RandyTheBlog in 2018 Part 2

I've been putting some thought into what exactly this blog is. RandyTheBlog is an encapsulation of who I am as RandyThePerson. The things I like and love, the things I hate, and moments in time not yet lost like tears in rain (:P). I hope to do something I've never done before; To open up to complete strangers. I'm not comfortable being sociable. Which is weird for me to say as anytime I've been out with friends, I'm the one who does the majority of the talking with random people.
Well, moving on, I've decided that the month of February will be the beginning of the renewal of Randy. I'm going to be focusing on my health, both mental and physical. Expect to see a lot of posts related to that process in the foreseeable future. Just to give a little background, I've always been a rather "large" person. I'm six feet tall and currently weigh in the area of 360 pounds, give or take 5 pounds. The lowest I've ever weighed was 235 and that was back in High School. I am currently the heaviest I've ever been. I'm a morbidly obese nerd, who wears glasses, and keeps a blog.
Now before you run away, I'm going to make it clear that I won't only be writing about my "weight loss" journey. I've got vidya games to talk about, and movies, and TV shows (oh so many TV shows), and books, and anime (oh so many animes). As I said before I'm a morbidly obese nerd, who wears glasses, and keeps a blog.
See you next week,
Randy

RandyTheBlog in 2018

I don't know why I'm here. I know, weird, right? I bet you're thinking the same thing at the moment. I originally started this blog in 2011 to give me something to do with the abundant time I had then found myself with. I was unemployed, not attending school; a man with no idea what to do with himself. 7 years later, I'm still that man.

Yes, things have changed. I have a full-time job with a steady income. I don't have to worry overly much about my bills, these were things that I had written about in depth in the past on this very blog. The day to day minutiae of being unemployed, of the anxiety, of finally getting a part time job, the stress of the job, and so on. But still, I'm still that man who has no idea what to do with himself.

I'm still a young man, 33 years old (soon to be 34), but I've gotten to the point where I've isolated myself. Every day is the same. I get up, go to work, come home, go to bed. 5 days a week. My weekends are spent taking care of my chores that I've neglected during the week. I go out with my elderly mother and help her with her groceries or just to go with her for general shopping. I don't go out an socialise. Friends do come over usually once or twice a week to keep me from getting weird and twisted from lack of human contact (I've always been weird). Most times it still feels like work, but that is a topic for another time when I reveal what I do on the weekends with these friends.

My life has become empty. I've become empty. I feel my brain decaying from disuse. Once upon a time I thought of myself as an eternal student. I wanted to learn things, many beautiful things. I love (loved?) literature, the window into the mind of others, the chance to walk in other worlds, and to see the world through different eyes. Since I flunked out of university, all those years ago, my ability to think critically has lessened. That's not to say I've become dumber, but I tend to avoid the headier books. I sometimes think something broke in me then.

But enough of my whinging, I'm here to talk about the state of RandyTheBlog in 2018, and really the state of Randy. I think I'm back. I think I want to change, to grow, to become a better person. I want to write, I want to read, I want to think critically. For too long have I let my abilities languish, but no more. So, what does that mean for this blog? Well, I'll be writing more. In case you haven't noticed I've already posted a few times this year. Ok, I know you're looking at me funny, thinking that posting a random video in reaction to something in lieu of writing about the topic doesn't really count, but it does. It fits into a long tradition of this blog of me just posting randomly. But hey, I've also posted an update for an old post. I solved a mystery that had bugged me, Pizza Ghost has been found.

You're still wondering what exactly to expect from this blog in 2018. I don't know. I'll post something at least once a week, that is a promise. It could just be about anything. Reviews of... things, random videos that amuse me, idle musings, and maybe even some creative writing. Maybe I'll document my attempts at trying to better myself.

So, please dear reader, join me as I grow and try to become a better person.

Until next week, I remain

Randy

Um...Hi?

Hello...Hi...Greetings...Yeah...

Has it really been 4 YEARS since I posted anything? Sad to say I never got that one last post out of Mass Effect 3. A shame really...

Anyways, I was fiddling with my settings on my Google Dashboard, when I suddenly remembered that I had a blog. So I did what any sane person would do, and I re-read all my old posts. To use a tired (BUT APT) cliche, the more things change, the more things stay the same. I'm sick, I'm broke, I'm tired, that is life.

So internet, here's an update on the life of Randy in 2016: I got older. I have a full time job (with all applicable benefits and responsibilities that entails), and am currently looking into what it will take to build myself a new home. I have jokingly said that these are the steps I must take to be a real adult. As I have become older, so has my dog who is now roughly 14 years old. He's the oldest puppy I know. He's healthy, but needs to take medications for his heart (dogs are people too), and every day I look at him and see the clock ticking down. I know one day that I will wake up and my little bastard hound will no longer be here with me, which saddens me greatly. But he's had a long and hopefully good life up to this point. But that is a thing for another time. He is still with me, and I will enjoy his company for however long I have the pleasure of being here with him.

Yeah, I know I'm just rambling, but that has always seemed to be the style of this blog. Who knows if I'll ever post again, but I didn't want it to just sort of end, y'know? There are things I regret not doing in my time with this blog, those oh so many years ago. I never wrote that one shitty novel that everyone has inside of them. I never completed Eternal Darkness, or wrote my final thoughts on Mass Effect 3. I never sat down and wrote the "true" story of The Slacker Chronicles; it's failures, it's triumphs. From time to time I revisit these things in my head (maybe not Eternal Darkness, and Mass Effect 3), and see what could have been. I have tales I want to write, and things I want to create. I WANT I WANT I WANT I WANT.

And with all that said, time for bed! Until we meet again.

Randy

Nothing New To Share

I worked for 8 hours, I ate Shepherd’s Pie, and I listened to the Bombcast. My feet hurt.

That was my whole day.

Oh, and Caine’s Arcade!

This brought a tear to my eye, a tear of joy.

Now to bed.

An April Fool

This isn’t a joke or a prank, I’m back. My life sucks but so does everyone else's. I’ve not posted in TWO months, and its time for me to start again. I’m going to start posting semi-regularly while I figure out what to write. I need to do something with my time other than just work. I feel as if I’ve written all this before.

Tomorrow and every day after you will see at the very least a small inconsequential post from me. It’ll be about how my day was, or short fiction, or mini-reviews of whatever I’ve been reading/watching/playing/listening to.

So yeah, I’m back. Whatever.

Wintertime Blues

Sorry for the lack of posts in the last month or so, I’ve been depressed. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who knows me, as I tend to feel this way during the winter months (and sometimes NOT during the winter months). More than likely non-diagnosed SADs, but I’ve come to terms with it over the years. These terrible irrational feelings were probably worst than they usual are due to good old family bullshit. I’m slowly coming out of my funk, and while still not 100%, I’m ready to start writing regularly again.

Sometime this week, I’m going to write about what I want to do this year, my goals, resolutions, and what not. Otherwise, until then I’ll just be writing to get back in the habit.

That’s all I’ve to say right now, I’m going to go play through the “Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning” demo again, just to relax.

Good night, be back tomorrow.

Late Exclamations of Celebration

I’m just doing a quick post to say to everyone, I wish you a (belated) Merry Christmas & Happy New Years. My internet was down for much of the holidays, and was only able to start accessing the internet as of Tuesday. Yesterday, I was too wiped out from working all day to do a proper post.

This isn’t a proper post, but it’ll do for now. I’m looking into my options, and I’m going to try and develop this into something a little more coherent this year. Or I just might let this continue to act as a quick online journal. Whatever.

Another placeholder tomorrow, and something a little more substantial this weekend.

G’night.

I Have No Luck

More unexpected spending incoming. Remember that “exhaust” smell my sister said she smelt? I finally caught a whiff of it, and ended up opening windows and lowering my furnace to as low as necessary so that it wouldn’t be used to much and so we wouldn’t freeze. Yesterday, I received quite a few tips at work, which I was originally going to put towards buying something for me during this weekends sales. Not anymore. Those tips, plus whatever other money I can scrounge up, will now be put towards calling the furnace man in to check it out. I really hope its not bad.

Life of Randy: Now With More Failure

I’m currently very far behind on my attempt for this years NaNoWriMo. Initially, I set out to just wing it, sit down day one and start, see where the story would bring me. Unfortunately, this plan was the absolute worst thing I could do. By going into this in such a way, my story refuses to come together beyond an initial premise:

A Man wakes up and sets out to destroy the world.

This premise coupled with one of the bleakest openings I’ve written (or read) has resulted in zero progress. The premise could result in an interesting tale if handled properly, but I don’t think I’m up to this story this time round. As it is now, I’m abandoning this story and tabling it for another day.

This does not mean I have given up on NaNoWriMo, this just means that this years attempt will not be completed before the deadline of 30 November 2011. I will going back to the drawing board, and over the next few days will be planning out another story from scratch. When Saturday afternoon/evening arrives, I plan to begin the writing process once more. For now, I will rest, and tomorrow I’ll look over some old story ideas to see if anything is promising.

This will be yet another one of my failures recently, but I’m hoping it is one that I will learn from.

I Give Up

Sigh…Steam got hacked, possible encrypted CC and personal information taken. This and PSN hack make me hate the internet sometime.

I’m Trying To Find A Specific Clip

I remember this one off clip from Conan' O’Brien from years back. They had to use all the sketches they put together but could never fit into any of their segments. It was real random stuff, and I could see why they had problems. One part has stuck with me all these years, and to this day, I can find no record of this sketch.

What I’m looking for is a clip of PIZZA GHOST. There were two bits in that whole segment where it was used. I remember almost nothing about it beyond the image of a Pizza Box (?) popping up and yelling, “PIZZA GHOST” <Spooky Voice>. I still giggle just thinking about it. I will find Pizza Ghost one day.

One day.

The Problem With Having No Life

I’ve been having trouble finding what to write everyday simply because I have nothing to do, and nothing new to say. I’m broke, not going to school, and don’t have a social life, and not particularly interesting overall. This is a problem when you attempt to keep a daily blog. As I’ve nothing new to do, this has more or less become some sort of half-assed journal. I didn’t really think that would happen, but I guess it was inevitable.

On the brighter side of things, I’ll be starting a new part time job soon, I’m just waiting for the details to be confirmed. I’ll be working around 28 hours or less a week. Better than nothing, and it gets me out of the house which is a good thing.

Today, I spent the entire afternoon cleaning my house, something I’ve been unable to do for several weeks now, as I’ve had to wait for my back to make a full recovery. It was nice to do, mindless but nice. Apparently I let my house go a bit, so it was nice to air it out, wash some floors, deodorise some furniture and whatnot. I’m still not done, but I’ll finish it off over the next few days.

Update on my monthly video game challenge. I’m considering it a failure, I’ve just had not motivation to complete Eternal Darkness. It just never hooked me like I thought it would. I’ll still attempt to play it out by the 31st but don’t hold your breath. I still plan on playing through Costume Quest on Monday but if I do, it’ll be for me and nobody else. I’ll be starting the challenge afresh come November.

Is It Just Me Or Do Those Clouds Look Super Evil? : A Follow Up

Remember how I was complaining about the weather? So roughly an hour after I posed that complaint yesterday, the sky opened up and hail or sleet (not sure which) came pouring down. It was a complete white out outside my house. The wind was blowing strongly and banging against my doors and windows. Apparently we had a tornado/hurricane warning in effect at that time for my area. Go figure. I need to not complain about the weather so that doesn’t happen again.

Is It Just Me Or Do Those Clouds Look Super Evil?

This weather we’re having is starting to get on my nerves, it won’t make its mind up about whether it wants to be sunny and nice or rainy and miserable. It’s preventing me from getting any serious housecleaning done. Another season messed up due to global warming I guess.

Nothing really new going on in my life at the moment, though I will be starting a part time job soon, which makes me happy. It’ll give me something to do with my copious amounts of time while I figure out what to do to get ready for school. I started reading The Edupunk’s Guide to DIY Credentials which seems to be a good (free) manual for self learning. A lot of the particulars don’t apply to me as its heavily USA-centric, but the core of it is good. I’ll have to start thinking about creating a lesson plan for the beginning of next year. Seeing as I really do want to get readmitted to school to complete my English Literature Bachelor Degree, it’ll probably be very literature centric, but no idea yet.

So Tired

I’ve been out all day today, and it looks like I might be receiving work more regularly. No details as of yet, but here’s hoping its something that I can do. I’m just so so tired today, been awake since 6am, and on my feet since around 8am. Its nice to just sit back and relax at the moment.

A Good Morning Post

So I’ve got nothing big planned today. After I run some errands this morning, I’m free sit down and play through the remainder of Eternal Darkness. From what I understand, it should average roughly 5-6 hours per playthrough, and it has 3 different endings. I’m a little over 3 hours into the game, so that means at least 50% done the game. I just want to finish it and get my motivation back. For some reason this challenge just hasn’t motivated me. I’m liking the game so far other than some niggling issues with the combat, but it just hasn’t quite hooked me yet. Maybe if I play for more than an hour at a time it would grab me.

More in a later post.

I Apologise For The Inconvenience

I think I’ve caught a cold. For roughly the last week I’ve barely slept, my sinuses are all congested, and I apparently have a slight fever. So more than likely a cold. Its been a boring week otherwise. I’ve done nothing. I don’t have any motivation to do anything right now, all I want to do is sleep. Due to this I’ve barely played anything of Eternal Darkness this week. I would have thought I’d be done it by this point and moved on to something else. Instead I’ve spent the week watching an anime called, “Tiger & Bunny”. I enjoyed it quite a bit, which is something I’ve not been able to say about an anime in a few years.

Sorry for the inconvenience, and I’ll try to beat Eternal Darkness this weekend and keep the internet posted.

Virgin Mobile Canada Issues Part 2

Guess who just called? Yup, that’s right. Man, they must really want me back. I’m probably going to lose my number over this too. Oh well. I think I’ll let them lose my business for good.

After some research I discovered that at some point VMC was bought out by BELL Canada. I don’t really like BELL from previous experiences with their customer service. Unfortunately, they’re the only game in town.

Sigh, I wish they would stop calling. I recognise their number so I’m just going to ignore their calls from this point forward.

Virgin Mobile Canada Issues

So due to this whole economic downturn I’ve been without a job since roughly May of last year. While I have looked for jobs in my community, I haven’t been all that successful. At this point in time, I currently have next to no income, leading me to cut off as many extraneous costs as possible. My cell phone has been deactivated since the beginning of September as I’ve had little reason to use it. Why tell you all this? To set up the next paragraph.

Roughly around the same time I hurt my back, I started to receive sales calls from Virgin Mobile Canada asking me to reactivate and Top Up my cell phone this month and they’d give me 25% more time based on the amount deposited. I notified them all of the above and that I’d only be able to add time around the end of October, and only if I deemed the cost necessary. In reply to this the sales person assured me they would call back near the end of the month.

They have called me almost every day since.

I’ve been using a pay-as-you-go Virgin Mobile Cell since 2006/2007, whenever they first released them in Canada, and have had little to complain about. But this is starting to drive me nuts. How many times can I explain to a salesperson I have no extra money to spend at the moment? I’ve sent an email to them in regards to this, and hope that this can be resolved. I’d really hate for them to lose my business as they’ve been good to me up to this point.

Just felt I should share.

Early Morning Post

Even though I went to bed a early last night, I’m still tired. I had a horrible night of sleep. My mattress is killing my back, which had finally returned to normal. I really just want to go back to bed but can’t. I don’t know what to do.