Okay, some things.
1. Marc recently purchased Dark Souls II.
For those of you who are not versed in From Software’s latest release, this is a game famed for its incredible difficulty, infinitely unforgiving structure (you cannot ever pause gameplay), and relentless onslaught of terrifying and hard to kill monsters.
So of course my husband (and millions of other gamers the world wide over) love to drive themselves crazy engaging with this insanity.
Marc, in particular, really likes to set the right tone before picking up his player console, and as such, this is what our living room has been looking like for the past few nights:
I mean, I’m all for mood lighting, but I’m not sure if the candlelight is really fulfilling its intended function if he is still rage quitting every time he accidentally gets obliterated by a boss, or inadvertently walks off of a cliff.
This game, man.
It destroys lives.
(And souls)
2. Last Tuesday night I went to see the band Jungle in concert.
It was AMAZING.
Due to my slight crotichiness and very busy life schedule, it really takes a lot for me to stay out past my bedtime on a school night.
So to find me at a club downtown (on a Tuesday no less!), waiting for this band to storm the stage at the ungodly hour of 11pm, I was beginning to question whether or not my choice to come out and see them had been the correct decision.
My dance mate (my very good friend Chelsea, whom I had invited to accompany me as a “Holy crap you just published a book” gift) was equally as skeptical – she being of similar mind and crotichiness.
But sweet mother of pearl, I’ll tell ya. As soon as the first strains of their song “Platoon” propelled forth from the stage, I knew we were in for a treat.
This band is very, very good.
For the next hour we danced our little hearts out to the most epic of new soul-funk-rock tunes, dazzled by the most brilliant of accompanying light shows.
It’s not often you’ll go see a new band (they formed in 2013) that is so tight, and polished, and all around AMAZING.
They were playing at The Imperial, and I doubt they will be playing such a small venue the next time they roll around in Vancouver.
They will be selling out the Commodore in no time flat.
And I will be there.
And I won’t question that decision for a second.
- Young Scamps
That’s me on the right and my big sister Kate on the left.
Ah love.
Would you look at us?
As ridiculous as it would seem – I remember that outfit so well. I was absolutely mesmerized by the plums!
I am also fairly certain that this photo was taken somewhere in the east coast of Canada, during one of our many summer sojourns in and around Nova Scotia – only I cannot for the life of me pinpoint the exact location.
I’ll probably bolt out of bed sometime around 3am tomorrow, having remembered the date and time, and also the fact that I forgot to pre-set the coffee and switch the laundry into the dryer.
The stuff of which my nightmares are made!
But until that time, I’ll just enjoy it for what it is.
Unbearable cuteness.
And joy.
…
So that’s a couple of things swinging about our corner of the jungle.
Vancouver has been having the most inconsistent and mind-boggling weather of late – one minute it’s raining so hard I keep expecting to see kayakers navigating their way along our roads and side streets, and the next it’s so hot, entire hordes of people find themselves simultaneously engaging in the terrifying practice of frantic and communal disrobing.
(It’ll be a trial sport in the next summer Olympics)
I am becoming a champion of layering all of my outfits, all of the time.
Halloween is also coming up, and I’m having a hard time getting into the spirit of things.
I think I may have done myself in on the creativity front last year – I don’t think I am ever going to top my Samara from The Ring.
However, should things change, I’ll keep you posted.
I hope all of you are warm and dry, wherever you find yourselves tonight.
And beware of dark souls (of any form).
So light a candle. Or two.
Rant and Roll 
I’m so glad that you got out and about while your husband was busy killing monsters (I hope he doesn’t burn the house down, LOL!)
That pic is super cute. As for awakening at 3 AM because you forgot to switch the laundry over — yeah. Been there. Done that. Have the t-shirt. :)
Always nice to hear from ya!
P.S. My friend’s son wants to dress as Dr. Who for Halloween, but he is afraid no one will know who he is — he is planning on channeling the Matt Smith variation, replete with fez and bow tie. I told him to be whoever he wants to be, the hell with who will know who he is… he’ll know :) I wish I could build him a Tardis! Alas, who has the time?
I am sure tons of people would recognize a Dr. Who! I feel like Whovians are all over the place these days. But yes, who DOES have the time?
Thank goodness the house is still standing. We do love our Home Outfitters discount candles!!
Good to know that I am in good company about late-night realizations. I wish for more peaceful sleeps!
yeah, the pic. java’s spot on. i wouldn’t comment, but i’m gettin’ more emotional about fambiramblingily of recent, and i just wish. i think WE were like that. sometimes. zilch comment on games. we waste enuff time on the unimaginative card games. i’ve just endured the most trying diffy-occult three-some weeks of my so-called professional work life, and look forward to a day off this coming weekend. that’s why you ain’t herd mutch frum mee of recent. oh: great to be out LIVE with the band! i yoosta dew that a bunch more. now, we’re trying and working on stuff to be a senior-citizen live band, again, soon.
and there’s still the weekly (wednesday nite) dressing up as a goalie and later having beer with the gang. bits of lite among the tunnulz …
Mr. Betunada – I hope that things have settled down are you are doing better? I am really sorry to hear that you have been going through some tough work stuff. :( That is never, ever fun. I am happy to read there is light at the end of the tunnel!!
I love that you dudes are in a band. If I ever make it down to your neck in the woods (maybe for a race?) I will for sure come and check out your musical stylings!!
okeh: weave gawt a guaranteed (it’s slightly, not steeply, downhill) 1/2 M. in mid-march. say the werd and i think i can getcha in — (caps @ 2,000 and does fill up!) — i’ll go run the weeny five. think about it. but your 90-minutes shows you can jog at sub-7’s quite a while. whew. glad for you. and you LOVE it! that force will probably always be with you. i still, mostly, more love than hate it, and this is an affair i’ve been involved with since 1964.
4-gawt 2 konklood: too mutsch werk beats the alternative!
Always and truly.
1964! That is effing inspiring.
I would LOVE to just run all around the world. Sometimes I think about quitting my life and starting a blog where I just run half-marathons all around the world and then write about it (a kind of half run half run travel log – what do you think?)
set a date. um, whatever … next July? (whatever). but Marc hassta sign on too. manager and gear-toter (and i’ll bet he can run some too). i say this as my daughter has set a date (’bout 5 or 6 years from now) where they allegedly are seriously talkin’ about takin’ a year off and slowly goin’ ’round the whirled. so, in your case: will you ready by a certain date? run in the U.S., find a race in Mexico, run in Europe, like you said. you can get spon$or$ i’m somewhat sure! who will watch your cat? or be watched by the cat? however, for a start, indicate if you may or may not be interested in the Moab 1/2 M next March within a couple or so weeks, as I could assure/ensure your entry. i think. i labor in your shadow: i won the 2013 Desert Championships 10k (6 runners showed up) and was second in the 2013 North Rim (Black Canyon) 8k. that’s in large part ’cause these are the side-show races to main events, where several GOOD runners showed up and ran those …
um, just half-marathons? there are trail runs here ‘n there. 20ks. but i do think you could “take a year off” and have such an adventure. really.
THIS. This is exciting. I’ve been talking to Marc. I get jazzed up just thinking about it…
Stay turned Mr. B. STAY TUNED!!!