So I am back in Kansas. Things are better this time around because we are staying in Manhattan (yes, there is a Manhattan in Kansas!!!) as opposed to Junction City (which in many ways is still a one horse town…Wal-Mart was the main attraction there!). We are within walking distance to the ‘mall’, there are more shopping plazas here, there is a Target in addition to the Wal-Mart and Kansas State University is within 5 miles of here. That is important because college towns tend to be filled with fun places like bars and pool halls! I also have my sister Athena with me so I am not that token black chick as in previous trips.

Today, I experienced my first tornado warning. The entire state was practically under a severe storm warning/tornado watch. The wind was fierce as it blew past the building. Around 1730, an alarm almost similar to a fire alarm went off indicating that the storm and possibly a tornado was coming. According to the reports, Manhattan was in the direct path of this storm. We all gathered into the hallway of the first floor and watched as the rain poured down and the wind howled. Ten minutes later, the alarms were turned off on the first floor, but remained on the 2nd and 3rd floor (where my room was). I ran upstairs briefly to get some ‘important things’: my GameBoy Micro, my DS, my GameCube games and memory cards, my wallet and my camera (leaving behind the 2 new Xbox 360’s that I purchased…CRAZY!!!). Twenty minutes later, the alarms were turned off on the 3rd floor and we were allowed to return to our rooms (I stayed in Athena’s room located on the first floor during that time).

It truly was an experience like no other. I know for a fact that I didn’t want to be where that tornado did touch down.

My trip this time is only 18 days compared to my 30 days last time. This is good because I get some time to spend with Will, my family and the girls before embarking on my 2 month stay in San Antonio, Texas, not to mention being able to make our annual pilgrimmage to the New York Auto Show!

It was Yellow vs Brown vs Green in the Big Ass Halo 2 Fest that was held in Suffocation’s name. It took place on Saturday, and all went well.

The turnout was pretty low this time around, but it made for more space in the house, giving everyone more room to play comfortably. The one big issue we ran into was that not everyone brought their console or copy of Halo 2; we actually had empty TVs sitting around because of that! My “no more than two people per screen” rule went out the window as a result, for which I feel bad.

I intended on recording matches this time around, perhaps to post the carnage on this site. I set up my PC to do just that, because I was under the (mistaken) impression that I would actually get to play on my own PC. This did not happen though, as is usually the case during the BAH2Fs. I usually get muscled out of my computer chair because someone is not willing to share a screen with others or because they are under the impression that they will play better with a screen to themselves or some other reason. Yeah, it is my party, and I could say no, but I want every one of my guests to enjoy themselves, so I do what I can to make that happen.

To meet that goal, I usually don’t let that bother me and let them take the computer. I play on one of the TVs in the living room instead. This time around, I was really upset about it. I really wanted to sit in my own chair and record the matches and perhaps even play in all of them. Despite my anger, I let it go. I had to keep the party going by buying food and making a beer run.

I managed to put down a 40 ounce of MGD, which knocked me flat on my ass. I usually don’t drink too much during these events, but this time I felt like it. Nad took over hosting duties as I sawed wood in my bed upstairs. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, which is the whole point of these gatherings.

I set up my TV tuner on Nad’s PC so she could have a screen to herself. She seemed to like it very much. I think she played more in this BAH2F than any other before it. Being the good host that she is, she willingly let others in the group use her PC to play.

Tonight, we will be sitting outside of Gamestop playing Mario Kart DS and other GBA/DS games until midnight. Then we will walk in get our hands on our very own 360.

Our long-time friend Suffocation will be leaving us soon. He is PCSing to Eygpt, which will make it kind of hard for him to participate in our Big Ass Halo 2 Fests. For that reason, we are having one last one for him this weekend. The evite has been sent, and several have responded. If you want to come, let us know. We’ll give you directions to get here. It will be on Saturday, November 19th, and will go on all day.

This time, I hope to get in a little Dance Dance Revolution or Super Smash Brothers Melee in before the Halo festivities start. I’m sure no one will have the courage to go up against Nad and I in DDR, but I’m sure we can get a bit of SSBM early on.

If you will be attending this weekend, this is what we need everyone to bring (if you have):

• Xbox console (including power and A/V cables)
• Controller (S or Duke is fine)
• Copy of Halo 2
• Ethernet cable (the longer, the better)
• Network switch (network hubs, despite being suxorz, are fine)
• A small TV, around 13″ (if you want your own screen)
• Food and/or drink (cash for pizza wouldn’t hurt either)

As usual, I am trying to get no more than two people on a single TV. With the TVs we have available, we can accomodate eight people across four 20″+ TVs, one person on one 13″ TV, and one person on one 17″ LCD monitor (obviously, I call dibs on that one), for a total of ten.