Tuesday, May 25, 2004

   I smile with mediocrity!
Been a few days, so I might as well clue the living world in on my whereabouts. Saturday morning, I went to Toys R Us for the Yu-Gi-Oh Worldwide video game tournament. There’s a tale there, believe you me.

First, I get there, and the lady tells me that there’s an age limit. This confuses me, because when I asked the TRU guys earlier, they told me there would be none. Suddenly, two and two come together: this wasn’t a TRU employee, this was an Upperdeck rep. (The fact that she wasn’t wearing a red shirt was also a hint.)

So, fine, I was out. But, I still wanted to watch, to see how I would have faired. So, I wait…No one else shows, except a seven year old boy. Who didn’t bring a Game Boy. The UD Rep has a change of heart and asks if I’d be interesting in competing if this kid could find a GBA, but I said no; I wasn’t going to be the one to eliminate a kid a decade younger than me. That just wouldn’t’ have been right. Kid can have the prize.

The dude who runs the weekly YGO tournament pulls me and the kid aside. He asks me if I would let the kid register with my Game Boy, thus winning by default and claiming the prize. The prize would then stay in TRU for future tournaments, instead of walking away with the UD rep. Enjoying the irony of the situation, I agree.

Now, this is why I believe in karma: the manager of the store, who’d watched this whole display, came up and asked me about my knowledge of the game. This is the best part: he offered me a job. Really. When I told him that I had already sent in an application, he said that he’d remember me at the interview. ^__^ So, I might have a job, if they ever get around to calling their applicants.

Downside is, I’d have to find a new place to play and trade; wouldn’t be proper to be shaking down the customers, after all. Speaking of trades, I saw a kid dueling, and just gave him a pair of cards I thought would help him. This started a whole new wave of good karma, where I got tons of good trades, no doubt helped by the rumors of “that guy who just gave cards away”. I walked away with a Lava Golem and a Ring of Destruction (^_^) among others.

Enough of that, then. Sunday morning, I went with my family and saw Shrek 2; a review will follow in the reviews section. Immediately afterwards, I went to the mall and traded in some old games for Megaman NT Warriors # (Blue) and some Duel Masters cards; specifically, Kokujo’s Darkness deck, a pack of the base set, and a pack of the new set.

I need to get some sleeves, and find a place to play….

Sunday night was Ernesto’s graduation party, where I met many, many members of his family, and was told that I spoke Spanish better than he did. (I do.) I also got soundly whupped at Foss ball. I did pretty well for a beginer, though. ^__^

Then, there was the slide show. I saw a picture of my best friend so incredibly humiliating that I cant’ even properly describe it to you. I just realized I forgot to tell Stephanie about it; I will soon, though.

And Monday….Monday I waited for job call backs. Nadda. At least the new Shonen Jump arrived.

And today? Tonight is the graduation ceremony. Now I can finally put all this stuff behind me and move on with my life. Maybe I’ll see Julie there. ^__^

Hmmm….enough of that. One with reviews. And, as a reminder, these always contain spoilers.

Movies:

Shrek 2: Look, just see this movie, okay? It’s bloody hilarious, and possibly better than the first. Nothing I can say can possibly do justice to this film. It knocked Spider-Man off the charts as the biggest one-day grossing movie, and I don’t even mind. That’s how good it is.

Also, Puss in Boots is now one of my favorite animated characters. Ever.

Comics:

Shonen Jump-DBZ: I actually enjoyed DBZ this month; imagine that. Cell has it together much more here than in the anime, and Cell remains the coolest character DBZ ever produced.

Naruto: Mega ninja fighting action! While I refuse to believe that Master Guy could be stronger than Kakashi (Kakashi rulz!), this Rock Lee weirdo seems to have a lot going on. I’m with Naruto on this one, by the way: I like anyone who can take Sazuke down a peg.

Yu Yu Hakusho: It’s almost exactly the same as the anime episode this month, ‘cept Mug is slightly less annoying.

One Piece: Meh.

Hikaru No Go: Consistantly interesting, although Akira is starting to weird me out…I hope Tetsuo sticks around, even though he’s not on the Go club any more.

Hey, I just realized…Akira and Tetsuo…

Yu-Gi-Oh: All I’m going to say about the first two chapters is that Hirutani’s really slumming it nowadays. Last time, his thugs had tazers. Now…yo yos?

But what’s more important is the introduction of Bakura, who has a much better backstory here than in the anime. And that way the Millenium Ring spirit makes use of those spikes…ow…

Shaman King: Standard fight scene this month, although Yoh’s solution to his dilemma regarding Horohoro was in typical Yoh style. Nothing too extraordinary, though. Although I think it bears pointing out that Mosuke and Tokagero are drawn better in Yoh’s flashback than they were in their actual appearences… OO

TV Shows:

Smallville: Wow.

Let’s just keep track of everyone; Clark’s naked and in space, Lana’s in Paris, Pete moved away, Chloe went boom, Lex is dying, Johmnathen’s out for the count….damn, the cast was gutted. Here’s hoping they don’t cop out like they’ve done so often in the past.

Angel: Eh, nice little finale. Hope Spike lives; Spike pwns.

Yu-Gi-Oh: I love the Lava Golem, too; Yami Marik has cool monsters. Will Joey’s sister inspire him to win this time? Doubt it. By the way: Yami Marik’s played three different Shadow Game variations on Duel Monsters, beating out Yami Bakura’s two, although we get a total of six with Pegasus’ version.

There’s a mere ‘the monsters are real’ game used by Pegasus and later Bakura. There’s the ‘turn your friends into game characters’ version used by Bakura, as well as the ‘evil spirits will pull you into the shadows’ version he used against Bonz. Yami marik’s used three ersion, though: ‘loose monsters and loose your mind’ used against Mai, ‘loose Life Points and lose your self’ against Bakura, and ‘feel the pain’ used against Joey.

Why did I write the above paragraph? Dunno’.

Duel Masters: Mimi has quickly becoime my favorite character, at least until Kokujo comes back. ^__^ This has to be the one series where I don’t mind endless dub changes and stupid jokes, actually.

Are Transformers: Energon and Jackie Chan ever coming back??

Yu Yu Hakusho: I can honestly say that the fate of Bui doesn’t interest me in the least. Just get on to the Toguru brothers, darn it!

Inu-Yasha: Meh. Wait, I somewhat retract that: It was cool to see the whole “turns into a human” plot line followed up on.

Yeah, I gotta’ go, now.

Thought of the moment: If I hear that damn Green Day song one more time…

Quote of the moment: “….I was lying.” –Tetsuo, “Hikaru No Go”

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