ZOM[bie]G. Every ounce of brainpower I have that isn't currently occupied by my job or by being a good dad is consumed by the awesome Plants vs. Zombies. What a fantastic game. Funny. Requires thought. Not too easy, not too hard. Lots of fun modes and content. Only $9.99 on Steam (currently $6.99 during Steam's summer sale). I can't stop thinking about what level I want to complete next and I can't get the music by Laura Shigihara out of my head. Another gaming masterpiece. I just can't keep up with them all. I've said it before: What an exciting time to be a gamer!

Speaking of Steam's summer sale, I've finally gotten around to buying the original Half-Life. For $1.99. Half-Life originally came out around the time that my interest in FPSs for PC was starting to wane, so I never played it back in the day. I tried a demo, but having come from playing games like Doom and Duke Nukem 3D on my Gravis Gamepad, I wasn't yet accustomed to or enamoured with free-look. (Having to aim horizontally AND vertically while being attacked!? Why make it so complicated!?) But at last, I feel that I need to go back and see for myself what makes Gordon Freeman so great. (He did win Gamespot's Greatest Game Hero competition after all.) In this case, my aversion to games centred around firearms is being overridden by my interest in highly-acclaimed, groundbreaking games. :)

Quit Coffee Month update: I've done it. I've quit drinking coffee. Today's my first workday without coffee. No cravings (yet). No headaches (yet). Of course, the black tea I'm now drinking is helping me through. :) Still, in recognition of my achievement, here is my trophy: No More Grinding (BRONZE TROPHY): Stop drinking coffee within a month.

I'm sure there's a better name for that trophy. Suggestions? [Note: I just found out that Tales of Vesperia actually has an achievement called 'No More Grinding.' Go figure.]