**We've posted 2 posts at once, so make sure to look at the post after this :)
For those of you who follow this blog because of the fun info about our life overseas, this post will disappoint you…just fyi in case you keep reading expecting some sort of deep spiritual or cultural connection…there ain’t none.
I admit it.
I stink at video games.
Since the beginning of time I have been a delinquent video game player.
It’s true. I’m craptacular.
My first experience with video games was when I was in probably about 3rd or 4th grade.
Julia Howard (now Julia Roberts…seriously,
here’s their blog…there Jules, now you have to update it because lots of people are going to click on it!)
Julia Howard got a Nintendo. Super Mario Brothers was the game.
I can remember being in her room with the bunkbed, seated on the lower bunk watching her and (insert anyone’s name but mine) ----------- playing the game.
“Dah dah dah duh dat tada, duh da tuh da tuh da tuh da tada…” went the music.
When it was my turn I’m sure I was Luigi because who wants to be the sidekick right?
Anyway, I would shrink within approximately 10 seconds or so and then die. You know what I’m talking about.
And I had NO CLUE how everyone else seemed to know which of the pipes you could go down.
Still don’t.
The same story continued in Middle School.
This time at Heidi Lunn’s house (she’s now Heidi Del Real…married a Panamanian and has a BEAUTIFUL son…anyway…I like her name, very exotic)
You see, Heidi’s younger brother was into video games. They both were really.
From what I could tell anyway. We didn’t have video games at my house…but we’ll get to that in a second.
So it seemed like they were into them. The fact that they even had a game system makes them “gamers” in my book.
Anyway. I believe Super Mario Kart was the game. Or at least it changed to that from some other cooler game when I told Heidi I couldn’t play very well. I think she had a Nintendo 64.
So, in pity, we did the “fun” and “easy” game Mario Kart instead.
Awful I tell ya. At least I could kinda make the thing go. But I was off the road so often, it didn’t matter if Donkey Kong threw a banana peel in the road, I dang sure wasn’t gonna hit it. Too bad it wasn’t called like Super MarioLandRover…
And it wasn’t just the screen that evidenced my sub-parness.
Oh no.
My arms.
My face.
I’m sure if there was a blood-pressure cuff available, it would have proved it as well.
Ya know in the movies where kids are playing video games?
They just sit there, blank expressions and push buttons with their fingers on the controllers.
Not me.
If I needed to jump, my entire arms would go up.
If I needed to jump real high, my arms would go up REALLY high.
You didn’t even have to look at the screen to tell where I was going.
My arms were like sign-language interpreters to what I was trying to accomplish on the screen.
And my face.
Between my mouth being open and my neck muscles being tight at all times, you could tell I was just trying to keep Luigi from being got with one of those red-turtle-shell bombs.
So there was Heidi on her side of the screen waiting for me at the Finish line in first place as usual while I, flailing and using much more intensity with my facial muscles than is necessary and relegated to last place attempted to try and make something of my clearly inept gaming skills.
Mercifully, or pitifully, (not sure which) it wouldn’t take Heidi long to suggest something else. We’d practice our cheers or something. That we were both good at.
I’m pretty sure the Nintendo people heard about people like me and created the Wii so as to remove the shame of a population of gaming losers who unconsciously move their controller.
Then. It happened. The high point in the story.
My parents bought us a Super Nintendo, with Donkey Kong Country and Super Mario Kart.
My younger sister and I were a team.
It took us approximately 1 month and a cheat-book to beat the game. (Anthony just scoffed and said, “You had to get a cheat book for Donkey Kong?!?”)
At one point I had blisters on my thumbs. I’m not kidding.
I can’t even remember how old I was or why my parents chose to buy it for us then. (probably because it was on sale because the new 64’s came out)
I grew up as one of 3 girls. We just didn’t have video games. I can’t ever even remember wanting one.
Probably because I was scarred from the beginning stinking at Duck Hunt at Julia’s.
After we beat those 2 games, I think we got a Star Wars video game, but I was so bad at it I didn’t want to play. It didn’t make sense.
(insert foreshadowing music here)
There were no bananas.
No red turtle shell bombs.
My sister didn’t ask for anymore games either. I think we lost interest at the same time.
Fast forward approximately 15 years or so.
I’ve been married for 4 years, moved to another country, and given birth.
We’ve either been too poor or too busy to buy a gaming system or games.
But then Steve Jobs did a number and made a MacBook, then some other genius made STAR WARS LEGOS computer game.
Since getting our newest Macbook (yes we have the cool new aluminum one☺) my husband decided to buy a computer game.
I told him, “This is all you. I’m so crappy at video games.”
He didn’t believe me.
Some how. Some way, we’ve made it through our dating and married life of 6 years without ever playing a video game together.
So we leave the Mac Store with STAR WARS LEGOS II in hand.
It’s the game version of the original trilogy. (Luke, Leia, Han and the whole gang)
I’m a Star Wars geek, so I didn’t mind.
I thought, well, it has been a few years. I am older. Maybe I’ll play.
So when he was out and Isaac was asleep, I attempted it.
All by myself I even set-up the key controls how I wanted and started.
After it took me 5 minutes to figure out that I had set the controls for “Player #2” who, mysteriously, can’t be controlled when there’s no player #1, I gave it one more try.
At that point Anthony showed up and started watching me.
He was like, “Shoot that guy!”
I tried.
I really did.
I don’t know if he understands how hard I really did try.
That stupid Leia with her bun-head wouldn’t move where I wanted.
And since I was controlling from the keyboard, I couldn’t engage my special spasm moves.
Afterwards as we were searching for a game controller compatible with Mac’s, I was defending my case.
Me- “Ok, but you were there. The guy was catty-corner to me and if I hit left I turned too much to the left and hit right once but ended up too far to the right! How do you explain that!?!”
Anthony- “You mean you didn’t hit two keys at once?”
Me-“What? That’s dumb. Plus how did you know that?”
Anthony- “Love, you can combine keys. But don’t worry. After we get this controller, it’ll make it easier on you.”
Me- “I don’t think it’ll make a difference” then repeating to him what I told you above about my gaming calisthenics
Anthony- (pitifully) Laughs
I have as yet to touch the game controller. Anthony is sitting next to me making comments like, “Wow Darth Vader’s fast.” which you would think would indicate some sort of stress or Luke/R2/Yoda dying (He’s on Degoba, where Yoda lives).
No stress. You can barely even hear him hit the buttons on the control. He’s winning.
Seriously people.
I write all this because…I’m not sure.
It’s just one of those things I have to come to terms with, I guess.
And this is me, coming to terms.
Unless I find out that there’s some video game playing guidebook that’s like a Video Game version of Lonely Planet. Like “Lonely Gamer.”
It’ll read: “Relax those muscles on Matel’s new “Dress-up Barbie” game where you get to choose the clothes and accessories for Barbie. There’s no need to partake in the stress of the surroundings as there are only 2 buttons required to play the game at maximum ability. If you are searching for something a little more spontaneous pick up “My Little Ponies 2: Glue Castle Revenge.” It’s got all the sparkles and rainbows of the first edition, but with an added bonus level where you spear 3 glue makers with your horn.”
If there’s a book like that, I’ll be on it like Donkey Kong.
Also, my sister has a Wii now (and I think a guitar hero?) So in a few months I’ll probably have to revisit this deficient aspect of my life again. I’ll try to get me playing my (almost 6 year-old) nephew at Wii Tennis on video. If he’ll stoop so low.
Stay tuned.
Until then I’m content to watch my husband fly his X-wing Fighter with all the skill of a Jedi Master.
Day 2 The finished product!
The Engagement Day
She liked it and was glad I made it. All that stuff is for her fiancé-to-be. His family comes to her house and brings hantaran to give to her as well. But the engagement is more about the bride-to-be.
She was in the bedroom getting her make up done and getting dressed. Here the girl gets all dressed up (not quite like her wedding day, but pretty close). When her fiancé-to-be family shows up, she stays in the room.
Rina’s fiancé is (If I remember correctly) the 9th of 9 children! His parents are professionals at the engagement thing by now. (notice he gave her a full line of Clinique skin care products! Holla!)
Both families crowd into the room. All the hantaran is placed together. Then the fathers discuss the bride price. 
That’s right! The bride’s family negotiates a price for the hand of their daughter…she’s valuable! I’ll have to clarify, but usually I think the bride gets to keep most of the money and usually she buys jewelry or other things like that to mark her wedding day. If you’ve ever read the parable of the “Lost Coin” in the book of Luke in the bible, the reason the woman was so freaked out that she lost her “coin” was because it was something she received on her wedding day. The jewelry a girl will buy is kind of like that I think (not coins, just special). It would be like an American woman losing a diamond out of her wedding ring. Sorry, that was a tangent.
After that the couple is engaged! Then everyone eats:)
Traditionally he’s not allowed in at all, but now when people start to eat, he’s allowed to eat and mingle with the guests. Here’s the happy couple. They’ll actually have a two-year engagement while she finishes law school! Whoa!
And just to make this post even longer. Here’s some pics with my friend and I and her younger sister.
If you’re wondering if the whole thing feels as special as a guy dropping to his knee and popping the question, the answer is (no pun intended) “Yes!” When I went to take the above picture with Rina, she looked at me all excited and squealed, “I’m ENGAGED!” just like any newly engaged girl would do in the states.
