By Erik France on 4/22/2008 12:04 PM

If you have not checked out the Photos tab on the site in a while, please do.  I finally have taken some time to update the Photobucket.com albums I have.  So now you can see some new pictures of the France clan.

By Erik France on 4/18/2008 2:03 PM

A co-worker told me this the other day.  I loved the definition and had to share it.

Stress:  The confusion created when the mind overrides the body's desire to choke the living daylights out of someone who desperately deserves it.

By Erik France on 4/15/2008 7:56 AM

If you use Agile methods, then today's Dilbert comic strip is for you.

By Erik France on 4/10/2008 12:43 PM

Just a few days after I made this post, I found out the guild had been disbanded.  Evidently the GM's account had been compromised and the GM had to rebuild the guild.  The good news is the guild has been rebuilt, and I was invited back!

Here is the new cape, just in case you are interested.

By Erik France on 3/28/2008 12:08 PM

As I said the other day, I joined a guild.  I have enjoyed this so far, especially since when I get on-line to play there are a lot of members in the Alliance who are on-line. 

But, the important thing is to see the cape:

Yep ... I am enjoying this game!

By Erik France on 3/17/2008 12:31 PM

Today is the day I always seem to remember my friends from the Marching Red.  We had the chance to go to Ireland in ... uh ... 1996, I believe.  The point is, I was in Dublin, Ireland, with the Marching Band on St. Patrick's Day.  We had a blast!  And times like today remind me of all of those crazy people who I was privileged to spend my life with during college.

By the way, did you know there is a Wikipedia entry for the Band?  I did not know it, but I should have thought it was there.  After all, everything is on Wikipedia, right?

By Erik France on 3/17/2008 12:31 PM

I have been playing Guild Wars for a little over one year now.  Wow!  I have never been hooked on a game for this long.  I guess part of that is due to the fact that I do not play this game every day ... although I think I could.

I did not know it, but after your one year anniversary, you get a present.  When I opened it, I received a miniature Temple Guardian.  I did not recognize this critter right away so I had to look it up.  I have not played anywhere that I would have encountered the real Temple Guardian, but I think it is pretty cool.  Now I have two minis, and I may have to collect a few more.

I recently joined a new guild named HOLY.  I was approached by the Guild Leader and asked to join.  Here is a picture of my main character wearing the guild cape.  I have enjoyed talking with a few guild members and I am very impressed with the Alliance members I have talked to.  For those that do not know, guilds can join up and form alliances.  My guild is in an alliance of nine other guilds.

...

Read More »

By Erik France on 3/5/2008 4:57 PM

I was just told about the death of Gary Gygax.  I think the gaming world has lost a true gem, and someone who was able to bring make-believe and fantasy into a tangible, real form for millions.

Image from IGN.com.  Used without permission, but I hope they understand.

By Erik France on 2/3/2008 10:30 PM

It started last night when Carter was getting sick.  We heard his cough and knew he was catching a cold.  His fever broke sometime around 1:00 a.m. and he's had good and bad times throughout today.

I started to feel bad during church this morning but made it to about 1:00 p.m. before I just had to take a nap.  I still have aches and am cold a lot of the time -- that right there is a true sign I am sick.

Hailey began to feel bad just before lunch.  She has bee oh-so-much-fun today.  Sometimes she is doing great, then she brushes her had against the couch and begins bawling.  Yeah, she does not feel good.

So, Julie has had a "great" day filled with whining, crying, fevers, thermometers, medicine, and snotty noses.  She says caring for three sick "kids" is not too much fun.  I would agree.  Sick sucks.

By Erik France on 1/30/2008 10:25 PM

Tonight while watching hockey, I saw a commercial which I liked.

The best thing about this is the catch phrase at the end. Did you see it? It says, "Live every SHIFT." Now, that is a catch phrase I could live by.