No, this post has nothing to do with movies, or videogames, or anything ‘fun’ at all.

Sorry I just needed to get that out there, right off the bat. What this post DOES have to do with, is me. It’s a way for me to let everyone (i.e. whoever actually reads this) to know what I’ve been going through lately.

About 3 weeks ago, I suffered what is commonly known as a panic attack, or what I would like to refer to as… a complete nervous breakdown. I was at work, and after eating a very mediocre microwaved lunch at my desk, I was suddenly overcome with a slight sense of dread and tension… however the more I thought about it, the worse it became.

I took a walk around the building outside for a few minutes, but it didn’t seem to subside and after speaking with my wife for what seemed like an hour on the phone (it was more like 5 minutes), I broke down and suffered what was probably the most terrifying experience of my life. The specifics are very difficult to describe, but the only way I can imagine explaining it, is this = Imagine you are in a plane, and the pilot alerts you that you are going to crash, and you KNOW you will die, however you have no idea how long it will take, how horrible it will be when you crash, what everything will look like around you as you inevitably die, etc.

Now, imagine you are talking with your wife on a cellphone, in an office parking lot… experiencing those exact feelings and sensations. Make any sense? Of course not… but that’s what I went through.

I’ve since experienced two very similar, but much more mild ‘episodes’ but they are no less scary. I am now on medication, which isn’t what I wanted, but if it will help me figure out a way to handle the day to day stress that I’ve been dealing with for years, then great.

Anyways, the Christmas holidays have been the perfect time to try to unwind and relax, however I’ve had a cold for the last 5 days. Lucky me! Also, my wife and I spent Christmas dinner in the Emergency Room with our 1 year old who was (and still is) suffering from Croup. I need to look on the bright side of things I know, but it’s really hard sometimes.

Yeah, I know…. it’s May already. How dare I get away with a top 10 list of upcoming movies in 2011 when it’s nearly half way done? Well, the start of the summer movie season, love it or hate it, is upon us and with it brings the ultimate popcorn CGI fests, along with the occasional Triple-A scorcher.

In my past lists, there were definitely some duds, but they each had an impact in one way or another.

So, I will not keep you waiting, my picks for the Top 10 must see flicks in 2011 are… *drumroll please* (continue reading…)

Ahh Crysis, the game no one thought could run on consoles. The sequel to the game that brought even the most powerful PC to it’s knees.

Crysis 2 has been on the radar of every action game fan for a while now, and with good reason. Graphically, it’s without a doubt the nicest looking game you will ever see. It also features one of the most unique features found in any FPS game…. the “suit”. If you haven’t seen or heard about it, you can cloak, beef up armour and perform leaps and bounds with reckless abandon (well… until your energy runs out).

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So the game with the bizarre marketing campaign has finally arrived.

I say bizarre because I never actually saw game footage, or in-game screenshots until I’d played the full release. The marketing campaign, which consisted of a visual assault of nothing more than.. let’s call him “Buddy-with-the-red-blindfold”, really did a number on me. And a number of other people apparently, the game has sold over 1 million copies as of this writing.

Anyways, on to the game.

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I will begin by saying I love my daughter… more than anything else on the planet (sorry Tiff!). Please remember that, as you may think otherwise after reading my rants below. No matter what I say though, it will not change how I feel about her, and how much I love her.

It’s been just over 7 months since the world was greeted with her arrival. Well, in truly living, breathing and…. screaming… form anyways. Since then, our lives have changed in ways that I never imagined, because no matter what you’re doing, no matter what time of day, she comes first. (continue reading…)