Rocking Out with... Pong?

While I'm still in a bad mood (though I sense that the end of my funk is nigh), I can't help but get a little bit excited over the fact that I just bought tickets to Video Games Live. Have you heard about this show?

Basically, it's a crazy on-stage extravaganza based on the theme music behind the world's most popular video games. In other words, it's Nerd Fest 2008. I'm already feeling anxious about the need to buy an over-the-top-awesome message tee in order to fit in (some great ones are on display in the video below).

This is a "trailer" for the show, so to speak, though you don't actually see much of what happens in the performance until the three-minute twenty-second mark. Yes, it's a little cheesy, but I really wasn't expecting anything less...

I can't wait! Although I'm sure I will feel old because I won't recognize 85% of the game music, I am also sure that the show will still rock. If you want to check it out, too... here are the remaining 2008 tour dates and some 2009 dates as well (it's going international next year...).

I'm already wondering... what will be more entertaining? The show... or the crowd?

- e

No Skillz at the Arcade

For some strange reason, I got $5 worth of free video arcade tokens for each day of internet service I purchased at my hotel here in Orlando (they also throw in a liter of Fiji water, free golf range usage and a bunch of other things, all for $17 a day?!?). Even though I'm only using the connection for three days, they gave me four vouchers... so I went to the arcade to cash in the vouchers and check out the games.

I'm too old to be able to play half of what they had, but my eyes lit up at a few of the old school choices available: Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, Centipede, Millipede and Missile Command. I thought that 1 token equaled one dollar, but each dollar got me 4 tokens, so I had EIGHTY TOKENS handed to me in this gigantic cup. One game is only 2 tokens?!?!

There was no way I was going to be able to play forty games of Ms. Pac-Man, so I found a harried-looking mom of four and poured half of the tokens into her hands and I think she thought an angel had descended from on high--her crazy kids were going to be occupied for the next hour--hallelujah! Before you start thinking that I am a nice person, just know that if the arcade had housed Area 51, I would've kept all of the tokens for myself. A little known fact about your blogger friend e is that she held the high score record for Area 51 in the Minneapolis Airport Arcade in 1996. That's what happens when your consulting project is based in Minnesota in the dead of winter and your flights constantly get delayed... you find ways to pass the time.

Anyway, I ended up playing all of the games listed above, plus some car racing simulator and some shoot-em-up game that was similar to Area 51, but not nearly as cool as there were no aliens. I was awful at all of these games. I kept looking around to ensure no one was watching me--I was that bad. Little kids who could barely reach the controls were better than I was. But it was still fun.

After expending all of my energy at the arcade, I needed to power back up in preparation for my visit to five theme parks over the next three days. Yes, five theme parks. Rest assured I will report back about my antics after it's all over. Anyway, I went and got a huge dessert--brownies and caramel sauce and fudge and ice cream... and mini chocolate chips thrown on top for good measure. I have such a high tolerance for sweets that, believe it or not, that feast will not keep me awake with sugar-fueled jitters tonight. Rather, I will drift off to sleep thinking back fondly on every bite, and running through my plan of attack for the parks tomorrow.

- e

Get (Back) Into the Groove

Ah, January 2nd. That blessed day when everything returns to normal.

Even though I'm no longer working for The Man, over the last few months I finally established somewhat of a daily routine (much to my dog's delight), and am very ready for it to resume. So is my dog, actually, as he is fast asleep right now, recovering from all of his holiday traveling and adventures. His recovery process involves loud snoring.

But before leaving the holidays behind completely, I need to mention two things that I did over the break:

1) I saw Alvin and the Chipmunks. Yes, you read that right.

and

2) I played Guitar Hero 3 (and 2) for the first time.


First, the movie. As stated Monday, my husband and I were in North Dakota visiting his family, and our yearly tradition is to take his three nephews to a movie. As a five-year-old was in the mix, Alvin and the Chipmunks was our safest bet. It wasn't as bad as I feared it would be, although I don't think I've been in a theater packed with toddlers in, well... OK, I've never been in a theater full of toddlers until that moment. Needless to say, it wasn't a quiet and serene experience. But I got over it quickly. Truth be told, I used to love the Chipmunks cartoon back in the day--I had their album and would play their Christmas song over and over and over, so I figured that I might actually get a kick out of the movie. While I still prefer the animated show, the movie had decent CGI versions of Alvin, Simon and Theodore. Jason Lee (playing their owner, Dave) was bearable only because I forced myself to stop thinking about the fact that he believes in the alien Xenu.

Although the movie was about 45 minutes longer than it should have been, especially considering kids' short attention spans, it was enjoyable--and I got to hear the Christmas song again!

Me, I want a huuuuula-hoop!

Or perhaps I now want a guitar?

A (slightly) more adult activity was a highlight of our stays both in North Dakota and Michigan. In North Dakota, we had gotten the oldest of our nephews Guitar Hero 3 and two of the Guitar Hero 2 guitar controllers (the GH3 guitar controllers were sold out everywhere). I'm quite positive that the only reason we bought two controllers was so that my husband could play along with his nephew during the few days were were all together. In Michigan, one of my cousins brought Guitar Hero 2 to our family gathering and all of the adults took turns trying it out. I significantly improved my skillzzz in Michigan after I learned that you didn't need to keep pressing the button (just the strummer-thingy is needed) if there were two of the same notes in a row. But I still was pretty bad. Nevertheless, it was extremely fun and if you get a chance to play it, I highly recommend it. Just be prepared to have the songs stuck in your head for weeks afterward (I'm still singing 'Barracuda,' which is not right).


(Note to husband: my endorsement of this game does not mean we are going to buy an entire system just to play it. Sorry.)

- e