Movin' and Shakin' to the new year!


Barring my ex girlfriends, I've been very fortunate with the people in my life. I love my family and friends dearly, That said, the holidays to me are a total hassle... I don't get the 'xmas spirit' anymore - the "magic" of the holiday has ceased to exist for me which gives me my grinchy charm that I grace you all with year-round. It's not that I don't try - I watch the xmas specials, and don't kid yourself, they're xmas specials. I hear the xmas music, seasons greetings, blah blah blah.

Nothin'.

There's no backstory, nothing awful happened to me on xmas when I was a child that I have to relive the painful memories of every year. I don't hate the holidays at all, I just don't get that overwhelming feeling of joy and good will anymore. Maybe I'll get it back someday....but enough of that, on with the loot!

I had a pretty damn good haul this year, I never ask for anything so I usually get money and a few random stocking stuffers and some funny gag gifts, and while I did get those things this year, among them a fushigi(sp) ball because they're hiariously ridiculous, and a roll of animal print duct tape (my mom's favorite thing to give me, knowing I find animal print to be the tackiest thing on the planet I always get something with animal print on it, last year it was a zebra snuggie)

George Carlin dvd box set with all of his HBO Specials - My favorite comedian of all time, hands down. It never even occurred to me to look for something like this - I am most pleased. I've already watched most of them, and it's interesting to see how dramatically he changes from year to year... his very first one was littered with HBO disclaimers about his 'strong language' which itself made me laugh at how puritanical everyone was back then, (and still is to a degree) especially on the heels of his supreme court case about the 7 dirty words.

Sandwich Grill - when I was a kid, my grandmother had one of these things, it's made specifically for sandwiches, it makes a perfect panini AND cuts it in half for you. I am, shall we say, not so gifted in the kitchen, and yet I love kitchen gadgets. As stunted as my culinary abilities may be, I can do sandwiches - and this thing makes them awesome on toast. Literally.

Silver Ring - I am not one for a lot of "bling" - but if I do sport any kind of jewelry it is always silver or white gold. I don't wear any other color because it looks awful on me. This was packaged with my animal print duct tape, my mom is a funny lady.

PS3 Move - Another gift from my mom, this thing, I have to say - is actually quite a lot of fun! I didn't think I'd get into motion controls, but I understand now... more on that in a minute.

I also got some nice cigars from my dad for those rare occasions that I smoke them, but it's never a bad idea to have a good scotch and some nice cigars on hand. Additionally, I got some Best Buy gift cards, which I later used to pick up a Kinect and a couple of games to complete my arm waving armada of awesome.


It was a great xmas, and I always enjoy spending time with my family, at least now that I'm older and have become just as ridiculous as they are. It's nice really.

------

Now, my thoughts on motion controllers and gaming with them. I was looking at these things all wrong from the start... these are not here to try to replace the controllers - they're not an evolution of the controller even, the technology is not there yet. It's just a branch off the core. The Wii got the ball rolling and I think in a generation or two it might be more viable, the move is definitely going in the right direction as it's far more accurate than either the wii or the kinect could ever hope to be - but by then I'll be on oxygen and getting around, god willing, in a tricked out hoveround chair. (I *will* have a flux capacitor) There are games now however that are designed to use these things as they are, and you know what? They're fun. Just goofing around by myself with the PS3 and the Kinect, alone in my living room felt completely ridiculous, and I was momentarily overcome with intense shame... but I kept playing because damnit, I was enjoying myself. I wasn't grinding my teeth in frustration, or making loud grunts at the screen at some cheap death. Just simple disc golf, or table tennis. Simple fun.

My experience with the Kinect is still somewhat limited, but I've messed with it enough to say it's a similar feeling... although the feeling of shame was a bit more intense, but in a different way.. Playing Kinect Sports, once again, alone in my living room, was awkward to say the least - but it was fun, and I didn't really care, then at the end of my little soccer game - I got a replay. It showed the hilights of my jumping and kicking and headbutting at the air, and as I watched myself, I started laughing... I keep using the word ridiculous here because that's what it is and oddly enough, that's what makes these things fun. It would definitely be better with a group of people, which I haven't gotten to use the kinect for..... yet.

The Move however got it's first go last night. My New Years Eve began on the early side of the evening with my friend dropping by for some pre commencement celebratory drinks. He immediately noticed the kinect and move hardware now placed perfectly in front and on top of my tv, respectively. The Move was chosen to be first, and there began a 6 hour competition of disc golf and gladiators.... as more people came by, more people wanted to play. Full grown men and women jumping around in my living room slinging lighted balls at my tv screen, and I just sat back and laughed along with everyone else, what added to it was we were all dressed to go out which just made everything funnier. To me, anyway. Watching a friend swing an invisible sword in high heels and a dress while another is dropping a sport coat on the floor so he can move more freely and maybe not lose quite so badly to her is an amazingly hilarious thing to watch. About 10:30 it was time for us all to pile into my suv and get on with our night, but man, what a great way to warm up! The rest of the evening went on as the standard NYE of any other year, happy new year, lots of drinks, lots of laughs, texts from everyone that couldn't join in on my move party which had become legend by the time the clock hit midnight. I am going to do this again next weekend, but everyone will be in t-shirts and jeans this time and not worrying about working up a sweat before going out on the town, plus I'll get the kinect going too, I anticipate many laughs from Dance Central.

Anyways, happy new year to you all, I hope it was a good one. I for one am going to get breakfast in a mild attempt to stave off the hangover that is sure to be hitting me in the next hour or so.