My mom had her very first "throw the controller yet stubbornly soldier on because Goddamnit, I can do this" moment. She was playing Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and it was the dragon-spell final exam. She kept getting her little dragon dude stuck on pillars and stuff (I know it's a kids' game, but it actually was pretty hard), and time would run out and Hermione would be all "This could be a challenge," and Mom's all "Can it, *****!" (Not kidding.) After an hour and a half of trying to get through, she got so mad that after her final three failures, she threw the mouse twice and banged on the desk before I told her to put it away. She got mad at me, I walked off, and came back with a classical CD. By this point, she was almost done, and when she finally got through it, she apologized profusely. I explained that I knew exactly how she felt because I'd had those moments many times playing Soul Calibur II and the like, she just didn't see them because I was in my bedroom. She replied that yeah, that's true, but even so, she'd have gotten royally pissed at me for doing the same, so why was she annoyed at me when the roles were reversed? Now she's feeling all guilty, but after the initial frustration, I think it's actually kind of funny. I mean, she gets it now. It's a surprisingly awesome feeling inside, and I keep trying to tell her not to feel so bad, because I understand. I may try again later tonight.

Anyway, just wanted to share this odd little "coming of age" moment.

Google this and download it if you're interested in playing old DOS games on Windows XP. Turns out one of the chief problems that prevents DOS and Windows XP from getting along is sound-related. With that issue resolved, I can now play glorious Wolfenstein 3D action. Hey, I may even get Duke Nukem 3D, Traffic Department 2192, and others to work again, too. That'd be sweet.

Also, remind me again why I just spent C$400 on a video card that I will use for perhaps a half-dozen new games from now until it's horrifically obsolete? Does it make sense for a casual gamer to own a Radeon X800 XL at this stage of the game, really? Especially since, in order to optimize performance, I'll still need at least nother 512 MB of RAM anyway? Am I clinging to sensibilities I no longer own? Am I still a tech whore at heart, even though I've largely shunned my electronics past? Or am I a hardcore hiding in a casual's body until I'm no longer in school and have the time and money to invest in a serious gaming habit? Or did those days pretty much pass after high school? And why am I asking so Goddamn many questions tonight? I think I need to go to bed now, don't you?

You may have heard that it rained like it was BC here in Calgary last week, and a lot of people (including my aunt) suffered flooded basements. I wasn't that unlucky, but I did find some peculiar water damage--the booklets and back covers of all my music CDs were damp and warped. The CDs were occasionally dampened by the booklets, but generally unharmed, so I have them spread out around my room (which happens to be in the basement--go figure). I don't know if I'm going to wind up buying everything again, or just living with warped CD booklets, but either way, it's immensely disappointing.

In other news, NHL 06 may not suck. Who knew? I am disappointed that they're trying to funnel multi-console owners over to the PS2 version with the bundled NHL 94 port, but since I'm boycotting EA Sports anyway (not as hard when their hockey games have been disappointing of late), I don't know that it'll affect me too much.

Edit: And since I'm busy resurrecting my journal, a little shameless self-promotion: I reviewed the classic Wolfenstein 3D today. Go forth and give me thumbs-up/trustage, should you give half a crap about such things.

This post will be my 1000th here on Gamespot.

I could say more, but I'm really tired. Then again, these sorts of posts often generate the most replies, so what the hell.

Two days? What's all this now?

Sunday: Actual birthday. Tried to get a new cell phone, but because they didn't have the phone in stock (and because I lack ID and a credit card for a credit check--the hell?!), I didn't get that. Got together with family (parents, grandmother, dad's cousin and her husband) at Montana's for a drink and some finger food (the Dusted Ribs there are pretty damn good--8.1, to borrow from GameScott). Had a brown cow (Kahlua and milk), and instantly tasted the sting of alcohol amongst the creamy milklike material. I give the brown cow a 5.5, although to be fair, I've never met an alcohol I actually liked (and apparently, it's supposed to be a smoothie). Got my first round of presents--a signet ring, a Bulova watch, and a C$50 Future Shop cert, which will likely go towards ESPN NHL 2K5, and part of maybe Burnout 3 or Ninja Gaiden--and had an otherwise relaxing day.

Monday: In what's an apparent leftover from more religious times, the Big Easy doesn't have dancers on Sundays. Interesting. So, we (me, dad, two uncles, cousin's boyfriend) went tonight, saw three (only one actually knew how to dance), then had to leave before Miss Nude Calgary 2004 (aka "the real show") started. God damn school nights.... And they had American football on? The hell? A minor disappointment, so 6.8 (although I reserve the right to bump it to a 7.8 later, since I did, after all, miss the real show)

So now the festivities are over. Back to the grind. Oh, I almost forgot. One uncle gave me a C$50 cheque, which will go towards the aforementioned B3/NG (and C$2 to throw at the strippers, which I didn't use). The other is paying for all my driving lessons. Now, don't judge them based on that, because they're both great uncles, but I think you can guess which one blew me away.

So...yeah. Eighteen. Doesn't feel any different. I mean, I can now legally drink booze, but who the hell wants to drink that rancid-tasting crap anyway? On the plus side, I got a signet ring, a C$50 Future Shop certificate, and a very nice watch out of the deal. Oh, and I got to wear a moose hat. I may post a picture of that at some point.

Canada gets badly outplayed by Czechs

Canada beats Czechs 4-3 in OT

At the risk of sounding ingrateful, how the hell did that happen?

Super Monkey Ball's coming to the Xbox, baby!

At the risk of sounding like an SW moron, TSHBO!

So, yeah. I decided to take Russian in place of history. I wasn't entirely sure why at first, but the more I think about it, the more stoked I get for it. I mean, another freakin' language! This is going to be a great year.

(It wouldn't take Cyrillic letters in the thread title, so I had to go with English look-alikes.)

Я буду учить русского?

(translated: "I'm learning Russian?" Thanks, Babelfish!)

After much deliberation, I've decided to switch out of HTST491. It's not that I don't think I could do it per se, but after thinking about it, I just don't think a second-year science student should really be starting his university-level history with a third-year course (especially one that appears to be quite integral to a history degree). Anyone who goes to U of C: any really f-ing easy 200-level courses I can take?

In other news, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn remains the oddest album I've ever listened to. It's got this cheery, childish surface, but underneath, there's a lot of creepy, sinister sounds. I guess that's to show the duality of psychadelia, but it doesn't make the album any less weird to listen to.