Next week is it.  I go to Corporate for my big presentation in front of the executives.  It’s mostly a developmental thing, but still, there’s pressure and stress.  That’s what they want, actually.  We’ve been working on this project for 5 weeks.  We lost one member half-way through (no, the stress didn’t kill him, he just bailed out on the project).  Our topic is healthcare reform.  Nothing too big to worry about there, right?!

Regardless, we’re going to push through, shake the right hands and smile, and then go home.  And when I get home, I have one day to tie up some loose ends, and then I’m off on vacation for two weeks!  Woo-hoo!  I return for a week, and then the wife and I have our first getaway alone in over 6 and a half years.  Yep, we’re going to Disney!  For once, we’re not going to be chasing the kids all over the parks; we’re going to enjoy the resort and other amenities while spending a leisurely two days in the parks, doing what we want to do.  We haven’t done this in Disney since before we were married, way back in 1992 or so.  We’ll be staying at the Polynesian resort, and for once, I’m really looking forward to enjoying my surroundings, instead of spending 18 hours of the day at a park, LOL.

I have been busier since August than any other time in my career.  I’m more ready for time off than I’ve ever been.  It’s going to be wonderful…

Played some more FIFA 09, and some Galaga, over the holiday weekend.  I now have resumed my perch at the top in terms of gamer points in the household, LOL.  Oddly, I don’t think my son noticed that, either!

Previously with FIFA 09, I had only played in “Be a Pro” mode.  I started a “Manager Mode” season on the Pro level, and man is it different!  I lost my first three games, but I’m showing signs of improvement, so I’m resisting the temptation to drop the difficulty level.  I like a challenge, and it’s no fun winning without being challenged.

In my first match, I gave up two goals while trying to figure out which camera angle to use in the first half, and was horribly out of position as a result.  I settled in to a camera view in the second half and gave up a lot fewer shots, and actually got one myself, but I was dominated 3-0.  I have no camera excuses for my second loss, 1-0, but I had better position, more tackles, and a few more shots, but I was still beat pretty good up and down the pitch.  It’s starting to come together, though, because in match 3, which I lost 2-1 (I scored!  Yeah!), the tackles and possession were about even, although I was still out shot significantly.  I’m making too many stupid controller mistakes, like having the keeper throw it out of bounds, and kicking it into the stands instead of crossing it.  However, as I develop the necessary muscle memory, I think this level will suit me, unless I get fired first!

One thing I’m not liking is how fatigue is modeled.  It seems like guys tire too easily.  Guys like Frankie Hejduk rarely if ever take a game off due to their outstanding fitness, yet two games in I really needed to give him a rest.  Otherwise, I’m really enjoying the game a soccer that FIFA 09 plays.

Well, it finally happened…  My son passed me in Xbox gamer points.  I know he’s been dreaming of this day for a couple of years.  Surprisingly, it occured with very little fanfare.  As a matter of fact, I’m not even sure if he’s aware of it yet, but he’s 5 points ahead of me!

Honestly, the only surprise is that it’s taken this long.  First of all, I have never played games to chase gamer points.  I play for fun, and if the points happen, they happen.  I rarely even look to see how you earn the achievements on most games that I play.  Secondly, my son plays the 360 literally ten times as often as I do.  He ought to be ahead of me!  I will say that I actually played for an hour tonight.  I was watching him play FIFA 09 “Be a Pro”, and it looked fun.  So later on, I loaded up my Be a Pro.  It had been over a year since I had played.  And, you know what, I had fun!  I still enjoy gaming, it’s just time and priorities in my life limit my 360 time significantly.  Plus, the only real time I get to play is late at night, and I don’t like gaming before bed, because then I get too wound up to go to sleep!  Getting old sucks, LOL.

Playing again was a reminder of how much fun video games can be.  I need to set aside a little time more often.  Of course, between work and vacations, I’m hardly around for the next two months, but maybe I can still squeeze in a game or two.  It’s good for the pocketbook, though, because I rarely buy new games anymore!  Part of me really wanted to get Red Dead Redemption, but I knew I wouldn’t get my money’s worth right now.  Oh well, we’ll see how I feel around my birthday in July.  NCAA Football 2011 will probably get me in the mood to game again, like it does every year.

I’ve mostly been into the manage-only type of games lately, anyway.  I seem to waver between all-out control and no control at all in my sports games.  If I do pick up the sticks, I prefer the “be a pro” style of play, where I control one guy and the computer controls the rest.   That’s my favorite kind of simulation, and the one I feel most “realistically” simulates being a pro athlete (on the field at least!).

On a side-note, I start my one-year “trial” as a web programmer on Monday!  I still have a lot of loose ends to tie up before getting into it, but I’ve been doing a little programming for almost the last year, anyway, so it won’t be “all new.”  It certainly feels like a new position to me, though, and I’m excited about it!  We’ll see where the next year takes me…

…your favorite baseball team’s not headed for pennant glory when you wonder how they’re going to replace the injured Asdrubal Cabrera.

Actually, this year’s version of the Tribe is starting to grow on me.  I like their young arms – Carmona, Masterson, Huff, and Talbot, and number one starter Westbrook is a proven commodity that looks healthy again.  Carmona has his mojo back, Masterson’s stuff is electric (he just needs to learn how to pitch – specifically to lefties), Huff led the staff last year with 11 years, although he’s just learning, and Talbot has been a major suprise and leads this year’s staff in wins so far.  They all throw pretty hard, and they all have several pitches that move.  Once they get better command, they’ll be good.

The hitters are another story.  Sizemore is continuing last year’s slump, and Hafner is just a shadow of what he used to be.  Peralta is just an average hitter who has major consistency issues, and big stud prospect Laporta only has one home run so far this year.  Shin Soo Choo is the best overall player on the club, as he is a true 5-tool prospect (can hit, hit for power, run, catch, and throw).  He’s an All-Star in the making.  The aforementioned Cabrera has adjusted to the leadoff role, and is spectacular with the leather.  Journeymen Austin Kearns, Mark Grudzielanek, and Russell Branyan are the type of veteran leaders that can show the young ones how to make it through the grind successfully.  And, they still have something in the tank.  If the “stars” on offense ever get going, this could be an above-.500 team.  It’s just a big “if.” 

The Indians started selling off their “studs” over the last couple of years for prospects; let’s hope they pan out and make an impact.  They have a window with the core young pitchers to compete, but the hitters have to do their part.  I’m hopeful, but not a sucker.  This club can’t afford to throw $10 million at a player like Kerry Wood or Travis Hafner in the future, at least until they can compete for a pennant and reap the rewards of a corresponding increase in attendance.  The key for me is that they have to let the young guys mature and give the roster a chance to win.  If they panic and sell off their up-and-coming stars to save cash, I’m going to quit caring so much.  If I want to see that, I’ll just follow the Pirates more closely…  (Full Disclosure - I am a Pirates fan.  I absolutely love PNC Park.)

Don’t get me wrong; I like LeBron James.  He’s a fabulous athlete, a highly skilled basketball player, and seemingly a good guy (doesn’t get in trouble off the court).  He’s funny – I like his commercials and I liked his stint on SNL.  He’s proud to say he’s from Akron (my college town), and he’s done things his way, even though he is a bit over-polished with his image.

Most days, I’m fearful that he’ll leave the Cavs.  It broke my heart when the Cavs traded Ron Harper years ago for that stiff Danny Ferry (coincidence that Ferry is on the precipice of ruining the Cavs again?), because Harper was the second-most exciting player in the open court in basketball at the time (next to you know who).  Well, LeBron is the single most exciting player in basketball, and after two years of the best-record-in-the-league Cavs, I was horrified to think he’d leave after this season.  Until last night, that is.

You see, I doubt now.  I don’t doubt LeBron’s ability or his personality or anything like that – I doubt his heart.  Great players find a way.  Or, at the very least, they go down fighting.  LeBron curled up into a fetal position and sucked his thumb for three quarters.  If the elbow is that bad, don’t play.  If it isn’t bad, play until it breaks.  Just don’t stand out there being LeBron, the global icon.  Honestly, I’d rather watch a Cavs team minus LeBron that plays hard to go 30-52 each season than have a LeBron-led team have the best record in the regular season and then half-ass it throughout the playoffs.  I can’t support or watch that crap.

So, after last night’s game, this is how I was feeling about LeBron:

“Hey! If any of you are looking for any early gift ideas for me, I have one. I’d like LeBron James, my team’s best player, right here tonight. I want him brought from his happy post game slumber over there in Bath Township with all the other rich people and I want him brought right here, with a big ribbon on his head, and I want to look him straight in the eye and I want to tell him what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, dickless, hopeless, heartless, fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, broken-elbowed, worm-headed sack of monkey poop he is!”

Thank you Clark Griswold.

I don’t honestly feel that way about LeBron, but he has a lot of making up to do to Cleveland fans come tomorrow night.  If he mails it in again, I honestly don’t care if he leaves.  If he doesn’t step up his game, I don’t think he’s capable of winning a championship.  All these people comparing him to Jordan will have it wrong – I think he’s more like Vince Carter.  Prove me wrong, LeBron.  PLEASE!!!!

I would be remiss if I didn’t take a minute to let the internet world know that I have the best mother in the whole world!  She did so much for my self esteem self confidence, and moral character growing up, and I know that’s made a world of difference in the person I am today.  And, she’s still here for me today, whenever I need her.  She’s my rock, and I love her with all of my heart.

Happy Mother’s Day Mom!

Signed,

Your grateful son.

Where to begin…  I’m just fatigued right now.  I have a big presentation in front of “regional” executives on Tuesday, and then one in front of “corporate” executives on June 9th.  In between, I have my regular job duties, my “extra” programming duties, and I’m busy trying to get myself ready for my new programming job that starts June 1st.  I know, cry me a river…  I know there are lots of people that would be happy to just have a job.  I realized I’m blessed; but I’m still feeling worn out!  Vacation can’t get here soon enough…

On the video game front, I’ve been playing a little bit of Worldwide Soccer Manager 2009, and more of MLB Front Office Manager (now for the PC).  I’m in a “management” mode, I guess.  I’m actually enjoying MLB FOM on the PC.  I was worried about the interface, but it’s very easy to manage.  It’s either press [Enter], press [Esc], or click on the Xbox button icon on the screen to maneuver throughout the program.  I’m hopeful the PC version will have less bugs than the 360 version, but no  patches were ever released (I should’ve figured as much from 2K Sports).  Nevertheless, it’s meeting my need for baseball.

I was actually thinking of taking a sabbatical from blogging for a while, but I plan on continuing to press on.  I know the updates haven’t been as frequent or as useful, but I’m trying to make myself keep going.  At some point, I’ll regret it if I quit.  I do enjoy it, and I do occasionally feel like I have something of value to write.  Bear with me…

I just got back from spending a week in Austin, TX on business.  It was my second trip there overall, but I got to see more of the city.  I felt like I was on the “Bill Harris Tour” (the writer for the blog Dubious Quality, who lives in Austin), because I saw a few of the sites he’s described over the years.  First off, my hotel was across the street from the IRS building that was destroyed by the (intentional) plane crash.  Secondly, we took a dinner/boat tour on “Ladybird Lake” downtown, and then watched the bats fly out from under the bridge (I believe it’s on Congress street, or something like that).  Next, we had lunch and a meeting at a place called “The Oaisis,” which is cut into a hillside overlooking another gorgeous lake.  You think of Texas as flat with tumbleweed and oil rigs all over the place, but not all of Texas is like that.  Austin has some great scenery.  Finally, we ate dinner downtown at a place called “Moonshiners” (great steak, by the way), and then the group spent some time on 6th street.  Overall, it was a fun trip.  I do like Austin, although I don’t think it would help my allergies, LOL.

I have coworkers who do what I do all across the country for the company I work for.  I hadn’t met most of them, until the trip.  The best part of the trip was putting the names and the faces together.  I got to know some great people better than I knew them before, which was very cool.

I mentioned previously that I was interviewing for a web developer programming job.  Well, I didn’t get the job.  But, I impressed them enough in the interview and with my work record that they have put me into a “developmental” position!  Basically, I will be part of the programming team for one year, full time.  I will get more challenging projects and get the opportunity learn, grow, and demonstrate my capabilities.  If all goes well, and there aren’t any unexpected changes in our business plan and direction, they will offer me a permanent position.  If I decide I don’t like it, or I can’t perform up to snuff, then I’ll path back to my current systems role.

I am so excited for this opportunity!  I’ve been blessed to have a boss that supports my goals and development, and I’ve taken advantage of those circumstances to earn a shot at a progamming career, which would most likely otherwise be unattainable without a relevant degree or at least 3 years of programming experience.  Well, needless to say, I plan to make the most of it.  I’ve really grown in knowledge and skill over the last 6 months, and I’m anxious to see how well I can do being able to dedicate myself full time for the job.  Like I said in my last post about this – at worst, I plan on enjoying the ride!

The guy they hired instead of me is already a programmer, so I can’t feel bad about that.  Hopefully, he will be a future teammate of mine.  At the very least, I’m going to find out something about myself.  Can I do this?  Do I want to this?  Do I have an aptitude for it?  I just have to reiterate how blessed I am to get this chance at basically no personal cost.

My first offical day in my new position is June 1st.  So, come June 1st 2011, I’ll let you know if I’m still standing!  Don’t bet against me…

I’ve continued to play around with MLB 2K10, starting my career as a position player in “My Player” mode.  I’m a second-baseman.  I like playing as an every-day player because it really does feel like more of a grind.  However, I’m afraid I may amass skill points too quickly, and get promoted too early.  I’m trying to decide how I’m going to mitigate that.

I finally saw an infield pop-up – one that I got to play as a fielding chance.  I’ve played 3 games, and I’ve drawn a walk, struck out a couple of times, had a hit run, and made a baserunning blunder.  I’ve gotten a few hits and some RBI, but no extra-base hits yet.  No errors yet, though.

I haven’t started a Franchise mode game yet, because I’m waiting for the rumored second patch.  I’m hopeful that it will fix the error, infield pop-up, and laser-arm accuracy issues.  Those aren’t game-killers for me, but they certainly would lend more realism to the game.  If the patch doesn’t come through, I’ll probably just continue my two “My Player” careers, and start a third with a starting pitcher.  If I can find a system I’m happy with to control my promotion, I feel like that mode alone was worth the purchase.  Plus, my son got a free Fathead Jr. out of the deal (Chase Utley, if you’re wondering).

What I’d really like to be able to do in MLB 2K10, though, is just manage the game with on-field action.  Right now, it appears that I can either just watch the action, or manage it in “supersim” mode.  I want to see the players attempt to execute the plays I call, similar to All-Star Baseball, High Heat Baseball, Front Page Sports Baseball, Tony Larussa Baseball, and even Earl Weaver Baseball from years past.  I still have Front Page Sports Baseball ’98, so I think I’m going to install that and give it a go, for old times’ sake.  I might even start a franchise in OOTP 2008, which I have, but it doesn’t quite fit the bill, due to the lack of graphics. 

I guess there must not be a market for that kind of game any more, because plenty of games had this ability in years gone by.  One of my most cherished video game memories was running two seasons of Earl Weaver Baseball with about a dozen college buddies in the dorms.  We drafted teams, and used the “Commissioner’s Disk” for scheduling, stat tracking, etc.  We even manually did an All-Star game and scheduled playoffs!  It was all manage-only, and it was the best fun I ever had with video games, quite honestly.