Get clean!

Since it has fallen off of my front page and tonight is the final episode of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, I just wanted to write a little reminder that, if you know someone addicted to drugs/alcohol, try to talk to them about drug rehabs. No, I don't think it will work if the user doesn't want to quit but it's a good idea to bring up the subject and let them know that you will support them through their detox. After all, support from family and friends is one of the best ways to help a recovering addict.

Lunar Eclipse

There was a lunar eclipse last night. The next one won't occur until 2010, which sounds like it's really far away but that's only two years from now. (Actually, the eclipse is supposed to take place in December so it's closer to three years.) My husband and I took our daughter outside a couple of times so she could see it. Despite the crappy weather that the Philadelphia area has had for the past couple of weeks, the clouds parted and it was miraculously clear during the eclipse. While we didn't stay to watch the entire event, we did see the beginning and full eclipse. It was definitely something interesting to watch.

Game review: The Nightshift Code

My daughter really enjoys playing hidden object games with me. So I loaded up The Nightshift Code for us to try out. Of course, I always start off by telling her that the game may be too difficult for her and to let me know if it is. For the most part, Nightshift is a typical hidden object game. However, in the higher levels, the game tries to up the difficulty level by giving you a list of objects that can be found in multiple rooms. You have to click between different locations just to finish one list. The problem there is that the list doesn't tell you which room it goes to. So you end up spending a lot of time looking for objects that may not be in the room you are in! I didn't find it particularly difficult but it was very annoying.

I did enjoy some of the mini-games. One, for example, had a puzzle where an object would represent a word in a sentence. The game gives you multiple sentences and you have to figure out which object goes with each word. It was slightly difficult but just enough to make it fun instead of aggravating. I wish that there were more of these types of puzzle games available.

Music review: Hyde - unexpected (English version)

hyde.jpgArtist: Hyde Album: roentgen.ENGLISH Release date: 10/14/04 Video link: via YouTube (this is not the original version of the song, this is a remixed version that was re-relased as the B-side of the Season's Call single)

Lyrics: Unexpected Promises woven

Unexpected Through space and time the path unwinds Leading me straight to you Unexpected Reaching across a moonlit square We found each other's hands Unexpected Under the blessing of the stars The life poured into us To meet is so unexpected About the song: The original version of Unexpected is so laid-back that unless you are trying to fall asleep, it is very difficult to listen to. However the remixed version is very good. Despite the difficulty of understanding Hyde's English, the fullness of the instruments pushes the song from a mellow, laid-back tune to a decent rock ballad. The only real downfall of either version is the approximately two minutes of the song spent singing "Unexpected, promises woven." Since that compromises about half of the entire song, it makes it difficult to not push the fast forward or next song button on your player.

Game review: Dress Shop Hop

Another game from the creators of Diner Dash and Wedding Dash, Dress Shop Hop is a fashion-based time management game. Flo (from Diner Dash) and Quinn (from Wedding Dash) tell Bobbi (Dress Shop Hop) to open her own clothes shop. Of course, the heroine of this games listens to her predecessors. They have rather successful businesses themselves after all. Ohhhh....I really wanted to like this game and I did in the beginning but then it goes to hell. Much like other time management games, you move the customer to their "table." In this cast, the "table" is a machine that helps the customer decide what clothes they want. Then you have to go to the fabric machine to get their color fabric and take that to the sewing machine that makes the clothes. The problem with all of this? The machines take forever to do anything and the customers get impatient quickly. So by the time you reach the second chapter of the story, it's difficult to complete each level. If the machines moved a little faster or if the customers were a little more patient, the game would have been a lot better. As it is, it's frustrating to have to play the same level multiple times and still not be able to complete it.

Home buying

I know a couple of people that live in the Alabama area. Actually, I think one of them may be looking for Alabama land for sale. Even though it can be difficult to own a home, it's always nice to have something that is yours. Renting is so expensive anymore. I know that our mortgage payment is less than the rent for any apartment or townhouse of a comparable size. Sure, it's more work but it's a lot more satisfying knowing that it's yours.

Game review: Polly Pride: Pet Detective

The hidden obeject game Polly Pride: Pet Detective tells the story of Polly, the owner of a pet shelter who also does a bit of detective work on the side. If you have lost your pet, Polly will find it for you! I thought that this "pet detective" twist to the hidden object genre was interesting. In each level, you have the opportunity to find a lost pet from one of the previous storylines. While it doesn't change the actual gameplay any, it does give the game a little bit more of a emotional tie. People don't like losing their beloved pets so it feels good to help someone, even a person in a video game, find their animals.

Light up my house

As I have said before, my husband and I are looking to fix up our house. Besides needing windows, we also need more light fixtures. Half of the living room area is lit pretty well but the other half is dark. While the darkness is good for keeping glare off the television, it makes it difficult to do anything else in that part of the room. You can't snuggle up and read a book over there. It'll be nice when we can finally use that part of the room for something other than just watching tv.

Getting in shape

I keep planning on working out and getting in shape. However, our house isn't big enough to fit any fitness equipment and it's too cold during the winter to work out outside. I've debated joining a gym but I can't decide if I'm motivated enough to take my lazy butt somewhere to work out after working all day during the weekend. It's not such a big deal during the weekend since we're usually home all day. During the week, though, we generally don't get home until at least 6PM. Usually it's closer to 6:30PM. Then I still have to eat dinner, help my daughter with her homework and get her off to bed. By then it's 8:00PM and I don't feel like doing much of anything. Working out shouldn't be so much work ^_^