The tides turn once again. Another chapter has come and gone, and as the story goes, new history is written.
Three weeks left and the kids are out of school for the summer. For one, it's his last year before the dreaded teens. For the other, her last year of single-digit age. For us, it's a time to look back and embrace the memories and look forward to their futures.
We've decided to stay in our humble home for some time longer. There are many factors, most of which have to do with money, the kids and our current lifestyle. We're living comfortably and we'd like to keep it that way. Our little house on the prairie will have to wait a bit longer. Instead, we'll focus on smaller upgrades to our home to keep it happy.
In geek news.. guild hopping isn't seen as a positive thing for any EQ player, but the state of the server is at an all time low, and judging from the horizon of new games, it's not going to get much better, if not worse. We joined an excellent group of people, because at the time, they were right where we were.. Elementals, on a rampage to Time. Well, as all guilds short of the hardcore face, an exodus occurred. I fear some things stirred up a bit before our applications that had a large domino effect. Within a few weeks, many long-timers left the guild or game in general. We had to make the hard choice of looking, once again, for a guild with the numbers and appetite for progression. We're in trial mode now, 28 days to go. We'll see if we have the stuff of uberness. If not? Well.. that remains to be seen. Planes of Power is old, now, in EQ terms. It may be time to put aside Time (once again, skipping past content...) to see Gates of Discord. With the Tipt trial done, we're well on our way to finally seeing what the CURRENT expansion has to offer, and we want to be ready for Omens of War as well, come July. I'm tired of seeing the new stuff a year or more later than everyone else.. i'm old and grumpy.
In school news.. the light at the end of the tunnel has appeared. After years of part-time classes, lost credits due program changes and expiring classes, my four-year degree (yes, only four) is in sight. It's still a ways off, but I am about to take my very last class at the 2-year college and move onward. I ended up taking a Psych class I didn't need (maybe it'll count later.. anyhow, it was worth taking, I highly recommend it), so I am set back but this last science class. Julie has applied and should be joining me in the Fall as well. This is another reason to stay in our current house - school. It's going to be expensive, even with work footing some of the bills for me. Now is the time to get this done, though, so we're determined. It'll all pay off someday, I know it. We took the work route, went part-time for years. It worked for us; it doesn't work for everyone. We managed to build a decent living without degrees (this is something I try not to preach to the kids too often, school IS important), but in the end, school is king. Stay in school!
Music.. Good stuff out recently. Ayreon's new opus should just about be out now. I've had the MP3s for a while (I know, bad.. bad.. bad) but there's nothing that would stop me from buying the official product, ever. I wholeheartedly support Arjen's work (and Devin's), and buy all their stuff, in any form. I just couldn't wait! I had to hear it. Anyhow.. the assortment of singers on the current project is just astounding. New After Forever is also excellent, and hey.. Fear Factory ended up with SYL's guitarist. It's a good year for music (metal) so far. You know.. Metal is big again, and so few outside the scene know it. It's a shame what you see on HBB is such crap.. there's so much better music out there. "Oh look! New Mudvayne CD". Ugh, that's crap music, people. Get yourself a Voivod CD and really listen to it. Go snag an Ayreon or Devin Townsend CD and really listen, read the words. These guys/bands aren't new, they are veterans. Linkin Park? What the hell IS that anyhow? You still like Metallica? Next they'll be singing duets with Faith Hill.. it's country music people! Metal too rough for you? Get a "The Gathering" CD and really listen to it.. Bah, enough of my soapbox chatter. Support the real artists.. buy the CDs from the ones that count, pass around that Linkin Park to anyone you want.. they'll be gone in a few years anyhow, just like all the other cash cows. Whoa.. since when did I get morals?
Monday, May 17, 2004
Friday, March 19, 2004
Two More Months Have Passed
Two more months have passed.
Julie and I finally bought our new wedding rings as a 10th anniversary celebration of sorts. Her ring is a double band that allows her original solitaire to fit snuggly in the middle (and it is soldered that way), and mine is a spiffy yellow/white gold twist with 3 small gems inlaid across the center. Julie's double band has a total of 22 little diamonds in it.. It's quite sparkly in the light! The only problem is, I don't know what to do with my $99 original band.. It doesn't really fit on any of my other fingers. It'll probably end up as something I can wear when I'm afraid to wear the new one.
Sarah turned 9 on St Patty's Day. She was ecstatic. This weekend is her official party. I still can't believe she's 9 already... and then there's the boy that will be 12! Ugh.. I am starting to feel old.. Especially when friends have kids that are just now learning how to walk and talk! Well, the good thing is, I'll be around to see them grow up and their kids and maybe even their kids...
We started, very briefly, to look at new houses again. We once again came to the conclusion that unless we want to move a good distance away, we're fairly content with our little home on the lake. Most of the houses we saw were quite beautiful, but sitting on a half acre of land, which really isn't our style. We want a decent sized piece of land (1 acre or better) and a medium sized home. No mansions, no shacks, something comfortable. Well, we can afford to be selective, so... Every so often we'll drive around to get ideas.
In geek news.. We spent 5+ excellent months with a fine crew of EQ players called Kabald. They are probably one of the oldest guilds around and one that carries a good deal of respect among older players. We left just last week, somewhat regretfully. With family life, work, school, etc.. it was becoming increasingly difficult to be online at the start of events and some nights, we couldn't be there at all. We felt, that after a pretty decent track record of high attendance, our spotty and unpredictable attendance wasn't in line with the focus of the guild. Days were starting to blur into weeks and go by too quickly. We're kinda solo for a while to enjoy time with old friends that have recently returned to the game (again! hehe) but may join up with another group of fine people where raiding isn't a strong requirement, so attendance isn't something that will hurt us, or the guild's progression. I wish KB the best of luck and was glad I could be a part of a legend, even if only for a short while. We made some new friends, learned new encounters and helped a lot of people get flagged for elemental planes, thus it was a positive thing for everyone.
As for the future.. There's a bunch of excellent MMORPGs coming out this year. One of them may spell damnation for EQ once and for all, although I'm not in a beta for any of them, so I can say too much about them. Ultima X looks decent, Lineage II is supposed to be excellent, and there's always EQ2 or WoW, both most likely surfacing in the summer.
Julie and I finally bought our new wedding rings as a 10th anniversary celebration of sorts. Her ring is a double band that allows her original solitaire to fit snuggly in the middle (and it is soldered that way), and mine is a spiffy yellow/white gold twist with 3 small gems inlaid across the center. Julie's double band has a total of 22 little diamonds in it.. It's quite sparkly in the light! The only problem is, I don't know what to do with my $99 original band.. It doesn't really fit on any of my other fingers. It'll probably end up as something I can wear when I'm afraid to wear the new one.
Sarah turned 9 on St Patty's Day. She was ecstatic. This weekend is her official party. I still can't believe she's 9 already... and then there's the boy that will be 12! Ugh.. I am starting to feel old.. Especially when friends have kids that are just now learning how to walk and talk! Well, the good thing is, I'll be around to see them grow up and their kids and maybe even their kids...
We started, very briefly, to look at new houses again. We once again came to the conclusion that unless we want to move a good distance away, we're fairly content with our little home on the lake. Most of the houses we saw were quite beautiful, but sitting on a half acre of land, which really isn't our style. We want a decent sized piece of land (1 acre or better) and a medium sized home. No mansions, no shacks, something comfortable. Well, we can afford to be selective, so... Every so often we'll drive around to get ideas.
In geek news.. We spent 5+ excellent months with a fine crew of EQ players called Kabald. They are probably one of the oldest guilds around and one that carries a good deal of respect among older players. We left just last week, somewhat regretfully. With family life, work, school, etc.. it was becoming increasingly difficult to be online at the start of events and some nights, we couldn't be there at all. We felt, that after a pretty decent track record of high attendance, our spotty and unpredictable attendance wasn't in line with the focus of the guild. Days were starting to blur into weeks and go by too quickly. We're kinda solo for a while to enjoy time with old friends that have recently returned to the game (again! hehe) but may join up with another group of fine people where raiding isn't a strong requirement, so attendance isn't something that will hurt us, or the guild's progression. I wish KB the best of luck and was glad I could be a part of a legend, even if only for a short while. We made some new friends, learned new encounters and helped a lot of people get flagged for elemental planes, thus it was a positive thing for everyone.
As for the future.. There's a bunch of excellent MMORPGs coming out this year. One of them may spell damnation for EQ once and for all, although I'm not in a beta for any of them, so I can say too much about them. Ultima X looks decent, Lineage II is supposed to be excellent, and there's always EQ2 or WoW, both most likely surfacing in the summer.
Friday, January 30, 2004
Update
Well it's been a very long time since an update was posted. As with many things, I lost interest in blogging in general. But, as this is mostly for myself and for fun, that's not really a big deal.
So, an update:
Spring '04 semester has started and I'm taking the final two classes (it's been a long road) at the 2-year college. Despite changes in degree programs, professional focus and the availability of a new transfer program to a 4-year accredited college, we have endured and are finally on what should be the "right and final track". I've taken enough credits to be a junior, but not all of them apply, especially with the transfer to the 4-yr school, so.. in the end I will end up smarter than I had anticipated.. right? Sure.
The kids are growing like weeds again. Sarah is no longer the little muppet girl and tackling new skills such as math division and book reports. /Cheer third grade! Lance has finally stabilized (we think) himself in 6th grade. He had a very rocky start, but we think he's ready to buckle down and do the work that he is supposed to and earn the grades he deserves.
We have a new edition to the farm - Elmo. Elmo can be seen on Julie's blog. He's a fuzzy, orange monster that has scored a confortable slacker life with 7 ferrets, 2 cats and a dog, plus 4 random humans mulling about. More animals. More poop. More doctor visits. I couldn't be happier. Really.
Work is the same.. Bonus was good for 2003 and this will probably be one of the first years in a while that we won't do a major upgrade to the house (last year was a yard overhaul in the front). That said, the focus will be on proper budgetting and putting some money away this year (hopefully) to fund future projects, whether it be for this home or the next.
For our online friends: Julie and I joined a raiding guild in EverQuest in hopes that we could finally "finish" the game before the "next big thing" is launched (EQ2 or WoW). Currently we're one god away from being flagged for 3 elemental planes (Rallos Zek) and one Sol Ro miniboss away after that for Plane of Fire. After that, it's a couple months of farming until we can take on the elemental bosses and head into Plane of Time itself. The hope is, that by then the current Time guilds will have moved on to make room. It's going to be crowded in the Elementals, with the possibility of 5-6 guilds fully flagged, including the Time ones. What guild? Here's a hint: Grrrr. Bark. Bark. Grrrr. It's a blast and they're excellent people.
That's all for now..
So, an update:
Spring '04 semester has started and I'm taking the final two classes (it's been a long road) at the 2-year college. Despite changes in degree programs, professional focus and the availability of a new transfer program to a 4-year accredited college, we have endured and are finally on what should be the "right and final track". I've taken enough credits to be a junior, but not all of them apply, especially with the transfer to the 4-yr school, so.. in the end I will end up smarter than I had anticipated.. right? Sure.
The kids are growing like weeds again. Sarah is no longer the little muppet girl and tackling new skills such as math division and book reports. /Cheer third grade! Lance has finally stabilized (we think) himself in 6th grade. He had a very rocky start, but we think he's ready to buckle down and do the work that he is supposed to and earn the grades he deserves.
We have a new edition to the farm - Elmo. Elmo can be seen on Julie's blog. He's a fuzzy, orange monster that has scored a confortable slacker life with 7 ferrets, 2 cats and a dog, plus 4 random humans mulling about. More animals. More poop. More doctor visits. I couldn't be happier. Really.
Work is the same.. Bonus was good for 2003 and this will probably be one of the first years in a while that we won't do a major upgrade to the house (last year was a yard overhaul in the front). That said, the focus will be on proper budgetting and putting some money away this year (hopefully) to fund future projects, whether it be for this home or the next.
For our online friends: Julie and I joined a raiding guild in EverQuest in hopes that we could finally "finish" the game before the "next big thing" is launched (EQ2 or WoW). Currently we're one god away from being flagged for 3 elemental planes (Rallos Zek) and one Sol Ro miniboss away after that for Plane of Fire. After that, it's a couple months of farming until we can take on the elemental bosses and head into Plane of Time itself. The hope is, that by then the current Time guilds will have moved on to make room. It's going to be crowded in the Elementals, with the possibility of 5-6 guilds fully flagged, including the Time ones. What guild? Here's a hint: Grrrr. Bark. Bark. Grrrr. It's a blast and they're excellent people.
That's all for now..
Friday, October 17, 2003
I AM BACK! TAKE COVER!
Welcome to October, 2003! A whole summer has gone by since last I bothered to splurt anything. What the HELL am I doing? Probably the same thing I was doing six months ago. Let's see...
Work. Sleep. Eat. Yup, same thing.. Well it's a good thing because if I wasn't doing any one of those things, there'd be some issues. Let's kick it up with the Friday Five :
1. Name five things in your refrigerator.
Ketchup, milk, Coca-Cola, hot dogs, butter - now wasn't that exciting?
2. Name five things in your freezer.
Ground meat, Stouffer's meatballs and spaghetti entrees, brocolli, waffles, cod fish fillets - could it get better?
3. Name five things under your kitchen sink.
The main garbage can, Orange Clean, Pledge, plastic bags, Carpet Fresh
4. Name five things around your computer.
Druid & cleric spell list components printouts (Everquest), CDRs, floppies, a scanner, speakers...
5. Name five things in your medicine cabinet.
Deordorant, nail clippers, hair crap, band-aids, old stinky cologne
Feel better now???
Welcome back....
Welcome to October, 2003! A whole summer has gone by since last I bothered to splurt anything. What the HELL am I doing? Probably the same thing I was doing six months ago. Let's see...
Work. Sleep. Eat. Yup, same thing.. Well it's a good thing because if I wasn't doing any one of those things, there'd be some issues. Let's kick it up with the Friday Five :
1. Name five things in your refrigerator.
Ketchup, milk, Coca-Cola, hot dogs, butter - now wasn't that exciting?
2. Name five things in your freezer.
Ground meat, Stouffer's meatballs and spaghetti entrees, brocolli, waffles, cod fish fillets - could it get better?
3. Name five things under your kitchen sink.
The main garbage can, Orange Clean, Pledge, plastic bags, Carpet Fresh
4. Name five things around your computer.
Druid & cleric spell list components printouts (Everquest), CDRs, floppies, a scanner, speakers...
5. Name five things in your medicine cabinet.
Deordorant, nail clippers, hair crap, band-aids, old stinky cologne
Feel better now???
Welcome back....
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