I Have A Problem

I'm not trying to ignore anyone who so thoughtfully responded to my prior post. I'm here. Thank you for your thoughts and support. I will respond properly. But as the subject line says, I've got a problem.

I just...can't stop playing Fallout 3. I get up, go to classes or work as I must. Harriedly, I get my homework done on the train ride to work or finish homework in the mornings before class (so far all "As"!). I have politely ducked out of certain casual invitations. Do they know I maintain a convincing facade when I am there? Most of the work folks and few of the school ones would hardly suspect the depth of my passion about really well-made, intense games. I just keep fooling them and then coming home to play and grin about it. Other goals like running? Why would I want to go run and exercise when there is a vast wasteland to explore? Do I force myself to at least go out for 30 mintues and stay/become more fit? Yes, but my frequency is lower. Laundry, feeding the cats, showers and eating are about the only things that are maintained besides work and classes and that is only because they fit easily in my mini game breaks.

Last night I held up my end of my standing date. My home is open one night biweekly to good friends and we make dinner so we can hang out and watch bad movies (or really good ones) as we unwind and connect before the weekend hits. We had a blast but all I could think was, "I like ya'll but I gotta play for a bit."

It was as though I was asking under my laughter and discussions about the week's current events, "Don't you know I have to save Big Town? Find Little Lamplight? Discover the ghoul city and more vaults? Find out why my game "dad" split? See if Mr. Burke and his love letters are all talk or if the man is actually going do something..." I adore my friends and I am grateful for our shared time, but I was in complete game withdrawal.

There are so many elements I enjoy about this game. It is different from the other two and yet familiar. I have so much more to say, but even now the songs on the in-game radio and the promise of more mysteries revealed pull at me. (That song "Butcher Pete," by the way? Very disturbing and then you put it in time frame context...hey have you listenedto/read those lyrics?! Well, Kudos to whomever found that song and chose to include it on the soundtrack. Wanna hear it? You know what to do here...:D)

I think I'm just going to immerse and play until I can't anymore and then maybe I can talk or post about something more than my wasteland obsession (or keeping my Dogmeat from flinging himself into the fray as I toss a grenade).

There are so many addictions in this world many of them unhealthy. But so far, If this is mine for a while...I am happy with it.