Update: I replaced the screen print of some other person's victory with a photo I took of my screen when I won. That is actually a photo of my monitor, because I could not capture the screen image. Umm, yay! I have not played the game even once since -- went out on top.
I was not able to take a picture of the final screen, so this picture is someone else's*, but I won, finally beat Zuma's Revenge Iron Frog mode. It took me 503 tries and over 110 hours just on Iron Frog, plus over 50 hours on other Zuma's Revenge modes.
This game is really hard, and it takes a lot of patience to sit and play game after game after game, knowing that your chances of winning are tiny, just trying to improve a little over time. I have been playing a few games almost every day for the past several months, and more than a few some days. But because it is so hard to beat, it was really a great feeling to finally win. You really have to dedicate yourself to something this difficult in order to make it happen.
Which led me to have a little chat with Jarrod about how nice it might be to dedicate yourself to something actually useful with the same kind of enthusiasm. Imagine what you could achieve.
And then I told him, "Naahhh."
But seriously. The most important thing I could do for myself right now would be to lose weight, lots of it. What if I pursued that with the same kind of intensity I used to pursue Iron Frog? I wonder what that would be like?
* [Hah! Not anymore!] My time was over 28 minutes, so this woman beat me by less than one minute. I think that I will let her keep her little victory. And, by the way, the picture is from her blog, exulting that she finally beat Iron Frog after months of playing.
Hey Dennis,
ReplyDeleteI'm really proud of your efforts on this video game....
So I'm in your same predicament. Need to lose weight.
I have to drop 35-40 pounds by next June for Madeline's wedding. I am having trouble with that commitment. So far I'm down 5 pounds in 6 weeks, but that could be just normal fluctuations.
I heard a very inspiring speech from an Air Force Colonel yesterday. He was having a very tough time in school. He said he drew strength from a definition of failure that was written on a 3x5 card which was given to him on his first day of school. He had a hard time at the Academy, but he Graduated. His speech was about 15 minutes long and he kept referring to the definition of failure in his speech but never gave that definition until the very end of the speech. He said he had to read that same 3x5 card every day. He is now a pilot and a liaison to the secretary of defence and an excellent public speaker. What was written on that 3x5 card?
Failure: Sacrificing your dreams of tomorrow for your wants of today.
I spoke with him afterwards as I was eating barbecue chips from a little lunch size bag. I had to admit that I was holding a little bag of failure....
Raul,
ReplyDeleteThat's a pretty good definition of failure. We just need to be sure that tomorrow eventually becomes today, and we get to realize those dreams.
I saw my doctor today. My health is pretty good, sugar is under control, and he said that if I could bring my weight down to normal, I would probably be off insulin and maybe even my Metformin pills -- essentially eliminate my diabetes. I also have lost weight, about ten pounds, but still within the "normal fluctuations/been there before" range. Long ways to go.
I sent you a long email about my bike a while back(year or more). I am still convinced that its the best thing I could have done from an exercise point of view.
ReplyDeleteEven though its electric, I get a good work out. Since Its electric, I can get to work in about the same time as driving a car. Since it's a bike, I take fire trails in Marin about half the time and get an even longer work out. Ridden every day in May and June so far. Lots of sweat involved. There is even a free app for my phone that monitors my route and speed and compares it to my previous rides and other peoples rides on the same route. I know you have a very long commute and you have to deal with a lot more rain than I do. However the buses might have a bike rack on the front or inside. I know the buses in Marin have them.
My friend at work just bought a conversion kit for his bike. He needs to drop at least 50 pounds too. Now days, when I drive my car to work, I feel really bad.
So far I have about 6,000 miles on my bike. Just put on my 4th rear tire. I have cold weather gear and rain gear too. I can kick all the spandex guys asses!
However I have been hit by a car and I got doored once too, so there is a down side. My neighbour rides round trip to SF every day on a regular bike; pisses me off to no end because he is in fantastic shape.
I am glad you are still relatively healthy, that's very good news. I a hoping I can stop my high blood pressure pills if I drop 40 pounds. Maybe pick up a few chicks too! ;-)
-Raul