Number 1 soon to be addiction: Plants VS Zombies extended play on XBLA (click on link for the super cute music video dedicated to the game). I love it! The game designer, George Fan, really did a great job on this indie platformer.It really puts the fun back in fighting zombies. None of the COD Nazi stuff that spooks me out! Who would have thought that plants can be bad-ass?! With colorful 2d graphics and a catchy in game tune it will have you chanting to brainsssss! BRAIIIINSSSS! in no time. 
Number 1 current addiction: Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I know...I watched some of it back in the 90's but have lately been hearing about how good it was from fellow Joss Whedon fans (Firefly is the bomb!). Lucky for me my cousin has the whole 7 seasons. One of the things I love about watching a series after it has been released to DVD is that you don't have to wait for the next episode or the next season to find out what happened. Also, you get to know and understand the characters better and watch how they evolve. I like how Buffy takes a unique twist to the monster/occult/vampire genre- a blonde cheerleader saves the world (Heroes you were a decade too late). Plus, Whedon really knows how to pack a punch with those witty one liners. Makes me wonder if teenagers of America really talk this way? And are there real slayers out there? Hmmmm...Buffy much?
Addictions
32
Photo: Buddha's Halo (dawn), Mt Fuji 2005
It's minutes away from the end of the year. At least for me it is. Seven years ago I started celebrating the beginning of my year during my birthday. I was 25 and I had just climbed Mt Fuji. There was something very inspiring about being up in the clouds looking at Buddha's Halo. It made me feel invincible. I thought if I was able to endure hours of trekking 12388 ft of stratovolcano solo (no guides, no buddies), then I could do anything. That was when I started making the list. It was a list of things to do before my next birthday which I do every birthday.
For the 31st year, it was:
1. Visiting Darwin in Galapagos [check]
2. Exploring the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu [check]
3. Experiencing the unearthly beauty of Salar de Uyuni [check]
4. Learning to choke and throttle while balancing on two wheels. [check]
5. Discovering the deep sea- well at least 60 ft or so of it. [check]
6. Completing my second triathlon. [check]
As for year 32, well I've got a lot of ideas. It may involve a Felucca, an iron fist, fresh mozzarella, the lost world, an island, some French and LOTS of imagination.
Happy New Year to me!
When your gaydar fails
So I went out with my new sassy gay friend tonight at Urban Mo's (I randomly met him at this same bar a couple weeks back) which is in Hillcrest- a gay friendly neighborhood. I was excited because it has been a busy past couple of months on the new job and a new town. I had so much fun dancing and being silly with my new friend in San Diego when BAM he told me he wasn't gay (*cringe*)! At first I thought it was a joke but he was pretty serious. I was speechless. So why the hell would you invite me to hang out in a gay bar? Why? All signs indicated that he was gay! I have been around tons and I mean TONS of gay guys before and have a pretty good gaydar.
Ugh, I thought the weirdness would stop after I left LA. Yes, I felt pretty disturbed and a little violated (gay bars are my awesome mini getaways from the straight world). But there is one good thing that came out of it. It made me realize that straight women are more themselves with other women or with gay men. There totally is a different dynamic happening between heterosexuals. Maybe I speak for myself but it's like the mere fact that we acknowledge the difference in gender makes communication instantly complicated. I definitely had my guard up after that revelation. I guess I can become a little more uptight around men (uhm, come think of it who wouldn't be when it comes to meeting men in bars)! Now I know it's only in the head. Moral lesson: always be yourself and always make sure you get a second opinion when you gaydar fails!
