the wonders of selective grammar usage

Mistaken Identites: Chrono Trigger DS

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 18:12:16 GMT

Consider this aside the last window opening on the Advent Calendar. I’m sure that candy’s stale by now, but still.

I’ve been putting off beating Chrono Trigger DS for some time now. There’s something about the finality of beating a game that makes me hesitant, because once I get that closure, that experience will never be the same again. This is why the list of RPGs I’ve finished is very short — like, counting-on-one-hand short. However, with both Nick and Lor egging me on, and having finished everything* but the Lumicite quest in the Lost Sanctum**, I decided to just suck it up and confront that endboss. A few Luminaire/Flare/Rapid-Fire Fist/Megalixers and plot blah later, these… things appear on my top screen.

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Originally published at two player co-op. You can comment here or there.

Chrono Trigger Advent Calendar: The Last Day

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 08:28:57 GMT

The voicemail I got from Ashley the over-excited GameStop robot confirms that my copy of Chrono Trigger will be available, so I guess this business is coming to a close. Today is dedicated to the serious fans; the guys who took their fandom a bit further than the rest of us. Specifically, I’d like to cover three projects: one complete, one cut short, and one still ongoing. Hope you enjoy.

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Originally published at two player co-op. You can comment here or there.

Advent Schmadvent

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:17:11 GMT

I’m up bright and early tomorrow, so once again, our regularly scheduled programming is going to be postponed a bit.

Tune in tomorrow, and we’ll start wrapping things up for the big day on Tuesday.

Originally published at two player co-op. You can comment here or there.

Chrono Trigger Advent Calendar: Day 3 (ish)

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 13:49:48 GMT

We’re getting pretty close, and I’m getting pretty psyched. What say we cut the chit-chat and get straight down to business.

Chrono Trigger is a pretty tough act to follow; sure, it wasn’t a huge seller, but by the time Chrono Cross was released in late 1999, the fan love was smeared over every corner of the tubes of the boom-era internet. The reception at the time was pretty damn good — gamerankings clocks it in at a whopping 93 percent — but in recent years, it’s been getting something of a bad rap from the series’ more diehard fans. Neither its past praise or current criticism is without merit, however; Chrono Cross is a great game, but has the misfortune of being the sequel to Chrono Trigger.

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Originally published at two player co-op. You can comment here or there.

Chrono Trigger Advent Calendar: Day 4

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 08:13:01 GMT

Well now. It looks like I skipped a day (two if you’re on the east coast). Sorry about that folks, it seems a combination of actual work to do at the office, a nasty bit of food poisoning yesterday, and wordpress deciding to delete the entirety of what I’d written earlier today have delayed this post a bit. But fear not, loyal readers, I haven’t forgotten about you. Now, where were we?

Some of the more forward thinking folks out there (read: not me) already have their grubby little mitts on an import copy of CTDS. Turns out the Japanese version even has the option to play in English! Cheers, guys — I officially hate you. The rest of us still have a few days to go, so let’s continue with the countdown!

Today I can’t help but think about the ravenous fanbase Chrono Trigger has gathered in the past 13 years. I’ve often seen it suggested that Chrono Trigger is the ultimate gateway drug to the world of Japanese RPGs — that somehow even the genre’s most diehard detractors would learn the error of their ways if only they’d give this game a fair shake. Really, this strikes me as unbelievably silly. Keep in mind that Chrono Trigger may be my favorite RPG of all time, but even so I’ve still gotta be realistic. The fact of the matter is that if you don’t like JRPGs in the vein of the 8 and 16 bit Final Fantasies and Dragon Quests, there’s a very good chance that Chrono Trigger’s not going to be your cup of tea either.

However, I will concede that for a particular kind of person, one for whom the general idea of those RPGs is appealing, but often find their execution to be lacking, Chrono Trigger might be just what they were looking for.

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Originally published at two player co-op. You can comment here or there.

Four drafts later…

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 07:52:52 GMT

WARNING: If you are in any way related to me (at all — by marriage counts!), you are therefore barred from giving me feedback.

Fourth Draft of (the best title that I can think of as of now) “In Dreams”

It’s gone through a lot of rewrites. Keep this in mind as your gag reflex kicks in.

EDIT (8/19): Okay, so I guess it’s working for me now, because I apparently have downloaded 23 copies of my story in the background. I did modify the link, but here are two options for you guys who don’t trust my links anymore (and rightfully so).

If the embed doesn’t work, then just go over to my box.net account and download it.

EDIT #2 (8/19): Aaaand the embed didn’t work. Box.net is pretty cool, though. I recommend it heartily for your small file-sharing needs.

Originally published at myportmanteau.com. You can comment here or there.

A fresh start

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:19:06 GMT

I’ve been putting off writing this for so long. I don’t know why I have this obsession with perfection, honestly, especially when I know it’ll never be that way. I guess I just imagined that I’d be able to design the template, come up with some beautiful post, and just be all like POW! out the gates, but I’m a fool. Anyway, I didn’t mean to, but I let on that I have a blog to one of my classmates, so I’d better look like I actually do.

So, because I’m trying to catch people up on about two months of life, bulleted list!

Taking my Fiction course again, but for no credit. (I’m a sucker for punishment, I know.) I just feel like there’s something here that’s helping me find my voice, and in some ways, it’s a voice that I didn’t even realize was that strong. Also, even with my lack of experience writing fiction, I’m finding that I’m enjoying it a lot, and that I may not be that bad at it.
Also taking an independent study course in poetics, which is kicking my ass in a great way. My instructor challenges me to not be so passive in my analysis. I can’t take the easy way out and slack off with her, and even in the freeform class structure, I’m learning so much about the craft of poetry that’s really making me fall in love with it again.
Nick and I celebrated our first anniversary a little over a month ago. I don’t know if there’s much I can say about it — it was fairly uneventful on the surface — but… sometimes when I wake up and reach over, I feel this empty space and I’m startled by some sort of fear. When I find that he’s just rolled over a bit, there’s this comfort… I don’t know. He’s mine, and I love him.
I have about four drafts for posts that I want to make to re-jumpstart TPC involving crazy things like robotics, Wall-E, WiiFit, Dr. Horrible (for God’s sake, Kecia, watch it!) and STUFF!
My half.com wish list is getting out of control.
I hate bulleted lists, because I know I’m forgetting something every time I make one.

So there! That’s all you get until I yank myself away from WoW and finals (in that order — THANKS JEB BUT NOT REALLY).

Originally published at myportmanteau.com. You can comment here or there.

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 06:44:42 GMT

Oh, and before I start "real posting" again over yonder, I have made a decision that Nick does not know about but is not really a secret:

About 90% of Nick's friends have either moved to Japan or are in the process of moving there.
(About one of mine is now there -- hope the flight went well, Shelly!)
I would like to see lots of snow.
We will have lots of extra money coming in soon, especially if I can land a (hopefully not thankless and soul-gouging) job.
Tickets to Japan would be about $2000 after taxes/surcharges/etc.
If we can set aside about $3500 in the next eight months -- and I really think that we can -- then all you Japan-people can expect my husband and his wife-who-will-excitedly-squeal-"eeeeeee!" sometime early next year.

=======

On a much lighter note, I'm afraid that counseling for my anxiety issues will adversely affect my writing, especially since I'm getting into a groove with all these short stories that you're not privy to. However, if the day ever came where I decided to do something serious about this writing urge, I would probably need some sort of medication to be able to handle the idea of rejection letters.

Oh, wait, did I say lighter back there? I meant more realistic.

Writer's Block: In the Event of a Zombie Emergency

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 03:56:38 GMT

Are you prepared for a zombie outbreak, or are you just going to wing it?

View 500 Answers

Oh, hells no. I'm going to get our asses over to Nick's old workplace, where one of their selling points are their zombie-proof server rooms.

I am also prepared for a zombie dream outbreak, which is fine and dandy since I have to write a six page poetry analysis and scrape together another piece to workshop. In some ways, I would love to consider trying to get a English degree with a creative writing bent, but Evergreen's our local option, and according to Nate's friend Eric (or is it Erik? he does have red hair), their writing program is "shit".

Yesterday's news (via Twitter)

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 07:32:27 GMT

12:00 I love how the cover of Wired had no effect on me. How to become an internet celebrity? All I was thinking was "who the hell is this chick?" #
12:07 @katiberz Just so you know, your tweets are double (maybe triple?) posting. Since I'm mobile, I don't know why - but it's definitely weird. #
15:49 I love how the beginning of Buku Sudoku starts out all 24-like and stressful, and then the game tries to seduce you with elevator music. #
17:27 Oh, great. The vampire girl down the street is trying to confuse Lor with Wiccan polytheism. I have a hard enough time with just one, tyvm. #

Yesterday's news (via Twitter)

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 07:27:58 GMT

12:31 I don't even eat ice cream that often, so why am I so excited about blueberry muffin ice cream? #

Yesterday's news (via Twitter)

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 07:27:49 GMT

10:58 I am starving and I have no idea how much he spent on parking. Living on fifteen dollars sucks ass. #
12:53 Wow. It's funny how just looking at Lakefair being set up makes me feel queasy. #
19:52 So far, the only E3 news that I've been remotely interested in has been about iNiS' version of Karaoke Revolution, Lips. Those mics alone! #

Yesterday's news (via Twitter)

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 07:28:11 GMT

14:41 Lor walked in to The Colbert Report -- "my favorite show!" When I was her age, I think I was watching Tale Spin or something. #

Yesterday's news (via Twitter)

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 07:28:49 GMT

18:29 Constant communication failures make me lust for a 3G connection. #

Yesterday's news (via Twitter)

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 07:27:22 GMT

15:15 I sat the grass yesterday, and my arm broke out in welts. I think I may follow @themaester's lead and see an allergist soon. #
16:21 In a lilac tank top, floppy hat, black bandanna over my mouth and frog shorts from the seventh grade, this is gardening attire for the ages. #
18:36 @magicalstephie It was elastic. Very stretchy elastic. Which, actually, is now very worn out. #
18:38 @magicalstephie I think I'm about four or six sizes from where I was. I prayed for breasts all those years -- I pray for none now. #

Yesterday's news (via Twitter)

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 07:35:01 GMT

11:33 Last night, I learned that a) food is good when you're throwing down Tecate, and 2) I cannot text worth a damn when I'm drunk. #
14:27 Through the kindness of some and the idiocy of others, I now have a copy of WiiFit. #
15:13 @jennatar Okay, that was weird: I read that as "143 contacts are IN Limbo", so I got very confused as to why purgatory = Finland. #
21:29 Fat face, @jennatar? PLEASE. I just saw my BMI/weight combination on WiiFit, and the plumped-up Mii is creepily accurate in size now. :( #

Yesterday's news (via Twitter)

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 07:30:22 GMT

12:06 There is an inflatable bodybuilder on Martin Way. It is a pun come to life, and I'm afraid it may be anatomically correct. #
12:09 Also, Jeff is on the 62B today. He's a greeter at Wal-Mart - he's so dedicated that he's bidding each passenger farewell as they step off. #
16:25 It's not that it's wrong... but I don't know. I just don't know. [NSFW - but in a medical (?) sense --is.gd/QDY] #
16:28 ... and the thought of pregnancy as "nine months of pleasurable foreplay"? Ewwwwwww. [NSFW continued -- is.gd/QE9] #
00:21 U am so fucking drunk right, now, and you can blame it on thw wonderful establisment of learning. Appaertwnly I have to read more Eco and #
00:22 And oh my god! Why am I worrying about punctuiatuin at a time like this? #

Yesterday's news (via Twitter)

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 07:26:31 GMT

10:05 We now have a new word to describe Nate's comic affectations: gayngster. #
10:06 "you always have to preface it with this, though: I have a gay friend, so, you know..." #

Yesterday's news (via Twitter)

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 07:31:12 GMT

10:00 Not only did the bus come ridiculously early today, I went to drive my car there and of course! I locked my keys in the house. I win today. #

Yesterday's news (via Twitter)

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:52:15 GMT

17:59 I find that rewriting a short story thirty words at a time is a very foolish undertaking, but I'm all for the very foolish right now. #
22:05 "Is she downstairs?" "Yes! And she's ruining my Dr. Claw moment!" #
10:00 Not only did the bus come ridiculously early today, I went to drive my car there and of course! I locked my keys in the house. I win today. #

Yesterday's news (via Twitter)

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 07:30:08 GMT

18:08 I don't know how something can be both soulless and gut-wrenching at the same time, but that season finale of Doctor Who managed to do so. #

Yesterday's news (via Twitter)

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 07:34:26 GMT

09:39 @themaester Thunder? I thought that was an M80, myself. #
09:44 @dboitnot Thanks for the (now current) birthday wishes! Oh, and violins are always welcome here. :) #
09:44 Lorelei turned seven today! We're off to mini-golf and (shudder) Chuck-E-Cheese! #
17:47 Met with my fiction prof yesterday. I could have a million anonymous faces online give me praise, but good words from him mean so much more. #
00:22 PayPal is useless. How am I supposed to give very small amounts of money to people when it won't let me use my card? Huh? #

Yesterday's news (via Twitter)

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:36:02 GMT

17:57 Dear AT&T: I knew I'd forgotten something! Oops! Dear friends and family (and @rycar!): don't bother calling our cell phones until Friday. #

Yesterday's news (via Twitter)

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:41:39 GMT

14:35 Can you have elevation sickness the other way around? I mean, we're close to sea level near the college, so this lady's confusing me. #
16:30 Listening to my mother rap is funny. Listening to her rap the contents of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Don't Do Drugs" is HILARIOUS. #
23:39 Two goals for the year that don't have anything to do with weight loss: start playing the violin or cello again and teach myself the guitar. #

Yesterday's news (via Twitter)

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 08:39:32 GMT

10:16 It's not as hot as the past two days were, but the weather... I don't know, it's like ants crawling over my skin. #
19:33 For the first time in my life, I may be ready for something... in advance! #
20:00 Doctor Who fans: When I saw this [is.gd/Jjc] on "Science of Star Wars", this popped into my head [is.gd/Jje]. #