Hometown this weekend

I went to celebrate a friend's birthday. It was great. Friday was the birthday party. Saturday it was like old times, shopping, meeting new people and headed to a bar. Sunday I was supposed to go to a crab feast, but mass transit didn't work in my favor.

So, my mom and I hung out, which was nice. Even eating together was so special for me. She cooked some of my favorites:

• Pancakes
• Roast Beef
• Corn Pudding
• Peach Cobbler
• Lemonade

Those things are little, but mean so much to me. My mom turns 70 this year and I know I won't have her forever. Little by little it hits me. The more it hits me, the more moments like seeing her, eating her food and just chit chatting about politics or TV shows like Big Brother become moments that i imprint on my mind. My extended family isn't that close and I think about what will be my connection to family after she's gone.

To my friends. I care about you more that you know. I support you and love you with all my heart.

-kevin

Fat Princess

Now it would seem that this image is harmless and for little kids. Well looks can be deceiving. It's actually a very violent game with blood and gore. It's $14.99 and well worth it. Not that you care, but it's one of the highly anticipated games for PS3 owners this summer.

And the Phone goes to...

the Palm Pre

I did it. I got the phone I like and didn't leave my current carrier to do so. Here's my first of many photos taken from my new device.

Taking a Leap

Pre or the “other phone”

What do I get?

Do I switch carriers?

Do I purchase a first generation phone?

What about the video camera?

What’s wrong with my phone now? Nothing!! I know that but what do I do? Wait? I feel I’m always waiting for the next thing (phone, computer, TV, etc.) but I feel that next year the palm pre will be even better next year with a redesigned keyboard and video camera. Those items aren’t deal breakers, but for $199. I’d love to have them. It’s hard to purchase the pre when I can get the “other” phone for the same price with a video camera. Decisions! Decisions!

Phone carriers in the United States are in two different camps. GSM and CDMA. I have Sprint so I have a CDMA phone. CDMA’s have great data service, but one thing I can’t do is talk on the phone and surf the web at the same time. No biggie. I don’t talk on the phone often anyway. I want a data device/communication device. Plus other carriers have be strained with the “other” phone. Their plans are a lot more expensive as well.

The pre is a 1^st generation device and normally people warn against people purchasing a 1^st gen, but this case is different. When you stack this 1^st gen product up against other phones released this year it competes rather nicely. That says so a lot about the thought put into this device. Aside from a few design flaws (keyboard)/omissions(video camera) it’s great and it’s a touchscreen phone. I just love the idea of a touchscreen phone.

Yes the palm pre will be my next phone. I’m just waiting until I pull the trigger. So to sum it up…

2007 – Blackberry 8830

2009 – palm pre

2011 – that “other” phone (by that time it will be perfect and hopefully on a different carrier)

Big Brother 11

At first I thought this was stupid, but when it actually changed game play in the house I was pleasantly surprised. Now, if one team member gets HOH (Head of Household) then the entire team is safe. Change is good, because the houseguests have to change their game play.

So my favorite team members are in two camps:

• Best looking
• Best game play

I have to say Russell if my overall favorite. On the best looking side runner up is Jeff. I’d have to say that Ronnie (the idiot) attempting to strategize, but he’s doing a poor job. Lydia isn’t so bad either. I don’t necessarily like them all, but they are playing the game HARD. So, they are very entertaining to watch. My hope is that these cliques are dropped and people like Kevin and Michelle have to fend for themselves without the protection from good players from their team. This week Jordan and Laura are nominated for eviction and shouldn’t be. I wanted Natalie or Jessie to go home, but they were spared because Ronnie believes that the Athletes will have his back at the end. NOT!

Let my summer obsession begin.

New Killzone 2 DLC

Downloadable content for Killzone 2. I have to get that.

This Saturday marks a milestone. I haven't played my PS3 in a full seven days! I'm shocked. I'm home and watching Big Brother After Dark. I have so many games to play too:

Oblivion
Killzone 2
Burnout Paradise
Little Big Planet
inFamous
warhawk
Uncharted
Grand Theft Auto
Fallout 3

I'm going to start up again tonight after I get back from Target.

My New Obsession...The Palm Pre

I'm checking the blogs all day and seeing what's new and what's tired (the Pre's music app being blocked by a certain company) and the more I see it the more I want to use it in my world.

I have a Blackberry that works for email, but the web sucks. The applications suck and there's not much on board memory for the apps available at the Blackberry App World. Enter the iconic phone from the "fruit" store. It's a great phone, web and multimedia device...BUT you've got be on a certain carrier. A carrier that I don't like and don't care to give money to.

Enter the Palm Pre. It's on Sprint. It has a great web device and until yesterday I would have been able to sync it with the music on my computer. On top of all that it's a multi-tasking device that can manage Pandora while responding to emails and IM's. The crowning feature that the Pre offers for me is "synergy". Synergy takes all your contact information from Facebook, Google, AIM and placing it automatically into your one contact. I find that invaluable. I have so many account. To have it all in one place will make life easy.

Design wise I like the fact that it has an actual keyboard, gesture area and fits nicely in my hand. I look at my phone usage now and I really don't need a new phone. Why should I drop $324.04 for a new phone when I don't need one? I might as well get a PSP before I get that. I don't even talk on the phone much.

That's my obsession. Today during lunch I almost got one, but stopped. I'm so dang frugal. I keep thinking,

"What will I do with my blackberry???"

"I know, sell it."

Which leads me to the next thing....what can I get for it. I checked craigslist and I might be able to get $100 for it. That leaves me with a cost of $99. I should have mentioned that there is a mail in rebate for $100.

$99 plus tax. I can swing that.

Can't have it all

Jay Brannan

A Fine Wine

This year Pride was not on my radar. Sunday I worked and surprisingly ran into someone I hadn't seen in a while. While that was nice, I had hoped to get out of Chelsea as soon as possible. I never thought I would never see the day that I wasn't excited for the parties and mischief that happens Pride Weekend.

I love to shop? I'm not so sure anymore. I recently bought a dress shirt from Banana Republic because I needed one. I don't remember the last time I just walked the streets of SoHo or Barney's uptown to look for a bargain.

What's happening??

I'm getting older and I really appreciate the time that I have in peace and quiet to reflect and play my video games. ;-)