Well, it's that time of the year when everyone wraps up and prepares to welcome the new year ahead. So far, I've been counting down to the last day of 2013 as I try my best to start 2014 with a clean slate in preparation for yet another awesome year (well fingers crossed).
First, I've recently been indulging in a lot of audio book loving because I've got this rekindled interest in biographies, but as you guessed, I don't have the time to sit and read a book. Instead, now I enjoy my books while I'm on the go with my good ol' pal Audible. I used Audible a while back but stopped because I hated how I kept listening to books halfway, then would be so overwhelmed with work, that I'd forget what the first half of the book was talking about when I continued. Nowadays, I've replaced most of my music-playing with books as I've been mindfully trying to notice all the moments I have during each day where I could technically be listening to a book. Other than the times when my brain is fried or I lack sleep, any moment I'm on the go, is a good time for audible.
I recently enjoyed the book Masters of Doom which is basically the history of the creators of the epic game Doom. After learning about the story of the two Johns, a lot of my gaming experience started to make sense, why Quake 3 sucked and how I was soooooo hooked onto Quake 2 because it was that crazy online experience and mad graphics that blew everyone's mind.
I'm currently listening to A. Lincoln: A Biography and I have to say Woah, I find myself rewinding a lot of the time because the stories are quite complex. Though it definitely is refreshing to see Abraham Lincoln from a point of view compared to the usual that he is often portrayed as. Don't get me wrong, I think the guy is awesome, but what I was looking for was the story of his life, the part where he was just another person that existed.
So 2013 has been a crazy year (as expected) and it sure is ending with a bang. I'm glad to see that I'm finally going to have a few days where my schedule isn't stupid packed. I've got a whole bunch of things I want to do before the year ends so it becomes a semi-habit when 2014 kicks in. As usual, I like to start any new year's resolutions a couple of weeks before the new year hits because it gives me a little period to work things out.
I've also been trying to get myself to play a few more computer games (not to mention Steam is having its Christmas sale!!! Wahoo) and well I got to enjoy Bioshock Infinite and man oh man that is a ! Seriously. The storyline is fantastic, I felt like I was watching a movie most of the time while being able to engage in the forward moving of the plot.
Well, I also got myself Farcry 3 which I'm hoping to be able to start playing in the next few days.
I've found ever since I started playing games again and listening to audiobooks, my creativity has improved. I suppose it's like going on a trip and coming back super inspired. Every time I play those games, it allows me to go into another world, away from to do lists and emails and just focus on a certain adventure. Then when I come back to my daily tasks, it's like I returned from a mini-vacation :) Nice.
So here's to a Merry Christmas for everyone, may your days be like adventures in a game where every problem is there to keep things exciting, not annoying. May 2014 rock out for you all, too!
Apparently, I am Hong Kong's funniest person as of 2007. Yummy :D Update: And now I'm the Hong Kong's funniest person as of 2008 :)