Best Buy Run

I'd meant to see Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Sky High when they were in the theaters. Since I didn't get the chance, I'm fairly excited that they're now on DVD. I'm not looking for great acting, but I'm certain I'll be entertained. Especially with Sky High. Who doesn't wish they could be a superhero?

Family Guy, mostly inappropriate but all funny. If you're not laughing, then you're dead. If you're offended, get a grip.

March of the Penguins, I wanted to see what the fuss was all about. Probably should have rented but I have high hopes.

Media Catch-Up

The BF and I have been ticking off our movie must-sees for the holiday season.

Last week, we caught the fourth year at Hogwarts with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. No surprises there if you've read the book. A visually, spectacular movie although a bit on the dark, understandable as this is where the HP series goes dark. The movie is a bit long if you're not a fan of the book, a bit short if you were. They skimped out on a lot of details and side stories, most of which I've been trying to piece together from memory. It could be possible I'm confusing it with the next book.

Notable is Ralph Fiennes, who puts in a good show as You Know Who.

A solid and entertaining movie, with eye candy to boot.

As every gay blogger, who's seen Goblet, will attest, Viktor Krum is dreamy.

However, my immediate impression of him, wearing a tanktop by the lakeside, followed by a gaggle of girls, "Boy, you need to work on those triceps some." Sorry, catty and shallow of me.

This week's movie was Rent. I'd had the pleasure of seeing the play with the original cast and I felt the movie was to it. My only complaint is, while the main songs were fairly intact, a lot of the minor interplay between the characters was changed, some of it completely left out. I was musically playing out the original cast recording in my head, comparing it to the movie. Trust me, I knew where there were changes/omissions. Understandably, the alterations were to help the movie flow better, but I liked much of the lost interactions.

I'm thoroughly pleased that the movie makes the musical and its message, accessible to everyone, since not everyone can or would catch the play.

On to anime, oh just for a short update.

With all the anime, I've got on DVD being ripped down for iPod (it seems to be all I do these days), I'm watching some anime I've downloaded on torrents.

At the suggestion of Neal, my enabler and fellow otaku, is Mushishi. It's not my usual, screaming Japanese kid piloting big ass robot fare, but it has my attention. It's a very haunting, spiritual anime and has an X-files feel to it. Thanks Neal for getting me stuck on another one.

Currently, watching the latest from Hayao Mizayaki and Studio Ghibli's Howl's Moving Castle. Absolutely fantastic animation with beautifully rendered backgrounds. If you open your mind and heart, the endearing story touches you and draws you in. Very Mizayaki.

Turkey, hold the booty shaking.

It's been a four day, long weekend. Usually it's a perfect opportunity to plan a few nights out clubbing and/or rabble-rousing. Nothing like New York City in general, especially on a holiday weekend such as Thanksgiving. I could party from day one till the last day. Interrupted momentarily by the requisite Thanksgiving dinner with the BFs family, I'd pretty much had the all this time to myself to do with as I pleased.

Getting loaded up on turkey, only to head out dancing, well, that isn't my idea of fun. If memory serves me, I haven't enjoyed clubbing during the Thanksgiving holiday. So rather than be disappointed, I shelved the idea. I couldn't muster up the desire to tromp around the dark innards of a club. I'd considered Danny Tenaglia and DJ Behrouz's Angels of Love party at Crobar, Friday night. After my last two experiences there, I'd had enough of Crobar, the lines, the general insanity which comes with a large club experience, the rudeness, No energy or the tolerance for it.

Some intial reports are, the party was a blast. Darn. While I'm content at having done nothing but relax, admittedly, I feel a wee bit guilty about NOT going. Yeah, I still have that sense that I'm missing out, but missing out on what? Sigh. I need this break to figure that out. Not ready to hang up my dancing shoes yet.

All this negativity has left me melancholy. Seriously, I need a slap upside the head. Thanksgiving, I'm supposed to think about the things I'm thankful for and I have plenty.

"Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out."
- Fortune Cookie 2005

RIPOFF!!

I like Medium, one of the rare TV shows I enjoy sitting down to watch.
Last night's had a gimmick. Flashback/dream scenes were presented in 3D, enjoyed only if you'd acquired a pair of the 3D specs in TV Guide or had your own, which would be just weird.

The effect was cool. Things fell, flew, or sprayed at you through the screen.

However, it wasn't enough to hide the fact that the primary story/plot was a blatant ripoff of the movie "Changeling," one of my favorite ghost stories EVER.

I don't want to spoil "Changeling" for anyone who'll want to see it but trust me, Medium totally ripped it off. Bad writers, bad. I'm willing to forgive so long as they come up with more episodes that freak me out as they usually do. Just don't troll from what I know.

XHo-hum.

Have you heard? The Xbox 360 is out today, official world release.

I didn't get one.

"How can that be, evilBuddha? You didn't have it pre-ordered. That's unlike you, you who covets all that is new and techy, acquiring such items posthaste!!!" You might say.

True, very true. A few reasons…

Firstly, when it finally came to mind at the beginning of October, I'd missed my chance at getting the 360 at launch.

Second, have you seen the launch game list? By my measure, it is paltry. Okay maybe I'm being nitpicky. There are 18 games. Perhaps its a good mix of everything, but nothing is a standout. Odd for a nextgen machine. No? Looking on Xbox 360 IGN, the highest reviewed game got a 9 out of 10 and the lowest got 5.9 out of 10. I don't see how anyone can see that as positive, it's downright dismal.

I'm extremely underwhelmed.

Sure, eventually I'll get it. There's no doubt. I'm just not rushing. Seriously.
The software support isn't there. I don't think the launch games push the 360, at ALL.
The demo of King Kong is yawn-tastic. If the 360 is so advanced, why is Kong a blocky ape? COD2 is visually goodlooking but not necessarily my cup-o-tea.

There isn't a game that screams, PLAY ME!

For now, the Xbox 360 would be a hardware upgrade to play my current Xbox library.

I'll stick with the Xbox until further notice.

ADDITION: Almost forgot to recount a 360 launch story told to me. Friend P, who shall be dubbed 'geek greater than me' for the while being, went to TRU, Toys R Us for the uninitiated, this morning at 6AM. He was #14 of thousands as I understand. At 8AM, a TRU staffer inform ed everyone on queue that if you didn't have a 'ticket,' you could not buy an Xbox 360. P tells me, NO ONE had a ticket.

Insanity ensued.

Cops were called in to restore order.

Tickets, as P learned, were handed out the day before at TRU and only if you happened to be there. Nice job TRU, you get the evilBuddha Jackass of the Week award. Hmmm… that sounds like something I could do regularly. We'll shorten it to EJOTW.

Best Buy Run.

New release Tuesday.

Be like me and pick these up:




Other acquisitions from my new, favorite DVD purchase site, DVD Empire:

Whew!

Breathing a sigh of relief as my first major hurdle of the holiday season is nearly over.

The holiday party invites are almost done!!!

All I've got to do now is the actual printing, accenting the envelopes, make the vellum invite inserts (YIKES!!) and manufacturing which includes the hand scoring and cutting, folding and ultimately, stuffing the aforementioned envelopes. Sounds like a lot but it's all cake compared to the angst I felt coming up with something that felt appropriate and worked well. I am my own worst critic. Of course, I'm not completely happy, but the BF has stated, "Our friends are going to cry." That's promising. I think.

We've to go over the list of invitees. Oops. That needs to be done, so that I can print the envelopes before stuffing. ARRRGh.

Still, a sigh of relief. So relieved that as opposed to jotting notes into my pad on the train home, I pulled out the PSP for some gaming fun. Heh. Almost myself again.

If I had to have a Puerto Rican girlfriend…

…then let her be Michelle Rodriguez.



I've always had a weakness for the latinos and why should it be different for the latinas. I once said that I'd go "straight" for Jennifer Lopez. I mean look at that ass! But honestly, all the stories about her diva nonsense. Um… sorry… only room for one queen in my relationships. Plus, I'm too much of a pole smoker.

I used to confuse Michelle with the woman who played Pvt. Vasquez on Aliens.

Remember her…






I know, totally different decades… but still, a tough "chica" with guns… rowr…
Turns out, she's a good Jew… Jenette Goldstein. GIVE THAT WOMAN AN OSCAR!!!

Back to Michelle…

I've always been drawn to a strong-minded and strong-willed woman. Any wonder why I went homo? and Michelle is no exception. She's great. Although getting cast in the tough latina roles doesn't necessarily elevate your star standing (see Fast and the Furious, S.W.A.T. and Resident Evil) but she's finally landed a good one on LOST.

NO, I DID NOT KNOW SHE WAS IN BLUE CRUSH… I DON'T WANT TO KNOW ABOUT BLUE CRUSH.

Let's move on…

Michelle has got the role of Ana Lucia Cortez, a survivor of Oceanic Flight 815, tail section , seat 42F. She ain't perfect, but she's a tough cookie.

I still like Kate but seriously, she's got to sh*t or get off the pot and Ana Lucia has come to stir the pot.

um… ew… I didn't mean for that to sound scatological but it did.

Oh well…

I likey Michelle. Not to mention, Sawyer's her bitch.

Just one more game… please?

I swear, It'll be the last one.

Chuckle.

Sorry, I couldn't resist after reading this article…
PC Gaming Should Be Classified As 'Addiction'

A cursory search on google with 'gamer' and 'death" yielded the following results:

Death of a game addict
Gamer deaths raise addiction issues
Second gamer dies after massive binge

As I scan through these articles again, it is sobering. They may not be abusing drugs, but people are doing serious harm to themselves. It would be pathetic if it weren't so immensely sad.

I'm not poking fun at addiciton. I won't pretend to know all the reasons for addiction, but I understand the nature of the beast. I've looked into its eyes. From my POV, it begins with an escapist journey, a hollow pursuit. Nothing is greater a hollow pursuit than video games. It is pure fun and folly, but anything taken to extremes, can become all too consuming. Moderation is the key. Abstinence isn't always possible. I'm talking about the larger topic of addiction, not just video game addiction.

In regards to extremes, of any kind, leading to addiction, I look at it like this: if it hampers me from earning a living and supporting myself, takes me away from the people I love, is life threatening, then it adds no value to my world, my REAL world.

Life is too precious to be wasted obsessing on any one thing. There's a whole world out there. Unplug. Disconnect. Detox. Breathe. Go live.

Unsureness

Has anyone seen my ego?

I've been severely lacking in confidence lately. Being a Leo, that's a very, very bad thing. My id and superego have been at odds with each other. Neither is winning but I'm losing.

Has anyone seen my ego? Please tell it to call home, I miss it.

I'm feeling lost without something to ground me, to assure me. I question everything I'm doing, I question how I'm thinking. I have too many questions and no answers.

I've been having those dreams again, the ones where I'm running through subway tunnels, dodging trains and third rails. In them, I have to get somewhere but where? Even though I'm dreaming, there's a sense of familiarity. In the last dream, I took control, realizing I know how to get out of this. I found someone else trying to get out too. Strangely enough, I think I know who it is, but I'm not certain. He followed me around, through a marble lobby. Through glass doors, we arrived in a white room with gilded walls. I walked up to a safe, a familiar safe that I knew how to open. "You're going to set-off the alarm," he pleaded but I continued. With the turn of a golden screw, the door popped. I heard movement in the hallway, shadows racing towards us. I calmly pulled out two pendants, handing one to my faceless companion. Somehow I knew, I couldn't wear this pendant with my jade buddha. I removed it, throwing away the chain but holding fast to my buddha. Putting on the pendant, the dream faded and I awoke.

Vivid huh? I wish I could remember all of them like this but it's usually the useful ones I recall.

Back to "Where is my ego?"

I can't even take comfort in the things that make me happy: BF, dancing, PSP, video games, robots, anime. I've been going through the motions.

But…

…I think I know how to fix me. The way I'm feeling is probably because I feel pressure to create this holiday card/invite.

I'm putting all this angst on myself.

Yeah, seems kinda silly huh? My mind is such a fragile thing. I pour myself into it.Until the card gets done, I won't feel happy about anything else. I would like to think I have time, but it's quickly dwindling.

Sigh.

Just have to breathe and get down to business. Wish me luck.

Weekend This and That

I should give up on planning any sort of weekend activity. Plans made in advance, fall apart faster than you could replace them.

My Friday night plans disintegrated prior to leaving work. Had I known, I would have considered heading out with Joe to hear his friend, DJ Jerry Bonham, open for Paul Van Dyk at Roxy (shudder). Influencing factors were: previous plans were still going ahead, I'm currently disillusioned with the big club experience, straight kids are sloppy. Paul Van Dyk has a notoriously huge following and while I'm fairly unfamiliar with the actual demographic breakdown, all signs point to a straight majority. It's not to say that he doesn't have a gay following… but they're definitely in the minority. It's also not to say that having an all gay crowd would make for a better club experience either. Oh look… I've written myself into a corner.

Friday ended up being a quiet night. It was a very cold night, perfect for staying toasty indoors, ordering in, watching a movie and snuggling. Okay, maybe I didn't do the snuggling part, that just gets too warm.

Saturday, there were small errands, one of which was going into the city with the BF and JJ's car to help O & M move stuff into storage. O was still sleeping (he had a late night). We grabbed a cup of coffee with M afterwards and chatted. I hit the gym afterwards for a cardio workout. I had to stop since I was over-caffeinated after my Starbuck's Venti drip and the Thermo-burst Energy Pills I had taken prior to leaving Brooklyn. My heart felt like it was about to burst.

Afternoon, I met back up with the BF and his family to celebrate his mother's birthday. Sigh. Have to play nice with the In-Laws.

The evening, I'd planned on hitting the Roxy (shudder) with Robocub to hear DJ Paulo, whom Robocub has spoken highly of. To date, I have yet to hear him. B & C scheduled their son's baptism for Sunday afternoon. It was best not to be exhausted and tired.

Saturday evening - Quiet. Yawn.

Sunday was the baptism, followed by the gathering of family and friends at B & C's for food and drink. The BF was leaving for SF for business that evening. We killed time at B&C's before I dropped him off at JFK.

Sunday evening, I'd loosely planned on meeting up with Mike P. for beers at the Eagle and after doing nothing all weekend, I was hellbent on doing so. While enroute, I called G to wish him a "Happy Birthday" and learned he was heading out to Cielo later to celebrate. I decided to tag along. We agreed to meet at the Eagle beforehand.

Things were looking up.

First stop was the Eagle, where I ran into G first and hung out for a beer. Mike P. was hanging by the DJ booth (he texted me his location). We chatted some and I ran into my friend O, not completely surprising but a nice plus.

Side Note: Do most men at the Eagle, when they "acknowledge" they have an interest in you, just stop and gawk? in hopes that you'll say something first? I had that happen several times where I was walking through the crowd and men stopped in their tracks and looked at me. It's a nice ego stroke but I find that to be a tad passive.

Anyway, G was raring to get to Cielo. He was dancing in place. I finished my beer and we excused ourselves to head over to Cielo.

The party was called Fresh Fruit, a regular party hosted by DJ Steve Travolta and Quentin Harris. The venue was in swing when we arrived, occupied by some out-of-towners, looking for a good time and the dance freaks. It was a nice eclectic crowd with a great vibe. The music was awesome and made me dance quite a bit.

G bounced around saying hello. This was his space. I was just visiting.

I don't know why it is that I don't go to Cielo more often. I'd been there once, had a blast and enjoyed the space very much. It is very intimate with a good sound system. Intimate also means that you can definitely feel when someone is checking you out. More ego stroking with none of the payoff.

By 1AM, I'd had enough. Well, not really… but I needed to get home and get to sleep.

I had driven into the city. That worked out to be more convenient and not so difficult to manage. Paced myself: one beer, one bottle of water, dance, repeat.

Sunday, completely unscripted. Fun. There's something to be said for spontaneity.

Annoyed.

Opening the AOL browser splash page this morning, I was immediately greeted with the headline '_______ is forever Lost,' totally giving away the character that was killed off last night's Lost, an episode I have yet to watch!!!

Thanks AOL/Time Warner, you bunch of fucknuts!!!!

Grumble. Grumble.

It should be noted that now, it's been reduced to a minor report in their entertainment section. Perhaps other annoyed people told them that it is really bad form.

Hallmark, do you hear me knocking?

Second week of November, I've officially entered my holiday gauntlet. Thanksgiving is barely a blip on the radar as my sights are set on the Christmas holiday season, specifically Dec. 17, the date of the BF's and my annual holiday party.

Our party is the BF's and my gift to all of our friends. We invite upwards to 100 people, expecting about half of them to show, at least. Usually more than half do show and that's fine, making for a very crowded but fun time. It's a big to do for the BF and I, but it's nice to get ALL of our friends together. The intermixing of people from different aspects of our lives makes for interesting interactions. A good time is had by all.

Actual preparations for the party don't begin till the first week of December, including but not limited to the acquisition of mass amounts of alcohol and beer, purchasing of food stuff and ordering of prepared foods. None of that will happen until the holiday cards/invites are completed and sent out, the sole responsibility of which rests on my shoulders.

Sure, we could buy pre-made holiday cards/invites. Yawn. How boring! I'd taken it upon myself to make the cards and invites for our holiday party, from concept to finishing for that personal touch.

"You wrote that?!?" is a regular remark I hear from people receiving my card. It's complimentary to me and dismaying. Why are people so surprised?

The invite has to be done before the last week of November for snail mail. I could use evite, but again, I'm going for that tactile and personal connection with our friends. A physical card means that much more to them and to me.

It is a labor of love. Most times, I feel rushed, but it gets done. Sometimes, I just want to get it done and out in time. All the time, I don't feel completely satisfied with it. I am my own worst critic.

But it's that time again, time to screw on the thinking cap, bring out the heart of a poet and make something sweet, "but not too sweet, that'll make people sick."

With that, I leave you with the last few years' holiday cards.

2001

2002

2003

2004

Sith = Charlotte

As I suspected and not nearly as exciting as I'd hoped.

Read Here.

Must Resist

Sorry for the recent lack of posts. I've been distracted, thanks to this item.

Initially, I resisted. Much of that was due in part to the fact that I'd already had an iPod. Ok, iPodS. Do I use them all? Yes. Can I justify them all? Yes. Do I need them all? No. I can certainly live without some of them but why should I? Anyway, two weeks ago, the new iPods were announced, sparkly and new. My co-workers and I marveled at the inclusion of video. However, I resisted, really I did. I didn't have a need for it and didn't want to pony up another $400 for yet another iPod. I had a 60gb iPod, fairly new and barely used and there was no way I could truly justify another, even if it did have video. My manager asked if I'd be interested in selling, but immediately retracted the offer since he wanted the video capabilities of the new iPod.

My resolve held up until last weekend when it waned. I blame MacBoyX. Hmmm, upon reflection, that's unfair. I am a technophile. I own that fact. He's not completely to blame but he's definitely an enabler. MacBoyX asked me for some advice/assistance in figuring out how to rip some anime DVDs to iPod video content. He'd had gotten his iPod via Shanghai I believe. Using Handbrake, he was having trouble. In helping, I went off on a tangent application, Forty-Two Plus VX, ripping anime that I owned. I was frustrated by some anomalies, but it was challenging. Moreover, I was astonished at the relative ease of use.

You see where the seeds of my downfall began.

Slowly I was enticed by the thought of having my video library at my fingertips. Ditching DVDs and having my anime in one place was very attractive like eliminating the need to carry CDs, the reason I'd come to want my first iPod.

Sure, Forty-Two could make content ready for my PSP but all I had was a 512mb memory stick. What could I possibly store on that? Additional memory sticks would be good, but still limiting. A 2gb memstick would cost up to $300, so not worth it.

Monday at lunch, I walked to the Apple store. I looked, I touched. Sigh. I couldn't and I didn't.

"Do you want to buy my iPod?" I proffered to my manager upon returning to the office, not expecting any serious consideration. "How much?" he asked. I gave a great price which included the 2 year Applecare contract and a case. Fifteen minutes after the handshake, sealed the deal, I was back at the Apple store.

Needless to say, it has been an iPod love fest. So far, I've converted over "Samurai 7" and Godannar. I've been watching those on the train. This has been good practice as the BF decided an iPod would be a great gift, for a very, very good friend. (Sorry, not taking any new applications for "very, very good friends." Hopefully, this doesn't spread around as iPods are the exceptional gift as opposed to the rule. ) So, I've gotten another one and as a matter of course, I have to give her some starter media. *start sarcasm* Gotta love gifts that keep giving back to me. Great!! *end sarcasm* Truthfully, she's the BF's best friend and was truly helpful during his father's funeral.

That's my update. Back to ripping. Later.

Sith Tuesday

Query: Why are the discs called "CHARLOTTE_DISC1" and "CHARLOTTE_DISC2"?