Sideshow & Syrana

My sense of time passage has become very skewed.  The hours at work seem to drag on forever.  My evenings during the week are gone before I know it, as are my weekends.  In the back of my mind I think need to get a post up, been a few days.

And that’s where the problem is.  I keep thinking it’s only been a few days or a week.  When I sat down to write the Sims Saturday post yesterday, I was honestly surprised that I hadn’t posted anything for almost a month.  But, with my body running hotter than normal due to my 24/7 bun oven, it’s often difficult for me to spend much time in our computer room.

That means less gaming and less blog posting.  Yes, yes, we have a laptop, which is what I’m typing on right now.  But then I don’t have access to all of my screenies and such.  Plus, there was something about physically sitting in front of my computer desk that tied to my motivation and muse.

So, anywho, here’s a bit of an update.

I haven’t played very much WoW since I completed Loremaster of Eastern Kingdoms.  I really want to finish Kalimdor before Cataclysm is released, so I keep hoping I’ll have enough time yet.  I even missed out on my favorite in game holiday, Midsummer Fire Festival.  My baby draenei priest alt got to complete the fires of Eastern Kingdoms thanks to Gertbee’s chopper and patience to drive me around.  I still had to split that up into 2 separate sessions… and I procrastinated until the last weekend of the holiday before finally going on.

I had planned to take several characters around to honor/piss on fires.

I’ve also been playing some Sims 3 Ambitions.  I like it and find the new professions fun: ghost hunter, tattoo artist, stylist, firefighter, architect, etc.  Again, haven’t been able to play as much as I’d like due to being hot (only so much the A/C and fans can do for that room, I’m afraid), but it’s been entertaining.

Then there’s Facebook “games” again.  After a 5 month hiatus from touching any of them, I started playing FrontierVille and Family Feud.  I was playing them daily.  Recently it’s slowed down again.  I haven’t touched Family Feud for a couple weeks and it’s been about a week for FrontierVille.  I must say though, FrontierVille is a huge step up from FarmVille and is moving in the direction of being more of a game than just clicketyclickclick.

At some point I’ll be able to spend more time in front of my desk again.  But for now, most of my internet connectivity is via my iPhone or the laptop… that way I can lounge on the couch, put my feet up, and have a fan blowing on me.  Ahhh, bliss.

(Sidenote: And of course, you are always welcome to find out what’s going on IRL with the spawn-on-the-way.  Although, I don’t write on that one nearly as often as I’d like to, but it’s more frequent than around here lately.)

Sideshow and I have an announcement.  We feel it is time to share this news with everyone (and I suspect it will further explain my hiatus and reduced posting beyond all the work hullabaloo).

We are -or rather, I am- expecting.  For those of you that are still confused: I’m knocked up, preggers, with child, etc.

That’s right, there was a reason for all the cutesy screenshots lately.  Now, just mix the two photos together from last week, and if it creates something adorable… that will be our child.

I am sorry to have kept this secret until now, but what perfect timing… to end the first (and scariest) trimester just as Children’s Week begins.  No, this doesn’t mean I’ll stop gaming or blogging.  Just, those things will be more sporadic than in the past, understandably so.  And, no, I won’t turn this into a mommy-to-be blog.  (Although, don’t be surprised at some baby updates along the way.  No fussin’ either.  These hormones can’t be controlled once the rage rises.  Got it?)

Oh right, we need a screenshot…

I know, it’s hard to decipher this thing.  Heck, it’s tough for me and it’s my baby’s first screenshot! (Well, it is a screenshot…)  The big round part is NOT the baby, it’s the yolk sac.  The tiny little blur between the arrows is the baby at 6 weeks.  We’re 6 more beyond that and it has grown, but we haven’t had a new ultrasound yet.  We did hear the heartbeat for the first time this week though!

*squees*

Anywho, yes, in another 8ish weeks we’ll be having another ultrasound so we can tell if we’re having a Horde or Alliance baby.  At that time we’ll be able to tell if the baby is wielding a battle axe or simply wearing a sissy robe.

Also, I realize this baby has been created by a Blood Elf and a Forsaken.  Let the Undead baby jokes commence!

It’s Noblegarden time!  A fairly easy set of holiday achievements that is relatively fun to complete.  If you are looking for a guide to completing the achievements and getting your very own Noble title, be sure to check out my guide from last year: Death By Chocolate: The Noblegarden Experience.

Even an undead rogue can become a noble.

*sighs, seeing the amount of dust that accumulated since last show and tell day*

I’ve been having fun going through photographs this weekend and went through some screenshots too!  Here’s a couple fun shots from last year around this time….

Donning a pair of ears, Syrana tries to blend in with the other Noblegarden bunnies.

She tries to look sweet, but ruins the picture by blinking!

And still not a Love Fool.  (Due to my own time limitations for the holiday although the reworking of it seemed fine.)

Oh and Happy V-Day ‘n all that! <3

Where has the year flown by? Almost hard to believe it is that time of year again… for the Feast of Winter Veil! This is the longest in game holiday and it starts on December 15th.

So if you are looking for some guild event ideas in order to kick back and relax, socialize, or otherwise take a break from whatever your current grind may be, take a gander at the list below.  I’m purposely leaving them vague in order to let your imaginations and creativity expand upon them.  Sometimes all we need is a little idea nudge.  Without further adieu:

Super Winter Veil Elf to the rescue!

Feast of Winter Veil

-Go egg hunting

-Bake off! (You’ll want some gingerbread cookies for Greatfather Winter after all)

-Work as a group on the various achievements for the holiday

-Have a guildie dress up as Santa and everyone else as elves for partying and photos

-Do a guild secret santa exchange

-Create Azerothian versions of popular Christmas carols and go a-wassailing throughout Azeroth

-Get together to open up the gifts Greatfather Winter brings and play with your new toys

-Get together and play with your old toys: robots and race cars are always a good time!

-Snowball fights!

-Transform into gnomes (well, if you aren’t one usually) and storm enemy cities/towns

Gift Ideas (continue reading…)

Last Saturday (9/19) was Pirate’s Day in game.  Syrana, of course, had to get the achievement associated with it.

Syrana finds the party on the roof of the Booty Bay auction house.

Syrana approaches Cpt. DeMeza to have a drink.

Cpt. DeMeza insists that Syrana dress like a skanky pirate and drink some more.

Syrana models the pirate look after a few mugs.

Previously I posted a review of my positive experiences with the Midsummer Fire Festival this year… all about the gold, blossoms, goodies, title, experience, etc.  I had also mentioned I was a bit disappointed this year as well.  Here’s why… the lack of PvP.

Yup.  That’s right, I was disappointed by the lack of fighting at and around the fires.  Granted, I did not steal the capitol city flames this year (except Darnassus), but c’mon!

Maybe it’s the fact that my first experience with the Midsummer Fire Festival was on an RP-PvP server.  Maybe it’s the fact that I went into the capitol cities multiple times last year to steal their fire… just because I could.  (Really it was to help others get it too, shh!)

This year I only died (caused by player deaths, not guards) a total of 4 times on 3 different characters.  I only killed about that many players as well.

Syrana died once outside Razorhill.  I was helping a lower character that was being attacked by an 80; however they had back up.  What was funny though, was that their backup left by the time I rezzed.  They had resumed attacking the lowbie when they rezzed, so I finished that druid off.

Alynedarra died once outside Goldshire.  That death was kind of cheap since there were 3 80s that flanked me after I put out their bonfire.  I knew I stood no chance, but at least it was entertaining.  Well, having them eat my dust was entertaining.  See, they didn’t understand the fine art of proper corpse camping.

Oh no. (continue reading…)

Ahh, so another Azerothian festival has come and gone.  I must say though that the Midsummer Fire Festival is one of my favorites, if not my very favorite.

That being said, I was a bit disappointed this year.  But we’ll get to that in a moment.**

The achievements for earning the title Flame Keeper (or Warden for Alliance) are not overly difficult.  There is some level limitation, since the stolen flames can only begin a quest for those level 55 and up (if I remember correctly – unless it was changed this year…).  Syrana had most of the requirements completed already from last year…. before there were achievements to track which fires I’d honored, stolen, or desecrated.

Syrana

This year, Syrana only had to extinguish (read: wee on) Teldrassil’s fire outside Dolanaar to successfully check off desecrating all the Alliance fires on Kalimdor, Eastern Kingdoms, and in Outland.  So, Syrana just needed to juggle in Dalaran, get the shoes and shoulders for the pole dance attire, and melt Ahune’s face off.

And so it went that Syrana accomplished all of these tasks.  First, Syrana went around Northrend to honor and extinguish the bonfires there as well.  Syrana also sucked it up and learned how to juggle flaming torches.  She practiced (nearly, but not quite so much) daily by tossing and catching lighted torches.  Eventually she had enough petals to purchase shoes, shoulders, additional torches, and a pet.

(continue reading…)

Yesterday was Independence Day over here in the States…. which includes parades, food, family, and bright lights that go *BOOM* in the sky.  I like watching fireworks, but I could do without the sound… and crowds.  (You know, you’d think they could come up with a silent firework by now.)  Last night also marked the end of the Midsummer Fire Festival in Azeroth, and it was the first time in the past 3ish years that I’ve been playing WoW that I got to experience the fireworks spectacular (and have some festive brew!).

So today, I shall share with you some of the fireworks display in case you were unable to see them.  They did occur on the hour, every hour, after sunset at Booty Bay and all capital cities.  Sideshow watched some of the fireworks show while he was outside Exodar! (continue reading…)