God Bless you, Video Games

Well, it's official: I have some sort of respiratory infection. I been sneezing lots and emitting yellow goo. Didn't you want to know that? Somehow, it gives me great pride to know that I sensed I was getting sick for several days beforehand--although maybe that was a self-fulfilling prophecy, yes I know. Anyway, now that I have actual symptoms instead of general malaise. . .it's less disconcerting. But aren't colds in the summer one of the lamest things ever?

So when last I typed, I posted my horoscope which told me to go do something illegal, crazy, lewd, or in general wild. The best I could come up with was playing Grand Theft Auto: Vice City on Ben's PS2. Holy bee-jesus, does that game rock super hard. And I want to list the reasons why:

1. Obviously, you get to steal cars all the time. Some are shiny, others are actually mopeds or golf carts.

2. Along with the general carjacking, you can run people over, or beat up them up, or get shot by bouncers with shotguns. Regardless of what lawlessness you indulge in, usually the police don't care, and even if they do, you can just go get a change of clothes and all is forgiven.

3. Some of the best games I've ever experienced are the ones that let you live out a cinematic experience. HALO let me feel like a colonial marine from ALIENS. Silent Hill 2 let me feel like an unwilling protagonist of any number of horror films. Fallout 2 made me feel like Mad Max. And of course, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic made me feel like a much cooler Jedi who also tried to make out with the pilot (I really tried, but all I got was a crappy I Love You. Bah). And what I'm getting at is that GTA: Vice City puts you straight into that nostalgic genre of snazzy crime dramas such a Miami Vice, Scarface, etc. It's a very immersive game. . .so tropical and slick, plus the music rocks my face clean off.

4. I am becoming a made man, through running over pizza delivery boys, inciting worker riots, and dropping off some druglord's hot daughter at a nightclub. I also threatened some jury members!!! Oh, and chainsawing some other guy in the street. I also have a cell phone.

Oh, I think I'm done gushing now. You probably already knew the game was awesome. My friend Chewie told me as much once, a year ago.

Also, picked up the first issue in the new X-men series "Astonishing X-men" (written in part by Joss Whedon, which is my impetus for buying it). It seems pretty darn good, and I'm having a fun time trying to pick out "whedonesque" elements in the storytelling, because I'm a huge, flaming dork. But hey, it makes me happy, and I need to follow more passions like that without shame.


In general, things are a little better. Work isn't being altogether satisfying: I'm carrying the double-edged sword of "not much to do." I'm feeling out of shape again, so trying to work working out into my schedule more. Trying to save money. Trying not to dwell on the past relationship. Trying to live honestly and without anxiety, because I've lived a good portion of mine own life in a haze of fear and floating thoughts of "I need to be doing more, and I'm not good enough for what I'm being paid for."