OK, so I’ve given up on upgrading my computer until Spore comes out. Then I’ll have a better idea of what sort of system I’ll be needing (plus, I’ve been reading about quad-core processors!). Spore’s not due for release until late 2007, so instead, I’m going to indulge my other silicon desire.

No, I REALLY don’t need a breast enlargement. The other silicon.

I’m going to get a Nintendo Wii Console (pronounced “we”). I’ve been thiinkiing about iit siince late last year, and I reckon that iit’s probably the coolest console out there riight now. Aaaand… there’s a new Zelda game that goes with iit! WIIIIIIIIII! What’s more, my suspicions have been confirmed – it’s the first games console that encourages getting off the couch and actually moving – in fact, it’s an integral part of the game play! This means that it can be used as part of an exercise regime. Yay for fun game-play!

Check out the ad:

So anyway, I decided last wiik that I was going to take the plunge and buy a Wii. I went online to order one, and what do I find?

It’s sold out.

Everywhere.

Like seriously… SOLD OUT!

Finally on Monday, I discovered a site which actually tracks lots of different online stores, giving a real-time notification if a store has some Wii available. Yesterday, an exciting little dialogue box opened up – “Wii in stock at GameStation!”

Oh the joy! I raced (virtually) to GameStation, and hastily entered my registration details (as must be done for most online stores). But alas, by the time I’d finished entering all my details, disaster struck – the Wii had sold out.

And do you want to know how long it took for the Wii to sell out?

Three minutes.

*sigh*

But I’m a persistent wench, and I kept that real-time stock indicator website open all day yesterday, and all morning today. And then at precisely 10.26am, GameStation released another small batch of Wii. And my GOD, I was on it like a shot! I was there with my bank card (yay for overdrafts!), and I am now the proud owner of a fulfilled order for a Nintendo Wii Console. They reckon delivery should happen by this time next wiik.

But here’s where it gets more complicated (is that possible?):

I mentioned this to my boss at work (excitement getting the better of me), and she promptly turned around and offered me £200 for it (it cost £184 including shipping). What a quandary – I know that circumstances are such that it would be the compassionate thing to do, to give up my Wii for a friend who may need cheering up.

But this is Wii. And I want it for myself. And they’re rare as hen’s teeth right now.

What do I do? What would YOU do?

I have such talented friends.

I really do. There’s EricaLea, who is going to be a famous author one day. There’s ThursdayWeld, who always speaks her mind, and because she has a creativity which goes beyond the bounds of normal, her mind is unfailingly an interesting thing to be heard. ErnieMay is quite the queen of web art (ie icons and banners) – you should see what she can do with photoshop and a screen capture of whatever our latest tv obsession is.

But the special talent that I’d like to share today, is that of Astrid. Before Christmas, Astrid asked us – me, EricaLea, ErnieMay and ThursdayWeld – who our favorite Firefly character is. We all have our favorites, especially when the male portion of the crew is concerned. EricaLea answered with an unequivocal “Mal”. ThursdayWeld has always preferred Jayne’s gruff ways. Surprisingly, when this impromptu vote came down, Dr Simon Tam came out with the most votes – both ErnieMay and I admitted to our crushes on Simon.

I’ll pause here for just a moment, while I fill my mind with thoughts about Simon Tam. This is a PG-13 blog however, so I’ll not pause long.

*ahem*

Aaanyway. Christmas just kept on giving this year, because when we all finally got together in January, having returned from our global scatterings, Astrid revealed the reason for her wee poll.

She presented each of us with a canvas, on which was painted a photo-realistic oil painting of our favorite Firefly character. The picture of Simon Tam that she drew for me? Stunning. Simon was immediately granted place of honour on my wall, where he hangs today, looking noble and grave and ever so slightly worried. Probably worried because he knows what he’s got coming from me if he were ever to step out of that canvas.

Here he is, for your viewing pleasure, an original oil painting by Astrid:

*sigh* *flirtatious look* *sigh*

Here’s one for you Van Halen fans out there

Especially for the boys in the Mark Saul Band… Some of you might remember the boys’ obsession with Van Halen during the tour, which has since instilled a sense of deep personal associations with certain Van Halen songs and the beginning of road trips… *sings* “Runnin’ with the deviiiiiiiiil!”

Oh, happy days. I’m sorry there’s no tour happening this year, but looking forward to seeing Mark over the Summer and doing a little more recording!

Van Halen Reuniting With Roth For Tour

January 24, 2007, 4:20 PM ET
Ray Waddell, Nashville

Sources tell Billboard.com a contract could be signed as soon as today for Live Nation to produce a 40-date amphitheatre tour by Van Halen this summer, with original frontman David Lee Roth back in the fold for the first time in more than 20 years.

As previously reported, guitarist Eddie Van Halen’s 15-year-old son Wolfgang has stepped in for original bassist Michael Anthony in the new incarnation of the group, which also features drummer Alex Van Halen.

Van Halen last toured in 2004 with vocalist Sammy Hagar, grossing nearly $40 million, according to Billboard Boxscore. Hagar refused to collaborate further with Eddie and Alex Van Halen after the tour’s completion (“I don’t get along with Eddie anymore, and that’s all there is to it,” he told Billboard.com in August 2005), although he has consistently played live with Anthony in recent years. The warring factions may wind up meeting in public in March when Van Halen is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

“I see it absolutely as an inevitability,” Roth told Billboard.com last May of a potential reunion with his ex-bandmates. “To me, it’s not rocket surgery. It’s very simple to put together. And as far as hurt feelings and water under the dam, like what’s-her-name says to what’s-her-name at the end of the movie ‘Chicago’ — ‘So what? It’s showbiz!’ So I definitely see it happening.”

Hagar recently told Billboard.com he was concerned Eddie Van Halen was asking too much of his son to have him join the band and promptly perform in front of thousands of people every night.

“That’s a lot of pressure for Wolfie. Just ’cause he’s Eddie’s son doesn’t mean he can go out and play in arenas and perform and entertain an audience for two hours,” he said. “I would love to see Eddie and Alex get behind Wolfie, with a kid of his age singing, and produce the record for him and help him launch a career. I’d rather see it go that way than come out and say ‘Wolfie’s the bass player in Van Halen and maybe singing, too.’ Van Halen’s got way too much history to have that put on him.”

You gotta love David Lee Roth though, “It’s not rocket surgery” – was he being ironic with his mixed metaphors, or is it simply a life of Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll catching up with him?

When things get out of hand

So I got inspired over the weekend, and created a new little video for YouTube, not a fanvid this time, but a real-live homegrown original-content vid, starring lil ol’ me, with special guest appearences by my friends (aka the Scooby Gang).

It’s funny and silly and quirky, and was actually kinda fun to do. I think I’ve been bitten by the original film-maker’s bug, and now that I have a camera with video/sound capture capability, I can perhaps do a lot more of it! I don’t think I’ll be the next Brookers or Barats & Bereta (YouTube home-movie stars) but I can try!