11 Things I’m Looking Forward To In 2011

Posted by Paul on Jan 14, 2011 in Disney, Family, Media, Thoughts | 3 comments

Ah 2011; I’ve just met you and already I have a crush on you. You represent new beginnings, new chances, and new experiences. I’ve already recounted what I thought the best of 2010 was, and I’ve laid out my resolutions for the year as well. Here are some things about 2011 that I’m simply looking forward to. I would like to note that these are not the ‘only’ things about 2011 I’m looking forward to. I would need a list much larger if I was going to attempt to itemize all my expectations for the year. These are just a handful (well, actually two handfuls and a toe) of things that came to the forefront of my mind when I sat down to think about the subject matter. In no particular order they are:

Family

1. Hanging With My Guys

To some extent, I’m starting to feel like a broken record — I’m just crazy about my two sons! Logan and Chase impress me more everyday and never fail to raise my spirits. I can’t think of anything more rewarding than being their dad.

2. Being Married 7 Years

It’s amazing how fast the time goes. It’s amazing all the things two people can live through. It’s amazing that we can share the same living space. It’s amazing that we can put up with each other quirks so well. It’s amazing how well we’ve gotten to know each other. It’s amazing the time we spend together. It’s amazing how crazy I am about her. I guess the best word to describe my marriage, and my wife, would be amazing.

3. Chase getting his helmet off!

Due to the bones at the back of his skull not fully developing, my lil peanut has had had to wear this helmet throughout half the year in 2010. Though he does look absolutely adorable sporting a blue football helmet, and he doesn’t mind wearing it… at all, I will be happy when we can kick this thing to the curb.

Originally I wanted to paint the helmet yellow and green, as I think it would make Chase look like Commander Keen — ultimately I decided against this as most people weren’t getting the reference. Apparently I’m on a nerd island all to myself.

4. Logan leaving the terrible twos!

The past year has been… interesting… to say the least. Logan has been testing and trying, and then testing some more… all behavior we’ve come to expect with the terrible twos. Though I’m starting to see him on the foreground of mellowing out a touch, it will be happy day when he calms down just a bit.

Self Improvement

5. My Book Queue

I haven’t picked out all the title I hope to devour in 2011 yet, but the ones currently lined up make me excited:

Camp : Mike Eisner
A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Future : Michael J Fox
Walt Disney’s Biography
The Disney Treasures Collection
The Weight of Glory : CS Lewis

I also want to pick up another volume of George MacDonald’s poetry — the wisdom literally drips off the stanzas through my eyes into my very core.

Games, Games, Games

Before I get into it, allow me to state: Yes, three of the eleven things I’ve chosen for this list are video games; and yes I know how that sounds. But I don’t really care what you think about the matter. At more core I’m just about as hardcore a gamer as you’ll ever find, and outside of porn, it’s the largest entertainment venue in the world, so there is some validity to my expectations. Me, I’d rather play a game than watch TV.

6. Alice: Return to Madness

Game designer American McGee is trying his hand at a sequel to his old cult hit Alice. This game has all the components of my geeky’s fandom wildest dream. A punk-styled female protagonist made famous by Walt Disney’s interpretation of the classic Lewis Carrol story, lost in her own mind bending, steam-punk style world. On paper, this game should be perfect; let’s just hope the gameplay can live up to the expectations.

 

7. Batman: Arkham City

Arkham Asylum was practically perfect in every way; and the two trailers for City leave me pining for more. I can’t wait to get my fingers into this game. I love Batman.

8. Duke Nukem’ Forever

I remember the joy I felt picking up my copy of Duke Nukem’ 3D. It had everything in it a young adolescent could possible want: A wise-cracking, fearless protagonist, space aliens, lots of guns and bullets, pixelized girls in bikinis, and jet packs. I spent countless hours battle through the hordes of aliens trying to take over the Earth, I bought every expansion back for the game that was made available — including the Christmas episode where Duke is forced to face off against a brain-washed Santa Claus — and I’ve been waiting patiently since before I could drive for the next installment of in the Duke Legacy.

Last year when 3D Realms announced financial hard times and that they were scrapping the Duke sequel, a small part of me died on the inside. It was, however, brought back to life when the :: company name :: announced that it was going to salvage the project and tried to save as many members of the original development team as it could.

The game is finally slated for release later this year, and the hopes and dreams of many a Nukem’ fans are attached to it. On the one hand I’m very happy that I’ll be able to yet again wield the iconic pistol and and blast my way through shotgun toting warthog cops; yet on the other, I’m very nervous that the game isn’t going to live up to the expectations and severely disappoint. Only 2011 will tell.

Online Stuff

9. Working on my Tumblr Blog.

I’ve only been working with Tumblr for a couple of months now, but I’ve finding it very addicting. The system is ingenious for simple blogging. It takes almost all the work out of the development process and allows it’s users to focus primarily on content.

As great as it is, it would never replace my primary site. Content such as this just wouldn’t seem to jell with it’s predefined tools. However, using the two sites together to coagulate content us a match made in nerd blogging heaven.

10. Blogging About Disney World’s 40th Anniversary!

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Walt Disney World resort in Florida. As this is one of my favorite things, and blogging is my favorite hobby, I’m totally intending on cracking out a few top 40 lists throughout the year in celebration of, what I consider to be, Walt’s crowning achievement.

11. Participating in Project 356

I’ve already been snapping away the past couple of weeks, and I’m having fun with this gimmick. The idea of taking a photo every day for the rest of the year can come across as daunting for someone like me — someone who usually leaves the picture taking to his wife — I’m committing myself to the task in an effort to, not only improve my photography skills (I know what F-Stop is now) but also to chronicle my year.