Spontaneous Scholar: daquell

After a whirlwind trip to the Cameroon in Africa (details on another site), we returned home with spirits bounding high with reckless abandon. Thirty-six hours of airplanes and rented vans has the tendency to do that to a person. So, there we were, as happy as mantisis in an ant migration, when the hammer struck the anvil.

Lila

Our cat, Lila, was struck by a car this afternoon. We buried her not two hours after our arrival. Unlike most cats, she never hissed or clawed, even when children were pulling her fur. She obeyed when needed, meowed when spoken to, and accompanied us often as a bedroom pal. She was also the only animal I have ever entertained the thought of keeping when I move out in two years.

Farewell, Lila. You will be missed greatly.

This week marks the launch of yet another blog… this time, for our family mission trip to Cameroon.

I would go into a lengthy dissertation about preparing for the trip here, but I suppose that sort of thing is best done on the trip’s blog itself. So, without further ado, ready to visit Africa?

While killing time (precious time! O, Time that I Do Not Have!) yesterday, I noticed a small section of links at the bottom of my favorite search engine. One for advertising… a complete disappointment. One for developers… not currently useful, though I like knowing Microsoft already has such APIs out.

And then, “Hold the phone! Count to Ten! Kill the fatted calf!” A link designed for me (and you, possibly) - Webmasters. Although the interface is not quite as intuitive as Google’s Webmaster Tools, I’ll cut the big M some slack; they are still rather new to this whole “open and free with everyone” racket. It may not be quite as intuitive, but Live.com’s webmaster dashboard gets the job done. From it, a webmaster can finally (finally!) submit websites and sitemaps directly to the MSN search bot. No more nail-biting and early-morning stress wondering if Microsoft knows about all-important websites like daquell.com.

As per my earlier predictions sprinkled all over this blog, I continue to conclude that Microsoft is making a come-back. They are beginning to focus on the minutia. Look out, Mr. G. Mr. M is back in the game.

Don’t make fun of the big M, Mr. Yang.

After many long and trepidacious hours of coding, searching, hunting, and gathering, I offer now a replacement for the venerable but broken How To Be A Hero forums: Tome: of Sword and Dagger. Obviously, the user-base is rather small seeing as the site was just launched. However, I anticipate it growing to normal proportions soon.

Away, away!
The trumpets are calling!
Away, away!
The wheels of time rolling!
Away, away!
The war gongs are booming!
Away, away, away!

Lost in the forested hills in a clearing,
Lost in the bramble of all new and old,
Found all a’never but to those a’searching,
Questing Hall waits for adventurers bold.

Come, all ye weary. Come, see my cheer.
Eat of my food and get rest in my bed.
Come, though ye wander afar or a’near.
Your feet find a footstool, a pillow, your head.

Away, away!
The horses are neighing!
Away, away!
The armor is shining!
Away, away!
Yet come back ere morning!
Away, away, away!

Come, friend. Adventure with us from the Questing Hall of Tome: Sword and Dagger.

Tonight our dog started barking his warning bark. Not his angry bark, just his warning bark. That could mean that a leaf smacked the outside of the garage door, or it could mean that someone is skulking about on the driveway.

I’ve been downstairs twice, and outside once, trying to put an end to this. I need to sleep tonight. Two 3:00 AM mornings is all I’d like to handle, thank you.

Not that the hooligans who are meddling around will read this, but if you do, be ye warned: if anything on my family’s property is damaged, I will not stop hunting you until you repay it; if anyone in my family is hurt, I will not rest until you are begging for your life… if I even let you live.