The game be over.

With the third installment in the Paper Mario series completed, it leaves me wondering what the Big N decides to do next with it. Being the first for the Wii, the way it all worked out was quite interesting. The use of the Wii for such a game was clever, and the simplistic controls of the basic Wiimote makes this game an easy to learn, making it a nice retro-feeling romp through yet another Mario story. However, does it stand up to its predecessors? As per the usual in my reviews, there may be some spoilers contained herein. You've been warned.

Check out my review on Fantasy World: http://www.fantasyworldxd.com/eFiction/viewstory.php?sid=16

Anyone wanna comment?

To expose adhesive, remove liner.

So the computer is fully clean, everything running normal (with the exception of an increase in boot time due to some programs I installed to prevent this from happening again). Because of that, everything is now ready for the next contest...signups begin Monday night, and I'll have a big post announcing the next character battle contest.

In other news, Dan leaves for Utah today, and I wish him luck and fun. We're planning a trip to the New York RenFaire when he returns in late August, so get ready. This year's Faire goes from August 4 to September 23.

Last Monday, saw my friend Gene, my former bible study teacher from when I was studying with Jehovah's Witnesses all through high school. Excellent person, he is--the last I saw of him was in 2003, just before leaving for New Paltz. He, a friend, April, and myself had lunch at Panera, and for him, he was wrapping up a weekend of upstate fun--went to SPAC, then Saranac Lake, and saw me. That was nice.

The next couple of weekends are do-nothing weekends, finally. Overtime has ended, and today I begin something I should've done 5 years ago--driving lessons. For the next month, I'll be taking lessons and eventually getting my license...I can finally shut up the people who've been nagging me about it since I was 16. However, should anyone from Schenectady be reading this, stay off the road from 10 AM to 11 AM today. You never know when I'm gonna feel like playing Mario Kart or Gran Turismo.

Lastly, I am once again entering the Gazette's (our local newspaper) photo contest. If you remember, I entered it last year, and one of my shots made it all the way to the final judging, where it won an honorable mention. This pic is that particular one, one of the several ancient ads from ages ago that can still be found on some old brick buildings. However, I have a new slew of pics, and should you so choose, I'd like you to take a look at them, pick the five you like the best. All these pics were taken during the last year, and some of them have found their way to DeviantArt--I should put some more of these up.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/LLoire/Schenectady%20Photo%20Competition/WoodNymph.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/LLoire/Schenectady%20Photo%20Competition/Waterfall.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/LLoire/Schenectady%20Photo%20Competition/TheOddOnesOut.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/LLoire/Schenectady%20Photo%20Competition/TheKnob.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/LLoire/Schenectady%20Photo%20Competition/SurfandTurf.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/LLoire/Schenectady%20Photo%20Competition/Sunset.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/LLoire/Schenectady%20Photo%20Competition/proctors.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/LLoire/Schenectady%20Photo%20Competition/PrincessforaDay.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/LLoire/Schenectady%20Photo%20Competition/OffintheDistance.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/LLoire/Schenectady%20Photo%20Competition/NotMyHouse.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/LLoire/Schenectady%20Photo%20Competition/Mariah.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/LLoire/Schenectady%20Photo%20Competition/LonelyRoad.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/LLoire/Schenectady%20Photo%20Competition/JayStreet.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/LLoire/Schenectady%20Photo%20Competition/InComparison.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/LLoire/Schenectady%20Photo%20Competition/InBloom.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/LLoire/Schenectady%20Photo%20Competition/Flight.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/LLoire/Schenectady%20Photo%20Competition/EbbandFlow.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/LLoire/Schenectady%20Photo%20Competition/DragonHead.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/LLoire/Schenectady%20Photo%20Competition/Crossing.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/LLoire/Schenectady%20Photo%20Competition/CloakedSunrise.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/LLoire/Schenectady%20Photo%20Competition/Broadway.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/LLoire/Schenectady%20Photo%20Competition/BlanketonStateStreet.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/LLoire/Schenectady%20Photo%20Competition/ArtistatWork.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/LLoire/Schenectady%20Photo%20Competition/AnIcyGrip.jpg

It's nearing 10...time to begin my first driving lesson. Meantime, leave me some love with regard to these pics. Please? (cute, innocent face a la Puss in Boots)