Happily Ever After

I believe I have mentioned in the past that I am taking classes for Medical Coding and Billing. I am nearing the end of the program and had hoped to move into that job field by the end of the year.

Two weeks ago I started a temp job working in accounting for a local hospital.  It turns out, the hospital is in need of another coder and, when they found out I have some training in that area, they offered me a permanent job in the coding department!  This is an unbelievably good opportunity for me and I am still pinching myself.

Back when I was not working, I had all the time in the world to write both on my blog and on the forums and I could spend every night in game participating in raids, heroics, and RP fun.  While I am delighted over the turn of events, the one down side is that I simply do not have the time to devote to these activities that I used to.   I still enjoy raiding, I still enjoy RP, I still enjoy writing, but I am not able to participate nearly as much as I once did — and that is a source of regret.

I started this blog for me, as a place to express my thoughts and feelings about WoW and to indulge my love of creative writing.  It has been one of the best experiences of my life.  Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately as the case may be, it is time to move on to other things.   I know myself too well to say I am done blogging for good.  The love of writing is still there.  Perhaps in time I will find my way back here.  Perhaps I will turn my writing to other areas.  Who knows?  If there is one thing I have learned it is that life catches you by surprise.

To my fellow bloggers – you have been an inspiration and I thank you.  To everyone who  has stopped by my little corner of the internet and left a comment – I have appreciated it more than you know.

*hugs*

Aleathea/Reant

Kidnapped by Gnomes!

It was a dark and stormy night.

(You know this is going to be good with an opening like that!)

I was relaxing in my favorite chair  enjoying a mug of Captain Rumsey’s Lager.  The Filthy Animal Inn was deserted save for a couple of Trolls making out in the back corner.  I was happily contemplating my naval and the meaning of life when the tranquil atmosphere was shattered by the sound of mechanical whirring.  I looked down to see a drill appear out of the ground beside my table.  Out streamed a bevy of long haired, wild eyed, fang toothed gnomes.  Before I could recover from my shock, they were upon me.  I was bound and gagged, tossed in a feed grain sack and carried deep into the bowels of Gnomeregon.

I eventually managed to escape by hiding myself in a beer keg bound for  Khaz Mhodan.  Eleven hours in a beer keg, carried by a stumbling pack mule.  Words fail me to describe the horror.  Suffice it to say, it has taken some time to recover from the ordeal and I am only now returning to the land of the mostly living.   Please rest assured, I am safe and well and will resume my normal writing schedule in time.

***

So, I am not dead.  I have not quit the game.  I have not quit blogging!

I went on vacation early last month and have not yet recovered.  I made the phenomenal mistake of taking a week long vacation in a location that had no internet access.  I will never do that again.  I called my long-suffering husband twice a day, making him read (and re-read) to me every new post on the guild forum, give me updates and relay messages to in-game friends and even convinced him to do my Jewel Crafting and Sons of Hodir dailies.  *sighs happily*  I really do have a wonderful husband.

I believe I mentioned a few weeks back that I lost my job.  I was working for a state department that got outsourced.  I am using the time off to focus on the on-line Medical Coding and Billing program I am enrolled in.  I am hoping to finish within the next few weeks and move into that job field soon.

I have also been spending a lot of time with my parents who, after living here in my hometown for twenty-five years, decided to move away.  My husband and I moved back here from Florida only a year  ago and, somehow, I had always imagined they would be here.  They left this weekend. *cry*

As for my in-game activity, it has been a bit sparser than usual due to my necessary focus on real life recently.  Still, I’ll provide a brief update for those who, for some unaccountable reason, may be curious.

Reant, my prot warrior on the Cenarion Circle RP server, has developed a disturbing addiction to Savory Deviate Delight.  Her friends are concerned she may need professional help.  Despite her habit of yelling “yar!” at  inopportune moments, she is welcomed by the community at large and has found a happy home amongst the role players on this realm.

Aleathea, my prot paladin on the Draka server, is working her way through Ulduar.  I have the rare pleasure of raiding in company of players who are not only very talented, but are also my very old friends.  This group has been raiding together for nearly three years (and a few of them go back even farther) and, while we enjoy progressing through new encounters, the real enjoyment is in time spent with one another.

Though time spent in Real Life as well as my involvement in the RP world has taken me away  from Draka to some extent, my heart is still with this group of friends and it is with pride that I  zone in each week to stand beside this team of friends and meet the challenges of progression raiding in Ulduar.

Yogg Saran, we’re coming for you!

***

So, there you have it!  I survived my ordeal and am whole in body if not in mind.  I have several posts in the works and hope to get back to a more regular writing schedule soon; although, with crazed gnomes running loose, I can’t promise anything.

Until next time … I hope you are well and enjoying the game — and life — as much as I.

Ding!

Reant hit eighty last night amid a flood of congratulations from her friends and guildies.  The journey has been one of the most enjoyable experiences of my WoW life to date and I am eager to join the “big kids” at play.

Some of you may know this, but my decisions to create Reant stemmed directly from a conversation I had with Arrens of Through the Eyes of Death.

I stumbled on his blog by accident one day last February.  Fascinated by his character stories and glimpse into the RP world, I posted a comment.  He posted back.  One thing led to another and … here I am 80 levels later and a proud member of his guild.  It’s been a wild ride and he has been there every step of the way as a friend and guide.  I can’t thank you enough, Arrens.  <3

In real life news, I lost my job last week due to outsourcing, so I will have to devote some time in the near future to the lovely job hunting pursuit.  I know many of you  have had the same experience and can understand.

I’m trying not to think about that today, though.  Happier thoughts are here because – tomorrow I am leaving on a week long vacation! *cheer*

I am flying up to Wisconsin to visit my dear sister and her baby.  We will be staying with my grandfather who lives on a dairy farm that has been in the family for  over one hundred years.   We used to visit when I was a child and there is still no place on earth so magical as Grandfather’s farm. I will not have reliable internet access during this time, so it will be a true vacation from even the internet and a welcome get-away.

As you can probably tell, there is a lot going on for me right now, so please continue to forgive my slower rate of posting.  I promise, I am not losing interest or desire – I just have a lot of things in real life demanding attention right now.

Until we speak again – good luck to each of you with your endeavors and I hope you are having as much fun in the game right now as I am.  <3

The Bunnies are Out to Get Me

By now most people are well aware that I hate achievements. Furthermore, I avoid most holiday events like the plague. Yeah, I know, I’m a real scrooge.

It’s been a rough week. The out of character guild chat channel is filled with a steady stream of discussion related to bunnies, laying eggs, and chocolate. Especially chocolate. I think I’ve gained five pounds just listening to them talk.

Half the guild is parked in Un’Goro Crater and poor Reant is terrified to show her face in a major city since she inevitably ends up with bunny ears. BUNNY EARS! Do you have any idea how ridiculous bunny ears look on a Forsaken warrior!?

All this cheerfulness and frivolity was getting to me. Needing a break, I logged onto Aleathea and joined a group of old friends for a night of raiding. We decided to pay Sartharion a visit on our way to Uduar. I think he owed Deadsong  money or something.

*happy sigh* There is nothing in the World of Warcraft that makes one feel quite so heroic as tanking a dragon. Especially on an island, in the middle of an ocean of lava, with molten waves crashing down on you periodically and lava falling from the sky.

This was my element, as far removed from bunnies, chocolate and eggs as wha-?

There on the ground, quite literally at my feet, was a brightly colored egg.

I stared. It stared back. I tried to back away. The pastel colors, the smooth round shape, the mystery of what lay hidden inside … I had not actually *seen* one of these eggs before.

I glanced around. My companions were dispatching the last of the elementals, no one was watching. My hand moved of its own accord. I could take this *one* egg, no one would ever know.

*Aleathea has earned the achivement, I found one!*

Bah! How was I supposed to know that simple act would earn me an achievement! A flood of cheerful congratulations descended upon me and I cried inside.

It’s a conspiracy. The Bunnies are out to get me.

Monday Update

Things are a little quiet on my blog right now, mostly due to a number of things going on in-game right now. Lest you think I have forgotten you, here is a brief update on my activities in both realms.

Aleathea: Draka realm

I am back to progression raiding as our ten man team works its way through Ulduar. The trash is more difficult than many of the bosses we have encountered so far in Wrath. This is as it should be. It feels like the old days when raiding was something you did with a skilled team, not random pugs.

Repair bills run 150+ gold per night and the epics are few and far between at this stage. This tends to weed out those who are just there for the free loot and it is a pleasure to spend time once more in the company of dedicated raiders who are there for the challenge. I had missed this more than I realized.

Reant: Cenarion Circle RP realm

I have discovered the pleasure of forum style RP and writing in collaboration with friends. It is like a drug. The high I get from participating in these RP stories is incredibly addicting and I spend a majority of my non-game free time working on them.

Despite everything else going on, I have gotten Reant to Outlands and she will likely arrive in Northrend this week. Leveling has been a bit slower than normal, due to the fact that I get distracted so easily by our in-character guild chat.

You would think me mad if you observed me, glued to my screen alternately laughing and holding my breath as I watch the stories unfold before me. I keep telling myself “Just ten more minutes, then I must log.” But, it’s like trying to leave in the middle of a good movie. Ten minutes later a new twist has developed and you just can’t leave until you find out what happens.

Be warned, fair readers. Do not tread lightly into this world of RP, especially if you have a keen imagination and addictive personality. You will get sucked in faster than you ever imagined. But, oh what fun you will have!

I imagine for the next few weeks my posts will be a little less frequent as I focus on my in-game activities and forum writing projects. I am sure you are busy as well and I hope you are enjoying the game as much as I am. Be well.

Patch Day: Going Shopping

Aleathea: Whatup Reant! Been a while since we last met.

Reant: Yea, verily, yea.

Aleathea: So, how you been?

Reant: Forsooth, I am right well.

Aleathea: Forsooth? Nobody says forsooth. What’s wrong with you?

Reant: I am a Role Player, this is how we speak.

Aleathea: Oh, I forgot you were one of them.

Reant: Of a truth.

Aleathea: Pretty exciting night last night, huh? So much to do now! Learn strategies for all the new raid encounters, tweak my specs for min/max efficiency, update my addons, rework my UI…

Reant: *nods absently* Won’t that be nice.

Aleathea: What did you do last night?

Reant: Went shopping in Undercity.

Aleathea: Shopping? On patch day? In Undercity??

Reant: Indeed.

Aleathea: Had some emblems left to spend, eh?

Reant: Emblems? Never touch the stuff.

Aleathea: Buying gems to re-socket for the new encounters then?

Reant: Gems? It is an affront to the Earthmother to disrupt the stones at rest in her bosom.

Aleathea: Earthmother’s bosom … How could I forget?

Reant: Seeing as you are not yet one of the initiated, I’ll let it slide.

Aleathea: You are too kind. So, then, what did you buy?

Reant: *produces a list* Of the Wolf cloaks in both short and long variations, of the Barbarian shield, of the Feathers headdress (for indoor use) and of the Physician helm (for outdoor use) – you can never have too many hats you know. Of the Spikes shoulders and, my favorite, an of the Whale chestpiece, purchased for the bargain price of 99 gold.

Aleathea: You … spent 99 gold on an of the Whale chestpiece?

Reant: *nods happily* The shoulders were a bit pricy at 89 gold, but they matched the outfit.

Aleathea: … I’m speechless.

Reant: My appearance often has that affect. You know, for a hardcore raider you’re not too bad. You should come visit my world sometime. I’ll take you shopping, fix you up a bit.

Aleathea: Fix…ME…up?

Reant: You’re living in the dark ages. Tier sets are so last year. These days, you just meander through the Auction House and buy what looks good on you. Give it a try, you’ll feel like a new woman!

Aleathea: I … think I feel ill.

Reant: It’s all that restricting plate armor. Try going with cloth. It’s better for your health and the environment.

Aleathea: Oh look, invites are going out for Ulduar. Hate to run but, duty calls, you understand.

Reant: Of course. May shadows brighten your path, Paladin.

Aleathea: …

***

Author’s Note: Lest you thought I was kidding …

Reant

Reant, 250 gold later

Welcoming a New Neighbor

A few days ago Elleiras from Fel Fire did a post highlighting the new blog, Female Human Paladin, by Ashellia. Upon visiting the blog, I was immediately impressed by the quality of Ashellia’s writing and delighted to find the content related to Raiding and Role Play, my two favorite subjects.

I look forward to following the development of this blog.  When you get a moment, I suggest you drop by for a visit and welcome our new neighbor to the community.

Honest Scrap

As much as I say that I write for me and it doesn’t matter what anyone else says or thinks, the truth is it does matter.  I get a little twinge of excitement every time I see a new comment pop up.  My heart beats a little faster every time I see a trackback to something I’ve written.  My smile gets a little bit brighter each time someone mentions my blog.  So, I was delighted this weekend when Elleiras of Fel Fire and Tessy of Reflections From the Pond both nominated me for the Honest Scrap  award.

Most of you already know the rules, but there are a few non-bloggers who frequent my site so I’ll touch on them briefly.

Upon accepting the award you are to write a post bragging about it.

This award is bestowed upon a fellow blogger whose blog content or design is, in the giver’s opinion, brilliant.  The fact that two of my favorite bloggers would consider me for this award is enough to make me blush.

Include a link back to the misguided soul who thinks you deserve such acclaim so everyone knows he/she is real.

Links provided above. Both are real, although Elleiras of Fel Fire  is a warlock so take anything she says with a grain of deeprock salt.

Choose a minimum of seven (7) blogs that you find brilliant in content or design.

I’m not going to actually tag anyone as most who are inclined to do so have already participated.  Instead, I will take this opportunity to highlight a few of my favorite blogs.

Through the Eyes of Death.  I discovered this blog quite by accident.  Intrigued by the title, I started reading and spent the better part of an afternoon glued to my screen following the adventures of Arrens Caltrains, the Forsaken Rogue.  In addition to his fascinating stories, he offers a series of posts on Role Play delivering practical advice with wit and humor.  My recent foray into the world of RP is due largely to his influence and he serves as a daily source of inspiration and encouragement.

LoreCrafted by Tharion Greyseer.  If you have a question about lore, he knows the answer.  One of the best resources anywhere for those interested in lore, he is also a fantastic story teller.  His writing comes alive on the web page and you feel as if you are actually present observing the events unfold.

Tankingtips.com by Veneretio.  An absolutely essential blog for a tank.  I have an entire notebook full of information I have gathered reading his blog entries and my monitor is covered in post-it notes with quotes from his podcasts.  More than any other writer, he has shaped the player that I am today and I owe him a great debt of gratitude.

Beneath Two Skies.  I have followed Rhoelyn since her first post.  She offers brilliant writing, aesthetic design and extremely practical content.  Although real life has prevented her from being active recently, her blog retains a place on my blogroll and remains one of my all time favorites.

Artisan Level.  Another blog that I have followed from its beginning.  I love the honesty with which she expresses herself and her practical and creative ideas for dealing with guild and raid leadership are a constant source of inspiration.

Voodoo Ventures.  Creative and engaging, her RP stories are a pleasure to read and her lovely screenshots and creative captions always delight the eye.   She has also written a fantastic guide detailing her daily quest route.

The Pink Pigtail Inn.  One of the best writers I have ever had the pleasure to encounter.  She somehow puts into words the things I feel but can’t express.  Her thoughtful commentary on WoW and real life always inspire reflection and I often find myself still considering her words days later.

List at least 10 honest things about yourself.

1.) I am terrified of dogs.  And spiders.  And dead people … which is ironic since I play a Forsaken.

2.) Upon completing my first degree I swore I was done with school forever.  Five years later, I am working on a second degree.  The first is in music.  The second, Medical Coding and Billing.

3.) When I was fourteen I spent six months immobilized in a full body cast.  During that time, I watched Return of the Jedi no less than one hundred times.  To this day, I can quote the entire movie … much to the annoyance of my family.

4.) I hate warlocks with a passion. I rolled a warrior just so I could learn spell reflect and watch them incinerate themselves. (Sorry, Elleiras, nothing personal.)

5.) I freeze up when it comes to anything math related.  Seriously.  My brain just shuts down and goes numb.  This is why you will never find theorycrafting on my site.

6.) I refuse to do the escort quest involving the robotic chicken in Tanaris.  Some creatures don’t deserve to be rescued.

7.) I love Japanese anime music.   Especially those songs performed by Yuki Kajiura.

8.) I am addicted to Goldfish.  The snack food. The cinnamon graham ones are my favorite.

9.) I have no pets.  No plants either.  I had a Beta fish once but I gave it away because it was too needy.  Darn thing actually expected me to feed it once in awhile.

10.) Early in our friendship, I  promised my husband I would never fall in love with him.  We have been best friends for ten years and that is the only promise to him I have ever broken.

Writing Projects

Projects I am currently working on:

• How-to Post: Configuring your Combat Log. You wouldn’t believe how hard it is to find simple instructions on setting your combat log to show only incoming damage.  I don’t care how many Heavy Frosweave bandages Deadsong is making.  Show meh teh damage! Bonus: screenshots provided.  Update: Post is DONE!  View here
  

• In Character RP Post: Diary of a Forsaken: Days Twenty-Two through Fifty-Two. So, I’m only a month behind.  I can do this.

• In Character RP Post: Chapter Ten: Continuing the story with Teaka, Kess, Don and Sharpclaws. Nope, I haven’t forgotten about my Alliance side characters.

• Raid Leadership Post: “How to Double the Duration of your Naxx Raid in Three Simple Steps” Alternatively titled, “Hug a DPS Today!”

• Real Life Post: Experimenting with Sleep Deprivation. What happens when you go from eight to five hours of sleep a night for an extended period of time? Results not yet in…although preliminary findings indicate behavior resulting in accusations of drunkenness. “Tequila makes her clothes fall off…” *ahem*

• OOC RP Post: In Character vs. Out Of Character. Discussing why it’s important to distinguish between the two. Alternatively titled, “Arrens Doesn’t Eat Gnomes in Real Life.”

• Tank Talk Post: What it Means to be a True Main Tank. Reflection on Designation vs. Lifestyle and why the MT isn’t always the one tanking the boss.

Monday Updates

Nothing too exciting today, just a few updates.

In Real Life

I work for a state agency in Georgia. Due to the economic downturn, my department is being outsourced at the end of next month. Having anticipated this possibility a while back, I began taking classes for Medical Coding and Billing and plan a transition into that field later this year.  I am about two thirds of the way done with the program and it’s been pretty easy … until now.

Enter Anatomy and Physiology II. Last week I made a 55 on the mid-term, earning it the distinction of being the first exam I have ever failed in my entire life.  Fortunately, I recovered some ground with my research paper. Tonight, I have my final.  As long as I don’t completely bomb it, I should pass and be done with this wretched class.  Wish me luck!

In WoW

This week represented progress on several fronts.

My Alliance guild on Draka went into Naxx 25 this weekend and cleared all but Thaddius, Sapphron and the Big Man KT himself. Our two holy priests did a particularly stellar job learning Razuvious on the fly, big kudos to them!  Aleathea picked up best in slot boots and a nice chestpiece upgrade … which exposes her midrif both front and back.  I swear, the more armor a piece of gear has the less it covers.  Anyway, tonight we go back to finish the job in Naxx.  Wish us luck!

We also picked up a couple new guildies this week as a few PUG’s we’ve been regularly running with decided they’d like to hang their hat with us. We are getting close to having enough raiders to run all guild 25 mans. As delightful as that prospect is, I have to admit I’ll miss the PUG’s. They provide so much entertainment.

Reant, my Forsaken Warrior on Cenarion Circle, broke into the fifties this weekend. She picked up Warbringer and Devastate and is feeling pretty bad @ss. I rolled a warrior for RP reasons, but along the way I have completely fallen in love with the class.   As Aleathea, my Prot Paladin, I enjoyed the rise to super star status in BC, but always felt a little sorry for my Warrior buddies. I feel sorry for them no longer. While warriors may not be the de facto best in any one area, they have an impressive array of abilities that allow them excel in every area. In my opinion, they are the strongest all purpose tanks. I particularly love their mobility and strength against casters. I eagerly look forward to reaching max rank and having the entire “toolbox” at my disposal.

Hopefully I’ll have more time to write more later this week. For now, I have to go study for my final tonight.

Happy Monday, everyone!