Job, Christmas, Warcraft

They got rid of our incentive checks and our raises and all supervisors took a 5% pay cut. I'm disgusted because if it was only a few weeks later I would've received my raise. I was looking forward to the raise (with the cost of living a few weeks later it would've been 1.5 raise) because it's substantial. But now we get nothing. Work had been pretty slow before and I took a few early outs and a few days off.

On Tuesday before Christmas break almost the whole place left early. Only the city had work and we had plenty of it. I was trying to get out of there before the ice storm hit but of course I couldn't. The highways were covered and slick but I took my time the whole way there. I was going 40 but then slowed when I passed 3 or 4 cars that had slid off the road and were stuck in the snow/ice mix.

Christmas Eve I was supposed to meet Chris so he could take me to Mom's (Holly was coming directly from work) but we forgot the car seat in the other car. It was a miserable rainy day (w/ chance of ice) but thankfully it was warm enough Chris picked me up. I gave him the Xbox for his Winter Break. Mom's cooking came out excellent. We just hung out there the whole night, watching Gremlins and playing games. We all opened our presents from mom. She got me:

Giants T-Shirt
Giants NFC Champion Sweatshirt (returned)
Giants NFC Champion T-Shirt (returned) for Rangers Shirt
Under Armour (returned, too small)
Hockey T-Shirt
Rangers Goalie Mask
1600 Microsoft Point Card
Rock Band 2
Motion Light for House
Cookware Set
Naked Lunch Criterion Collection

Jeremy slept on the way home so he went right to bed. Holly was tired from a long day and she went to bed early. I stayed up and played Warcraft until 7. Jeremy woke up at 9:30. We opened presents. I didn't get Holly anything good (I didn't know what to get her). She got me:

Master Chief Sweatshirt
Master Chief Figure
Master Chief X Mas Ornament
Star Wars Mugs (For Jeremy and I)
Boba Fett Mug
Star Wars Encyclopedia (Going to Return)
Gummi Life Savers
Blistex
Desktop Magnetic Toy
R2D2 Mr Potato Head (Going to give to Jeremy)
JLA Boxers (Jeremy)

After we opened presents Holly set up a lot of his toys. I struggled to set up Spiderman 3 Sandman Playset but w/ lack of sleep and shitty directions, I got fed up and went to sleep.

Shirley actually came to visit with Dale a few weekends ago. They brought Winona and stayed a few hours. Jeremy was happy to see them but he acted like a jerk the whole time and the rest of the night.

Started playing Warcraft. Addicted. I tried to get Chris into it and he did play with me for a few hours before giving up. I was hoping to recruit him for the recruit a friend so we could play together and I could get a month free plus triple xp but he's done w/ the game. It's too much money. I've leveled my Warlock to 24 and a Druid to 12. I'm not really liking the Druid but I do like the Warlock. Got stuck at level 21 for a while until I found some guys to help me w/ the Orc quests. Some very helpful guy in game gave me 25 gold and helped me do higher level quests which really helps at the low levels. I also grouped w/ some idiots. All the luck of the draw. Hoping to start some dungeons soon. The game is damn addictive but I think I'll cut down on it a bit when I get my Xbox back.

I played hockey for the first time in months. I'm in terrible shape. I couldn't skate for my life. Felt like I was going to pass out the whole time I was there. Didn't help that our team only had 6 guys on it. Hockey was my after Christmas getting fat wake up call. I cleaned out the garage and started jumping rope. Bought an extension cord so I can start running on the treadmill. Not going to go too hardcore, just enough to lose a few pounds and lose the back fat/side rolls. Cutting soda out of the diet for the most part.

Broke two keys at work last night.

Curiousity is piqued and i'm getting the urge again. With Christmas and lists being made and finalized, Warcraft is as easy as sending an e mail. Going to do 10 day trial soon. Getting the Battle Chest and 2 month membership should be no big deal. Getting one afterwards is a big deal. After Christmas, five unopened, unplayed games to play. Plus the time commitment of games that are still here. I should be satisfied with games for time the come. Maybe I'll play private servers if I really get desperate to show it isn't worth it. Because there's no way 15 a month is worth it unless that's the only game you're interested in. Currently playing Mass Effect, Gears of War 2 Insane (so i can sell it while resale value is still good) and Prey. Prey is almost genius with elements of Portal and the respawning isn't as bad as first thought. Provides a flow to the game. Getting the itch for Magic as well. Learning the metagame and new cards is what takes time. Still have 100 or more tickets in the account. Might play a league. Or maybe just wait for new expansion. February is new set. Maybe play on Workstation. Watched a guy on JustinTV working on a game. Unreal Engine. Interested me but there is much to learn about computer art programs to do anything that complicated.

Work has been boring. Took early outs on Thursday and Friday (only 1 hour each). Paycheck is going to look like shit. Supposed to get ice on Tuesday. Going to take off if there's the possibility of it.

Holly put up the Christmas tree on Saturday. We ordered a half pineapple Pine from Palmerton Pizza. It was decent. Wanted to watch a movie with her but the dish went out because of De La Hoya fight. We hung out, made love on couch and both passed out on couch. I came downstairs and wasted the rest of the night away. On Sunday watched half of Giants. About to go down 13 nothing at the half they block a field goal, return it for a touchdown with no time on the clock. Thought they could get some momentum from that but they didn't recover and lost. Could've clinched division today. Feed got shut off and I got busy making Xmas list for mom. Everyone else in division lost (NICE!). Holly and I ran to IGA to get lunch meat among other things. Bought US Gold Menthol and they suck. Should've paid extra dollar and gotten Salems. Watched half Ranger game but got headache from it. They were playing well and Calgary didn't have any shots for 15 mins but when they scored I gave up on it. They ended up losing 3-0. Watched Curb your Enthusiasm with Holly and she went to bed. Worked on my book for a while and then took shower.

Been addicted to Madmen. Watch an episode a day. I mistakenly watched Season 2 ep 10 instead of 1 and didn't notice. Was wondering why all plot twists were off. Interesting to watch like that though. Started listening to Big Sur by Kerouac. I never liked the writing in 'On the Road' or 'Dharma Bums' (the ideas MAYBE) but Big Sur actually seems decently written. Can't listen to radio in car much anymore. Annoys me more than anything. Even when I went to pick up Jeremy last weekend I couldn't stand music channels and listened to BBC news.

Short week at work for Thanksgiving. I got a half an hour overtime one night and an forty five mins on Wednesday. I was considering staying longer on Wednesday but didn't feel like it after I got paired with that weird guy in a Sony truck. Fucking guy didn't help and then left promptly at 3:30. I got stuck doing the rest. Pulled my side a bit doing that or carrying 6 Olympia Chimneys .

Thanksgiving turned out very nice. Holly prepared a lot of the food the night before. Dinner was excellent. It took Jeremy hours to eat. We hung out the rest of the night. Mom decided she didn't feel like driving and somehow Chris was suckered into picking up Jeremy and I. Holly came to the house later on to pick me up. Mom watched the baby for us the rest of the weekend. It was nice to have time to ourselves. Holly had to take her dad to Merle's on Saturday and she didn't get home until 8. We ran to the local supermarket and came home and ate together. Hung out the rest of the night. I met Chris on Sunday afternoon after the Giants/Rangers. Giant's won again and Rangers played like shit. The weather was miserable with rain here and snow/rain/ice mix up in the Poconos. Long Pong was shit and couldn't tell if it was icy or wet. Took my time. Got home and hung out the rest of the night.

Monday night took the new car and almost hit a bear. It was raining in Palmerton and it rained earlier in Poconos and then snowed which made for icy conditions again on Long Pond. Got out of work early on Wednesday and 15 mins early on Tuesday. The city was dead and I felt oddly enthusiastic to work on book and to get out of work.

Beat Gears of War 2. End boss was ridiculously easy. Beat him first try. Most pathetic boss along with Halo 3. Tried to give online mode a chance and hate it. I started to play game on Insane and will probably slowly complete it. Started playing Mass Effect. Trying to get into the groove of it. Don't feel like reading so much dialogue. Ordered Orange Box, Bioshock for 20 and Fallout 3 for 40 on Black Friday. Ordered Endwar 24 shipped from Asia. Couldn't pass it up for that kind of money. Now have a big back log of games but at least won't be bored. Was considering getting PS3 w/ 150 off credit card offer. Can't justify it though. Have to get my ass w/ xmas presents.