Video Games Live!

Last week, I had the luxury of being invited to go on a road trip to Cincinnati to see Video Games Live (Wikipedia Link). They play orchestrated versions of popular video game music. It took around 3 hours to get there, and we also had the luxury of stopping at a Skyline on the way there (they have good chili if you like chili). The trip was a little long for me, as I was a little scrunched in the back of a Mini-Cooper, and there wasn’t anything exciting for me to watch on the way to and from the pavilion which was hosting the show.

The show was fantastic, and I recommend going if you like either video games or orchestras playing music (or both). Most of the set was from the big names in the industry (like Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Halo, etc.), and was quite entertaining. The show lasted for around 3 hours, and I had the chance to go backstage and see the performers and the host up close and personal. They even gave a double encore, which was even more worth the trip there. It was just that awesome. The pictures posted tell even more of the story.

A Surprise Party

Last week, our HCI cohort decided to throw a surprise birthday party for one of our professors. We arranged for a surprise dance number, cake, presents, and the fun that would ensue for the night. Here are some pictures to bring this event to life again. Everyone had cake and was merry. Have fun with these pics.

A New Fast Food Experience

On the way back home, before I went to the airport, a good friend and I went to a fast food restaurant I haven’t been to in awhile – Hardees. I have been getting their coupons lately, and have been wanting to go, but this was one of the opportunities I have gotten to come close to going.

So when we first walked in, I was quite surprised at how big and open the place was. Even though it was 11 in the morning, there were still some people around. We even got to see the employees change the menu over from breakfast to lunch – it is something you should try to see. Unfortunately, the menu is just a simple turnstyle, and not a digital menu. Anyways, we were able to sit down after ordering our food, and while we waited, we were able to watch some television on a large HDTV. This was quite interesting, as it especially brings home the fact of how more affordable technology is and how, for some, television can enhance the food experience.

After watching the television for a little bit of time, we decided to get something to drink from the vending machine in the store, and were quite surprised at the many different choices available to us. Not only were there the traditional choices, but there were a couple of nozzles that allowed us to choice from 3 drinks at the nozzle. If this were to continue in the future, not only will it be great to have so many choices, but it will also be confusing to find which drink to pick from. Hopefully, this will remain simple for the future, as this is an interaction I would like to keep simple.

In terms of the food, the food at Hardees was surprisingly good. It came in a basket akin to that from Friendly’s, and the cheeseburger and fries were better than most of the fast food restaurants I have been to. It was just something about how they cooked their burgers that just made the experience special for me. If you get the option to, try giving this place a try – order the little thickburger combo – it’s the one in the picture.

Happy eating!

Getting to Go Home

I also took almost 2 weeks off from blogging and work to go back home and enjoy Independence Day with my family. The experience was overwhelming. Not only was I welcomed home and missed terribly, but everyone was interested in what I was doing out here in Indiana. I was able to talk with much of my family, and also get a chance to play Bocce with people I haven’t seen in years. The trip was also quite relaxing, as I was able to sit back and play some games, but also just spend time with my family. I also got to watch the new Transformers movie, and also became interested in the series True Blood, which I’ll try and find the time to watch while I am back researching at Indiana. Above all, the most important takeaway from this trip was a deeper notion of what it is to be missed, as I saw members of family become overwhelmed that my plane was delayed and that I could stay with them for another night. That, above all (and seeing a good friend from high school) was the best part of being on vacation.