Woven Cognition

Well, I had just about the best weekend ever. Yes, I got my shift key fixed. Yay! I wonder how long it'll last. I'm really getting ready to break this shitty keyboard. Anyway.

I spent some of Friday cleaning off my TV and preparing for it to be shipped out so my new TV could be shipped in. Not much time at all was allocated to doing this on Friday. I spent more time on Saturday morning doing it. Then, my mom washed it off and screen cleaned it. She said I should go along to bring it back just in case I have a variety of televisions to choose from as my replacement. We wouldn't be leaving until after six. My dad had to make up work because he was sick a day this week.

It was kinda depressing getting rid of it. I liked my [then current] TV, but the HD didn't work and the volume/channel buttons were fucked up. It had to go. Besides, I'm getting a whole new TV for Christ's sake. Who the hell would pass that up? I took some pictures for posterity. And evidence. In case they try to screw us over.. or if the TV fell out of the trunk on the way there. Lmao.

I unhooked everything and we moved it out and my mom vacuumed behind it. Tha thing is a monster. When my dad moved it around so my mom could get to the back of it, it began crushing my entertainment center. Apparently it's supposed to weigh only 150. If that's the case, I weigh more than it does and I doubt that.

It was gonna be a pain in the ass bringing it downstairs, but we managed. Then we had to load it into the trunk of the car, which was a lot easier. We were all gonna go, so we left my uncle at home. He was alright by himself, thankfully. Haha. So was my dog. Usually, I have to stay at home and babysit or someone else has to.

Now, I was given the impression and expectation that my replacement TV would either be the exact same kind as my old one, maybe look different, be a more updated model, or maybe I'd get to choose from any kind of Panasonic TV, as that was the brand I had. When we got to Circuit City (which is in a new location and now looks like a gigantic bookstore from the outside) and went in after they wheeled my TV away, the guy told us that they no longer make tube TVs, which is what I had, and I would have to choose from the flat screen LCDs.  I did not complain with that! I mean, I like big ol' TVs, but I think flatscreen LCDs are the shit! The only thing that worried me and what I originally thought he said/meant was that because they don't make the same kind I had or that they just don't have any, that I'd have to settle for a smaller TV. I mean, the ones I got to choose from looked smaller in screen size because they're not so bulky and have a much smaller cabinet.

They were all widescreen, too. I wasn't limited to the ones that costed exactly the same as my old one, but if I got a more expensive TV, we'd have to pay the difference. It was a tough choice. I was wary and kinda bummed about the sizes of the TVs at first, but I was told the screen size was the same, just 32" wide and like I said before, the cabinet (area around the TV screen) is smaller, so it gives off that illusion. They had some wicked TVs there. I WISH I could have gotten one of those giant 58" inchers. If only I had $1500 more. My parents and brother helped me pick one out and I picked the one with the biggest and sharper screen with a nice look. What really sealed the deal was that this TV is normally $800, going for only $550. FUCK YES!! The thing was, the one on display was the only one they had of that one. The guy called elsewhere and found a brand new one in Appleton and we'd have to pay only $50 difference, but they closed at 10 and we'd never make it.

I had to make a choice between getting the one on display right now, or wait until tomorrow and get a brand spankin' new one for only $50 more. I was really gonna say "I want one now, so give me the display." But the "You'll thank me for this later" side of me told me to wait. And I did. I was pissed because I really wanted the TV tonight and now when I went home, I wouldn't be able to do anything since my TV was gone.

My mom offered to let me borrow a different TV until tomorrow and my brother offered to let me play Xbox 360 in his room. We even went to McDonald's afterward. I love my family. That made things a lot better. It sucked having to wait and have no TV for the night, but I was getting a fucking amazing TV for a crazy good deal. That pretty much made it worth it. That still made me happy nonetheless and I was still excited for it. Made me less upset. Then, we went to McD's for me and my bro and BK for my mom and dad and we went home.

I ended up buying a Magnavox flat screen LCD TV.  :D

I spent much of the night being with my family. I don't really do that much and I really should do it more. It was really nice and a lot of fun. Then my brother and I played some Halo 3 on Live and I went to bed.

To make things better, my mom and bro told me they were gonna go and get the TV after dropping off my dad at work. So, I would pretty much have it here before I woke up. But, they were just leaving when I woke up. It's all good, though, because I needed to clean up my entertainment center and my room. By the time I finished, they were home.

They brought back more food. Lawlz. So, I quick ate and we began setting it up. It was a lot more stressful and complicated than I thought it'd be. But thankfully, my brother knows his stuff when it comes to cords and shit. The screen is so fucking amazing.TV shows look amazing, video games are great, DVDs too.. and Xbox 360 HD.. OH MY GOD!!!! ORGASMIC!!!

I invited my family to watch some things to display the greatness of my new TV and it was a lot of fun and my TV didn't fail to deliver.

I went with my mom to go pick up my dad from work. We just talked about whatever and we talked about what happens in the afterlife and living forever.. Then I asked her if she supported me and my sexuality and she told me she does and that she loves me no matter what and she respects that I'm gay and doesn't question it. She only wants the best for me and hopes my brother and dad take the news well. I'm so glad she understands now. I'm truly thankful to have a great family.

After getting my dad, I got a milkshake. YAY MILKSHAKES!!

When I got home, we had dinner and I showed my dad my TV. It's pretty much like a new family member now. I tested out more things with it. My brother let me borrow his game, TimeShift and he showed it to me on my TV. It's so real looking, you'd think you're there!

We played Halo 3 again later, too. It's so crisp and clear, and FEAR.. WOW. You can actually tell what the HUD says. The ONLY gripe I have about the TV is that whenever you change channels, there's a big gawdy HUD that blocks things out for a couple seconds, but I figured out a way to get past it for the most part. Another thing I was worried about was the TV being smaller (not in screen size) was that I'd have to duck to see it. It's actually just fine the way it is. No need for a stand. It's not a projection, either. So, I can go anywhere and still see the screen perfectly. :D It really accentuates my room well. It's a perfect fit. Way better than my old TV. Although, I will miss my old one. I got to keep the remote from my old one at least. XD

Some people might find it lame or materialistic that my family and I were brought together because of a fancy TV, but if it works, go for it. Besides, fuck them if they don't like it. It's better than being brought together by something boring and lame. =P This weekend was the best I'd had in forever and I've been the happiest I had been in a long time, too. We all really needed this. Thanks.

Yo, yo, yo.

How's it going, everyone? I'm glad so many of you  have found me! There's a lot more stuff I need to "pack up" from GJ. Hopefully I can do it before it buys the farm for good. There's just so many memories I have there, and they're not only in my posts on my journal, but my friends' journals as well.

Let's see.. I've recently gotten back into arcade emulation gaming. XD Since I got DSL now (seven months ago.. but there's still things I haven't done since I got it..), I can download the arcade games much more easily. So, I went to town on a few games. I downloaded Street Fighter II on Wednesday night (Thurs. morning, actually..) and then on Thursday, I downloaded Sonic 1 and 2.. no real differences there.. moreso in Sonic 1, though.

Anyway, Street Fighter II on the arcade is wicked. Apparently, when I download it, I get a bunch of "clones" with it.. which are like hacks of normal ROMs. They did some pretty sweet things with it.

I dunno why, but Thursday was a lot of fun for me. It felt different. Like I came out of the bad atmosphere I had been in for the past couple weeks and I was in a much happier and fun disposition. I suddenly became enthralled with a bunch of guys that I didn't really notice before. GODDD.. I need some male attention. I'm glad I'm gay. =P

It was bitterly cold outside. It was clear out, and very windy. So, the snow was blowing hard, whether or not it was precipitating or not. It was drifting hardcore. It was actually pretty awesome. Someone ended up in the ditch down the road. =X My mom and I shoveled out the driveway. It was literally a pain in the back. Almost had a heartattack because it was so exhausting. But, we got it done in a hurry. It was so cool out there 'cause it was drifting and the moon was out. I love the moon! My neighbor was also snowblowing across the street. Wish he would have done that to our driveway. x_x

Being proactive, I also cleaned out the cans after that. I suggested to my mom that since we did my brother and dad a favor by doing that, we deserve Burger King. XD So, we had them bring some food from there home. They forgot my fries and lettuce on my sandwich. Rawr. Bastards. My mom told me how dysfunctional that place and the employees seem everytime she's went there. XD

I continued with my arcade gaming. :P

I went back to some old traditions today.. like making graphics! Which is a good thing, since I plan to make a living out of it relatively soon. I also got back into As The World Turns. I love that show. I spent a lot of today with my GJ to IJ/LJ transition as well as salvaging some GJ memories. My computer's files are so cluttered. Especially the desktop. So, I cleaned that up and organized my files, now there's no more mess!

I watched Ghost Whisperer and Moonlight later. Those shows are actually really good. They've become my new favorites. Especially Ghost Whisperer. Too bad that when I put in the tape to start taping, I FORGOT TO HIT RECORD. Argh!

My brother called and told me I could play the demo of Burnout Paradise on his 360. Well, when I went to his room in the basement, I noticed some strange squeaking/screeching noise that sounds kinda like a swing set. I made my mom come and listen, but by then, of course it stopped. I thought I was going crazy. Then, when I go back down there with my mom, so she can help me set up the channel, it's going on and we listen to it. We had no idea what it was. But then we figured out it was possibly the gas pipe. Well, when I was playing, when the furnace went off, so did the noise. So that was it. We need to get that fixed ASAP.

Burnout Paradise is okay. But you can't ram people like you can in Revenge. Sigh. But it's wicked cool! =D

A little while ago, I conjured up the lovely background you see here. Do you like it? I just wish IJ had a "fixed background" feature. Rawr! I also made this icon today. Which reminds me; I got my cellphone turned back on tonight at 10:06 pm! After pestering my mom to reactivate it, since we got the money now. My dad doesn't and will never know that the bill costed $300+ dollars. =X Which is the reason why it got shut off and took so long for us to be able to pay for it to turn it back on. My mom made me agree to not go overboard with the minutes again. I can't wait 'til I get my site up and make my own money and have my own phone plan. Then I can buy texting!! Whee!