Not Right Now…!

So I turned on my XBOX 360 the other day and noticed something strange.

No, I wasn’t greeted by the dreaded RROD, thank [insert appropriate deity here]. Rather my 42″ TV had some colorful bars scrolling from the bottom to the top of the screen. While I can definitely appreciate the artsy-fartsy aspect of these bars, seeing them also told me something was terribly wrong.

Ann had already told me prior to this that I could sell her PSP and whatever games she has so that I can buy Rock Band 2 when it comes out next month. And that’s exactly what I did, opting for the GameStop gift card which scored me an extra 20% instead of taking the cash.

I then told the nerd behind the counter about my predicament and he suggested new cables, which I bought with my new gift card. After all I had already tried plugging in the component cables directly into the TV (bypassing the A/V switcher box), in different component inputs, etc. This was my only hope–or so it seemed.

I got home and was eager to try the cables out.

They sat on the coffee table for four days.

On the fifth day I decided I’d better open up the package and, like, seriously try them out. And I’ll be damned if the problem is now worse than before! I tried all inputs, bypassed the switcher box–nothing helped. I was sad.

I then went back to the Microsoft-supplied cables and gave them a shot. While the bars are still there, they are nothing like they were with the new cables. So now my only fear is that I will have to send out my XBOX and have it repaired.

But why did this have to happen now? Rock Band 2 is almost here! Dammit, this can’t happen yet, can it? How in the hell can I vicariously live out my dream to play that wicked guitar solo in “Boddhitsatva”?

Oh wait. My Rock Band Stratocaster guitar is busted, too. So I guess that has to get fixed as well. Double-damn.

Onto other things. Apparently, I’ve been nominated for some kind of bloggy award! Preston over at Me and the Blue Skies thought highly enough of my blog to nominate me for the ubiquitous Arte Y Pico Award.

Gee thanks, Preston…now I have to do some WORK and come up with five blogs my own stupid self! (It won’t be that hard, actually.)

So sayeth Preston of my blog…

Holographic Meatloaf – Whether he’s blogging about his never-ending quest to lose weight or his life in Southern California with his family, you just can’t beat his wit and humor. A daily dose of Dave is a good thing.

Boy, do I ever have somebody fooled up good. And as I said in the Comments section of that entry: