Back in the fold.

I can't decide what's worse: making up work or catching up on recorded tv after being on vacation.  It's weird.  I actually went for 8 days with no internet, and amazingly enough, there were no withdrawal symptoms.  I've got pictures and a video from Bush Gardens, but I still need to pull them off the camera, so that'll have to be another post.

My gaming riduculousness has been crazy.  The TV season is more-or-less over (minus one or 2 shows), so all I have left to do is watch cartoons and play video games.  I wasted no time diving into G.U., Vol. 2.  After a plethora of late nighters, I completed the storyline in about a week and a half (or 2).  I've started watching the .Hack//Roots series to keep me occupied until Vol. 3 comes out this fall.  I guess with all the TV shows over (and only 2 new ones to keep up with for the summer, I can finally start catching up on my Anime.  Back to gaming.  I picked up Guitar Hero II last week (you know I couldn't go a week without having the 360 with me).  Let me tell you, that game R0X0RZ!!!1!1!!  It's a bit tricky at first, but after a couple of hours and a hand cramp later, you've worked your way through the medium difficulty.  Now I realize why I gave up on trying to learn guitar.  My fingers weren't meant to bend in those weird-ass patterns.  Either way, the game is extremely addictive.  My goal, if nothing else, is to be able to play "Jessica" (Skynyrd), "YYZ" (Rush), and "Miserlou" (Dick Dale) perfectly on the expert difficulty.  I better practice up.  "YYZ" and "Miserlou" kick my ass on medium.  ;)  "Jessica", I almost have.  So, today, Lady Croft resurfaces with the remake of the original Tomb Raider classic (newly titled "Tomb Raider Anniversary") using the "Tomb Raider Legend" engine.  Needless to say, I'll be stopping by GameStop on my way home.  ;)  I've been lucky enough to dig a few hours into the Halo 3 Beta, and let me tell you, the graphics on the next-gen hardware are astounding.  I'm a little dissappointed the the multiplayer is still nothing more than your typical multiplayer; but, Bungie has done a great job of improving the Matchmaking, Lobby, and post-game rollover into a new match.  You can now veto a map (majority rule, of course).  And... you are immediately kicked into a new match about 20-30 seconds after your previous one ends (you can, of course, cancel back out to the Lobby, if you prefer).  That fact that you don't have to go back to the Lobby to find a new game, if you don't want to, is impressive, to me.  The maps are beautifully designed.  You can tell there's still some minor tweaking in the graphics left (I hope).  This is a beta afterall.  the re-emergance of the Assualt Rifle is the most impressive touch to the weapons.  The Spartan Laser is "one shot, one kill" deadly, but you have to wait 5+ seconds for the damn thing to charge.  Not very useful in an 8 man Rumble Pit grudge match.  The new items (bubble shield, portable grav lift, etc.) are kinda cool, but I haven't really been able to survive long enough to figure out how to effectively use them.  I do like the new grenades; 'specially the Brute spike grenade.  Drops some serious damage if you can corner your enemy in a narrow tunnel (like the snow map). 

... Well, I thought I was going to get wet.  I dropped into Ribs and Blues for a late lunch/early dinner.  Looks like I was a day late in anticipating that rain that been creeping up from Central Fla since last week.  It was pouring a flood.  Luckily, this is Georgia, and the old saying still holds true, "If you don't like the weather, wait 15 minutes."

OK, enuff Halo drooling.  I need to make a list of some hardware I need purchased.  It'd probably be best if I get it done before I forget my "wish-list".



l8rs