Warranted

I'm only writing a special note on the blog today signifying this leap day in this leap year because I am bored.

Also, we won't see one again for another four years.  So...

Hi, Leap Day.

Now get outta here so we can Beware the Ides of March.

The Ides is my jam.

Food Adventures, Now With 20% More Conveyor Belts

Come May of this year (come what May of this year?), it will be four years since Beetchie and I traipsed our way through Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.

Four whole years is unreal, isn't it?

It's a sad reminder that I've not done any overseas vacations in quite the while.  But never you mind me and my First World problems; I'll get by.

Kyoto gave us a lot of things to eat, now that I'm flashing back (not flash dancing because I don't do that, H1) to that time.

I finally got to live out an anime fantasy and eat manju from a street cart.  Well, it wasn't on the side of a rural road but it counted.  Not that it mattered because I ended up disliking the soy bean type powder coating on said sweet dumpling.  I can't even begin to tell you how disappointed I was.

Then there was our kobe steak dinner which cost us a tasty arm and leg.  And let us not forget the BEST freaking movie popcorn I ever ate.  It was all caramel and amazing and I'll never get to re-live those good times again.

We had many a foodie adventure in Japan but there was one that involved Conveyor Belt Sushi at an awesome little place in the grand indoor/outdoor mall in Kyoto.

It was there that we ate plates and plates of sushi each.  It was incredible and incredulous how many plates of sushi we ate.  But what I was really thankful for other than the fabulous tasting meal was the fact that I did not have to take Beetchie to the hospital because she decided to eat fugu.

I had to make sure that at least one of us was not dying in the street so that said person could take the other to the hospital.  It certainly was a good thing too because she came out of there feeling slightly light-headed.  Oh, but for full disclosure, since I had no idea how to get to a hospital and the Japanese could not direct me to any place because they didn't know, I think things may have been grim for Beetchie.

Ah yes, those were fun times because no one lost an eye...or their life.

But a fugu event was not going to happen at my second outing at a Conveyor Belt Sushi restaurant because that happened just a few weeks ago at the Palisades mall.  I highly doubt I will ever find fugu at the Palisades Mall but then, I was highly doubtful that I'd find a Conveyor Belt sushi restaurant there either.  Oh, but we did and you know? East Japanese Restaurant wasn't too cringe worthy.

Because Miracles Do Happen...

Is it any wonder that we actually remembered MC's birthday today?

Though it remains to be seen if we will actually call him because while we may remember this very second to post on the blog, we might not remember to call after the fact.

It's true, we might be mean to MC.

He would think less of us if we weren't though.

Happy Birthday, MC!

Happy Birthday!

Dear Alex,

Happy Birthday, Friend!

May you never be drunk and disorderly on the phone with me again...even if it is on your birthday.  That was a rather interesting experience for me and one that H1 cleverly avoided...

Lots of love,

Us Two.

Before the New Thing Without a Special Designation Arrives...A Celebratory Send Off of that Old Thing with the Special Designation

Barring any madness, in a few days from now I will be the proud owner of a PsVita, gifted to me by my Brother Bunji as a Christmas presento-pyo for 2011.

As with most of my Sony products and electronics in general, there may have to be a replacement of said unit before the year is up as I am notoriously known for my bad electronic luck.

There'll be days of excitement as with any launch of new game system hardware for me as I play exciting new entries, have heartbreak playing others and the simple entertainment I get with outfitting a new system with junk.

Until such time, I'd like to take a moment to reflect on 45009, the Japanese Limited Edition Final Fantasy VII PSP bundle I sold bits of my life for to save from Ebay in 2008.

For nearly four years, I've had little 45009.  He went from being in a clear plastic case, showing off his beautiful art to a hard metal case showcasing Star Wars and some cleverly placed stickers.

Ridiculous Sightings in Retail

These were some toys H1 and I spotted over Christmas last year at the Wholesale Club BJ's.

They seem...I don't know, a little bit racist maybe?

Just us?

To our cousin who is being buried today,

Your family will miss you and we love you.

We always will.

For My Own Benefit

I've got an incredibly shoddy memory now and thus, I'm putting this as a log here to list all the games I'm looking forward to playing/purchasing this year.

I know that's what Amazon Wish Lists are for but mine can get a slightly out of control, so I'll just leave this here.

1. Animal Crossing 3DS
2. Luigi's Mansion 2 (3DS)
3. Kid Icarus: Uprising (3DS)
4. Resident Evil: Revelations (3DS)
5. Uncharted: Golden Abyss (PSVita)
6. Sumioni (PSVita)
7. Sound Shapes (PSVita)
8. Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 (DS)
9. Resident Evil 6 (PS3)
10.. FFXIII-2 (when it's cheap) (PS3)
11.  The Last of US (PS3) (but more so I just want to own it when it's cheap, because I might be too scared to play)
12.  Jak & Daxter HD Collection (PS3)
13.  Lollipop Chainsaw (PS3)

That's all I can think of at the moment.  I can't say I'm really looking forward to much.  But, I'm sure this list will grow a lot.  Psh.  Now let's see if I can remember to refer to it throughout the year. 

The Unexpected Friday

Our Friday plans did not go as planned.

There was supposed to be a dinner at Brasserie 8 1/2 but as the day wore on, work happened and other crazy stories involving a certain Frass happened (but best of luck to you!) and dinner was canceled.

It happens and that's that but H1 and I still managed to find some amusement after work obligations.

What we found was a "safe" haven in preparation for the future Zombie Apocalypse, Fandango Paper Bags getting the Handbag treatment, cutie owls in retail and Bitler.

In our ongoing series for preparation in Our Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse, which many of you have chosen to ignore, H1 and I have continued to find plot our escape and scope out suspicious activity in Grand Central Terminal.

On Friday, we found one such suspicious thing.

We see some folks at Grand Central have been prepping and start construction on something but don't they freakin' know that zombies can climb ladders?! Not very smart, folks.  A re-design is in order.

Picture of the Week

It was Papa HOchie's Birthday this week.

We got him a cake.  What kind? It's a secret...

Currently listening to: "Giruvegan Mystery" by a whole bunch of people from the Final Fantasy XII Original Soundtrack.

Let's Recap: Pork + Birthday = Tasty Love

What better way to celebrate a Birthday than with pork? (Answers to Rhetorical question need not apply).

It's true that Momma HOchie loves us.  However, I am beginning to suspect that she may love Papa HOchie the most and why shouldn't she?

Well...I mean, he did deny her rum cake at the airport in Trinidad that one time... perhaps she forgot that little incident but who am I to remind her? Especially when I would not have wanted to deny myself a participation in the awesome time meal that she prepared for him for his Birthday on Thursday last.

When we got home, we were greeted by Chinese style West Indian food of the epic variety.

Roast belly pork? Yes, please.

The End of Year Review III: Video Games 2011, Part III

Finally, the Top 10 in my very late End of Year Reviews for 2011: Video Games.

Let's just get to them, shall we?

10.  Catherine

Developer: Atlus Persona Team

Publisher: Atlus

Play Time: ?

Status: Unfinished

The minute this game started, I loved the style of it.  From the very cool soundtrack to the sharp animation and the settings, it oozed style.  The presentation of a play/tv show/theatre house was interesting and then things got nightmarish.

I knew going in this was supposed to be a horror sort of game.  It's not Resident Evil scary but monsters lurked and the urban legend was laid out.

Happy Birthday!

Today we celebrate the birthday of young one, Papa HOchie.  He's a rock solid 26 this year.  Wooo! We hope you have a good day, Daddy. 

Don't let those blasted ground hogs steal your thunder or Winter...or Spring, as the case may be.  Or your...shadow?

Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit. Hare, Hare, Hare.

Well, it's that time again - the first of the month!

Ooo, and it looks like we're in a leap year! That means we need extra good luck to cover that one extra day.  So, here's to wishing everyone the best of luck.

(The Almost Mis)adventures in Restaurant Week, 2012: Cipriani Dolci

Restaurant Week for the first round in February is upon us once more; and once more, we're making a conscious effort to get together with frenemies and try a place or two if we can manage.

As if not plainly obvious from our adventures last year at Brasserie and Hatsuhana, H1 and I are all for Restaurant Week.  Some may argue it's a crap thing to do that does not benefit business or is not a true representation of the food one may find at participating place.  For us, Restaurant Week offers us a chance to dine on a budget; we discover new places that may otherwise never get money from us; and if a restaurant offers a good enough meal, that encourages us to try it again sometime.

As we've said before, there are so many great places to eat at in the city that ideally we would not like to go to the same place twice but the reality is, through word of mouth we've been recommended to go to some places by friends and we've recommended some to others and may share a future meal with them if we liked a place enough.

The other thing about Restaurant Week is that it gives us a chance to spend a nice evening with frenemies.  Of course, if some of our frenemies would get back to us, we could truly enjoy ourselves...Frass  (seriously though, no worries if you can't make it.  No need to feel guilt for anything but just let us know.  We're actually concerned about you at this point since we've not heard back).

Friday night, H1 and I went out with our favourite Aims to Cipriani Dolci located in Grand Central Terminal.  As shocking as it may seem, The HOchieS have never been to Cipriani.  Italian food does not move me but that's not entirely accurate of me to say.  Have I even had true, good Italian food? Perhaps once or twice but I am not a good judge on Italian food and therefore feel I have no right to speak on the matter.

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

It's the Year of the Dragon everyone!

http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail58.html

May your year be full on awesome burnination, wing-a-lings, beefy arms and consummate V's.

Also, thatched roof cottages.

Happy Birthday!

I am sending Birthday wishes to my Imaginary Friend, Fred.

Does that mean I should be sending Imaginary Birthday wishes? Or does it not matter? 

Food of Champions

Never chronicled before (at least, I don't think so), I present to you one of my favourite quick time foods that H1 specializes in making.

There's nothing better than spaghetti with vienna sausages a la H1.

Just look at how beautiful it is!

More importantly, it tastes beautiful.  What's in there? There are secret ingredients in here other than the love.

The HOchieS in Winter

If there's one thing H1 despises, it's snow.

If there's one thing Or 2 despises, it's snow that falls on a Saturday completely reducing any chance of a snow day from work.

Yet, here we are.

Oh the depression this Saturday morning for the first real snow fall in NY for 2012!

::sigh::

Here are some pictures I braved the cold to go take.  Okay, well  maybe I stood from my front door and took the first two...but the others! Braved the cold, I did.

The End of Year Review III: Video Games, Part II

So, did you guys manage to read Part I? You got through that already, did you? Wait, what...? You didn't even look at it?! You bastards!

That's okay because I couldn't read it either.

But! You should read these from 20 through 11, okay?

The End of Year Review III: Video Games 2011, Part I

In 2010 I managed to play about 20 or so games.

Last year, it was 30+.

...

I also decided unless I really wanted a Collector's Edition or there was a pre-order incentive that was a must have for me, then I'd buy everything on sale. Turns out games go on sale all the time or you can just wait until the end of year. So uh, yeah... that strategy did not really work out for me.

Due to the fact that the amount of games played last year is just staggering (I feel, anyway), I have decided it would be a kind gesture to myself (and to whoever wants to read) to break up the reviews in blocks.

As before and not uncommon, I have a serious backlog. It's a shameful backlog but who does not have one? And so, I played some games released in 2011 and some released prior to that.

So, read on!

It all starts with 30 through 21...

Yeaauuhhhhh!!!!

Congratulations to Beetchie on passing her boards!

Woo!

We're very excited for you because we knew you could do it and you put in so many years of hard work!

It's super awesome.

We're also very excited for ourselves because guess who's one step closer to becoming a Suga' Momma?

Beetchie, that's who.

Thoughts for the Day

It's been a while since I've listed any Thoughts for the Day.  It's also been a while since I changed the Obsessions for the Week but that'll have to wait just a bit longer.

Thoughts...on Music:

As I was listening to The Beatles this week, it occurred to me that if bands these days wrote half as good as The Beatles, we'd not have to listen to a lot of the nonsense out there these days.

It might also mean that everyone would have to delve into a lot more drugs, but it's all for the music! Think about the music...

Thoughts...on Berries (Conversation of the Day):


Or 2: I think when blue berries were named, not much thought or creativity went into it.  It's the stepchild of berries.


What's worse, said person who named the blue berry did not even take the time to bite into one to see that it's not even blue on the inside.


H1: They're blue because they are the stepchild of berries.  Not even berries' biological child.  All very sad.