Monday Musings

It was another tough weekend for me as a sports fan.

First of all, my all-time favorite soccer player, Brian McBride, suffered a dislocated knee while taking a shot unmarked from about 5 yards out. It was definitely a freak injury. Brian is 35 years old, and probably doesn't have many more matches in him. He is a US soccer legend, and a great man and human being, by all accounts. I wish him a speedy recovery (he's slated to be out 3 months), and I hope I get the chance to see him hit at least one more of those magnificent headers into the back of the net before he's done. What a shame...

The Crew, currently barely occupying the last playoff spot in the MLS Cup, turned in another listless effort in a 2-0 loss to DC United Saturday night. Watching this team is like riding a roller coaster - one the goes from sucking, to unbelievably great, to sucking again.

Charlie Frye, a fellow Akron alum, is being set up to fail in Cleveland for "golden boy" Brady Quinn (I've never liked Brady; like his college coach, I've always found him disingenuous and smug, like he thinks he's better than everyone). Frye has never really had the full support of the Browns, nor has he had solid talent around him. They've jerked him around from the end of last season with Anderson, who has shown nothing in his limited time. Yet, he gives his all to the team in an effort to win (how many athletes truly do that anymore?). They'll let him take another beating early this year, until the line gels, and then bring in the "Golden Boy" to save the day. And, like most over matched rookies, he'll probably fall on his face, and the Browns will be back to square one of an expansion franchise. You have to be EXCEPTIONAL to succeed as a rookie, and I truly doubt that Quinn is of that caliber. I honestly hope Charlie gets let go, because he needs a fresh start and a change of scenery, with an organization that will give him a fair shake. Also, it would hardly be fair to throw Quinn to the dogs, much like they did to Couch, and to Frye. At least show some restraint, and take the appropriate amount of time to develop a QB, for a change...

At least the Tribe are in first place. For now...

I've been playing NASCAR 08 the last few days. I have some impressions going over at the Sports Gaming Nation. I really like it thus far, but I have a long way to go.

I'm really excited because I think I've just about settled on a slider set that brings an appropriate level of realism back into NCAA Football 08. I've had only one interception by my defense against the CPU QB's in the last three games (all wins by me, by the way). I still have to tweak my pass blocking and the CPU's running game, but I'm really enjoying the action on the field right now, six games into my dynasty.

I still have 3 Xbox 360 games that I haven't even played! Man, I need more time...

Closer and Closer to Counting Crows New CD

I read it on the Internet so it must be true! (Yes, I’m kidding but I’m also quite hopeful!)

Rumor has it that Counting Crows new CD entitled Saturday Night/Sunday Morning will be available November 6th ! It could be true as new releases are done on Tuesdays since sales figures are released on Mondays.

Even though Adam hates that this happened (Immy, on the other hand, was flattered it appeared on YouTube the very next day), and that people like me spread the word, you can catch a performance of the first single, Cowboys. (I read the name of the first single in his blog along with some other tracks but this is the song I wanted to hear the most. If you’re familiar with “Goodnight Elisabeth,” then you know the lyrics: “we couldn’t all be cowboys, so some of us are clowns.” You knew right then and there that Cowboys was just begging to be written by A.D.) He’s a lyrical genius. You can catch the performance at AnnaBegins.com.

Here are the lyrics too, courtesy of Lisa’s Counting Crow Shrine…

Ah, November 6th! And the countdown begins…(I wonder if I should take that day off work…)

The Pony Express has Arrived

Finally... Yesterday afternoon, I got my copy of NASCAR 08. I'll be digging in as virtual Ricky Bobby pretty heavily this weekend.

Also, I picked up Madden 08 and Call of Duty 3. Toys R Us has a pretty sweet deal, where if you buy Madden 08 you get another game at half price, so I took advantage. I've got a lot of games to play, and I need to start carving out some time! With football about to start, the baseball playoffs being imminent, the EPL kicking off, and the MLS in the stretch run, plus school going back, kids' sports, and 31 new-hires at work, I'm a busy man! Man, I need a nap...

Punch to the Gut

Ugh. What a horrible sports weekend...

My two favorite soccer clubs, the Columbus Crew and Fulham Football Club (in the English Premiership) both blew games that they controlled for about three-fourths of the match. Fulham's just kicking off their season, and there were plenty of positives, so maybe there's something to build on. The Crew, on the other hand, are in a battle for their playoff lives. They blew a 2-1 lead in the last 15 minutes, despite being up a man! Makes me want to puke...

And, to top it off, the crummy Indians just got swept by the Yankee$. I can take it anymore! Why do I watch sports? Nothing good ever comes of it, and I just get upset.

At least the Browns won. Oh yeah, it was pre-season, and they didn't score an offensive touchdown (neither did KC, by the way). At least Charlie Frye (an Akron grad, like me) was 12-15 for over 120 yards. That's mitigated by the two freshman-in-high-school mistakes he made by throwing a dreadful lateral that was returned for a TD by KC and getting tackled at the 3 yard line to run out the clock at the end of the first half.

I guess I should become a USC fan. They seem like a lock to win the National Championship this year. Of course, if I do, they're guaranteed to blow it.

This sucks.

Hot Shots Tennis Review is Posted

For the particulars, check out the review at Gameshark. I'm still waiting on NASCAR 08, although I haven't checked today's mail.

The Waiting Game

The posts have been a little less frequent. Not coincidentally, my son's travel soccer practice has kicked off, eating up some precious "Kevin time" most evenings.

A quick update on the video gaming front… I submitted my Hot Shots Tennis review last week, and I'm still waiting on it to get posted. It should happen this week. Believe it or not, niche PS2 games aren't the highest of priorities at Gameshark! NASCAR 08 has been "in the mail" since last week. I'm not sure what the hold up is, but I'm chomping at the bit to get at that game. Long live Ricky Bobby!

On the sports front, I'm anxiously watching both my Indians and my Crew limp along with playoff hopes. They are both teetering on the brink, but fortunately, neither are out of contention. Brady Quinn finally signed for the Browns. Yawn. Goodbye next year's number one pick, hello Heath Schuler part two. I don't think the Browns will ever climb the mountain.

College football is inching closer and closer! I think the Buckeyes will surprise this year, due to a relatively favorable schedule, and the fact that "Tressel Ball" seems to work better when the coach has a group made up of primarily over-achievers. We're back to the punt being "the most important play in football." Hey, I won't complain, as long as he keeps getting those W's and beating those pukes up north. Although, it looks like scUM will get a measure of revenge this year, with the loaded team they have returning.

The Zips have a lot of holes to fill, but anything can happen in the MAC. Plus, they weren't that great with the hole-fillers that were on the roster last year, so I guess I'll remain optimistic. Unless, however, they lose to Army, after which I will never root for them again… at least until the next game. I mean, really, what should I expect? Success? I'm an Ohio sports fan, for crying out loud!

Prelude To My First Half-Day

Just to solidify my week, feel more attached to my new employer and less attached to the old one, I sent a very brief e-mail to my new supervisor. It basically reiterated the fact that per our last discussion, I would be there on Friday, early, working a half – day.

His response was a little more detailed. It stated I would be having lunch with him, two other team members (who I’ve already met), the company attorney (a woman, and also the owner’s daughter), and the Chief Administrative Officer. That’s a pretty full first half-day. (And, we’re having lunch at, I kid you not, a sports bar located right next to a biker bar. And yes, in case you were wondering, I’ve been to both.)

The e-mail response also included a note to give my boss a call, which I did, fairly promptly (because one should never seem too anxious)! During the course of that call, I was advised I’d already been signed up for a seminar, all day, next month, downtown, regarding Workers’ Compensation. My friend just got a job downtown so I’m wondering if we can meet for lunch. That’s probably not what should be running through my head but nonetheless, it was.

I was also advised (forewarned) not to park in the “designated” parking spaces, as it’s a pet peeve, so to speak (OK. Well, not on my FIRST day anyway…)

I’ll probably spend the first day setting up my office (that’s one plant, one picture of me and my friend with the Goo Goo Dolls, my mirror, lip gloss, nail file, and lint remover, along with the static guard, band aids, Purell, hand lotion, and an emergency stash of…FOOD). Then, and only then I’ll log on, advise all my friends of my new work e-mail address and phone number, and I get to sit with the IT guy. Oh yeah, I’m going to learn as much as I can from him. I already have his name committed to memory. Can you ever learn enough from your IT people? I may have one of my programming books lying around for good measure. Maybe he’ll be able to explain the “Try,” “Catch,” and “Finally” statements I’m perplexed by in my programming course!

Of course, that could be wishful thinking on my part!

Slider Guru

No, I'm not talking about "Slider," the mascot of the Cleveland Indians. Although, it is his 17th birthday today. Allow me to digress to a true story...

Seventeen years ago today, I was home after my freshman year of college working at the local YMCA. A friend of mine from high school (who was a year older than me), also worked there. His dad was my history teacher in high school, and I was good friends with the family. On a day off, my friend, his dad, and I decided to attend a scheduled double-header in Cleveland Municipal Stadium against the Yankees. They were both serious Yankees fans, while I supported my Tribe. As usual in those days, the Yankees destroyed the Tribe in game one. Seeking consolation, I leaned over to my friend and remarked that we at least didn't have one of those stupid mascots. In between games one and two, lo and behold, the Indians introduced Slider to the home town faithful. Yep, this is what it's like to be a fan of Cleveland sports...

Back to the topic. My editor and friend Bill Abner is as much or more of a fan of EA's NCAA Football games series as I am. He's also an OSU alum, which makes him cool. Anyway, I've been patiently on hold in my Dynasty waiting for him to come up with the "perfect" set of game play sliders to fix the doggone interception problem. It appears he has! I'm looking forward to starting my Dynasty up again, now that I just submitted my Hot Shots Tennis review. I've never played on Heisman level regularly, so I imagine that will suck. But hey, I'm used to it, look at how my Indians are doing now.

Gainfully Employed But With a Price and an Attitude

After my second interview, I was feeling pretty excited and extremely relieved. The job offer was on its way to me via e-mail. I was talking to some close friends and close co-workers about the new direction my life was taking once again. It’s hard to think clearly when you realize you’re going to be able to bank all your severance, not skip a beat when it comes to a paycheck, and probably have the iPhone by Christmas!

So there was my office, with a window, a flat panel monitor, a phone with my name programmed into it (so they can monitor my phone calls...I know), and business cards on the way. Everyone is friendly, they all appear to be smiling and generally pretty happy to be there.

The money was right where I needed it to be. There would be a 90-day review of performance and salary (not bad, right?) and a yearly review of both after that. I only had two questions left. The answers sucked both the excitement and relief of finding this job right out of me. It also set me up with an entire batch of new problems. In my mind, I’m trying to work them all out before they even happen. Everything seemingly appears to be manageable, and then I wake up. I’m solving all my issues in my dreams but need to figure out how to make that a reality. Honestly, they don’t give you much to work with.

Two very important things for me are vacation and sick time, and I inquired about both. The answers were the worst I’d received since I’d started interviewing. While I’d rather be working than be sick, a migraine can pretty much take me down for the count and I happen to be prone to them. Truthfully, if you want me to be on top of my game when I’m at work, you’re going to have to give me time off to play and time off to recuperate when ill. Both numbers were surprisingly low. (So I’m going to have to add them together in order to see any light at the end of the tunnel).

The best I can come up with after that is, I’ll be taking a few days without pay (not just to “bridge” the gap but to “bridge the gaping wound)! I’m perfectly OK with that. I just wonder if they’ll be perfectly OK with that? I didn’t ask. I got my foot in the door and now we’ll just take it one step at a time.

I’m also approaching this with a bit of an attitude. I know that sounds awful. I’m not an ingrate. I’m just a little “spoiled” at my current job. And yes, I’m also losing my current job. It’s like culture shock to leave one environment for another and, while I am definitely ready for a change, I’m certainly not ready for such a drastic one.

So, back to my attitude…

This 90-day review is a two-way street. So, if the pay increase isn’t as substantial as I’d like, and if the “time off” isn’t as flexible as I need, I can always look for something else. After all, I have no loyalty to this company at this time. (By the way, loyalty is really underrated these days, isn’t it?)

I’ll have completed school (I hope) and banked some money to live on (plus there’s the severance payment from my current job – AKA the “bridge” to get me from Point A to Point B. Or, in this case, Point B to Point C). While I’m hoping this is not the scenario that plays out, I just need to have a “Plan B” or “way out” if I need one.

Next, I have absolutely no desire to “personalize” my office. I just don’t want to get too comfortable. I want to go one day at a time and see how I feel after 90 days. I’ll work hard, prove my mettle, and I’ll come in with a great attitude on the outside. My insides will twist as my comfort and trust levels are more eschewed than usual these days. I am afraid to put any roots down.

Losing my current job has certainly done a number on me. I’d ask if this was normal but I have absolutely no idea what “normal” is. (Anyway, normal seems boring most of the time!) I faxed over my acceptance of the offer on Friday the 13th! It just seemed the right thing to do (as if tempting fate is ever on my side!) I signed the agreement on the 12th though as I’m not nearly as brave as I thought I was when it comes to fates and superstitions. (Just another thing I learned about myself along the journey…)

A friend pointed out long ago (when yet another crisis/tragedy/shoe feel) that I tend to “compartmentalize” my life. I definitely separate “work” and “home.” Somehow, it gives me balance. I’m not an “open book” but I’m not entirely a “closed book” either. I’m just cautious.

Finally, regarding the new job, they mentioned the Christmas party the company throws every year. As fate would have it, it’s held in the same building where I was advised that I’d be losing my job in 6 months. In my mind, I’m already out of town visiting someone, somewhere at that time. I’m sure, not even knowing the date of the party yet, that I have a previous commitment or prior engagement to attend. (How much do you want to bet the party is held not only in the same building but also in the same room? You KNOW it will be!)

Let me be perfectly honest here. With the miniscule vacation and sick leave they’re offering, there’s no way they’re getting one of my “free” nights.

NO WAY!

So let me properly end this missive and my cynicism with a quote from Sir Bobby Robson, English football manager and former international football player:

“You only get out of life what you put into it. If you don't work hard and
haven't got enthusiasm, nothing comes your way.”

Review News

I just got Hot Shots 2 for the PS2 in the mail on Monday. I'm posting some impressions over at the Sports Gaming Nation. The short version is that it appears to be more of a kids' game, and not real deep, but offering a pretty solid game of tennis.

The NASCAR 08 demo is out on Xbox Live. I'm waiting on my review copy, but if I don't get it soon, I'll probably d/l the demo this weekend and give it a ride.

I play a lot of racing games, but I honestly don't watch that much racing on TV. As silly as this sounds, Talladega Nights has me kid of excited for this game. Ironically, the combination of that silly (but great!) movie and a potentially solid title from EA may make me more of a racing fan. We'll see; but my interest is definitely piqued.

More to come on both titles soon...

Things I don't Like

I'm enjoying NCAA Football 08, but as usual, there are some issues that keep it from being the best game ever, despite the subject matter...

In no particular order, here are the things I don't like about it:

I can't sub by formation, meaning I can't pick who plays on special teams (other than the kicker and returners), who plays the LB in the dime package, etc.

I have to re-enter my settings each time I play a game in my Dynasty. NCAA used to save them in the game file, now it's tied somewhere else, and I have to figure out where...

There are too many interceptions. I'm good, but not THAT good. Too many INT's, and INT's returned for a touchdown. I just adjusted the slider (I'm playing on All American level), so we'll see if that helps (and if I have to adjust it each time - grr!). I just beat Indiana, primarily because they had EIGHT turnovers!

The interface is inefficient. I hate having to start in the shrine, or at the "website." Let me get to the menus, darn it! Plus, the menus move s-l-o-w-l-y...

As I mentioned previously, where are the drills? I hate it when features disappear as the game moves from one generation of hardware to the next.

The stadiums are always full, regardless of your average attendance. In past versions, I enjoyed watching the Rubber Bowl fill up as my teams got better and better. Now, every game is like the battle for the Wagon Wheel. Give me something to work for!

Those are the biggies so far. I'll probably be back to gushing about the game in my next few posts, now that these issues are off my chest. There's a lot to like, but man, why can't EA put a whole game together?! I guess I could ask that question of most developers...

Time Warner Offers No Apology For Their Lack of Customer Service

My living room television decided enough was enough and gave up the other day. I’ve wanted a new TV for a very long time so this was a good thing. (The timing, as usual, was dreadful!) I went to a local TV shop, and not only did they have the Sony flat panel I wanted (Bravia), they delivered it THAT DAY! I was pretty impressed. The salesperson was nice, knowledgeable, and ready to make a sale. He was a bit of a “close talker” which creeped me out but other than that, pleasant enough. The delivery guys, on the other hand, were the exact opposite. The two that arrived with my TV turned out to be the most unfriendly customer service people I had encountered is a very long time. It was obvious they didn’t want to haul my old television away (and I paid an $18.00 dumpster fee for that), or do any work in general. They weren’t rude, but the silence and the sighs spoke volumes. The basic instructions they gave for using the remote would have been better communicated to and by a four-year old. (And that is insulting some four-year olds!) I would soon learn that I needed to be grateful that they actually showed up.

Next on my list was a call to my cable company – good ol’ Time Warner. I asked them to come out with a new HD box and DVR. To offset that cost, I dropped a few movie channels. The customer service rep was very accommodating and scheduled the service between 1PM and 5PM on my day off. Great! Except no one showed up. The movie channels got cancelled and that’s all the rep did. So when I called to inquire as to why TW’s tech was a “no show”, this new customer service rep advised that their records indicate all of the items I requested were already taken care of - the day that I called. I laughed. I asked the rep how likely it was that TW would come out the same day I called? I also advised her I wasn’t paying for the new features so they’d best not be on my bill. (Actually, my monthly cost will be relatively unchanged but I was feeling snippy – and that’s putting it mildly.)

“When would be a good time for us to come back out?” I replied honestly with, “Now.”

We are “now” rescheduled for a Saturday appointment. (“That way you won’t have to take another day off work,” said the rep. Oh good, so now you’re going to ruin my weekend too? I didn’t say that – the thought just continually ran through my mind as I shook my head in disbelief that I was agreeing to ruin my Saturday.)

I absolutely love the last line TW’s reps are required to say: “Is there anything else I can help you with?” As if to imply they helped you with something in the first place. Still feeling snippy, my response was, “not unless you can get the service person to actually show up this time.” I laughed again. She said, “I have it on the computer.” Somehow that didn’t make me feel any better.

Now to be fair, I did admit to her I was annoyed and frustrated, that it was the other reps fault and not hers, but I’ve been waiting for 4 hours and honestly, I really don’t have a spare 4 hours these days. Does anyone?

I guess the one thing that I wanted that I didn’t get was an apology. A simple “I’m sorry for our mix up” or “I’m sorry for the inconvenience” or just a semi-sincere “I’m sorry.”

I got nothin’.



Everything that went wrong was totally due to TW’s customer service reps screwing it up. You would think, as a basic common courtesy, an apology would be offered. Apparently that is not instilled in their reps. Apparently they were never taught the concept either. Unfortunately, what became painfully obvious once more is the fact that they just don’t care. Just like the television delivery guys, they have better things to do and the job they are getting paid for isn’t one of them. (A very interesting concept – especially to someone in my current job predicament.)

While I was waiting for the TW tech to show up (again, he didn’t), I received a call from SBC Global. I started asking some questions (as I’m wireless and have my own modem and router.) This caused great confusion to the SBC rep. Supposedly the cost was $19.99 a month. I inquired as to HOW MANY months that fee was applicable. She said that was their standard rate and it wasn’t just for a couple months. I would however have to use their modem. I said I’d consider it and ended the call.

Honestly, I don’t want to have to change my e-mail address yet again. Maybe when things slow down I’ll give SBC Global a try.

At least when TW was named Adelphia, they showed up for appointments. In fact, one of Adelphia’s techs helped me out a great deal. I’m not expecting that kind of service from TW and I’m sure I won’t be disappointed. I guess I’ll have to be happy if they just show up, right?

So TW stood me up three times. I’m not kidding. Blame is placed entirely upon their customer service phone reps for not scheduling the appointments. When they finally did show, up they didn’t have the HD hook up! That means someone else would have to come out. I was stood up twice more. When I called Customer Service at TW, the girl I spoke with suggested I drive down to their office, pick up the missing cable and they’ll walk me through hooking it up, over the phone. I laughed at her and sweetly inquired, “Is that your idea of customer service?” Later, she offered me a $20.00 credit for my inconvenience and threatened to charge my account a $25.00 fee for making their techs come out again. I asked for a manager but was advised there was no manager available at this time. Unreal. They never did charge me. They never credited my account either.

TW finally got it right. They actually sent two service techs out. I bet they figured “safety in numbers” and I had been stood up too many times now. I had these techs laughing. They couldn’t believe what I had been through and that I was actually laughing about it. They were VERY grateful that I didn’t blame them for this mess. (As I clearly stated, blame falls on the phone reps for not scheduling the service). I told the techs, “You’re not going to know I need service if the phone reps don’t put it in the computer.” Not only did they hook everything up perfectly, they programmed the DVR for me, and offered to assist with any other issues I was having.

Even though Time Warner won’t apologize to me, I’m going to be the bigger person and apologize to them. (Plus it’s been awhile since I’ve put my gift of sarcasm to use.)

I’m sorry every time I have to deal with your PHONE reps.
I’m sorry your PHONE reps lack basic customer service skills.
I’m sorry your (my) Intranet is down at least twice a week (and it’s only Tuesday).
I’m sorry that you are my only choice for cable service. As soon as that changes, so will I.

Now, I’m off to write a letter about that $20.00 credit!

Building my Legend

More on Campus Legend mode...

Sadly, the drills are gone. However, when you "practice" in Legend mode, you get to run 10 plays. The coach calls the plays, and you play your position only. If you do something positive, you get points. In my case, as a RB, I get points for a first down, touchdown, big gain, catching a pass etc. If you get enough points, you can displace the guy ahead of you on the depth chart. I'm the starter now, so it's no big deal. I do practice every day, though, trying to master the controls.

After practice, you have an "evening" event. Often, you get to make a choice, and depending on the choice you make, you could augment your abilities, or get yourself in trouble. For example, on one occasion, I helped a buddy move, and then hurt my back! On another occasion, I turned down an offer to play hoops and stayed in to study, to the tune of +.01 to my GPA (uh, that wouldn't have happened in real life, LOL).

We're 2-0 to start the season. We beat a 1-AA team about 54-0, and I had over 200 yards rushing at about 10 yards per carry, and 4 TD's. I had one 86-yard run, and saved the highlight, but it was basically making one move and using my "99" speed to race to glory.

Just when I thought it might be too easy, we went to Eastern Carolina University. I assume that's a pretty intense regional rivalry, so I figured it might be a tougher game. It was raining, to boot. It was much harder sledding for me, as I only got about 77 yards on 26 carries. I did have 5 catches for over 50 yards, though, and a sweet 12 yard TD run through the trenches. I saved a highlight of that as well, since I carried about 3 guys on my back across the goal line! We won a hard-fought game 27-13. That was better; maybe Varsity isn't so easy - especially when I play the FSU's, NC State's, and Virginia's of the world. Time will tell.

I tried to upload my highlights, but I was unsuccessful. It seems that the server is having problems. I imagine they're getting bombarded with videos. I'll post it here if my highlights get uploaded.

I'm really enjoying this game. Bill Harris, of Dubious Quality, has some excellent commentary (no surprise) on his blog, and I highly recommend it.

I'm holding off on Dynasty mode, because I want to clear up some roster confusion first. I can't quite figure out who ALL of the players are on my team, and I'm a bit obsessive-compulsive about it. :-)

More to come...

It's Here!

NCAA Football 08 is now in it's rightful place in my Xbox 360. I removed the shrink wrap at approximately 3:47 PM, and subsequently spent about 4 hours with it throughout the rest of the evening. Here are some "gut reactions" to my experience.

Saving and uploading your personal highlights seems to be the big addition to this year's game, as you begin in your "shrine," where you can view your trophies and past moments of glory. It's a little different interface, and somewhat cumbersome, but obviously EA is trumpeting it's newest feature. I spent a little time examining what is and isn't available compared to last year's Xbox version, and most everything is there. The only thing I couldn't find was a way to do drills, which was one of the best ways to master the controls. I believe they're in the Campus Challenge mode, but they're not available off the menu, which is a bit of a disappointment.

Speaking of controls, the default controls are different, as the "hurdle" button is back and the sprint button has moved to the right trigger. On defense, "jump the snap" is now the left trigger, which feels a little awkward. As I mentioned previously, there's also new hit stick moves, and gang tackling, which looks pretty cool.

The rosters are definitely bigger. I spent about an hour-and-a-half editing my Zips. I was going to do the Buckeyes as well, but after 70 entries, it got kind of old. I just let the computer name the rest of my players.

After that, I began my first foray into the Campus Legend mode. I created myself as a running back, and proceeded to claim my high school's first state championship since 1985 (on varsity level). I was quite successful as a running back, and I was rated as a 5-star prospect. Almost everybody wanted my services, but only a few quality schools offered me a starting spot as a freshman. Despite his woeful performance as the Brown's coach, I decided to join Butch Davis at UNC. My speed is a 99! Methinks that varsity is a little too easy… I will begin my college campaign tonight, and confirm whether or not the drills are present. Otherwise, it looks pretty similar to last year's Xbox version, in terms of your daily activities and so forth. One major change is "super sim" mode, where you only participate when your player is on the field, and from your player's perspective. It's much like last year's Madden's superstar mode, and it's a welcome change. I should be able to progress through my four years much quicker this way. For the record, I'll also start a Campus Legend on All-American level, and I'll play my Zips' dynasty on All-American level, which I should begin tonight.

Other than getting accustomed to the controls, and the gang tackling, the other thing I noticed was that in my four-game run to the state championship, I can't recall one instance of "Mario running." Maybe it's because I covered up in traffic, which opened up a whole new set of animations, but it was a welcome change. Finally, you can hitch a ride on the hind end of one of your big hogs up front, and clear some space inside the tackles. We'll see how it goes at UNC.

Much much much much much more to come! :-)

My Roomba Reward

As I stated in a previous blog, I passed the exam for MS Access and obtained my MOS certificate. To my utter disappointment, Bill Gates did NOT sign my certificate. I know, I know. This really doesn’t seem like THAT big of a deal. Still, it would have been pretty cool to me. (Two Microsoft executives signed it.)

I also stated that I was going to REWARD myself for this little feat and, the iPhone seemed a tad bit indulgent. As it turns out, I have been the proud parent, uhm, make that owner, of a Roomba. (Yes, the self-vacuuming iRobot. It ROCKS!) I love Roomba. The cats are intrigued by it. No, they don’t try to ride Roomba. They perch on the sofa, chair, or even the steps (because Roomba has sensors so it doesn’t fall down them) and stare at it. Occasionally one of them gets brave enough to “dare” Roomba to touch her. Roomba knows no better than to oblige. He bumps the cat and turns the other way at the exact same time the brave cat runs in the opposite direction. While Roomba is none the worse for wear after the “bump and run”, I can’t say the same for the cat who sought higher ground (a windowsill), and seemed a little confused by the recent event.

So imagine my surprise when a fully charged Roomba greeted me with its happy little tune (“da dee, da dee, da dee”) advising me it was ready to go, and then promptly spun in circles, in the same place. (GASP! “Roombie honey, what’s wrong with you?”) I began to wonder if there was an iRobot doctor (repair person) I could contact. Now this is the original version of Roomba who has needed nothing from me except a new battery pack. Sadly, per my e-mails to iRobot, Roomba cannot be repaired. However, I was offered 30% off an upgrade, no sales tax, but did have to pay shipping and handling.

I said YES! So, I have rewarded myself with a brand new Roomba Discovery! (This is neither the least expensive nor the most expensive model and suits my needs perfectly!) Also, the upgraded battery pack ($50.00) in old Roomba will fit new Roomba Discovery.

I’m excited. I miss Roomba. The cats miss Roomba. I hate vacuuming so often and my sweeper is heavy. Plus I have to lug it up and down a couple flights of steps and that’s just not fun. The cats fear the “Big Sweeper” and once I turn it on, they run for cover – actually, they run for their little lives!

If you’ve never owned one, you would be pleasantly surprised at how ‘smart’ Roomba is and how powerful it is. Granted, I’m a bit of a geek, and when my friends got one, I was over the moon, as were they. In fact, they bought me my original Roomba as a gift. I went home that night, charged the battery, and fired Roomba up the next day. Now you can just let Roomba go work its magic - there’s no reason for you to stick around. Should Roomba get into trouble, he’ll signal you with an “uh oh” type of sound. (Like when he tried to suck up one the cat's toy mice. Oops. My bad.) To be honest, the first few times I used Roomba, like the cats, I just watched in amazement.

I found myself bringing it out when friends were over. It was quite the conversation piece and once again, I was the trailblazer of a new cool toy. Well, I could honestly do an infomercial on Roomba. I love it that much. I’m pretty jazzed about my new one, which comes with a bonus accessory kit (which is backorder for 3 weeks). My old kit contained a couple of filters and a device with an invisible beam so you could keep Roomba out of certain rooms if you so desired.

Anyway, if you haven’t already done so, the site really is worth checking out: iRobot

NCAA Demo is Out

I downloaded it tonight while I was at my daughter's softball game...

It's a game between USC and Michigan (yuck to both of those teams) with 2 minute quarters on Varsity level, I believe.

I'm looking forward to honing my skills on the new gameplay prior to picking it up, so I can jump right in come July 17th. I've been reading good things at DSP. I'll post some impressions over the weekend, after I get a few games in. I'm wondering... can USC and Michigan both lose? That might be a sign of a serious AI problem, but I probably wouldn't mind too much...

Like a kid at Christmas time...

NCAA Football is just over a week away! At (almost) 36, I can't believe I still get excited for this stuff...

To make the time between now and then go even slower, EA has released a half-dozen or so videos, trailers, and tutorials from the game on the Xbox Live Marketplace. Of course, I had to check those out...

Here are the highlights:

• The trophy room has been greatly enhanced, and it includes things like user-saved great play videos and stills. It appears some can even be uploaded. This is cool; there's nothing like reliving those "oh my" moments of greatness on the screen. I still recall the time I (er, virtual Mark Price) hit three 3-pointers in the last minute to win a game in NBA Live (circa 1997, I think). I even re-lived it out on my basketball court. Yes, I need help...
• Campus Legend mode allows you to either take over an existing player, or to create a new one. Instead of doing drills to earn a scholarship, you now play in your state's high school playoff games, among the final 16 teams. You also get to advise your coach of your favorite school, so he can make sure they're in attendance. Your performance in the tournament earns you a rating (up to 5 stars), and subsequent offers based upon your performance. It looks to add even more to the fun, although I don't think they brought the girlfriend pictures back. As I said, I need help!
• Recruiting has been totally revamped. There are now up to fourteen different recruiting pitches, and you can uncover how the player feels about each one, before hammering home your final pitch during an in-home visit to get a commitment. You can rank the recruits in order of importance (which affects how they feel about your school), and also make promises in regard to playing time and so forth. You have an integrity rating that changes based upon keeping your promises, which can negatively affect some recruits if your rating is low. It appears that you are limited to so many "hours" a week to recruit. Also, a much needed change is the ability to search the player database. Now you can focus on exactly the players you want, from where you want, without looking through everyone in the DB. Cool.
• There are a few more plays added, like the ones Boise State pulled off against Oklahoma last season (the Statue of Liberty and the Hook and Lateral). The hit stick has been improved to allow you to dive at players' ankles, and gang tackling has finally been implemented. There's also a new momentum feature, where you can take control of someone, make a play, and improve his moral and the moral of players within his "influence." It looks a little iffy, but at least they're trying to capture the ups and downs of the college game, I guess.

Overall, I'm excited about the changes, and I think this could be the best NCAA ever, assuming there's no major glitches, like QB accuracy, or the ability to rush of the end, and so forth from previous editions. Obviously, I can't wait!

Review is Up

Honestly, I feel a little silly posting my trivial drivel compared to what Kellie's going through. Let me tell you, though, she is grace and dignity defined! She'll come through this and land like all of her pet cats - on her feet.

I'm proud of her for being able to share this tough experience in her life. I'm disappointed in my company for the way things have gone down, but I'm proud of the managers that have done all they can for her. That's the paradox of my company; we're very successful in spite of ourselves sometimes, because there are enough good people that care in enough places to make a difference. I imagine it's that way throughout corporate America. And, although this is little consolation to someone in Kellie's position, at least they didn't "pink slip" them on a Friday. Everyone I've ever known in this situation at my company has had at least 6 months to find another path. I believe everything happens for a reason, though, and that there's a silver lining for all of the Kellie's out there somewhere...

Anyway, back to my insignificant world... My Pirates review has been posted at Gameshark. It's really a good game for aficionados of the Pirates franchise, and a solid choice for those not too familiar with it. NASCAR 08 is next in the queue to review for me. I did pick up Call of Juarez tonight with some birthday money, and pre-ordered my all-time favorite game/series - NCAA Football 08. Only two more weeks until I command my beloved Akron Zips to a MAC championship... on "easy" level, at least!

I'll have a lot to say about NCAA Football when it comes out. I always get my money's worth out of that game - playing several seasons plus a "Race for the Heisman" game or two...

Two Weeks

When you hear the words “two weeks”, what do you think of?

Perhaps, your mind goes directly to the primo thought of “two weeks vacation!”

Recently, for me, it was “two weeks” until my MOS exam and then, “two weeks” till tech school starts.

But soon, very soon, it will be “two weeks notice.” Sort of…

As you know, I am losing my job. (If I would move to Tennessee, I could keep it.)

One time, I applied for a job (same employer as now), and discovered I was the only employee who applied. Huh. I told the person who interviewed me that choices were “overrated.” I said this in jest. (Rumor has it I scared all other candidates but, you know what they say about rumors…only 50% are accurate.) I got the job. Shortly thereafter, my new boss moved to – you guessed it – Tennessee. I lost my job. Still, they found a place for me within the same company, office, and city. This was during a time when your managers actually had a voice. (To their credit, with all that is going on now, I’ve had several managers step up on my behalf…to no avail. But it did wonders for my self-esteem! Sadly, these managers have “no voice.” When that happens, things crumble – quickly!)

I leave behind friends and memories and a safety zone. I am however, looking at this as an opportunity. With my head held high (always grace, always dignity), I am ready to take on some new challenges. Blah, blah, blah. What I really want is a paycheck so I can buy more clothes, shoes and toys (have I mentioned the iPhone?)

Well, I’m about to have my SECOND interview for a potential job that I’m not sure I really want. I’m not sure I don’t want it, but I’m certainly not sure that I do. Confused? Welcome to my world!

I’m ever so slightly wondering (read that as I’m freakin’ out about) how I’m going to handle a full time job and this tech school commitment I made. As I told my friend, I’m basically spending money I don’t have, to spend time I don’t have, for a better job I don’t have.

Where’s my EASY button?

Don't Make 'em Like They Used To

We've been in our house for 10 years. "They" say that after ten years, that's when everything starts to go. By the way things have been going, I'm starting to believe there's some truth to that...

Our refrigerator is 10 years old. It's still running pretty well, but it's not "energy star" efficient, and two of the shelves have broken. Plus, my sister-in-law could use one, so we decided to take the plunge. After watching my wife agonize for an hour over which one to pick, and watching her exceed the "budget" I gave her ever-so-slightly (as usual), we picked one last Tuesday. It was delivered on Friday, and then I got "the call" at work...

The first problem was that the new refrigerator is about 3 cubic feet bigger than our last one. Even though I measured ahead of time, it didn't quite fit in for two reasons: our walls are not perfectly square (that seems to be pretty common for the mass-produced "cookie cutter" homes in our area), and new refrigerators bulge out a bit at the sides due to the added insulation. It's not a major deal, but we have to move an upper and a lower cabinet over a few inches. Correction: that's a major deal for a hack around the house like me, but fortunately, my dad and my father-in-law are both pretty handy...

The bigger problem was that less than 24 hours after we had it installed, it flat out died. No functionality at all. We checked the breaker, and nothing tripped. We checked the outlet; it worked fine. The thing is simply DOA. Then the fun started... You just can't pack up a refrigerator and exchange it for a new one. Plus, there's the issue of keeping the food cold. After a bazillion calls to the manufacturer and Home Depot, we finally have a resolution. To their credit, HD came and got the dud today, and gave us a loaner. We're having another one delivered next Friday, hopefully with better results. That's a fine solution, but it's still a pain in the butt to move the food from place to place each time, and to have the door removed to get the big one in the kitchen, and so forth. Plus, we have a ton of family coming in during next week...

Yep, it was another successful home improvement project for the Mosley's...

So Long, So Long...

I have written and re-written portions of this blog submission so many times that now, it’s just not anywhere near what it was intended to be. I mean it doesn’t resemble anything near its first draft.

I’ll chalk that up to maturity and, the ability to “vent and spew” my anger on my computer privately. (While publicly I retain my grace and dignity.) So what’s my problem anyway?

I’m losing my job. It’s true. It sucks.

The company that I work for has decided my job needs to be moved from one location to another. (I’m not moving for them!) The location choices suck. (Let’s just say, NYC was not an option)! I have been with this company for SO LONG!!

The best way for them to advise me of this decision was to group me with a department that I am not a member of, introduce a man I have never heard of, and then make me watch a PowerPoint presentation that states:

Number of people with your job today: 55

Number of people with your job on 9/1/2007: 0

Nice. Very classy. Thanks for being so kind and considerate. Mostly, thanks for paying for my college because now someone more deserving will reap the benefits. (And they paid for my MOS exam too!)

It’s not so much the fact that I lost my job, as it is the WAY I lost it – via a PowerPoint presentation. Huh. Are you freakin’ kidding me? (What’s that one bumper sticker say? Oh yes, I remember: MEAN PEOPLE SUCK!) It was just so cold. Like the ax man with no remorse for the heinous act he just performed. While it may suck that his job is to tell others they are jobless, the fact that he enjoys it so much is loathsome.

Then I though about KARMA which is, taken from OneLook. com and MSN Encarta, “actions determining future state: in Hindu and Buddhist philosophy, the quality of somebody's current and future lives as determined by that person's behavior in this and in previous lives." (I also thought about walking out of the room. However, I had to drive someone else home after the meeting and it just wasn’t right to walk out and leave this person stranded. Darn! I so wanted to make a statement.)

I had my first job interview in many a moon. The receptionist offered me coffee or water (I said no thanks) and escorted me to a conference room. The mural in this room was so cool – it had the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and many other Cleveland staples. Impressive.

The door the conference room was left open. A man walked by and then came back. He glanced in for the second time and said, “Can I get you anything? Coffee or water?”

“No thanks. I’m fine.” I replied.

“Are you sure?” He said.

“Yes. Thank you.” I said.

Of course he WAS NOT one of my interviewers. I have no idea who he was. I saw him again when I left and he said, “hello again” and smiled warmly. Everyone I encountered was very friendly. However, I don’t want coffee, I don’t need water, and I love tea, but really, just hire me!!!!

I could definitely do this job they described. Unfortunately, I don’t think they can afford me. I don’t think they are computer-oriented (geeky) enough to appreciate me, and that totally turned me off. They were passionate about what they did, which is a good thing, but they didn’t quite comprehend what I could bring to the table. They need me more than they know and a lot more than I need them. Well, I guess that’s not entirely true. But, since they couldn’t come up with a salary figure or range (they offered nothing –NOTHING), I pretty much thought I was offering up way too much and they were offering way too little. The interview pretty much ended and I just didn't even care.

I’ve never sent a “thank you for the interview” note in my life. To me, that’s sort of a “suck up” note and I’m so not a “suck up” kind of girl. (That’s just me. I could be very wrong. That thank you note might be the difference between a follow up interview and never hearing from them again. Feel free to comment. I’m only telling you how I feel about it.) One of my managers said he never sent one of those notes either (and he’s done just FINE!) He felt, that the interview itself was the key. The thank you note meant nothing.

For the record, my greatest attribute is that I’m honest.

For the record, my greatest detriment is that I’m honest.

For the record, I got called back for a second interview.
____________________________________________

Cool Lyrics:

Hand out the window
Floatin’ on air
Just a flip of the wrist
I’d be wavin’ you goodbye


I was thinkin' that the season
Could be held between my arms
But just as summer’s hold is fleeting
I was here but now I’m gone
I’m gone

So long, so long

(So Long, So Long - By Dashboard Confessional w/Adam Duritz)

Isn't summer supposed to be less busy?

Some ramblings...

Phew. I just finished up a stretch of coaching 7 of my son's baseball games, and 3 of my daughter's softball games, in a 10-day period. That, combined with work getting busy, and trying to get the Pirates of the Caribbean review done, has kept me away from the blogger for a bit. Fortunately, Kellie had something interesting to say...

Anyway, regarding Pirates, the long and short of it is that if you like the movies, you'll like the game. The action and the atmosphere is incredible! The combat's too easy, but some of the puzzles/obstacles are pretty challenging. The review isn't posted yet, but I gave it a "B" (a pretty good score). There's the scoop for you! I don't believe I have anything to review until NASCAR 08 comes out, so I'll just be catching up with some of my other games, like NBA Street Hoops Homecourt and FIFA World Cup. I'm still leaning towards picking up Forza Motorsport 2 and Call of Juarez, but haven't yet, since I knew I wouldn't have time to play them much. I'm also counting the days until NCAA Football '08 comes out!

An interesting note is that it's being reported that EA's football games on the 360 will run at 60 fps, while running at 30 fps on the PS3. Maybe the 360 is the lead console for development, while the PS3 is getting the crappy ports? It's about time. Countless Xbox games suffered from this problem in the last generation. Now the shoe's on the other foot for Sony. Fine with me!

SEGA released a patch for the great-but-troubled MLB 2K7 that at least fixes some of the scoring problems. Hopefully, it fixed the pitcher/hitting bug and the keeping the stars in the minors bug. I'll play some more and report on my findings, when I get a chance...

Yeah for the Crew getting 7 points for their last 3 games! Uh oh; I mentioned it, so they're sure to lose tonight... Yeah for the U.S. Men's National team beating those punks from Mexico for the Gold Cup! Not so "yeah" for their performance in the Copa America (I believe that's what it's called), but it was kind of expected.

Although baseball's over, I'm still busy next week with lots of family engagements next week. In case I don't blog much, let me wish all of you a happy and safe 4th of July weekend ahead of time!

MOSs

“A rolling stone gathers no moss.”

This is a great proverb, except for the fact that , I didn’t’ gather [a] MOS either!

That being said, just because you think you know your “stuff” such as a Microsoft application, and you think you know it forward, backward, up and down and any which way and every which way, doesn’t necessarily grant you a MOS (that’s Microsoft Office Specialist) certificate.

I know this first hand.

I’ve been using MS Access for about 3 years now. My friend and mentor trained me so that I could take over for him after his promotion. (Honestly, no one else wanted to do it!) I absolutely loved the idea. (But then, lest I remind you, I am a big GEEK.) Just not geeky enough apparently.

I failed my MOS exam. It sucked big time. I felt ridiculous. Then I found out they changed the testing procedures big time as well. You have 50 minutes to answer 20 questions. That didn’t seem particularly daunting until I discovered that 1) there were multiple tasks to be performed in most questions, and 2) there were approximately 45 tasks to be performed…IN 50 MINUTES!

Did I mention there were ‘trick’ questions? (My Bad!) There are trick questions…or shall I be honest and say, there are MULTIPLE trick questions.

I can’t say anything else about the exam except that there is ONE FREE RE-TAKE! You have only four weeks and then that FREE RE-TAKE offer is up.

Today was my free re-take. Now, let me be very clear (and you will read this as me making excuses, and that is true, but whatever…), I was advised the first time around that if I failed to answer a question, and if there was time left, I could go back and answer that question. So, I passed up about 5 tough ones. I was finished with the exam and had 12 minutes left. Those 5 questions NEVER reappeared. What did appear was a little message box advising me that I failed the exam. (Uhm, yeah, because you didn’t give me the opportunity to answer my 5 bypassed questions!)

I checked the Microsoft site again, and sure enough, as I read previously, if you neglect to answer a question (skip a question and go on to the next one), you do NOT get another opportunity to answer that question. So, the instructor was wrong in advising me the way that she did. Would I have passed had she advised me correctly? We’ll never know.

Today was the last day for my FREE RE-TAKE. I’ve been studying with MeasureUp like mad. (Unfortunately, I cannot load the program at the office so home is the only place I can practice!)

Tomorrow I’ll be submitting my expense of $85.00 to my current employer for reimbursement.

Why?

Because I obtained my Access MOS today! I’m a little embarrassed that it took me two attempts, but as I’ve been informed, “since the change in testing, barely anyone passes on the first try. You are not the first and you won’t be the last.” That was actually encouraging and yes, I needed to hear those words. I truly did.

It felt really good to know I passed today. The proctor was thrilled for me. (She said that even she hasn’t passed that one yet and was quite hesitant to try again.) I walked out of the exam room and let go with a BIG sigh of relief. (Almost felt like losing 10 pounds!!!) Oh yes, that good and then some! I deserve a reward for this. I passed up SteinMart, and the fast food joints. I’m still contemplating my reward (and the iPhone seems a bit too extravagant)! I’m SURE I’ll come up with SOMETHING.

I start my Geek School courses next week. I’m a little nervous. Thankfully I’ll round out that weekend with some friends meeting at a local club to hear some local music. That will probably be my next blog.

Until then…be good or be good at it!

Day of the Dead

Seems like a pretty dark and ominous title for a blog, doesn’t it? (Thank goodness Kevin is back, huh?)

Though the topic itself seems a bit morbid, The Day of the Dead is actually meant to honor the lives of the deceased by celebrating the continuation of life. Some spend the day at cemeteries and churches. Others build alters and reminisce about their deceased loved ones. Celebrations may even entail feasts and offerings. Obviously beliefs and rituals differ from culture to culture.

So how did this topic become blogworthy anyway?

Well, it was high time for a Girl’s Night Out and we were long, long, long overdue. We met at Momocho’s, a hip little place located on Fulton Road in Ohio City. Known for their ModMex (that’s Modern Mexican) cuisine and killer golden margarita’s, it was decided this new place was the place to be. (We recommend you start with the goat cheese guacamole, warm tortilla chips and chunky salsa -we opted for mild- made with cilantro.)

We also seriously dug the “Day of the Dead” celebratory theme of this place!

The Day of the Dead holiday originated in Mexico and is a national holiday there as well. If you’ve ever seen the movie “The Crow,” you’ll see the Day of the Dead (aka Devils’ Night) being celebrated. Devil’s Night falls on Halloween Eve and is associated with minors getting into major mischief. (It is known as “Mischief Night” in Ireland).

We would most likely associate Halloween with the Day of the Dead. Halloween stems from the name All Hallow’s Eve (also associated with All Saints Day), the evening before All Hallow’s Day. Many European cultures believe it’s the day spirits have the ability to make contact with the physical world.

Traditionally, to intertwine the Mexican traditions with American culture and political elements, some celebrate by making altars to honor victims of the Iraq war. (Source: Wikipedia)

There’s your history lesson, now back to Momocho’s…

Tall, glass pillar candles adorned with either the Virgin Mary or individual pictures of Saints (think All Saints Day and All Soul’s Day), lined the entire length of the bar, spatially arranged to give off a warm glow and enchanting atmosphere. One small wall fought to contain the presence of a large-scale skull (called calavera), portrayed in an orange marigold hue, outlined and detailed with black, to fittingly represent its raw and crude features. You can check it out, along with other photos and a menu right here: Momocho.

With no rhyme or reason to schema (and that’s a good thing in my book), the main wall had an eclectic spattering of adornments including various mirrors, an array of distinctive and unusual crosses, stars, assorted shapes and other tactile pieces. (This wall is not pictured on the site, however the upstairs dining area and paintings can be viewed).

Momocho’s (complete with a friendly staff and an outdoor patio) is undoubtedly a cool place but as usual, the coolest thing was just being able to hang out with friends, talk and laugh, and forget about life for a night.

I'm Back

After a wonderful, but somewhat unusual, week at the beach, I'm back into the "routine" at work and at home. Ironically, the weather here in Ohio was warmer than it was at the Outer Banks, and we had 3 days of rough seas where we couldn't get in the water. Still, we were literally 20-50 yards from the ocean (depending on the tide), so I guess I can't complain. It was big fun as usual, and it all ended too soon.

One of my secret dreams would be to one day buy a house at the Outer Banks, open up a gaming/hobby shop on the island, and just be a beach bum for the rest of my life. Unless I win the lottery, that ain't happening. But, a guy can dream, can't he?

A big thanks to Kellie for her usual entertaining entries at the blog while I vacated my post. It sure is nice to read someone else's work at the blog other than my predictable drivel...

As expected, the Cavs fell apart in the NBA Championship, and the Crew still hasn't won a second game this year. At least the Indians are treading water... For now... And, the Browns haven't lost yet.

I'll be working on the Pirates of the Caribbean review for the next week or so. Then, I'll be in line to pick up NCAA Football 2008. For the record, NCAA Football is my all time favorite game/series, and the only "must buy" game from EA, as far as I'm concerned. I'm also planning on picking up Call of Juarez and Forza Motosports 2 in the near future. Lastly, I'll be reviewing the new NASCAR game in July for the 360, and possibly The Bigs for the PS2.

For my Father's Day/birthday present, I'm thinking of investing in a subbuteo set. I'll let you Google that, and then if you're inclined, let me know what you think. Obviously, it would be for my kids and me. I think it looks fun, but as you know, I'm not really "normal."

Back to the grind, and to "digging" out from my week away from normalcy...

Guilty Pleasures Part II

So what exactly is a guilty pleasure?

Most define it as something that is bad for you that makes you feel good? One person, in their blog, described it as “something that would ruin us if our friends knew about it.” Not my friends. I’m just blessed that way. They know who I am and love me anyway.

I decided I was treading into some dangerous territory here so I asked my friends for some help. In turn, they asked some of their friends, family, co-workers, etc. Here are the responses to the simple question, what’s your guilty pleasure?

Making a really good Mojito and taking the time to sit down and enjoy it (recipe can be found at: http://www.bacardimojito.com/home/default.aspx)

Watching Survivor (everybody makes fun of me for this one)

Calling in sick on a rainy day and making my friend do the same! Then we just hang out all day

Looking at Johnny Depp in the Pirate movies... why do I think he looks so good when he is missing teeth and is so dirty???

Buying a beautiful piece of artwork, or flowers for myself which I do quite often...and I really don't feel guilty about it... okay, scratch that one...


Doing something or nothing JUST FOR ME! (This was a popular one!)

One thing I love to get is an expensive hair product from the salon, which I know, is overpriced. I usually take the sticker off so no one knows how much I paid

Pizza rolls (yes, they have trans fat)

I bought little Ben and Jerry ice cream pints and hid them in the back of the freezer in the garage so no one will see them

In addition to your blog...expensive nail polish ($7.50 a bottle!), Skittles, and the show "Project Runway" :) By the way, I know you already have Zappos as a guilty pleasure, but I would have to add “shopping Zappos while on a conference call”!
(I also found this was done using the laptop issued by work – even more naughty and guilty!!!)

Ann LaMott books

Letting this keyboard act like a puppet and dance around spewing my inner most thoughts and beliefs

BB, CC and GGD (That’s Bad Boys, Counting Crows and Goo Goo Dolls)

Peanut Buster Parfaits

La Crema Pinot Noir

Biker Boots (with no socks!)

Watching the mighty fall

Singing in my car (when it’s dark outside and no one can see me!)

Black nail polish

My $80.00 Editor pants, 7 For All Mankind jeans (on sale), and zebra skirt

Boot shopping

Video Poker

Victoria’s Secret

My free Vista upgrade

The Regal Beagle

Phone calls from my ex

Sawyer from the show “Lost” (Yummo!)

Pink! (The singer, not the color)

Joining a band’s fan club

Crosses

And finally…

Telling myself that false hope is better than no hope at all because, once you lose hope, you lose everything

Thanks to everyone for their contributions! Enjoy your week.

Guilty Pleasures - Part I

Sadly for us, Kevin is on vacation this week and, he left me in charge of the blog. Well, we’re going to stray a little off course here.

In my last missive, I mentioned one of my guilty pleasures. I received a few e-mails from friends regarding their “guilty pleasures.” Huh…and thus a new blog was born.

I decided this topic would need to be revisited. That being said, I sent out an e-mail to my friends (and some other cool people) asking them for input on this topic. I offered to keep their names sacred and confidential unless they gave me permission to “out” them. (I am, if nothing else, a girl of my word! Integrity is still a big deal in my world!)

So far, I’ve received a pretty “decent” amount of responses. (As Sally Field once said, “You like me. You really like me.” Well, some of you…)

My name is to the right of the screen so please feel free to e-mail me if you’d like to contribute to my next (and possibly last) blog here at THE GUT (as Kevin so coolly refers to it.) Again, I will keep your name private unless you tell me otherwise.

I’ll offer up a few more of my guilty pleasures just to create a realm or ideology that feels like a “safe haven.”

More (but not all) of my guilty pleasures include:

Ad’s blog (He has the type of humor I dig and is infectious on so many levels. Coolness comes off him in waves. He makes me smile. Like me, his best quality is that he’s honest…Like me, his worst quality is that he’s honest. Someday I hope to be able to articulate everything as well (brave) or half as well (brave) as he does. For now, I’m content to be his unrequited and orphic grasshopper.)

Zappos (4 inch stilettos ROCK)

Anything camouflage

Bootlegs of my favorite bands

The ability to intelligently speak above my superiors (and purposely do so when they get too cocky) and get a way with it

Telling secrets to my friends and knowing they will keep them, even though it’s killing them, and they want to SPILL THE BEANS

Turning my friends on to really cool music and movies that I have learned about through the writings of others

Motorcycle rides

Not yet, but soon, I hope, the IPhone

The fact that I’m a geek, but I’m still cool

The man at the wine store who always greets me with, “hello beautiful”

My friend who notices the shoes or the outfit and says, “STUNNING!”

Lazy Sundays

Stay tuned for Guilty Pleasures – Part II.

Very Random Thoughts This Week...

...Thanks to all my friends who made my birthday so nice. I am grateful to and for all of you. My friend John forgot my birthday – again – but that’s OK. He’s in trouble for various other things.

...One of my guilty pleasures is a certain TV Show. It makes me crazy that every time a drop of rain spills, the news has to cut in and be the first to let me know it’s raining - somewhere. It seems the best way for them to let me know this is to interrupt MY show – sometimes in its entirety. Can’t you just stream the info on the bottom of the screen? Honestly, you know they wouldn’t dare cut in on Oprah!

...I’ll be watching the final episode of The Soprano’s tonight…and then will flip over to the CAVS game. It’s just the way it has to be. Here’s hoping TONY and the CAVS survive tonight.

...My friend’s daughter who is a supremely cool teenager and most awesome in sports, broke her leg (sliding into home – she was safe by the way). We’re all very bummed over this. We shake our heads trying to understand it. Timing, after all, is everything.

...One day at a time is the only good advice I ever received or gave.

...Someone said of me, “she seems to grow wherever she is planted.” (I’m like a freakin’ weed…no – that’s not what they meant. Still…you have to wonder).

...I love storms. Thunder ROCKS!

...Keep your diamond. Zappo’s is a girl’s best friend!

...No relationship ever works out until the one that does. (OK, that was A.D.’s quote and I borrowed it (and maybe mangled it - just a little.) It’s just so good.

...I suck silverfish up in the vacuum cleaner because they scare the hell out of me. Even my cats fear them.

...My friend got a new job. I’m so happy for him. I’m selfishly sad too, because now I have to go to work knowing he won’t be there. He kept me sane and, well, that’s a tough job. My morning coffee will never be the same.

Cool Stuff To Consider…

· LightScribe
· Best Buy Reward Zone (Sign up – if you don’t use the coupons, mail them to me)
· Bluefly
· Anything camouflage
· All my friends

A Little Vacation

We're heading down south for a little over a week. First, we're visiting my Grandfather, who's 89 and still going strong, then to the beautiful Outer Banks! Beach, sunshine, fresh seafood, here we come!

I'll leave the blog in the very capable hands of Kellie for a little while... Hopefully, when I come back, the Cavs will be NBA champs and the Crew will have won their second game! Hey, a guy can dream, can't he?!

Father's Day is coming up, and I've got my eye on Forza Motorsport 2 and Call of Juarez for the 360... Also, by the end of the month, I'll have my review of Pirates - At World's End complete. If I haven't said it enough before, gaming on the 360 is really, really, awesome. Go and get one, and join me on Xbox Live!

Judging a Book by its Cover and a Wine by its Label

I try not to judge.

I have opinions that I try not to speak or at the very least, carefully speak them if push comes to shove. I treat people the way I want to be treated; do unto others and all that.

I sometimes screw this up.

Well, I’ve come to find myself on both sides of this fence. First, at our most recent trek to Tremont, we found ourselves enthralled and face to face with a room full of one artist’s work – and one semi-toothed (or semi- toothless depending on how you look at it) man hunched in boredom in a chair. Did we actually happen upon the artist himself?

Secretly I had hoped we had not. There was no excitement, no passion, and no interaction. He could not have wanted to be there less! Dressed in an old dingy shirt and pants, I just could not accept this was the talented artist we had hoped to meet.

A highly energetic chatty woman, dressed more appropriately, was busying herself with a table display. She was talking about the artist which seemed quite odd since he was sitting right there in the lone chair. He listened to her intently. Then he just sort of gazed around the room, not caring one way or the other as to who entered, exited, chatted or purchased.

“Will the artist be making an appearance this evening?”

(Said a very savvy girl while I swallowed the lump in my throat)

“Yes,” came the reply, “ later this evening.”

OK. The passionless man in the chair is not the artist. We don’t know who he is and we never find out. At this point, I find myself secretly sorry for so many things. I’m sorry I judged him with disappointment. I’m sorry I said he was passionless when maybe he was just tired from a long, hard days’ work. I’m sorry he’s not the artist and that he will never see a penny of the profits (and therefore I am not “guilted “ into buying any of it). I smile at him and say goodnight as we leave. He doesn’t acknowledge me and that seems perfectly appropriate.

And then it was my turn.

I met with an admissions specialist at a tech school for geeks. I am a geek – in progress. I am also a blond (by bottle, not by birth). This should not be important – at all – but it is.

Imagine my surprise when my “geekiness” is called into question by a male admissions specialist who plainly tells me, “You seem nice. You don’t look like a “techie.” You’re a little overdressed for us.” So I’m thinking, “techies” are not nice and, I have no idea what one is supposed to look like but it’s definitely not like me, and apparently they don’t wear black pants, a maroon shirt, and a black blazer? (Yes, THAT black blazer)! I resist the urge to walk out. I resist the urge to slap him, or at the very least, make him feel inferior (like I felt). I resist the urge to tell him how wrong it is for him to judge me before letting me speak (been there...done that. Oh - He later refers to his wife as an “Italian Princess” who has to have perfect hair. This is a weird admissions interview, right?)

I stare at him for a moment as I silently reflect on taking the high road. Then I smile at him and tilt my head, roll my eyes, narrow my gaze and look directly into his eyes, with mine squinted, add the furrowed brow, and say, “I get that all the time. I find it amusing. Look, I’m a geek. So either you’ll work with me or you won’t.” I get as far as “So either…” when he starts laughing and says, “I’m so glad you said that. That you’re a geek! OK. Good, let’s talk.”

Huh?

I have to say that it didn’t make me feel any better to sit in the lobby prior to all this, and fill out paperwork while the receptionist and her cohort whispered and giggled. ) Insecurities...who needs them?)

I honestly felt that I was immediately typecast as the “dumb blond” from the minute I walked in the door. I could be wrong, but I don’t think so. Oddly enough, the “interview” went pretty well (if you can believe that), after those disparaging comments. I ended up meeting with a programmer to help me plot my courses, etc. By the end of it, I had won them over and then some. I still feel the "admissions" guy owes me an apology or something! (A discount would be nice. Geek School is expensive!)

We shook hands. I left. Then I went to push the door when I should have pulled. I think I heard those girls giggle again but it also may have proven my point – I am a geek – despite what your first impression of me was. I'm also scared of this next phase of my life.

Still, I try not to judge. I need to try harder and I’m not alone.

It was a long day.

I invited a friend over that night to share some laughs about my day (and because I needed to bounce its events off someone with some semblance of being unbiased and non-judgmental. Or I just needed someone who would agree with my entire take on the day).

My friend brought over a bottle of wine with a cool name and animal replica. I said, “Thanks. Is this one of your favorite wines?”

“Nah, I've never had it” came the reply. “I just liked the label.” (It was excellent by the way!)
________________________________________________________

My favorite phrase today:

“Why look for solutions when the problems keep us happy?”/ Thom Jurek

Lunch with a Legend

After meeting him, I know he'd scoff at me calling him this, but I was fortunate enough to have lunch with game reviewing legend Bill Abner.

Bill is an alum of OSU, from Trenton Ohio, and lives in the Columbus area, as do I. Since I've been working for him at Gameshark, we've communicated back and forth a bit, and I think we've gotten to know each other fairly well. As mentioned below, my next review is Pirates of the Caribbean - At World's End, and instead of mailing it to me, Bill suggested that we meet for lunch. It so happens that he lives about 10 minutes away from where I work, so we met at a local Bob Evans.

I've been reading Bill's work in various magazines and on various websites for nearly 10 years. I've secretly always wanted to do what he did for a living, and often thought of trying to contact him just to find out how you get a job like his (at the time), but I never did (why would he want to share that with a total stranger?). Ironically, I'm now in the industry, although nowhere near his level, and even more ironically, I'm working for him. I never dreamed that I'd be in the position I'm in now, but it just goes to show you, through hard work and perseverance, you can achieve your goals.

Bill briefly mentioned our luncheon on his blog, and offered his highly-accurate first impression of me. His wonderful little girl joined us, although I think I scared her a bit. She livened up as the lunch went on, and stole the show, as most little girls can do. Seriously, we had a nice discussion on a variety of topics. He really seems like a nice guy, and we tentatively planned getting together again in the summer. It was fun talking shop with him, but beyond video games, he's a regular mid-30's (I think) OSU fan super-dad family-man gaming-junkie like me. Honestly, it was kind of like hanging out with one of my roommates from college, which is about as relaxed and comfortable as you can be, the only difference being he picked up the check. Although, I must admit, I was a bit nervous to meet him. He'd scoff at that, too.

Win Some, Lose Some

I'm still basking in the euphoria of the Cav's win last night. It's the first time they've ever been to the NBA Finals. I sure hope that they don't get "satisfied" with that accomplishment now. In any event, I'll be watching, regardless of the outcome. I'm proud to be a Cav's fan for the first time since Mark Price was running the show!

The Crew, on the other hand, are seemingly sinking to new depths. Only 1 win in 9 tries - inexcusable, especially with Sigi in his second year and the influx of "world class" talent, like Schelotto and Moreno. New coach, new players, same sucking. It's hard to like this hapless squad. O'Rourke's giveaway, which led to a 90 yard breakaway goal by Barrett with the Fire down a man, was something I'd expect to see from one of the teams I coach (U8 and U10). Plus, about 7 minutes later, O'Rourke gets his second yellow and gets sent off. Way to put the mistake behind you and work for the win, O'Rourke; or should I say "O'Suck." At least I won't have to watch him the next time out, since he'll be suspended for the red card. I won't be watching anyway; I'll be on vacation on the beach!

Maybe they'll turn it around when I turn them off. My rooting for teams never seems to help them. Or, since I'll take control of them playing World Wide Soccer Manager while I'm on vacation, maybe I can make a positive difference. At least I look better than Sigi... barely.

On a positive note, my son made the travel soccer team (U11) with a new club - the Pride Soccer Club. I won't get into why we switched, but I leave it at this: it was time for a change from Flash. It was partly our fault, partly Flash's fault. I guess you live and learn. We're excited for the new chapter in his soccer "career," though. He came in as the odd man out, and off of training for about 8 months, but was good enough to make the squad. He has some talent, some athletic ability, and a great work ethic and attitude. He may never be the "star," but coaches love his attitude and work eithic, and his willingness to do whatever it takes to help out. He's a true team player. Needless to say, we're proud of him...

The Indians have lost two in a row now, also. Maybe it's my punishment for the Cavs winning. Oh well, my Ohio teams just can't seem to stand success!

Freestyle Street Basketball Review is Posted

Here's the abridged version:

There are a lot of reasons why I shouldn't like this game, yet I do. It has that "one more game" feeling captured, at least if you're a fan of street basketball.

Here's the full version.

Feedback is welcomed and appreciated!

My next assignment is Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End for the Xbox 360. Bill Abner, my boss, has the game, so I'll be getting it shortly. I hope it's a little better than the movie...

What a Performance!

I've been purposely avoiding writing about my Cavs and Indians, because I didn't want to "jinx" them (not that I believe in such things). Case in point: I mentioned the Browns a few weeks ago, and they drafted Brady Quinn - ugh! Not only did they draft him, but they traded away next year's number one pick to do it, which is almost unheard of in the NFL. Well, unheard of if you support a good team that's run by a good organization.

It's been fun watching the Cavs "grow up" as a team this year, at least during the playoffs. Last night, Lebron turned into THE man in front of our very eyes! Unbelievable! He WILLED the Cavs to victory in double-overtime by scoring Cleveland's last 25 points, and 29 of its last 30, in a 109-107 triumph. His totals for the game were 48 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. There's no doubt that this was one of the single greatest playoff performances in the sport's history. Dare I say it, it was Jordanesque. Or Birdesque. Or Magic-like. The key is to see if he can consistently carry a team, or will it be a once-in-a-lifetime performance similar to Dominique Wilkins against the Celtics 20 years ago (Bird was just a little better, and 'nique was scarcely heard from again in the post season). I'm hoping for the former, obviously.

A random thought - You know, with the Bulls being on the verge of being pretty good, it would be fun for Lebron to torture them like Jordan tortured the Cavs in the 90's? It's kind of like how Ohio State now owns Michigan, after suffering through the Cooper era. Maybe all of this stuff is cyclical? Then again, the Browns haven't won a championship since 1964, and have never been to a Super Bowl, so maybe it's not…

Another random thought - I watched the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie last weekend. Yes, it was too long. Yes, the plot was convoluted. No, I didn't particularly like the ending (did you stay for the "extra" scene after the credits?). However, it did have moments of brilliance. Most people don't complain about watching a three-hour sporting event for those "moments," but why do folks complain about watching a 2:47 movie that has just as many or more moments of brilliance? Heck, millions of people paid $50 or more to watch De La Hoya fight Merriweather Jr., and it had about 5 seconds of brilliance! Barbosa, Turner, and Captain Jack were as great as ever, and worth the price of admission. Neither Pirates sequel captured the magic of the first, but isn't that usually the case? What did everyone expect? (See Doom, Temple of, for further explanation.)

Back to hoops. The Cavs were exactly in this situation in the series against the Pistons last year. Have they turned the corner? If they're truly on the verge of something great, they'll put away the series at home on Saturday, like great teams do.