My New Comp! And SW! And other stuff

I have a brand new computer.  It's quiet and lovely and it means I can start blogging again since for some unknown reason my motherboard just blew on my old comp.

I got a souped up comp due to wanting to play SW:TOR (star wars the old republic) which comes out next week.  The game was created by bioware so obviously I need to play it.  However it is just nice to have a system back in my house, I feel connected again (the ipad is no substitute, no matter what anyone says).

I'm in a weird place with the game because I have a tendency to get addicted to things but at the same time I really feel like I would like a little withdrawal time.  So it is a perfect storm of starting up a MMO.  Hoping my life does not get lost in the ether again.  But at teh same time, hoping for some of the clarity and re-prioritization that a little alone time brings.  It's been a shitty year. 

Off the Poison, dammit!

Ok, so I'm just gonna be straight up with ya'll.  I got stuck back on the smokes.  I know, I know.  I KNOW!  Horrible.

However, after a weekend of nonstop smoking I pretty much disgusted myself out of the habit.  In order to commemorate my second round of quitting (and to also commemorate the fact that in 2 months when Star Wars comes out I will no longer have a life) I've decided to take the C25k challenge (That's:  Couch to 5K challenge).

I hate running.  But at the same time I've always wanted to be able to run a mile.  So I'm starting BIG!  With 3.1 miles as my goal.

Today was day 1!  This is an 8 week crash course in stamina for a 3 mile run. I'm tracking my progress on spark people...I don't know how to share it but I will when I figure it out.  Wish me luck!

ADK Journal aka why the hell did I buy so much squash?

Silver Lake, NY.  A little piece of heaven and my annual girl getaway for many years.  Most years Pilar or Alli or Molly make some sort of daily journal or art book filled with quotes and moments and every year I go back, flip through them, and lament that I didn't do the same. 

Silver Lake

Thursday:

The boathouse, with girls!

On the ferry.  I text pilar, she says, don't eat - we are waiting for you!  Arrive, eat snacks and wine, chat with Jim, Judy, and Blas.  Pilar's thumb is big from slamming it in a car door!  Blas has the boathouse this year so we stay in the big house.  Boo on Blas.




Friday:
Wake up and get my morning coffee.  Have it on the porch, listen to NPR.  Read my book.  Pilar again tries to fool me into a hike which means climbing a mountain.  I say NOOO.  No.  Swim a lot.   Judy goes to town.  Judy gets into an accident.  Seafoam car DOWN!  Judy ok.  Now there are only grey hatchbacks in the driveway.  Phew!  Seafoam was messing things up.  Pilar and I walk to the bog.  Monica seems to be dying, she is very thin for a cat.Pilar goes to bed at like, 6pm.  I stay up and drink liquor with Blas and Jim.

Reading in the boathouse

Saturday:
Wake up to Penny sitting on my bed staring at me.  Finally get up.  Blas turns down the Healthblats for mountain climb.  Very unlike Blas. Brooks no show; this makes Pilar sad.  I read.  Have coffee on porch.  Pilar and I go on a long walk to Judy's cabin with Penny.  Take a swim off Judy's dock.  Pilar makes awesome BLT sandwiches.  Pilar and Blas Guffaw at me for drinking at 1pm.  Do Yoga with Pilar in the yard.  Swim.  Read.  Judy packs a picnic and we all get in the little motor boat (except Blas who canoes).  We stop at the Healthblats dock (ok I really don't remember their real names...it's my pet name for them for years b/c they are always exercising and everyone calls them that now).  Get to the beach on other end of Lake.  Have baked brie, rum & tonics.  When I look at us we look straight out of the 60's.  We are very cool.  Go back, make dinner and then a bonfire with smores.  Everyone hates my game "Ghost" but they hate Pilar's game more.  Pilar goes to bed at 8pm.  Blas and I stay up and enjoy the fire.

Sunday:

Rainy day!  Penny is scared so we put on her thunder jacket.  Coffee on the porch.  Read.  Drive to Lake Placid and see "The Help."  Pilar tries to teach me how to use Itunes.  I hate you apple.  Blas makes us dinner - fish burritos (everyone is very amendable to my weird eating restrictions).  Jim says, "who would name someone Benny Anders?" and Blas responds, "this coming from a guy who named me Blas Nadal."  I giggle.  Teach everyone Balderdish.  They like this better than the other games.  Judy wins.  Pilar actually stays up.  Amazing.

Monday:
Coffee on the porch.  I pack.  I am sad.  Get some last minute sun and hugs all around.  On the way home I stop at a local farm and buy a bucket of squash.  It was only 3 bucks but now I'm like, wtf did I do that for?  I've been eating squash ever since.

Till next year my happy home!

Top 5 GoT Males

If I were stuck on a deserted island, and that island happened to be westeros, and there were only 5 males left on westeros, who would I wish them to be?

Here they are, in order:
#5:  OK YES!  I admit it.   Theon Greyjoy.  It isn't Theon the book character, it's Alfie Allen.  Whatever.  I'm embarrassed ok?  I mean Theon, he's so damn hateable.  But Theon without a shirt is so...so...melty.  Let's move on.

More my vision of Snow than HBO

#4:  Jon Snow. Duh.  And Robb Stark.  Double Duh.  /sigh.  Team Robb or Jon?  Who are you?  I'll take both, but only because #3 I lose on just by picking him, but I would not have known it because MARTIN SECRETLY WROTE GAY characters.  He tricked me for like, 5000 pages.

#3:  The Knight of Flowers.  Before I knew he was gay.  And even after.  It's fine.  He can hang around on the island for me to look at (oh, and btw, tv show Loras is not at all like Loras in my head.  Loras in my head is beautiful and much better eye candy than tv show Loras-the-wimpy-i-can-barely-hold-a-sword-guy).

#2:  Jaquen H'ghar:  I mean, who doesn't like your everyday awesome assassin dude?

#1:  Rhaegar.  He really doesn't seem as bad as they make him out to be.  I mean, the poor guy was just trying to protect his dad.  Sure his dad was a crazy burning son of a bitch king, and Rheagar was a proud asshole but he wasn't inherently evil.  At least I don't think he was.  That's my belief and I'm sticking to it.

Robert Baratheon and Rhaegar at Ruby Ford

Yet another reason to love goodreads....

Cut and Paste reviews!  It's been forever since I've done a book update, here are my top 5 in the past...long time:

A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I am very sad to think that I won't be returning the the world of westeros for another few years.  Opening this book (or in my case turning on the kindle) felt like coming home after a long time away. I really dragged out finishing this because I was happy reading it.



This is no FfC.  Every chapter was engrossing, every story moved the plot forward.  Things started to come together - but not in the way you would expect -- In a way that smacks purely of Martin.  Several surprises even though you know the parallel timeline in FfC.  Several shockers as only Martin can do.



Fantastic read! 











View all my reviews

Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


First book I've read from this author and there is some pretty cool stuff in it. 



The good:

amazing depth of characters

well developed world

stand-alone fantasy

well written

nice pacing

emotional

a lot of "grey" or in between actions and morals, very interesting perspective on all manners of good and evil



The not so good:

I want more of this world!!  Give me more than one book, please!!!

A little formulaic/predictable in places but did not detract from enjoyment

Some "too tidy" threads



This one got added to my all time favs.  Very easy to read quickly, it's a page turner.  Interesting and new fantasy themes with easy to relate to characters, and ones you really care about.  Fans of Martin's series would enjoy this book a lot.



View all my reviews
Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The only bad thing I can think to say of this book was that it was too short.  Quite possibly the most enjoyable read I've had in years - an allegory tale yet one that is completely entertaining, lovable, and fun as it stands.  Reminds me a little of Oz and Where the Wild things are with adult wit and insight.



I read one review that stated this is for hardcore Rushdie fans and I couldn't disagree more.  I've cracked a few of his books and haven't been intrigued so when a friend handed me this one I felt obliged to try it out.  I am now looking for more Rushdie to read.  Fast paced, fantastical, extremely well written (the kind of book that reminds you that there are REALLY amazing authors out there) and with a lot of heart, I recommend it to anyone who needs a reprieve from serious but still needs a book with a lot of brain.







View all my reviews
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I will echo Naz's sentiment on this one which is, "why haven't I read this book until now????"



View all my reviews

Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Biography by Marion Meade

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Reality TV has nothing on Royal England.  I'm convinced that any King named Henry is destined for an amazingly scandalous tenure on the throne.



When I started reading it I felt the material was a little dry and academic.  As it got into the meat of the drama I forgot that I could not hear Eleanor's voice at all (she left no letters, poetry, etc. so the author does not try to recreate her tone as she has no proof of what it was).  By the end I appreciated the succinct and very meticulously researched and detailed account of her life.  Without overtures or guesses into how Eleanor really talked, spoke, or interacted I have in my mind a clear picture of her - the author succeeded in making this a well documented and accurate account of her life.



View all my reviews

Veggie It Out!

This weekend I was chatting with some friends while they were grilling and we had a discussion about fake meat.  I'm prone to eat it when there is a grill around but otherwise I never really crave the fake stuff.  There are times when I've salivated for a burger but they are minimal and a lot easier to surpass then wanting a cigarette.

Anyway, I mentioned how some vegetarians (who don't eat bacon) really don't revel in the fact that they are eating veggies.  They bland out their pasta or grains and then wonder why it's so hard to adjust.

In an effort to assist, I am offering my sunday dinner...and it's also meatless monday!  So YAY for veggies!  BLOW out the flavor!  They are good for you and so versatile!  Also, a glass of wine with your veggie meal doesn't hurt.

AJ's Roasted Zucchini with Indian Spices
AJ's Lemony Quinoa with Parsley and Tomato

Okay so I'm gonna make this easy for you because I'm tired.  Forgive the slightly medieval cookbook way of writing this (you know, minor if any measurements, slightly vague directions...)

For the Zuchs:

• Dice Zuchs, lightly coat with olive oil
• Put on roasting pan and sprinkle with 1 tsp red pepper, 1/2 tsp cumin seed, 1/2 tsp fennel seed (make sure you grind these seeds up fresh, either in a spice grinder or a motar and pestal)
• Sprinkle over zuch, heat for 18 mins. @ 450'

This is HOT!  Serve with yogurt or ricotta w/ mint.

For the Quinoa:

• Dice and saute onion and garlic
• Roast your quinoa (I make my quinoa like a risotto, hence the following directions)
• Add 1-2 tsps lemon zest
• add some chopped tomatoes
• Add warmed veggie stock slowly, cook through, adding as you go.  (usually 1 cup quinoa = 3-4 cups veggie)
• Add 1/2 tsp salt (ONLY if using homemade veggie stock.  Do not add if adding storebought)
• cook it through, about 15 mins.  Toss in parley, and juice of 1 lemon

And finally - pour the wine, sit down, and relax. 

Aruba: The non-exotic Goa

I just got back from a spontaneous trip to Aruba, much needed after a harrowing few months ripe with family drama.  I had planned to go to Thailand but had to cancel the trip and in a fit of mental overload, booked a 5 day/4 night respite to the Caribbean.  I took a few swimsuits, my kindle loaded with Martin's new book (A Dance with Dragons) and some sunscreen.

My original plan had been to relax and maybe see a few sights but let's be honest, I sat on my ass the whole time.  I only got up to take a swim, apply some sunscreen, and grab a pina colada at the bar when the guy didn't come around fast enough to grab my order. 

Several unfortunate truths were made clear to me on this trip.  They are as follows:

1) India has the best hotels.  I am now a spoiled brat who refuses anything less than being treated like a queen. 

2)  India is a better place to holiday

3) India has better food

4) India is cool.  Aruba is very pretty but it's no india

My relationship with India is a love/hate one.  This, I think, resembles my father's relationship halfway, in which he hated everything about India.  However, there are certain luxuries that cannot be ignored about the subcontinent.  Let's take for instance Goa - the holiday location for Indians which I would put similiar to the Caribbean for Americans.

What I disliked so much about Aruba was that it had no culture.  Well, let me rephrase.  The culture was not pervasive.  Everything here was catered to americans.  If you might doubt my synopsis let me provide some evidence:  the airport had 2 sections:  USA travelers and non-USA travelers. 

Goan Architecture

Goan Church Architecture

India doesn't cater to anyone.  It makes no excuses, it does not languish to adhere to eastern  culture even though many of it's visitors are nepali, chinese, russian, and eastern european.  It is proud of what it is.  Goa was landed by the Portuguese in the 1600s and due to this it has long indian roots with a splash of spanish/Portuguese influence making it slightly Mediterranean.  But it's India through and through and it reflects it's history in all of it's glory.  Hindu temples are dotted with spanish and moor architecture.  Meats from the west are mixed with extremely spicy (EXTREMELY spicy) curries of the east.  Fish of all sorts are baked in banana leaves with chilis and coconut and cashews (cashews are one of the biggest Goan exports).  Drinks are spicy and the bread is nutty.  It's hot and dirty in places and that's what makes it authentic.

House in Goa

Aruba seems like a lie.  It seems like a destination with all the comforts of home.  It seems like Howard Johnson circa 1960 with dunkin donuts and fries.  It's houses offer you some semblance of Island life but they seem almost forced, built up to pretend, a veritable drive of US money to supplicate the few who would ventue to see it for it's orginiality.  It screamed false to me.

House in Aruba

But lest I become too zealous in my overtures let me say this:  Aruba is a fantastic vacation spot.  The island has little to no waves, making it calm and inviting.  It's always sunny, it's always warm.  It's ocean rippling with blues of cyan, a deep azure, and a colder sapphire took my breath away.  I just wish it didn't feel like it needed to hide behind something it really wasn't:  a conglomeration of western civilization.  I say this not to the people of aruba, but the people of the states who would sooner see a culture disappear then revel in it.

My early morning swim locale in Aruba

Game of Thrones: Shirtless (NSFW)

Game of Thrones.  Epic.  10+ years in the making.  My dream series coming to fruition in all it's beauty, brutality, and just good storytelling glory.  Ok then why am I just turning into one of those annoying teenage swoony girls?

Usually when boobs fill the screen, I yawn thinking:  Oh yes, this boy stuff again.  What does it say about me that boy chests are now all I want to see?  Is it wrong for me to enjoy the equal opportunity of it all?  We got 2 homosexual scenes:  1 female, 1 male.  Both... in mass auditory.  And lots of frontal nudity from both genders.  But the sexy parts were the boys.

The boys of the north:  Robb, Jon, Theon

There are two very interesting things that happened to me that I think are worthy to note.  The first.  I am suddenly a hell of a lot more sympathetic to Theon.   Not because of his chest, which. let's face it, is beautiful.  But because of the way Alfie Allen acts the character.  Sympathetic, a boy really, lost but wanting to please.   But this doesn't hurt:

Theon and Roz

Second:  The perception and actions of individuals are so far removed from the actuality of it.  ACTIONS of course are more important than anything else.  Theon's actions signify something sketchy, subversive and mean.  His treatment of Osha and Roz are paramount in this perception.  Yes he humbly swears fealty to Robb and you have to dwaddle a moment and think:  "he's not all bad." 

But more worrisome is my penchant for loving characters on their perceived actions rather than their actions.  This is of course the power of tv and movies.  Books, it is stark (no pun intended).  It is infront of you, facing you, you can't turn away from it.  And on screen it's something different.  Nuances and eye shifting and facial expressions that say more than the words themselves.  The depth this adds to each character is amazing.

As well as the visuality of each of them.

Who are your favorites?  Do you have any you feel differently about now seeing them on the screen?

Traveling in the SubContinent

Ok, not really.  That's reserved  for india.  But I'll be traveling for a few weeks south of india.  So maybe south of the sub?  Sub south?  Sub sub?   Provided that the world does not end tonight I have a large stack of fun books to get through.  I intend to read them all.  I assume I'll only get through 1 or 2.  Here they are in no particular order.  Votes and recs welcome:

Kushiels's Dart.  I heard this book was very...interesting.  I say: perfect!  I will report my findings.





  The Beautiful and the Damned.  In the interest of full disclosure, I do love Fitzgerald but never would have thought of reading this until I watched the season finale of gossip girl.  That's right.  I just said that.

The Swan Thieves.  This one isn't getting great reviews but I love Kostova's writing.  I wish her words could be brought out to me on a plate so I could scarf it all down.  Without calories of course.

  The Paris Wife.  This could be great or god awful.  I'm willing to take a chance.  Crappy books are so much less annoying while staring at an ocean and sitting in the sun.  I'm not trying to rub it in, I'm just stating fact.

  Wise Man's Fear.  I've been waiting 3 years for this to come out and have completely forgotten all of book 1.  I remember soemthing about a boy who lives on the street.  Then goes to school and becomes a really good musician.  Really, that's all I remember.  This isn't a comment on Rothfuss but rather my memory.  Hopefully I can pick this up without rereading book 1 because that was a really big book.

Miffed at bad taste

So this dude I know was like, "I'm not really impressed with Game of Thrones" and I think if I had something hot or sharp I would have pushed it into his skin.  I literally had to stop myself from commenting on just how idiotic a comment that was.  I can understand someone not liking the content, or not liking the style, or the actors.  But no impressed with the show?  Seriously what the fuck is wrong with you.  I shut that conversation down so fast in the hopes that I wouldn't go physically violent on his ass.  I forget exactly what I said but it was short and probably mean.   He replied, "maybe I should watch it again."  Yeah dude, you fucking go do that.  Now.  And come back with the right answer.

Winter is coming does a great recap of tweets from the eps.  But I'm going to be listing my favorite as well:

From Episode 1.5 (Wolf and Lion):

@HarmoniumGuard: Fact: Tonight’s tag is #wolfandlion. Also the name of Barristan Selmy’s fists.
@CarLNJF: I hope to work the phrase “Go find the breastplate stretcher” into conversation tomorrow at work. #GameOfThrones
@DeusExCinema: Man that’s some poncey armour. #GameofThrones
@silkskinned: I didn’t catch on that Renly was probably banging the Knight of Flowers until about book 3. His first appearance? 30 seconds. #gameofthrones
@Paco_ICEandFIRE: WHATTTTTTT?! MY LITTLE PONYS HEAD!!! #GAMEOFTHRONES #WOLFANDLION
@lag28wa: Somehow ‘sore loser’ doesn’t seem to cover it #GameofThrones
@silkskinned: I want a dragon skull to use as an armchair. Arya is pimping, yo. #gameofthrones

I love the second by second tweets of the last scene:
@jennnmarshall: OoOoOh Kingslayer, I yield! #gameofthrones
@textualdeviance: Holy FUCK. #GameofThrones
@bockanalia: Omg. My eye! My eye! #GameofThrones
@elena__ghaha: #gameofthrones ned can fight!
 @TheBWCF: OOOO WHAT A DICK MOVE #GameofThrones
 @lucchaser: Noooo Boromir!!! Not again #GameOfThrones #HBO

Game of Thrones Tweets

There is something disarming about reading tweets on Game of Thrones with current slang, fresh eyes, and insight on personalities all rolled into less than 180 characters.   I had to put down some of my favorites:

@JulieDiCaro: My cat is named Circe. Now that makes me sad
@murraynmitch: All I know is, if you have blond hair, you are evil, just like World War 2.
@ericgrau: Dear Joffrey and Sansa, I hate both of you. Sincerely, Eric.
@CateDubMajor: Jaime’s a bitch
@faboamanto: Missing! One large white direwolf, answers to name of Ghost! If found, contact #lordsnow
@silkskinned: Tyrion’s attitude towards White Walkers is essentially “pics or it didn’t happen”.
@stephlmanson: I’ve seen some whacked out spellings of #GameOfThrones names: Callisi, Sanza, Tyria, Robert Barageron, Danerus…pretty entertaining though
@tribalmeg: Theon Greyjoy, always a douchebag.
@ericbuscher: I love Tyrian. He will be a dick to anyone. Even a six year old
@cookie_bean These Night’s Watchmen are a seriously homely bunch… bring on the horde!
OliviaRoy: shut up Viserys, you’re worse than Sansa
@hutch_jessica: I guess dragons are going to be important because they keep talking about them.
@allflicker: I’d better see some goddamn dragons by season’s end
@silkskinned: Sansa, take a xanax and get over yourself.
@ReallyAlly: Jaime, you are an asshole. Get in my bed.
@Soulrific: Lawd, please don’t let Jon Snow be gay.
@tribalmeg: Gregor Clegane, one of the many batshit people inhabiting King’s Landing.

Annals of Sunday Afternoons: Reading and Cooking

I love Sunday afternoons, particularly lazy ones that are sunny.  It's also a little sad as as the sun sets because I immediately begin to realize  that my next few hours will lead me to a sleep which requires me to get out of bed the next morning and get back to work. 

Sunny afternoon, with my Kindle...

On the occasions where I can afford some down time on sundays without leaving the house I am usually wrapped up in cooking a meal I've never made before and playing video games or reading.  There is nothing quite like the pleasure of relaxing with a book while the sun pours over me.  It just makes me happy.





Sundays also afford time to think about what to eat and buy for the week.  This morning I had a hankering for comfort food and that usually means I'm in the mood for some type of pasta or potato dish.  Inspired by a recipe that Rachel Ray once made on her show I went to the store, bought some ingredients, and started to cook it without once looking at any type of recipe.  I have to say, after eating it, I did a damn fine job.  In fact, without sounding too egotistical, it was some of the best lasagna I've ever eaten.  I kind of made it up as I went along but I thought I would share.  Please note that the measurements are not at all exact.

AJ's Lazy Eggplant Lasagna

1 onion
2 large cloves of garlic
1 medium eggplant
1 tsp Fresh Oregeno
1/2 tsp Thyme
2-3 tomatos
1.5 TBS tomato paste
Lasagna pasta thingys
Ricotta cheese
Bechemel Sauce
Parm Cheese
Veggie Broth and/or water
S&P

1. Use a big pot.  Oil it.  Cut up Onion, toss in, let it get soft, few minutes.  Toss in minced garlic.  Let get fragrant.  Slice and cube up Eggplant.  And in. Let the eggplant cook a few minutes till the outsides start to get a little brown and soft.  Add about 1/2 tsp thyme and 1 tsp fresh oregeno.  Add a pinch of salt to pull out moisture in onions 
• At this point boil some water in another pot
2. As the onions and garlic and eggplant start to cook and get slightly browned to the pan add a touch (1/4 cup or less) of veggie stock or water (I make my own veggie stock but any store bought should work fine). Adding water will deglaze your pot, but you don't want too much because you don't want your sauce runny. Turn heat down from high medium to medium.
3. Add the tomatoes...the water from the tomatoes will cook out so make sure this is done before adding next step liquid
4. Add about 1/2 cup water and some tomato paste.   Cover your pot and let the flavors combine.  Add 1/2 tsp kosher salt.  Continue covered  until your eggplant is nice and tender -- basically test until you get the consistency of the eggplant you want to be eating in your lasagna.
5. Meanwhile, get your lasagna pasta thingys and break them up with your hands so they are about 1/2 inch - size is irrelevant, they can be all different sizes.  Dump into boiling water, cook until almost done.
6. By now your eggplant sauce should be done.  Just check to make sure the sauce isn't too thin - it should resemble a red sauce that isn't as thick as a marinara but should be a lot more composed than water.  Maybe a little thinner than a curry sauce if that makes sense.  
7. Drain pasta and add to the eggplant pot.  you can add a little starch water too if your sauce is too thick.
8. Now plop the entire pot into a casserole dish!
9. Top with Ricotta dollops (i literally just scooped them out and put pats all over the top of the dish.  I also added some thyme and oregeno to the ricotta and mixed it up but that is completely optional.)
10. Pour Bechemel sauce over the dish
11. Sprinkle with parmesean and put in 425 degree oven until top gets a little brown.  Then enjoy!

See how 3 pieces are gone?  That was all me.

AJ's Bechemel Sauce

I love behcemel so I make it all the time.  here is my failproof/easy method:

 Make a rue.  ALWAYS use equal parts flour and butter.  For this particular recipe use:

• 3 Tablespoons Butter melt in pan
• Add 3 Tablespoons Flour.  Whisk and let cook until you smell a nutty smell (not flour smell)
• Add 1.5 cups milk, whisking in slowly.  Let thicken.  Add 1/4-1/2 cup milk.  Let thicken
• Add 1/2 tsp salt, black pepper, pinch of nutmeg
• DONE!  Pour over your dish.

Butter Beans Redeux

I had originally posted a Butter Bean recipe of mine here

However, i made them again last night and I didn't have sage so instead I added butter and thyme.  It was heavy.  In a flash of inspiration I added some lemon zest.  This was by far the best thing I've ever done!  Bright, fresh, light tasting butter beans.  Try it, well worth it.

what my Bioware romances say about me

Warning:  Minor character (no plot) spoiler info for the following games:  Mass Effect 1, Mass Effect 2, Jade Empire, Dragon Age Origins, Dragon Age 2.

At Pax Last weekend I was sitting at a table with a few of my favorite gaming friends which were a mix of people I've known in real life for 15+ years and people I've met only a few times in real life but have known for awhile online.  The conversation turned to online gaming friends.  I'm a huge proponent of online gamer friends actually being more solid than some of my real life relationships because the behavior and the way you treat someone when you are anonymous says a lot more about you than when you are burdened by face to face and social network consequences.  This conversation got me to thinking about how I explore some of my character's motives and romances, a topic that bioware specializes in.  And when I started to really think through it I was suprised at what I walked away with figuring out.  Let's run down the line, shall we?

Jade Empire was really my first foray into bioware's formula of games and frankly I had no idea that you could romance anyone.  I was a little shocked at what people would say to me.  My inclination was to ignore it -  clearly a sign of my late bloomer status and my ongoing obliviousness of romantic interest. I felt a little let down after the game was over that I didn't have a "tent" visit before the big battle.  I guess lack of any encouragement, even before you might all die, makes for no love.

My options as I progressed became a little more telling.  Liara T'Soni was definitely the most interesting of characters on the Normandy.  Not only was she an Asari but she was blue.  And I love blue.  In addition she was a scientist, had deep emotional wells of insight and loved to self analyze and do psychological digging on Shepard.  She wasn't amazingly sexy, she had a face that was very androgynous (especially when compared to other Asari in the game) but to me  no one else really held a candle to what Liara could provide:  mysterious, exotic, intelligent....there was really no other choice.

My medivil times were a bit more strenuous in the ways of love.  While I was attracted to multiple characters, I really felt they all talked a lot - too much.  I didn't listen to what they were saying, I gave them gifts that they sort of hated, and I generally did just about everything wrong you could possibly do to woo a person.  This really set me back as I started to wonder...is it me?  Why doesn't anyone like me??  Even the easy bisexual elf wasn't that into me.  Really, what was it?   Does magic give off some stench?  It didn't help that I really thought Alistair was a cry baby warrior until I learned that he was in line for the throne (check AJ headcase moment there).  Yeah, that turned me around right quick.  However by the time I learned that it was too late.  Just when I thought I was getting somewhere I brought him to a bar with me, got a little bit drunk and ended up having a threesome with the elf and Isabella.  Whoops!  That really did happen by the way.  It was horrible.  One minute I'm flirting with the duelist, the next minute we are going to the room (no cancel out there) and then Alistair is commenting on my rather open libido.  Oh well.  The end for Alistair and me was surprisingly nice, even though I did force him to father a demon baby.  But I also saved his life so tit for tat in my opinion.

Over across the ocean in Kirkwall my options were about 100% better.  The characters were more fleshed out and my character actually spoke to them (instead of being a dumb mute in DA: Origins) which provided a much richer relationship bonding experience.  I really wavered between Fenris and Sebastian.  I gravitated toward Sebastian as an exiled prince but he was also really into his vow of celibacy and that was rather a turn off.  Fenris was exciting and difficult from the start.  Tattooed with Lyrium which always caused him pain, a former elven slave with a dark past, and the fact that he and I never saw eye to eye (his hatred of mages borders on extreme fanatic) which led to us arguing all the time...well this was clearly the only choice for me.  So here is what happened: things were going along at a pace akin to a meltdown and then all of sudden he has feelings for me.  Then we sleep together and he just leaves..leaves!  Doesn't want to talk about it...for THREE years!  Then his mage master shows up and we confront him and I will admit, I felt spurned, so I just told the master to just "take him."  That didn't really go over too well with Fenris.  On a mechanical game side it did achieve me 30 rivalry points with Fenris thereby getting me 25 achievement points for locking in a "Rivalry" companion.  And btw, what I have read on DA2's  "rival romances" - it seems to be the way to go.  I'm still not done with this game so I'll provide an update on how it all ends for the two of us another time.

And this of course leads to what I think my most endearing of all romances would have to be - albeit still with many faults:  Thane.  The assassin who can relive any experience at will...who is dying.  Who has lost his wife, and his son hates him.  No baggage there!  He has limited time (no committment really at all) but has a lot of solitary need.  He has pet names for Shepard ('Siha'), and he is incredibly sweet and kind.  But he is also self depreciating and one wrong word to him and he will walk away from the relationship likkity split.    This of course is only possible as Liara has become so emotionally tied up in her own vengeance that she barely has time to spend with you, so what is a girl to do?  Upon finding out about Thane, Liara says some very nasty things including, "I'm not the one chasing the ghost of a dying man's wife!"  I mean, seriously harsh.  More on this triangle when ME3 comes out.

What a roadmap!  Bioware, providing gaming experiences and therapy all at once.

The bane of always moving

Hilarious conversation with British Airways representative when trying to retrieve my frequent flyer info:

"Address on the account for verification?"
"Somerville."
"Try again."
"Woburn."
"No, try again."
"Pennylvania?"
"No try again."
"hmmm.  Cambridge."
"Nope, try again."
"That's all I've got."
"...."
"Boston?"
"You got it!"

Timeless Adventures

Back when I was a wee little tyke of 15, some of the kids in my "enriched" class were talking about D&D and I was totally into the concept.  (I just watched the Big Bang Theory the other night and Sheldon is on the comp using an emulator to play Zork....I immediately went online to see if I could find it.  I couldn't).  But the cartoon and LotR and those comp games were just starting to ignite my imagination. I played some games with these teenage smarty pants D&D kids but they were at  demi god status and having dragon battles and I didn't know what the hell was going on. 

Around 16 I met Carl who actually taught...like literally taught me how to RP.  He also made me read the dragonlance chornicles which is by far the best thing anyone has ever made me do.  On a side  note, he also would rebuild MGB's which is the least geeky thing someone can have in the arsenal.

Carl and his MGB back in 1991.

 Carl was older than me, in college when I met him - and our short and whirlwind romance consisted of a few kisses, a few love letters and long drives in his MGB convertible.  He drew me Raistlin after my love of the character and to my horror my parents had it framed (I think they thought it incredibly romantic that he drew it for me and dropped it off with a red ribbon).  You might wonder why my parents were so ok with me dating a college boy which reminds me of the other part of the story - our parents were old friends and they used to joke that Carl and I had used the same crib and that somehow tied us together.  I think it was kind of messed up.


Teaching someone to play D&D is not easy.  The mechanics are overwhelming (this is also AD&D era, aka version 2.0 which is much harder to learn than 3.0 and 4.0) and the roleplaying itself is very hard to get used to.  Carl and his brother and my sister and me would sit around the Bussler table rolling dice.  We would say something and Carl would instruct us, "is that really what your boss ass warrior would think?"  It was hard at first and I felt very self concious.  After playing Carl would take me on a walk.  He would reset the stage for me from a scene from the Dragonlance chronicles.  "Carl, I'm so cold, let's go back..."  to which he'd say, "No, imagine you are Laurana and you have to get to the army before Kitiara...."  It sounds so stupid and childish now but in truth it was the foundation for everything I have for tabletop gaming since that time. 

This is all a long intro to say that Carl will be self publishing a pathfinder RPG supplement.  I am going to be picking this up, maybe it's something I can run.  Carl started me on a path of 20+ years of amazing friends, adventures, and memories.  The least I can do is buy his own creation.

http://www.timelessadventures.com/

Kinect Love

Okay, so I got a Kinect and yes I love it.   I could go on about all the cool things it does but the truth is it does a lot of cool things only moderately cool.  See, I'm not so much in love with the Kinect as it stands today as I am in love with the idea of the kinect.  It's like a really unhealthy relationship. 

However, this is not to say that it isn't an object of beauty (it looks really sharp by my TV) or that I only half like it when I'm playing it (I LOVE IT!  I feel like Tom Cruise in minority report!!!  Except being like Tom Cruise isn't that cool.  But you know what I mean).  But there is a slight delay on it and after the 3rd calibration of the system you are like...WTF just remember the play area, ok??  But overall I do love this thing, because what it is isn't so much a motion sensor as it is a leap forward in technology that is going to allow for all sorts of future technology right out of 2001 (which, btw, it is 2011 and we are super behind...thank you microsoft for getting people's asses in gear for better miracles of modern science in the years to come.)

Accessible motion sensor technology and voice/face recognition should have been done years ago.  Kinect makes it affordable and the gamer community will continue to hack and bypass it which will make the technology better for when we use it for products with security requirements.  That's why I love gamers and I love the gaming community.  We make better technology, just for fun.

In the meantime, I'm very happy I spent money on such a worthwhile leap forward.  One of the more shocking components of this product is that it takes pictures of you while you are doing stupid ass moves (which it knows you are doing because it's making you do it) and then shows it to you afterward.  I will not be posting those.  However, you can record living statues -- making your avatar do something and recording your voice.  That seems like a worthwhile sharing moment: