It was just that good. Maybe not the BEST weekend ever as there were one or two things missing but it was damn good nevertheless. I kicked off the festivities with a little Iron Man.
Let me just say that this movie rocked. I don't know much about the character so I didn't bring any of that baggage with me into the theater. I came at this film completely clean without any expectations and what resulted was a really enjoyable experience. The film is funny in just the right places. Robert Down Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow are absolutely perfect in their roles. The only thing I could have really asked for would have been MORE IRON MAN. I didn't see him kick enough terrorist ass before the film moved on to the next plot point. Outside of that, Iron Man is a perfect superhero movie. I am really excited to see Jon Favreau doing well as a director. He has made some really solid films and looks to have a bright future. I think I will always see him as the overweight pot head Gutter from
PCU, but I have a newfound respect for him as a creative talent. I hope he gets to make a sequel or two because this first outing was excellent. I think it is Marvel's best film property to date. Yes, even better than Spider-Man. This is a movie you should see. It is also a great start to what looks like an amazing summer movie season. How can you not love a summer that includes Batman, Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Hellboy, Narnia, and Indiana Jones?
After the wonderful experience Friday at the movies, Saturday started with Free Comic Book Day at my LCS (local Comic Shop). As always I took my daughter so she could meet some of the costumed superheros that always make an appearance at this event. Her favorite is The Flash, but this year she took a particular liking to Princess Leia. There is just something about little girls and princesses I guess.
She also got to see The Flash, Batman, Spiderman, and a few "bad guys" like Harley Quinn and The Joker. She says she doesn't like bad guys but kinda liked Harley's hat.
After the fun at the comic shop we took a trip to the local mall to get a cookie and walk around. The little one got some new shoes and Daddy got nothing. That, however, would soon change even though we didn't know it yet.
I was carrying on my person a $5.00 coupon at Best Buy. I thought we would stop by and see if there was a good movie on sale. Maybe end up spending $15.00 or $20.00 bucks and then go home for a little relaxation for the rest of the afternoon. Mommy was out doing some shopping and having a day off from being a parent so the two of us were sort of on our own. We rolled into the Alabaster Best Buy around 11:30 or so and that is when things got ugly.
As we walked into the story I saw something I had never seen before. At first I thought it was just a display full of empty boxes because I just knew that it was impossible that so many unobtrusive white boxes could be in one place. I had heard stories of 3 or 4 of these boxes spotted around town over the past few years but I never thought I would see them or see so many in one place. I slowly walked up to the display as my vision began to darken around the edges. I think I ignored the greeter's welcome and I can only assume that I continued to hold my daughters hand as by that time my fingers had gone numb. I knelt in front of the shrine that had been erected before me and grabbed one of the boxes and lifted it to the sky. I expected it to be empty but it wasn't and I had a moment where I thought it would not come up off the ground. No, this box was heavy. Solid with the weight of plastic and metal. My heart skipped as I realized what this meant. This store, in my hometown, was fully stocked with the product that I had been waiting two years to finally call my own. This store, my technology Mecca, had the Nintendo Wii.
At that moment I felt something snap in my head. Even then the purchase was already made. Oh I tried to call my wife to let her talk me out of doing such a thing. I gave it my all but fate stepped in and left me with a ringing phone but no answer. I tried ignoring the urge and placed the box back on the stack. My daughter knew something was up and asked me if we were getting a Wii. I calmed her with a "maybe" and drug her back to the video game section of the store. To my surprise and shock, there were more white boxes there. And they had games, extra controllers, and the all important component video cable. Oh my! Everything was neat and clean and practically begging to be taken home.
I tried calling my wife, the voice of reason, again and again, but the call never went through. My daughter, her heart now also racing found the game she had so wanted to play again since first tasting the glory of the Wiimote many months ago. The store not only had Rayman: Raving Rabbids 1 but also the sequel. Emily shrieked with joy and asked me again "Are we getting a Wii because I want this game" and then showed me the object of her affection. I answered her differently this time. "Probably". Again I tried the phone, and again nothing. I picked up the box, a second Wiimote and nunchuck as well as the single, solitary component cable that so desperately wanted to go home with me. My daughter, who only moments before was begging to go to McDonalds or Burger King had gone silent waiting for me to make my decision, which, of course, had already been made long before actually picking up the boxes.
We turned and started walking back to the front of the store. The angel on my shoulder made one final plea to my better judgment and I tried again to call my wife. No answer. What was done was done. I took the white gold to the checkout line where I waited. Another woman, about my age, saw what I and my child were buying and she said "Oh, I love the Wii, it is a great way to spend time with husband." It was yet another sign from the gaming gods that this purchase was righteous. It wasn't a game system it was a tool to strengthen my family and my bond with my wife. How could she say no? I proudly took my place at the register, made some banter with the clerk and slammed down my rewards card and my Visa card with the joy than only consumerism can inspire. Of course, the coupon made all the difference. My purchase came to exactly $399.00. It was the perfect total. Just under $400.00. A cheap price to pay for family fun.
We got back in the car and drove up the street a little. I knew where my wife would be and I was right. Her car sat outside a local clothing store. I gave my daughter her game and instructed her to go in and talk to mommy about what we just did. I thought maybe the news coming from a 4 year old would spare me the lashing that was surely to come. I walked her into the store and we found my wife looking at clothes. It took some time for the the reality of what we did to fully dawn on her. The game has the Wii logo on it and it took a while for the image to finally hit home. I watched as the realization of what that game meant dawned in my wife's eyes.
I left the store with my daughter but without my Visa card. Apparently my wife's new clothes were my treat. I considered myself significantly punished and was happy to have been let off light.
We stopped for lunch and headed home where I got the console hooked up in short order. I resigned my often maligned GameCube to a box in the closet and took a moment to mourn its passing. The little cube never had a chance in the face of the Xbox and the 360. Hopefully his progeny would fair better. The cube would, however, live on during those moments when the Wii played one of the cube's games.
We spent most of the afternoon playing Wii Sports and Rayman. I even bought Super Mario Bros. from the Virtual Console store. I had fun and so did my child. She slept most of the evening and into the next morning. The game and the day had worn her out. When my wife got home from the movies later that evening she played a little but didn't get the importance of what she held in her hand. I wonder how many casual gamers really do.
The next day was more laid back. A little Wii playing where my daughter trounced both of us in boxing. It was a proud moment to see my child beat her father in a video game fair ans square. It was then that I knew my time was passing and the mantle of "video gamer" was being passed. I let the extreme embarrassment of being knocked out by a child slide from my thoughts and basked in the knowledge that she would follow in my footsteps for at least the near future. All was well.
The weekend ended with some outdoor time, a wonderful dinner and an evening of antihistamine induced bliss. 5:00 on Monday came early but I was not sad. Life was good. Being a geek was good. Being a dad was best of all. I do wonder one thing though...why am I so sore?
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