New Music

Over the past couple of weeks I have purchased some new music to fill my ears. I am typically a-can-listen-to-anything kinda person however it appears from my purchases that my soul has been craving some rock.

First up, I purchased the new release from a lesser known band I Am Empire who is signed on Tooth & Nail records. I admit it was a blind purchase because it was super cheap but thankfully they were very pleasing to the ears. They have a very radio friendly rock feel but with the inner glam metal style lurking on the inside. My favorite on the album is definitely track 3 "Saints & Sinners". For the price, I highly recommend it.

I also purchased the new album from Red more out of curiosity than anything else. I admit I never really liked their music. Some songs on an album were solid gold while the rest kind of felt bland and boring. I was very disappointed with "Innocent & Instinct". It start out with such great promise then nose dived. So when I popped in "Until We Have Faces" and it cut immediately into the guitar heavy, in your face music I was skeptical but after a few listens through the CD, it has now called dibs on the player in the van. What a great well rounded release. Hopefully this is not lightning in a bottle and they can continue to make great releases like this one. Highly recommend!!

Finally, I picked up The "Covering" from Stryper. This is purely a fan-boy purchase. Stryper is Stryper and they could release crap and I would still buy it. This release is different from their past releases though in the fact that they have made a cover CD this time around. Just some of the bands they cover are Kansas, Black Sabbath, Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, and more. I have a friend who is very skeptical of a Stryper cover CD but I have to admit I really enjoy it. On the whole, they have been faithful to the originals and threated them with respect. It is not good enough to dethrone Red from the CD player in the van yet but it is in steady rotation at home.

Until later ... Now its time to Rock!!!!

Gaming Goals

I am a full-time student, full-time husband and full-time parent. I also work quarter time on top of all of that and do the majority of the house chores since my wife is very busy with work. This situation has lead to a drastic cut in the much coveted gaming time I so enjoy. As such, I am putting digital pen to paper and jotting down my personal goals for 2011.

5. Play Struttgar, my mid-30s Warden, to max level in LOTRO.

4. Finally beat the Story mode for Dragon Age: Origins and Elder Scrolls: Oblivion.

3. Play through the Story-mode for Mass Effect 1 and 2.

2. Rediscover my first PC love, the RTS (Real-time Strategy) game.

1. Run through Barad Guldur, a 12-man Raid in LOTRO, with all of my level 65 toons.

I will post in the spring with an update.

Happy gaming

Gaming and Comic Update

School has keep me really busy over the weeks of January. I have finished all of my first term courses and already into a consistent schedule of study for the heavy term 2 course load. I am really enjoying all that I am learning in my accounting courses and get more and more excited the more I learn.

On the downside though is their is significantly less time for gaming and other geek-related things then I would like. Although, I am trying my best to fins some time throughout the day no matter how little.

On the gaming front, the only thing I have played is LOTRO (lord of the rings online) and I am consistently amazed how fun the game continues to be. The captain is now grinding for RAdiance gear and has started doing 12-man raids in Moria. The Captain , although not fun to level, has proven to be a real joy to play in group running dungeons and raids.

I am continuing to read through the monthly solicitations of X-men, Wolverine and Uncanny X-force and I am enjoying them a lot. I find 2 or 3 pages in between study sessions just clears the mind to focus better on the study and retain more information.

I have also been able to find time to read through The Message and have now finished genesis and exodus. Although not a direct translation of the bible, I really enjoy the flow and contemporary form of it offers. I seem to retain the information better. On top of my bible readings, I have been reading through the latest issues of Bleach, One piece, Naruto and Fullmetal Alchemist manga. They are a good quick read although I am finding the Naruto story is kinda flat at the moment. I hope it picks up again soon. FMA is winding down and is simply awesomazing.

Well, back to studying. The books are calling.