Mood: Excellent.
Music: None
Game: World of Warcraft, COD2, DOA4, Amped 3
Book: The Complete Robot, Isaac Asimov.
Weather: 40, Rainy
Today, I ventured forth from the apartment. I decided that I needed DOA4 right away. Rather than order it, I made it so that I would have to leave the apartment to go to the nearest game store...in this case, a Game Crazy about 4 miles away. I heartily recommend maps.google.com, by the way.
Once I figured out where it was, I checked online for bus maps and schedules, and sallied forth. I waited outside in the rain for a little bit waiting for the bus, paid my buck and a quarter, and tried to pay attention to where I was going. It WAS the first time I was leaving the neighborhood alone.
This all sounds kind of pathetic. But the truth of the matter is that if you don't drive, you really are subject to the whims of public transit, and you CAN get really lost. In a car, you just kinda drive around until you find a gas station or major street or whatever. On a bus, you CAN just wait until you end up back where you started, or ask a bus driver...but once you get off, you need to pay attention. Still...you can't like STARVE or anything...you could just get cold and wet and miserable, and end up either paying a chunk of change to get home, or inconvenience someone you know. Seeing as I only know Chelsea in Seattle, really, and seeing as she was at work...you get the picture.
Anyway, I got off the bus earlier than I should have, but I was able to orient myself, and walk the last dozen blocks myself in the rain. It was actually a really nice walk, and I found the place with no trouble. Bought my game and a wireless adapter for the 360, and managed to hop on the bus back without having to wait at all. Now I know how to get to this mall, which has a Target, a Game Crazy, a Bed, Bath, and Beyond, a Barnes and Noble, and other things. Which is pretty cool.
I got home uneventfully. Once I got home, I installed the wireless adapter which took, no shit, all of 45 seconds, including configuration, and it works fabulously. Voice chat, gameplay, all seamless.
Then, the good stuff. DOA4.
If you like any of the DOA fighting games, you love this one. The graphics are fabulous...the level design? BETTER than fabulous. So much hidden stuff...so much to knock people into and through. The characters are all the old favorites, plus a few new ones. Plenty of unlockable costumes.
The online? Let me just say this: The lobby is the most phenomenal thing I've seen in a video game. You choose a background, such as swamp, halloween, or Japanese dojo. You get a base avatar...a ninja. You run around with your avatar in the background, and your avatar can speak for you, you can type words, or just speak through the mike...and it has about 8 different preset expressions, such as cheer or wave...all very cute. You talk to the "receptionist" in the middle of the room, and join the game.
But that's not it...that would be great...but not it. Whenever you win a match online, you get Zackdollars...which you use to buy stuff to decorate your background, buy new avatars, buy stuff for your avatars to wear, or buy costumes for the characters in DOA. Basically, it's incentive to go play online. It's MARVELOUS. I bought groucho glasses for my ninja...because I think it's hysterical. So my avatar is a ninja with groucho glasses.
The gameplay is smooth, the cutscenes are breathtaking. The end movies are fun/exciting...the game is absolutely marvelous. I'm definitely glad to have it...and it certainly would have made the 360 launch a lot more impressive. But that's past. I highly recommend this game.
I think I'll review all the games I've played on the 360 this weekend or early next week...if you're at all interested....
Mood: Good
Music: None
Game: World of Warcraft, COD2, X360 games....
Book: The Complete Robot, Isaac Asimov.
Weather: 51, cool and clear. (or it was at 4pm...)
Today, I explored a bit more and found the post office. I needed to get my final Sales Tax return in for Limewear, which is all but dead. Unless you feel like buying my Cafe Press shirts. (www.limewear.com And I also needed to mail in my rebate for my new mobile phone.
I bought the new V3 RAZR...because it looks so damned cool, and because all my friends really like it. Turns out it's a pretty snifty phone. What I DIDN'T like was all the Cingular Branding on it. So, with the help of a few websites, I blasted the ROMs, and cleared out all that Cingular nonsense. Now I have pictures of my nephew where the logos used to be. I much prefer that.
Now I'm considering a case for it. Firethorn suggested this site for a case. Now, normally, I'm not a leather case kinda guy. I'm more a titanium/aircraft aluminum kinda guy. But these look so cool, I might just get myself one...once I get a job, that is. They're kinda pricy.
I also walked by a fish market...something that I was pleased to find. I love fresh fish, and this place looked pretty serious. They said they're selling sashimi-grade Ahi for $19.99/pound. Now...I don't know about you, but that seems pretty good to me. Maybe I'll try it out tomorrow...see how good it really is.
On Friday, DOA4 comes out. And I'm very excited about it. The truth is that if it weren't for the downloadable games for the X360, it'd be kind of a wash of a launch. The titles just aren't that great. If you don't sports, and you don't race, your options are limited to like five titles. And no, I'm not kidding. I'll review a bunch of titles tomorrow...you can tell me how far off I am. But MS better get some more titles off the shelf in a hurry, or this launch is gonna lose momentum in a heartbeat. Christmas came and went, and there weren't these huge "must have" articles on the X360 anywhere...not that you could have gotten one if you hadn't planned for it.
I'm NOT unhappy with the system...I quite like it. A lot, really. But I wish there were more titles for the likes of me. RPGs, platformers, stuff like that. I don't play sports games, and I don't play first-person shooters on consoles.
Anyway, I'm gonna jump into the shower, then stretch out and read for a bit.
Mood: Tired
Music: None
Game: World of Warcraft, COD2, X360 games....
Book: Just finished I Will Fear No Evil, Robert Heinlein.
Weather: Cool, light rain.
First, Happy Holidays to all! I miss you all. I hope you all got nice presentses, and saw loved ones, and just had a grand old time.
Next, I really should write more often...I just can't seem to get motivated to do so.
It's kind of amusing, really...when I was working, and supposedly busy all the time, I found 20-30 minutes each day to write something out to share with all of you. Now that I'm home most of the time, and look for things to keep me busy, I just can't seem to force myself to write.
It's not that I don't want to share or anything...maybe I just think what I have to say might be boring or whatever. Patently silly...I mean, if you've tuned in this long...right?
Anyway, I just wanted to point out how amazed I am at online shopping and such. I was able to get all the presents I needed in a week, get them delivered on time, and all that, no fuss. Much respect to all the people who busted their asses in long shifts, getting stuff packed up and shipped out, and much respect for UPS/FedEx/Mail folks who hauled tons more stuff than they handle in a month all this week. Very well done, all.
Next, I'm polishing up the resume, and getting ready to start sending it out. If you know anyone in Seattle who needs a Glenn, let me know.
I've replaced my muffin with a weather spot. Since everyone thinks it rains in Seattle all the time, let's have our own little test to see if that's true. The weather is far nicer here than it is in New York...I can tell you that.
Lastly, I will write SOMETHING every day...no matter how trivial. I want to keep this moving. Please stick with me through this slow period. Thanks!
Mood: Muted
Music: None
Game: World of Warcraft, COD2, X360 games....
Book: Without Remorse, Tom Clancy
Muffin: I baked my own Apple Spice scones. So there.
I'm not dead...I just haven't really felt like writing.
I don't have a job yet...and I was denied unemployment. I have savings to last me a bit yet, so no stress there, really. I'll find a job right after the holidays, I'm sure.
Unpacking went OKish...a bit stressful for a moment or so...but it all smoothed out.
I'll start writing more this week. Honest.
Mood: Still Industrious
Music: None
Game: I'd like to play World of Warcraft, CoD2, EVE Online, but with no PC, it's just X360 stuff...
Book: None
Muffin: Never to have a Blue Sky Muffin again. How SAD. Nothing this morning.
How'd it all go?
Well, I'm still in transition.
Food was: Dinner for Jennifer's birthday on Saturday at Esperanto, dinner for my leaving at Hop Kee on Sunday, Dinner with Colin, Adam, and Kevin at Blue Ribbon on Monday night, and lunch on Tuesday with Adam, Jenai, and Pauline before I got on the plane.
Moving was: Jenny Lee came over Sunday night after dinner and helped pack boxes, which was a huge help, naturally. She left around 1am (?) and I finished up, including bill of lading at 4am or so.
Movers came at 9am Monday, and it took them all of three hours to shlep everything into the truck...and they weren't exactly hauling ass, goofing off and such. Not that I care. I ain't paying by the hour. They left with everything, leaving me with a mess of an apartment and not much else.
UPS guy came at 1pm, picked up my computer and monitor, a box for my mom, and a mess of legos for my nephew Ethan.
I took a nap until around 5 when Jenai called. She came over, got the toaster oven. Met with my landlords, who were kind enough to write me a check for my deposit with no hassle and no deductions. Adam and Kevin came over, as did Colin, and they all helped me clean up the vast majority of the apartment, taping up stacks of unused boxes, and Adam even helped to scrub the stove. We went to dinner, then I went home and fell asleep. Woke up on Tuesday, finished cleaning the apartment (kitchen, bathroom, mainly, mopped the floors) and went to lunch with Adam, Jenai, and Pauline. Went home, read a bit, chilled, got in the car service vehicle, and headed for the airport.
Flight was: Uneventful, crowded, and about 5 hours. Actually arrived about 45 mins early. Couldn't tell you why. I watched Once Upon a Time in Mexico on the laptop. Started to watch Trainspotting...but not really a movie you can watch on an airplane. Got in, and Fookus arrived at exactly the same time I did. Got my bag and headed home.
In Seattle: Been locking down chores, changing addresses, going to the bank, handling household stuff while Chelsea is at work. Today, I got a phone installed, got the door buzzer hooked to it, installed the shower curtain and liner, replaced the shower head with a different one, applied for unemployment (and got accepted, provided my former boss doesn't make a major issue of it) and cleaned the desk in anticipation of my PC showing up from UPS today...as the website says it will.
Other than that, I've been exploring the neighborhood, tweaking my resume, discovered that the new Pho place across the street serves a bathtub sized bowl of Pho with wickedly awesome brisket and flank for $6, and includes a freshly made cream puff for dessert. I can see myself there a LOT. The broth is fabulous, a huge plate of sprouts, basil, fresh sliced chilis, and the sri sauce right on the table in the huge bottle. Frankly, I love this place.
Hooked up the X360, and enjoying the small downloadable games more than the games that I bought with the system. Can't wait for DOA4.
If the gaming PC comes today, and I hope it will, I'll get it set up, play some WoW with the fellas, then tomorrow, work on the resume, and start sending stuff out.
It's good being here. It doesn't quite feel like home yet, and I'm still getting used to living with someone (and a cat) when I haven't done it in so long...but I like the feel of it so far. And I love being here with Chelsea.
I'll write more often now that I'm getting settled here...and I'd love to hear from you all.
More later!