Better late than never, I guess.

 It's past midnight and I forgot to write anything. I mean, I thought of this earlier in the day but I figured I'd knock something out after supper. I got to playing Dragon Age II and let time slip away from me.

 I understand why people knock on this game, particularly compared to Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age: Inquisition. It's nothing new, gameplay-wise, and it's probably a step-down. It's certainly streamlined from what DA:O had for you. And the story's a bit rambling compared to DA:O, I get that.

 But I like it. For one, I like the setting. Some people gave it shit for being in just one city and a few outdoor spots, but the city has some depth to it, and being able to switch between night and day gives it more variety. On a night mission in Lowtown and need to buy some potions? Well, too damn bad. Hopefully, you can get something off all those thugs that keep attacking you.

 And I like the story. Political intrigue that you're not the center of but get swept up in anyway. Very noir, very Phillip Chandler. It's still the traditional mages-elves-dwarves setting but with a somewhat different take on things, very much like Terry Pratchett's Discworld but not quite as silly. There's some humor in it, though, and some Pterry call-outs. I just found something called "the last decent helmet" and I thought that was funny.

 As for the main character, well, I like Hawke, too. You don't have much to choose from, just their gender and their class, but they're a neat enough character. Just someone trying to do the best for their family in a bad situation as the world explodes around them. I play a male rouge Hawke who's a decent guy and loyal to his people but a bit of a smart ass and laser-focused on his goal, come what may.

 I'm pretty sure I've said this before, but the whole "the Chosen One" shtick in fantasy games grates/ The Dragon Age games don't have that. You're playing the world rather than just a character. The interactions are enjoyable, too. Not all the companions like each other, which is nothing new, but some outright loathe each other. I haven't had to dump one for another yet - something that's stymied me in Pillars Of Eternity II: Deadfire - but from what I know, it seems that will be impossible in this game.

 Hey, sue me. My characters are always heroes and nice guys and want people to get along. That's a hard enough line to walk in the real world. I don't really romance in games for the same reasons I don't romance in real life. I could've romanced everyone available to a male human in DA:O. I've got nothing against romanceable characters in games, I just don't care for them. That you can't dodge that in Baldur's Gate II without being a dickbag to someone. best I can talk and that's a mark against the game's story for me. But I'm just a cynical bastard with no romance in his soul, which should come as a shock to no one.

 Speaking of that, I need to get something out of my head. Twice in my adult life have I offered my heart and soul to someone and would've followed to the ends of the Earth. Both times it was rejected by someone who did care enough about me to have a physical relationship and try to maintain a friendship. So this isn't just me creeping on women. Both times I was told by people outside the issue that it wasn't what I thought it was and, thus, should be no big deal.

 Everyone else has been a friend and sometimes with benefits and when those benefits ended if we could stay friends, great. If not, oh well, that's how it goes. Had I more game or were better looking, I would've been hell back when I was on the hunt. And most of the women I've been involved with went after me because, as a general rule, I could care less. I just want to have a good time and wander through the world, and no one's been able/willing/interested in changing my ways.

 Maybe that's why I don't mess with romances in video games. I hate when it seems you're being herded into just for being a decent guy/girl/whatever you're playing. I wonder if that has something to do with the screwy way some kids seem to approach romantic relationships. But that's enough of all that. I need to get back to Thedas, y'all.

I never read it in a book, I never saw it on a show, but I heard it in the alley on my country radio.

  Despite the warnings of the Channel Nine weather guy, we pretty much missed out on this week's Big Storm that was scheduled for today. The area was under a tornado watch for most of the day but except for a good, hard mid-morning rain and a persistent mugginess, nothing serious happened.

 Unfortunately, folks in Alabama seem to have caught what we're supposed to have gotten. Reports are still coming in and while it does seem as nasty as what South Central Mississippi caught last week, it was bad enough. Since it's still doing its thing, we'll wait until tomorrow to see how it all washed out.

 Regardless, I spent the day acting like we were getting some foul weather. That means I read a good bit, played some Baldur's Gate, and napped copiously. I haven't had much Actual Paying Work lately because my main vein doesn't need me right now. I know I ought to put some more effort into getting outside work but since I don't really need to - that is, it's not what needs to keep me fed - I don't want to and ain't going to. I'm not really enjoying doing any writing apart from The News. Figure that out.

 So with that in mind, I don't have much to go with here. I rambled on about guns and the country's national delusion Tuesday, and I'm sick of writing about that. Suffice to say, if the rest of the country is fine with things like they are, well, there's a reason I don't leave this hill all that often unless I have to.

 For example, I had my twice-a-year check-up and, for the most part, everything is working as well as it can be for a not particularly active man staring his 46th birthday in the face. Just writing that sentence put me in such a black mood I had difficulty finishing it. I don't usually bemoan my aging or my lost youth, but my afternoon nap brought the "nobody likes you and, indeed, are tired of your shit" dream. I never know where that comes from, as I'm a fairly likable chap. Most people who actively dislike me for whatever reason are generally jackasses on many other levels.

 Anyhow. So much for all that. I've no desire to go diving into my own bellybutton any more than I care to do anything else but blow my harps and pick my guitar. And now I'm just fooling around on my harp, trying to play the riff from The Ozark Mountain Daredevils' "If You Wanna Get To Heaven." Just like normal, when I try to follow others' instructions I stumble and get frustrated. However, when I play it on my own, it might take me a bit to get in the groove but I make it there eventually.

 And honestly, I don't know of a better metaphor for my entire life nor a better place to end.

Not going to use a good title for this.

  I have some Actual Paying Work to get done tonight, so this will be quick and dirty. Two pieces are due, actually, so I've no doubt I'll make Wordcount before too long. Luckily, I'm not much in the mood for this so no one's missing out.

 My nerves are pretty raw for some reason. I can't put my finger on it, but something has me set off. I don't know if it's my anxiety flaring up or just a general dread about the state of things. According to most folks, Kamala Harris did a solid job slapping Mike Pence around, and the Biden campaign scored another $12 million in donations. He's got a fairly solid lead over Trump in most polls and from inside my bubble, anyway, it seems everything the Blind Idiot God does is little more than fodder for the faithful.

 Of course, I don't know. Polls are one thing but reality's another. The early voting turnout has been phenomenal, but I don't put much faith in that. Not since 2004, anyway, when the largest turnout in modern history re-elected George Bush Jr. In any event, the GOP has made no bones about being perfectly happy in making it difficult as possible for people, especially the "wrong" people, to vote.

 So, I'm not sanguine about things. But I don't think that's what's rubbing me wrong. There's yet another hurricane heading to the Gulf and we're still going to do nothing about climate change due almost solely to our arrogance, but I don't think that's it, either. I really don't see Initiative 65, which would legalize medical marijuana in Mississippi, passing and God knows I could use a smoke. I doubt that's it.

 Part of it is every night from sundown to around 10 p.m., Otis spends his time quivering, whining, and occasionally tearing things up. I don't know why or where this comes from. He'd do this in Jefferson and I chalked it up to him hearing the nearby train switching station. It might be that he can't accept that we can't go walking after dark, but I don't know. He's a weird dog and hopefully his mood will change sooner than later.

 Been digging into Elite: Dangerous as of late in anticipation of a big new add-on coming early next year, Odyssey. I'll say it again, it's a great game on its own and the update looks pretty cool. On the flipside, Baldur's Gate 3 is getting less-than-glowing reviews, and it may be petty, but I'm fine with that. They're asking $60 for a 150 gig download that's still on Early Access, you have got to be kidding me. From all told, it's a mediocre RPG that looks really, really pretty.

 A lot of folks like Larian Studio's previous efforts, the Divinity: Original Sin series, but it's failed to grab me so far. Usually I give RPGs six months to a year before I even think about buying them. It takes most studios that long to not only iron out all the bugs but also by that point all the DLC has been released. Helluva thing that spending fifty bucks on a game still doesn't get you the full package.

 I'll go into it in more detail tomorrow, maybe, but the FBI busted up a plot by Boogaloo-connected buttholes to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. She's been a "nasty woman" thorn in Trump's ass since the COVID-19 kicked into high gear and the weirdos that are thirsting to be the jackbooted government thugs they've been fearing for the past couple of decades have made her Public Enemy Number One. This, of course, comes on the heels of Trump telling the Proud Boys to "stand back and stand by" while tweeting "liberate Michigan" in creamy all capital letters. And, of course, he made reference to it this evening by being the shit ass we all know he is and crying about Whitmer being mean to him.

 Seriously. How do so many people see this fucker as a tough, manly, alpha male? Is it the television show or just the worship of the rich? Anyhow, that's Wordcount and I've got work to do.

Sunday, December 22, 2019

 Today's the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year and the official beginning of winter, it's been pouring down rain all day, and for the fourth day hand running I don't really have anything in particular to write about. Because it's raining, Otis can't go outside and has already spent all day napping, so he's pouting, too.