Matt is playing Doom 3 and really likes it. I don’t know what sub-genre of game it is considered, but I would definitely label it “horror.” I can’t see Matt’s monitor, I can only hear his speakers, and that is scary enough for me. There is no way I would play that game. I would have nightmares.
The part that creeped me out the most was when the female disembodied voice whispers, “Follow me. They took my baby.” And then you hear the baby cry. Matt died right after that so when he loaded his saved game, I had to listen to that again. Yuch! It was so creepy. So when he died the third time and had to load the saved game again, I covered my ears so I didn’t have to hear it. Then he saved the game just after that point so we wouldn’t have to hear it again if he had to reload the game again.
Matt is thoroughly enjoying his game though. It is really well-done. Even though I wouldn’t play it, I still recognize that it is well-done, if you are into scary first-person shooters.
I’ve been watching my 3-year-old nephew everyday for the past week. I had originally volunteered to watch him for 3 months, but I asked Carla yesterday to put him in daycare as soon as she can. He takes up all my time and I get nothing accomplished. And I’m dead tired by the end of the day. It’s like having a job, complete with looking forward to the weekend and dreading Monday.
I know that I will have my own baby soon and that will be 24/7 instead of 8.5 hours/day. But that is a responsibility that I have accepted as a mother. As an aunt, watching Logan everyday is just too much. The responsibilities of my life have been put on hold to take care of a responsibility in Carla’s life. Each day passes with none of my business completed… or even started for that matter. I play catch-up on the weekend.
I hope he goes to daycare soon. I hope Carla takes care of this soon.
On a “cool geek factor” note, though, the Macquarium is almost done. We are waiting for the last plant and a pair of A. australe killifish, both of which I have to order over the internet. In the meantime, we have set it up with everything that we have so far. Really, only those two things are missing… well three. I want to treat some water with peat and add that.
I should probably wait until it’s complete to post the pictures, but I’m just so excited. Also, the pictures don’t do it justice. It’s very pretty and very cool.
We couldn’t fill the water all the way to the top of the tank because the bubbles from the filter were causing the water to leak over the top. But we didn’t want there to be a visible gap between the top of the water and the top of the tank, so we printed out an image of the System 3 menu bar and taped it up so the gap was hidden behind it. I think it’s pretty cool.
Some advice if you are considering making a Macquarium:
- It’s a bitch of a project but well worth it.
- You are limited to goldfish because your water will be cold unless you buy a 6″ mini-heater for tropical fish.
- If you do use a mini-heater and get tropical fish, you are limited to two choices because all other fish will languish and die in such a small volume of water. I know what you’re thinking, “I’ll get tetra. They are tiny. They’ll be okay in such a tiny tank.” Nope. They may be tiny, but they still need room to swim. Your choices are either a betta or killies. These fish can quite happily live in two gallons of water.
- If you do choose killifish, they jump and you will have to fashion a device to cover the hole in the top of the Mac. Matt has plans for a wire frame covered in panty hose. 🙂
- Choose easy, low-light plants. I am using java fern, anubius nana, and Italian vallisneria.
This is what I have learned so far. I’m sure I will learn more as time goes on. And maybe I will learn that I got some of these rules wrong. 🙂 I did just set it up.
It’s been a fun project… well, fun once I gutted the Mac. Gutting the Mac was not fun. Matt wants to find some old Mac SE floppy drives and cut them down and install them so they look like working floppies. That would be cool, but I’m not so sure we are going to be able to find old Mac SE floppy drives.
By the way, Matt and I are discussing upgrading our machines so we can play EverQuest II. “Why?” you ask, “Why, after you were so happy to be off the Crack?”
Because it’s EverQuest II, man!!! I want to explore the new world! It looks like so much fun.
I can quit anytime…. 😉
Actually, it’s all just talk at this time. It will cost about $1000 to upgrade the two computers so that they can run EQ2. That game has some serious system requirements.
Much has happened. Much has changed.
My Tai Chi teacher explained the yin-yang symbol to us once. He said that it represents positive and negative, light and dark, balance. That even when you are all in the light, there is still the spot of darkness, and, as you circle around, the darkness increases and the light decreases. But, since everything is in balance, when you are in complete darkness, there is the spot of light and you circle around and the light increases and the darkness decreases.
Well, we have finally circled around into the light. The dark was long and hard, and, to be honest, I don’t think I handled it very well. Matt, of course, was always a pillar of strength that is almost his defining characteristic. To give you an example: the Jeep broke down today and left Kelsey and I stranded on the side of the road. I called Matt at work and he was by our side in 15 minutes and had the situation completely under control within one minute of being there. I didn’t fall in love with him because he is so reliable and strong, but it sure is an extremely nice quality to have in a husband.
But to continue with the original thought: three things have changed. We’ll start with the simplest. Matt got a raise at work which gives us more money. That always helps things.
We’ll move on to the next easiest to explain: I’m pregnant. After two years and feeling like our hearts were being ripped from our chests each month because of our unanswered love, I showed up pregnant. I’m 18 weeks pregnant now with a little girl.
Of course, there is a story with that. I didn’t show up pregnant until I had finally moved on from my single life. I was mired in my past. I loved my time with Gene so much that I had a very hard time saying goodbye to it. It took me almost three years to move into my present life with my husband– to quit longing and mourning the past. But I finally started living in the now and being wholly present with my husband. And then I became pregnant. Coincidence? Who’s to say.
The third change was a big eye-opener. We bought a house in Round Rock and moved into it two and a half weeks ago. We moved from a very filthy, very tiny, very dark apartment to a beautiful, clean, spacious home. I didn’t realize that my entire life and my moods were so affected by my environment. It was truly like coming out of the dark into the light.
I thought I would try to explain it, but it is very hard to explain. So just let me give unsolicited advice: live in a place you love. Keep it clean and organized. Keep it uncluttered. Let me repeat that last one because it is more important than people realize. Keep it uncluttered. Take unwanted stuff to Goodwill, clean out your drawers and your files.
I feel so much lighter and happier, and I know it’s not just that we finally got pregnant. I am no longer in that filthy, dark cave that sucked the very happiness out of my soul. The dogs have a grassy backyard they can play in. Matt and I have a usable closet and a great study. We have desks on which we have room to do work now instead of being completely covered in dust, junk, and computer peripherals. The living room is inviting and warm. Needs a bit more seating though and perhaps a rug.
Oh, I could go on.
Live in a place you love. Don’t let the happiness be sucked out by your environment. I think it happens more than people realize. They just continue to live where they live, unaware of how it is effecting the happiness and quality of their lives. It makes a huge difference. I have just experienced the difference first hand with myself.
I’m so happy we moved.