Snarf... the Original Pokemon?

While talking with a very good friend this weekend I got real happy and excited and, as I am known to do, I kinda just smiled and said "snarf snarf." Think of this as one of my happy sounds. Anyhoo, after having done this he looked at me and said, "you know, Snarf was the original Pokemon" and I realized that he may in fact be onto something here.

I mean, let's just look at the basic facts. He uses his name in his speech all the time. He's cute and cuddly (though notably older than your modern-day Pokemon). He is a sidekick of sorts to other companions. And, well, he's just everyone's favorite... isn't he?

And for those of you nonbelievers who say "Well Snarf said more than just his name and Pikachu just chimed Pika Pika all day," I present to you... Meowth.

Tell me it isn't true.

Braaaiin Food: What is your favorite childhood cartoon character?

And I Didn't Even Try

So lately my little girl's favorite movies have been Coraline, Nightmare Before Christmas, The Corpse Bride, and James and the Giant Peach. I want it to be known that I never pushed any of these movies upon her, she just stumbled upon them on her own. And I actually had concerns that Coraline might scare her, but she just watches it with glee. What does this all mean? My little Bean has style. And I didn't even have to try. Not to mention, she seems to have a flair for picking films of a similar genre. Regardless, I'm proud. The perfect mix of the dark and the light has been brought upon this world and thrives. squee.

Food for thought: What are some good movies you would share with an almost-four-year-old?

Yes, I am a Gamer

There has been some good amount of debate between me and my friends about whether or not I am a gamer. The fact is, I love games. I may not study each game I play down to its most microscopic minutia, and no I don't game for 10 hours a day as I am a working single mom and I have other things that, sadly, I must prioritize above gaming. However, I do collect games and I follow several different franchises. I do love to read gaming news and talk about the latest and greatest developments and plot twists. I do play about 2 hours a day, minimum, and more when I can sneak it in. I do love board games, RPGs, and all types of gaming.

But, apparently, I am not a true gamer because I rarely ever complete a game. And futhermore, you better believe I'm not going to play a game twice.

Now there are a rare few that I can claim a victorious defeat over. Dragon Age, Resident Evil, Bioshock, Streets of Rage and Ms. Pac Man. Each of those games tremble at my name, for I have completed them and felt glorious as I had done so. But honestly, I feel little satisfaction upon a game's completion. In fact, I moreoften feel let down. I mean, all that time and effort, the addiction to the story and characters and now it's gone? That's no fun. That's not a reward. Hell, the Bioshock ending wasn't even cool (none of them were, actually, as I went ahead and checked youtube for the alternate endings). I enjoy the games I play immensely. Then I get distracted, start another game, and go right back to the one again. At any given time I am most likely in the midst of no less than 10 games. Sure, there's one I'm playing more regularly (as listed in the Braaainn section of my blog here), but really I'm always halfway through several and bouncing around as the need and the situation arises.

Does this make me less of a gamer? What about the fact that I enjoy watching someone play a great story as much as I take pleasure in playing it myself? Many nights have been spent at my best friend's house, watching her play Bioshock, Resident Evil 4, or Dragon Age on her own. They are single player games, but I still feel like part of the action. The games engage me, and I have a spectacular time. And then we find ourselves at Starbucks on later days, talking about these games. Am I not a gamer if I talk about the games I play all the time?

You may mock me for finding Portal too challenging to complete. Doesn't bother me, I watched someone play it through to the end. You may tease me for failing at pretty much anything first person shooter. But the fact is I adore Zelda, Zombies, Alistair, and Sora - just to name a few - and call me what you will, but I truly believe I'm a gamer at heart.

Food for thought: How do you really feel after you beat a game?

Who'd Have Guessed There'd Be More Numbers?

Went with a good friend to see I Am Number Four last night, and I will start by being honest: I enjoyed it. The main guy was kinda cute, the effects were fun. All in all it was a good, basic, story with excitement and potential. You know, like Twilight. In other words, loved the premise, but I would pretty much punch anyone in the face if they couldn't figure out the ending well in advance.

So this leads me to ponder the question, what is it that draws me to these "teenie" movies about all the supernatural stuff I hate to love? The stories are so darn simple, the endings are so easy to see. There are a few grown-up versions out there of things. Interview with the Vampire, Shaun of the Dead, some amazing stories by Neil Gaiman. In their own rites, these are some killer stories, done well, that weren't aimed at tweens lusting for things that we should not, in all sensibility, lust. However, take a look at the bookstore lately. All the good stuff is sitting in the young adult aisle. The previews are for Little Red Riding Hood (aka Twilight with a wolf and a red cape), Beastly, and other such fare. And yet, I have to say with all honesty, I want to see each of these.

What's the end result? I lose $20 to tickets and snacks and sit there enthralled by a story I have heard or foreseen a hundred times before. Why oh why do we do this? I honestly can't say. I think there's something in we adults that is still affected by teenly lust and adrenaline. But one thing's for sure... it's definitely fun.

And for those of you I need to punch in the face, let's just say I'm sure there will be an I Am Number Five movie somewhere in our future.

Food for thought: What's your real opinion on all of these tween stories?

Return to the Land of the Living

Who knew that I, too, could return to an active and happy life of social normalcy? Or at least what I imagine to be normal. I'm single and actually loving it, I'm working on my budget and know where I stand and where I want to be, I've reacquainted myself with my friends who I horribly - but unintentionally - abandoned over the past year, and I'm happily rediscovering every single thing I loved about life. Books! Video Games! Music! Going Out! And here is where I shall detail all of those wonderful things. I hope you enjoy it because all this stuff is awesome to me.


Food for thought: What would you like to see on this blog?