Usually when the fall hits, I’m marinating in all sorts of stress and duldrums, what with the increase of work and the end of summer bliss. That doesn’t feel like the case this year, however; I get to meet my son any day now, I’m losing weight, I’ve got so many great games to play, and I have broken out of a mental routine that I didn’t even know I was in. As a result, I’m appreciating more the good things in life — and here are five more of them.
1. Music: Bastion soundtrack
Video game soundtracks should never sound this good. It’s, like, a statistical improbability. But here we have Bastion’s OST, the score to the hit indie title, and it is luxurious. It’s not new, and I’ve even listened to some of it before, but the other night I went and bought the whole thing as a thank you to my ears. It’s just a rich score full of trippy Western beats, soulful dirges, and emotional journeys. Give it a listen!
2. TV: Warehouse 13
My wife and I were starving for a new show to watch together, and after some Netflix perusing, we gave this a try. Lo and behold, it was not only great for the two of us (a less gory X-Files/Fringe), but suddenly it seemed like everyone I knew was watching it too. It follows the adventures of two reassigned Secret Service agents who collect “artifacts” for a giant mysterious warehouse that holds some of the greatest inventions and secrets of the world. I particularly like the interplay between the two main characters as sort of adopted brother and sister, and the humor is welcome.
3. Game: City of Heroes nostalgia
Make no mistake, City of Heroes closing is a Bad Thing, and does not belong on this list. But there’s been an interesting side-effect to it, in that it’s bringing out all manner of nostalgia from current and former players. I’m experiencing it too, and really love reading everyone’s thoughts on it. Shared experiences is a big part of the MMO community, and it’s good to be reminded that not only the most recent games are the important ones.
4. Food: Frozen blueberries
As part of my low-carb diet, I’ve got few options for dessert. My go-to sweet these days are frozen blueberries, which totally kick the butt of regular blueberries. First of all, they don’t mold, so there’s that. Second, the freezing makes them super-sweet, kind of like little slushies. I love feeling them melt in my mouth.
5. Playtime: Making tents out of blankets
You know what’s great about having kids? It’s a terrific excuse to act like a kid yourself, especially when you play with them. My kids LOVE blanket tents and forts, so much so that if I just put a blanket over my head, they’ll wiggle inside cooing “Ooh tent! tent!”
So I’ve been making lots of elaborate blanket tents these days, sometimes utilizing furniture and a collapsible tunnel we have. Keeps ‘em busy, and then they get to destroy it and it’s all good.
Ha, the tent obsession seems to be universal among kids. Even back when I was little (a few decades ago *cough*), getting to build a tent in the house was something we were looking forward to.