Journals

satchmo3 years ago2021-01-21 16:22:36 UTC 5 comments
My son consistently bests me in any game we play together.

This was when he dominated me in my own map, dm_vertico.
HL2DM Vertico
satchmo4 years ago2020-07-25 21:12:47 UTC 6 comments
While the pandemic shrouds the world, we welcomed a ray of sunshine into our lives.

We adopted a two-year-old Sheltie-Shiba Inu mix called River. She was found as a stray at the rescue, and it took a Herculean effort to adopt her.

We contacted so many rescues and shelters that we started a spreadsheet to keep track of everything. For every pet that's up for adoption, more than a hundred families apply. The demand for pets is extremely high during the quarantine. I was losing hope when my friend and co-worker tipped me off about River. My friend volunteered at the rescue for more than a decade. Without a personal connection, we would still be waiting for a dog.
Meet River
Dog Beach
satchmo5 years ago2019-07-12 15:26:44 UTC 8 comments
We're leaving for Tibet tomorrow. My entire family is going there for a medical mission, providing care and health education at rural Tibetan villages and orphanages.

We will refrain from making any political statement to avoid triggering the ire of the Chinese government. Chinese detainment center is not a part of our itinerary.

We will return in August.
satchmo5 years ago2019-06-02 23:00:00 UTC 48 comments
This is the first time we are building a gaming PC from scratch for him. He's always gotten my legacy PC by default, but he is turning 12 next month. I think it's time for him to build his own PC. It's a rite of passage for any geek.

I would like some suggestions on our proposed build, since we have no shortage of geeks here. Let me know what you think.
User posted image
satchmo6 years ago2018-12-10 13:52:51 UTC 2 comments
I am so nostalgic watching this video, because it was my first computer back in 1986.

How I wish I kept that computer and keyboard.
satchmo6 years ago2018-10-15 12:49:05 UTC 4 comments
It's a testament of TWHL's community that I am still returning to this site almost two decades after I first joined.

I no longer map, as I have moved on to other things in life. I still play Portal 2 and Minecraft with my son regularly, nevertheless. I don't play much games on my own now.

I have committed myself to lots of community service projects--donating books to schools, helping old ladies with their smoke detectors, and delivering food to the poor. I read several books a week to keep myself entertained (by the way, you should all read "Turtles All the Way Down" if you haven't already.

I'll be around for decades more. I plan to retire in 12 years, and I will probably devote my time writing fiction. My son would have graduated from college by then. We'll see.
satchmo6 years ago2018-06-20 09:52:48 UTC 32 comments
Neither of these pictures was originally mine, but I juxtapose them to warn everyone of the similarities. History is repeating itself.
User posted image
satchmo6 years ago2018-04-24 17:59:56 UTC 6 comments
Has anyone seen "Ready Player One"?

Why does the end credit mention "Valve Corporation"? I didn't spot a single character from any of the Valve games in the film.
satchmo6 years ago2018-02-15 08:11:08 UTC 0 comments
Please help me spread the word for this crowd funding project.

Thank you!
satchmo6 years ago2018-02-06 12:44:18 UTC 3 comments
This was Scott eliminating the entire team the other day playing Overwatch.

That makes me a proud daddy!
satchmo6 years ago2018-01-19 16:10:01 UTC 3 comments
I just got my son Overwatch, and to my surprise, he picked it up right away, and he's mopping the floor with my dead body in no time.
satchmo6 years ago2018-01-16 21:10:31 UTC 3 comments
My comment to Captain P's last journal entry, back in 2007.
I know this is ten years late, but I am sorry about your loss.

You may not remember me, but I sure remember you. You were one of my first mapping mentors, patiently going over my level designs and giving me constructive criticisms.

As one life ends, another begins. It was right around the time your mother died when my son was born. Now that he's almost 11 years old.

Anyways, I hope you can come back and visit us sometimes.
satchmo7 years ago2017-10-20 11:47:24 UTC 6 comments
This is my new car:
User posted image
To the right is my wife and her car. She drove me to the dealership to pick up my new car.
satchmo7 years ago2017-10-14 10:52:44 UTC 9 comments
I am selling my 2008 Honda Accord in California.

Anyone interested?
satchmo7 years ago2017-09-29 14:58:28 UTC 8 comments
My next PC for 2018.

I am going to wait for a sale.