.

Over time there were buildings like a brewery, wine cellar, greenhouse, and a myriad of others. 

A food truck, pokestop, and campground with outdoor theatre are out there somewhere.

It is now far too big to be viewed from the middle all the way out and I have built to the edge of two rando generated villages and found a third in the distance.

A full mapping and survey really needs to occur at some point.  Scale is often comically off.  JeffJeffJeffopolis sort of rules.

So, a month passes

One month ago today I was subbing at the elementary school near my home.  We knew school closure was coming, but thought it would be for a couple weeks is all.

The announcement was for longer.

The private school I also sub for had already closed and gone virtual, for longer than we originally expected.

The state announcement pushed the private school closure longer to match the public schools.

Somewhere along the way we lost the rest of the year.

The signs at the schools are no longer current and are a reminder that no one is there to update them.

And a month has passed.

I got some things sorted out with a temp PT gig, that isn't much.

I got a favorable ruling on some measure of UI, even though it took a national declaration to make happen.  I am both surprised it did actually happen and grateful for even what they are providing.

But, a month ago, I walked home that afternoon after the state closed everything.  A month. 

Shopping the next day was eerie, an experience I do not want to revisit.

And now, the temp gig has positive tests in the team and district and I wonder how much I will ever get from that gig.

I have been productive, not especially creatively, but I have not let the home and health slide. Who I live with helps in that in that we have a healthy lifestyle and actually enjoy living together.

I miss friends and family even as I routinely contact them because I can't be around them.

And I wonder what month one of will end up being of.

A quarter century apart

So, I get a text today, and this pic shows up.

Me and an old high school bud.  I know this is at his house when we are both home from college like circa 1988 or 1989, but I think summer of 88.

I do not recall ever seeing this picture before and I think it was from his mom.

So I looked up the last time we had a chance to hang out and it is roughly 25 years later.

I know this one was around Feb of 2013. we don't see each other enough.  Old friends though and we sometimes connect.

But, really this post is to remind me that old friends are still out there and I hope they are okay going through all of this.