The Blogtastic Blogfest That Is Getmeoutofthis.net!

That’s it. As of today, I’m free for the summer!

Of course, I’m not really free, right? I think I made approximately 4 billions promises of things I’m going to get done over the summer. I’m going to run a DnD campaign, I’m going to do an LP, I’m going to catch up on tons of TV shows, I’m going to play many long RPGs, I’m going to relax, I’m going to start the real life experience, I’m going to work a lot of hours at Kohl’s… so, so many things. So maybe it isn’t as much of a break after all. I don’t know.

In any case, I am free now. It’s lovely, honestly. Completely lovely. And maybe now that it’s done, I’ll be able to write you a bloeg better than this one in the future, hm? You have a good day.

First off, let’s just say that I’m glad I bought this lappy. It’s made class a lot easier and it’s made working with other people on projects possible. It’s also just nice to be able to use a computer in bed if I’m sick, or just want to watch some Giant Bomb videos while I lay down. It’s great. I didn’t pay too much, and I think it’s been all positive, in general.

Still, if I had to do it all over again, I would probably do it a bit differently.
Basically, when I decided to go with this laptop, I went “Oh, look, it’s pretty decent in stats. I’m going to care about that, so this is a good option. Also, it’s widescreen, and I do really like my widescreen monitor. This’ll be perfect!” Those assumptions are pretty completely wrong. Although I’m glad I could play LoL on this thing when I needed to, it’s not really a significant benefit. I’m not doing much gaming on this thing. I guess when Starcraft 2 comes out, it’ll probably be nice enough that I can run things on the lowest settings on here and LAN party, but still, a very minor benefit.

What I’m really using this lappy for is being portable. I’m carrying it around with me. I’m whipping it around in bed and looking at things.
What I needed was portability.

I look at Cara. She has a 13″ Macbook Pro. I’m not really jealous of the Macbook part, but the 13″ part makes me feel silly for having this huge thing. She can put her laptop in her purse. I had to search and search for a bag to actually fit this thing. Her laptop is light and easy to carry. I get tired hauling this thing around campus. Since I’m not doing anything intense on this, there’s really no reason why I had to have this big, heavy machine, and I’m jealous of the smaller machines of my friends.

Let’s not diss this laptop. It’s pretty great, and if you did occasional bouts of heavy computing and only wanted a laptop, this thing would be great. However, what I wanted was a portable computer, I see now, not a second computer. I made bad decisions.

Oh well, it’s water under the bridge. I have this and it works fine. Maybe by the time this is completely outdated or broken, I will be smart enough to take these kinds of considerations into account when I purchase a replacement. Still, though, it’s so awesome to have one. I just maybe should have thought more about actual use cases before I bought.

It was alright.

This situation was so momentousness that it caused Kevin to text message me “What the hell are you doing in a bar?!” That’s how serious this situation was. But it was Airek’s birthday so even though I didn’t understand the “bar” and didn’t think I’d have anything to do there, I went ahead and went. Which was good! Got to wish him a happy birthday and talk and play a little pool and had fun! Still, I escaped fairly early, and that was good too. I hope they all had a good time, though.

Seriously, though, I guess I just don’t get it. There’s nothing about a bar that really makes it seem like a place to hang out. I suppose it’s claims to fame are 1) It’s got alcohols and 2) It’s a public setting where you could meet people. I guess that’s all it needs to work. However, I really don’t care about either of those things, so I just don’t really have any need to ever go to one on my own. I went and enjoyed myself this time, but once the ratio of people I know to people I don’t was skewed heavily towards “people I don’t,” I departed. I’m sure all those people are completely great, don’t get me wrong, I just… didn’t want to deal with the awkwardness of trying to engage them when they’re already in a very strongly defined social group. I guess I’m just antisocial or some shit. Whatever.

There was also another strange concern while I was there. I came in with Cara, which was cool, because she is cool. But while we were playing pool, this guy drinking with a girl commented on the game a few times, and it occurred to me that he probably thought we were a couple.
Now, I like Cara a lot. There’s nothing the least bit insulting about being considered to be dating her, even if that is in no way the case, and certainly nowhere in our future. But it was more… being considered a heterosexual couple that bothered me. I could feel particular social assumptions about me being male being put on me. I’m pretty sure he thought I was throwing the game, for instance. (I wasn’t, I was just playing completely like shit, and Cara was on fire) It bothered me a little. Not enough to get in a huff about it, but apparently enough to mention it on a bloeg.

Anyway, that was my bar experience. Afterwards, we got an ice cremes at Port Cape and then I went home probably right when the actual party was starting. Huzzah. It was fine, and if I had a good reason like that party, I don’t doubt I may end up at a bar again. But there was nothing about it that made me go, “Damn, why am I not going to bars all the time!” Even if I wanted to drink, it would be better at someone’s place with a few friends, you know? I dunno.

Dear Mom,

I really do love you.

I know we’ve been clashing more than ever nowadays. I know I’m making life choices you don’t really agree with or understand, and I know that’s hard for you to deal with. I know it’s making us butt heads more than I want, and I believe more than you want.

It really frustrates me.

What you think of me, and that you’re there for me… that means the world to me, Mom. I get very upset worrying that this is going to drive a rift between us that I’m not going to be able to fix. I need you there, and more important, I want you there. I’m trying to explain it in a way you can understand. I’m trying to do things the right way. I’m trying to be the least amount of problem that I can be, but I know sometimes that isn’t enough.

Let me just say this again: I want you in my life. It’s not some arbitrary relationship I feel I have to keep because I’m your child. You’ve done so much for me, and though you can be frustrating at times, you are such an awesome person, Mom. I want you around. I want to share my life with you. I want you there to celebrate with me when things go right, and I want to be there for you when things go badly. I want to fix your computer, troubleshoot your technical issues, interpret documents, I want to do all these things because they’re such a small way I can show you how much I appreciate all you’ve done for me. Sure, sometimes they’re at a bad time, and I don’t seem happy about it. A lot of the times it’s me being pissed at the technology, I promise. If I really didn’t want to do it, I’d never come downstairs. I’d never come help. I want to help. I want to be there for you. I love you.

It’s your day today, and I hope I make it decent. I hope we can keep having moments of togetherness without silly things getting in the way. I hope we’ll always be in each other’s lives in some capacity. I hope we can both understand each other.

I hope you have a wonderful Mother’s Day.

Hey, I follow LPs, right? Here’s a video one I’ve been watching. It’s about a group of people who, due to their own insanity, are playing through the complete pile of glitchy, badly designed garbage that is Sonic the Hedgehog 2006.

Seriously, it’s honestly just amazing that the game is that bad. Sonic is a big name, and it’s like literally no effort went into this game. Sonic Adventure and such was weird, and not good in some ways, but you can tell a lot of care and time when into it, and it was, for the most part, playable. It’s amazing that this game was played all the way through, and I’ve only watched the first 6 videos or so at this point. It is a miracle of a trainwreck, and it needs to be experienced.

The LPers are pretty decent, too. They’re recording this like it’s a big party, and you get that vibe. It’s maybe not the wittiest commentary, but you really feel like you’re with a group of dudes who are utterly flabbergasted that this game exists, much less that they’re making themselves play through it. It’s fun.

I think it’s worth watching. Enjoy it if you do. I’m going to keep going. Sorry about the lazy post, but I’m trying to finish things up homework, grading, and LP-wise. Soon things will get back to normal. Ish. I guess they haven’t really gotten TOO not normal. Maybe I’m more awesome than I thought.

Anyway, LPs! Yay!

On Monday, I had my last meeting with Missy about the semester before I left for the summer. There is a chance (it’s not for sure, but I’m certainly trying) that by the time I get back from summer break to teach again, things are going to be different. Transitions will be in full swing. Etc. I decided that you don’t tell people this sort of thing over e-mail, and thus I need to talk to her in person before all that got started. This was likely going to be my only chance until I set up another meeting. I was going to tell her.

Now, Missy is awesome, and it really was no big deal when it happened. She understood. She said she may have to ask some “stupid questions” to really get it, but that’s a perfectly fine response. Still, I got so worked up over it, it was making me sick. I felt worked up and anxious all day afterwards, too. It was a somewhat big step to tell my boss that, right? Something like that?

I am just so wrapped up in anxiety. I cannot remember a time, besides those initial fights with Natalie way back when, and maybe when I broke up with her, where I have felt so nonstop awful for such a long period of time. These last few weeks have been deadly with nervousness, and honestly, I’m really, really sick of it. I’d like to move on. I keep telling myself that once I finish all my homework the feeling will go away, but I’ve been knocking more and more of it out, and things haven’t improved, really.

It’s frustrating as fuck.

Basically, I’m really tired of being nervous and anxious, and if I’ve been an ass to you, I’m sorry. That’s my bad. I shouldn’t be like this. I really shouldn’t. I’ll handle it.

I’ll handle it.

I’ve been having some really bad mood day lately.

Uselessly, I’ve been trying to pin down why. I mean, I know that I have had a lot of shit on my plate recently. Lots of things are going on here at the end of the semester. But it seems like that’s just making it worse. It isn’t the cause. It feels like there’s something deeper behind it, that I can’t get to, and I can’t figure out. I try and I try to connect the dots and figure it out, but I fail. It’s so damn frustrating.

It’s like there’s a hollow place in my stomach, and then a pressure on my chest. It makes it hard to breathe, and sometimes I have to just stop, and focus on breathing for awhile. It’s really kind of annoying. Brer says it sounds like anxiety, so I’ve been using that word, but hell if I know.

Basically, yeah, if you’ve seen me looking like shit recently, it’s probably that which was going on. People have been asking me if I’m alright, so I feel like it’s been pretty bad this last week and whatnot. Which is annoying. I don’t want to bring people down with my stupidity. But what are you going to do, I guess. I’m doing what I can to combat it. I’m getting my work done, I’m seeing a doctor, and so on. Not like I can do much more than keep working on it.

Work work work, etc etc etc.

This means it’s time to repost one of my favorite JoCo songs. I mean, it’s traditional. Or something. So listen

The first of May means other things too, of course. Like the end of the semester looming above my head. As you’re reading this, I am probably screaming in frustration as I try to finish up all of my end of the semester projects. This is a weekend from hell, to be sure. All works and no play. But soon it’ll be done, and then summer will be here.

Summer. I can’t wait. So much shit to catch up on, and so much relaxing to do. It’ll be wondrous.

Until then, though, I’m still working crazy hard. I’m going to survive. I’m going to make it. But crazy work. I’m not out of the woods yet. I can’t go do fun things in the woods yet, even if the song suggests it is now time for them.

But soon. Oh yes. Soon. I can taste it.

Finally, I get to stop using my stocking mimic and use something new in the familiar department. What new would that be? Why, it’s this month’s IoTM, of course! The Baby Bugged Bugbear!

If you even look at the page, you’ll see why I quite like the Baby Bugged Bugbear. I enjoy kitchen sink familiars that do a wide variety of things and are constantly messing with combat and making things different. The Baby Bugged Bugbear fits this perfectly. It switches at random between Leprechaun, Ghuol Whelp, Fairy, and Volleyball, as well as gives you “bugged” items and sometimes fiddles with combat in weird ways. I’m especially glad it gets the Ghuol Whelp in there, as that’s an easy way to make me like something.

It’s also just really flavorful and cool. The general concept of a familiar being completely broken and constantly throwing up php errors, and that being it’s power, is just kind of completely awesome. It’s entertaining, and that is mucho important to me. That’s what I like out of stuff like this. I get IoTMs to increase my entertainment as I keep working through the game.

On top of it all, the familiar equipment lets people who care about tuning their familiars tune it to do more specific sorts of actions. You can make it act like a Fairy or Volley full time, if you’d like, although you have to zap the equipment to turn it into the full fairy version. This is cool for people who care about such things, but I don’t. I do, however, want to run for awhile in full fairy, because it has different bugged equipment drops when you have it set up that way, and I want them! I mean, there’s a container in there! That’s just neat!

Yeah, I think that the Bugged Bugbear is kind of a home run. This is pretty well exactly what I want from a familiar, and it doesn’t seem to be completely useless speed-wise, either. (By that I mean, you aren’t completely handicapping yourself by using it. I kind of doubt it’s going to end up being part of any serious speed run strategy, but eh, I know nothing of such things, so maybe I’m wrong.) I’m going to enjoy using it for this run, I think. It’s good stuff.

WET is not a very sexy game.

Seriously, with a name like WET, and the B-movie vibe the whole game has going for it, you’d think there would be all kinds of sex. But seriously, it is one of the least sexy games I’ve played in recent memory. It might star a female protagonist, but Rubi is unsexualized, seemingly by design.

First, let’s just look at her design. Here’s a reference photo. On first glance, maybe she seems like a sexy female protagonist. But Rubi is a very dirty person. Perhaps less so in that picture, but in game, her clothes seem caked with dirt. It seems clear that she lives in the middle of a desert junkyard, and it seems like it’s been a long, long time since she washed her clothes. Additionally, and it may just be an issue with modeling of her in-game assets, but it seems like they are stuck to her as an outlet of how dirty they are. They’re a part of her, and she is a filthy person. Her hair, similarly, seems very matted and dirty in game. It’s just not appealing.

There is a scene in the game where she is stripped down to her panties and a t-shirt. If this game was sexy, she would play the level this way. Nay, she would relish playing the level this way. However, Rubi cannot wait to get clothed again. This sequence is maybe 5 minutes long, and she rushes to redress. During the sequence, she is being brutally tortured. There’s no sex appeal there.

There is a scene where Rubi is being hit on by an odd older lesbian. It’s very clear from her body language what she is doing, but Rubi has absolutely no reaction. It’s not one of revulsion, or not being into it, nor it is playing along or being excited. She simply has no reaction whatsoever to these come-ons. There’s no element of sexuality from her side of the scene.

Even her “witty” in-game clips aren’t sexy. I mean, the one that sticks out in my mind is “Say goodnight, Gracie.” I guess I just don’t connect sexiness with George Burns.

All the iconography on the game would seem to suggest that Rubi is sexy. Hell, even the title, which has absolutely nothing to do with the actual game in any way, would seem to suggest that the player is supposed to take that away from the game. But it’s just not there, and it confused me why it wasn’t. It would have fit in the world. Nobody would have batted an eye at it. Were they really trying to make Rubi an actual character, and building that in as a character trait? The mind boggles at the possibility.