So Thursday night I was heading home at about 9 o’clock. With thoughts of Mass Effect swirling in my head I pushed the gas to the floor only to run into some traffic a mere 1/4 mile from my home. As I crested the hill I noticed at least 20 or more flashing police cars. Something is wrong, this can’t be good I thought. As my car creep closer to the nearest police car I noticed traffic was being diverted away from my road.

“Excuse me officer can I get to my road from the other side?”

Officer “Yea I think its open”

So I made my way around to the other side only to be stopped by another police officer who informed me that I cannot go home. Why, why can’t I go home? I need my Xbox 360! So I headed to a local Publix parking lot. I spotted a policeman and pulled up next to him.

“Excuse me sir, whats going on?”

Officer #2 “Two police officers were serving a warrant, when they were fired at and wounded”

What followed was a 14 hour standoff in which the suspect barricaded himself in his room firing at SWAT teams that tried to enter the home on several occasions. “Tear” gas was fired into the house as well as concussion grenades. The next morning they stormed the house to find the suspect dead in a closet. The standoff was over and both officers that were wounded were both in stable condition and are going to make a full recovery.

But what’s this got to do with video games? Well with a combination of being late and a little laziness mixed in, I LEFT MY XBOX ON! Oh no 16 hours of my beloved baby just sitting there heating up waiting for the dreaded RED RING OF DEATH to set in. What was I to do? “Ummm officer do you think I could be let through the barricade so I can turn off my Xbox? I swear I’ll come right back out!” So I spent the evening at a friends house keeping up with the standoff and worrying about my baby. I spent the night sleeping on the floor only to wake up and still not be able to go home yet. There was a story of a doctor who lived on the street, who had a helicopter fly in and pick him up. Sadly my helicopter crew wasn’t available so that option was gone.

Finally though the standoff ended and we were allowed to go home. I rushed to my house with fear and anxiety rushing all over me. I bounded up the stairs like a gitty school girl that had a pony waiting for her. Would my baby’s beautiful green eyes be turned to red?

I burst through the door and was nothing but relieved as I saw the green light still burning bright. I couldn’t turn it off fast enough. I let it cool down for about a day and turned to back on. I am proud to say it is still working today. I guess I’m lucky. The horrific epidemic that is the red ring of death has not struck me yet. I know of quite a few friends who have been afflicted by it. One guy 5 times, no lie folks 5 times.

I know that the red ring of death could strike at anytime but I feel like I got away with one on this occasion. To all who have had to get a cardboard coffin and be without your Xbox for 4-6 weeks I salute you.