We all know that Sideshow and I are avid gamers.  But did you know my parents are gamers too? About a year ago, Sideshow and I piqued their interest enough in WoW to get them playing.  They each have their own account and are still enjoying the game.  Sure, Sideshow and I had told them about WoW throughout our times playing and they’d be interested in knowing our progress.  Now, it’s a bit different having them play as well.  We get to talk with them in game, my mom is a loyal reader of the blog, and phone conversations and visits are full of WoW chatter.  I thought it might be fun for you, my readers, to hear a little more about them.

… except when I asked them to participate, my dad said, “You’ll have to find your parents first…” (continue reading…)

So Thanksgiving has come and gone.  For those that observe Thanksgiving, I hope you had a safe and happy holiday.  For those of you that don’t observe it, I still hope you were safe and happy over the past few days.

Since Sideshow and I started dating, and especially after getting married, we’ve had to develop a holiday rotation.  See, his side of the family lives about 20 minutes from us whereas my side of the family live 3 hours away.  I really don’t know how people can handle multiple family gatherings for large holidays, especially with several stops in one day.  I find it exhausting enough to travel (even though Sideshow does most of the driving!).

Usually when we go out of town, we stay as long as possible before returning to our normal routines.  This usually means staying at my parents’ house until late Sunday afternoon.  This year we were thankful not to be bombarded with snowy travel, but we decided to leave Saturday in the late afternoon in order to bypass the Sunday holiday traffic.  Plus, it seems that no matter where we go for a few days, I can always use a day of downtime back home before returning to the office grind. (continue reading…)

Today I shall be AFB (away from blog).  Most of the day will be spent with family and food…. LOTS of food.  From the moment we hit the road today after work, I had to remove the interwebz IV from my arm.  Sure, I’ll be on Twitter, email, blog, and feed reader here and there.  But, most of the time over the next few days will be pretty gaming free for me.

I can survive, no worries.

Anywho, let’s take a look at the forecast for today:

The morning will have 100% chance of mouthwatering aromas.

The afternoon will bring clouds of mashed potatoes, tender turkey, delicious stuffing, with a chance of a light drizzle of gravy.

There is also a 50% chance of napping.

The evening has a chance of sweets, particularly pies.

Thanks

I’d like to take a moment during this Thanksgiving holiday to share some things I am thankful for today:

My husband

My family

My friends

My health

My job

My readers

My hobbies/games

Enjoy the holiday and we’ll see if I can be awake enough after being filled to the brim with turkey to whip up a Friday post!

Today marks the beginning of the next in game holiday, Children’s Week.  I’m interested to see how it has been revamped.  I know there are achievements associated with the holiday that weren’t around in the past, so this shall be interesting.  Although… free pets! Woo!

Can I keep her, please?

Today also marks the beginning of the Child’s Play charity auction over at The Hunting Lodge.  Go here for the list of auction items as well as the information on how to get started.  I have my eye on a few items already and hope it won’t break my bank.  Time to grind more dailies I guess.  Err, wait, I am paid a salary rate.  Well, that won’t work… anywho, go check it out!

Today, after creating a T-shirt, I have now decided to follow in Fulguralis’s footsteps of comment turning post!  I was over at Miss Elf’s blog catchin’ up on some reads (and I apologize I’ve been a lurker!)  There was an interesting post about what it must be like coming in as a brand new player after the release of Wrath of the Lich King.  My comment became a wall o’ text (/apology) and thus, I decided to make it a post.  I just think it’s an interesting topic.  My favorite paragraph from her post is as follows:

I think the old world needs to be played – yes, played, not zerged. Am I the only one who remembers what this game used to be? When you did every instance on the way to cap, when people talked in General (talked, not argued), when you ran into the same people all the time because you were levelling at around the same pace. When logging in was actually exciting, and questions about quests or looking for help weren’t met with “rofl u noobz omg my mom could solo that hahaha u suck”.

(For the rest of Miss Elf’s post, please go here.  It’s a good read.)

And that brings us to the comment I left over there:

I do see these trends happening, but it’s not all lost… at least not for everyone.

I started playing prior to BC, but I still love(d) all the content.  (Then again, I’m a lore nerd *ducks*)

I’m glad to see you say that old content needs to be played and not rushed through.  My parents started playing last November.  Sure, you could say their motivation is me… but… I honestly am not putting it on EZ mode for them.  Oh no.  I want them to experience it as fully as they can.  (omg, wall o text incoming in 3…2…1)

I did give each of them a few gold to start off with, just as my husband gave my toon when I started.  I made a couple bags for them too.  I gave them a couple addons, but nothing crazy or overboard.  (NO Questhelper.  Bad. Bad. Bad.)  I taught them some tricks for the AH.  Not get rich quick, but so they weren’t getting cheated on it.

They both applied for my guild and were invited in.  (Even as an officer, I could not avoid protocol for my parents! )

My mother, bless her, found people while she was leveling and they were grouping together.  I’ve run her and my father through a few instances, but usually I’ll go on a toon that is only 10ish levels higher (since I didn’t have any close enough otherwise), like my pally, to tank while they burn stuff down.  I’ve helped them learn some group expectations, roles, etc.

Then, as my mother’s main gets closer to level 55, a guildie (that has several characters, as do I, but is one of those people that levels fast – unlike me most of the time lol) says we can summon her out to instances in Outland and run her through.  I say, “No.”  They say she can go in at 55.

I wasn’t questioning the level restriction.

I whisper and explain that we need to keep in mind this is her first toon and I want her to experience it as such.  I remember the first time I went to the Dark Portal… it was cool.  Let’s not rush her.  Let her have fun.  No powerleveling until like, her 3rd max level toon, mkay? xD

What do you guys think? (About the issue, not the length of my comment! )

Yep, that’s right.  It is now officially January 18th as I type.  (I’m a night owl, what can I say?)  When you are sooo close to dinging, it’s hard to go to bed at a “reasonable” hour.  So, Sideshow and I waited until midnight so that we could both ding.  He is, however, one level higher.  I don’t think I will ever catch up, but I’m ok with that because I’m still more powerful regardless. *smirk*

We are away for the weekend visiting my family in order to celebrate.  Perhaps we’ll have some Delicious Chocolate Cake, or maybe Tasty Cupcakes.

When I return home tomorrow, you will be treated to another fun NPC screenshot in this crazy World of Warcraft.  And, I think I’ll finally sit down and write out my 2009 gaming goals.  (Yes, goals, not resolutions!)

Now….

Let there be cake!

We here at D&B certainly would like to wish you “Happy Holidays,” whatever they may consist of, and however you may choose to celebrate them.  Personally, I’m not what you’d call a huge “fan” of this time of year.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a scrooge or a bahumbug type per se.  I do enjoy shopping for others and seeing their enjoyment of what I have selected for them.  And I do enjoy sharing in good food, conversation, and laughs with family and friends.  But this time of year has had it’s many ups and many downs throughout my life, which is why I don’t call myself a fan.  Which may be why I got such a kick out of this machinima contest entry.  I mean, if Arthas – the Lich King himself has holiday spirit, why can’t I?!

Ahh, but I do! I love Winter Veil and will be playing Santa for my guild later on this evening.  (Although they don’t know it yet… unless they happen to read this post before their gifts are wrapped and delivered via mail!)  I’ve also been working diligently on the Winter Veil achievements so that I can earn the title “Merrymaker.”  I only have 2 achievements left, which should be doable before January 2nd.  I think the title will be fitting for when I organize guild social events, which I have done on occassion… and happen to have another “in the works.”

But to the take home message of today: No matter where, why, how – take a moment to hug your loved ones today and tomorrow. 

Yes, you could say this title is a tribute to the trolls.  /shrug  I never did quite understand that as a viable comment post… but I digress.

First here, really means.. well, first here.  It’s been years since my husband or I blogged and now… well, now I’ve got that blog itch again.  I’d mostly like to blame it on my friend, Deekow.

Anyway, back to what kept running in my mind as a post when I woke up this morning!  It’s no secret that my hubby and I are avid gamers and fans of this one game in particular…. World of Warcraft.  (Maybe you’ve heard of it? /giggle)  Well, I wanted to take a moment and not only shout my appreciation for this game across the interwebz, but also to recognize how cool it is when you have other family members to share it with.

Very recently we were able to coerce my mother into rolling a character.  We had hoped she and my father (who also rolled a toon) would enjoy it and perhaps continue to play it after our visit over the Thanksgiving holiday.  My parents have known of WoW and how much we enjoy it for a few years, but never really got a true taste of the wonderful world of Azeroth.  It has been absolutely great because my mom has continued to play it and has been online nearly every evening.

This makes it so beautiful because:

1- We talk more often as we can chat while playing rather than being on the phone.

2- We are able to play and quest together.

3- We can share a common language and understanding when I’m asked how my characters are doing.

4- I can help her learn the game and share in her excitement and wonder of it all.

Plus, how epic is it to be on the phone with your parents and hear one of them say, “Well, I’m dead in the woods somewhere,” or “I told (so-n-so) not to call right now because I’m killing trolls.”  It’s music to my ears!  We’ve grouped up on a couple of my alts to do some quests and run a few instances so far.  And you just don’t know (or maybe you?) how awesome it is to have someone you’ve introduced to the game ask if you need help with a quest.  Maybe that piece is a bit more about the joy of knowing there’s another nice and helpful member of the WoW community rather than yet another “lolzl2playnoob” joining the ranks of grieferdom.

In parting, I leave you with this… because as we all know… SS (screenshot, for those of you not familiar with WoWlingo) or it didn’t happen.