[Days Until Vegas: 29]

I realized this weekend while talking to Jenn that my random and frequent pop culture references have, for some, no context and thus mean pretty much squat.

Why I figured everyone knew what Happy Fun Ball is, I have no clue. But when I told Jenn not to taunt Happy Fun Ball, she just didn’t get it.

I had quite the eventful weekend. Let’s see…

Jenn and I went to see the new Samuel L. Jackson/Ben Affleck movie, Changing Lanes. It was pretty good, though not quite what either of us expected. It looks like a lot more cloak-and-dagger style action, whereas it’s more of an intense drama with bonus intrigue. Maybe later I’ll write up a little review.

On the whole movie tip, we also watched Spy Game and Enemy of the State. For some reason, spy movies just never get old to me. I can’t quite put my finger on why, though.

In the vein of Grand Theft Auto 3, I completed the last major mission (“The Exchange”) and watched the credits roll. I thought it was a pretty cool ending, just like a gangster movie. The really cool thing is, since I hadn’t finished 100% of the game (I still have certain cars to jack, certain stunts to perform, etc.), after the credits rolled I was returned to my hideout one million dollars richer and I can continue playing until I’ve got 100% done. Last I checked I was at, like, 65%. I think I have a while.

I picked up the game Rez this weekend. As if I don’t have enough to do with GTA3. But Rez is pretty darn cool - I got a demo of it from the latest issue of Official Playstation Magazine and it sucked me in. My dad wasn’t so enticed by it, but he’s not a big music lover, either, and music plays a major part in this one. Great techno here, and the way the game works (for those who don’t know), the music is interactive. You make it by performing actions in the game. Very cool.

(I just downloaded the Rez “homepage design kit” from the Rez site. Maybe I’ll whip myself up a little Rez tribute page because it’s so cool.)

For those who care about my turntable issues, I ended up having to take the stupid thing in for professional service at Fred’s Sound of Music. It’ll cost me $30 for a new stylus and between $45 and $75 for the repairs. That figures. But, after all is said and done, even with the $55 I spent on getting a like model to cannibalize (that didn’t work, either), I’m still getting out spending less than it would cost for a brand new turntable of that quality. So I suppose I can’t complain. Too much.