Dusting Off And Airing Out

I'm updating the other pages on the site, putting up new pictures, and writing new descriptions.  I'm brainstorming ideas for posts.  I might even tackle the tags on the left, remove some and condense others.  Sound like fun?  Well, chores have to be done sometimes!

Maybe I'll even lay down a new coat of paint and paper the shelves.  But not until after I change the linens and take out the trash.  New stuff incoming.  Please pardon the mess.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What a Feast!

Here's to bountiful tables, the company of friends and family, turkey induced halftime naps, and second helpings of pie.  I'd like to thank you all for stopping by from time to time, and I pray that these holidays are a joyful time for all of you.

All Dressed Up...

...but not going anywhere!  If you are reading this on the site, you will notice I'm cleaning, painting, adding on, and putting up pictures.  If you aren't, well, come on over and peek!  This is a work in progress, that may take well into next month to complete, but some things had to change here.  It's obvious that I have moved from talking about just WoW to commenting on several other games. So, my banner had to go.  The theme I had been using was blah.  Blogger has all these new tools to use to make your site look nice, so I tried them out, and I believe the site went from boring to beautiful.  Blogger also added the ability to make more pages, so I started a few.  They are subject to change, and will change as my characters change.  I had a little problem with my paint program.  My transparent pictures didn't turn out like I wanted, so there is something I am working on. I plan to add armory links to all my WoW characters, and similar information to the other pages.  Each page will eventually have a description of the game they are about, with links to where you can get them.

I will be posting a little more often.  I am writing down my "bucket list" to do before Cataclysm hits.  I hope to post one or two items from that every day.  For Wizard 101, I have plans to link to great guides I have found around the web for farming for the items I am interested in, which include furniture, pets, and eventually, best gear items on the x5 and x0 levels, per class.  That will probably be once weekly.  As for my forays into other virtual worlds, I may have one a month, whether it be a new MMO or a revisited one.  I still plan on sprinkling in new iPod games here and there.  My iPod and I are having arguments lately.  I don't think the new operating system version is playing nice with my first generation iPod.  Still, I won't let that stop me from exploring new games (and more than likely, free ones!).  We'll just have to borrow hubby's iPod for the stubborn ones.

Stop by, kick the tires, see how it runs.  Tell me what you'd like to see.  Suggest a free MMO to me!  I look forward to your comments!

Happy Easter!

We here are getting ready to dye eggs here at my house.In the spirit of the holiday, I have hidden one somewhere in my site for the Great Blog Noblegarden Egg Hunt.  There are at least 40 other participants, and the prizes are a fabulous character portrait from Mason Cole for the first place, and a montage of either Horde or Alliance races/classes for the second prize winner.

Good luck!

Face Rolling: Left To Right Or Right To Left?

This is just of one of about 20 or so posts that should be showing up in your feed readers today about a new guild some of us blog writers and readers have been hanging out in, Single Abstract Noun. It is part of the reason I haven't posted recently, the other part being I got a new computer, and Firefox has not been playing nice with it. I couldn't get it to post images to posts, like this one of human Delgada, shunning heirloom gear for the more fashionable mix of dungeon and world drops, tailored items, and quest rewards. I'm using Google's Chrome right now, but something is going to have to give, as it is not letting me cut the image and paste it, and Blogger is famous for putting every image I choose at the very top lately.

There..I will make you bend to my ways, Chrome (or am I bending to it's ways?)! I had to cut the html and paste it below my last paragraph. I think I am in being coerced into learning new things.

Back to my distraction of the week. Above you see pictured a mob of Death Knights (gaggle? spawn? herd? coven?). That is about half of the mess of us that rolled up and ran through the starter area last night. Once everyone was ready, we had a nice chat with Varian Wrynn.

Then, we took out a few Horde who were loitering at the gates of Stormwind, nabbing us our first honorable kills and, for those with their eyes on achievements, the Make Love, Not Warcraft achievement (yes, I did it, too. I couldn't help myself!) Once the threat to our homeland was purged, we were summoned to do our duty in Arathi Basin.

It was really late when we parted ways. It's been a while since I have seen KNR's Ventrilo server so stuffed. The company was great, and I am excited to see where this guild is headed. If you are interested in joining, we take all kinds! Stop into the Argent Dawn (US-A) and find any member for an invite.

My Secret Admirer - Anea!

I had a feeling when I went to her blog and found her there, in a lovely purple dress, that she was the one, and I was right! Thanks to Dristanel of The Physician's Log, I have made some new friends and am looking forward to reading many new blogs as a result of this Secret Admirer Weekend. If you click on the link to Dristanel's blog, it will take you to the reveal post, with all the participants.

Dearest Ophelie,

Though you knew it not, I have read your blog with interest for many weeks now. Your posts on Blog Azeroth led me there, and your blog has entertained me for a few stolen moments every day since. I am glad that I was chosen to admire you this week!

I'm afraid I am not the sneakiest of suitors. I hope my clues were not so blatant as to lead you to me too quickly, but also not so vague as to leave you wondering. This was quite a brain exercise for me!

Anyhow, Happy Valentine's Day, Sweet Ophelie (which I read means helpful). I look forward to reading more helpful articles on your site for a lot more stolen moments.



*blowkiss*

A Gift From My Secret Admirer.

I apologize for the lack of background. I had this silly idea that I would sit her on the edge of a post, but I'm just not that clever! Just imagine she is getting up from the side of her bed, having just put on this fabulous dress. Her secret admirer knew just the color that suited her, and the lilac sachet smells divine!

*UPDATE*

My admirer sent me an in game note, too. So far I get that they are a healer of the Alliance persuasion, and that they favor purple.


Now, to try and find out who this secret admirer is...

Secret Admirer

Dristanel from The Physician’s Log suggested a Secret Admirer project for this holiday, and I'll be darned if I miss out on the fun! See, I sign up, Dristanel picks a blogger out of the list of participants, and I get to anonymously stalk them for the weekend. How could this not be fun? Of course, I get to look at everyone else's sites in the process, trying to figure out who my secret admirer is, too, which should be adding some fun to my blog reader in the process. I believe Dristanel has posted a list of participants, so go check out the link. I had to whip this off fast because, I'm late for work! See if you can match up admirers to actual people, too. It's a fun time for all, and a perfect time to do it!

So Long And Thanks For All The Fish

(or How The Kal'uak Spend Winter's Veil)

I got a Christmas Present in my mail today! Jaedia of the Lazy Sniper was my Kris Kringle from the Blog Azeroth post exchange this year. You can check out the other posts on the exchange by visiting this thread and following the links in the comments. She was right thinking that I have a strange obsession with the Kalu'ak. Thanks Jaedia! What a great gift!

The Kal'uak of Southern Northrend spend a lot of their time fishing, at least they did before the Lich King became prominently active in Northrend. These days they spend most of their time attempting to set the balance of nature right, and fight back the Kvaldir from their homes by the Frozen Sea. However, despite the hardships of the year, they do keep up Winter Veil traditions.

While not ever really seeing him, aside from tales, they do believe that Greatfather Winter casts his wintery veil across Northrend over the winter period. It is thought that Greatfather Winter is an emissary of the titans, come to Azeroth to bring comfort and snow at this time of year, though again, this is just a tale. Rather than worshipping him, they will gather around on Winters Veil Eve, to a huge banquet between each individual tribe. With masses of food, this is the one time of year they will eat anything other than fish. They even get a little merry. They tell such stories, tales of legend, over the fires and candlelight.

The idea that they eat foods other than fish at Winters Veil is mostly to wave goodbye to Greatfather Winter as he passes by the continent of Northrend, and to thank him for a good fishing year, in the hope that he will grant them once again the ability to catch good food over the harsh cold year.

With morale quite low in the Tuskarr people at this time, keeping up their almost family-like traditions keeps a small sense of normality within their communities. It is the one time of year they can get together and forget about the hardships they have had to forego, and may have to worry about in the coming year. As such, they welcome in the New Year in the hope that it will bring better things.

Belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

//Jaedia - http://www.lazy-sniper.com/

WoW Year In Review

This post is in response to a weekly topic on Blog Azeroth. I think I finished this just under the wire for the 21st deadline. Huzzah! Oh, and this was started at Bible of Dreams, another blog featuring shadow priests you should check out!

What did you do in the World of Warcraft in 2009 that you’d never done before?
I stuck with an Alliance character and leveled it to 80. It was a wonderful experience, and if I didn't have a home on Smolderthorn, Shadowsong would be the server where I would hang my hat. The Illuminati Order guild and the other people I met on that server have all been so friendly and helpful. I really wish I could spend more time with them!

What was your favorite new place that you visited?

Of all the areas introduced with the latest expansion, my most favorite new place would have to be the pit you fall through to get to the last boss in Azjol Nerub. One day, in a guild group, I plan to have a mage cast slow fall on me so I can get some good pictures as I fall. It is so beautiful! I also am in love with all the Kalu'ak areas. Windsocks, walrus people, fish lanterns, swimming turtle transports, and the predominant fishing theme makes me want to move into one of their vacant burrows and live with them.

What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?

I am already getting my wish on this one. A few weeks ago, my wish would have been to have people to run things with. Now, I have so many people to run things with, I may never run out!

What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Delgada hit 75 pets. Shawndra hit 80, then hit 50 pets. My biggest achievement will be when I pull Shawndra out and hit the tank button on the random dungeon finder. I plan on doing that in the next few days. Reckoning battle group Horde, you have been warned!

What was your biggest failure?

Playing way too much without really accomplishing anything. Before 3.3, a lot of my time could have been used finishing old world quests, but instead I was busy running laps in Dalaran. I am hoping with the change to the dungeon system Delgada will find the time in between to run a few quests, get some reputations to exalted, and earn some money while doing it.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Every silly change that effected one of my jillion alts. Every pet that was made. Everything?

What do you wish you’d done less of?

No matter how many laps I ran around Dalaran, Delgada will never be more skinny than she already is. I think I covered this already :)

What was your favorite WoW blog or podcast?

I read so many blogs and listen to so many podcasts, it would be hard to narrow it down to one of each. Instead, I will list several of my favorites, leaving out the obvious ones that need no introduction from little ol' me.

Podcasts

For The Horde Radio - A (mostly) Horde centric podcast, Auntie Ed and her group of players put out a show about once a month. Most of this is done in character, which I really like. Auntie Ed also spins some tunes in between bits such as one from an undead warlock evicted from his apartment by a smoothie store and mail read with a Horde friendly dwarf. As I write this I am listening to their Holiday special, which deserves more attention than I am giving it. Might I add, I wish Shawndra had as sexy a voice as Auntie Ed!

Warcraft Outsiders - Michelle and John have come back, and the cast is better than ever! Michelle being the pro, with John being the ultra casual player, they play well off each other, and now they have a guest in the third chair every night. I don't just list this show because they had me as a guest, or because I am part of their guild. This really is a fun show!

HearthCast - Rewt and Freckleface are entertaining and informative. They seem to have found a good niche, talking about World of Warcraft for the casual and new player.

Epic Shardz! - Who could not fall in love with Zebgora and Tamori after listening to them? Beside the fact that they play trolls (what's not to love there?) they are really around my level of game play, talking about pets and kids playing (Tam's daughter Bloodpaw plays), Facebook games, holidays and achievements, with a lot of real life stuff thrown in.

Inside Azeroth - Steve and David, formerly of the Grind, join Katerina, formerly of Epic Dolls, to share their news, views, and happenings in Azeroth.

Blogs

Misery - Merlot has her finger on where to find any information about shadow priests, and some interesting and fun commentary.

A Darkened Soul - Chuckenorris also is a great repository of Shadow Priest knowledge. This cheat sheet is so helpful for all shadow priests.

Righteous Orbs - I'm not even going to spoil this one for you. Go over there and read.

I read a zillion other blogs, and am in the process of updating my feed reader. If you have some suggestions, comment below! Blogs give me something to smile about between breakfast and lunch at work.

Tell us a valuable WoW lesson you learned in 2009.

I don't think I have learned anything valuable this year, but I have a small lesson or two for my readers to pass on to others.

1) If one plays a female, consider that they might actually be one until they break it to you. I bite my tongue most of the time when someone says, "Thanks, bro!" or "Let's wait for him to catch up.", or even, "Hey man, I'm dying, throw me a heal!" But sometimes I cannot help but snark back,"Anytime, sister!" or "It's ok, I'll join you girls in a minute. I just need a mana break." or just "I'll heal you, if you call me sweetie..". It's one thing if I rolled a male character. I expect to be taken for a guy then. Guys should be prepared to be mistaken when they roll female characters, too. (Sorry, guy in my girlfriends guild who I snarked at. You were just the final straw of my day. I can't promise to be better, but at least you know I am a girl now.)

2) If you are in a group with someone that is under performing, in your opinion, be kind. Not everyone is as uber as you. If you are familiar with their class enough to help, make some kind suggestions. If they blow you off, no skin off your nose, but if they don't, you may have just made their day by being helpful. They may have been hearing that they are bad but not have known where to look or what to do to improve.


I'm supposed to tag 5 people to do this. I'm going to cop out and allow anyone that reads me and writes a blog or feels like starting one to join in!

What Is This Blog About?

According to the few Google searches that reach my page, it is about 19 twink rogues, gear and spell rotations for priests, and hit rating gems, consumables, and enchants.

I haven't posted much of anything useful in a while, mostly due to my insatiable desire to have one Alliance character at 80. Since I am nearing that goal, I think it is time to sit back, look at my blog, and find something to write about.

So, I'm sitting back, I'm looking at my blog, and I am drawing a blank. What do you want to hear about? I know, let me list my credentials as an avid alt-aholic. This should help me decide what to write about, shouldn't it?

• I have one of every class now above at least 19 (if you don't count the druid, I have one of every other class above 56).
• I have leveled every profession except blacksmithing to at least 300, either for my characters or my husbands. The professions of choice? Alliance, herbalism and skinning. Horde, enchanting and tailor, herbalism and alchemy or skinning and enchanting (first is priest, second is hunter, third is warrior).
  
• I have learned how to level the city factions the best way from level 1. I am learning the best way to level these on an 80, with as little runecloth as possible.
  
• I can make money on a strange server, strangely easier than on my main server.
• I have one of every race on my account. The Gnomes and Blood Elves belong mostly to my children.
• I have been a guild mistress, an officer, a veteran, and a regular guild member. I'm not so good at being guildless.
• I play with my husband, or without my husband, depending on his mood. He claims he has fallen out of love with WoW.
• Some of my children play. My eldest has her own account that is activated for good grades. She hasn't played since junior high ended before Blizzcon '08. /sigh
• I don't PvP much. I generally PvP alone on my twink rogue when I am so frustrated that I need to feel good about something. When I want to feel powerful and unstoppable. When I PvP on my 80 level characters, it is usually in a guild group. It is painful and unpleasant alone. At least in a guild group we can all laugh at the number of times my priest eats dirt. My priest sports the title "Scout" proudly.
• I get lost easily. I use Carbonite to quest with. It saves me so much time!
  
• Add-ons. I have a few I swear by. Aside from the previous one mentioned, I use SmartDebuff (I use it for dispelling and curing disease, as well as for an easy raid frame to heal people), Autobar (to keep all my silly pets, mounts, fishing stuffs, consumables, trinkets, etc. at my fingertips), Bartender (I like having 3 rows of bars, all in the center bottom of my screen. smaller area to mouse over, as I use a combo of button mashing and mouse clicking to cast), Onebag (so I can have one huge bag instead of 5 different frames), MrPlow (to organize my big bag), Postal (so at one click all the junk I sent my banker of the moment can be emptied into her bags, MBB (to put all my mini map buttons in a nice collapsible row), Rating Buster (for those times my brain can't see where a new item can benefit me), Recount (for the mage/hunter/rogue that is begging for a dps report), Omen (so I can see when I am about to drag the boss away from the tank, which is often!), Automaton (to sell greys and repair easily), and Auctionmaster (lighter than Auctioneer, it makes auction listing easier and better imo). Well, that was a post in itself!

• Aggro. I live with it in and out of game. Hubby aggro is easily taken care of with a quick Distract or Misdirect. Kid aggro can sometimes be handled the same way, but can also be taken care of with Cooking. Aggro of the in game variety can be taken care of in skill points spent and in careful management of your damaging/healing abilities. I even know how to get aggro and hold onto it. I just don't like to talk about that much. My warrior sits, fishing pole equipped, waiting for another try. Tanking makes me grit my teeth and tense all my shoulder and neck muscles.
• I have finally figured out the mystery that is the background downloader. I had been wondering why my husband had almost all of the new file Blizzard has been handing out, and I had almost none. Seems I have to stop playing for it to download. Silly me.
  

There. I may have missed out on a lot. But I guess I could write about something in there. If, after you have read this post, you have an idea you would like to hear my thoughts on, comment below or send me mail! Where? Shawndrakai at gmail dot com.

Lend A Hand

If I haven't said it before, I'm an elementary school lunch lady. It is nearing the end of the school year, so a kid being out for an extended period is not unusual. At this point in the year, the grades have for the most part been decided, and we are just waiting for final assignments and to finish cleaning out desks. I noticed Jordan had been out, and then his brother, but I figured they were on a family vacation. They are both great kids doing well in school, why not?

Word of anything comes to the multi-purpose room, and my kitchen, very slowly if at all, and usually I get it from the kids and the yard duty workers. I found out early this week that Jordan had been diagnosed with leukemia. You can read about it at the blog that has been set up here . Local businesses have set up some great ways to contribute, if you live in the area.

I'm small time. I don't run a business that can contribute. But I do play an awesome game that millions of other people play, and if just a few that read my blog will pass this on to some of their in game buddies, or other bloggers, or even podcasters, who knows what kind of help we can get for this great little guy and his family? (Jordan would give me such a frown for calling him little!) Please help me help them! Leave a supportive comment, use their PayPal donate button, Twitter about it, Facebook about it, pray about it, do whatever you can.

31 Days...

I have decided to go ahead and try and make this blog better, and have enlisted the help of Problogger and his 31 days to a Better Blog series. My first assignment is to create an "Elevator Pitch", or rather, a quick something to make someone want to look further into what my site is about.

I've never really "pinned down" what I write about here. So, here is what I think I have here in this mess of a blog.

• Altitis. A very bad case of altitis has me switching characters every once in a while. Lately, my focus has been on priests. That could change, since I also have a rogue, warrior, shaman, mage, warlock, and paladin all within a few steady weeks of hitting 80.
• Exploration. Not just in the sense of, "Look I've seen all the land masses, and I've visited the dancing troll village!". But in the sense that I explore other things. Fashion, travel, relationships, role play... There is a little of everything in here.
• Family and how they affect and effect my game play. They effect it by allowing it. They affect it by what interrupts it :)
• Random real life and internet fun. Because we all need a real life!

So, I guess my elevator pitch could be:

Escapist Scrawl is an altaholic's view of the World of Warcraft, interrupted by children, husband, and the ever present Stumble Upon button!

Maybe? We'll see. I may need to think more on this.

I'm a Spammer!

I was going to post last night, but due to my going ape doo over WoWHead links, Blogger's spam bot shut me down. Thanks for reading my posts. I should have a post up later this evening or very early tomorrow morning!

Lunar Festival Break!

A long night put in by myself and my man, visiting all the elders in Eastern Kingdoms, Kalimdor, The capitol cities of all factions, and some notable dungeons. Tomorrow, Northrend!

As if it hasn't been mentioned before, the guide by WoWwiki is excellent! It would have been a longer, more painful trip without it. Thanks to both /hug and Letters from Birdfall for their pointers, too! Definitely, go to them for the info. I'm too busy having fun to repeat what is already too good to improve on!

My thoughts every day...

Yeah...La Cucaracha said it all in one frame of his strip today...

Some Resolutions For The New Year

It's time to resolve to do, and not do.

Before I get into what mine are, I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year, and remind you to find a designated driver and chain them to your hip tonight! Have fun out there, but not so much that you forget to act responsibly.

Now, my resolutions are few. I have my one eighty. I am happy with her.

Number 1- Take time off for a walk or to play Wii fit with the kids at least 4 times a week. For some reason they really like to do the jogging game with me. Weird kids...

Number 2- Pug more often. I need to develop a thicker skin. Most of my guild before this expansion hit had pugged places in many raids. My skills and gear when they started this were comparable. Priest For Hire. Yup, that's gonna be me!

Number 3- Blog more often. I have noticed on a good week I may post 3 times. There are many weeks I don't post at all. Perhaps I can tie this one in with number one, and dictate my post to my mp3 player as I jog. In between huffs and puffs.

Number 4- Lure the hubby back into game with whatever I can, and find a way to keep him playing with me. Anyone got any suggestions?

Number 5- Cook dinner more often. I think I'll aim for 4 times a week, with at least once on the weekend. Tuesday and Thursday nights are leftover nights, for obvious reasons (are they obvious? Tuesday is reset day, and Thursday is day 2 of raiding. for some reason our guild had a hard time getting Wednesdays going).

That's it. Too many and I feel bad that I didn't accomplish all of them. Keep it short and simple, and you're more likely to succeed!

Happy New Year everyone!

Giving thanks on Thanksgiving

I enjoy Warcraft Bloggers site. Even though I have given up on my blog ever showing on one of their pages, I still find great bloggers and wonderful ideas through clicking through the little pre-blurbs on their site. Tonight, or rather, Thanksgiving morning, I happened upon Rick's Place. The link is to post, inspired by his pastor, to give thanks to the people closest and most important to him. I thought it would be a great idea to take up his pastor's challenge tonight before my head hit the pillow.

Thank you, Tom. Without you I would never be so happy. Amanda, Melissa, and Samantha would not be what they are today without having had you in their life. I would not have the joy of our youngest, Julia, without you. Thank you for putting up with me when I am not how you would want me, engrossed in whatever part of Azeroth I am conquering. I look forward to spending many more Thanksgivings with you.


Thank you, kids. For helping out with Julia, for doing your chores, even in the sporadic way you all get to them. For being sweetness and light when I am too tired to deal with your more frequently displayed darkness and insanity. Thank you for keeping me drilled in obscure mathematic equations and other little used subjects through your need for homework help. And, even though I may complain about that friend of yours that sends me numerous tells in game, thanks for bragging that I am the most uber destroyer of Alliance, clothed in epic robes and wielding legendary weaponry. Just don't let them armory me. I can't imagine life without you. I can, however, imagine what it would be like with stepford children. Don't change much, alright?

Thank you, KNR. In you I find I have a social life, when most times I cannot manage to get out of the house. Thank you for making me stay with you all when you left Star Wars Galaxies, even if it was on a PvP server. There are times in my leveling that I curse that decision, but then, we wouldn't be KNR on a PvE server. We would be ... We would not be. Thank you for hours of laughter, and for not being too racy for my children, at least during the day.

Thank you, Inconceivable. I never thought I'd enjoy playing the other side of the fence as much as I enjoy playing with you. Milli, I cannot believe that you have as many alts as I do Horde side.

Thank you, all 5 of you that read this blog. I hope that you have many more people to be thankful for, and a spread that puts the first Thanksgiving feast to shame!

I think that covers it. Happy Thanksgiving! Now, off to start the baking...

About the new banner...

After the most recent patch, my screen shots were no longer where they should be, at least, where Blizzard had trained me to find them. I decided I HAD to find them, being that I have been playing almost exclusively on my laptop. As I was thumbing through the short list, the one I took my new banner from showed up. I don't remember taking this one. I had been using an add-on that took a shot at level ups. Anyhow, how random, and yet...me and my homey, err, hubby, hanging out doing who knows what together.

Random is good.