Mondays for me usually goes like this: hectic, exhilarating, tiring.
Last Monday, I dragged myself to Target and made a return. I then moseyed over to the Best Buy to window shop. Lately, I’ve been dreaming of a new flat screen (reasonably priced of course) to replace my decade old 19-inch Magnavox. In all actuality, I feel pretty guilty for even thinking of replacing it since it still looks and works like the day I bought it.
Then I looked at some laptops to replace my 3-year-old laptop that just so happened to go kaput on me when I was on the biggest story of my life last year. But something caught my eye, I gazed across the aisle at the fake drums and plastic guitars.
There it was, “Rock Band 2.”
I was summoned, seduced rather, to this area by the sound of Elvis Costello’s “Pump It Up” playing in the background of the sound selection screen. I fumbled about the controller and selected “So Whatcha Want” by The Beastie Boys and settled into the chair provided.
And then I rocked out.
I was there for over an hour. Male customers kept turning the corner either dismayed, agitated or jealous that I was still there, on the drums KILLING IT. I was so into it I took off my suit jacket. I felt awesome and like I was putting on a show — not thinking about work or the trek home or the fluorescent lights pounding my head or the beeps and noise of the retail store.
It was just me, Ad Rock, Mike D, MCA and the bass. When I couldn’t get the drum solo straight twice in a row on “Give It Away” by Red Hot Chili Peppers (a personal favorite and the song that defined my entire sixth grade), I called it a day. I thanked Los Angeles for being a great crowd and headed to my car.
I was so satisfied as I gave up my seat to the hovering thirtysomething males who had been exceptionally perturbed by my Rock Band monopolization. What’s the point you ask? Well, I’m an entertainment writer and Tonic is about the good things, right?
In these harried times, let us not forget the simple and pure things that lull us into that daze of pure bliss. That was perhaps the most relaxing moment I’ve had in about oh, all summer. It was at this point that the plasma was pushed to last on the list, the laptop moved up slightly, but Rock Band, yes, the entire system in fact must be mine.
So here’s the GOOD news, Sony is coming to the aid of those frustrated by these tough times, globally, economically and everything — by announcing today that they are lowering the price of their Playstation 3 system after a year of hemming and hawing.
I know the Wii is going for the female market with the Fit system — females who didn’t grow up on gaming like I did. (You’re talking to a girl who knew how to setup a Commodore 64 before my times tables!)
Let’s keep hope alive for the little things that make you happy and give you a way to escape from the hustle and bustle of the “real world.” I plan on buying the system this week with the intention of pretending to be Taylor Hawkins and attempt to nail my drum solo and provide backing vocals on The Foo Fighters “All My Life” as well as nailing “Give It Away.” Flea would want it that way.
The moral of the story is: Make the time to invest in what makes you feel like a rock star.
Photo courtesy of rockband.com