FYI -- Multiple Myeloma

Just figured I'd clue you all in since some of you didn't know the full story. My mother had Multiple Myeloma. The link has a real short blurb in case you're interested. She ended up succumbing to a complication from the disease/treatment. So now I've become one of those trendy people who wear the rubber bracelets (crimson). Anyway, just thought I'd clear that up since I never posted much about it. I really expected to post a whole bunch more, but I don't feel like it now. Also, as preachy as it sounds, I'll say it anyway. You all should call or visit your parents and tell them how much they really mean to you. They could be taken away tomorrow. Just sayin'.

No Macaque Jokes

This is Illyana on her Second Haloween.

Please Read This Everyone - Rough Weekend

Even rougher week ahead. Don't expect much in terms of my blogging activity.

EDIT: I changed the title in hopes that you'd all read DaveT's comment below. Thanks.

Best And Worst Morning Ever

Well, I ended up leaving the house this morning, completely forgetting to say goodbye to my little one. That sucked. Then I stop to get gas 10 minutes into my commute, and I realize that I've forgotten both my wallet and my cell phone at home. So I head back to get it, putting me 20 minutes behind for the day, which I knew would become 30 due to the higher levels of traffic on the roads at the later time. Ok, all that's the bad part. The good part was mixed in there and totally makes up for everything else. I ran upstairs real quick when I stopped back home to get my stuff. I just had to say goodbye to Illyana. So I open the door to her bedroom and she sees me and comes "running" over to me. I say runnning, but it's really just and excited stagger. She can't run yet. When she gets to me, she's got the biggest smile on her face and she's visibly excited to see me. Then she wraps her arms around my leg and goes "Ah-ah" which is what she does when she gives hugs. So I pick her up, and her arms wrap around my neck. She puts her head on my shoulder and gives me another "Ah-ah." Funny thing is that with her not being able to verbalize things, I tend to think she doesn't know what's going on around her. I guess I was wrong. She really did miss me. That's the best feeling ever. EVER! Just thought I'd share.

You All Knew It Was Coming --Halofest Recap

As I’m sure all of you know, Saturday was Halofest. Well it seems that every time I hold one of these things, the group enjoys a different set of games. For instance, the last time around, Elimination was a big hit. This time, it was a bit tougher since the skill levels were so drastically different so even if you managed to last until there was only two of you left, if you were up against the handful of pro’s we had, you were screwed. So we gravitated towards games that had a less serious tone or those that would be fun no matter your skill level. That said, Zombies was a HUGE hit this time around. We tried it on the level with the 4 bases and the two turrets overlooking the recessed basin in the middle. It didn’t take long for us to figure out that if we holed ourselves in the one base and pushed the boxes into the doorway, it’d hold off any zombie trying to charge in just long enough to earn them a bullet in the skull. Then we’d just push the boxes back into postion that the zombie moved. Wash rinse repeat. The catch is that sometimes, the zombie manages to eat some brains and then there are two zombies. This usually happens in the time it takes us to get organized in the room. So now you have an organized zombie raid going on. It actually gets scary. Your adrenaline gets pumped up and you start to panic when the zombies raid. Add that to all the zombies mumbling and groaning and you’ve got a pretty fun game. It’s especially fun when it’s down to two or three humans and there’s no way they can hold off 9 or 10 raiding zombies forever. Also, I have to take a minute to pat myself on the back. We were having trouble getting into the room on one occasion because the boxes seemed to be arranged perfectly and there were about 7 double pistol wielding humans in the room. So I shambled to a part in the level where there was an explosive box and I rolled it up the steps and right up to the boxes covering the door. I managed to make it explode before they could shoot me so the boxes blocking the door went flying, and all my zombie buddies ran in salivating like a fat man at a buffet. Props to me for being a crafty zombie. That and a game called Cat N Mouse at the very end of the night were the highlights. Cat N Mouse is where you put Warthogs and Wraiths on Coagulation. The Wraiths can’t fire their cannons unless a Warthog has gone somewhere the Wraiths can’t reach like a cave or in the boulder fields. The point of the game is for the Wraiths to ram the Warthogs until they explode. It literally is like a game of cat and mouse. Good stuff. I can’t wait for our next Halofest after the baby is born.

Long Time, First Time

Well I've been an acquaintance of Larakin's for a good long while now. Unfortunately, he's been too busy to update his blog much recently. Good thing is that he apparently still has some time now and again to play Halo online. Well I happened to be online at the same time as him and his friend were. Good stuff. I've come to the conclusion that I'm just no good at guessing what people will sound like before I hear them for the first time. Still, it was a blast. The three of us were pretty much on the same skill level, so it didn't make the games too lopsided. Sadly, due to a difference in timezone, I could only get in 3 games before it was time to say goodnight. Anyway, Halo is way mroe fun with friends than it is just playing strangers. Can't wait until next time.

Help Screwed Dudes Everwhere

Ok, your mission, shoudl you choose to accept it, is to inform the other readers (Yes, all 4 of them) of the top 5 chick flicks you've seen. I'm asking you to do this because my last 2 Saturday nights have been spent watching a chick flick with my wife. My hope is that if a guy gets forced into watching a chick flick with his other, he can turn here and suggest to his woman one of these not as painful flicks. I'll start off so you guys can ridicule my choices first.

In no particular order:

1) Just Like Heaven: It's got angry sarcasm, death, humor, and a hot chick as a neighbor. To top it off, it has John Heder (Napoleon Dynamite), Mark Ruffalo (Collateral), the father from Grounded For Life, and Dotty from Greg the Bunny. What more can you ask for? Of course it's sappy at points, but what chick flick isn't?

2) 2 Weeks Notice: I'm a sucker for Sandra Bullock so put her in a comedy with a womanizing brit and you've got yourself a palatable combination.

3) 50 First Dates: You've got Samwise. That's all you need. Oh and Adam Sandler and his usual cast of idiots make this a good watch. Rob Schneider is hilarious. I can't get past the fact that the father should be in overalls chewing some hay and having a mushmouth type speech impediment. That and Dan Acroyd(SP). Oh and the walrus trainer "girl."

4&5) Spiderman 1&2. They're comic movies first and foremost, but with the whole Pete & MJ thing going on, they're also appealing to chicks. Maybe not toal chick flick, but my wife loves them, and that makes me happy.

Ok now help me out here guys and spare me from another horrid chick flick Saturday night.