Author: Joe

Categories
Books

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter and the Chamber of SecretsContinuing my reading of the Harry Potter series, I immediately went from the Sorcerer’s Stone to the Chamber of Secrets. It too was pretty solid and enjoyable.

I don’t think I liked it quite as much as the Sorcerer’s Stone, but I think that’s just because everything wasn’t as new to me by year 2. Yes, I do know that I’m one of the 4 people who knew nothing of Harry Potter before I began reading the series and few weeks back.

I do like the school year progression found in the books, it just works as far as a story goes.

The last few chapters were very interesting. I really like learning whom Tom Riddle really was. While I knew something was up with him, I wasn’t certain that his story would eventually play out like it did.

Another solid read, onward to Year 3.

Categories
Sports

Dodgeball Season 2 Playoffs

Our playoff opponent was a very familiar one, the Lightning Donkeys. This season we were 2-0 against them, yet when we met in last season’s playoffs they were the team that sent us home. So we were hoping to continue with our season 2 trend to continue against them.

Unfortunately we would be without the services of Brian and Katie. We did attempt to recruit one time replacement player Laura (who did an amazing job), but sadly she couldn’t play that night. So we would be down to a squad of 4 girls for the night.

As game time approached, it was looking a bit on the bad side for us. We only had 3 guys with just minutes before the game began. However, just moments in time the remaining 3 did show up and we would have a solid squad of 6 to work with on the night.

In the opening matches we played pretty poorly. I don’t know if we were too tense, not warmed up enough of being short a girl was the detriment. All I know is that we were not playing nearly as well as I’ve seen us play this season. The guys seemed a bit dejected with our poor start, which worried me. It was very early in the match still, and we could easily come back at this point.

Luckily are girls did settle in and began to win matches for us. Steph had an amazing game, the best I’d ever seen her play. The other girls all stepped up their game as well and fought valiantly as 4 against 5.

Down 8-4 and now facing elimination, our guys had finally awoken. I don’t know what took us so long. We were finally not only playing well, but playing extremely well as a team. Some of those late matches were perhaps the finest team dodgeball we had ever played.

Jared was making big catches, bringing back players for our side. Shawn, Jonathan, and myself were all throwing great. It was probably the best I had overall been throwing all season. I was able to let it rip with little inflammation in the shoulder for a rare night. Kevin as stepped it up and was playing brilliantly with us all as well too.

However, despite our late gutsy rally, the hole we found ourselves in was too deep on this night. Down 1 girl against Meghan, she made an amazing catch on a fantastic throw by Meghan to end our season.

I was really disappointed that we weren’t able to win and play next week, but was very proud of how hard everyone fought even when the odds greatly against us. I was truly honored to of played along this group. It was so much fun.

Later on I did head out with many of the Honey Badgers to the after activities at the Windjammer. What a fun buch we’ve got. I really enjoyed hanging out with everyone and coming up with ideas of future activities.

Can’t wait for kickball season.

 

Categories
Adventure

Flat Tire

I was on my way to Estell Manor Park after work to run with NGM. It’s a pretty awesome place to go running, there’s a boardwalk in the woods and it’s well marked and isn’t too bad on the knees. However on my way there, I ran over a large blot and a decent shard of metal.

I immediately hard a strange thud coming from one of my tires, so I pulled over to check it out. There was no apparent air loss in any of my tires, nor was there any visible puncture. So I drove for a little bit more and the large thud was still present.

So, I pulled over again in a bank’s parking lot to inspect this further. Still no noticeable pressure loss, but upon close inspection I noticed the head of a large bolt protruding from my tire. I guess it must’ve been under the tire the first time I pulled over to take a look.

I really wanted to see if I could get this changed fast enough to potentially get it plugged that night if possible. Changing the tire wasn’t too bad, think I spent more time getting the spare out of my cluttered trunk than anything else.

I did text NGM to let him know that I wouldn’t be able to run today. I’m still puzzled by this one, but he would then go on to call my work number to ask if I needed help even though I had texted him from my cell and I clearly wasn’t in the office. Oh well, he’s a goofy character sometimes.

Once I got the spare on I tried to think of where I could get my tire plugged as it was almost 6:00 pm. I drove by a few gas stations in Mays Landing, but all seemed to be closed at that time. So, I figured I’d give Sears at the Hamilton Mall a shot, they were the next stop towards my way hom.

Sears would be able to patch/plug my tire that night, so I was pretty excited about that. However, walking around the Hamilton Mall on a Monday night was a pretty strange experience. I really think this area has gone downhill, it seemed to be some very shady looking characters there.

The Sears guys noticed that I had a brake light out as well. While I normally enjoy to do such things, they said it would only be around $9 to replace, so I said sure, why not. Well apparently, the guy replacing the bulb accidentally broke my light assembly. So now they have to replace it and I have to go back to Sears (which by the way I’ve never been very fond of).

So after my unexpected flat tire adventure, I finally got home and ate food (was so hungry). I was glad that I can still change a tire with no problems, but a little bummed that my light got busted and now I have to go back to get it fixed.

Categories
Video Games

Resident Evil Revelations

Resident Evil RevelationsJust finished up the campaign mode on Resident Evil Revelations for the Nintendo 3DS. It was great, going back to the creepy roots that the earlier Resident Evil games used to be. With the same guy saying the title (if you played any of them you know what I mean by that).

The quality of this one by the folks at Capcom was top notch. It was a full Resident Evil title and not a scaled down portable game. The graphics were better than what I’d of thought the 3DS capable of, and the 3-D was very well done, but not to the point where it ever felt forced.

The story was a bit confusing and cheesy at times, but what else would you expect from a proper Resident Evil?

The whole mood and atmosphere was expertly crafted. There’s many times where you can hear something, but not quite see it and it really gets you into the game. I really enjoyed playing this on the 3DS, because you do seem much closer and into the action than if you were comfortably seated on your couch several feet from your TV.

The game was great, and quality wise what I would expect to play on a console. This was extremely well done, and a must buy for any Resident Evil fan. Even worth picking up a 3DS to play on as well. Hopefully other titles of this quality can continue to be released.

Categories
Books

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's StoneI’ve taken a good amount of hear over the past few years from friends and co-workers whom are a little younger than me for never reading any of the Harry Potter books. Recently on lunch at BAM!, Honey Badger and co-worker Lauren gave me yet another Harry Potter recommendation and also one of the guys chimed in too. If a random person says I must read it, then truly that’s a sign.

AFter a few tries, it was finally available and I snatched it up right away before a 10 year old could get it (well, not really. I’d of relinquished it to a information hungry youngster of course). The book was well worn, a sign of a good one when at a library.

Having seen only bits and pieces of the numerous films, almost all of it was wonderfully new to me.

Just a few pages in and I could see why this series had been such a hit. There was a terrific blend of adventure and humor that really induced several, “it’s not too late to read one more chapter” moments.

I hadn’t realized that Harry at one point resided in a cupboard. So very much did I learn.

I’m sold like a little kid. Just picked up the second book, the Chamber of Secrets.

Categories
Sports

Honey Badgers 2/28/12

This week we faced the unbeaten over 2 seasons Ghostbusters. They’re very good, hence the whole never losing a game thing.

Before the game Dustin approached me to let me know that he was still feeling sore and would like to take it easy tonight. I was personally hoping to do the same for the same reasons he had, so I guess my plan of rest was kinda out the window. Hard throwing Jonathan also was very sore from the previous week and we shut him down after the first match. So, not only were we playing the best team, but we would be facing them not at our finest.

While our guys were in an overall weakened state that night, our girls with free agent signing for the week Laura were the opposite. They played great, handing the Ghostbuster girls numerous defeats throughout the night.

It was great to see them play together so well. You’d of thought Laura played with us all season, she was a great teammate for the night. I’m still amazed at Caitlin’s energy she brings every game, she just doesn’t stop. Steph also made a couple of big catches for us too.

Our guys on the other hand were clearly outclassed and dominated all night. They completely destroyed us 8-0. Many of the matches lasted mere seconds it was so bad at times.

However, one match I found myself down 5 against 1. Granted the average life expectancy of 1 against 5 Ghostbusters is probably under 5 seconds, I would someone go on to put on a dodging clinic that would’ve made the great Kevin proud.

Facing a constant barrage of heat, I just ran, ducked, leaped, and plain old got lucky for several minutes. I knew that the odds of me winning were pretty slim, however I hoped that if I could survive long enough it might tire their hard throwing arms out.

Though I got them down to 4 with a decent peg myself, they did eventually get me. It was hilarious that I got so much congratulations for losing a match, but it really summed the uphill struggle our guys were facing that night.

Next week is the playoffs against the Lightning Donkeys. We’re 2-0 against them in the regular season and hopefully we can continue that winning trend against them. If we’re back to being healthy next week, I do like our chances.