Poprocks & Coke

Well I haven't made a meaningful post in a few days so it's time for a brain dump.

I forgot to mention in my last update that I am likely to buy an Apple PowerBook laptop sometime before August. I don't really need a laptop but it'd be a nice complement to my desktop workhorse, and since I am using a computer frequently it'd be nice to plop down on a couch when I am doing so. (Of course, this means I will have to pick up a Wi-Fi for home, but it'll be worth it.)

So why am I getting an Apple? Well, it's not because of price, I assure you. I just have wanted to play around with a Mac ever since Apple released OS X and the PowerBooks are nice, sturdy, fully functional machines. My only gripes are incompatability problems with current software/hardware and price, but since it's a laptop and not my primary machine that's not too big of a sticking point for me. The only apps I am even considering buying are the educational versions of Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop; everything else I will need comes with the machine or is freeware that I can easily download.

I was at a computer store yesterday with my dad and I inspected the 15" and 17" versions of the PowerBook. My conclusion is that, while the 17" screen is nice and big, it ends up making the laptop less portable than I'd like, so I'm leaning toward the slightly smaller 15". As a side benefit, I will save some money, which will be nice considering how much this damn thing will cost!

Okay, enough computer talk for now. I saw Meet the Fockers on Saturday and I enjoyed it quite a bit. The laughs weren't as big or fresh as with Meet the Parents and the writers were too reliant on risque humor, but overall I thought it was a good sequel. If you liked the first, I'd recommend it.

I didn't watch much of the Super Bowl yesterday, although I'm glad the Patriots won. I did play a lot of Resident Evil 4, however. Again, I have to emphasize that this game is just flat-out awesome and is devilishly hard to put down—something I can't say about many games, even ones I really like. I'm about 14 hours in, so that means another 6-10 hours of mayhem are left before it's over and I have to move on to the next game on my list.

One of the unfortunate side effects of playing that game (and chatting a lot on AIM) is that I keep going to bed at 3 or 4 in the morning. I did that yesterday and I'm paying for it today, I assure you. I've napped hardcore twice already and I'm still a little groggy. (Although it is 5:44 P.M. as I write this.) I think I'm going to give up going to bed late for Lent, in part because I feel like I'm actually making a sacrifice--I am a total night owl and not a morning person--and because I think it would do me good. That will start Wednesday, of course, so wish me luck.

Speaking of having to get enough sleep, the NIU spring job fair is tomorrow and I will be in bed by midnight tonight for that. Before then I have to quickly finalize my resume and visit the employer web sites, so hopefully I can get that done tonight.

Sigh, it's time to get ready to go to my night class now. The only thing that gets me through this class is the promise of a new episode of either 24 or Alias immediately afterward, depending on whether it's Monday or Wednesday. Tonight it's 24, which has been great this season and looks to be heating up with the return of my boy "Soul Patch," a.k.a. Tony Almeida. (Is it too much to ask for the return of the Chicago Cubs mug?) He is just the first of many characters from previous seasons to return. Who will be next, and when? Should be fun to follow! :-)

Alright, I'm out. Until next time, here's some advice: make sure not to wear your underwear on consecutive days. (And just so you know, turning it inside out does NOT make that any more acceptable.)

(By the way, if you are wondering what the title for this post means, the answer is nothing. I couldn't think of an intersting or relevant title, so I just used the name of the song that was currently playing in Winamp.)

-Mark