Yup, I'm getting older!

My hairline is receeding. Not a lot but I can see the inevitable and accept reality. I won't be getting implants, weaves, rugs, rogaine, comb-overs. I have a pair of clippers and I know how to use them.

With the hair that I have (still a considerable amount) I can see a lot more gray sneaking in. Again, not a big deal. Won't be coloring it, it kind of looks good actually (a situation that sickens my wife).

But, I expected these things. I'm approaching 40. The above crap is part and parcel to the continual march to death that each of us started when the doctor slapped us on the ass (at birth you pervs I'm not talking about what some of you pay for in Vegas).

The only changes that I see that really herald in the loss of youth are more subtle and much more bothersome. I have less patience. Not that I was a pilar of it to begin with. I'm not so driven to go out there and conquer the planet Earth. Sit back and smile smuggley as the rest of humanity self-destruct?, of course, conquer it? Nope.

My taste in video-games is also concerning me somewhat. I used to only be interested in the latest and greatest. Normally a FPS. Don't misconstrue, I still enjoy shooting people in the face with ever increasing detail and rag-doll physics. But, I've noticed that I also enjoy playing the classic console types again. Astroids, Centipede, Frogger... hell, and I can't believe I'm saying this but I even miss playing Super Mario Brothers.

What the FUCK is going on?!?

The most brutal realization of my changing emotional condition happened yesterday. We went to Minot (North Dakota) to pick up my Mother-in-Law for the holidays. Don't "Uughh" or feel sorry for me. I happen to love my Mom-in-Law. So, while in Minot (the closest GameStop store to me) I decided to trade in a game for a new one. I grabbed up Ace Combat 6 from my shelf, realized that it had spent only 8 total hours in my machine (in one go) and decided it was time for it to experience knew things.

I didn't really have a clue what I was going to get in exchange. I've had a lot of options that I've been mulling over in anticipation. Mass Effect and Assassin's Creed were at the top of the list. I wouldn't mind BioShock but I'll rent that one. I also considered buying an additional copy of Halo 3 and then trade it back in once my replacement disk shows up. Lot's of possibilities.

So while wandering around looking at the shiny newness of everything I saw something that distracted my youthful more selfish side. Maybe it was the holidays. I can attest that the season does drive people crazy. Kind of like a full moon, people get stressed and do all kinds of "out-of-character" things.

I saw the box-set for Scene It! for the Xbox 360. The one with the 4 wireless game-show like controllers. I remembered playing the demo with my wife and how much fun we had playing it. It made me think that with family coming this title might actually be fun to have. All of us are trivia clowns and love to argue so it seemed like a good choice.

When I started reaching for it my 19-year-old persona woke up out of it's peripheral daze and said, "What the fuck? Is this what happens when I nap? What are you doing? Stop!!"

I usually listen to that voice. It keeps me from buying sweaters (I am kind of chilly but that's what cool polar fleece pull-overs are for). It keeps me from buying more slacks instead of jeans. Don't need too much help with that one but any extra advice is appreciated. It keeps me from enjoying driving my wife's mini-van. Hey, it has leather seats and MY vehicle is an old 88 Ford Bronco 4x4. I might even take the topper off of i this spring. I could if I wanted to. That voice keeps me from completely growing up. It helps me to communicate with my patrol officers who are all in their twenties. I love that voice.

This time though, I ignored it. I even distacted it by buying a vinyl skin for my 360, you know the one, it makes the 360 look like a glossy pile of spent shell casings. Groovy.

I completed my purchase and couldn't wait to tell my wife. After she got over the, "I can't believe you spent money" remorse she always goes through...

... I'm not kidding, my wife has the worst buyers remorse of any person on this planet. She wants to buy things she just doesn't want to spend money to do it...

... and then she revelled with me on how fun it will be to play together.

That's when I realized I wasn't only getting older but might actually enjoy it. I didn't mind that while driving by one of the car dealerships that I looked right past the four new Corvette's sitting out front and noticed a used (but new looking) Mercedes S500 sedan... and wanted it... badly.

I'll submit a review of Scene It! once we've had a chance to put it through the paces.