Hope for Opus

A scant few months ago Berkeley Breathed creator of Bloom County, returned to the world of newspaper comics with a full colour weekend feature entitled Opus. He has re-introduced Opus, that slightly neurotic penguin, Bill, the deranged cat, and even Steve Dallas (as an over the hill single father figure). And I've read them every Saturday. And I've felt nothing for them.

You see, I grew up after Bloom County. I never read them when they were new. But my dad had a collection that encapsulated nearly the entire run. I've read it a few times. The characters were endearing and lovable, if a bit deranged. The humour was odd-ball and semi-political. But, it was good. It fit. I liked it. And now that something of it has returned after all these years, I feel sorry for the people who are reading it for the first time.

Because it feels like Berkeley is trying too hard. There isn't any of the loveable-ness left in the characters. They all felt like they've had too hard a time over the past decade or so. They feel worn down and stretched. They feel like they are on the edge of sanity and barely hanging on. And the humour has gotten stanger. There is still the sense the Mr. Breathed is trying to remain political, but the references grow stranger and the antics more crazed.

Basically, none of the strips have made me laugh. They've made me shrug or wince or grimace. I've felt everything from apathy to confusion to acute embarasment over them. I havn't enjoyed them, but I love these characters. I want to see them in a good light again, so I continue to read. And today I finally got a reward. It wasn't a perfect return, but perhaps it is a first step. It at least shows that Berkeley has not lost his sense of irony and humour entirely.

Since the strip cannot be found online, I'll have to describe it to you who cannot see it. Opus and Bill are sleeping. The Anxiety closet creeps open and there are a number of pop-culture figures huddled just inside of Opus's room. Opus wakes up and begins to exclaim a number of names (Micheal Jackson, Darth Vader, Jagger, Schwarzenegger, Bono, Paula Abdul, Donald Trump). "All back", he says. He wonders at their return ("poping up like cheep yo-yos"). Then he shoos them back into the closet telling them they should get back to the cheesy decade they belong. He then screams after them (there is a lot of screaming in the new Opus strips), "Ya know, maybe you persistent pop culture has-beens from the '80s could use a few rounds of bird shot in the butt!". There are then a couple panels of quite return and reflection as Opus returns to bed and Bill the Cat looks on.

And the final panel has Opus asleep with Bill cocking a wide-mouthed shotgun at him.

I think Berkeley gets it. And maybe there is hope for Opus after all. Only time will tell.

The Marathon

I know my life is not that hectic. I am not being chased across the English Channel by a pack of sharks (with or without frickin’ lasers). I am not running for my life in some terrorist ridden country. I am not training for ANY sort of marathon (including the much desired sleep-a-thon). I just feel busy. It’s like I’m gasping for air. I get a break once every week or two, where I can really kick back and just not think about anything.

And then, when I do have time to do fun stuff (like update my Lack-of-Blog): I don’t. ‘Cause it seems like too much work. And that’s what I’m trying to take a break from. And so I don’t, and I get further and further from my last inconsequential post.

So, tonight, I’ll watch my soap (The OC) and kick back a little.

And tell you (all none of you that care), that I’m really doing OK. Because I’m going to have a car to drive in a few weeks (after I pay for registration and insurance). Because the plans for my wedding are well in hand (even though it’s only 4.5 months away, with lots of details to work on). Because I have a handle on money and time and stress (despite my overt, gasping, dramatic panic). But mostly, just because.

And I’ll put this post in my blog (that is still not a blog) and I’ll feel good.

(Except about my grammar, which sucks, but makes for nice conversational-style writing. So there!)

Not a Gamer Yet

I don't play non-stop video games. In fact, I hardly play video games at all. I like games with story and challenge and depth. I suck at first person shooters. I have no twitch gaming skills. I don't want a game that will scare me out of my skin or gross me out with realistic gore and violence. I want something I can sink my mind into.

I also have never owned a console or hand-held system. All my young life, my only exposure to game systems was from friends and the occasional rental. I liked to play games, but never often and never too much.

And yet, I love games. They are a part of me. If only because I have stories I want to tell through that medium. There are games I've fallen for and can play for hours on end.

Is there hope for me to become a true gamer yet?

I just bought a Gameboy Advance SP. My first ever handheld. My first ever game system. Probably not my last. I may be late, but perhaps I'll get there yet.

Stupid Consumer Instinct

I've officially made the top contender for "Stupidest Purchase Ever". I just bought (pre-ordered actually) the Special Edition of Jade Empire. Jade Empire is an action RPG developed by Bioware using a totally unique intellectual property. The game is set in mythical China and features kick-ass martial-arts styled fighting. Now that I've officially pitched the game (and not gotten any money for it), I'll tell you why I wanted to get it.

Besides the fact that the Special Edition comes with a bunch of exclusive bonus features, I've always been a sucker for Bioware games. I live in Edmonton (you may start stalking me now!) and have kept an eye on Bioware since I was in Junior High. These guys are my very own "Home Town Heroes". All the better that they make top-selling computer and console games.

I was actually fortunate enough to visit their offices not once, but twice. Each time I saw them, they were bigger, more impressive and more fun loving than ever. I'd love to work there, and I know that I'll have to work my butt off to even get a chance. Needless to say, I'm a fan. And not just because they are local. They truly make games that are fun, engaging and story driven. That's the part that gets me. I love the story. Graphics are nice, sound is wonderful, but if it lacks a compelling story and a way to explore it, then you've lost me.

Ever since I first heard about Jade Empire being released as an Xbox exclusive game, I said that they were going to force me to buy an Xbox. This leads me back to the reason buying Jade Empire was so (so!) dumb.

I Don't Own an XBOX!

Yet.

Fuck.

Spectacle of Myself

I love cheesy titles. Don’t you? But enough about you – I got new glasses! After finally admitting that maybe all the headaches I was getting at work were from unfocused vision and not my boss (unfocused vision of a different sort), I scheduled an Eye Appointment. I got my prescription and proceeded to procrastinate in actually getting replacement glasses. I love to procrastinate. It makes the pain last longer.

At any rate, I finally found a pair of glasses that looked good and (thankfully) had nice magnetic sunglass clip-ons. So I forked out the cash for them. And waited a week. I had to call to check on them, but low and behold they were ready.

Now I just need to adjust to them. I’d worn my previous pair for 5-6 years. They were wearing out, true, but they were comfortable and familiar. These are all stiff and new and… crisp. I can see clearly. I can read at a distance without squinting. I will hopefully get fewer reading related headaches. I have sunglasses again. I guess I’m as happy as can be. I’d post a pic, but I lack a digital camera.

New glasses good. I like to be able to see what I’m doing. It makes it easier to not make a spectacle of myself (worked it in there, didn’t I?). I wonder if anyone will notice (who I haven’t already told). So far I’m 0/3.