Luigi's Mansion

One of the best gifts I got this Christmas was a copy of the video game "Luigi's Mansion" for the Nintendo Gamecube from my best friend (thanks Sonja!). Yes, I enjoy the occasional video game, particularly if it comes from the Mario (or in this case, Luigi) genre. I also enjoy the Donkey Kong games, but I digress.

I had tried the game a couple of times before (my sister owns it) and hadn't really liked it since I found sucking up ghosts with a vacuum cleaner a wee bit difficult. Owning the game myself allowed me to practice a lot more and I really started to enjoy it. Anyway, I've pretty much been playing the game non-stop since Wednesday, and today I BEAT THE GAME!

Now I have to confess, I had some help. A lot of help, actually. I downloaded a walk-through off the internet (hey, they publish whole books on how to beat the games, and I got the information for free!) and have been using it to help me figure out exactly where to go for each stage of the game. It also contains a handy map so I know the names of each of the rooms I have to go to. I could have figured out the game on my own, but it would have taken a lot longer.

The game was a lot of fun, but I found it a little too easy in some instances. I read an online review of the game that said that because it was one of the first games released for the gamecube, it was mostly designed to show players exactly what the gamecube could do. In some cases I really found this to be true. It was still really neat, so I'm not complaining. Apparently if I restart the game now, I'll have the option of trying a harder mansion, so I'm eager to explore that option. And this time I'll do it all on my own . . . maybe!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

In a short while I'll be heading out to spend the holidays with family and friends. I don't know how much I'll be blogging over the next few days, so I thought I would take this opportunity to wish all my blog buddies a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I hope that whatever your particular circumstances are, you are able to enjoy all the best the holiday season has to offer!

Movie Review

I promised a review of the movie "Goal" and I always follow through on my promises . . . For those of you who don't know the movie (I hadn't heard of it until a few days before I borrowed it from a friend), it's about a young man, originally from Mexico but living in Los Angeles, who dreams of becoming a professional soccer player. He meets a man from England who comes to see one of his soccer games, and the man talks him into going to England to try out for Newcastle. I'll let you watch the rest of the movie to see what happens.

Anyway, I really enjoyed the movie. I'm not much for sports movies since I don't play any sports, but I hear so many people talking about soccer at work that I figure it's as good a sport as any to make a movie about. I ended up falling in love with the story though, it was very uplifting. It was nice to see this kid making the most of his abilities. The main character, Santiago Munez, has some challenges to overcome, and the requisite "parent who doesn't believe in him" plot line, but overall the movie was quite effective. Effective enough to be spawning two sequels in the coming years!

Kuno Becker, the actor who played Santiago, is quite talented and very HOT! It was a real treat watching him play soccer. I would absolutely watch this movie again and recommend it to my friends!

Song Survey

I've seen this on a few different sites and just felt like playing along . . .

Simple Song Shuffle Survey
1. Put your music player on shuffle.
2. Press forward for each question.
3. Use the song title as the answer to the question.
NO CHEATING...

What does next year have in store for me?
Pieces - Rascal Flatts

What's my love life like?
Long Slow Beautiful Dance - Rascal Flatts (wow, so not! But okay . . .)

What do I say when life gets hard?
That's the Way it Is - Celine Dion (close . . . very close)

What do I think when I get up in the morning?
These Words - Natasha Bedingfield

What song will I dance to at my wedding?
Ain't No Other Man - Christina Aguilera (somehow I doubt it. I like the sentiment for a wedding song, but this isn't exactly my kind of wedding dance music)

What do you want as a career?
Mercy on Me - Christina Aguilera

Your favorite saying?
Without You - Christina Aguilera (okay seriously, I don't even listen to Christina that much! I know it's set to shuffle, but is this a joke?!)

Favorite place?
When the Sand Runs Out - Rascal Flatts

What do you think of your parents?
What Hurts the Most - Rascal Flatts

Where would you go on a first date?
Reflections - From the Mulan Soundtrack, sung by Lea Salonga

Describe yourself?
My Wish - Rascal Flatts

What is the thing I like doing most?
Cloud Number Nine - Bryan Adams

The song that best describes my school principal?
Welcome - Christina Aguilera (is it just me, or is this a totally random question?)

What is my state of mind like at the moment?
The Right Man - Christina Aguilera

How will I die?
Hurt - Christina Aguilera (interesting . . . )

Out Wit, Out Last, Out Play

Why do I freakin' cry EVERY SINGLE time there's a Survivor episode on featuring the Survivors seeing their loved ones? Seriously, I'm bawling right now as I watch it! Why am I such a sap?!

My Tarot Card

Very interesting . . . and very true!

You are The Hierophant
Divine Wisdom. Manifestation. Explanation. Teaching.
All things relating to education, patience, help from superiors.The Hierophant is often considered to be a Guardian Angel.
The Hierophant's purpose is to bring the spiritual down to Earth. Where the High Priestess between her two pillars deals with realms beyond this Earth, the Hierophant (or High Priest) deals with worldly problems. He is well suited to do this because he strives to create harmony and peace in the midst of a crisis. The Hierophant's only problem is that he can be stubborn and hidebound. At his best, he is wise and soothing, at his worst, he is an unbending traditionalist.
What Tarot Card are You?

Take the Test to Find Out.

Christmas Shopping

I began my official Christmas shopping today. As long as I don't have to spend too much time in the malls, I don't mind the crowds associated with Christmas shopping. I think today I got about half of it done. I have gifts still to buy for my sister and brother-in-law, but they sent me a list of stuff they wanted and they have a price limit, so it's not going to be too difficult. I also have my mom and step-dad to buy for . . . They don't feel they need much, but my mom has an impressive Santa collection that I've been adding to for the last few years. I always look for non-traditional or funny Santas. Thought I'd found one today, but I didn't want to buy the display model and two other Zellers were out of this particular Santa. So it's back to the drawing board. But I've discovered that finding a non-traditional Santa isn't really that difficult if you know where to look. I have a couple of friends still to buy for, but unless I've radically miscounted, I think that's about it. It feels good, and it was fairly easy on the wallet too!

Hope your December has started off as well as mine!