I'd never understood the "cake" reference on the Official City of * Forums before. When I was on Liberty, my old SG leader would always say he wanted "tacos." He'd sign in and broadcast in chat, "Tacos?" and people would answer, "I like Tacos!" or "I want Tacos!" I guess I just assumed "cake" was similar.
But it's not. "Cake" and "Is there cake?" is actually a reference to another game. A single-player, first person action/puzzle game called "Portal."
Portal is a very odd game that places you in the body of Chell, an android of sorts who must complete nearly impossible puzzles in a fully 3D world using a "Portal Gun." Your incentive for completing these task is "cake" and a party in your name. Your only companion through the 19 tests is an increasing psychotic computer AI. The experimental Portal Gun device allows the user to place an Entrance and an Exit portal on nearly any surface. These portals give you access to the x, y and z axis. Need to jump a large pit (full of acid)? Place an Entrance portal beside you and one on the opposite wall and walk through. No jumping. No running. And no searing, skin-peeling acid bath.
The premise may seem simple, but the game progressively becomes much harder. There is no experience akin to leaping through a portal, falling twenty feet and then jumping a 30 foot chasm on the same leap. Not to mention the physics involved in switching directions twice! Brian and I picked up our copy yesterday afternoon and by 7:30 we were hooting and hollering after figuring out a particularly gravity-defying puzzle. At one point, Bri asked me, "How'd you do that?" I was so dizzy I said, "I...Don't...Know! But, wasn't that cool?"
The game is pretty awesome. Unfortunately, there is no cake. The cake is a lie.
But it's not. "Cake" and "Is there cake?" is actually a reference to another game. A single-player, first person action/puzzle game called "Portal."
Portal is a very odd game that places you in the body of Chell, an android of sorts who must complete nearly impossible puzzles in a fully 3D world using a "Portal Gun." Your incentive for completing these task is "cake" and a party in your name. Your only companion through the 19 tests is an increasing psychotic computer AI. The experimental Portal Gun device allows the user to place an Entrance and an Exit portal on nearly any surface. These portals give you access to the x, y and z axis. Need to jump a large pit (full of acid)? Place an Entrance portal beside you and one on the opposite wall and walk through. No jumping. No running. And no searing, skin-peeling acid bath.
The premise may seem simple, but the game progressively becomes much harder. There is no experience akin to leaping through a portal, falling twenty feet and then jumping a 30 foot chasm on the same leap. Not to mention the physics involved in switching directions twice! Brian and I picked up our copy yesterday afternoon and by 7:30 we were hooting and hollering after figuring out a particularly gravity-defying puzzle. At one point, Bri asked me, "How'd you do that?" I was so dizzy I said, "I...Don't...Know! But, wasn't that cool?"
The game is pretty awesome. Unfortunately, there is no cake. The cake is a lie.
****
Brian and I spend the weekend just hanging out. Saturday, we took a flying trip to the cottage to get Bri one the bikes that aren't being used in storage there; his old bike was dying a slow, painful death - three years ago! The bike we picked up wasn't the one I had in mind, but it will do, I think. He seems happy with it - And when Brian is happy, I'm happy.
When we got back to Kingston, we stopped off at my parents' house to pick up my laundry. Now that Brian (my little brother) has all his housemates, I can't be doing my laundry down there anymore. I've been giving it to Mom to do for about a month. The good news is: Once Mom and Dad move into their new apartment I'll get Mom's (really cool) front load washer and dryer. And a tan leather couch. As we were leaving, Dad came back from work (he works on Saturday mornings, sometimes). Dad helped Brian and I adjust the handle bars. I'm extremely happy that Dad and Mom, Dad especially, are so accepting of Brian. It means a lot that they acknowledge our relationship and shows how far they've come in the two years since I came out.
As I was explaining to Brian last night while doing the dishes (he cooks, I clean): Even though my job pretty much sucks, my weekends spent with him more than make up for the crappy weekdays. Although, by Wednesday I won't think that. Hey! We can't all enjoy our jobs!
All things considered, despite the persistent rain, I had a great weekend.
When we got back to Kingston, we stopped off at my parents' house to pick up my laundry. Now that Brian (my little brother) has all his housemates, I can't be doing my laundry down there anymore. I've been giving it to Mom to do for about a month. The good news is: Once Mom and Dad move into their new apartment I'll get Mom's (really cool) front load washer and dryer. And a tan leather couch. As we were leaving, Dad came back from work (he works on Saturday mornings, sometimes). Dad helped Brian and I adjust the handle bars. I'm extremely happy that Dad and Mom, Dad especially, are so accepting of Brian. It means a lot that they acknowledge our relationship and shows how far they've come in the two years since I came out.
As I was explaining to Brian last night while doing the dishes (he cooks, I clean): Even though my job pretty much sucks, my weekends spent with him more than make up for the crappy weekdays. Although, by Wednesday I won't think that. Hey! We can't all enjoy our jobs!
All things considered, despite the persistent rain, I had a great weekend.
1 comments:
I agree with you on that. Work for the weekend. Push through the week and enjoy those two days off!! I really try to make 'em count. Spending time with my wife, or playing games with my brother. I always try to have the best time I possibly can. Looking forward to that time is what gets me through the week.
~RH
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