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10 mai 2008

GTA = Good Times Always

Some of you asked if there was not a game I could play to occupy myself while Wm plays the GTA 4. The truth is, about two weeks before the game came out, I went through a brief Sims2 phase. Happens from time to time. It was stupid. I should have held off. It only lasts about 2 weeks. If I had only waited until GTA came out. I'm still playing, but it feels forced.

The majority of the time Wil plays, I am sitting in my corner of the couch either reading or watching him play. The story line of this game is actually very rich and intriguing. I get kinda caught up in that. And, it seems it's more fun if I am there to watch, in fact, sometimes it seems necessary. I enjoy following the missions and seeing what unfolds as he completes each one. The game is gorgeous and I love seeing the new territories as he unlocks them. Also, I'm in charge of outfits. That's a general rule for all video games. If there are outfit changes, I am in charge of picking them out.

But there is another approach to playing the game in which I don't have much interest. We call it Going On A Rampage.

Me: Honey, what are you doing? Why did you shoot that guy in the face?
Wm: He pushed me. I have a rep to protect.
Me: But that was completely unnecessary. Oh now look what you've done, the police are here. You are going to have to lose your wanted level and you'll be late for your date with Kate.
Wm: It's no big deal, I'll out run them in 2 seconds.
Me: You'd better call her and reschedule. She's going to be mad.
Wm: It's all good.
Me: Oh now look what you've done! Shooting at the police from your car is not helping. Kate is going to be so mad. Is it necessary to smash into every other car on the road?
Wm: Yes. Yes it is. Because we are GOING ON A RAMPAGE!!
Me: sigh.

I can see why it would be fun to Go On A Rampage if you were playing the game. I'm just saying it's not as interesting to me to watch. That's all.

The other day Wil handed the controller to me and told me to just "drive to Manny's while I go the bathroom."

I told him it was a bad idea. I don't know what I was trying to do, maybe turn left, I don't know how to work the controls for this game, but what I actually did was stick my gun out the window and start shooting. At cops. Naturally a chase ensued, and with my complete lack of GTA driving skill, I managed a head on collision so massive that it sent me flying out the windshield, over a wall and onto some docks. Nowhere near any cars to to steal, like I even knew how to do that in the first place. So I panicked and started running amuck, trying to get away from the police. Only I accidentally went into a "crouch" and could not get out of it. So I was actually Creeping Away from the cops. Will comes back just when I am being arrested. Because I was arrested and not killed in a shootout or something, Wil lost all the weapons he had been collecting up to that point.

I TOLD him it was a bad idea. Just drive to Manny's indeed.

7 mai 2008

Vs.

A few weeks ago I was buying some books at Chapters, using my WaMu MasterCard card. My wallet was open, on the counter, and the bookseller could see my driver's license. He noticed I was from the states. Usually, when retailers notice this, they ask me if I am visiting. When I tell them I live here now, they ask me how I like it, etc. This guy asked me something completely different, and it rendered me speechless for a moment.

"So, do you like it better up here?"

Uhh... how to answer that politely. Because, let's face, I am Canada's house guest, and I don't want to offend. And the truth is, no, I don't.

To be fair, this is not a US vs. Canada issue. Or a Seattle vs. Vancouver issues. This is a Seattle vs. everywhere else on the planet issue. And no one has got a chance of beating it. Of all the places in the world, I love none so much as I love Seattle. I have never found another place that makes me feel like I am "home," like Seattle. It fits me.

It just so happens I found someone I love more than I love Seattle. And so here I am. And it's great. I do like it up here.

First of all, Seattle and Vancouver? Not that different. Or at least similar enough to suit me.

And living in a country that truly does consider all men created equal, allowing anyone to get married, not just the heterosexuals? AWESOME. Even though I am not looking to marry a woman anytime soon, I can't help but feel that Canada is the enlightened one on this continent. (Really, U.S., it's embarrassing, we have to start taking those "self evident" truths more seriously. In all manners of speaking.)

Thirdly, wheat thins taste better here*. They do, I don't know why. They are crispier. Taste more baked than fried. Bring me a box of US Wheat Thins and we'll have a taste test at my house. I will make you some cream cheese and Pickapeppa sauce dip, but you have to bring the Pickapeppa sauce, because I can't find it here.

One of my favorite things? Skytrain. I WISH Seattle had something like the Skytrain.

I hear the beer is better here, which really does not matter to me, but I have to give it props for that. However, don't get me started on the price of gas. No, don't. Because I was listing off things I like about Canada.

So like it better? No. But I like it just fine.


*things really do taste different. Conversely, Double Stuff Oreos do not taste good. I'm sorry, the "stuff" is weird up here.

I think my life would be happier, if I had a need for this font.

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