Exclusive Insanity

I'm trying to make a decision, and I'm hoping maybe someone on my FL will have some input to offer (I suspect maybe not, but it's worth a shot, right?).

Basically, I'm playing the beta for FFXIV with Cody, and I'm trying to decide on one character to go with for when the game is live. The Final Fantasy MMOs make it so that you only really need one character; with that person, you can play every job, do every quest, go to every place, and so on. And generally you have to put so much effort and care into the character that you don't really want or need another. Plus, each additional character is $3 extra a month ($1 if you buy them just to hold extra stuff for you - these are called retainers, and you get one for free automatically anyway).

When Cody and I played FFXI, I went with a male character - because I wanted to imagine a love story between my character and his, and he played a female character (believe it or not, he did go with a female primarily for the stats - the race he went with has no male options). Also, you can make hot male characters in FFXI (unlike WoW where they're all butt-ugly), which was kind of a plus.

Now, though, I'm considering going with a female character. It's easier for me to imagine myself as the character, for one thing, but also because I like kickass female characters. I play melee, and the idea of a badass chick with an axe warms my heart. Cody is still playing as a female character, but at this point, with more gaming experience under my belt, I'm all about my character being more than just an extension of his.

Thing is, though... I developed a whole story and character for my first guy and I'm not sure I want to let him go.

( The characters I've sorta created and reasoning under here )

I can't post pictures from the open beta (it's part of the agreement when you play), but both characters are cool-looking. At least in my opinion. Maybe when I get my copy of the actual game, I'll be able to make screenshots of whoever I decided to play as.

EDIT: Additional friends-locked post here about this.

So, who all has a Kindle? Is it any good? Easy to use? Durable? How do you think it holds up against Sony's new PRS-600?

I really hate the touchscreen Sony loves so much (particularly since it makes the screen reflective and that would bug the crap out of me), but their non-touchscreen models apparently aren't as good (someone correct me if I'm wrong about this). However, Sony has the advantage of supporting the format used for library books (Kindle does not). I also don't care about wireless networks and downloading books immediately to the device, so that feature doesn't give Kindle any particular advantage in my opinion.

I don't know if I'd actually end up using up the space on the Kindle (3GB is a lot for books, and I can always keep a backup on my PC and swap books in/out if I somehow end up with that many of them), but the Sony has SD slots that allow you to expand the memory, which is another plus. Unfortunately, Sony starts out with only 512MB.

Another nice thing about the Kindle is the price. It's about $60 cheaper than the Sony. Even with the shipping cost added to that, it's still going to be less expensive.

Small instant-gratification issue: I could buy a Sony from Future Shop and have it immediately, but Kindle is temporarily sold out and won't be shipped before Sept 20th according to Amazon. I am not a patient person. It is tempting to go with Sony just so I can have it now.

One of my co-workers just got the new Kindle and loves it, and one of my friends has a Sony PRS-700 (very similar to the 600, I understand) and loves it. I'm kind of wavering between them - which would I like better? I don't know.

Any thoughts or insight?

So, I don't have pictures from AE yet (hopefully it won't take me a year like 2009's pictures did), but our cosplay skit is up on YouTube - and also the skit we did to open up the Worst Cosplay Contest.

We actually won Best Master Skit this year - you can check us out here (unfortunately a side view... hopefully we'll get a better version up sooner or later). We were FFVII characters: Jeremy was Sephiroth, Cody was Cloud, Daniel was Tifa, and I was Aerith. The skit was called Yaoi Fantasy VII.

Then, of course, we completely tore that skit apart for a special presentation at the beginning of the Worst Cosplay Contest, and you can see that version here.

The con was awesome. I had more fun this year than any other year I've been to AE; it was just excellent. Staying on campus helped out a lot with that; it was just so convenient to be able to drop things off at the dorm and/or chill out for a while.

I've more or less gotten caught up with LJ, and I'll hopefully be working on catching up with some other things either tonight or tomorrow night (we might be doing some preliminary brainstorming for next year's cosplay tonight). So if you're waiting to hear from me, just be patient a little longer!

So, yeah, I'm 28 today. Doesn't feel any different.

I've been very, very busy working on cosplay stuff for AE, but still had some time to go for a movie and dinner with my parents last night. It was pretty fun.

Today my co-workers got me a cake and some sour candies. I'm starting to have doubts that I would fit into my wedding dress again after these past few weeks. Heh. Worth it, though.

Back from Hawaii! Soooo much laundry to do. And cleaning. Haven't even picked the cat up from my parents' house yet. Agh.

But we had a great time, and that's the important thing! Lots of hanging around having fun. And I even got to meet up with insaneneko! I never get to meet online friends! I believe she is the first! It was awesome.

Oh yes, and...

SO FREAKIN' EXCITED FOR AVATAR: LEGEND OF KORRA!!!

I mean, come on, it's a female Avatar, and she looks badass! I'm so psyched! This cannot come out fast enough.

Slightly more info. And also, here.

YAY!!!!

The weather is gorgeous today. I am feeling great. Everyone around me is in a good mood.

I will be getting married this afternoon!

Today is my last day of work before the wedding! Cody and I got the music all wrapped up and ready to go last night, and despite the last minute cancellations and additions, I think we're pretty final in terms of a wedding guest list.

The list of remaining tasks:

- Get hair trimmed (right after work today)
- Pack for honeymoon (tonight)
- Set up and decorate reception site (will begin tomorrow when rental items are delivered)
- Manicure - me / Pedicures - bridesmaids (Friday noon)
- Set up and decorate ceremony site (will begin Friday when rental items are delivered)

Other than that, it's all rehearsal and wedding day stuff. Woo!

My wedding is this Saturday.

Seriously.

My wedding. This Saturday.

Less than a week.

OMGHOLYCRAP!!!

So, anyone really wishing they could see the Last Airbender movie just for the lolz but not wanting to sit through the whole thing and have to pay for it?

Check out some of the worst best scenes here.

My favorite is the multi-person Earthbending dance routine to move one teeny little rock. Although Katara pushing the Firebender and then immediately looking away from him like "naw, no way you'd retaliate or anything..." is pretty good too.