Well, that bitch Mother Nature was not having any of that and sent a
snow storm directly for me. When I walked out of the shop with my first
delivery at 12:30 it was already like what you see in the picture.

I am still working. Still sliding around the roads and mixing a good
amount of danger with my business. That is the way I like it.

My first delivery.

My first delivery of the day ended with the Nurse I was delivering to
calling the shop to call me rude. Which leads me to believe she does
not understand the definition of the word.

I met her at the front desk and exchanged her $14.48 meal for a
20-dollar-bill. I asked her, as I ask everyone, "How much would you
like back?" Which is a tactful way of saying 'how much do you wanna tip
me for driving in the snow and cold to deliver this food to your work?'

Her response to how much she wanted back for her $14.48 was "All of it"
with a dirty glance as if I had asked her to remove her scrubs so I
could motor boat her.

I was kinda stumped, but I replied, "okay, but we don't carry quarters,"
she gave me the stankiest eye I have ever received at this. I was
feeling a bit emboldened by these looks so I ventured, "we expect
tips."

Her expression didn't change. I got out my bankroll and gave her a $5.
I turned around and walked away.

I should mention that my tone was a matter-of-fact one, I was not trying
to get a tip out of her. I simply stated fact: we don't carry loose
change because we expect tips.

Of course some people don't like facts being pointed out to them.

I get back to work and the counter people are giving me a funny look. I
ignore that, because the counter people are kinda funny looking.

As I pass by my boss though he scolds, "Grubb. Don't be rude to the
nurses at the old folks' home."

Obviously the lady felt that somehow telling her the truth was rude.
Was I suppose to conjure 52 cents from the ether?

My boss wasn't too pissed, he knew what happened, but he had to say
something to me.

Burn Notice-Style Spy Tip: When faced with a cheap nurse, just walk away
without saying a word. Of feign an inability to comprehend English.

Games and Gamings

I am replaying Kirby's Canvas Curse. What a good game. Where are the
clones, though? I guess Crayon Physics is similar to Canvas Curse, but
I have not played that at all. I'm surprised there are not 20 games
based on the mechanics of Kirby's best game in years.

Gamefly decided that I didn't really want NHL 09 or any of the games
that were in my queue ahead of CivRev for the 360. A game I've played
the shit out of on the DS.

I haven't really talked about CivRev since I played it. I certainly
talked about the possibility of it since the dawn of the DS. All I
wanted was a portable Civilization game.

Well, CivRev is certainly still Civ, but as a long time Civilization
gamer I'd have to say that some of the end-game design choices really
rubbed me the wrong way.

You can't set up a custom game, and if you want to win a certain way
you'll have to actively avoid winning in other ways.

For example you can't set it up so that the only way to end the game is
to win an economic victory. If you want to win by an economic victory,
more power to you, but you'll have to make an effort to not win a
cultural or military victory, and you'll have to do it before the turn
limit.

Not only that, but your opponents don't have to obey any sort of rules
you set up for yourself. So if they want to take you over militarily
you are screwed.

I know all that was done in the name of streamlining the experience.
And the game does a wonderful job of maintaining its momentum, but in
every game I've wanted to keep going and the option not being there
feels limiting.

It is still a very good game, but Civ4 is my favorite. I'm glad CivRev
has sold well, though. Maybe we'll get a sequel soon.
- Jeff Grubb