Today I finally popped my cherry.
A very personal line in which to start an online exposition (one which I am sure will haunt me in the months and years to come) but I might as well start with the same madness I wish to continue updating, so once again, today I popped my cherry.
It?s been a long time coming; I have gotten close on countless occasions, but always changed my mind at the last moment, decided that ?doing it myself? would be the ideal option. Friends have laughed, called me a crazy bastard, told me I just need to take that first plunge and I would be swimming along with the rest of them, but something has always come up (or not as the case may be) and so I am still classed as pure as virgin snow.
I have to say, it?s been bothering me for some time now. It feels like a weight pressing down on my chest, making it difficult to breathe (though that could be the asthma). Its got to such a point that I was forced to ask one of my mates for advice.
?You phone this number, and it will all be taken care of? was his reply.
I had to wait till the house was empty before making that call. Feeling like Tom Cruise in Risky Business (though not dancing around in my boxers to some shabby music ? well not this time anyways) I dialled in the number. A few minutes later, and I was sat in my favourite chair, waiting for Rebecca De Mornay to appear in a dazzling display of thunder and lightning. Only problem is, I have a long bloody wait till she finally appears.
Now?s the time I should point out exactly what I am waffling on about.
Today, for the first time ever, I have ordered a PAL console on launch. The closeness of the US to Europe launch of the Xbox 360 means that ordering the PAL version makes sense, I can always order a US machine after the launch frenzy has died down.
Never, in all my 32 years, have I experienced that launch day excitement. That rushing to the shops for the midnight launch, standing in line with countless others, all counting down the seconds till the doors open and we can all stampede into the store to get that shiny new console into our sweaty mitts. Never have I walked (drove) home with console in bag, spent those precious few minutes plugging all the wires in, checked the interweb to share the experience with others, that initial rush of the console starting up, then spending the rest of launch night playing away on my new games, finally going to sleep with a smile on my face.
That isn?t to say I have never bought a console at launch, just that launch day(night) for me has always been a sterile affair, sat in front of my computer monitor counting down the minutes, then checking my online accounts to see that the new console has shipped, then checking tracking services every 10 minutes. Its been about following the console from the country of origin to the UK, moaning about the fact that whilst the console only took 12 hours to reach the UK it then sits in customs for a further 4 days until it clears. Then once again onto the tracking services of the many shipping companies, checking the whereabouts of the console through various depots, until finally, bloody finally, it says ?Out for delivery?. Then I end up spending the entire day at the window, waiting for a Fed-ex or UPS van to appear, jumping up to check with every milk float, post van, car and bicycle that comes within a 2 mile radius of my house (hearing is always super-attuned on delivery day).
By the time the console arrives, I am worn out, nerves frizzled away. There is still a buzz there, but its subdued with the week or more since that launch night excitement.
So this time I have bitten the bullet and ordered PAL. The only problem is, I now have to wait 3 months till the launch night, so even though I popped my cherry today, I have a long time to wait till the 'money shot'.
A very personal line in which to start an online exposition (one which I am sure will haunt me in the months and years to come) but I might as well start with the same madness I wish to continue updating, so once again, today I popped my cherry.
It?s been a long time coming; I have gotten close on countless occasions, but always changed my mind at the last moment, decided that ?doing it myself? would be the ideal option. Friends have laughed, called me a crazy bastard, told me I just need to take that first plunge and I would be swimming along with the rest of them, but something has always come up (or not as the case may be) and so I am still classed as pure as virgin snow.
I have to say, it?s been bothering me for some time now. It feels like a weight pressing down on my chest, making it difficult to breathe (though that could be the asthma). Its got to such a point that I was forced to ask one of my mates for advice.
?You phone this number, and it will all be taken care of? was his reply.
I had to wait till the house was empty before making that call. Feeling like Tom Cruise in Risky Business (though not dancing around in my boxers to some shabby music ? well not this time anyways) I dialled in the number. A few minutes later, and I was sat in my favourite chair, waiting for Rebecca De Mornay to appear in a dazzling display of thunder and lightning. Only problem is, I have a long bloody wait till she finally appears.
Now?s the time I should point out exactly what I am waffling on about.
Today, for the first time ever, I have ordered a PAL console on launch. The closeness of the US to Europe launch of the Xbox 360 means that ordering the PAL version makes sense, I can always order a US machine after the launch frenzy has died down.
Never, in all my 32 years, have I experienced that launch day excitement. That rushing to the shops for the midnight launch, standing in line with countless others, all counting down the seconds till the doors open and we can all stampede into the store to get that shiny new console into our sweaty mitts. Never have I walked (drove) home with console in bag, spent those precious few minutes plugging all the wires in, checked the interweb to share the experience with others, that initial rush of the console starting up, then spending the rest of launch night playing away on my new games, finally going to sleep with a smile on my face.
That isn?t to say I have never bought a console at launch, just that launch day(night) for me has always been a sterile affair, sat in front of my computer monitor counting down the minutes, then checking my online accounts to see that the new console has shipped, then checking tracking services every 10 minutes. Its been about following the console from the country of origin to the UK, moaning about the fact that whilst the console only took 12 hours to reach the UK it then sits in customs for a further 4 days until it clears. Then once again onto the tracking services of the many shipping companies, checking the whereabouts of the console through various depots, until finally, bloody finally, it says ?Out for delivery?. Then I end up spending the entire day at the window, waiting for a Fed-ex or UPS van to appear, jumping up to check with every milk float, post van, car and bicycle that comes within a 2 mile radius of my house (hearing is always super-attuned on delivery day).
By the time the console arrives, I am worn out, nerves frizzled away. There is still a buzz there, but its subdued with the week or more since that launch night excitement.
So this time I have bitten the bullet and ordered PAL. The only problem is, I now have to wait 3 months till the launch night, so even though I popped my cherry today, I have a long time to wait till the 'money shot'.
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