MONDAY HANGOVER: "...?...."

You're telling me that no one has any comments on that post from last Friday? C'mon! That's probably the best thing I've written here in close to SIX MONTHS!! Ah well, screw you. I've still got the NITS.

 

Well, this past weekend was 1 part awesome, 1 part boring.  A good, solid mix, if you ask me.  On Friday, I was lucky enough to put up Mr. Buff, Mrs. Buff, D-Sonic, Uram, Sal, and Broms as they used 2107 as their stopping point on the way to the Big J-Wain wedding.  Though limited, the time we had together was fun, as it was just great being back in the fratmosphere (which is a word I wish I would've invented four years ago). 

 

We headed to one of my favourite, most versitile bars in PGH, Sports Rock, where we played a lot of video games and did copious amounts of imbibing.  We played an awful lot of UB-QB, which is perhaps the greatest arcade game ever created. It's the one where you play one-on-one, throwing footballs through either the little "long completion" hole or the bigger "short completion" hole.  I'm basically the Tom Brady of UB-QB, as I rule when it comes to the dink/dunk/run out the clock aspects of the game.  Fun times.

 

But the REAL story was the CLAW MACHINE.  Y'all know the claw machine. Well, now the Sports Rock Claw Machine knows D, Sal, Uram, and Buff. And it will never forget them.  On about 20 bucks worth of plays, the boys amassed an UNHEARD OF 17 stuffed animals.  Truly. Amazing. Uram put it best when he said they should've earned a spot on the SportsCenter Top Plays.  I've never seen such total man-over-machine domination in my entire life.  A final rundown of prizes included 2 Taz's, a Blue's Clues Blue, Ace the Bathound, Krypto the Superdog, Zoe from Seasame Street, and much, much, more. Play of the day went to Buff for successfully grabbing TWO prizes at once.  This move, combined with his legendary catch of a live lobster, cements his place as the Greatest Claw Machine Player of all times.  Not to be outdone, whoever caught the Purple Tweety Bird in mid-air, by the legs, gets the silver medal.

 

We finished up the night with some Southside Steaks and had a few more brews as I thwarted the advances of Banner's highly-inebriated little sister.  Everyone wants a piece of Bruce Wayne, what can I say? (insert sarcasm here)

 

Anywho, the rest of the weekend had no chance of living up to that 18 hour period, so after I took everyone to Primanti's on Saturday, I bought some comic books and then picked up my girl, the Stratus, who is finally repaired. And Boy, does she look GREAT. Props to Wilbur for the top-quality repair work. 

 

Quick comics thoughts:

Justice #2:  I HATE that this fully-painted series is 12 parts and BI-MONTHYLY.  Which means it's going to take TWO YEARS to get to the end.  I love everything else about it, though.  Captivating setup thus far, and Alex Ross is still Alex Ross.  The storyline is basically an adult version of the Superfriends v. the Legion of Doom. Worth a checkout for the art alone.

 

Ex Machina #15:  What was my favourite comic for a good six months has hit a decided lull.  It's like, nothing's happening. Sure, the characterization and art are still top-notch, but between the "Mayor Hundred is gay" cliffhanger (that was never resolved) and the fact that he has no discernable antagonist at this point, has got me thinking, "umm...when's something going to happen?"

 

Captain America #11:  Okay, I've not read Cap in ages, but the buzz has been great, so I had to check this: the issue that once and for all answers the question, "Is Bucky, Cap's long-thought-dead sidekick from WWII (and by long-thought-dead, I mean "50 years") actually back from the dead as the Russian "Winter Soldier." I gotta admit, I had my initial problems with the idea when I heard the storyline, but this was a truly captivating issue that has me thinking the whole shebang was a great idea. I've been looking for a new monthly, and I've found it.  I wish I would've thought to check out my favourite character, sooner.

 

Batman: The Long Halloween:  I picked up this recent (read: 1996) Batman classic last week for two reasons 1) I always wanted to read it, and 2) It was one of the three comics cited by the creators of Batman Begins as a major influence. It did not disappoint. It deserves it's own column, and will probably get just that treatment later this week.

 

After I read my comics, it was PSU time. We all know how that went, and how it continues to go, and how I will NOT jinx them again. So I'll leave it at that.

 

And I'll leave you altogether. For now, at least.  I didn't do anything Saturday night, and I simply watched the Stillers alone on Sunday. I am desperately in need of people to hang out with. Where have all the cowboys gone?

 

Your Song of the Day is...umm....I dunno.. pick one.

-apk