Phendrana Drifts

Another desperate break in my blogging schedule. Well, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes is occupying a great deal of time. Why am I playing Metroid? A good question. I was clear with my wife, I did not want Metroid for Christmas. Well, of course I wanted it, but I knew there is a minor revenue shortfall and that I would eventually get the sequel to Metroid Prime. I am a patient gamer.

Well, Allie is of a different mind. So I am contently playing Metroid. And by content I mean wild enthusiasm and abandon. Amazing. Gorgeous. Better than Prime? Well, hard to say. But amazing. Not a leap forward like the first Prime, but absolutely amazing. Lots to do, lots to scan, lots to explore. Not that I meant this to turn into a game review, but after a month and a half of focusing on other things, it was about time I looked at what was important in life. And Samus Aran is definitely important.

I know I should blog. A lot has happened. Then again, not much has happened. I guess it depends on how you look at it. The election is over. Which is good, because any longer would likely kill me.

Kids report cards were good. Congratulations to both.

There we go. Really, that is all I can say about this election at this stage. There we go. Sleep now.

If I never, ever, see another sign again, I could die a happy man. My hands are incapable of holding anything of any real weight and I can no longer grasp items. It is almost funny, as I will my hands to do something basic as undo a button and they simply ignore the command.

Tomorrow is the big day. Anyone reading this in Alberta needs to be sure they vote tomorrow.

I have fallen in love with a new song - Johnny Cash's The Man Comes Around. Neat melody. I also have noticed I am using the word "awesome" too much. And that kids are infinitely better than alone.

I am now eating Chef Boyardee's Beefaroni and a slurpee, which I have purchased with almost the last $3.30 I have to my name. Well, the people at Edulinx would want me to point out that my name and net worth is in fact worth a great deal less than $3.30 when you factor in my student loans. That's ok, I think they are worth less than $3.30 too, so I guess we're even. Well, no. I guess they don't think we are even. Not for another 10 years and $30,000 plus interest. But even in our opinions of each other.

After making (and by "making" we mean "heating up") dinner, I decided it would be best to put in a bowl to consume. Normally when playing the bachelor I wouldn't use another dish. Heck, I might not even bother with the "making" of Chef Boyardee and just consume from the can. But I needed the sense of accomplishment that can only come from eating the food from a dish.

Today the wheels fell off the cart so to speak. I didn't bring the kids back from Calgary when I visited Edmonton so I am alone. Without human companionship. Fortunately I have a dog and a cat. So I guess it could be worse.

I feel like a Johnny Cash song. Not worse, thankfully. But certainly melancholy. Sad. Maybe even depressed... although that is likely overstating the case. Almost guaranteed.

I leave for Calgary again tomorrow. I will spend lots of time with Brett, have some fun in Calgary, see my wife, and head to Red Deer with kids. Another debate, back in Edmonton. I wonder if children understand when you don't clean the house? I mean, I try and be understanding with the rooms, but sometimes they get too much. But seriously, my home is the home of a small nuclear explosion. With a cat and dog.

Speaking of the dog, have you seen the new Alberta Liberal ad? Again not trying to be political, but simply make light of a political ad. Kevin Taft suggests we need to "calm down" health care. Well he doesn't just suggest, he says we need to. What does that mean? I bring up the dog because she needs lots of that - calming down. But that means sitting her down, saying no in a firm voice and looking at her sternly. Does Kevin want to do that to health care?

Another week since I last blogged. I need this election to be over. Badly.

Allie is right, I should blog. But so much that is going on is political and well, I don't want a political blog. Not an overly political blog at any rate. I want a fun blog. Not one that is always about poker, but at any rate. So let's talk about Episode III.

The trailer is awesome. I am in absolute agony as I await May 19. The exchange between Darth Vader and the Emperor echoes in my head. I may need to watch a movie tonight when I get back from pounding signs into the ground. And yes, that is about as exciting as it sounds.

For the curious, a picture of General Grievous, a main antagonist in the next Star Wars movie.

Is it me... or has this blogger recently been neglectful of his blogging audience?

Hmmmmmmm. I know I for one check here atleast three times a day, and I have been spectacularily busy! Anyways I thought since Gandhi was a pretty smart guy, and he always said that "you must be the change you wish to see" that I should heed his advice and take matters into my own hands. I want there to be a new blog post here, therefore I should be the blog I want to see.

So here I am, blogging from Calgary. I am the busiest bee running a campaign office for Mike Smyth in Calgary Varsity. I am having alot of fun, but I miss my family, and Duncan in particular, in the worst way. Only 15 days left to go now. We're all troopers!

After work and stuff, I did what any reasonable step-parent would do when their birthparents are both 300 kilometres south of your location. I taught them poker. It went well. They got down the basics, and understood well enough the principles behind betting and what not. Except this little tidbit of a conversation:

Duncan: OK, so that was our first hand. Did everyone understand what happened and why?

Both: Yes.

Duncan: Well, are we ready to move on to the next hand?

Wes: No, I don't have my chips that I lost back.

Duncan: [pause] You don't get them back. You lost them. They're mine now. I won them.

CNN and Globe and Mail have called Nevada for Bush. Fox is undecided on Nevada, but has called Ohio for Bush for sometime. So has NBC. Interesting. No one wants to go on the limb of announcing the re-election of President Bush - Nevada plus Ohio given the amendment failed in Colorado means Bush is at 274 electoral votes. Regardless, with Nevada going to Bush/Cheney, a tie is no longer likely.

Globe and Mail is just behind CNN. Nevada is back undecided and Michigan is in the Kerry column. Of the remaining states however, Kerry is only leading in one. And it isn't Ohio, but Wisconsin.

As I fall asleep John Kerry is losing, 242 to 249. CNN says it is too close to call. But I need sleep. Globe and Mail tells a slightly worse off tale, denying Michigan to Kerry and throwing Nevada into Bush's column. But in many ways, it is all up to Ohio. If Kerry takes all of the remaining states (including Nevada and Michigan), he will still require Ohio. Of course, if Bush takes Ohio and loses Nevada, New Mexico, Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan... 269 electoral college votes for Kerry, 269 for Bush. Maybe I can stay up a bit longer.

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