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You know what I haven't done in a really long time? Post on this blog, that's what! I really don't have a good excuse either as I basically just forgot about it. I'm such an ass.

Life is progressing in Minnesota, but very, very slowly. Wife has begun rehearsing for a play/musical that opens at the end of January, and I have not been doing much of anything other than slowly looking for a job. While the hunt continues there are a few potentials just over the horizon. I may actually get to do some web development...for money! Wow!

Gears of War 2, such a good game. I loved the first game, and it's pretty much the only reason why I wanted an Xbox 360 in the first place, but the sequel, man, so good. My sleeping schedule is now entirely out of whack again because I've been playing Horde mode online until the wee hours of the morning. It seems to be improving my overall game as well because I'm doing a lot better in the 5v5 matches. I've never been very good at FPS style games on consoles (I'm a keyboard and mouse kind of guy), but I think I'm finally getting the hang of it.

I just watched this interesting (and fun) video that compiled a whole mess of videos of kids this year who received Nintendo Wii's for Christmas. It was a heartwarming compilation, but I must not be ready for kids yet because a lot of the videos I found a tad annoying as the kids just seemed over dramatic. Don't get me wrong though, there were definitely a few winners in there, like the kid who broke down in tears. Oscar nomination anyone? Click here to see for yourself.

I couldn't help but feel a little sorry for the kids though because unfortunately it seems most people lose interest in their Wii after only a few months. The innovation wears off and it becomes just another gimmicky toy. Now, if you only own a Wii and no other game console, then that's a different story entirely. I hope for their sake that that's the case.

Have a fun, happy, safe, enjoyable, memorable, digestible and unforgettable New Year's Eve! I'll see you next year!

Sleeping Pills

D: You're watching a movie, why did you take a sleeping pill?
Wife: You look like you've got a big, fluffy ponytail.
D: I do?
Wife: And there are all these people running around with swords.
D: Swords?
Wife: Yeah, little ones.

As if that wasn't enough, a few minutes later Wife was ready to have the laptop removed from the bed so she could fully sleep.

Wife: Where will I sleep?
D: Um, in the bed.
Wife: Yeeeeeah!
D: ...
Wife: There's a dog chasing you.

Better luck next time.

I don't know if it's the way the cat fails or just the act of doing so that makes me laugh so hard. It shouldn't be that funny but it is!

Obsessed with fighting games.

May 1992; Knott's Berry Farm, California. It was the end of my 6th grade year and everyone on the high honor roll list had secured themselves a sweet trip to Knott's. Oh and how sweet it was going to be! When we finally all piled off the bus and made it into the park, I heard from a far, "Boomerang! We're going on Boomerang!" This was the newest ride at the time, and while not yet a fan of roller coasters, I didn't want to be the odd man out. I found myself shaking with fright but it wasn't enough to pull me out of line. We rode.

As was to be expected, despite the fact that everyone else had an awesome time on the ride, it was the Boomerang that would come back, as they do, to knock me to the ground. Well, not literally, but close enough. I felt miserable; completely sick to my stomach.

I spent the next handful of minutes standing by a very nice trashcan, feeling sick and wondering not only if I was going to throw-up, but how embarrassed I might be if I do. In the end though I didn't, which was the preferred choice anyway. Unfortunately, during my close encounter with the trashcan, I had told my friends to just go on without me. I knew I wouldn't feel up to any other rides any time soon. Upon feeling better I slugged my way over to the arcade and found myself dwindling down the remaining hours of the day with what little money I had to spare. This is where it began.

I'm sure I played lots of games that day, but there are only two that I remember. Street Fighter and Street Fighter II. I remember seeing Street Fighter II and thinking to myself, "Hmm, I should probably start with the first one." I think I was just scared of being challenged by someone who was already familiar with the game. I also knew no one touched the original game anymore so I would be safe. Well, it didn't take long to figure out that the original Street Fighter was one of the hardest, least responsive games ever made. I don't think I even reached for a second quarter after the computer wiped the floor with me. I swallowed my pride and walked over to the corral of Street Fighter II machines.

Blanka is who I remember most from this experience. Whether I played as him, or couldn't beat him, he is who I associated the game with most at first. Later it would be Ken as my older brother took ownership of Ryu. I came to find out quickly that I sucked equally as bad at Street Fighter II as I did the original game, but at least it felt like I was in control of what I was doing, so I kept at it. I remember, for me, the most daunting thing about the Street Fighter games was the fact that they had six buttons per player. It seemed like too much from far away, but once you got in there, it all started to make sense.

This wasn't quite the moment that I got bit by the fighting game bug, but it was certainly the beginning. At least now I knew that when I saw a fighting game, wherever I might be, I wouldn't be scared to approach it.

To be continued...