Unqualified for the position

It's been a long time since my last post, but I've been kind of busy. At least, busier than usual.

I traveled to Minnesota last week, and made it a dual-purpose trip. For the major part of the week, I spent time with my mom, helping her sort through lots of stuff in the house (most was trash, as far as I was concerned) and some yard work that's just a bit too much for one person.
Saturday, May 20, I participated in the D&D Miniatures championship qualifier tournament at the Monster Den in Minneapolis. I didn't win, or even manage to qualify. Out of 32 participants, I went 3-3 and took 13th. Ugh. For those who want a detailed report, you can go here (Kithmaker is my username at Maxminis): http://www.maxminis.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=20507

So that means I've got about 2 weeks until my next and only remaining chance at qualifying: June 10 in Glen Burnie, MD (Baltimore area). I've decided to scrap the warband I used in MN and devise something completely different. Exactly what it will be, I have no clue.

While I was on the plane to and fro, I started thinking about words (mostly because I wanted to take my mind off the tournament), and I "discovered" some interesting ideas. As you probably know, prefixes like "dis-" and "de-" usually mean a negative or opposite effect. Why is it then, that words like "disappoint" and "disparage" do not mean the opposite of "appoint" or "parage?" Or, "decline" and "destroy" with "cline" (?) and "stroy" (?!)? How about other prefixes? "Regress" and "gress?"
We've got "inscrutable" and "scrutable," fine -- but why is there no "scrute" to form the base for those words?

These are the things that plague my mind.

It sounds like tomorrow we may be off to Harper's Ferry for a day trip; and we may visit Gettysburg over the July 4 weekend for some civil war reenactment fun. Apparently the First Minnesota regiment has their day on July 2.

Sorry I missed most of you in MN, but thanks again to Shane for letting me crash there and providing the video game entertainment -- and thanks for the World of Warcraft invite, but I have to see if it will even run on either machine first.

Anyway, I'd like to leave you with a picture of the road by my mom's house (those of you who have been there might recognize it), with the current water level. On windy/rainy days, the lake goes over the road... (click for full size)