The Hubs Guest Blog 2.0

Day 67: Memories and Shot Guns 

Our family’s current gaming obsession is Helldivers.  Me and Chris will play a couple levels every day and Nate (the 6 year-old) even plays occasionally if he has been good.  The game has even drawn Inara in as a very active observer (she loves when me or Chris kill each other). Hell, even my mom got sucked in the other day.  The game is great but it has this quality where it is always creating “moments”

This occurred to me when me and the Doc were walking through Target and she was upset that Inara only wants to watch because she hopes we will kill each other.  I explained that I’m pretty sure Inara just gets sucked into those “moments.” Every good movie, or game has them, like when Gimli and Legolas are counting off how many Orcs they have killed at Helmsdeep,  Or the scene in Pacific Rim where Mako reveals that she added a Giant Kaiju slaying sword to Gypsy Danger.  

Or if you are more game inclined the first time you jump over Bowser and learn “the princess is in another castle” or the first time you really hear Comstock say “Would you kindly…”  maybe even the first time a motion game actually “works”.  All good movies or games should have these moments, usually carefully crafted by their creators but great games let you make your own.

The fact that Helldivers makes these moments all the time is why we love it.  This blog posts is meant to share a few examples of these moments for our family created by the game Helldivers.

It's the gun Not me really (Inara's Favorite)

I had just unlocked the shotgun and decided to try it out on a mission.  We are running through the level and Chris ran ahead, I came up to shoot the bugs surrounding her and BAM the bugs are all dead, so is she.  Crap.  So I call in a drop pod to bring her back.  Moments later a patrol shows up and we are swarmed by bugs, we both start firing killing bugs left and right, when the dust settles I realize I’m the only one left, I killed her again.  Since it was so close to calling her in I had to wait another minute in game to call her in.  I scramble and run until I can call her back in, when she is back we run to the shuttle.  We call in the shuttle and just have to survive the 90 seconds till it shows up, I’m being careful only shooting bugs, we start to get surrounded and I run then at the last second notice I was about to run into a minefield, I turn around to kill the bugs on my tail and the Doc drops a third time.  The bugs swarm me as I ran out of ammo and we finally fail the mission.

The Posthumus Savior Turret

We are trying to hold a point as we capture it, we have water on one side and open field on the other.  The bugs aren’t slowed by the water but we can barely move through it.  Bugs start swarming from every direction, so we both kneel to call in reinforcments, me a quick airstrike and Chris predictably calls her favorite automated turret.  There is a big pack approaching Chris from the south so I tell her to run and I’ll call in my airstrike, instead of running she hits the deck and gets vaporized with all the bugs.  I swear a little and start running for my life.  I run north am gunning down bug after bug, when I hear the click meaning I’m out of ammo.  I try to switch to my pistol but some bugs get to me and I start crawling away bleeding out, when I hear a sound like the answering of a prayer, the hum of a turret winding up.  Apparently the good Doctor called it in right before she died.  It clears all the bugs and keeps me safe I heal up call her back in and we finish the level.

The New Rocket Launcher

I had just unlocked a new rocket launcher and me and Nate were playing against some cyborgs.  He’s only 6 so I usually have to pull most of the weight when we play but we still have fun.  It also doesn’t help that likes to use the murderous shotgun.  Anyways, we get an opening so I decide to call in my Rocket Launcher, it's pretty awesome, it only has one shot but the other player can pick up a backpack to reload you between shots.  We are trying to capture a point when a patrol sees us, we get surrounded and I go down.  Not sure if it was Cyborgs or that Shotgun, but I say “Nathan come help me up!”  So he makes a bee-line to me.  However, instead of helping me up he picks up the rocket launcher and laughs maniacally.  At this point Inara and my Mom both start rolling.  He runs away shoots some cyborgs who conveniently surrounded me killing all of them (and me).  He then tries to reload but can’t get away.   

Rant 

I could go on forever, we have more moments and more will be made every day.  One of the things I realize in this process of recovery is that before I would isolate all the time and experience these “moments” alone.   Now I make them with my family, my friends, and my fellows.  These moments bring us together, make us closer and have things that for years we will be able to say “remember that time…”

Even if you don’t play Helldivers or games, maybe you like Golf, or board games or fishing, go out with your family, your partner and make more Moments, fill your life with “remember that time…”’s

/Rant

To continue the tradition, Wil Wheaton, you should come make moments with us to, or just help us kill bugs in Helldivers.

Things that are Hard 2.0

Day 17: Don’t believe what you read on the internet

Make-up and Organizing pre-LotR

Since I have openly discussed in my blog my consideration of divorcing my partner it probably comes as a surprise to no one that I am in therapy.  My therapist asked me what is something hard I had to do this week and I surprised myself when I didn’t say “get out bed.”  My answer: find a tube of make-up primer sh*t.  As I explained my distress to my counselor she immediately replied “its next to the foundation.”  And not for the first time, I wanted to kick her in the knee, hard.

If you ask me where to buy model primer for miniatures, primer for home improvement, or even primer for cooking I can answer those questions.  But asking me to acquire make-up primer at Target is like asking me to solve 10- page math proof.  In fact, with the help of technology it would probably take me less time to puzzle out a mathematical proof.

For those of you who don’t know, primer is a base coat that goes under make-up.  Apparently it is different than moisturizer and is not in the long aisle covered with face lotions/ face sunscreens/ moisturizers/ creams/ serums.  Even though it is a tube of goop that looks exactly like everything else in the face goop aisle, that is not where it lives.  Instead primer is located next to make-up.  And make-up is not organized by what is used for but instead by brand.  Like my therapist this may be obvious to the women reading this blog but just in case you missed the memo I am not good at being a girl.

Si Se Puede

It has only been one day since my last post, and getting out of bed is still hard.  Today I am wearing my union thug hat and organizing with hundreds of other educators from around the state.  Staying in a fancy-smancy hotelmakes getting out of bed easier because my babies are snuggled close, and my union family are here for me.

Happy Union Thug

 

Rolling off lands on my bed/ head.

What are those boxes for behind the bed?

Online Walk- Throughs

When I get stuck in life, and games, I have almost always been able to find the answer on the internet.  Free online game walk throughs have been part of my life as long as the hubs.  I am reading several blogs about LotR card game that I am currently obsessed with (dwarf for life).    

When I told my husband I was considering a divorce, his reaction was to google “what to do when wife wants divorce.”  If you just spit your coffee on the computer screen I understand, but in all seriousness googling is a natural reaction to the unknown.  And just an FYI, the advice he received was not ideal.  Tip of the day: google cannot tell you how to save your marriage. 

Despite my best attempts to resist, I have fallen prey to attempting girflicaiton through online walk-through guides.  I really have tried to put more effort into my appearance.  I say “tried” because after a few hours with pinterest, you-tube make-up tutorials, magazines, and then the looking for primer:  I am over it.  I want to look my best but not if its going to be so f*cking hard.  How do women do this everyday?  Isn’t it easier just to stay in bed?  Speaking of staying in bed, playing card games in a hotel bed is not ideal.

Game: LoTR Card Game

System: Table Top

Developer: Fantasy Flight Games

  

Reflection: After traveling out of town, organizing and activism, and successful application of make-up: we still made time to game.  We moved from our intro level game to the next and way harder scenario in Lord of the Rings.  We only lasted three phases before we got our butts kicked.

Speaking of getting an a$s kicking, today the hubs is playing in his first Warmachine tournament in over 4 months.  My trash talking is not just meanness, we have both been honest that he is not there to win, he is there to learn.  Because winning is great, but the joy comes from the people, the game, and the experience.

Registration at Warmachine Tourney

The Army pre battle

Photo from first 2 hours round of Warmachine

Gone Girl the Game

Day 13: Think Small

Game: LotR Card Game

System: Table Top

Developer: Fantasy Flight Games 

Kiddos grabbed a pic of us play LoTR

I am not known for my artistic or domestic capabilities but I pushed this year to keep my 12^th anniversary gift themed.  My gift was a scavenger hunt, without the Gone Girl evilness, that involved a series of 12 clues hidden throughout the house.  After puzzling out the clues the final gift item was a love letter from me, and the LoTR card game that I discussed in my previous blog.

I got a cool gift from my partner too.  It was custom artwork from a local artist, Johnny Ramos.  One thing that we discussed after we traded gifts was that we both went out of our way to acquire local items.  No, the LotR card game is not developed in B-twon, but it is sold at a local gamestore Otto’s.  Though we both contemplated sending flowers from big box stores or shipping something sparkly (like a game disc) via Amazon as an easy solution to shopping, we wanted to do something more thoughtful.

I am a Gamer not Hoarder…Really!  

I am totally fascinated by people who live in “tiny houses” and I have watched everything on Netflix, Hulu, and Xfinity, that I can to learn more about them.  It is profound to watch people pare down their lives to the bare essentials.  On the spectrum between Hoarders and Tiny Houses I am closer to the hoarding condition.  I have not been able to part with my GameCube, Super Nintendo, strategy guides, and cartridges, and have a china hutch filled with board games.  But when it comes down to it, I have reduced my marriage to the activity that brings me the most joy and that is games because it is about being together.

It makes me sad that when we visited Otto’s, the aforementioned local gamestore, that the neighboring bar was full (Sunday football) and the gamestore was empty.  I will admit that I loved having the space and selection of board games to play in store, but it made me a little sad.  I hope that my current challenge to my marriage that is about reconnecting with a person I love will inspire the 3 people who read my blog to enjoy someone they love, instead of just being with them.

At Otto's playing "Hey That's My Fish"  

At Otto's Playing "Tsuro"

At Otto's kissing the winner. 

Have Games will Travel

This weekend we will travel as a family for the first time since before the separation.  But living in a hotel for three days with two small children is not a reason to abandon games.  My hubby organized our new LotR card game into snazzy boxes and put the cards in sleeves so that we have a portable game to play while we are traveling.  Staying in hotels is like living in a small house, you start to realize you don’t need most of the stuff around you—you just need the people you love.

Trade-In Underwear for Games

Day 9: Did I mention I hate shopping

Normally I would have been incredibly excited that my husband bought me fancy chonies for Christmas.  But since things have been rocky, I decided to return the unworn gift which FYI is super awkward.  I actually mailed the stuff back via UPS and wrote a letter to the company explaining why I didn’t want these garments.  Reading my note must have been as uncomfortable as writing it because against their normal policy they refunded the entire purchase. The point of the story is I am buying us a new game with underwear money from Christmas and percolating on what to purchase.

Choosing between Lore and Legends 

In an attempt at geeky romance this influx of unexpected monies is getting spent on my 100-day quest to save my marriage with games.  Three games I am considering with some pros and cons:

Game: Firefly Yahtzee

System: Tabletop

Developer: Hasbro

Pro: The only reason I want this game is because I am obsessed with all things Joss Whedon.  This game is also playable with the kiddos.

Con: Normally I would not feel compelled to own Yahtzee but I would play this and also prominently display it because it looks awesome.

Us with Tim Schaffer forever ago at E3. 

Game: Grim Fandango

System: PS4

Developer: Double Fine 

Pro: Tim Schaffer.  Nuff said.

Me 2014 Dia De Los Muertos

Okay I am going to say a few other things.  This is also an adventure game rebooted that could be played while the kids are awake.  And I heart me some adventure games.  Plus its on the PS4 which is all shiny and new and we currently use more than anything else.  The artwork is amaze-balls and as you know I love all things day of the dead inspired. 

  

Con: It is not out today and I would love to buy something I can have in my greedy little hands yesterday.

Game: LotR Card Game

System: Tabletop

Developer: Fantasy Flight Games 

Pro: Once upon a time there were two gamers who spent every Friday night playing magic or pokemon card games.  Card games were nice because unlike a PS4 they fit nicely in a clutch for a portable date night or gaming in nature. We also have other friends who play this game as a couple so we can ask questions.  I just finished reading the Lord of the Rings trilogy to the kiddos this summer so I love the lore.

Con:  I have read that there is a steep learning curve when starting this game.  It is a a better couples game and not a family game for people with young kids.  As we learned from Netrunner, small children like pretty cards and will likely not leave decks undisturbed.  

 

Would be great if anyone out there has other suggestions?  Please reply in the comments bellow and weigh in on what would be fun and why.