I find that I am growing tired of games with extremely long names. Laura Jones and the Gates of Good and Evil is an example of this trend. And I'm sure there will be many more Laura Jones games in the future. Anyway, you play Laura Jones, the daughter of an adventuring duo. You need to track down the six keys in order to open the Portal to the Gates. While it is still a hidden object game, there are some small changes in it. Instead of trying to find a huge list of items, there are levels where you are just tracking down a certain number of paw prints or jewels or something. They've also added a variety of mini-games where you need to do things like catching certain fish for a cat. I don't know if these make the game any more enjoyable. It ended up as an OK game but nothing I'd want to spend a ton of time on.
Music review: Everclear - Father of Mine
Artist: Everclear
Members: Art Alexakis (vocals, guitar), Greg Eklund (drums), Craig Montoya (bass, vocals)
Album: So Much for the Afterglow
Release date: 10/7/97
Video link: Via YouTube
Lyrics: Father of mine Tell me where have you been You know I just closed my eyes My whole world disappeared Father of mine Take me Back to the day When I was still your golden boy Back before you went away
I remember blue skies Walking the block I loved it when you held me high I loved to hear you talk You would take me to the movie You would take me to the beach You would take me to a place inside That is so hard to reach
Father of mine Tell me where did you go You had the world inside your hand But you did not seem to know Father of mine Tell me what do you see When you look Back at your wasted life And you don't see me
I was ten years old Doing all that I could It wasn't easy for me To be a scared white boy In a black neighborhood Sometimes you would send me a birthday card With a five dollar bill I never understood you then And I guess I never will
Daddy gave me a name My dad he gave me a name Then he walked away Daddy gave me a name Then he walked away My daddy gave me a name
Daddy gave me a name Daddy gave me a name Then he walked away Daddy gave me a name Then he walked away My daddy gave me a name
Father of mine Tell me where have you been I just closed my eyes And the world disappeared Father of mine Tell me how do you sleep With the children you abandoned And the wife I saw you beat
I will never be safe I will never be sane I will always be weird inside I will always be lame Now I'm a grown man With a child of my own And I swear I'm not going to let her know All the pain I have known
Daddy gave me a name Then he walked away My dad gave me a name Then he walked away My daddy gave me a name Then he walked away My daddy gave me a name Then he walked away Then he walked away Then he walked away About the song: I always cry when this song plays. It's an autobiographical song about Art's father abandoning the family when Art was a boy. While I know that deadbeat dads aren't uncommon, I think the part that always tugs at my heartstrings is the "Now I'm a grown man/With a child of my own/And I swear I'm not going to let her know/All the pain I have known" verse. It's wonderful to hear someone breaking the vicious circle that usually happens when someone who has a crappy childhood becomes a parent. Even though this is a sad and depressing song, that last verse does give you hope for the future.
Summer will be ending soon
There's only about a month left of the summer. That means you really have to squeeze your vacations in before the school year starts again! About ten years ago, I lived in North Carolina and I loved the area there. It would be really nice to find some decently priced Outer Banks rentals so I can take my husband and daughter down there to show them how lovely it can be. I don't think we're going to be able to make it this year but there's always next year!
Game review: The Secret of Margrave Manor
The Secret of Margrave Manor is a rather uninspired hidden object game. You play Edwina Margrave, a woman searching for her lost grandfather. The only thing that makes the game different is that the objects move every time you enter the room. So it isn't possible for you to memorize where something is located. However, that doesn't make the game particularly interesting. Maybe if they threw in some extra puzzles, this would be a slightly more than a typical hidden object game.
Inexpensive massages are good!
I absolutely love getting massages. They are so relaxing and rejuvenating. I've been looking at local massage therapy schools. Not because I want to learn the art myself but because most of them have clinics that are cheaper than going to a spa. Massage students need to accumulate so many hours of "real" work in order to graduate. These clinics allow the students to achieve their needed hours while giving clients an inexpensive way to relax. It's good for everyone!
Favorite Friday
While I normally post a YouTube video for Favorite Friday, this one is just too good to pass up. Joss Whedon created a mini-series that is currently playing on the internet. I believe it is also available for purchase on iTunes. Believe me, it is worth every penny to buy it. http://www.drhorrible.com/
Watch it. Love it.
Medical ID bracelets are important.
My sister has a form of hemophilia so she has to wear medical id bracelets all the time. I've been debating whether or not I should get one due to my allergy to penicillin. It's pretty important that, if I'm unconscious, the doctors know not to give me any of the -cillin antibiotics. However, I've never gotten around to getting an ID bracelet for it. Maybe I can find a pretty one for me. ^_^
Game review: The Sultan's Labyrinth
The Sultan's Labyrinth is a hidden object game where the goal is to find an appropriate suitor for the Sultan's daughter. Each prince must solve a number of puzzles in order to prove his worthiness. To be completely honest, I didn't play this game. My daughter did. I watched. However, she had no problems with any of the puzzles. The hidden object pieces were mostly based on matching the shadows with the objects and there were puzzles where you had to put shaped pieces together to make a larger shape. None of the puzzles were very difficult but they were still interesting and fun. All in all, a good game.
Music review: BoA - Rock With You
Artist: BoA
Album: Love & Honesty
Release date: 1/15/04
Video link: Via YouTube
English translation: Hey, hey get it up You try this Gonna make you hot Yeah, yeah pump it up Do you wanna rock with me?
Hey, hey get it up You try this Taste my rock and roll Stand up get it up...
Uh-huh
Unlock your heart and listen… Ride out these unfair times skilfully It’s against my principles to believe rumours
I’ll walk with you even though no one else believes in you Even though the situation is still serious So that you don’t run away Before you get the message…
Hey, hey give me your love We can never go back! Yeah yeah! We’ll enjoy even the impossible This warmth that is yours without a doubt Makes me love you more Now I’ve found myself
I want to know more about you Gonna rock with you…right now
Hey, hey get it up You try this Taste my rock and roll Stand up get it up...
Turn up the volume on the stereo And when the night eventually comes, turn back time I want to show you That I’m the only one who understands That you’re just pretending not to be sad So that you don’t try to deny the person you are
Hey, hey give me your love I want to keep dancing with you Yeah yeah! Life will always change From this day, that’s totally because of you A totally new history is beginning
I feel like if I don’t pay proper attention to you you’ll go away So I’m gonna rock with you…right now
I’ll walk with you even though no one else believes in you Even though the situation is still serious So that you don’t run away Before you get the message…
Hey, hey give me your love We can never go back! Yeah yeah! We’ll enjoy even the impossible This warmth that is yours without a doubt Makes me love you more Now I’ve found myself
Hey, hey give me your love I want to keep dancing with you Yeah yeah! Life will always change From this day, that’s totally because of you A totally new history is beginning
I want to know more about you Gonna rock with you…right now About the song: BoA got a little more rock and roll with this song. While her songs are almost always good, they frequently have a typical pop sound. Rock With You relies more on drums, synthesizers and a throbbing bass. The result is a great dance song with the added benefit of BoA's strong vocals.
New shoes
I was shopping for some new shoes online over the weekend when I came across these Ecco shoes. Some of them are really nice but I think I prefer the children's shoes over the adult shoes. (The children's shoes are for my daughter, of course.) I just think a lot of the adult ones look boring and I have trouble spending large amounts of money on footwear that will inevitably wear out. Maybe I'll try a pair anyway. Who knows, maybe they are the best shoes ever and worth the price tag.