Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Haiku Hump Day: VIDEO GAMES

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Yes, it’s time, gang: one of the surest brands or markers of geekiness – the video game. From its humble beginnings as Pong to the current crop of MMORPGs (or , for the layman, “mmorpgs”), the Video Game has transformed our lives, or at least, transformed the lives of those who care about these sorts of things. I'm posting this at 1:30am East Coast time, because dammit, it's Wednesday here, and I can't wait. West Coast alcoholics and loners, here's your chance to get in under the radar!

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Bear in mind these pictures shouldn’t mislead, and this shouldn’t just cover 80s video games per se, but anything tangentially related: WarGames, Tron, The Wizard (yes, THAT Fred Savage movie), the song “Pac Man Fever,” the cartoon Saturday Morning Supercade, the silly Nintendo robot, The King Of Kong, or even that peculiar sense of loss as you watch a loved one get consumed by level after level of Halo or Zaxxon. Anything that could tangentially be related to anything video game-y is fair game. Game-y.

Zaxxon sucks, by the way. And Qix is one of the best secret 80s games of all time…

Hopefully we may stumble across the secret origin of the reason behind JPX’s Horrorthon name (which I didn’t know, and always wanted to ask, and then stumbled across it on one of the other linked blogs…). Maybe everyone already knows, but I found it fascinating.

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I’ve had religious experiences with video games. I’ve seen entire dorm floors become united. United in the common goal of figuring out who was the best at Sega Hockey, or who could Battle Mode in Mario Kart the longest, or who could find all the pieces of Toe Jam & Earl’s spaceship the fastest. It was almost…religiulous.

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I have been brought to tears, to the brink of madness, to anger, to elation, to waves of peace – all through Games. I once smashed a novelty plastic set of bowling pins in my dorm hallway when I lost a best of 7 Grudge Match Series of Street Fighter II Turbo against my roommate (he liked Blanka, I liked E. Honda – I can’t BELIEVE he beat me), and I once had a real hot make-out session with a girl when we won Toe Jam & Earl together, and my roommate and I once stayed up until 6 in the morning to see who would reach 100 victories first in the SMK (SNES) Match Race Ghost Valley 1 track. Ahem, it was me.

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Hopefully we will discover everyone’s real depth of feeling on which Combat level was the best (the one with the ricocheting bullets), why Coleco Vision was arguably the best system (it was the first “Great” system, and had the most accurate version of Pac Man going, plus the first sideways-scroller: Smurf).

This topic can range back and forth over the years. The Mortal Kombat techno album, the first First Person Shooter (Castle Wolfenstein 3D, not Doom), the topic itself is very widely interpretable. Let your minds roam wild and free - wild and free over pixels, the music/cacophony of the 80s arcade game room, the insane concepts behind certain games (you’re a chef, wandering a series of ladders, stamping down buns, lettuce, meat and tomatoes to form burgers on the basement level. And there’s a fried egg trying to kill you. But you have pepper).

Hopefully this isn’t a polarizing topic – even those of us who may not “game” every day can surely come up with 17 syllables on the pitfalls of Pitfall, the poles in Pole Position, and the tempests in, um, Tempest.

(That had the cool dial thing, and you just spun around shooting. And then there was Arkanoid, which was like Super Breakout but like in space. And then there was Centipede, with the trackball, like totally revolutionary, and then there was Burger Time…)

135 comments:

HandsomeStan said...

My girlfriend has become increasingly interested in this blog over the last few weeks as a direct result of Haiku Hump Day. We will call her "MrsX" for now...

She has offered up the following Guest Haikus as motivation and inspiration for those who feel like they might not have anything to say this week:

Yeah! Video Games!
What I’d say if I ever
Got off Level 1

And...

Things are chasing me
Can’t they just make a game where
Things aren’t chasing me?

And now, my humble kickoff offering:

Just got all the dots
I hope I'm out of this maze
Well, crap - a new maze

Happy Haiku-ing, everyone!

JPX said...

"Adventure" was cool
But the hero was a "square"
He was a damn square!

JPX said...

Everybody knows
That Frogger is a chick game
I still suck at it

JPX said...

Defender looked neat
But it was complicated
Too stressful for me

JPX said...

By the way I love MrsX's,

"Things are chasing me
Can’t they just make a game where
Things aren’t chasing me?"

Okay more,

Tempest was awesome
I loved the spinning dial
We need more like that

Joysticks often broke
Once I was pressing so hard
I got a blister

Dragon's Lair rocked
But it cost a half-dollar
And you died quickly

JPX said...

I ruled at Tetris
I was a champ in college
I never got laid

Catfreeek said...

Came over to play
Shadows of the Empire game
Brent was so obsessed

Good times, we laughed so
Dropping treat bombs, flashing stars
Mario Kart rules!

Matt & Brent playing
My kids watching and waiting
When was it their turn?

Gruesome gory deaths
Heads ripped off in angry heat
Yes, Mortal Kombat

First Mario game
Couldn't shut the system off
Why is there no save?

What video games?
We just had pinball machines
Then along came pong

Fight games, not for me
I prefer a mystery
I'll play Silent Hill

JPX said...

Those words still haunt me
"Dinner time, shut the game off!"
No high score for me

Catfreeek said...

I know it. My friend and I were playing Super Mario 3 and my oldest son was 2. We had left the system on for 2 days and were at the last level, my son runs by and gets caught in the controller wire, yanks it out and the game freezes. Surprisingly he survived the ordeal.

Catfreeek said...

The game just won't work
Insert, turn it on, nothing
Ahhh, just blow on it

Funny kids playing
Bomber man was the new game
They marched when they won

Which one was better
Choose Sonic or Mario
I pick the plumber

Was playing Zelda
Fought hard to save the princess
The ungrateful bitch

Johnny Sweatpants said...

Psst. Up, up, down, down
Left, right, left, right, B, A, Start
Now you are cool too

Johnny Sweatpants said...

There goes Mario
Another wacky adventure
He sure loves his drugs

Johnny Sweatpants said...

You can take your Wii
Shove it squarely up your ass
Pacman's all I need

Johnny Sweatpants said...

Drop a bomb right here
A secret to everyone?
Just give me my coins

Johnny Sweatpants said...

I'll take Blanca please
Freaky green electric beast
Get out of my way!

Johnny Sweatpants said...

Nothing more intense
Than 3rd round double danger
One mistake - you're dead!

JPX said...

Yay, intermission!
Will Ms. Pacman catch Pacman?
Yes, they will clunk heads

Johnny Sweatpants said...

I've got 3 red shells
And a lightning bolt to boot
Nothing can stop me

JPX said...

In advanced levels
Power pellets do nothing
It's a damn cock tease

Octopunk said...

Jump, dive, backflip, shoot
Just want to BE Lara Croft
In a way, I am

Johnny Sweatpants said...

I took Matt's high score
On his own machine no less
He's in therapy

HandsomeStan said...

I'd like to welcome JSP back to the fold. Way to work in the "30 lives" code AND 3rd round double danger! And JPX has broken the penis seal already, well done! Cat's haikus have taken me down memory lane - hilarious! (Remember taking the N64 out of the box 2 weeks before Christmas, and hoping Junior didn't know? He knew...)

I wish we had audio here so I could play the "Okay get your ass ready" music from Contra that played right before the next level. Then, at 11pm tonight, I could play the "Hey you better hurry up" music from Super Mario.

Nobody beats me
In Match Race Ghost Valley 1
Mushrooms make me fly

And, to rebut JSP:

The Wii is awesome
I can swing a lightsaber
Like almost for real

JPX said...

The Wii is awesome
Play Mario Galaxy
You'll never look back

HandsomeStan said...

BTW, Cat, the "ungrateful bitch" is hilarious, as is the SM3 story - I wish THAT was in haiku form!

Get your ship captured
An unconventional way
To double lasers

Only a true man
Can make it to Red Levels
Without dying once

Catfreeek said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Catfreeek said...

Hmmm....

On the last level
System left on for 3 days
Junior!The wire! Fuuuuuck!!!

P.S.
That delete was totally about JPX but don't tell him, k

JPX said...

I knew it!

Johnny Sweatpants said...

Bicycle kick face!
Turn into huge dragon now!
Ha ha, bite you dead!

Johnny Sweatpants said...

You've angered Raiden
Mock my giant hat, will you?
*guy fucking explodes*

Johnny Sweatpants said...

(The rest of my haiku energy will be devoted to Mortal Kombat 2 fatalities...)

Haw, get over here!
Now check out my ninja skull...
Right before you burn!

Gordon Highland said...

miner works the shaft
spelunking my Commodore
Lode Runneth over

Great site, by the way. Found this place via Chris and nowandzen.

HandsomeStan said...

Welcome aboard, G! I see you wasted no time going dirty - excellent work!

To JSP:

It's down forward back back
High kick: Liu Kang has become
A giant dragon

Julie said...

How I love you, Link.
Nintendo 64 rocked.
I finished the game.

Catfreeek said...

No need to learn moves
Get my ass beat anyway
Punch random buttons

Running through the street
Like touring my former home
Shen Mu took me back

Others played systems
But I was on my pc
Exploring Myst realm

Sub-zero alone
Goes solo with his own game
Too bad that it sucked

Do you remember
How Barney spoke like Shang Tsung
He'd say, "Finish him!"

HandsomeStan said...

I concur, Julie - I didn't leave the house for two weeks straight playing that game.

And I just noticed my syllable count is off in the last one. Ignore the "It's."

Our jungle mission
Sure are lots of aliens -
Where are the contras?

Spreader gun was best
Laser really sucked big time
Machine gun just lame

HandsomeStan said...

Where is the Princess?
"She's in another castle"?
You little bastard

Did Bowser capture
AC, Dana and miko?
Send in the plumber!

Catfreeek said...

Brain fit to explode
Same songs played ad nauseam
Fuck Guitar Hero

Moving and sweating
A Tony Little workout?
Nah, just DDR

Noisy arcade room
Lights blinking, bells ring, what joy
Got any quarters?

HandsomeStan said...

Cat, it's like you keep hitting Power Ups or something - brilliant stuff!

Ferris Bueller played
Global Thermonuclear War
And we almost died

Catfreeek said...

It helps that I am on vacation this week and that I chose today to stay home and do laundry. So time is on my side :)

AC said...

yeah, i'm at work and it's so not my topic, but out of solidarity:

1982
space invaders after school
hypnotic rows march

wii slalom skiing
ac deftly hits most flags
oh, that's not the point?

a high school boyfriend
was pissed off when i beat him
at galaxian

exchanging quarters
for a new identity
a bargain for teens

Johnny Sweatpants said...

When he skewers you
He will look you in the eyes
He gets off on it

Johnny Sweatpants said...

(scratch that - I don't want to be limited)

Remember Gauntlet?
It doesn't really hold up
Unsatisfying.

Octopunk said...

Yeah, Gauntlet was lame
"So-and-so needs food badly"
The ghosts never stop

Octopunk said...

What did it look like
To be Pac-Man in that maze?
Oh! Tunnel Runner

Chris said...

Great entries all around. I literally laughed out loud at "Mock my giant hat, will you?" This so makes me look forward to Wednesday. Thanks for letting me play!

Life changed with V-games.
Most things were cool, but not all.
"Pac-Man Fever" blew.

Wife's been kissed and held.
As she sleeps, I slip from bed.
World of Warcraft calls!

Tall buildings? Puh-lease.
I, Crazy Climber, will...AGGHHHHH!
Fucking flower pot.

Octopunk said...

Scrounging for quarters
Arcade games at Rainbow Farms!
Biking in the wind

I Love Rock and Roll
Jukebox Joan Jett gave me speed
Centipede high score

JPW
Spun the spinner bit too far
Now he's JPX

Barrington banned them
Those games are bad influence
I kind of agreed

After school each day
Must find at least a dollar
Just had to go play

Johnny Sweatpants said...

Aaah, Toe Jam & Earl
Made by stoners for stoners
Just wander around

Landshark said...

Little bags of coins,
Lines form at Dragon's Lair
Arcade Birthday bash!

Dude has a chainsaw
Seriously scary shit
Resident Evil

Just getting set up,
and here comes a Korean kid
and his huge Zerg army...

Johnny Sweatpants said...

Oh you like your arms?
What if I just tore them off?
My friends call me Jax

Johnny Sweatpants said...

Deadly Mileena
Breaks your heart then eats you whole
Hall & Oates were right

Landshark said...

Hype building for months.
Atari captures zeitgeist!
You call that Pac-Man?

Chris said...

Dang, just one quarter.
Better play Pole Position.
I know the pattern.

Landshark said...

New bro got Disney
Channel just to tape Tron.
Welcome to Nerdville!

Johnny Sweatpants said...

Atari Pacman
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
Lame, lame, lame, lame, lame

Catfreeek said...

I have one question
Does The Oregon Trail count
as video game?

I think Brent enjoyed
Beating my kids at Kombat
He smiled when they cried

First game that I beat
Simon's Quest which had vampires
and a way cool whip

Most folks are fond of
Mario and Luigi
Wario's my man

I can't believe that
up until this point no one's
mentioned Asteroids

Landshark said...

Rushing? Better get gone!
If booming, keep them working...
Turtlers just build.

Julie said...

It is so awesome
To have games on my Iphone.
What else can I say?

Julie said...

Link, how I miss you.
Had to go and have a kid.
No time for Zelda.

Catfreeek said...

Most annoying game
Pika-who? Oh, Pikachu
I hate Pokemon

Julie said...

Wow, here comes the sun.
Up all night, killed boss monster.
Man, those were the days.

JPX said...

Oh Crazy Climber
You sure picked the wrong building
Why not use the stairs?

JPX said...

Qbert sure looked cute
But the game was confusing
Stupid 3D cubes!

JPX said...

I liked Robotron
Not that I was good at it
Bloop bloop bloop bloop bloop

JPX said...

Crude, complicated
Raiders of the Lost Ark game
Those damn tee-see flies!

JPX said...

Sounded promising
Remember the E.T. game?
No? Because it sucked!

Octopunk said...

Lunar Lander hard!
Saw it again years later
Landed on first try

AC said...

what do we call those
who placed chewed gum on consoles?
is "gretchwads" a word?

JPX said...

Moon Patrol was fun
But after a few minutes
Moon Patrol's not fun

JPX said...

Long line of quarters
Sigh, I'll never get to play
God I hate game hogs!

Johnny Sweatpants said...

KISS: Psycho Circus
Like so many KISS products
Shoddy through and through

Johnny Sweatpants said...

Doesn't matter though
Because it's a KISS product
and Ace Frehley rules

HandsomeStan said...

Mileena, Jax, Moon Patrol, Cat's crying children, AC's bf that sucked at Galaxian - I am DYING over here :)

(Fortunately I've got 2 more lives)

Julie, I'm really enjoying your devotion to Link. And Octo, way to get the JPX Origin Story in there!

Everyone is hilarious and brilliant as usual. This is going to be hard, like beating Dracula in Castlevania kind of hard. I don't know why, but that game and Rygar haunted me. Could never fucking beat them. (I mean, I did, eventually...)

4-Player X-Men
Collossus had one big yell
I wish I had it

JPX said...

Awesome Rainbow Farm memories, Octo!

Stupid gorilla!
Donkey Kong, you got the girl
What's your intention?

Poor man's Donkey Kong
Remember Congo Bongo?
Couldn't get past stage 1.

JPX said...

Octo's malicious!
Made me mess up Jungle Hunt
Flung me off the vines

He justified it
Claiming that it was revenge
For Pole Position

But the real truth is,
The game was already done
No way he could win

Too far from the flag,
His car would never make it
Yet he still blames me

I was doing well
Swinging through the vines with grace
Octo made me die

His driving was poor
Never had a chance to win
Took it out on me

AC said...

handsome stan's girlfriend
inspired husband aka
jon (mr. ac):

a bent paper clip
thrust into the coin return
will yield free credits

pumping up dragons
with your little white nozzle
this game makes no sense.

JPX said...

Awesome, Mr. AC, I completely forgot about Dig Dug!

Broken arcade game
Would give shocks when you played it
Of course I still played!

Octopunk said...

JPX won't learn
Game's progress not the issue
Don't touch my buttons

JPX said...

Didn't kill Octo
Killed me intentionally
Justifiable?

AC said...

commercials do suck
except on haiku hump day
read blog during LOST!

JPX said...

Taping LOST right now
Will be watching it Friday
Fantastic season!

Activision sucked
Yes, Pitfall was really fun
Indy Jones rip-off?

HandsomeStan said...

Haiku therapy
JPX versus Octo
Jury debating

Death or button-touch
Seems both of you are guilty
Of playing crap games

JPX said...

The big difference
Octo was already dead
Owes me a quarter!

HandsomeStan said...

Stop! Judge! ...JPX
Only because Jungle Hunt
Was slightly better

(And a belated warm welcome to Mr. AC. This legal battle took up all my attention. Wonderful contributions! And you definitely put Dig Dug in its place!)

(If this thread reaches 100 comments, I think I get an extra life...)

Octopunk said...

My Pole Position
Finish line in sight -- but no!
JPX downshift

I might have made it
But that is not the issue
Don't touch my buttons

Hippie Tarzan guy
Lets go on the backswing, dies
His screams my revenge

And consider this:
Wanton act not repeated
So I rest my case

Octopunk said...

Handsome Stan, but why?
Are you sure you had the facts?
And what would you do?

HandsomeStan said...

Now I have both sides
Karate Champ reference
Too good to pass up

Seems that Octopunk
May have a point after all
Jury hung again

Both acts immoral
Who did the greater evil?
Why did he downshift?

DKC said...

We had Atari
I played Pong, not very well
Octo ruled then too.

Probably my fave
was Tempest at Anne-N-Hope
Worst "food court" ever.

Now I play the games
on Webkinz and Nick Jr.
Hey! Don't be haters!

Really want a Wii
Fantasize it will get my
Arse up off the couch.

JPX said...

The game was over
I was merely having fun
Downshift meant nothing

Jungle Hunt is fun
Sometimes it's called Jungle King
Pole Position stinks

JPX said...

I know Webkinz well
My kid has built a mansion
I think he's too old

HandsomeStan said...

MrsX also wanted to throw in a couple more:

Pac Man - yay! Chomp, chomp...
Eat the dots. What? Ghosts are bad?
Dead. Your turn again.

and...

Been 60 minutes.
Still his turn. Remind me please
Why is this so fun?

[she really does play, she's just acting...]

JPX said...

Tunnel Runner ruled
Scary sounds and cool graphics
Often overlooked

Spy Hunter was fun
Obviously James Bond
Roger Moore; best Bond

Octo had Math Fun
There's something wrong with that name
Math is just not fun

"Surround" was awesome
I think Tron ripped this game off
I want to play it

JPX said...

Colecovision
Is my favorite game system
I wish I could play Looping

nowandzen said...

Why, why won't they die
Exhausted means, no more hope
Oh ya, Boom! Head shot

JPX said...

Worst system ever,
The Magnavox Odyssey?
Intellivision!

nowandzen said...

Base built time to kill
Behold my strategy fools
Oh Shit! Korean!

AC said...

jpx can't make
bond comment without fallout:
octo has my vote.

nowandzen said...

Eat it diving bees
Double ship, now feel my wrath!
Sigh, one more quarter

JPX said...

Yay, I found the dot!
If I put it over here
I can read credits

(Adventure, folks)

nowandzen said...

Drudgery, plain work
Endless quests for what purpose
Ding, level forty

JPX said...

AC, how was LOST????

A LOST game would rock
A time traveling island
I'd want to be Locke

nowandzen said...

Wargames a movie
Matthew Broderick actor
George thought it was too

AC said...

LOST was good. handsome
stan gets his wish, 100
comments in this thread!

nowandzen said...

Gamer geek persona
No dates, no girlfriend no sex
My e-peen is huge!

AC said...

dana, husband searched
for "wii fit" for many months.
got it; used it once. :(

Octopunk said...

Intellivision
George Plimpton made me feel bad
Then I played it -- sucked!

Octopunk said...

Oh yeah, Spy Hunter!
Icy roads suck, boat is best
Oil slicks catch on fire

HandsomeStan said...

Dunt-dah-dah, DUNT-dah-dah. DUNT DAH DAH!

The polls close at midnite eastern time. Hurry Mario - you're running out of time!

nowandzen's got some late breaking strong entires - LOVE the Galaga one!

Was Octo also
Responsible for the 'X'
In "JPX"? Yes?

Landshark said...

Playing Ocarina
these days--downloaded to Wii.
The twins are obsessed..

"I told my teacher
my dad beat King Dodongo!"
I bet she said, "huh?"

Landshark said...

Sports games nowadays:
"Put your own face in the game!"
Meh. Kinda creepy.

Glass Joe, Bald Bull...done,
Now all hard work to pay off.
Fuck me, Tyson's fast!

Landshark said...

Hunting in closet
Found parents' Santa stash. YESSSSS!!!!!!!
Coleco Vision!!!!

Landshark said...

The "secret" room in
Adventure. Biggest buzzkill
letdown of all time?

Landshark said...

Was your finger magic?
Rubbing the cartridge. Blowing.
Good ol' NES.

Octopunk said...

Atari Pac-Man
Worth two Adventure let-downs
Plus sock in wet spot

Landshark said...

Simplicity rules.
Fun, quick, challenging, charming...
I give you Portal.

HandsomeStan said...

West Coast has more time
Unprecedented Comments
Now midnite your time

(Landshark, Octo - brilliant!)

Johnny Sweatpants said...

Hey, how's it going?
Sub-Zero, nice to meet you.
Good luck opponent.

What's that - you can't move?
'Cuz you're totally frozen?
Upper-fucking-cut!

Did I mention that
I kill people all day long?
Shoulda saved your coins...

Ha ha ha ha ha.
I can freeze the very ground
that you're walking on.

Foot sweep? Afraid not.
Ever seen an ice grenade?
Kinda looks like - THIS!!!

*guy blows up*

50PageMcGee said...

Hi! My name's Q-Bert!
I jump up, then I jump down
Stupid, boring game

50PageMcGee said...

I *get* my life now
"found religion?" you ask me
No, the Sims taught me

HandsomeStan said...

Fitty, I concur. SimCity was a great excuse to sit around and play God with everyone. Teaches you some perspective.

JSP, well done! I like how SubZero has appeared on both the "ninjas" and "video games" haiku days.

I realy like the "Did I mention that" haiku. If ever one were to trash-talk video game prowess through haiku, that would be the way to go.

Johnny Sweatpants said...

Time for my 2 cents...
Octo VS. JPX
JPX was wrong.

Come on, my brother
You should know damn well better
than to pull that crap

Fun is fun and all
But you have got to respect
Other people's space

Johnny Sweatpants said...

But at the same time...
Octo you were out of line -
"JPX" - your fault?

Johnny Sweatpants said...

The way I heard it,
They were both out of control
Showdown is required.

A fight to the death
Octo VS JPX!
Only one is right...

HandsomeStan said...

If Octo did "X"
Then JPX justified
I'd downshift that guy

Octopunk said...

You know this thing, "All
your base are belong to us."
Ha ha ha ha ha.

Octopunk said...

I just JPXed
Octopunk. I mean, I'm Julie.
Signed in as him. Yikes.

Octopunk said...

Jeez, babe, use your Mac
And watch your syllable count
That's the Math Fun way

Octopunk said...

The "X" was brilliant
I would do it again, but
First time was not me

His very first time
Getting initials on game
He screwed up surname

That Tempest spinner
Has a lot of momentum
That's why we love it

It was days later
Got the chance for W
He was so careful

Didn't see me though
I ticked it one letter more
Before he pressed Fire

You gotta admit
That's freakin' hilarious
I'm grinning right now

The Tempest Affair
Has never been connected
To JungleHuntgate

Perhaps I did wrong?
Never! Tarzan deserved it
I regret nothing

Johnny Sweatpants said...

All hail Octopunk
Perfectly executed
I'da done the same

Anonymous said...

Those are interesting video games... I like them!!

JPX said...

Final fleeting thought
Burger Time is dangerous
I've been killed by meat

Julie said...

Stupid fucking "Reese"
Spammed our comments but too dumb
To make a haiku.

Catfreeek said...

Holy crap! I went to bed and there were 85 comments, woke up to 131. I don't envy you having to pick one from all these gems HS. Took me 45 minutes to read them all. Hilarious! Great topic.

This one doesn't count cause it's way past the cut off but it popped into my head and refers to you so I had to post it:

Fun wrestling game
Matt taught my kids all the moves
Zeke mastered nut punch

DKC said...

Same here Cat, can't believe how many comments this generated!! Great pic Handsome.

Octo - that comment about "Plus sock in wet spot" made me laugh out loud! (Since that is about the worst thing EVER!)

Julie said...

What's funny is that I totally didn't get the wet sock line, but I was right here reading it with Octo so he clarified. I'm not sure why it didn't click, since every time I've ever stepped in a wet spot in the kitchen and said, "Wet socks!" Octo has groaned in empathetic annoyance and frustration. So hate that feeling.

JPX said...

Even worse is accidentally knocking over the dog dish. Nothing grosser than having to clean up "dog water". Shudder.

Malevolent

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