de Paul Warren

Archive for the ‘Life Thoughts’ Category

Humbug… it’s been 2 years now. This being my third year as a humbugger. I don’t think I’ll return to Christmas as I had it previously. I think people understand that I will not return the favour and give them a gift if they get me one. The past 2 Christmas’ have been fairly stress free. I have to admit, I rather enjoy it.

I wrote a post about 2 years ago as to why I became a scrooge / grinch. Not much has changed. Although I’m less offended when people spread Christmas Cheer. I mentioned before that I would hold my tongue, well now I shrug it aside like they just insulted my lawn… It’s my lawn, I couldn’t care less. In fact, I feel a little pity for them:

• having to stand in lines buying gifts that are
• often likely to get the response of  “Oh…. thanks…. it’s .. great.”
• stressing out when they are not sure what to get someone, but the they have to get the other(s) something
• because they know the other(s) got them something and feel they have to return the favour.
• as a few have to endure the last minute shopping because they waited until today (Christmas Eve) to shop.
• as a few of them are getting the latest in popular items that have caused wide spread chaos as parents fight to the death to get a $20 gift that the kid will have forget about in 2 months.

I do not miss that at all.

The only thing I’m a little peeved about still is how Christmas is viewed by Christians and non-Christians. Christians are upset that Jesus is being removed from anything related to Christmas and the non-Christians are upset that Jesus is still in Christmas. Granted there is a group that doesn’t care either way, but this is not about them. I get annoyed when I see Christians putting up a fight or protesting to have Jesus returned to Christmas. If someone wants to celebrate with Santa Claus, let them. It’s not our place to impose Jesus on anyone. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. As ambassadors, we are to abide by the rules of the foreign country we live in and at the same time, live as an example (and a good one at that) of who we really are. Throwing a hissy fit  because Santa is more popular than Jesus just shows you’re not being a good enough example of Jesus in the first place…. and the hissy fit adds to that.

Either I’m numbed by what goes on now, or things are not as bad as they used to be. Not with the whole X-mas fiasco. If things are not as bad now, then that’s a good thing. It’s just something I’ve seen before and I haven’t vented about for a while, even if that whole thing is now stale.

Anyway… if the traditional gift giving is for anyone, it’s children. I’m still on the fence as to how I want my children to experience Christmas. However, anyone who tries to make that decision for me can stuff it.

Fx3. I think I’m writing in my blog more. Before it was a once a year, almost, kind of thing. I just have more to ponder lately (frequent). I recently read an article talking about the memorable moments from video games. I have a bunch too. I plan to post them here, sometime in the near future. I’ve written up a few drafts so I won’t forget (fun). But that is definitely on hold until what has been happening lately blows over (frustrating). I’ll elaborate more as I can figure out where I stand in this all. It’s like a dust cloud and I’m unsure of everything around me but if I’m only to stand my ground that I’ll emerge victorious…. or sandblasted or buried. A brief glimpse of what is frustrating as of late is the current state of our unborn child; there are complications.

From a pure combat point of view, this doesn’t make sense… Yes i know, sex sells. But if giving women fully clothed armor keeps the kiddies away, I’m all for it. But that’s not the focus of why I posted.

Exceptions? When a game takes place in an age where there is little armor coverage such as Conan. I have no idea about the game, but at least Arnold sported only a rag about his twig and berries. It would be believable then that a women in armor would be dressed similarly.

But mainly, if as a male, I am dressed in heavy armor and you can’t even see my face let alone any skin, then why would a female have heavy Boots, a heavy armor thong and bikini, and gloves? … more importantly, offer the same protection rating as the full on heavy armor guy?

Again, the sex sells thing?… it’s not a good enough excuse. Not as long as the rational part of my brain exists. And since I gave WoW up a long time ago, I still have a rational brain cell somewhere.

Christmas. Pffft. Buying gifts you cant afford because someone else is buying gifts for you which you don’t need. The only ones who can appreciate Christmas this way are the kids who rarely get anything to begin with.

I don’t celebrate it traditionally anymore. What’s more, is anyone approaching me with that annoying Christmas Cheer gets me fired up. I hold my tongue though and don’t impose my views on others, but I won’t hesitate to explain when they ask why. I find it hilarious though when I tell someone I don’t shop and get anyone gifts. It’s like I told them I kill kittens.

I’m not into the whole consumer mentality thing. Except for the marketers, who really told us we have to get someone something at such a specific date. If we are really celebrating Jesus’ birth, why do I get gifts? Shouldn’t He be getting gifts? Not that December 25th is His real birthday anyway.

Santa and Frosty are too creepy. Some magical snowman, uh, … doing what he does. I’ve seen Jack Frost. While a horrible C rated horror, he’s a cold blooded killer (pun intended). And Santa? Some fat man changing his names and spying on little kids all the time… Granted naughty had a different meaning back in the day. Plus, we all know where toys come from now. It’s marked on the toy somewhere, “Made In China.” Santa’s wooden toys just are not as appealing anymore, unless you’re out of firewood.

What’s worse than any of that, though, are the gift cards. It’s worse than money. It’s money you can only spend in a specific store. It’s like a Discover card. Gift Cards, and money for that matter, only prove that you don’t know the recipient enough to get them a thoughtful gift.

The only thing I enjoy about Christmas is the time off work and the feasts with family. All the rest of it,… Read the title.

My father has always been annoyed when I used the word “can’t,” or rather, the contraction. I guess he saw that as a sign I was giving up. I don’t quite remember as at that moment, I would usually tune out and roll my eyes. I was very negative then.

Much has changed since those times and I have picked up a much more positive attitude. It’s been so long that I’ve been like this now that only during times of true, painful stress will my negative side come out. But I’ve begun to notice that the phrase “I can’t” is once again entering my vocabulary. It seems in a different way this time.

As a Christian, I notice my failings a lot and it’s always when I try and truck it alone. But it’s not always my personal walk that I notice this. Since January of 2007, I have worked on a game called iKonquest. It’s gone through many stages but it has not caught on to the public. Reason being was for, in my view, my greatest failing. I don’t sell. I can’t sell. I won’t sell. This also includes marketing.

As the project itself has begun to grow, my eyes were opened to see that I could no longer do this as a one man show. Even if I were to finish the code. Nobody would play it, primarily because they won’t know it exists. Now that I have a few volunteers on board, things will get exciting. This will definitely be a great learning experience. One that I’m now ready to take on.

While “I can’t do this” is somewhat accurate, a more appropriate phrase would be: “I can’t do this alone.”

A fisherman, eh? I’m eating your friends. Lots of them. I pretty much need to in order to swallow. I woke up a few days ago with the start of a soar throat and only by eating the friends of fisherman would relieve me of my irritation. While it doesn’t hurt to talk, I sound like I’m on my last few days before I go for a tracheotomy.

I’m not thinking at a 100% either as I’ve been downing NeoCitran and Halls Centers as much as possible. It appears that while I may be very resistant to everything else: the flu, fevers, etc; My Achilles’ heel is soar throats and colds. If you’re within 100 km of me with a cold, guaranteed, I’ll catch it if I haven’t had it already.

As for the title of this post, that’s what I sound like half the time.