I did my best to present myself professionally so as to make it sound like I was someone he would want to work with. After many initial drafts, I eventually put together an e-mail message I was happy with. I included links to some of my writing samples and dropped a couple names along the way, hoping it would make me sound like I had an ounce of credibility. At last, after reading over my message numerous times, I hit the Send button and hoped for the best.

Simon responded quickly. His tone was very friendly and he invited me to submit my article as a guest editorial on GameSetWatch--a site I knew very well. So many awesome writers had put in time contributing to GameSetWatch, and I couldn't believe I was going to have something of my own up there as well. I hesitantly asked if I would be allowed to include a couple illustrations to go with the text, which Simon seemed delighted about.

I wasn't sure when the article was supposed to run, so for the next few days I checked in on GameSetWatch regularly, hoping it would be there. Finally, on the afternoon of May 11, 2008, "All Grown Up: A Gamer Comes to Grips With Adulthood" appeared on the site. I was so proud. And, as luck would have it, Kotaku picked up on the article and linked to it, which led to a response better than I could have dreamed. I was walking on air the rest of the day.

From there, I began posting at GameSetWatch regularly. It became the official home of Game Time With Mister Raroo, and I was proud to a part of the site's team of talented columnists. What made the experience so fantastic is that Simon gave me an unthinkable amount of freedom. I was basically able to post whenever I pleased on whatever subject I fancied. I had nearly 60 articles run on GameSetWatch during my time, and I put my best effort into all of them.

One of my favorite recurring topics to write about was San Diego Comic-Con, which I provided coverage of for four years in a row. I knew that my humble write-ups of the event were never going to attract the type of traffic most other sites would enjoy, but I still took the task very seriously and often stayed up late into the night putting the finishing touches on each day's report. This past year was extra special because Simon stayed at my home during Comic-Con, and we had a wonderful time heading out on adventures together.

Simon was always very generous about allowing me to go wild with my strange sense of humor. From my April Fool's Day article about the Happy Health Toilet Seat to my... ahem... "friend" Metal Steve's eulogy for Frank Cifaldi, I was permitted to post some really bizarre stuff on GameSetWatch. Whenever I submitted these types of pieces, I always pictured Simon shaking his head in amused confusion before shrugging his shoulders and queuing up the articles to go live.

To be honest, I'm already feeling more than a little lost without GameSetWatch. It was my safe harbor online. As life would become hectic and I became inundated with other obligations, there were long stretches during which I didn't post anything. But I always knew GameSetWatch would be there for me whenever I was ready to write something new. Though I was never quite sure if readers necessarily "got" my articles, I always had strong support and love from the GameSetWatch crew.

Thank you to Simon Carless and the entire GameSetWatch family for allowing me to be a part of the experience and have a place in its history. I am honored that I was able to contribute to such a unique site, and it will always have a special place in my heart. And, you never know... maybe some day GameSetWatch and I shall meet again!

In my dream, I was told by a doctor that I was about to die. It was to happen that day. Suddenly preparations began for the event. I was asked if I wanted to be buried or cremated, and for some reason a special solution was needed in order for my hands to decompose properly. My family began arriving decked out in black clothing, ready to say their final goodbyes. It was to be a passing and funeral in one convenient package. I told my wife that I didn't want her to be alone for the rest of her life and she shouldn't feel bad about finding a new companion. Everything was set.

It was all very eerie, but I was calm throughout the whole process. I had accepted my fate. I felt relaxed and was almost looking forward to getting it over with.

However, as the dream wore on, I began suspect that I wasn't dying after all, and instead began to believe some mistake had happened in the doctor's diagnosis. I tried to find someone to speak to, but nobody was around. It was like the wheels were in motion and I couldn't find anyone to hit the brakes.

And then--pop!--I woke up. It was hard to go back to sleep after that because I was so shaken. Dreams are strange!

Now as an adult, I finally understand why all the grown-ups seemed to despite summer back when I was a kid: It kind of sucks if you're not a kid. We still have to get up early so we can go to work, and while all the kids are at home lounging about, we're slaving away to earn a day's wages. No fair. And, I know I'm officially getting old because whenever I see a pack of kids roaming about, all I do is cringe and count the days until school begins again.

But worst of all, I didn't realize how much I hate the heat. Like, I HATE it! Sweating is not fun. Yet this summer has already been darn hot and I feel like I've got a constant film of moisture on my brow at all times. Nasty. 

Plus, since Missus Raroo and I are too cheap to turn on our expensive air-conditioning, it's been getting upwards of 90 degrees in our home at times. The horror! And it's only going to get hotter in the next few months. September and October have traditionally been the worst months of all. Double horror! 

As long as it cools down at night, I can tolerate the heat during the day. But this past week it's still been kind of muggy and nasty at night, so that makes sleeping uncomfortable. Hopefully I'll acclimate to the heat soon enough so I can get a good night's rest.

I can't wait for the fall when the weather finally begins to cool, all the little monsters are back in school, and I can sleep without feeling like I'm in a sauna. But for now, this grumpy (not quite so) old man will just wallow in his sweaty misery, trying not to move too much and pointing every fan in the vicinity in his direction.

In but a couple months since its release, I've amassed a fairly decent 3DS game library. Granted, the software pickings at this point lack the types of knockout titles that most people are waiting for -- namely the likes of Mario Kart, Kid Icarus, or Animal Crossing -- but there have been some worthwhile game releases all the same. Pilotwings, Super Street Fighter IV 3D, Dead or Alive Dimensions, Steel Diver, and the quirky Face Raiders are all solid titles that, while not necessarily system sellers, are more than enough to satisfy the needs of anyone looking for quality software for their shiny new system.

 

My favorite 3DS game thus far is Dream Trigger 3D, a flawed but still enjoyable game from a small Japanese studio named Art Co. Ltd. The team hasn't developed anything all that notable, save for working with Q? Entertainment to code the PSP versions of Every Extend Extra and Gunpey. Most of the studio's output has been licensed games, from Scooby Doo to Astro Boy, which should raise a red flag from the get-go.

 

Yet with Dream Trigger 3D, I believe Art Co., Ltd. was allowed to spread their wings and fly where they pleased, free from the restrictions they certainly faced when developing their other games. The studio's time working with Q? is clear, as Dream Trigger 3D really feels like its in the same family as Every Extend Extreme, especially in the audio/visual department. But thankfully Art Co. Ltd.'s own direction and flavor shines through, for better and for worse, making the fruits of their labor feel like no game I've played before.

 

Dream Trigger 3D really has some negative aspects that are sure to turn away many players. There's no way the casual crowd would gush about a game like this. Honestly, I think most people would feel sad they spent $40 on the game. It's a crazy shooter of sorts where you have to continually send out sonar-like "pings" via a map on the touch screen that allows you to locate enemies that would otherwise remain invisible on the top screen. Meanwhile, you have to control a "craft" (or "cursor")  on the top screen, moving around to avoid obstacles and get into position to blast enemies. Imagine waves of incoming enemies in Galaga that are invisible until you locate them using sonar. It's super confusing at first, and I had a lot of trouble clearing the first stage because dodging projectiles seemed impossible.

 

But then I realized something critical: You don't take damage while you're firing, and that opened the game up big time for me. You have a limited amount of power to fire off your weapon at enemies, though, so haphazardly shooting is probably not the best strategy. That said, your reserve refuels quickly, so you might be able to cheat and progress through stages without employing much strategy. That's definitely something of a design flaw, I suppose, though if you care about score, taking this approach to playing isn't going to be beneficial for your ranking.

 

Most of the stages feature similar enemy attack patterns followed by what seems to almost be the same boss battle over and over. The bosses don't pose too much of a challenge, either, and essentially you just keep pinging them until their color turns black, which is your cue to blast them. As the levels progress, you'll also face an increasing amount of basic enemies during your bouts with the bosses, but this doesn't really make things all that more difficult.

 

So, all things considered, Dream Trigger 3D doesn't sound all that hot, eh? But what separates it from the rest of the pack is that you can tell Art Co., Ltd. put their hearts into this one. Dream Trigger 3D was their baby, and they did their damndest with what I'm sure was a limited budget and lack of development time. Though many of the game's stages play out similarly, the visual and audio design is varied and inviting. I particularly love the game's soundtrack, which is dynamic and changes depending on whether you are moving and firing.

 

The game also has many of the unnecessary-but-awesome options I always love to have access to, such the ability to listen to the game's sound effects and music as well as customize the way appearance of various graphical elements. There are also a ton of achievement-like challenges to complete, like destroying every single enemy in a stage (easier said than done!). And of all the 3DS games I own, the 3D effects in Dream Trigger 3D are the tops, with a depth that makes it look like you're peering down into a well of activity. It looks amazing!

 

Sometimes imperfections can actually help make a game even more charming. I would even argue that perhaps Art. Co., Ltd. wouldn't have been able to create such a delightful game if they had an endless budget and timeframe. The team obviously did everything they could with what they were given, and the result is a game that is definitely worth the time of the (sadly) few who will appreciate it. If you're the type of person that can look at the uninhibited drawings of a young child and enjoy the enthusiasm and effort that can only come with the freedom of an untrained hand, then Dream Trigger 3D is for you.

 

In in ideal world the development team would be allowed to blaze their own game development path again soon, because it would be a shame for them to permanently return to licensed game hell. Something as unhinged as Dream Trigger 3D is a rarity, and I hope Art Co., Ltd. knows that there is at least one gamer who applauds them for their effort.

The graduation was interesting, if a little long. There were 719 graduates, with over 200 actually attending the ceremony today. Everyone's name was read aloud, whether they were in attendance or not, and the people who were actually there were called onto the stage and "hooded" to demonstrate they had completed their requirements for a Master's Degree. 

Before the ceremony began, all the graduates were all milling about in a side room of the auditorium. About ten minutes before everything officially started, we were told to get into alphabetical order. It's not surprising that a group of librarians did it quickly and efficiently. I was pretty proud of us! Before long we  were walking into the auditorium and taking our seats.

And we sat for quite some time.

Really, graduation ceremonies are not all that thrilling, and my wife was able to use the opportunity to catch up on writing in her journals and finishing thank-you notes from Mother's Day. I'm glad she was there to see me because she really helped me through the entire process, such as by revising papers or simply letting me sleep in later after a long night of schoolwork. A big part of my success is due to her.

She had a couple of people sitting behind her who were making rude comments to each other the whole time, such as "Dang, baby got back" at one of the larger graduates. But much of the time, you couldn't blame them because one of the two faculty members who read the names aloud had a lot of trouble and even mispronounced names like "Martinez." The worst offense was uttering the word "Pooper" when she messed up someone's last name, which my wife said was too much for the people behind her to maturely handle. Heck, I laughed pretty damn hard at that one. Poor Pooper!

During the graduation speaker's address to the group, he pointed out that most important of all is the ability for us to have interpersonal skills and be able to work with others. Looking around at my fellow group of librarians, I realized what a challenge this must be for so many of them. While there were definitely "normal" and even "outgoing" individuals, both my wife and I noticed that the vast majority of graduates all seemed to fit the stereotype of librarian. Sure, I like to read and all, but being a librarian in this day and age takes a lot more than reading a lot of books and being able to recite Dewey Decimal Numbers from memory. 

Ultimately, taking part in the graduation ceremony was a good way to put a period at the end of the sentence, so to speak. Since I took all my courses online, I couldn't help but feel somewhat detached from the program. All these individuals only existed on my computer screen, and for all I knew they weren't "real" people. Seeing all the faculty and graduates in person solidified the accomplishment in my mind and helped me feel like I actually was a part of something bigger. Earning a Master's Degree is nothing to sneeze at, especially while working full time and having a family. I'm proud of all the hard work I did and today was a nice reminder of why I put in so much effort. And I'm so happy I'm done with having to worry about school assignments like term papers!

One of my small joys as of late has been coming home from work and taking my "boys" out for a walk. We have two dogs: a kind (but barky!) Sheltie named Howie and a nice (but naughty!) Pomeranian named Bernie. We've had Howie since 2003, but Bernie was a newer addition to our family this past year. We didn't plan to bring Bernie into our home, but Howie acted depressed after two of our cats died, and when we came across Bernie one day, we felt like he'd be a good friend for Howie. And, thankfully, he is. They're buddies!

 

When I take the fellas for our evening walk, I usually just stick close to our townhome complex, which is big enough to circle around and weave through so that the dogs can get enough exercise to appease them. It's really adorable to see the two of them walk side-by-side as they excitedly keep pace with me. But as innocent as it seems to exercise my pets, it also affords me the opportunity to be a nosey neighbor!

 

Now, I don't necessarily go up to any home and closely peer through their windows or anything like that, but I can't help glancing into people's houses to see what they're up to. In most cases, people are just sitting around watching television. And the TVs they have in their homes dwarf my family's moderately-sized set. People really like their televisions. I usually see the same people sitting in the same positions in the same seats as they stare at whatever is on the screen. It's a good reminder that too much TV is not really a good thing, I guess.

 

Usually when I'm walking the dogs during the week, our townhome complex is really quiet. But on Saturday night, people come alive. This past week was an especially entertaining walk. I took the dogs out past sundown and was able to see so many different things going on. There was a couple arguing on their front porch, a group of twentysomethings looking for two lost puppies, a birthday party in full gear, a family in the midst of moving out, a topless individual walking aimlessly around in their upper-story bedroom (Note: As I got closer I was like "Huh? Do I see boobs?" but they turned out to be man-boobs), some middle school-age boys playing Call of Duty: Black Ops, someone practicing the piano, and (as always) lots of TV viewing.

 

I wonder if some of the people whose homes I always pass by have started to think "There goes that weird guy with the two dogs who always looks in through our window at us." In most cases, though, I think people are too oblivious to even notice me. At least, I hope they are! At any rate, if I've learned one lesson from taking my dogs for a walk, it's this: Keep my curtains drawn as often as possible so weirdos like me can't see into my home!

In the late-80s anime classic Bubblegum Crisis, there is a short segment that chronicles the early morning routine of one of the main characters. At one point she walks over to a computer, presses a button, and the machine prints out the morning paper for her to enjoy while she eats her breakfast.

 

Back when I originally watched the series over a dozen years ago, this scene seemed so futuristic. Though I was using e-mail and browsing the Web back then, the idea that an entire newspaper's worth of information could be accessed so quickly and easily via her computer seemed mindboggling. Of course, if I were to watch that particular Bubblegum Crisis scene today, I'd think "I can't believe she printed that out!"

 

But, I must say, there is something about a printed newspaper that is still really appealing to me. This past week a teen was going door-to-door selling subscriptions to our local newspaper and my wife decided "Ah, what the heck?" and went for it. And, after not receiving the paper for the past half-decade, I didn't expect that it would actually be really fun!

 

Sadly, our town's newspaper is a shell of its former self, which I assume is the case just about everywhere. I actually found myself wondering where the rest of it was, only to realize this is the rest of it. Dang, it's so thin! We live in a different world than we did during the era of thick newspapers. Much of the information that is no longer included in the newspaper would probably be called "LOLz OLD'd" by most readers, anyway. So, the paper has evolved into something of a leisurely and supplemental source of information than one of breaking news. I kind of like that.

 

The only real problem is the physical act of reading the paper is something of a chore. I have to slow down and find time to read it, which is not always easy with two young children. This morning I snuck in reading the paper while my son was still asleep and my daughter was sitting in her high chair eating breakfast.

 

Oh, and I suppose there is one other problem: the news is often really depressing! I made a conscious effort a couple years ago to stop paying attention to the news as much as possible, and my life has been a lot less stressful as a result. So, what have I found myself doing with my daily newspaper? Skipping to the fun stuff, like the comics and movie reviews!

 

For ten bucks a month, receiving a physical newspaper each day is not a bad deal at all. Sure, there are other avenues for acquiring the information presented in the newspaper's pages, but it's a format I still enjoy. Perhaps the creators of Bubblegum Crisis realized that even in a high-tech world, there's nothing quite like holding an actual physical newspaper while you sit down to morning coffee and toast.

Recently I've had a hankering for French Toast. Missus Raroo, the kids, and I spent the night at a friend's house a couple weeks ago and were treated to French Toast for breakfast. I hadn't eaten French Toast in quite a while before then, and I had forgotten just how awesome it is.

 

This week has turned out to be French Toast week for me. I've made it for myself the last two mornings, and I will be serving it Sunday for Mother's Day when we entertain my mom for a special breakfast. I've woken up a little earlier than I usually do the last couple days and since I've had enough extra time to make French Toast, I've thought "Well, why not go crazy?"

 

Now, French Toast is far from being the most nutritious meal, I suppose, but I've been trying to make it as healthy as possible. I've been using organic whole wheat bread dipped in a mix of egg and almond milk with a touch of cinnamon. In place of traditional syrup I've been using organic raw blue agave. I think that's not bad at all health-wise, actually! And it tastes more or less the same as any other French Toast I've ever eaten, so I'm certainly enjoying it.

 

I probably shouldn't make French Toast a regular breakfast habit, and I wonder if I'll burn out on eating it soon enough. Then again, I'm the guy that brings the same exact thing for lunch every single day at work (seasoned ground turkey breast, brown rice, carrots, hummus, applesauce, water). But for today, at least, hooray for French Toast!

I was in a bad mood last evening. Our home was a mess, I was tired from work, and the kids were being fussy. I even yelled at my son at one point when he was being relentless with his whining. I don't like yelling because it makes me feel like I've lost control and it models bad behavior. There are other ways to deal with things.

 

My wife took the kids upstairs and kept them entertained while I did some cleaning and had time to cool off. Slowly our home started to feel a little less overwhelming. I did the dishes, picked up toys, vacuumed, made progress on laundry, and before I knew it things were a lot better than when I started. It felt good.

 

When I went upstairs I discovered that my wife and kids were already asleep in our son's room. I felt terrible that I hadn't apologized for being such a grump. I took a shower, wrote in my journal, then debated whether or not I should go wake up my wife and tell her I was sorry for my sour mood.

 

I finally decided I wouldn't be able to sleep unless I told her how I was feeling, so I crept into the room and gently arose her from her sleep. I'm glad I did because it was nice to talk to her and apologize. I thanked her for being a great friend and we chatted for a while. She kept drifting between being awake and falling asleep, so I finally let her head back to dreamland and went to bed myself.

Back when I was younger and much more ignorant, I was guilty of calling things "gay" all the time. This was common practice amongst most of the students at my junior high school, high school, and even a number of students at my college. Many times people didn't necessarily use the word "gay" to mean "homosexual" when they said it. "Gay" basically meant "stupid" or "uncool," but the bottom line is the negative connotation came from it being associated with homosexuality.

 

 

That's pretty sucky of me, I think!

 

But my eyes were opened one day when a gay college classmate got up in front of the class to discuss the use of "gay" by everyone. He was super cool about it, but drove home the point of how offensive it is. I had a talk with him afterwards and he said that while he understood I didn't necessarily mean my use of "gay" to be an insult toward gay people, it still was. I can still vividly recall his response when I asked just why it as so bad: "You wouldn't go around saying 'That's nigger,' would you?"

 

Now I cringe when I hear people call things "gay." Unfortunately, I hear it all the time.

 

Working as a children's librarian, I'm around kids and teens on an almost-daily basis. Listening to them, you'd think the entire world was gay. Whenever the word is used in a phrase, there is usually a "tsk" at the beginning, like "Tsk, that computer is gay." "Tsk, this book is gay." "Tsk, you're gay."

 

I do my best to put a stop to things whenever I can. Sometimes I'll just point out that what they're saying is offensive, but this is usually met with a "Whatever" and an eye roll. Other times I'll use humor: "I'm glad you're so in touch with your feelings you can notice and appreciate when something is gay." That actually works pretty well, but I feel guilty because basically I'm implying the person using the word "gay" is gay, which is not cool!

 

So sadly, I've come to realize that the inappropriate use of "gay" is probably not going to stop any time soon. At least I'll do my part by trying to avoid calling things "gay" and pointing out to others how offensive it is. I have a feeling that even if I ask someone not to call something "gay" they'll probably just whisper "Tsk, he's gay" as I'm walking away. But thinking about some of the cool gay people I know, I should probably consider it a compliment!

We took my wife's car in for an oil change today. My son wanted to bring his Zoobles along with him, which we didn't mind as we knew they would keep him entertained. A few minutes after we'd set up camp in the children's lounge, another boy came in and eyed the Zoobles with curiosity. He was about the same age as my son and before long the two boys were in Zoobles Heaven together.

 

After a little while the boy's older brother came in and sat down nearby. My son ran up to him and said, "Look! Zoobles!" My son was likely anticipating that the older boy would be just as excited as his younger brother was. Instead, a look of disgust came across the older boy's face and he said, "Those are for girls."

 

My son seemed a little taken aback, and I think a seed was quickly planted in his head that he was playing with "girl toys." The older boy then continued his assessment: "I mean, look at the colors." I quickly chimed in, "Anyone can play with them." The boy must have gotten the hint because he didn't say anything else after that.

 

My son brought a few more Zoobles over to the boy and was trying to point out which Zoobles were "boys," as if to prove they weren't "girl toys." Sadly, it was a somewhat futile attempt. He was basically explaining, "Well, that one's a girl, I'll give you that... but this one's a boy... I think."

 

I'm afraid that the short reign of Zoobles in our household might soon come to an end. It's too bad, too, because they are such awesome toys. I hope my son can ignore the words of that older boy and keep enjoying Zoobles, but I have a feeling he's already questioning just how cool Zoobles really are.

I woke up feeilng pretty crummy today, but not as bad as my son and especially my daughter. We're all under the weather this Easter! My daughter has it the worst, and she has been pretty miserable all day. However, her sweet personality shines through the fog of her unhappiness from time to time, so there were smiles peppered in with her cries. My wife was also not functioning at 100% today, either. In other words, we were far from being in tip top shape this Easter.

 

It didn't help matters that we kind of pigged out on unhealthy food. Macaroni and cheese casserole, hot dogs, candy, strawberry shortcake. We are going to pay the price later, I'm sure. My son has been complaining of a sore tummy all day, and there have been many "false alarm" trips to the bathroom on his part.

 

Even the weather was weird today. When the day began the sun was out in full force and it was warm, so we got dressed as if it was going to be a typical Spring day in San Diego. But not long after we'd left our home the clouds came out and there were even traces of drizzle. We ended up staying inside most of the day thanks to the cold air.

 

All the same, we had a good time being together, which is what counts most of all. It was cute to see our kids hunt for Easter eggs, and though we know better, it was also fun to eat junk food and be lazy. Now we'll hopefully turn in early to bed so we can rest up and get over feeling sick!

When I was in college, I took a class where I was required to read works by Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi. A number of my fellow students fell in love with one particular work: "Zhuangzi Dreamed He Was a Butterfly" (莊周夢蝶). Zhuangzi contemplates whether he is indeed Zhuangzi who dreams he is butterfly, or if in fact he is a butterfly who dreams he is Zhuangzi.

 

At the time I kind of scoffed at Zhuangi's idea because I had a more negative outlook on life and I thought all those students were annoying, so anything they liked was stupid. (Thankfully I'm not so pessimistic these days!)

 

But it's actually a really cool notion, and it's been explored many times since Zhuangzi, too.

 

One my favorite of H.P. Lovecraft's stories, "Through the Gates of the Silver Key," tells the tale of Randolph Carter, who begins dreaming he is a being a different dimension, only for those dreams to became reality. Recently the movie Inception explored the concept of controlling and shaping dream worlds, and it is suggested that the film's protagonist Dom Cobb's entire reality is only a dream.

 

So, maybe life is but a dream after all! But, as my wife and I were discussing the other day, if that's the case, we don't want to wake up. If I'm dreaming at this moment, I can't imagine that anything in the "real world" can possibly be as nice as what I have here in my dreams.

 

昔者莊周夢為蝴蝶，栩栩然蝴蝶也，自喻適志與，不知周也。俄然覺，則蘧蘧然周也。不知周之夢為蝴蝶與，蝴蝶之夢為周與？周與蝴蝶則必有分矣。此之謂物化

My son has recently made it clear that he likes Zoobles more than Bakugan. Both types of toys are neat little balls that "transform" into some type of creature when they come in contact with something magnetized. Bakugan turn into all manner of cool-looking dragons and robots and stuff like that. Zoobles? They change into cute little critters like caribu. And lately, my son has been choosing Zoobles.

 

I'm fine with that. In fact, I'm excited about that.

 

I hate the whole "boy toys/girl toys" thing. Toys are just vehicles to exercise one's imagination. It doesn't matter if a toy is "meant" for a boy or a girl--it's all about if the toy fills the player with enjoyment. It reminds me of the whole "casual" versus "hardcore" video game audience. Who cares what audience a game is intended for as long as you're enjoying it, right?

 

Unfortunately, I have a feeling it won't be very long before my son comes home from school and announces he doesn't like Zoobles any longer. This happend with some of the cartoons he used to watch. He told some of his preschool classmates about them and they laughed and said those were for "babies." That was the end for The Wonder Pets in our home.

 

Fridays are sharing day at his preschool, and I have a feeling this week he'll want to take one of his shiny new Zoobles. I just hope no jerky little kid makes my son feel like it's not okay to like what he wants to like. And, for the record, Zoobles are pretty dang awesome. I'm a fan!

 

I find it so sweet and charming that, at least for the moment, my son is choosing adorable over tough. In many ways, he's like me. This past weekend my wife and I were having a conversation with our friend and they came to the conclusion that I have a very "female" brain. I'm sensitive and not really into a lot of "guy" things. Yet, at the same time, I like plenty of "male" things as well, so it's not like I'm totally a sissy or anything!

 

My little boy is kind of that way. He's a rough and tumble little dude, but he'd just rather play with Zoobles than Bakugan. I love that! Our society needs to chill out on its predetermined paths for our kids based on their gender. Just let them be who they want to be and like what they want to like. And if someone has a problem with that, maybe it's time they let their guard down and played with Zoobles!

This past weekend Missus Raroo and I took our kids to the drive-in movie theater to see Rio and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules. After the first movie ended, I took my son to use the bathroom.

 

He was slow to embrace using the potty, but now he's very proud to be a member of the underwear-wearing populance. The flipside is Missus Raroo and I have to keep a close eye on where the nearest public restroom is whenever we go out. A couple times our boy has had to just pee in the bushes because there was nowhere nearby he could otherwise go.

 

When we walked up to the urinal at the drive-in's restroom, my son pulled his pants down to his ankles and did his business. A couple of boys who were maybe three or four years older pointed at my son's exposed rear end and snickered to each other. Meanwhile, my little guy was oblivious to their laughter. Rather, he was simply proud he was one of the "big boys" using the potty and didn't give a second through to how silly he looked.

 

It's really charming that my son still is still so innocent that he doesn't see anything wrong with having his butt out for all to see. It's really too bad that our society is so uptight about such things. Maybe the next time we go use a public restroom I'll pull my pants all the way down in unison with my son!

 

(Okay, I probably won't do that. I don't think people nearby would want to see my booty.)

I never jumped on the 3D bandwagon, mainly because watching 3D movies always seemed to make my eyes hurt. Thus, I was really worried the 3DS would lead to terrible headaches. Heck, I was even worried that I wouldn't be able to see the 3D at all -- enough so that I even had a nightmare to that effect! To make matters worse, when I finally had the chance to try a 3DS at a Best Buy location, I immediately felt a tinge of dizziness. Uh-oh!

 

But, as it turns out, I've had absolutely no problems with the 3DS. When I got my hands on my own 3DS, I’ll admit that I powered it on with more than a little trepidation. However, that soon gave way to enthusiasm and excitement once I fired up Face Raiders, the awesomely crazy Augmented Reality game that comes installed on the system. Then I started goofing around with snapping 3D photos and I was in love. Other than the low resolution of the cameras (two are required for 3D photos), taking 3D pictures is so fun.

 

And then I realized I had some games to go with my new system, so I tried the software. Wow! I was not prepared for just how cool games like Steel Diver would look. Even though I had watched some videos of the game, the only way you can experience the impact of the visuals is by seeing them on the 3DS itself. Playing Steel Diver is like peering into a tiny aquarium. Super Street Fighter IV 3D looks like a shiny little diorama in motion. Pilot Wings Resort gives you a real feeling of height as you're soaring over a beautiful island. Driving through the courses Ridge Racer 3D provides an impressive amount of depth.

 

In short, I'm a believer!

 

I can't wait to see what Nintendo has cooking for the 3DS. There is a new Super Mario game in the works, Mario Kart 3DS looks like it'll be wonderful, and the new Paper Mario game will no doubt be a delight, but beyond that, it's all pretty much a mystery at this point. There are some favorite series I’d like to see make a return. For instance, I'd love Nintendo to revisit Luigi's Mansion. But overall, I just want Nintendo’s development teams' imaginations to run wild. As much as I love the tried and true Nintendo franchises, I get most excited when they try something new like Steel Diver.

 

This year’s E3 will certainly be where the floodgates are released and Nintendo drops lots of information about new 3DS games. Oh, and rumor has it the Wii's successor is going to be shown off, too, which I’m totally curious about. Still, it's the 3DS that has my attention now, and I'm mostly looking forward to seeing what the road ahead holds for my new little handheld system. Thankfully, I at least know there won't be any headaches in the future!

Last night my son and I laid in bed together, side by side. We were up later than we should have been. He intently watched and "directed" me as I played Pokemon Black. "Throw a Pokeball! Get that Timburr!"

 

It made me think about how to his almost-four-year-old mind, I'm still a hero. He doesn't yet understand I have faults and can't do everything. He turns to me whenever he needs help because, as one of his parents, he believes I can fix whatever is wrong.

 

It won't be long before he starts noticing that his dad doesn't have everything figured out. I make mistakes and there are things I am incapable of. By the time he's in middle school, he'll probably even see me as annoying or embarassing as most kids that age do of their parents.

 

But I'm sure he'll always know I love him and do my best for him, even if I'm not perfect. And I have a feeling part of him will always remember the little moments from when he was young, like cheering me on as we snuggled under the covers battling a tough Gym Leader long past our bedtimes.

Missus Raroo and I elected to pay out of pocket to have our son put under so he wouldn't be awake for the procedure. Making him suffer through eight drillings would be just too mean and harrowing, we thought, so we wanted him to snooze through the whole thing.

I went into the back room with my boy. He was sitting on my lap when he received the doctor gave him the shot that initially zoned him out. I could feel my boy's little body slowly become more limp until finally he was just laying against my chest as if he was sleeping.

The creepy thing is, he was still technically awake. He was staring straight ahead at nothing in particular with his mouth wide open. When I looked into his eyes it no longer looked like my son--there was no life behind them. He looked like a zombie! It really affected me seeing him stare at the world with such an empty expression. I watched my son get carried off by the dentist then walked out of the dentist's office and briefly cried.

I was actually a little surprised that seeing my son get put under so he could have dental work would hit me so hard. Thankfully, he's back to his usual self. In fact, from the moment he began waking up, there was no denying that my boy had returned. One of the first words he uttered was "Bakugan," and it wasn't long before he acting like the good old Kazuo that we know and love. I'm glad to have him back!

My son has been kind of a grouch lately. I think it's because Missus Raroo has been out of town all weekend and he misses her. His sour mood spilled over into our day at Disneyland. It was a day full of "I don't want ____." No matter what was on the agenda, he wanted nothing to do with it.

 

That's not to say we didn't have a good time! We had a blast enjoying some of our favorite attractions, such as the Enchanted Tiki Room, Jungle Cruise, and Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters. And it was a mercifully light day in terms of attendance, meaning lines were short and navigating masses of bodies wasn't an issue.

 

Despite the ideal day for getting the most bang for our buck, my son decided after less than five hours that he had seen enough. "I'm done." I couldn't believe it. "I want to go home."

 

I gave him a couple chances on the way out, asking if he was totally sure he was ready to leave. "Yes, I'm done. I want to go home." Oh well. When you're a parent, sometimes you have to sacrifice good opportunities because they don't match up to what your kids need.

 

And, in my son's case, apparently what he needed was a good nap. He slept the entire drive back home and over an hour after I carried him into our home and plopped him down on the couch. He woke up in good spirits and asked about Mommy, who should be home before bedtime. I think to my son our home is more of a Magic Kingdom than Disneyland... and I think he's probably right. But, man... those lines! So short! Oh well.

And yet my new obsession lately has been Dance Dance Revolution, almost a decade or so late to the party. The cool thing is there are a ton of DDR games that are available for super cheap, so I've been building up my collection a bit.

I do have good rhythm, but rhythm and coordination are not necessarily the same thing. But my feet seem to be listening to my brain a little more lately, and hopefully as I keep practicing I'll become better at DDR. I'm to the point now where I can usually get A ratings on the "Basic" level, which is the second-to-easiest difficulty.

Most importantly, it's pretty okay exercise, which is something I need. It's too bad my home is so obstacle-ridden with kids, pets, and everything that goes with the both. I should just consider them as bonus challenges. In that respect, maybe my "Basic" difficult level isn't so bad. Avoiding dogs, cats, and kids while stepping on arrows is almost like "Expert"!

Sure, I'll just keep telling myself that! It turns out I'm a dancing machine!

While I was at work today, my father-in-law took my son to the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Natural History Museum. My little dude is lucky Grandpa is a nice guy. Grandpa even bought him a toy lizard. My son already owns a toy lizard he named "Squeaky" because it makes a squeaking sound when you squeeze it. Squeaky's new friend has been given the unfortunate name of "Blackie" because he is colored black.

 

It just doesn't sound right to my ears for my son to walk around saying "Blackie" when the name has some really negative connotations. It wouldn't be good for us to be out in public and my son to loudly say "Blackie! Blackie!" over and over, giving someone the wrong idea that we're some type of racist family.

 

And yet, the name was given in complete innocence. My little boy is still at the age where he doesn't notice ethnicity, instead referring to people by the color of clothes they wear, not the color of their skin. That is, he doesn't see an African American, but rather he sees a "green guy." He doesn't see an Asian, but instead just sees a "blue guy." Really cute, actually. "Blackie" is simply named according to one of his most outstanding features.

 

So, I've decided to just let the name "Blackie" slide by without me saying anything about it. Explaining why the name "Blackie" is questionable is just going to introduce my boy to issues he doesn't need to worry about yet. Let him enjoy his innocence as long as it lasts!

My son and I are enjoying a "Boys Weekend" together. My wife took her mom on a trip to Sedona as a birthday gift with our daughter in tow, so my son and I are on our own until Monday.

 

Unfortunately, my little boy has come down with a touch something and is not his usual peppy self. He's still being cute and sweet, but he's kind of subdued compared to how he usually is. That is, instead of making lots of noise and being full of energy, he's just relaxing on the couch and watching television.

 

We've still got some fun in store, though! Tomorrow we're taking my wife's car in for an oil change. I know that doesn't sound all that exciting, but to my son it is a worthwhile errand because he's going to score some snacks from the vending machines at the shop.

 

As for tonight, some wild Friday night antics are in store. In just a bit we're going to take our bath/shower. Then we'll get into bed and read a couple books, followed by watching a movie or cartoons until we fall asleep. The Raroos know how to party!

I guess life has been exhausting lately, because I haven't been able to keep myself awake to play games after my kids fall asleep. My usual plan is to get them to sleep then slip downstairs for some game time before I head off to sleep myself. Lately, though, my eyelids have been too heavy and I've been falling asleep along with my little monsters.

 

The last few nights I thought maybe I'd compromise by bringing my DS and PSP along with me so I could play for a while in bed while my kids drifted off to dreamland. But that hasn't been working, either, and I begin nodding off the moment I turn my attention to a game. Last night I didn't even bother trying.

 

I suppose this is my body's way of telling me, "Hey, I'm tired! Go to sleep!" It's also a reminder that I'm getting older. I turn 35 next month, which means I am officially inching closer to midlife.

 

Humorously, even though I'm kind of old now I still have most of the same hobbies and interests that I had back when I was in junior high school. The difference is I just don't have the energy to pursue them with quite the same fervor. I also have newer "hobbies" like parenthood and full-time employment that are a little more exhausting (but more rewarding!) than when I was in 8th grade and could sit around playing Game Boy and thinking about boobs all day long.

 

In short: Being old is exhausting. Enjoy your youth, kids!

I really enjoyed the first Endless Ocean, finding it very relaxing and beautiful. The sequel seems to follow suit in those departments, but developer Arika beefed things up a bit, too. The graphics look better, there is much more sea life to discover and document, the game has more of a narrative and flow, and there are a few new underwater gadgets to play with. 

What's up with the stereotypically black character GG, though? Kind of cheesy, Arika! But, that said, I remember seeing some pretty racist masks for sale out in the open while visiting Tokyo in 2006, so hey! Maybe Japan just doesn't know what's up with not being jerks about other ethnicities.

At any rate, Endless Ocean Blue World is pretty great so far. My daughter is mesmerized by it and sat on my lap watching me explore the depths of the first few areas. 

One thing, though: You are now vulnerable in this game! In the first Endless Ocean, you didn't have to worry about any of the ocean life harming you. Not the case in Blue World. Some freaking shark cornered my diving partner then decided to go after me fairly early into the game. 

I have a fear of sharks and regularly have nightmares about them, and even a virtual shark attack scared me. Luckily you can "calm down" any aggressive ocean life by shooting them with some type of electrical charge, but geez... Why does Nintendo and Arika want to scare me?

I'd love to see a new Endless Ocean surface on the Nintendo 3DS. Imagine those underwater environments with 3D depth... That would make it even more immersive. I just hope it doesn't make the sharks even scarier!

Who knew Christmas would creep up so quickly this year? I feel like I haven't had any time to enjoy the season. Work has been hectic, our home life has been crazy, and there are just too many darn obligations to take care of. Back when I was a kid, I never would have guessed there would be a time when I'd actually want December to slow down and Christmas to take its own sweet time to arrive.

 

I am really looking forward to see how my son reacts to Christmas this year. I think this is the first Christmas he completely "gets" what is going on and he is totally excited for the day to come. He's been a patient boy, though, and he's been waiting with a great deal of restraint for what he is sure will be a bountiful morning of presents.

 

Big on his list: Hot Wheels Sharkbite Bay playset, Battling Bugs, and a Matchbox Haunted House (when he told Santa he wanted a "haunted house" it was humorous to see the jolly old elf's curious reaction). Since he can't read this, I'll just go ahead and say that he won't be disappointed come December 25.

 

And, I'll be honest: I love opening presents, too! I'm anxious to see what will be under the tree for me on Christmas morning. The only things I really asked for are (as my son pronounces them) "bee-do games," so if all goes according to plan, I'll be partaking in some fun digital entertainment come Christmas day.