Pondering About

I've been feeling a little uninspired lately, both in writing and in life. I don't know what it is or why I've come to this point, but it is a little irritating to me. What I would like to do is take a trip, vacation or just anything where I could just spend a few days knowing work isn't right around the corner.

Wouldn't everyone love to do that every now and then?

More then ever, I'm feeling like I need to hurry up and find myself a direction in life. I don't want to be the guy who, at the age of 30, is still doing the exact same things as I was in my 20's. Wait, I don't think that came out the way I wanted it to. What I am trying to say is that I just hope by the time I reach my 30s, I'd have made some sort of progress forward in life. I know this stuff is always much easier to say and write, but actually getting there is a whole different story.

I think a part of my growing frustration with life stems from the fact that I realize I really don't have many friends. Actually, I don't really know if I have any at all. I mean we don't hang out or do stuff together like friends would. It is weird for me in that this sort of thing generally does not bother me. Yet it is now. Ugh.

I suppose this sort of thing happens to me much more often whenever I actually stop to think about things outside of the present. I think that would explain why I never really missed home when I left Kona nearly seven years ago. It would be difficult to miss what you never really give a thought to, huh?

But all of this thinking is leading me down a bad way I thinks. I know I'm having a little more trouble with anxieties, which seems to only really bog me down in the morning as I'm heading out to work. It seems that is the prime time for my brain to kick into overdrive and every kind of thought and worry starts blasting through my mind. It isn't fun.

I am thankful that it doesn't hang with me all day long and I am usually fine as when I get onto the bus and ride it out for a few minutes.

Overall, I think I just need to get a grip and sort out the messes in my mind. I feel like I have to get control of my life back first (having two jobs and still not making enough money sucks!), then sort everything else out one problem, one thought at a time.

Tack onto that the fact that I've finally changed the look of this blog from it's darker, gloomier look to this bright white layout. Maybe it'll help? Maybe? Nah, I just want to blind anyone who reads my blog late at night. It'll be bright enough to help land planes I hope...

Fun Little Adventure

So I finally finished off Infinite Undiscovery today, which is a pretty big deal for me because I haven't taken much interest in RPGs these days. Like I said in my previous writing, this game is by no means perfect. Still, there is a charm to the story and it's characters that I somehow just could not ignore.

Of all the characters, and there are quite a few here, the most compelling character to me is the main character himself: Capell.

While the other characters don't get much of a chance to be fleshed out (which is a little sad), Capell gets quite a bit of time and story. The result? It was interesting to see how this cowardly boy transforms into a brave and all around human leader. What I mean by that is he doesn't just turn over and suddenly becomes a brave guy, no. Through the course of the game, Capell struggles to find out who and what he really is. He stops running, he starts fighting for a cause and in the end, he finds everything he ever wanted in life.

And despite what I wrote a little while ago about the other characters not having their time to shine, that isn't entirely true. For most of the game they aren't given much focus, but as the end of the game comes up, they are all given moments to give a little depth to themselves and it does wonders! It surely made me come to appreciate these characters much more then I ever did previously.

The one complaint that I have about the game is during any spoken dialogue scenes. At some times there mouths move and other times, they just don't. Or when speaking, their mouths open, yet their teeth are clenched together. Yes, it is a minor complaint but it gets a little annoying after a while.

All in all, I am still surprised at just how much I enjoyed this game. I regret that I did not pick this one up sooner, but still I am just glad I did now. It was well worth the time (total hours spent in-game: roughly about 34-35 hours) and money.

I read somewhere that there are secret dungeons which unlock after passing the game on normal. I also heard that there are some fierce monsters in these places. Sounds like I have more work to do...

Undiscovering

After dodging the game for quite a while, I finally caved in and bought Infinite Undiscovery. I avoided this game at first, just like I did with The Last Remnant, because I honestly didn't think either one of these games looked all that good.

A few months back I rented The Last Remnant and my thoughts were affirmed. I thought the game was pretty bland and outright boring and so that was the end of that.

Besides, this was made with the same guys that made the last few Star Ocean games. Now a lot of people might be able to pick up and play the games in that series.

I am not one of them.

Anyway, now fast forward to a few days ago and I see Infinite Undiscovery just sitting there on a shelf at a local department store. I didn't give into buying this when it was released and I held off from ever renting it. And yet here it was right before my eyes and I was tempted to get it.

What helped convince me in giving this game a try had a lot to do the with fact that this game selling for a mere $20. How could I possibly go wrong? If it is the worse game ever made, at least I didn't have to pay full price to suffer such inhumanity.

And I admit that I was pleasantly surprised at how much I am actually enjoying this. Surely it isn't a Final Fantasy and it isn't the nicest or best game ever made, but it is fun. It actually has feeling to me, unlike a lot of games that just feel so bland. Honest truth, this is probably the most fun I've had with an RPG in many, many long years.

Hell, I think the last time I actually got hooked into a RPG was back with Final Fantasy XII...

Anyway, 14 hours in and somewhere on the second disk, I'll surely be back sooner rather then later with my final verdict. But as far as with what I've seen and played of this game thus far, I like it. I ever dare dispute the many negative reviews that this game has garnered.

What Doesn't Kill You, Makes You Stronger...

While I think that statement is generally true, I have learned yet another valuable lesson as well over the course of these past few days. Yes, it may not kill you and yes, you might come back stronger in the end. But until that point in time arrives, you will suffer like a mutha...

Such as it is, throwing out your back is one painful bitch. And after having this pain for 3 straight days now and it just doesn't seem like it is improving any yet. I'm hoping with some rest today and tomorrow, my back will be in better shape by the starting of next week. Granted, I am still able to move around and all that, it is just accompanied with a kind of a sharp pain. I always heard that sharp pains aren't ever a good sign, but I am being extremely hopeful that it isn't anything too serious.

Such a great way to start off the month of August... *grumbles*