So yesterday I turned 23. I had the day off work (which meant I was on vacation from work for eight working days, then worked one day, then had my birthday off, and returned to work today).

My wife didn't know I had the day off so I surprised her by letting her sleep in, and then freak-out when she woke up and found me playing video games and not at work. She thought I was just being retarded and extremely late to work.

So once she was awake I played even more video games, took my son to the doctors (reg. check-up, doing great), ate lunch at King's Pizza in Huntington Beach across from Marina High. Normally their sub sandwiches are excellent but today the bread was awful... too bad too cos I wanted something really good for lunch on this day. Next was Costco where we picked up the photos from our recent trip and I got one of their tasty Berry Smoothies for only $1.35. Then it was Target for some minor shopping.

Next was Counter Strike. Now, circa one year ago... Every other Saturday or so I would get together with anywhere from 8 to 20 guys and hook up a huge LAN party and play Counter Strike from 1 PM till 12 midnight. We would make a day of it, order 6 pizzas the whole shimbaam. It was great. Well, as with all great things the time came where hosting the party was too much and it all came too an end. I tried to keep playing myself but it's hard with life to always find the time, plus the server started telling my that my CD key was in-valid (which it was).

Back to the now... I recently purchased my own copy of CS so I could install it on my new laptop (still hasn't arrived yet, getting quite upset with Sony). So I busted our the CD key and used it with my old install and had myself a good 90 minute on-line session. It was quite fun. Infact, when I just got on the computer now my goal was to play CS but I decided it's late and it would be better for me to get this needed entry in and then hit the sack, get to work earlier, get off earlier, and play some CS tomorrow night instead.

After Counter Strike I went and got my eyes examined because I want to start wearing contacts. The doc determined that my eyes have gotten even worse and I should even get new glasses.

There is this place nearby in Irvine called Palace Park. Every Tuesday and Thursday they off a deal for $10 you get unlimited Arcade Games and Mini-Golf (btw, check out this rad Flash Mini-Golf Game [via FORGOT, CREDIT COMING SOON]), and for $5 you can add unlimited Laser Tag, Go-Kart, and Rock Wall Climbing to the deal... Since my birthday landed on a Tuesday I decided this would be a fun thing to do, and invited friends to do as well. And it was a blast. The place is open from 11 AM to 10 PM, I didn't get there until about 5:30 AM, I wish I got there earlier to have gotten to play more games, cos I barely touched all the games they got in their arcade. The best thing about the pass is the fact that video games no longer cost a quarter to play, they are $1 and up!!! So getting this pass gives you the chance to play all the really expensive games without worrying about the cost.

Many joined me there and we dinned with the best pizza around, Papa John's. Thanks to everyone for pitching in and getting me Roller Coaster Tycoon and for the many gift cards.

After the place closed we went home and then James came over and we played Madden 2002 on Gamecube. I recently bought Madden with the cash I earned from the Horseradish Challenge but this was the first time I really got to sit down and play the game. Me like it.