OLRG:Diet Coke Witch Edition

See? Back there? The witch concerned with her waistline…

Ever experience a stretch of time where you’re just out of sync? Not bad, not good, but decidedly out of sorts? These past few days I feel like I am walking snooze button. I just want to sleep. For a confirmed insomniac, this is more of a blessing than curse: at least I know I can still turn off my brain and feel all cozy and mentally journey into lullaby land. But it sure does make it tricky for getting to work on time.

I’ve taken to sleeping on the couch with my tauntaun sleeping bag with the electric fireplace running. My dog Snickers curls up near my feet, and I pretend I’m in the Tainted Forest, safe from harm in one of the little cottages, with a Dwarf sentinel standing guard.Yes, yes I am a grown woman and this is my mental bed-time story that helps me sleep. Now before you think I don’t love CD Rogue anymore, I do. He has his own sleep issues, and those affect me. (This is a great myth of coupling, that you sleep together peacefully forever and ever – if there is a couple out there who can do that godspeed to you, but most of us mortals have not figured that out yet.)

Wait, sorry. This wasn’t about me waxing philosophical about Tainted Forest fantasies and sleep deprivation. I’m just really tired, that’s all.

Okay, back to us Old Ladies:

Shoryl started a list for us so we can get done what we want: http://tinywowguild.wordpress.com/2014/03/29/olrg-what-do-you-want/ Please comment about what’s important to you. I just want to finish my Firelands achievements, get that damn bird, and not step foot in there again. I also want us to do more recent content (dare I dream? Dare I dream that we can kill Garrosh together?!) Next Saturday let’s try some Horde stuff, and I’ll tank on my Death Knight. I leveled Heartichoke by DK tanking, and I’d be happy to do so again. Remember, real life always trumps Azeroth, so never feelt a single twinge if you can’t make it. See you Saturday, 4PM Pacific, and bring a Horde. Why not? 

Forty-Beats #26

This reminds me of something that would be on a David Lynch movie soundtrack:
http://www.npr.org/2014/03/23/291166267/first-listen-timber-timbre-hot-dreams

Forty-Beats #25: Eye Candy

Lady and the Damp

Got a late birthday present of sorts, though the giver didn’t remember my birthday, but gave me some goodies nonetheless. These goodies involve all things Blizzard, so I used some chits to boost another character, Kellanyx. So now, my dear friends who have lovelies on both sides of the factional fence, I now have a Horde Blood Elf Death Knight. Here is a mog idea I have for her:

This is going to be an interesting month, this April of mine: CD Rogue and young cub are off to an adventure in the jungle. Really. Literally. A jungle. I wish I could go too, but my travel plans in the next two weeks involve work, and then a spring vacation. Oh–don’t you know I have so many plans for my time on my stay-cation! So many projects! So many achievements in Azeroth! So many short stories to write, life thingies to organize, and tile to grout! Wait, wait, wait – let’s not get crazy.

Speaking of crazy, I’m really digging Sajja:

Leather and Draenei: gooooooood

These ladies are far too sexy for me to deal with right now, while I stew in my sweatpants and ratty, holey T-shirt on a Sunday afternoon. I’m not feeling my A-game right now. I just realized this is about music for LENT – holy days. Days of reflection and spiritual awakening, repetence, and redemption. Not strappy leather sports bras and thigh-highs! Sheesh, woman! Better go find a cathedral quick and light a candle or something. For those of you praying for me, you’ve got some work to do. Maybe it would be easier to grout some tile than save my soul.

Drabble: Cake (and Forty-Beats #24)

She licked the frosting from her finger, sweet as a promise and twice as buttery. Maybe a cake, bouncy-ball giggling wobbly tower of cake, would appease him. Feelings bruised, salved with vanilla, massaged with cream.  The entire house smelled of sugar kisses and apologies. How could he resist? Stand near the oven, melt—melt—stirring with attention, never stopping. The spatula carved the mortar of the frosting like a skilled mason, rebuilding a toppled façade. A sculpture, a shrine to his senses, prone before him: offering. Foregoing manners, she licked the spoon directly: sugar for her, too, wouldn’t hurt anyone.

True Love.

Azeroth –Azeroth is a love fest –a true wish-fulfillment fantasy for me. What little girl doesn’t dream of a loyal friend, who will fight for her, comfort her, and love her unconditionally, silently, when the world is cruel and heartless? This epiphany came to me when I was looking at a screenshot of Sajja this morning – how my three loves: Mataoka, Haanta, and now Sajja will never give up their loyal companions. (I must admit a little tug of my heart when I think of my Great Dane Heidi, who was that for me in real life. I miss you Heidi, so very much.)

Xuen is no woman’s pet, but a fierce friend

This is why I will never give up being an enhancement shaman. Ever.

Haanta’s connections with her beasts is eternal

If you have doubts, listen to the NPR story, “How Dogs Evolved Into Our Best Friends.”  The only thing I wish I could change about Sajja’s tiger and Matty’s wolves are that they would stay longer – their ephereal existence is too short-lived, while Haanta’s beasts, when kept healed, roar and claw for as long as she needs them, which puts her at a distinct advantage. I’m not suggesting hunters are overpowered, but let’s just say she does more damage without her legendary cloak in five minutes than Mataoka can in…well….anyway. And – oh–wow wow wow—Sajja. I went through LFRs with her yesterday, and even with terrible gear she was healing as much as my more geared healers in some cases. I am not quite sure what the magic rotation is yet (I did cursory research on Icy Veins), but Mistweaving is pretty damn awesome. And she looks good, too. 

So off to do what I set out to do – help the Drunken Fish. Onward. Don’t look back.

House in order…

“Open House”

Well, I made a tough but solid decision when it comes to raiding and that goofy shammy. Mataoka — I have been feeling it for awhile. It isn’t fun to be melee in raids at gear level. I have hinted and suggested I bring other better equipped characters – Kellda has “the” cloak, green fire, and great gear; Zeptepi is working on her cloak, but both warlock and priest are well represented in the ‘big’ guild, so they don’t belong. I would have gone completely restoration on Mataoka, too, but they have great shaman healers and didn’t need that either. Logtar is a wonderful GM/RL, and I adore Hawtpocket–she is one of the best players, raiders, tanks, and I just adore her personally. I told her I am thrilled we are friends in Azeroth, and hope to continue our friendship.When the decision is made to try a 25-man, and I’m already bashful about melee in raids, and don’t have the experience needed (all my own fault) and then it gets moved down to a ten, I realize as I am looking at my own house, my own family, who falls somewhat apart without me; when I’m trying to raid, I ask for my family’s time without making it worth my own or anyone else’s. Then, when on Wednesday Hawt told me the guild was forming a flex and I asked the lead hunter if I could go and he said they were full (I didn’t think Flex’s could get full). This may have just been a miscommunication, I’ll grant that. I decided to read between the lines and give a move some deep consideration. I am so proud and happy of how Drunken Fish has been growing. Having Mataoka there to bring points, play, and repuations to the guild will only further help it. Also, it dawned on me that it wasn’t that I was running from something, but running to. Playing enhancement shammy takes a lot of practice and work. This character started off from the beginning doing everything ‘herself,’ and she is well-suited for achievements, solo-play, and the occasional goody bag from healing.

People often ask me why I stay at my real-life job. It is hard, it is stressful, and I am not being hyperbolic when I say potentially dangerous. But I stay because I contribute and effect change. My skills and expertise move mountains in my real life. Sometimes they’re Sisyphean boulders, but I’ve mostly learned how to duck out of the way. Everyone wants to feel like they matter because guess what? They do.

All players say play what makes you happy–first, figuring out when we’re happiest in game is not always obvious. But once we see that –it’s a clear path.

Drunken Fish: Keep up the good work! Thank you for all you’ve done. We’re almost to Level 19!

Oh, and I have been giving this a lot of thought too: http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/03/27/breakfast-topic-would-people-pay-for-character-faction-copy/ I would do that in a red-hot minute.

Forty-Beats #23

OLRG: Spring Break!

No. Just. No.

Never be too rich or too thin? Huh – well, perhaps. Since I am neither, I guess I don’t have to worry about it! Whew! One less thing! And no, I’m not on any spring vacation yet, and have no plans for fun in the sun when I am. In fact, I’ll have a quiet Matty-shack and a lot of time to clean out closets, drawers, bookshelves, and cupboards. I’m kind of overwhelmed by a nesting instinct right now anyway, and no, that doesn’t mean what it typically does. I think women especially get this sense no matter their age or status of maternal bliss. For example, I am about to log on and clean up the Drunken Fish fish tank. It is a big silly mess. I’m looking forward to our Old Ladies Raiding Guild this Saturday, 4 PM Pacific Time. I would like to try Firelands again and get that stupid staff. (Did you hear that Fandral? I called it a stupid staff!! Like I want it….pffft!) And then I am up for some chieves. I am not sure what. If there is a specific thing ya’ll would like to do let me know. Taking requests now – including putting on a cover-up.

Forty-Beats #22

What with these homies, dissing my girl?

Love.

“I loved you first: but afterwards your love”

BY CHRISTINA ROSSETTI

Poca favilla gran fiamma seconda. – Dante
Ogni altra cosa, ogni pensier va fore,
E sol ivi con voi rimansi amore. – Petrarca 

I loved you first: but afterwards your love

    Outsoaring mine, sang such a loftier song

As drowned the friendly cooings of my dove.

    Which owes the other most? my love was long,

    And yours one moment seemed to wax more strong;

I loved and guessed at you, you construed me

And loved me for what might or might not be –

    Nay, weights and measures do us both a wrong.

For verily love knows not ‘mine’ or ‘thine;’

    With separate ‘I’ and ‘thou’ free love has done,

         For one is both and both are one in love:

Rich love knows nought of ‘thine that is not mine;’

         Both have the strength and both the length thereof,

Both of us, of the love which makes us one.