jakorte's blog

I’m pretty big into self competition.
Pushing myself one step further gives me a nice “so there!” buzz.

Because of this I have been understandably afraid of facebook online games.
I knew I’d get sucked up into seeing how far I could go and how fast I could get there.
Still, after a particularly bad case of temporary post-holiday lonely, I followed a repeated and repeated suggestion from a dear friend.

Got a little thrill the first time I hit a level where I passed one of my neighbors in Country Life game.
Got a bigger thrill when I reached a point where I was allowed to gift my neighbors what they were asking for: things they needed to improve their farms, levels, and virtual cash flow.

At first I wanted a bigger farm. But then my anti-establishment territorialism waned.
Nope, I decided. I want to achieve the highest level possible with the smallest farm possible.

Yeah, I know that’s not right in line with the game. Yeah, I know that’s not normal.
But it is one heck of a self challenge. And it’s in keeping with recent my “less is more” life swing strategy.

And now that I can afford automation, well, I can shred old bills and check registers, or wax poetic, while feeding virtual cows, and making virtual cheese. Virtual multitasking is the way to go.

I do think I spend more time on the farm than necessary.
I do have to make a self-appointment to complete my virtual chores. I try to schedule those after the real chores.
Then I have to self-impose an absolute time deadline to log-off; usually followed by a real meal as an incentive to cut the power cord.

I have a list of other games I think I’d like to try.
Evony Age II sounds interesting, especially since the game claims “No more bullies. No need to farm.”

Once I master self-control while self-challenging, I’m thinking Mafia Wars sounds like a good way to invest in brainy exercises and keep my planning (plotting) skills sharp in between missions.

Who are you competing with?
And do you want to be my Country Life neighbor?

In this issue: Scholarship, Sponsorship, Healthy Foods You Thought weren't Part 3, and Who Are You Competing With?

Now Posted: New Orleans, October 2009, Scholarship