Handsome Boy Modeling School

The day before Christmas I received a package from an unknown source. Naturally I opened it, and to my surprise, footy pajamas were included within. Not knowing who they were from as there was no message nor invoice that didn't have my name on it, I promptly put them on. Whilst home I've been wearing them as much as possible.

As the holidays went on, I gave credit to many people:
Jennica.
Nope.
My Mom.
Nope.
My Mother-In-Law
Nicht.
Any of my In-Laws
Nein.
A secret admirer?
Darn.
My mistress?
She doesn't like me in pajamas.
Hmmm....

Oh well. Fearless and comfy, I continued to wear them.

Yesterday, I received a cryptic text message from my friend Ben. It went something like this:

"Hey dude. Blah blah blah. Did you get something strange in the mail?"

I replied:

"Darn, I was hoping my secret admirer was hotter..."

He responded:

"Blah blah blah. Actually, Shin Shin had the idea."

I thought, but didn't write:

"Shin Shin IS hotter than Ben. Yes!"

So thanks to Ben and Shin Shin of Eugene, Oregon on sending me doggy footy pajamas for Christmas. You guys rule. I'll try not to trip on the feet and cut my head open while wearing them, but I can't promise you anything.

Photos and Dapper looks: Kelly Murphy
Clothing: www.footedpajamas.com
Prop: Monchichi
Hair: Bed

This is a book for Superman!

So, my last post was rather confusing to most people what with its dork jargon and all, so I thought I'd talk about something we all have some history with...the holidays.
My wife is going to NY for the holidays to spend with her family, while I hold down the fort at home and spend the holidays with mine. So, my mother-in-law sent me some presents in the mail to be opened before Jennica leaves. I opened them tonight.
Inside the mailed package were many wrapped goodies; some traditional fare that I look forward to getting every year: new socks, some deodorant, a toothbrush, Ronco spray-on hair, gum, mints...err--waitaminute...

Anyway, the new BIG present this year was this:














This looks like a job for Batman!

Yeah, that's a DC comics pop-up book for kidults like myself. It has pop-up pages within pop-up pages within pop-up pages and a Bat Signal(c) that lights up. It has pop-up Wonder Woman. The final pop-up in the book is an ensemble cast of well known and obscure DC characters that rises off the page 12 inches. It rules.
The only downside? It's like 10 inches thick, so
when I carry it around I look really tiny. A small price to pay for such awesomeness.

Thanks Momma Cathy!
















All the pop-ups are even illustrated on the back as well as the front. And, yeah, that Bat-mobile transforms as you open the mini-page it's on.

Red Dead Redemption Thoughts and err...Feelings

I completed Red Dead Redemption's single player campaign over the weekend. I had taken some time away from it to start and finish some other games, but came back to it and knocked it out. Some things I took away:
1. This is the first Rockstar game I have ever finished. That means something.
2. I found myself enjoying the systems within the game through to the end. Meaning, even when I finished the game, there were still things I hadn't tried, and things I felt I wanted to do more. This is rare in a sandbox game, as usually, the systems all connect earlier, or are limited enough that I get sick of them well before finishing the game.
3. I REALLY enjoyed the last few hours of the story, and without spoiling it, recommend playing through it if you haven't already.
4. Horseback riding in this game draws much inspiration from Shadow of the Colossus. It's simple, elegant, and I would do it even if I didn't need to in order to get from point A to B.
5. I hate that I can't swim, and that even stepping in water deeper than my nipple results in instant death. I know this is used as a means of blocking the player's progress in the world, but sheesh! Lame. At least let me doggy paddle for a bit.
6. It becomes evident that the sandbox and the story clash with one another often; The story wants to frame John Marston in a particular light while the sandbox wants me to be able to express myself using John Marston as my "means" of expression. The story paints John as a renegade who has turned a new leaf, and just wants to reunite his family so he can become a rancher. But, the sandbox lets me kill whomever I want, however I want. Hogtie someone and carry them to the prairie, leaving them to die in the sun? Sure. How about then startling a herd of buffalo to trample that person? Check. Or, maybe simply shooting your opponents in a friendly game of poker in the head after they take you for all of your money? Go for it. Lasso and drag someone behind your horse through cactus infested desert? God yes. Just know that when the story resumes, you're a man on a mission to reunite his family and live peacefully, and the writers really want to tell a story that personally made me often feel like a hypocrite.
I'm honestly not sure how this could be remedied, other than changing the story based on how the player behaves in the greater sandbox, which may not tell as compelling a tale.
Regardless, the game is impressively broad and boldly beautiful at the same time. And, I haven't even touched the multi-player nor the Undead Nightmare expansion. Buy it if you haven't already, and are at all interested. This is well worth the 60 dollars.

Mommy wow! I'm a big kid now.

In my effort to be a better husband, I attempted to make Jennica dinner tonight...for the 1st time since we've been married.
Note that previous attempts at this (when I was still an ambitious lad and courting her), resulted in me scraping the burn off of a grilled cheese sandwich while her tomato soup from a can was getting cold. That's what ambition will get you. Stupid grilled cheese. I never get it right.

But, what with me being off work and all I figured I had a full day to prepare a meal that would otherwise take a skilled cook 2 hours. This should be no problem!

And actually, it wasn't. I even had time to nap, walk the dog, nap some more, and visit friends.

What did I make? A Moroccan stew in Jennica's Tagine. What's a Tagine? It's a clay pot and lid, with a hole at the top for venting. You put a bunch of ingredients into the bottom, cover it, and let them simmer. This particular stew turned out really well, and I'm proud of my efforts. What was in the stew?

Chicken marinaded in lemon juice, Tumeric, and garlic. I didn't know what was technically a "clove" of garlic and had to look this up.
Onions. Lots of Onions. I cried.
Harissa sauce (I made from scratch. Ha!)
Grapes...fun!
Artichoke Hearts. I heart them.
Cilantro. I had to look up how to chop this.
Chicken stock.
Some sugar and spices.
It's served over Couscous.

Kudos to Jennica for trusting me to use the sharp knives and for being patient. She rules.
No more "My First Kitchen" for me!

Photos below:

Hi-gher-Def Arlo

Here's a Hi-gher-Def version:

Arlo Murphiniti

It's been too long since I've posted anything, and I plan on correcting that. There are quite a few things I'd like to write about. But, first: A video I made...for my dog. Yes, this is what I do with my time off work.

Sad?
Yes!
But it's filling my withering soul.

Okay, Jennica...this is for you too... :)

Steel Battalion Sequel Announced!

http://www.giantbomb.com/steel-battalion-heavy-armor-debut-trailer/17-3231/


Holy, holy shit. This could be the perfect application to sell Kinects to core and hardcore gamers, as well as rejuvenate the Steel Battalion franchise (and maybe get it recognition) in the west. Kinect means the price of entry is lower (for those who have a Kinect), and the possibility is there for the player to use the controller, and apply Kinect functionality to special commands, communication, etc. Capcom publishing this makes me feel good, and From Software has mech game experience with ChromeHounds and Armored Core, but I hope they don't stray too far from what made the first games so cool; the simulation aspects, team play, etc. Anyway, I wanted to share this. Thanks for the link, Tim!