Page 18 – Burning the midnight oil at noon

24 Days of Desire (21): Band-Maid

I’d like to say that I’ve really missed going to concerts during COVID times, but I really go to all that many concerts to begin with. At least one a year, I’d say, which could seem like a lot to some, but I think there’s definitely room for improvement.

I also don’t really miss concerts because I’ve checked off a lot of the most important boxes on my “bands to see live” list: Queen, Tesla, Matthew Good (twice), Joe Satriani, Dweezil Zappa. As for the ones that are still outstanding? Thrice, Tonight Alive, Story of the Year, TWRP… oh, and Band-Maid. We absolutely cannot forget Band-Maid.

24 Days of Desire (20): Sleep

You know what’s something that I would really like? The ability to sleep consistently.

My sleep is way all over the place. Sometimes it’s my fault for ignoring my phone when it tells me it’s bedtime. But most of the time it’s not my fault! Not in any obvious way, anyhow…

24 Days of Desire (19): Xenoblade Chronicles X

Full disclosure: this feature has been a lot harder than I expected it to be. I’m a very contented person, and I really don’t want for much. So while I had a good dozen ideas right out of the box, I’m scraping the bottom of the barrel for the back half.

And so here we are, and I’m port-begging for Xenoblade Chronicles X to get released on Switch.

24 Days of Desire (18): DIE HARD

There are a few movies that I like to watch every time the holiday season rolls around. These include but are not strictly limited to: Christmas Vacation, Die Hard, and The Phantom of the Paradise. Of those three movies listed, I own two.

24 Days of Desire (17): Cap’n Crunch Pancakes

For anyone out there who may be unawares, Cap’n Crunch is currently my favorite garbage cereal brand. Peanut Butter Crunch would be the winner for individual cereal, but realistically I’ll take whatever the Cap’n is offering. I also say “currently” because Fruity Pebbles used to have the top spot until just a few years ago, and I don’t know if, how or when my tastes will change moving forward.

All of that I a very roundabout way of saying: I really want to try the Cap’n Crunch pancake mix!

24 Days of Desire (16): An Arcade

This one’s quick and easy: I want an arcade.

Well, that is to say, a very specific arcade. An arcade that has the “holy trinity” of 90’s brawlers: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Captain America and the Avengers, and The Simpsons. Though honestly, I’d gladly accept even one of the three.

Growing up, our Chuck E Cheese restaurant had those three cabinets, all nicely aligned back-to-back-to-back, and they were where I spent the vast majority of my tokens. Those and Cruis’n USA, but I’m less nostalgic about that one. While we do have a few modern establishments that include arcade games as part of their schtick, none of them have any of the three I listed. It’s all skee-balls and coin pushers ’round these parts.

So that’s really it. My list of demands is short. Not cheap, mind you, but short. I feel like I’m putting out a reasonable ask, but I think the fact is that those arcade cabinets have left the city and are never coming back. I did see (and play!) TMNT once, but it was at a bar that has long since been replaced by a spa or something that I care equally little about.

24 Days of Desire (15): Headphones

This is a simple one: I’d like a nice pair of headphones.

The thing that makes this tricky is that there are so many different kinds for such a wide range of prices, and I have no idea what I actually want in a headphone. Just something that does a good job of relaying sounds from a computer or video game console to my head, while also blocking as much outside noise as possible.

24 Days of Desire (14): TMNT Classics

The other day, I wrote about how I’ll never have the complete set of Mega Man comics because Archie had zero respect for the series or the fans. When it comes to IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics, though? Any that I’ve missed out on are totally my fault.

Actually, IDW has done a pretty great job of making sure that their original TMNT series has been easy to purchase in one format or another. Right now they’re releasing them in really nice hardcover collections, and you know that I’m all over those.

24 Days of Desire (13): A space-filler

Got another quick one today. There’s this space above my bed, and I’ve been meaning to fill it with something for years now. I just don’t know what it is that should go there. I was hoping that at some point, I’d have a flash of inspiration, or see the perfect thing whilst shopping for something else.

Alas! Four and a half years later and I have still not been wowed enough by anything to have hung it above my bed. The wall remains empty and cold.

24 Days of Desire (12): Mega Man Comics

In 2011, Archie Comics began publishing a graphic novel series based on the hit video game franchise, Mega Man. Perhaps you’ve heard of it? Features a little blue robot who fights for justice? Has a handful of games across a few different platforms?

So anyway, this Mega Man comic, it’s better than it has any right to be. The Mega Man games have very little in the way of story, so it was impressive that writer Ian Flynn was able to really flesh out a plot and dialogue interesting enough to keep you reading. Even more so since it also felt true to the spirit of the games.