Happy Flamethrower Thursday

I planned to write a rather in depth blog post this evening, but let's just say, life got in the way.

Today was another abysmal day at work. It seems the staff has turned into a circular firing squad; all taking pot shots at each other. My only task today was to keep my head down and get out at five o'clock with all of my limbs intact.

I decided I needed a reprieve from this week, and I felt justified in rewarding myself. Grubbs had picked up Call of Duty: World at War a few days ago and so far, he's been incredibly impressed - if not disturbed. So, after clocking out, I headed up to my nearest Wal-Mart - which just happens to be near my favorite fast food joint: Arby's. I called Kristine, ranted about the week and how I can't seem to get anything right, then picked up my fresh copy of shrink-wrapped death, and headed off for roast beef goodness.

The rest of the evening has been a fantastic, chaotic, blood-splattered blur. I've started the opening campaign on the Japanese islands, and I've played a few nerve-jarring hours of co-op on the Eastern Front with Grubbs. I'm back again with my imbittered Soviet comrades bent on not only beating the Nazi war machine, but grinding everything in their path to dust. Let's just say that after the week I've had, a pack of bloodthirsty, angry, bitter Soviets hellbent on destruction is my kind of crowd.

The standout moments of the game? Well, let's just say the gore factor has been ramped up significantly. Throw a grenade into some tall grass concealing some Imperial soldiers and prepare to see a spray of red and maybe even some flying limbs. If that's not enough, they equip you with a flamethrower - which is my new favorite toy - and send you in to flush out the enemy. You can set trees, grass, bunkers, and even trenches alight and send your poor victims running in flames, screaming in blood curdling pain, to a sizzling death (yes, the corpses actually sizzle like bacon in a frying pan - it's disturbing beyond words).

After a few tank missions, the night culminated with Grubbs and I frantically calling out targets, wishing we had our M4 and red dog sights, and moving from house to house towards an abandoned asylum somewhere in Germany. It was creepy, it was intense, it was incredibly violent (Grubbs not only dismembered several victims, but also decapitated one as well, much to his surprise) and truthfully, it was a hell of a lot of fun.

So that leads us to a half-day Friday and a blessed weekend spent watching football, enjoying good Chinese food, and shooting everything that moves. I give Call of Duty: World at War extremely high marks so far. Multiplayer is next. I hear they've replaced the helicopter support in Call of Duty 4 with a pack of roving, bloodthirsty, psychotic dogs.

Should be fun...

That does it for this Thursday, November 13, 2008; 286 days until the start of grad school. Good night, and good luck.