The true measure of a man...

Returned home from first half of my language camp summer on Sunday. Back in Wedding with the pooch and enjoying a week of calm and quiet before heading back out, this time north to Meck-Pomm.
Getting back to the apartment, I was met with a cache of items that I had ordered for myself and friends while away on camp. As is normally the tradition in my life when I acquire new things, they come all at once. Usually to mark these events, I take a photograph of the bounty. The above photo is one such example.
Pictured are:
1. Guitar Hero Wii, game and controller. This is pretty much the greatest video game I have played since the oft recalled Tetris year of 1988. After two marathon gameplays, I am nearly finished the medium level. True GH fans may note that I pulled in a five-star rating for my inspired take on Weezer's "My Name is Jonas."
2. Two Mark Kurlansky books. A favorite author of mine since I read his works, Cod and Salt, his newest commodities history volume is entitled, The Big Oyster: New York in the World. I also picked up his older piece, A Chosen Few: The Resurrection of European Jewry. Kurlansky offers a great perspective, as he is a features writer and although approaching his subjects from a historical stance, does not get overwhelmed by the need to fit his stories into the traditional academic historical cannon.
3. Jeopardy champ and trivia wiz, Ken Jennings' book, Brainiac, a look into the unique history of knowledge and trivia within popular society.
4. The Famished Road, a book by Ben Okri that my friend Elizabeth bought for me a few years ago and I never got around to reading (mainly because I am a jerk). Well the next few weeks will resolve that.
5. The 'nike+' running system. The little transponder clips to your shoe and transmits a signal to a receptor that is hooked into your iPod nano and tracks your run distance, pace and length. When you get back from your run you can sync your iPod and upload your data to your account on the nike page. The page is hooked up to a community of runners around the world. For those of us who need the occasional encouragement to get out there and run, this system is perfect. I love it and I love being rewarded for good things done. I guess I am not unlike the Jenks on that account.
6. Oh yeah, and my iPhone came. Endlich. I am in love.