Is it just me, or does it seem like the older you get, the more stressful things are near the holidays? Oh yes, we are deep into the holidays now, and things are getting real. Let’s imagine that one could toss the fact that finals are next week out the window, maybe it’s even possible to forget about the refrigerator that gets closer to dying each day, there’s still way too much going on. There’s office parties, family parties, family Christmas’, more family xmas’, and even more family Christmas’. That’s right, being a child of baby-boomers means that more than likely you fall into the ever-growing statistic of having divorced parents. Which means that you get multiple Christmas’. Well, I’m sure not all of you do, but there are plenty of people who are cursed with that. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my family and I’m excited to see them in a few weeks, but I know that it’s going to be a lot to deal with, especially when I just want a nice holiday. (Side note: I really can’t believe X-mas is a few weeks away and by holiday a second ago I meant holiday like vacation. I was getting my British on. Yeah, I can do that.) I’ll give you the Clifs Notes version: I drive down with my little sis & Mrs. Mike on the 23rd. On the 24th we do Christmas with her family @ midnight, not really sure why but that’s how they roll. X-mas morning we’ll go to my mom’s and do the damned thing there, then that afternoon it’s on to my dad’s. This is all on basically zero sleep the night before. Then on the 26th I need to squeeze in time with the extended family and I’d really love to see some friends while we’re in town. The 27th we drive back because I have to work the next day. Seriously, I think I got older just typing that. It’s ridiculous and makes the holidays stressful and I’m pretty sure my blood pressure is through the roof right now….

It’s okay though because next week Silent Hill: Shattered Memories comes out. As you all know this game has been on my radar since it was announced. The fact that the game is very blunt about being a total mind trip, and even claims to play you, all add up to something that I’ve GOT to get my hands on. It’s almost stupid how hyped I am on this game, even though I’m pretty sure it’s not going to live up to my so called hype. (Side note: Angela Chase in the house, what?!!) I’m not exactly sure when I became convinced that Shattered Memories will very likely be disappointing, but it may have been about 30 seconds into the latest trailer for the game. That’s when I realized that this was more a music video using gameplay than a trailer. That realization was immediately followed by the realization that it’s a music video for a very, very, very horrible song. I’m not going to lie, I muted it about a minute in because after the two previous realizations I came to yet another realization: that this wasn’t a regular song, but is probably the theme song for the game. So, I muted it to ensure that my ears wouldn’t start to bleed. You don’t have to worry though because you now know what I know and can mute it from the get go, leaving nothing but some beautiful gameplay for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy, and stay thirsty my friends.