Maybe my

tait

Shared on Tue, 08/22/2006 - 07:59

OK, so on Thursday my XBox 360 locked up hard - suddenly, I had big white dotted lines across my screen. I turned it off, turned it back on - same problem. Took it all apart (removed all the cables, removed the HDD, removed the disc, etc) and put it back together - same issue. Waited forever with it off, then tried it all again - same dealio. So, I'm thinking it's toast - I had some minor lockup issues before, so I wasn't completely shocked. But, then, my clan (OMM) had COD2 clan night that night, and I'm looking at XBox.com and seeing my friends hop onto COD2 and it's driving me crazy that I can't play with them - for one, 90% of the Clan has given up their soul to Chromehounds, so they never play COD2 unless it's prearranged, so if I miss that night, I miss out for awhile.

So, I do the only logical thing: I hop into my car at 8:15pm and drive to Fry's and buy a new 360. Well, I take it home, plug it up and stuff and I'm on COD2 within minutes. However, the past few days I've experienced some strange issues with my "new" box:

  • Sometimes, I turn it on and nothing appears on the screen - I have to turn it off and turn it back on
  • I've turned it on and received 3 flashing red lights on the power button that go away if I turn it off and turn it back on
  • Get a "Failed to Load" map issue in Halo 2 unlike the "normal" 360 error messages that I've received before - now, I even get it in matchmaking. I redownloaded all the maps but it doesn't make a difference
  • I've locked up in Chromehounds and Billiards a few times
  • Voice sucks (this isn't specific to my 360, though - I just wanted to mention it.)

So, here's what I'm going to do - I'm taking back my "new" 360 to the store and returning it. My "old" 360? It's going to Microsoft. Now, for those of you doing the math at home, you'll quickly realize that two minus two is zero, therefore you'd be correct in figuring out a conclusion statement that I will not have an XBox 360 to play on after lunch today (of course, that's only if you realized that lunch is when I plan on making this happen).

But besides that, I have other stuff going on right now:

1) I've been at my new job for just over a month, now, and I'm feeling that I want to really improve my career over time through learning. There are a lot of resources available, but it'd be extremely difficult to take advantage of those resources while doing my "normal" job, therefore if I want to learn I'll need to put in a lot of extra time outside of normal business hours.

2) It's hot, here. Not I-just-had-Starbucks-coffee-and-it-warms-me-too-much hot. Not Arizona hot. Texas hot. Seriously, it's a different kind of heat that I've experienced elsewhere - the kind of heat that you think about, that doesn't leave your brain. The kind that makes you see visions or say things you shouldn't. The kind of heat that you feel everywhere at once, that makes you slosh around in your own clothes and consider stripping and jumping into any body of water that you see. It's hot. I know we're somewhere in the midst of a long string of over 100 degree days, but more than that it's just yucky outside with a high level of humidity and poor air quality. Walking to the car is somewhere on par with having 3 gallons of hot water poured on you, except not as refreshing.  I just don't feel like doing much when I'm very uncomfortable - LOL

3) I'm struggling in my marriage right now - I won't go into details in this setting, but know that it's there and it affects my thinking.

The thing is, I've become very attached to this site and the people on it. That's almost the reason I feel that I need a break, but it's also why I'm having trouble taking a break. See, one thing you probably don't know about me is that I grew up as a very uncool kid without friends and without a good self image. Throughout most of my life, I carried those thoughts along with me and only in the last year or so have I begin to really grasp a new way of looking at life: people are just people - they are doing the best they can. That statement absolves the responsibility of others to complete me in some way, so I am fine no matter what the circumstances. It's very freeing and allows me to be myself. On this site, I've been myself (mostly) quite a bit, and formed many friendships *in spite* of that (LOL). In many ways, this site has become my family. I'm not even sure that's entirely healthy - I feel that I might be missing out on friendships with people that I can see every week in "RL" (Real Life), but I also think that as adults it's much more difficult to find friends than as a kid (side note: they have singles clubs/bars if you're looking for a mate, but why aren't there "friendship bars"? You don't see Speed Friendship, or related friend-finding activities...).

I want to have an impact on people's lives - I want to share things that make a difference, you know? I want to write a blog that people find funny, comforting, interesting, or whatever - I want to be bookmarked, I want to be involved, and I want to pour myself into people.

Thanks and I hope to see you soon

If you'd like to chat about anything, or just tell jokes, give me a holler anytime at taitlifto@hotmail.com (put "2o2p" at the beginning of the subject line to avoid my spam blocker) or on Yahoo Instant Messenger at "scorpscorp". You're also welcome to visit my personal website at www.taitlifto.net

PS: All of this is subject to change - I might go so crazy in a day that I go and buy another 360 and login. It's entirely possible :-)

Comments

Em's picture
Submitted by Em on Mon, 08/21/2006 - 08:34
ummm....wow? you better not disappear, sweetie! and you DO have an impact, just by being you:)get back online soon!
WallyBR's picture
Submitted by WallyBR on Mon, 08/21/2006 - 08:48
If you go, don't be gone long. We'll miss you man. Who will pwn me at SWAT & with the sniper in the meantime? :)
Irion's picture
Submitted by Irion on Mon, 08/21/2006 - 09:00
Take care of yourself Tait! We'll miss you while you're gone! :D
MTK005's picture
Submitted by MTK005 on Mon, 08/21/2006 - 09:13
Take care Tait, and do what you gotta do. "da Family" is always here for you. You can't roll without Mr. Pink :-)
Avril's picture
Submitted by Avril on Mon, 08/21/2006 - 09:20
You, uncool??? cough...geek ;)... You have a huge impact, don't ever forget it. Thanks for being such a great friend.
Lonewolf's picture
Submitted by Lonewolf on Mon, 08/21/2006 - 10:32
Wow man sounds like you have a lot on your mind tait, who knew the allways joking allmost never serious guy, could even be serious, just kidding man. Take care and if you have to take a break to take care of life so be it, do what you have to and hurry back man. Good luck see you soon.
Stryker927's picture
Submitted by Stryker927 on Mon, 08/21/2006 - 11:44
1) Continuing education is an issue and concern I think a lot of us share. Part of the immense pressure we face as professionals to constantly add value, deliver, and continue to grow personally, economically, and professionally. 2) Hot. Sorry about the heat. Stay cool, drink lots of water, swim, relax. Do whatever. I won't mention it's 78, sunny, and a cool breeze here. Whoops too late. :) 3) I will pray for your marriage Tait. On top of all our responsabilities in life, finding the balance in a relationship always proves to be the most challenging. My wife and I have been through quite a bit in the last 9 years. I am a cancer survivor (most people probably didn't know that one) and that happened within 6 months of being married. Scary when your not even sure if you'll be able to have kids or be intimate with your wife the same way and your still a newlywed. Thankfully all turned out well and God's grace got us through. The good part of that turned into three beautiful kids. A whole new kind of responsibility. I was laid off after Sept 11th for 10 months. And we relocated from Detroit to Indy in 2002 which was hard since my wife's family is all up there. Said all that to say this, life is hard, it's a lot of pressure. But good communication, good friends, support, looking out for each other, letting others look after us, and a lot of prayer go a long way. No matter the bleak outlook, there is always hope, and life can always get better. It truly is what we make of it and we only get out of it what we put in. From our marriages to our jobs to our friends. You are a part of a family Tait, and you are loved by many for your kindness and humor. You place a high value on people, your outgoing, and have a lot to offer. I would be more than happy to chat with you about anything be it simple or complex, large or small, serious or humorous. Life is full of responsibility, we each have our "briefcase" we carry everyday, but when the "boulders" of life crash down...we need strong supports lifting us up and helping to carry the load. God bless! Long live the mafioso!
Relic's picture
Submitted by Relic on Mon, 08/21/2006 - 12:55
Best of luck Tait. Much of what you say resonates with me. A lot. So again, best of luck.
wareaglebeene1's picture
Submitted by wareaglebeene1 on Mon, 08/21/2006 - 17:04
Don't worry about Wally, I'll take care of him.
rockcrawler69's picture
Submitted by rockcrawler69 on Mon, 08/21/2006 - 17:58
Tait my friend, I am sorry to here about your second 360. Please know that you are one of the people O look forward to palyin with everynight. You always make me smile and have been a positive light in this very hard time for me. Anything you need. ANYTHING. you have my number. Rockcrawler69 Old Man Mafia Nash
ArminK's picture
Submitted by ArminK on Mon, 08/21/2006 - 18:37
TAIT, Blame the "lederhosen"!!!!!!! Seriously, good luck my friend. Hope to see you around soon. My prayers are with you. Armin
RagingBull888's picture
Submitted by RagingBull888 on Mon, 08/21/2006 - 20:36
You know we'll be here for you. Get the train back on the right track. And I'll make sure WallyBR recieves his standard pwnage as well.
tait's picture
Submitted by tait on Mon, 08/21/2006 - 21:45
you guys.. are awesome. seriously
Big0ne's picture
Submitted by Big0ne on Tue, 08/22/2006 - 05:48
Sorry to hear that Tait. I can't say much more than what's already been said. You have my number if you need it.
doodirock's picture
Submitted by doodirock on Tue, 08/22/2006 - 08:18
Tait, many people think this shit is about video games. That is really only about 15% of the equation. Anyone who has been to a Chicago Lan will almost always be able to tell you how wrong that is. The site is a family. It's around to meet new people who are not here to judge you based on your past, but share a common bond to form friendships in the preset. Some of my closeted friends were met through this site. That being said, if you ever need anything from us, I sure you will be presently surprised when we come running. All you have to do is ask.
GIJoeBob's picture
Submitted by GIJoeBob on Tue, 08/22/2006 - 08:42
don't be gone long!

Join our Universe

Connect with 2o2p