monthly status update
I played in a magic tournament last week for the first time in a while. It was up in LA, and the prize was a free trip to Japan to play at the pro tour there. After six rounds I was 5-1, needing one win to make the top 8 and play the elimination rounds. My opponent and I split the first two games, and in game 3 my opponent has to spend a lot of resources to deal with one threat, while I had a card in my hand that would win the game on my next turn. I show him the card and say, "Sorry, man, you played well and you have a good deck, but I got the cards this time." He grunts and slumps in his chair as I fill out the result slip (indicating myself as the winner), sign it, and push it toward him for him to sign. At this point I start picking up some of my cards, and he calls the judge over. "He didn't actually make any play, he just flashed a card in his hand and started picking up his cards." The judge rules that I have shuffled away a couple cards, so he can't verify the game state and he has to assume I conceded. So that was a pretty frustrating way to lose the tournament, and I'm still pretty shocked by the sleaziness of my opponent.
For New Year's I was in LA again, this time to go to a rave called Together As One. I had VIP tix to the party (I find the whole concept of vip tix at a rave with that theme pretty hilarious), but it's not clear to me that it was worth it. For $90 more you get a shorter (but still substantial) line to get inside and free drinks all night in the vip area. If you're planning to drink a lot anyway, it makes sense to avoid the concession prices, but I had to avoid getting hammered since I was planning to drive home. The rave overall was good but not great. Armin van Buuren is a fine DJ but most of the stuff he played didn't exactly blow me away. I also didn't go up with anyone this time, and I failed to meet up with any of the friends that were supposedly there. The outfit I wore was a purple robe with a leopard-print fur collar and matching fuzzy leopard-print hat (purchased at a vintage clothing store a couple days earlier). Unfortunately I no longer have the hat. A hot chick asked me for it and I handed it over, thinking she'd just asked to touch it. In fact she wanted to keep it, and I let it go rather than demanding it back. Freakin' hot chicks think they can just demand people's clothes *mutter*.
I have a date on Sunday! I met her online and have traded some e-mails, but this will be our first time meeting in person. I'm taking her to a swanky Italian joint; here's hoping it goes well.
For New Year's I was in LA again, this time to go to a rave called Together As One. I had VIP tix to the party (I find the whole concept of vip tix at a rave with that theme pretty hilarious), but it's not clear to me that it was worth it. For $90 more you get a shorter (but still substantial) line to get inside and free drinks all night in the vip area. If you're planning to drink a lot anyway, it makes sense to avoid the concession prices, but I had to avoid getting hammered since I was planning to drive home. The rave overall was good but not great. Armin van Buuren is a fine DJ but most of the stuff he played didn't exactly blow me away. I also didn't go up with anyone this time, and I failed to meet up with any of the friends that were supposedly there. The outfit I wore was a purple robe with a leopard-print fur collar and matching fuzzy leopard-print hat (purchased at a vintage clothing store a couple days earlier). Unfortunately I no longer have the hat. A hot chick asked me for it and I handed it over, thinking she'd just asked to touch it. In fact she wanted to keep it, and I let it go rather than demanding it back. Freakin' hot chicks think they can just demand people's clothes *mutter*.
I have a date on Sunday! I met her online and have traded some e-mails, but this will be our first time meeting in person. I'm taking her to a swanky Italian joint; here's hoping it goes well.