The title of this post is a reference to Portal. I recently completed it, and while i was disappointed that it was over, I definitely loved the game. I look forward to going back and finishing the bonus levels that were unlocked after completion, but I probably won’t have much time for that in the near future. I just read an interview with one of the game’s writers, Erik Wolpaw. While I like the idea of writing, I never really refer to myself as a writer since my ramblings are sporadic at best. I’ve always had an appreciation for good writing, be it in a book, film, or even a game. A quote from the interview stood out to me:

If you think reading a book is hard, you should try writing one. Because it’s even harder. It’s still not as hard as writing a game, though. If you discount the purely visual pop-up parts, a book is made almost entirely of words. As a novelist, you just need to think of a few decent strings of words and then fill the other 98% of the book with more or less random descriptions of things and exclamation points. In a game, the 98% garbage section is filled with the actual game. Even worse for game writers, the 98% garbage part of a game isn’t even usually garbage because instead of reading something boring about the history of Belgium, the “reader” probably gets to jump a Camaro over a dinosaur. That means the pressure’s on to make the two percent wordy part that you’re responsible for really, really spectacular. It’s a tough job.

Source: RPS Interview: Valve’s Erik Wolpaw

Anyway, I found the interview insightful, and it was neat to read something concerning not one but two of my favorite hobbies, gaming and writing. For anyone who completes Portal, you’ll be treated to a great song by Jonathon Coulton, whom I’ve mentioned before. For the lazy, check it out on YouTube.

Michelle continues to wait, patiently, or perhaps not so patiently from time to time. The doctors say she is getting close, I’ll spare the details but suffice it to say her body is getting ready. We continue to wait. Eliana, we’re ready for you. Or at least as ready as we’ll ever be.

I’ll be tweaking some things on the site soon… look for an updated about us page, and if I have time (and effort) I may switch to a new wordpress theme.

It’s been a while since my last post.  Last month we moved into our new apartment, which we are very happy to have.  Michelle has been spending her days decorating Eliana’s room as we wait for her arrival.  Temperatures have been sweltering this past week or so with the high breaking 100 for several days.  Praise God for air conditioning.

Other than that, more of the same.  Going to work, coming home, repeat.  I don’t have much to talk about, I’m sure that will change when Eliana is born.

It seems like I am always inspired to write in my darkest hour.  It is, therefore, refreshing that I am able to write this expression of gratitude for the great blessings I have recieved.  Things have never gone so well for me.  I have a wonderful wife whom I love very much.  I have a child on the way who is the very fufillment of my all-time greatest desire: to be a father.  I have a good job that I enjoy and at the same time I am able to provide for my wife and my unborn child.  Things are good.

I find it easy to become complacent in these good times.  It’s easy to think I’m doing alright on my own and forget that everything I have is a blessing from God.  This is a time that is crucial.  I must not forget the source of my blessings, and likewise I must not take these things for granted.  I am undeserving of any of this, but because of His grace and mercy I am blessed.

I write this as a witness to God’s faithfulness.  Someday there may come a time when things are not so good.  I hope to look back to these times and remain faithful and continue praising Him that lives in me.

Praise to the Lord.  God is good.  All the time.