The Not Happy Thread - Continued

Hey, good to see you back. We've missed you, but I figured it was because of school. Sorry to hear about the complications and the frustrations. School's tough enough without monkey wrenches being thrown into it.

Yes, I hope you find the time to write. No pressure, but I do miss reading your stories.

 

I could have posted to this month's contest (I had a story written already) but there was no time to edit it, and I didn't see the point of posting something subpar this month or last month.

It's weird but writing stories is how I keep touch with my human side. This extensive writing break made me realize that. Computer science is an interesting and cool subject but it's mostly logic and machinery—and there's not much humanity in that!

Yeah, I do miss writing stories. Especially when they're well-liked and I do a good job.

There's a particular one that I really want to share. It's been written for quite a while now but it needs more polishing.

 

Same here. I did write a story for this month's contest, but didn't post it. Just wasn't happy with it (I guess this is the thread to say that).

But since then, I've written a couple of flash fictions I'm happy enough with. And I had a story pretty well started for next month's, I like the idea, got up to nearly a thousand words, but put it aside. Maybe I'll save it for the July open prompt.

So now I am trying to think of new ideas for "an unexpected friend"

 

This is a really good strategy. Most of my well-voted stories were ones I wasn't happy with and saved for future prompts. Aging your drafts is great because it opens up your mind! I've talked about this plenty of times here in other threads because I just think that it's very true.

I'm sure your stories are great. You're harsh with yourself because you have high standards.

Hopefully I still remember how to write.

 

You know, it took me a while to get back into it. We took a vacation in March, and that got me out of my routine, and it took a couple of months for me to get back into writing mode.

I am sure you will come back stronger than ever!

 

Ah, it seems I wasn't quite clear with what I said. It's not that you don't deal with humans (of course you do, though not nearly as much as in the restaurant industry). I was more or less referring to what makes us human: Our emotions, dillemas, conditions, etc.

Computers are purely logical machines. They're very easy to engage with because you just type code in an IDE or commands in a terminal. Not sure about a function's positional arguments? Is there some error? You just refer to the library's reference documents and the solution is right there.

Stories are different. Did you put your character in a dillema? Are you not sure about what choice they should make? There is no manual to help you with that. You just use your own writing and life experience.

Although now that I think about it, there are some manuals for some technical aspects like grammar and story structure. But those cover nothing more than a framework. The story's flesh is still up to you.

That's also why ChatGPT is great for programming problems but terrible for story problems. There's zero humanity in its data set because it's nothing more than a highly advanced mathematical algorithm that draws links between words.

 

I'm so sorry you have to put up with this rubbish, ps102. The TCP/IP stack is "networking principles"? *rolls his eyes* I haven't dealt with TCP/IP for 20 years, but even I remember that it's a set of protocols, not principles.

What principles are they, I wonder? I have another principle for them: Thou Shalt Not Deceive Thy Students.

 

Always taken as such, so don't worry about that. Thank you.

 

Yes, that's what it is more or less. It hasn't changed too much over the last twenty years, believe it or not.

The whole spec is littered with such mistakes. I wish this was the only occurrence.

Oh well! I'll press on and finish for the year.

 

TCP/IP is protocols but also embodies certain principals. SNA is a competing set of protocols and principles. IBM's Token Ring is yet another set of protocols and principals.

TCP/IP's main principal embodies distributed peer-to-peer networking. SNA's main principal embodies centralized server-client principals. Token Ring is kind in between; some parts are centralized and others are peer-to-peer.

 

Does anyone still use Token ring? I thought that went the way of the PS/2.

 

I haven't even heard the words "Token Ring" in 20 years, when I did a diploma in Network Engineering. Even then, Token Rings were outdated.

And speaking of which: what do you call it when a bunch of friends lend each other their well-thumbed copies of LOTR and The Silmarillion?

A Tolkien Ring.

(All right, I'll get my coat)

 

My best friend collapsed and spent the weekend in hospital.

She only told me about it when she got home, which is just how we are with each other;

'Why yes, all my blood did fall out, but how was your day?'

I've been texting her every couple of hours since to make sure she's alive.

I know she's decided she's well enough to be back on duty next week and we are going for lunch for a frank discussion about her need to look after herself and, probably, a great deal of hugging.

I know she has what is probably undiagnosed PTSD and a few other things going on and I'm worried about how this new problem will affect her mood.

 

Sorry to hear, Sir Reg! I hope your friend will be feeling better very soon.

 

Bad recovery day. Almost passed out on my run this morning (unplanned, both the run and the near-unconscious experience, which may have something to do with it), and just not felt like putting pen to paper, such is my exhaustion. Struggled through reading. Not even felt the urge to go into the garden and sort out the tree I cut down yesterday. Bah.

 

It's been like 5 days and I haven't been able to beat Orenstein and Smough in Dark Souls 1 in NG+. I am getting better, but it's still such a pain!!!! I got SO close a few times I just... I need to charge my controller anyway.

 

UPDATE!

I did finally beat them. I decided to summon Solaire, because when you're tired and need help, it's best to reach out to a friend. Solaire tanked, but didn't last for the second phase. Then, me and Mega Smough battled it out and finally, I actually won. I tried so hard on my own. I lost count how many attempts, but I am sure at least 100. But I am glad I finally won.

 

Yeah, it is a total bitch. Also, in New Game Plus, everyone does more damage and has more health. Also proud I didn't tank my way through it. I used the Grass Crest Shield, Havel's Ring, Ring of Favor and Protection, Elite Knight Armor+3 and Black Knight Sword +5.

(Tanking would be using Havel's set and shield.)

It's true in regular games, BKS is over-powered, but in NG+, it's not as much. Because you can't buff it with spells or anything. I know if I had walked into the fight with Solaire first, we would have been destroyed in seconds. But, because I practiced so much I was finally able to read and predict O + S's movements way better. Which I think was also key. I also hadn't fought Mega Smough before this and I think he IS easier, but that lightning butt-slam killed me more than once. The key is, DON'T GET CORNERED!

For those who want a reference to what I'm talking about:



(NOT ME. Found this on Youtube.)

 

I was supposed to see a friend yesterday and was hoping to have a face-to-face chat. He had to cancel due to feeling unwell. I know he’s dealing with a lot and was going to feel him out if we could have a serious talk.

It makes me anxious when I go too long without being able to confide in someone. I do use a lot of long walks to help. But with the summer getting hot, I need some other low-cost outlets. Anyone have a suggestion?

 

Well, a very worthy outlet for me is my writing. Take what you're feeling and put it into a story. It's a great way to work through it. You might just surprise yourself with where it takes you.

 

Aaaagh! I'm coming to the end of a sojourn in the UK that was supposed to be a lovely, relaxing retreat to visit a good friend and then go off into Wild Wales to get some writing done. But from the time I landed a week ago, I've had nothing but trouble with cars and technology. Who knew that the UK Amazon site somehow knows your phone is from the the US, and therefore limits where you can return an unwanted item? I feel like I've spent half my time trying to rectify these issues, and it isn't over yet.

Though the fact I broke the screen of my GPS trying to get a replacement battery into it is my own damn fault. Touch screen is trash on that side, of course.

I haven't broken down crying yet, but I'm liable to.

 

I'm so sorry to hear you've had such a bad time, Catrin. *offers Catrin a hug and positive vibes*

I hope things will be looking up for you soon. Please (try to) enjoy what's left of your holiday. =)