The plight of the (nearly) 40-year-old gamer.

So I got a Nintendo DS for Christmas from Jimmy. It is a little slice of heaven. I went out and bought some new games for it – enough to keep me busy for awhile and they are terrific. It all just works well and is a blast to use. HOWEVER...

It brought me to a funny place. I feel insecure about being this old (37) and playing games like a 14-year-old. not wanting to feel guilt because it makes me have to crap, I made efforts to parse the feeling. With a little backtracking I realized it happened shortly after several people asked me a question.

"Do you do anything but play games?" Geez. I hope that is already clear, but here we go.

Three points, all of which put me at risk of sounding a little defensive:

1.) Some learn numbers. Some know people well. My job in life is to learn tools. I do it on many, many fronts, with gaming being the least accepted of the bunch. At the moment I am playing the DS and the Wii (two incredibly innovative tools), learning to sew on a machine AND by hand, learning how to construct and present sushi, learning to handle a culinary knife, teaching myself to be a better illustrator, organizing my home, learning Movable Type and carrying a full time job as a graphic designer. In the past I have mastered OSX, A/V systems, cleaning tools, graphic design hand tools, woodworking tools (Ugh.), my treo and the PS2.

There is a lot to pack into life. If I could not sleep and still feel good I wouldn't get a wink. I imagine a world of every day learning something and taking naps between. All at your own pace, all in your own interest. Some people travel, some work – I learn new tools and languages with my husband.

2.) Video games are efficient. They are a direct line to stress relief for me. I work hard and my brain breaks every day. Rather than get all jiggy, I hit electronic rabid rabbits with plungers.

3.) I like playing games.

And I did not realize there was going to be a ticking sound...

Jim and I have watched this on Tivo about four-hundred thousand times. Crista Flanagan is hilarious, the character is perfect and we all feel like this from time to time.

Please, please watch this a couple of times. The nuances of her performance make it worth your while.

I'm going to break your gayest of hearts.

Looks like Carol Channing joins the short list of homophobic gay icons. In an interview with Gay People's Chronicle she makes some not-so-vague statements about how she feels abut gay rights.

KK: You seem to have a very large gay following. Have you ever thought about why?

CC: I don’t think about them. I’m grateful that they seem to like me. They’re terribly loyal to me. But I’m knee-deep in the Bible and you know what it says about that.

KK: Alright.

CC: Oh, dear. Is this for a gay publication? Have I offended you?

KK: Yes. For the Gay People’s Chronicle. Right now, it’s really not my job to be offended or not be offended. I am just asking questions and reporting answers. I read that you have fought for gay rights. Do you think that the things gay people are fighting for are important?

CC: I don’t think about it. If they can’t take care of their own problems, why should I bother. It’s not my problem.

Hmm. That really sucks. We have the same birthday and I always had a little spot in my heart for her. No longer. She can go screw herself.

Roll Call!

I'm curious who is reading this. Give me a shout out if you see this. Comments are below.

A pinch in the arm.

I can't post for a few days because of a comprimised arm. No typing
allowed. More later.

Push it.

This was a translation of a drawing to computer experiment. I was testing Illustrator's limitations and my own.

So many blogs die so young from lack of interest. Please don't let this happen to me.