Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Non-football catch up post

So I haven't really blogged in a week or two, aside from yesterday's glorious fantasy football braggadocio. So I'll catch everyone up. I've been busy working and actually having a social life. That's why I actually look forward to the holidays now, I get to interact with people. A nice change, I tell you. But yeah, got to hang with Adam, Mike and Shannon and Nick and Abbie. Watched some football, played some Call of Duty and had a few drinks. Good times. Between the lagging economy, Adam's potential new job and everything else who knows if I'll see them again before next Xmas.

Then, of course, I went right back to work for the actual holiday. I get to work through the New Year's stuff too, so there some more fun. Ahh well, at least I'll be making nice pay for that. That coupled with my fantasy winnings is making me consider buying a new tv. I should be smart and use it to pay off my car, savings, blah blah blah. I wanna fritter it away! It's more fun that way. Bah, we'll see.

Today I basically basked in the afterglow, relishing my victory. Then went to dinner with Trip and played some Tiger Woods 09. You know, I was a little apprehensive, having gotten very tired of Tiger way back when, but I really enjoyed this. The game looks great and plays well. Plus the character creation is fun and leveling up my guy is totally addictive.

I also bought Civilization 4 for my PC off of Steam, who's having a big sale through the New Year. This game is awesome. I lost five hours last night and they flew by. It's amazing. I love creating a nation and running it throughout history.

I'll finish with some random notes: Avoid The House Bunny; I love Doctor Who and I don't care how nerdy that makes me; been listening to some Bob Dylan lately and he's pretty good, maybe you've heard of him.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

The Evil Penguin reigns supreme!

Fuck me what a day. I've been a complete basket case over the Techmo Lucky Breaks Fantasy Football League championship game. I slept in because I knew I'd be a nervous wreck, checking my scores, watching the games, yelling at the screen and I definitely did that. Toward the end of the 4p.m. games I decided to get out of the house and try to not brood about it all day.

When I get back to Trip's from Danville I check and my score and I'm leading by a scant five points, with LaDainian Tomlinson having three touchdown and 95 yards. This is bad because if he gets five more yards he gets a point for getting another 10 yards and a four point bonus for reaching 100 yards. All of which seems very likely. But somehow, the lucky breaks fall my way and I emerge victorious!

After all the agony, the suffering I manage to finally take the title. With the last pick in the draft I started slow and had to come back from a 3-6 record to win eight straight games, knock off the top two seeds in the playoffs and take home the championship! Cinderella boy, ex-assistant greenskeeper about to win the Masters. Sure it's just fantasy football, which some consider one step above playing Dungeons and Dragons as a hobby, but it's nice to win for a change.

Ok, ok, I'm gonna break my arm patting myself on the back. Just gonna sit back and enjoy it for a little while.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Put a record on and shut off that tv!

I don't know if it's because I haven't had enough caffeine or if it's because I'm a lazy sack of shit, but I'm exhausted. I think it's just lots of little stress things and the time of year.

I've been listening to a ton of music the last few days, trying to catch up with what the critics call the best albums of 2008. Some good stuff I missed. Crystal Castles self-titled album sounds like one part dance, one part noise, one part atmosphere and one part donkey kong. I know it sounds weird and it is, but it's really a great album to put on and chill.

Also been digging some MGMT, which may be one of the more commercially successful bands I'm listening to lately, although frankly I'm totally disconnected with what sells in the music world. But MGMT is something I think some of my readers may like. One or two of the three of you. It's not too aggressive, not too weird. Well, not to weird to me, but I've heard weedeaters and enjoyed them, so a grain of salt is required.

But yeah, I always forget how good it feels to just sit down and play some music and relax. I get caught up in movies or tv or video games, things I just have to see or do. But music is always a good time investment.

Ohh, a band that defies my normal stereotype altogether is The Silver Jews' Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea. Sure it's indie, but it's alt-country. Some great lyrics coupled with an old school mellow country vibe that prove irresistable. Hey if you get me to like country music, you've done something well. I can tell you. Also check out their older album Tanglewood Numbers, which is fantastic.

I think I'm gonna try to put up some serious best of 2008 lists this year, but I'm still working on absorbing a lot of music. I may do a video game list first, since that is where my head has been for most of this year.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Bang crash a wakka wakka

So I watched the final episode of this year's Heroes last night and I gotta tell you, it's not that great. Everything is sooo incredibly convoluted, with time travel, heroes turning bad, villains turning good, two opposing companies (neither of which has clearly defined goals) and last but not least, serious plot holes. I wanna love this show. I loved it when everyone was bitching last season about Hiro being in medieval Japan, but it's just going off the deep end. I'm not giving up on it yet, since they rehired the writer from Pushing Daisies, but it's got to prove itself to me.

Laid a supreme smackdown to Trip in NHL 09 last night, which was necessary after all his shit talk. He won the first game, I won the second and in the rubber match I threw him a 4-0 beatdown. Took all three stars and am now reveling in my victory. It's the little things that make life worth living.

Currently I'm listening to a ton of new music, trying to suss out what was good from this year. Pitchfork has down the top 100 tracks of the year and is going to do albums over the next couple of days. Don't worry, most of you will have no idea of who or what they are talking about. You shouldn't feel bad about it. I spend some time trying to keep up with what's going on in music and am hopelessly lost most of the time.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Call back from the wishing well

I'm having such a great weekend. The Steelers clinched the AFC North title, The Evil Penguin rolls into the TLB playoffs with good momentum and I won a $100 gift certificate to 202 Market. That's some good times there. Ohh and I just had a tasty albacore sandwich. What could be better? Ok I can think of a few things, but I'll take this and make do.

Gonna try and finish my Xmas shopping tomorrow I don't have a lot left really, but it's kinda hard to figure out what people will really enjoy receiving. Maybe next year I'll just give everyone the ugliest sweaters I can find for them. Start an ugly sweater club. Sounds fun, huh? Call Bill Cosby, he can be an honorary member.

Next coupla weeks are gonna be really busy with people coming in and trying to make time for everyone. Looking forward to seeing everyone and doing my thing, but I'm sure it's gonna be tiring. Sucks having to work through the holidays all the time. Could be worse, I suppose. Could have lost my job thanks to the crappy economy. Let's hope that doesn't happen.

Hmm think that's about it. I did read the Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling. It's... ok. A nice quick read, but I'm not overly impressed. Doesn't really seem to be something that needed writing. Of course, if I was gonna make that much money from writing that crap I'd poop it out too.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

misplaced time allotment

Went Xmas shopping on Monday with Trip and we had a good time. I spent too much money, but I knew I would going in. I'm trying to tone it down some from last year and I still have several gifts to buy, but I'm succeeding so far.

Today I played some more Gears of War 2 with Trip and that was fun. Seems like the game gets better as we progress, but there is some really cringe-worthy dialogue. Still, worth playing through.

After playing through a chapter of Gears we watched Fred Claus, which was not great. Basically it was the usual holiday movie, just starring Vince Vaughn this time around. His banter is entertaining, but just not enough to carry the whole movie. Elizabeth Banks also looks hot in her Xmas outfit.

In fantasy football news I am closing in on the final playoff spot. A win will put me in I think. I'm trying not to get too excited, because typically when I expect good things to happen, that's when everything goes haywire. This extends to more than just fantasy football, let me assure you. Still, it's nice to be winning for a change.

It's almost absurd how much fantasy football changes my mood. When I'm successful, I'm more pleasant, calmer and maybe even more confident. I know this game is completely inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, but it means a lot to have put so much time into something and then to come away triumphant. Of course, I'm still exactly three wins away from having that triumph come to fruition and so there is plenty of time for the agony of defeat to set in.

Monday, December 01, 2008

Steelers, steak and social networking

It was a pretty good day today. I slept like a brick, feeling all snuggly as the wind and rain battered my window. Soo good. Then I get up and find that the Evil Penguin has rebounded from a lackluster Thanksgiving showing and is in the process of pounding the Leesburg Leghounds into submission (I think we all know what kinda pounding that takes). That win puts me into the driver seat for the final playoff spot. I should also have the highest points total in the league too... and a 7-5 record. That shows what kinda breaks I've been getting this season, but let's hope all that's behind me.

The Steelers also laid the pipe to the Pats, which makes me smile. Gotta love beating those assholes, especially in thier own house. One step closer to the playoffs, but there are still a lot more incredibly tough games before the AFC North title is clinched.

After reveling in football for the afternoon, Trip and slogged through the foul weather to get steak and it was worth the effort. Mine was seasoned perfectly and cooked just how I like it (medium rare). Small pleasures make life worth living.

I also joined Facebook this holiday weekend and man, it turns out I know quite a few people on there. Been a long time since I talked to several of them and it's good to get in touch. I can see myself getting addicted to that and need to take it down a notch. All afternoon I watched my fantasy score and reloaded facebook to see what had changed. I'm such a nerd.