To quest or not to quest...

Well, after much anticipation, World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King released on Thursday.

And therein lies a dilemma.  I’m still 4000 gold short of buying my epic flying mount, and (sadly) the great run of daily quests in QuelDanas have had their gold rewards drastically reduced. So what do I do?  Wrath is geared for high level playing and end-game content, but what about new players or players that are just getting back into the game?  Getting an epic flying mount help tremendously in Outland, but getting 5000 gold is going to be tough, especially since Blizzard dropped the gold rewards on the Level 70 daily quests.  So how am I going to make any money?

I really wish I had transfer onto the PvE server earlier – I could have had my epic already! J

And it’s been less than 24 since Wrath’s launch and someone on the EU’s Drek’thar server ALREADY HIT 80!  Ten level in less than 24 hours?  Do these people even have lives?  I mean, it’s a fun game and all, but jesus – get out and breath some fresh air every now and then!

I’m beginning to wonder if Blizzard even thought the whole level progression through.  80 in less than 24 from 70?  Maybe it’s time to rethink XP in the game.  Either stop giving the Rested XP bonus after 70 if you are in the inn – or maybe extending the amount of XP needed to level.  I’m wondering if these people in their rush to 80 even bother to enjoy the game that Blizzard worked hard on creating.  They are in such a mad rush to be the first to 80 (by way of achievements) that they skip quest lines, and just grind and/or quest until they achieve their goal.

And I’m not the first to say this, but I wonder how unhealthy this type of behavior is.  I am a believer that video game/internet addiction exists, and players like these prove it.  I, for one, have a life outside of the game.  Don’t take that as a slam against ALL MMO players.  I know plenty of people that have a job, family, friends and still play WoW.  But there are people that, sadly, WoW is their life.  That’s all they do. And to me, that paints a sad, sad, picture of today’s society. When a computer game can eclipse real life as a priority – I begin to wonder about humanity ability to thrive.

My new home...

Well, Sorta.

I finally decided to take the plunge, and pay to transfer my level 70 Hunter off the PvP-Bleeding Hollow server, and move it to the PvE-Trollbane server.

And I couldn't be happier.

I was able to, in one hour, run 20 daily quests and get over 100g for my time. Something that would have taken me at LEAST 3-4 hours (if I didn't give up) on the PvP server.

The process was pretty painless as well. From the time I put through the request to the point at which I could actually play on the new server was about 45 minutes. So 25 dollars and 45 minutes later, I was actually having playing again.

I also took the gold and purchased a Guild Charter, got my 9 signatures, and started up The Dragon Guard on the new server. So when Damastus, Pipsie, Rellas, Ransue, Grothen, and Arlilith get the money to come over, the guild will be ready for them to go.

You know, I really am looking forward to running the guild for the time being - Most of the people that signed are low-level characters, so I think it'll be great to help them out, and hopefully they will like the gameplay that we (the guild) are accustomed to.

In which I find out I can suspend a service...

I’m actually saving money this winter.

For the last 3 weeks, I think I’ve watched a total of 8 hours of TV.  Not that I don’t like watching TV – on the contrary – I love it.  NCIS, Heroes, Criminal Minds, Dirty Jobs, Mythbusters, these are a few of the shows I watch on a weekly basis. But lately, because of winter starting to settle in, I’ve been watching movies in my bedroom.  Which is the only room I heat during the winter, due to the fact I have to heat using electricity.

So I was agonizing over the fact that I wanted to get rid of my cable.  I haven’t been watching it, and It’s 70 a month that could go to heating this winter.  So I bit the bullet and went to TWC’s website to go about disconnecting my service. 

But a cool thing happened.

I found out about the Seasonal Suspension Plan.

Here’s how it works: There are a lot of older folks that live here in Maine during the Summer and then go to a place further south (usually Florida) during the winter. So TWC created a way to suspend your cable service while you aren’t living in the state!  Awesome!  It’s only $5 a month to suspend your cable, and then you choose the time when you want it turned back on.  So I figured I use it to suspend my cable during winter (when I’m not watching TV in my cold living room), and then turn it back on in April when it’s warming up again.

I’ll be saving $420 over the next 6 months – and it’ll all go to heating an medications. 

 

I voted.

After some confusion on which Ward in Auburn I reside in, I finally made it to Auburn Middle School to vote (huge thanks to Chuck for carting my butt around last night).

And now that it’s over, I’ll say I voted for Obama/Biden.  The reason?  I honestly think that we, as a country, can’t take 4 more years of Bush-style politics in the White House.  We need a new direction in our economy.  We need to re-think our strategy in the Iraq War.  We need to change – and I think we are now on the right track for that change.

And as an aside, is it me, or does McCain look like a “Mini-Me” to George Bush’s “Austin Powers”?

 

6.8!

Woot!

My hemoglobin A1C tests result came in – 6.8%!  6.0% or less is normal, and my doctor wants mine at least at 6.5%.  We think the reason it’s a bit high is because the test incorporated some of the pre-medication blood sugar (+500) so it skewed the result slighty.

My Cholestrol is 162 – Blood Pressure 128/70 (Awesome) – and my doctor said she was impressed with my results over the last 3 months.

And to be honest with you – so am I J