Dear Silent Hill: Shattered Memories

Dear Silent Hill: Shattered Memories,

You are the first scary game that I have ever played and even though I was terrified throughout, I don't know know if I will ever play a game as thoughtful. I cycled between fear, confusion, frustration, and the guilt over the the inability to find a loved one. All which made me feel unsettled.

This genre is so different because in most games you play a someone superhuman, who can take down entire armies. In your game, I couldn't fight the monsters and my only defense was to run away. Even when I threw them off my back, I was weakened to the point of limping. That's a very humbling experience. And that it's that sense of vulnerability which makes you a great game. It's refreshing to have a game that cares so much for the story that it doesn't try to add worthless filler or actions in order to keep me interested.

This is one of the best games I have ever played and it completely changed the way I look at games.

Enjoy Cincinnati, OH.

The Cowboy Way

Winter in South Dakota must mean it is time for my sister's wedding. The weather was perfect and all of the family was able to make it to Mitchell for the event. TJ even got in on some fun by removing all dead rabbits from the yard and confirming that the barn was ninja-free. Thanks for the help, Junior!

TJ found some time to run wild with Tucker, but was unable to attend most of the wedding events.
Per federal wedding regulations, the rehearsal was held on Friday evening. As you can clearly see, Sarah and Travis were ready to go and Mark was in no way distracted by small children.
During the formal picture taking on Saturday, I had some fun activating the remote lighting. That may look like Jesus on the left side of this picture, but it might also have been Adam messing up the professional photography. I will accept calls from the Vatican if interested in the purchase of this picture for miracle confirmation.
When you attend a western wedding, it is important to bring your fencing pliers and pliers holster just in case the crowd gets a little aggressive and you need to hold them back.
Nicole and the other of the bridesmaids all looked beautiful in their dresses. Nicole put in a special effort by wearing the greatest joy in her life, her cowboy boots.
The reception was held in the old high school gym at the Mount Vernon high school and couldn't have been decorated more beautifully. It was a memorable time for the entire family and kicked off the start of a great marriage.

Congrats to Sarah and Travis. May you have as happy of a life together as Nicole and I do.

The Pink Panther

New Kitchen Faucet

This day was just gloomy enough to make us take on home repairs. So, today was the day for a new kitchen faucet.

We briefly considered repairing our current model, but that seemed uninspiring. Years of water leaks had built up a fine scale of calcium, lime and rust impervious to every toxic chemical I could find, and the bulky water filter attachment (never used) was always in my way.

I am sorry you had to see this photo. Gross.

Adam tackled the tasks with tools, and I helped by kneading the plumber's putty and offering silent encouragement.

Our new faucet is now in service. Selected primarily for its value (On sale?! With a $20 mail-in rebate?! Sold!) and secondarily for its beauty (At least it doesn't leak...), I'm willing to cross this project off the list.

And when all was completed, TJ put his paw on Adam's knee and told him, "Good job, old boy. I knew you could do it." True story.

Dear Let's Tap and The Legend of Zelda Spirit Tracks

Dear Let's Tap,

Let's be honest, you are a novelty gameplay mechanic and your content is limited. I initially expected the tapping required in all your games to bother me, but that wasn't really an issue. The problem was that it only took about ten minutes to realize what each of the four mini-games had planned for me. The running game is only going to add different obstacles, the jenga game is a jenga game, the rhythm game will unlock more songs, and the shmup isn't all that interesting. You do what you do well, but there isn't enough here. Oh and I almost forgot your fifth "game", which was basically an interactive screen saver. I laud you for your efforts, but I have better games to play.

Enjoy Greenbelt, MD.

Dear Spirit Tracks,

You are the second best DS game to come out in 2009 after Chinatown Wars. Everything I enjoyed from Phantom Hourglass has been improved and the problems I had with the previous game were also addressed. It is refreshing to have a game with so many different puzzles and places to discover. I can't think of another game for the DS that I want to play after you and that is a testament to the quality of your experience. 5 stars!

Enjoy Richmond, VA.

Snow Dog

We haven't blogged in awhile, and here's why:

1. It's too cold to type in our sunroom (i.e., uninsulated room with walls of windows).
2. We have been distracted with other activities, primarily birding. Yes, birding.
3. We keep losing our dog in the snow.

See you in the warmer weather.

Our $2.38 Christmas

In the spirit of 2009, we decided to celebrate a thrifty Christmas - no new decorations, (mostly) homemade gifts, and no Christmas tree. What? No Christmas tree?! This wouldn't do.

With coupon in hand, Adam allowed me to purchase the smallest little spruce top I could find at our local floral center. Everything else had to come from our yard. So, here is how we decorated the tree this year.

1. Gather your ingredients: hand saw, pruners, trowel, gloves, container, helpful canine assistant (Fig 1).
2. Dig up a few shovelfuls of dirt from behind the shady north side of the house. Nothing grows there anyway.
3. Place the spruce top in the center of the container (Fig 2).
4. Fill in bare spaces with additional spruce tips, pine boughs, and/or fir branches (Fig 3).
5. Accent with red dogwood, ornamental grasses, pine cones, or whatever else is lying around the yard (Fig 4).
6. Sacrifice a few hydrangea poofs and mountain ash berries for extra color.
7. No need to water. The freezing temps and coming blizzard(s) will hold everything firmly in place.
8. Now you are ready to take the annual Christmas photo in front of the tree (Fig 5).

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Happy Holidays to all!