Review Time

So now it's time for the ever-so-wonderful update on Justin's life. My next post will be my 100th, which is fitting, considering last week I just finished my 100th Event as an MC. That means total, I've seen somewhere around 120 different weddings, 5-6 Bar/bat mitzvahs and about 10-15 corporate events all as an MC and a DJ.

100 Events. What did I get? A learning experience.

You see, even though I've seen many different wedding styles, I know I haven't seen ALL of them. Not to mention, even just my general knowledge of how things work I still gain more and more each week. It's a tough process. But I continue to learn every week, every day really... and I continue for my sake to improve on what I say and do at events and in the days between and leading up to the day. But I still need to improve a lot more... and I have a review coming up... not sure if its going to be positive or not.

I've made the commitment to doing weddings. 4 years ago, I decided I wanted to be a DJ, and look at me now. I'm an MC/DJ for one of the top entertainment companies in the nation.

I'm done patting myself on the back, because now as I look forward, I have new things to work toward and work for.

First off, the continuing battle for financial security gets tougher every month. I got rid of the Civic, not because I didn't like having a sporty coupe and low gas costs, but because I couldn't afford the car itself anymore. It wasn't enough room to fit all the equipment I carry on a weekly basis.

I bought a Chevy Tracker. It's not that much bigger but it certainly helps and it keeps me from having to rely on my DJs so much. A tracker looks a lot like a Jeep Liberty or a Suzuki Vitaro... in fact its got a Suzuki engine in it. I like it a lot. Got a terrible deal on it but its better than my last deal!

Alex is out of town, she went to Paris, leaving me alone to bond with her dog Maui. I should say "our dog," cause she is by this point, but for purposes of explaination, it's her, her house, her dog. I just live with them. Although I did sneak in my PlayStation so I can play Final Fantasy XII when I have alone time! lol

Speaking of? Beat the game once already, but then I go back and theres like a whole other game worth of other stuff to beat. Why do they make a game that the "Side Quests" are more to the game than the actual story? And Harder! I fought this dude last night, took me an hour and a half monitoring the fight. Just sitting there, switching charactors, moving them around, splitting them up... it was nuts. Come to find out, that's not the hardest guy in the game... that's the next venture - but I have to work on leveling up my charactors before that happens.

Wow I'm a nerd. But let's just say I love the Final Fantasy series. It should be considered the industry standard on RPG's. It's so much more than just the fantasy aspect of swords and magic. There's more to it. The series always has a compelling and captivating story, usually a great side love story. They have gotten deeper and more complex, too, as the space constraints have been lifted on so many levels; they can really develop each of the main charactors and how they relate to the story. Each of these games is more and more like a mini soap opera, it's not even the fun of the game... it's beating it just so you can see what happens. It's like Lost but you have to fight a dragon or gain levels to get to the next episode. Final Fantasy, unlike many other knock-offs and hopefull RPGs, concentrates not just on the story, but gameplay and graphics, and most importantly to me: Music.

The original composer for Squaresoft wrote an amazing soundtrack to Final Fantasy II (really FFIV, if you know your FF history...) that added a completely new aspect to the game. The music was interactive with what was going on, it was original, it made it more of a story than just text going across the screen. I think very few RPGs have created such compelling soundtracks. I like FF's music so much I've downloaded the soundtracks before.

FF12 is no different. There's a new composer, the old one retired halfway through the completion of the game, but the music is still as fascinating as the game itself. Some of the same recognizible riffs are heard throughout the entire series, which makes it even more fun, to hear familiararties between the games, even as they've evolved from simple Nintendo 8 bit 2 channel music... to the highly anticipated FF13, which is supposed to have 64 bit 7.1 Dolby Surround, and it'll be even more theatrical. I've almost bought a PS3 simply for that game alone. It's not out yet though so I'm in no rush. =)

Enough about that... I just wanted to give my comments on it. I get a little bit of crap for playing video games, I understand, its juvenile and it's "just like every other guy." I don't care - and at least I pick a game that's not MINDLESS! I pick one that you have to put a lot of thought and time into it to be successful.

If only I put that much time and effort into making more money... hmm...

So as I was saying, Alex is gone, and I miss her a lot. Its nice having the bed to myself and the room to myself... but she really is so good for me. She keeps me in line. Right now there's shoes all over the place, clothes on the floor, the toilet seat is up, the shower curtain left open. There's dishes in the sink and I didn't bother to put last night's meal in tupperware I just through the whole pan in the fridge. In my defense though, now I can just put it back on the stove, heat, and eat.

She's good for me. I'm a lot calmer than I used to be. Since I've known her we've gone from partiers to just enjoying a nice night in, with dinner and a blockbuster movie. I do enjoy going out still, hence last Friday. But see even though I drank a little more than usual, I was still home by 1:45, and in bed by like 2:30. That's late for me! I feel like I've "grown up." Not to say that if you got out more than me that your immature or not as grown up as me... trust me if I could afford to go out more often I'd take my girl and we'd hit the town all the time. But it's not that easy these days. We're sacrificing a decent part of our social life for normal food more often and togetherness.

Plus I love sleep, going to bed at 10 with a warm body next to me is like the greatest thing ever.

Ever.

Gotta keep pushing myself more, by the end of the year I want to do some more self-back-patting! =)

PS: Special thanks to VerveEarth.com, apparently I'm one of the 'favorite' blogs. Not sure how high an honor that is but it is wonderful to be noticed, if its even just a little.

Also a shoutout to a couple peeps back home: A belated HAPPY FREAKIN' BIRTHDAY! to Lauren, I think she finally turned 25... welcome to your quarter-century anniversary, and did I hear you were engaged? Yes I do believe so, congrats!!! Speaking of Engaged, getting WAY excited that I may actally have the available funds to get myself and perhaps the girlfriend to Williamsburg to help celebrate my best friend Emily's wedding, totally stoked!!

Some local news: My home-boy DJ Adrian or DJ Adr!@n or some variation thusforth, started showing up again in the Tempe Music scene at Zuma bar and grill, I heard him Friday night - he's off the CHAIN!!! Again. Me. Nerd. Anyway, my other home-boy has collaborated with not only DJ Adrian but others to start Beyond Capacity Productions. They're one of my friends on MySpace... check 'em out.

Me Next post vill be very big, deep and well thought out. If you know anything about this blog, you know that I like to write even though I don't think I'm great at it... I just like getting stuff down. It will be my 100th post. Happy century post to me!