Should I change the name?

Here's a few ads i was going to post for my Retro Video Game Event... notice the two different names... I was trying to decide if I should change it now? Still thinking, anyone who can offer ideas, let me know =D

This Week's Pickups Budget

A week ago, I told my wife (and the community) that I probably spend less at the Thrift Store than people think. To prove it, I will make these lists with a total spent at the Thrift Store that week.

The week of Jan 18 - 25, 2014

The Pickups - Cost
Streets of Rage 2 Complete (Sega) - $3.99
Mortal Kombat 3 Complete  (Sega) - $3.99
WWF Tag Team Toy Belt - $1.99
Sewer Shark Puppet - $2.99
N64 with plug and 2 controllers - $14.99
Value Village Toy Bag - $2.99

This Week's Grand Total (before taxes) - $31

Diction

So, after watching hours of myself during editing of our Season 3 YouTube videos, I realize I have horrible diction. It's "season 3" of our YouTube channel... and I'm just realizing this now? Communication is an essential part of making videos, there lies my weakness... and opportunity of improvement.

Over Assimilating
This is the habit of blurring sounds of words together into more of a sound rather than a true word. I think I picked up this habit from my parents, as their first language was not english. A way to improve this is to talk aloud, especially sentences with a lot of "p's, t's, g's, and k/c's". (just google, there's a lot of great lines)

Slowing Down 
I'll admit, my mind runs and runs... It comes out in how fast I speak. Doing this also helps with preventing over assimilating. This goes hand in hand with being relaxed in my speech. I bet this also is related to my dyslexia (honestly). Sometimes I can't sit still, I bet I have a touch of hyperactivity.

Diction
With out diction you gets "wazzzzup" rather than "hey, what's up". Diction is the ability to articulate every letter in the word clearly.

My wife is going to think I'm crazy, speaking to myself in the basement! Truth is, I'm not only doing this for my "videos" but just to become a better speaker and communicator. I have bigger plans for myself in the future, communication is a vital tool for success. If I am going to be be surrounded by professional educated individuals, I better be able to play the part! It reminds me of 2 very special quotes that I'll end this post with.

1) Talk the talk, walk the walk (from one of my dad's old motivational tapes)
2) If I could say a few words... I'ld be a better public speaker! (Homer)

-Nate is editing youtube now =D

Here's a Picture!

In my video game collecting journey, this is what has been the most enjoyable part. Friendship =D (cheese)

Why Continue to Write?

Why do I continue to write on this blog, even though I know I get less than a handful of views on my posts? Like I said, this is my "personal" blog, it's for me. Like a little girl and their diary, but I don't mind if someone reads my diary. If you're one of the few that reads, thank you. If this Nate (me) 10 years from now reading this... I hope you didn't F*ck it up! =D 

Nate is planning how to achieve his goals.

-"Write down your goals so you can focus on achieving them... not remembering what they were" - Nate

Video Game Budget

I made a comment one video that got a few people wondering when I said "I spend 10% of my income on video games". My wife and I also bickered on my budget, she thinks I spend more than I actually do on video games, I bet other people do to.

The fact is, I do visit the thrift store often, but I rarely pick up. I just counted, in the basement right now, in the past 2 weeks, there's $60 worth of video game items. That's pretty average. Most of the items I pick up are $3.99 or less, the odd time I'll get a $5.99 game or something. I made a deal with my wife, I'll begin to actually count and add up what I spend to "shut her up" (her words). I'll post the totals periodically on this personal blog.

Nate is facebook promoting RetroGamersWinnipeg
-Did you know you could use the Sega Dreamcast rod in Virtua Tennis? (Thanks Sega Stoner)

Funny thing from today....

Well, I was stopped at the flea market a few times (2 to be exact) from people who recognize me and have been "talking" about this video game convention I am hosting! So I thought it be cool to share and clear up a few items.

1) It's not a convention... yet
Even though we're probably going to drop the "convention" for RetroGamersConventionWinnipeg (RGCW for short), we eventually want to be big enough to be considered a convention. #RetroHeartsWinnipeg on April 5th is just a retro video game themed charity event to help out Light House Mission =D

2) Do You Have your Licence?
We've been in regular contact with the licence office and have been clarifying and ensuring all proper licences will be in place for April's event

Added Story
It was also funny, a friend of mine stopped me and had a funny tale, when he was up north, I think Dauphin or something, he cleaned out his parents house I think, and took out a bunch of games from storage. Some how, a local "young-in" made a (low ball) offer on all these NES (Original Nintendo) games. My friend told this kid that it was a low offer... the kid mentioned that he's been watching this YouTube group called "thriftdweller" that taught him about how to buy video games... kinda funny.

Nate is currently promoting Retro Gamers Winnipeg on Facebook
-Never make an offer on a game if you wouldn't be willing to sell it for that price.

I Make Videos!

I make youtube video with my best friends on Thriftdweller

Nate is obsessed with American Horror Story

-Keep you friends close, destroy the rest

Essential Nintendo 64 List

If you didn't know it, I am an avid video game collector!

I recently asked my friend 64BitMatthew, a Nintendo 64 expert, to help me compile a list of essential Nintendo 64 games so I could focus my collecting. He surprised me with great list with descriptions on this topic! I pasted it here (after the jump) so I could refer to it in the future! Check it out!

The Final Product - It Has a Name

So my last post was about brainstorming, so here's the final product thus far. We really never stop changing and evolving... so this might change mid season into something else... Hope you enjoyed it!

You're unique, be yourself!
-Nate is watching Supernatural

Thriftdweller Season 3 Pickup Name

Thriftdweller is Nate's video blog with his best friend Lester! (we mostly talk about video games)
Yesterday I posted how i over come mental blocks. The reason I did was because I am having trouble coming up with a title for our Thriftdweller Season 3 pickup videos! It's a small thing, I know, but like I always recommend to my YouTube channel bloggers, give your videos your own flavour! Be unique and stand our, so just be yourself (since there's only one of you in the world, get it?)

Here's what I've come up with so far!

Nate is Brainstorm-ing
-Be You! Goodnight!

Mental Block and SCAT

I've grown up very "right brained", somewhat of an abstract mind and very obsessive too. I like being creative, so when I get stuck, you can imagine how difficult it would be for me to move on to anything else until I over come a mental block. 

One tool I've learned to do is "scat sing" mentally. All you sickos who think what I think you're thinking, gross! But for the good minded, scat sining is a jazz inspired form of expression, it's wordless. You make sounds to music, let your soul speak! Here's a clip from Chapelle Show that's a good example. 

Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler use to "scat" when coming up with songs, that's how "Dude looks like a lady" came from! I guess this is my way of saying "brainstorm"! There are no wrong answer on brainstorming! Lester and I throw ideas back and fourth all the time! This has proven to be a valuable tool!

-Nate is watching RAW IS WAR

"come on be my baby tonight!"

Happy Hunting to my Collectors!

Man, these transformer toys are really speaking to me! I am going transformer hunting for the first time ever this week end! I can't wait! Do YOU have any goals for collecting in 2014? New hobbies? Milestones for your current collecting??

Best of luck in 2014!

Nate is Thrift-dwelling!
-Happy Picker-ing

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

I like the whole concept of resolutions for the new year! A fresh start is a mind set, so don't limit yourself to the beginning of the year! Set milestones, and WHEN you reach them, find more! 2014 is going to be a big year for me! (more on this to come!)

Nate's personal life goals 2014:

1) Health - more water, more veggies and fruits. Back to kickboxing! 

2) Negativity Shield - Don't let others control your world, control your destiny. Stay Positive.

3) Do Good - Help others (without being paid for it!)

Very general goals I know, but It's something I always strive to do anyways in my mind. Remember, goals are worth the paper they're written on, so write them down, then you can focus on achieving them rather than trying to remember what they were! 

All the best to everyone in 2014! Wishing you health and love! 

Nate is watching his wife sleep! 

-All the best!