Highlights From The Last 24 Hours

1. Got to the Northgate Game Stop at 8:40 pm PST.  Realized I had forgot to bring my DS and iPOD.  Shouldn't matter since the GS doods said the line would start moving at 9 to get your reciept to go stand in another line. Then I could go get a beer and wait.

2. Three obnoxious sixteen year olds were in front of me.  Parked their beat up white auto as close to the line as possible.  Proceed to run back and forth to it cranking 30 seconds of various bad rap.  Then 30 seconds of another song.  Then another song. Then another. Again..........  Finally security tells them to shut it off or leave.  Everyone in line cheers.

3. The entire line moves inside the mall and we all get to change our paid (or pay if you haven't yet) reciepts for ones that say we have paid.  The three kids have their mom join them so they can purchase the game.  Off to the waiting-for-midnight line.  10:20 pm.  Not enough time to get a beer.  Also fairly close to front of line.

4. Nice Gamestop Employees roam the line handing out soda, chips, and candy.  Very nice.  Three kids grab handfuls of candy while everyone else takes one or two pieces.  Still wishing I had my iPOD.

5. Tune the kids out by talking to a nice guy about gaming.  He is old like me.  At 11:50 watch the three kids stand up and walk up towards the front of the line.  I was about 50th in a line of 300 plus.  The kids cut in at about 20th in line.  Their mom walks up and looks for them then realize they cut and just shrugs.  Nice parenting skills.

6. At 12:10 I'm walking to my truck with my game.  The kids cutting saved them 5 minutes.  Hope it was worth it.

7. Home by 12:25 and playing the campaign soon after.  Play until 3 am then hit the hay.

8. Get up this morning, get the kids ready for school, and decide to fire up Halo to show the kids.  Game freezes instantly then the Red Ring of Death appears.  I drop to the floor in the fetal position and my daughter asks if she should call 911.  Take the kids to school and stop by the dentist for a cleaning.  All the while thinking, hoping, when I get home it will work.  I also had the day off to play games.

9. No such luck.  360 is fried.  Call MS three times before I get a person that can get past the proper spelling of my name.  It is JEFF.  MS person decides my 360 needs to come in.  This is why I called.  She doesn't like the term coffin for the box she is sending me.  I have finally formulated a plan.  Call up Circuit City and ask if they have any 360 Elites.  They do.  Drive up and buy one.  The black fits in better with the frontroom decor anyway.  Get it home and hooked up.  Couldnt find that damn WEP number, but finally do.  My friend Skydogg is waiting and we play a little co-op before my family gets home and the box goes off.

10. Now I'm waiting for everyone to go to bed and it will finally be time for some HALO 3!  9 pm