A new word

"Extra" as defined by UrbanDictionary.com:

1. over the top; excessive, dramatic behavior; way too much
2. adjective/noun: anything excessive, unnecessary, uncalled for, inappropriate, out of place, etc.; basically anything that shouldn't be there or have been said
3. adjective: to behave in a way on occassion or consistantly in a way that is deemed unnecessary or inapropriate.

I learned this gem of a word from a co-worker. She was telling us that her daughter taught it to her during one of their conversations. She was explaining something to her daughter, and got a little too carried away in her discussion. Her daughter then said, "Mom, that's extra!"

I thought it was effective and to the point. I have since tried to incorporate it into my daily vocabulary. So now I am sharing this wonderful word with you.

Addicting games, that's an understatement.

If you read the last post you know I like games. I have come across some pretty nifty games on the internet, like the cows (http://scott.blazing.de/fun/game.swf) or the lasers (http://laser.narr.as). I've spent hours and a few sleepless nights trying to make my way through the levels. "This game will not get the best of me," my mind chants like a drug addict looking for his next fix.

Well, the people at Addicting Games have certainly tapped into that essence that is a gamer junkie. Check out this little game they have casually tossed out as a challenge. I haven't solved all the levels yet. This is one of those games where you think, "Oh my, I could never sit and do that!" Then the next thing you know it's 3am.

Get ready to bust out your engineering skills.

http://www.addictinggames.com/fantasticcontraption.html

Mille Bornes is awesome!

For those of you who are on my email list for the Picture of the Month, you already know that I recently switched from a PC to a Mac. While I was flying back from Albany to Baltimore, I got out my MacBook Pro to type up the last PotM issue. The lady sitting next to me asked, "How do you like that thing?" I told her I loved it, and I really do.

I come from a gaming family. Some of the best family moments I can remember are when we were all playing some type of game. Plus, I think I just like games. So, when I got my new computer I was a little, emphasis on little, disappointed there weren't more games already loaded onto it. I've been looking online for a little while for some quality games to download and Monday night I found one.

Back in Hawaii I was introduced to a wonderful game I knew as "Creve!"... always said with a slightly annoyed French accent. The game is actually called Mille Bornes. The object is to play mile cards totalling 1000 miles while avoiding road hazards such as running out of gasoline, flat tires, accidents, and red lights. We had a blast in Hawaii, so I was excited to find a FREE version to download for my Mac called MacBornes. If you have a Mac you can download it from the website at http://www.timac.org/MacBornes/

Since downloading this nicely designed game I have been playing it almost non-stop. I'm excited to show it to my friends in Brooklyn this weekend, who actually are the ones who introduced it to me in Hawaii.

Creve!

Google Earth rocks!

Alright, alright. So Google Earth has been out for years. I've played with it here and there, but haven't seen it lately. I use Google Maps all the time, so I figured there was nothing special beyond that. I hate to admit that technology is quick to pass you by if you are indifferent to it.

Today I came home from work and was trying to explain to my roommate how to get to Best Buy from Blockbuster. I said, "Hey, wait a minute while I grab my computer." I quickly ran upstairs and brought it down to the living room. I easily found what I was looking for on Google Maps, and realized the directions weren't all that tough now that I was looking at a map. Ain't that always the way.

I started thinking, "Self, having maps without an internet connection would be a pretty cool thing." I have been meaning to see if there was a way to download Google Maps, but just haven't been in front of a computer or had an internet connection at the same time the thought hit my head. (Yes, sometimes thoughts actually hit my head like a hefty bag full of vegetable soup hits the pavement when dropped from a 3-story building. Yuck!)

Anyway, enter Google Earth. This nifty little 100MB program actually has all that Google Maps has to offer, roads an all. Plus there's some additional features like a 3-D view of the Grand Canyon. And once you download it you no longer need to connect to the internet to find out how to get places... as long as your laptop is charged and working.

Watch out world, I will no longer be lost and wondering how to get somewhere. That is unless I don't know where I am. Then finding directions takes on a whole new challenge. Marco...

UPDATE: So, my excitement is short-lived. You have to be connected to the internet to see the road maps, unless you view them before you logout. The cache fills up quickly, so as of now I'm still looking for an offline solution. Anyone?

“Well,” said Pooh, “what I like best,” and then he had to stop and think. Because although eating honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn’t know what it was called.

-A.A. Milne

Camping in New York

I just got back from Lake Champlain in New York. I knew that upstate New York was beautiful, but you really have no idea until you see it in person. What an amazing part of the country. Here's just one example. (Yes, I took this picture. No Photoshop, except to crop it.)


Another issue of the Picture of the Month is coming soon!

A virtual hug from me to you

Sarah Vaughn and Ella Fitzgerald's Love Child

Finally, this year, I was able to attend the Billie Holiday vocal competition. This has been going for about 18 years in Baltimore to celebrate the incredible talent of Lady Day. While she was not born in Baltimore, Maryland lays claim to her. So every year a group of talented people compete to claim the honor of being the winner. This year the contest was amazing and every contestant was wonderful to hear. Personally, I think the winner, Tia Dae, was so amazing she had the contest won after her first song. I haven't found a good website or video to showcase her amazing voice....

But, I did find the website for last year's winner, Sharon Clark. This woman is amazing. If Sarah Vaughn and Ella Fitzgerald had a love child, Ms. Clarks is what you would get (besides creepy thoughts you shouldn't have for two icons of jazz). Ms. Clark sang at this competition while the organizers were counting up the judges ballots. Here's a link to her website:

http://www.chrisgrassomusic.com/sharon_clark/index.htm

Make sure you click on the videos to hear her sing. She will be performing in DC, and I'm going to try to make it to one of her shows here soon. I'm glad there are people out there keeping jazz alive.

Cixelysd! (Dsylexic)

So tonight seems to be a night for reunions. I first get an email from a college friend suggesting that we meet up for an alumni fund-raising function they are having in Maryland in September. We've been trying to get together for about a year now, ever since we discovered we were living less than an hour apart from each other. I do feel a bit homesick for some Hawaiian culture, so I thought the idea was wonderful.

While reading her email, I got a text message from another college friend asking if I was going to come see him baptize his daughter. A few text messages lead to a phone call, and quick discussion about the plans.

Somehow during all of this I had sent another email to a friend about a camping trip he was planning for August. He responded back, and actually called me before the email made it to my inbox. We talked for a good while about the trip. I decided to go ahead and book a ticket. For those of you out there who may be a little like me, don't book tickets late at night. I ended up booking the trip backwards! I refer you to Exhibit A of my rapidly progressing mental decline...


Notice I am leaving from Albany and flying to Baltimore, then flying from Baltimore back to Albany. Unless my stuff and I magically move between now and then, this flight does me no good. My brain must be taking a vacation early without me. If I'm like this at 32, imagine me at 72. Heaven help you all!

Mad props to Southwest for realizing that the customer IS NOT always right, and sometimes make bone-headed mistakes. They corrected my schedule for me at no additional charge. Go Southwest!

Someone actually looked at this!

So... I often look through my friends' blogs to keep up with what they've been doing. That's what blogs are for right? I didn't realize this little space on the web I had created once upon a time with good intentions had actually be spotted by someone! I guess I should cash in that check of good intentions and do something with it.

Here's another funny video I found recently. A weekend or two ago they released all of the episodes for Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog for free on the internet. I went and paid the $3.99 to download the episodes from iTunes. The series is directed by Joss Whedon, the same guy who did Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly. Neil Patrick Harris as a evil super-villan? Sign me up!


Here's the website: http://www.drhorrible.com