| More Borderlands |
[06 Nov 2009|10:17pm] |
I've played Borderlands obsessively over the past week. I finally beat it (the first play-through, anyways) with my level 35 Mercenary, and have a half dozen alts in the twenties, mostly sitting around after reaching New Haven. It's a lot of fun.
Reviewing Borderlands is difficult. New games are challenging our perceptions of what makes a game good, and the games are changing faster than we can change the discussion. It's not that Borderlands is challenging the standard of gaming (despite being an innovative mashup). Any comparison to Diablo is well-earned, though mechanically they're totally different they appeal to the same primal instinct of collect and improve. Plus it's an FPS. The difficulty comes when you try to quantify How good is it exactly? and end up with apples to oranges comparisons. Borderlands is fun but lacks the emotionally charged narrative that many modern games are able to provide. Should that be considered a failing of the game, which otherwise excels in being what it is? A question which provokes the discussion on what games are and where they are going and whether or not game-ness and narrativity are inseperable or in fact completely separate.
Suffice it to say I've probably had as much fun with Borderlands as I did with Mass Effect (a game I boldly suggested was the best game ever made), but I did not get as much out of it.
I learned that while it's fun to play online with friends, public games invariably have one guy who puts the I in team and consequently, the F.U. in fun. Also, final boss issues (how's Brick going to use his action skill in that fight?).
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| This malaise tastes great on sandwiches |
[06 Nov 2009|04:31pm] |
Here's the difference between a backyard Elise-chicken egg and a store bought "local organic" egg.
We are going to be full of vitamins.
One of the dudes I play volleyball with keeps getting texts from someone who thinks he's someone else. Last week while I was drinking tequila with him, he got this gem:
Feel free to call this person and let them know that they are sending these things to the wrong number, and may or may not be raided by the police soon.
Here's part of a personal ad that I must have made in 2002 or so. At the time, Cinnamon printed it out and collaged with it. 2002 me's awkwardness and shameless self-disclosure makes 2009 me feel really uncomfortable on her behalf.
Har Mar Superstar tonight and Mountain Goats tomorrow. I'm excited somewhere in here, I just know it.
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| mariah carey |
[05 Nov 2009|09:29pm] |
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is doing more for me than she ever thought she would.
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| i do declare |
[05 Nov 2009|02:47pm] |
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mood |
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 devious |
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potatoes are better than chocolate.
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| monday redux |
[02 Nov 2009|09:57pm] |
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mood |
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 grateful |
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today went well. my arms feel alot better after p.t. woo! plus, i got 12 hrs of sleep yesterday, so that certainly helped w/the little amount i got last night and today (tho she did let me sleep for 2.5 hrs straight!). nessa did even better w/the pacifeeder today, too.
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| Life is not boring |
[02 Nov 2009|09:17pm] |
Friday I was prepping dinner and sliced more than veggies. Michael was kind enough to drive me to the ER, where we were attended to by, among others, a lovely pregnant woman named Laura. She stitched up my finger while Amelia watched, fascinated, from her perch on my lap.
Today we bought a truck off of Craigslist to replace the 99 Civic that was stolen over a month ago. It is a red Honda CRV. I own an SUV - what is this world coming to?
Wednesday my band plays a gig at Brit's pub in downtown Minneapolis (www.britspub.com). Come and listen (and watch me play three-finger cello). We start at 7:30, followed by poet Inky and then more music by Math Theatre. Three acts. No cover. Be there.
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| prty sickening |
[02 Nov 2009|07:11pm] |
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mood |
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 cynical |
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I just need to take a second to address the fact that I couldn't stand it to see you two make out like animals at the party this weekend.
Shes totally hot. I'm jealous of you both, actually.
It made me fucking sick to see you sucking face. I know I said I wasn't crushin anymore but that doesn't mean it shouldn't hurt to see someone I thought I cared about kiss some girl who probably won't care a thing about you as soon as you're gone.
You say you want to skype with me when you leave. I said I would, true.. I'm starting to regret it.
fucking distances. standards. bullshit. who the fuck are you anyways? Its been, wut, 2 or 3 months and I still haven't got a clue. You don't let anyone in. All we know of you is that you love to drink, fuck and push buttons on computers.
cool life.
I could care less.
I want to know what makes you tick, why you are the way that you are. I want to know why sometimes its more important to have a good meaningless fuck with a hot chick than to make a meaningful connection with someone who is perhaps less attractive? But Im sure you haven't got an answer, quite sure you haven't so much as considered it once.
Anyways, it was disgusting to see you and her together. I was relieved when it was over and didn't happen again. She invited me back to her place with you and the others. She added me on fucking facebook weeks ago. I think she knew I was after you. I never even met her until this weekend. When Joe said you were fucking each other I thought he was absolutely joking. I thought, "No way, that girl is way too hot for him."
Which leads me to conclude that things will most certainly fizzle out completely between the two of you; you're but a novelty item to her...another piece for the collection. By the time you're gone, she's already moved on to another one.
And here I'm still waiting...
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[02 Nov 2009|07:27pm] |
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mood |
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 aggravated |
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Dear Guys Without Committment Issues,
I am available.
Sincerely,
Kelly
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| success! |
[01 Nov 2009|08:08pm] |
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mood |
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relieved |
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i just used the pacifeeder w/nessa, and it worked! woo! no more bottle-holding!
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| Yard work help |
[01 Nov 2009|01:49pm] |
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Calling all ICPers or people who want to see the house and/or want to help: Next Saturday the 7th, we need rakers and baggers as we have a big yard and lots of trees. The weather should be clear and dry. One way or another the work will be done, but help would be appreciated. Punch and pie.
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| 5K Update (and Stitches) |
[31 Oct 2009|09:12am] |
The 5K is today. I will not be running it. I had two moles removed from the back of my right thigh, and I have stitches, and when I tried to run yesterday it hurt like a bitch.
So that kind of sucks, but mostly it's fine. I know that without my stitches, I could run a 5K with no problem. I know that when I started training nine weeks ago, running for 90 seconds without stopping was overwhelming. Now my regular run is up to 30 minutes. And I'm going to keep doing it. So that's awesome.
I'm a little sad about not doing the race, just for the sake of follow-through or something like that, but there's a Turkey Day 5K on Thanksgiving so I'll probably just sign up for that.
If you're wondering about the ridiculous timing of the stitches -- that wasn't the plan. I've had these moles for years and I wanted them removed but the doctor said they were harmless so insurance wouldn't pay to get rid of them. Then lately they seemed to be changing so I made an appointment -- months in advance -- to have them looked at again.
I figured if there was something wrong, I'd make another appointment to remove them. Instead, the doctor took a quick look and immediately brought out the scalpel. So... that was unexpected. But at least they're gone. And I've never had stitches before. It's kind of badass, don't you think?
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[28 Oct 2009|08:22pm] |
Met with my adviser today. Somewhat cathartic. I picked a good one.
I can't get me a regular flu shot. I went to occupational health today and went away without, though they did call me back as I approached the door to offer me the swine vaccine (there is a supply for pregnant ladies with direct patient care) but I already have that one. Stupid.
Semi-human appearing picture of internal baby can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dortz/
Made salmon with a mushroom sauce today. I think the butter caramelized when I boiled the sauce down, so it was a little sweet and weird. But it was totally edible. Success. I am always surprised how fast fish cooks. This time I was also surprised how long it takes to boil something down.
I walked a lot today, by which I mean several blocks a few times. I thought maybe I was over-doing it, but I think the problem was more well-place (by which I mean poorly placed) kicks. Yikes. Coincidentally backed off when I sat down to drive home.
I work tomorrow night, so I am trying to stay up late tonight, but I am at a loss as to how to entertain myself. I ought to do something productive like study, I suppose. But I was so tired earlier it is hard to be motivated. I guess I am less tired now, but still somewhat likely to fall asleep with my face in the book. Hurm.
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| Borderlands |
[28 Oct 2009|06:15pm] |
Borderlands is quite fun so far. It was exciting to find a shotgun with the added ability of "Holy crap! It fires rockets!" and I gleefully await using the cool rifle i will be able to use once i hit level 19.
The only faults I've encountered seem related to the dual-platform release. The friends system isn't hooked into Steam's friend list, but instead uses GameSpy. I suppose that's just because it's not a valve game, but at the time I was flubterred by it. I played multi with Lem last night, we had a few problems at first but once each of us had gotten through the tutorial type stuff it seemed to work. Apparently the voice chat support is along the lines of 'on all the time', which we couldn't get to work (maybe talking too quiet), which was a bit frustrating. Skype, or I suppose steam voice chat would be easier, next time. Hopefully we can get a group of 3 or more going. I think I'll run the other two characters through the tutorial stuff just to be available in case that role is taken when we do.
Dinner time.
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| casting call |
[27 Oct 2009|09:45pm] |
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mood |
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 sick |
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who wants to come help vacuum tomorrow?
note that i'm still sick, so i'll do my best to not hack on you...
eh? eh?
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| I talk about co-op games again |
[26 Oct 2009|08:33pm] |
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there's this new game, Borderlands, that is some sort of FPS with loot and character progression, which is apparently fun co-op. if you buy a four-pack off of Steam it's $37.50 instead of $50 ... are any of my friends interested in perhaps going splitties on it?
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[24 Oct 2009|05:46pm] |
This week is "Wine, Dine and Pine with the Swine" at Casa de NoFair.
On the menu: Tamiflu in a lovely rosé cough suppressant sauce, side dish of ibuprofen with tylenol au jus.
Oui. Entertainment provided by the household's ill infant who also chose this moment to sprout two front teeth. Karmic retribution? We don't know, but we'd love to find out.
... and I have Zombie-hand again. Motherclucker-son-of-a-Pig. *cough* Wah!
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