Christmas Update, and Other Things

[jaelie]

Today is the day of the lj-cuts! Prepare yourselves...

We spent the day before Christmas with Matt's family - his mom, our sister-in-law Audt, and the monkeys. Er, I mean our twin nine-year-old nephews Sammy and Danny, and twelve-year-old niece Jessica. Matt's brother Nick is in severe disfavor with the family, and rightly so. That's family drama, though, and not my own so I'll leave it at that. We had lunch at Tokyo One (mmm sushi!!), then spent the afternoon at various shops getting last minute stuff with the monkeys. It was fun, and I was happy to spend time with Matt's family. That evening, after I finished up all the cleaning with some help from Matt, we relaxed and played WoW.

Christmas day was primarily spent at my house - the family came over and we exchanged gifts and stories and visited and otherwise chatted away a few hours. Then everyone split, some to go to Grandpa and Gramma vB's place, others to head home, and Matt and I went to the wat to visit with his mom and give her Christmas present to her. I love that wat. It is both beautiful and ornate, yet peaceful and inspiring. Anyway, she was having fun teaching some people how to cook Thai deserts. Mmm. We sampled. Hehe. Then after a while with her, we headed back home for more relaxation.


Lessee, what did I give this year?

Dad = $50 Gift Cert to Hastings. He loves movies, I just don't know which ones he has already. It's not hard to pick them for him, as he and I share movie tastes. Heh.

Mom = A nice gray, classically cut, machine washable suit. I *think* I guessed the correct size... The jacket fit. I did strike out, however, in that there were no pockets.

Matt's Mom = a really pretty jade carving of a phoenix and a dragon. The symbolism there was really neat, as they represent yin and yang, phoenix being yin, and dragon being yang. And, beautifully, Matt's mother was born in the year of the Chicken, but also known as the year of the Phoenix, and Matt's father was a Dragon. Anyway, she loved it.

Matt = Black cowboy hat, and a nice one, to his desired specs, heh. I believe the shape of it is called "The Gus" or somesuch, after Gus from Lonesome Dove. I also fed his British navy addiction with the Horatio Hornblower complete series.

Matt & I = We're both getting badly needed replacement contact lenses. Yay! That's our big Christmas present to ourselves. Also, Matt signed me up for training classes to be a better Jay. /laugh! I'm kidding! ^_~ I am signed up for training, though, with our pooch Taltos. ^_^

We drew names among the sibs, and I drew Aaron, Matt drew Nikki. So...

Aaron = A game card for 2 months of WoW.

Nikki = A black cashmere sweater, very simple and classic. Can't go wrong with cashmere, heh.

I didn't purchase or make any friends gifts this year, as I was being a procrastinating cheapskate and spent it all on Matt and our parents. Sorry yall. /guilt

And my loot!

from Mom = a set of silky PJs. They're dark blue with darker blue stripes. I wore 'em last night and they are quite comfy.

from Dad = a set of luxurious bath stuffs. Mmmm. Already started digging in to those!

from Matt = a red cashmere sweater, a pink cashmere sweater, gloves & hat. Matt is now well on his way to the required seven cashmere sweaters that I must have before we are allowed to move to Ireland. ^_~ Realistically, however, it's more likely that we'll move to Thailand before Ireland, heh, and then what good will cashmere do me? Ah, well. I love it!

from Kevin (Matt helped) = a clarinet!! I broke it out when I got home and fiddled around with it. Sheesh, I suck. I also need to buy some cork grease and a swab before I fiddle with it any more or it'll get all nasty.

from Mir = a super cute ladybug watch. It's pink w/ dark pink flowers. I promptly attached it to my purse. So cute!

from elizagoth = a tin full of yummy christmas treats. I really liked those chex treats. I have yet to sample all of them, however. I'm sure they're all equally tasty, heh.

from me = the full set of new paints from work!

I think the two favorite gifts I received this year are the clarinet (I've been wanting to get back into music), and the training courses with our dog.

I've been at a loss as to how to spend quality time with him. We play "Monster!" in the back yard, in which I am the Monster and he is the Super-Fast Uncatchable And Wily Hound. We have one variation to "Monster!" and it's "Squeaky Monster!" where I have a squeaky toy and chase him around with that. He loves both games, heh. Otherwise, I also make it a point to watch a movie with him so I can snuggle and pet him, but mostly I get the feeling that he gets bored. So training class will give us something to do. Yay!

Oh annawick, do you mind if I invite myself over to your house every now and then? I'm about ready to start painting again, especially since I got myself the new paints. I'm so curious to see how it works out on my pallet, not to mention the figures! I am going to hit WalMart to check out tackle boxes, since the lil one I currently use won't work anymore. I need something relatively small and portable, but that will still hold all 54 colors.

Did Dave like the paints that KiD got him? Aaron asked my opinion on what Dave would want, so I gave Aaron the hook up. Did you know I love your husband? He's awesome. I'm glad you gave me another brother. ^_^ Oh, and another nephew, too, heh.

Tomorrow will begin my crack-of-dawn Tuesday/Thursday trips out to the pasture again. The weather has been horrible, so I haven't been out in several weeks. I don't mind the cold so much, but there is no way I'll go out and play with horses and get covered in mud, then show up at work all muddy and icky. However, the cold, on the other hand, is defeatable, because at least I'll still be presentable at work. Heh. Emma ("my" horse) has probably forgotten me. I'm going to have to be doing some wooing. Now where did I put those apples?

And now the gamer MMOG nerd talk...WoW!

Predictably, my husband has changed classes. I think he likes the nuker-type classes, since he started out as a tank in DAoC but got burned out, then in CoH started a Scrapper then switched to Blaster. Same thing here, heh. He got his Paladin to 20 then started over with a Mage. So rather than the Paladin/Paladin team that I thought we were going to be, I think we're going to be a Mage/Paladin team. Since we have finari along as her warrior, I don't think it'll be so bad, but I don't relish being the main healer, again. Shoulda done a Priest if I was gonna end up being the healer. /sigh

One of the coolest things about WoW (well, aside from all the cool stuff) is that my youngest brother is playing. His main server is Azgalor, but he plays a bit on mine, and I am planning on playing a bit on his, especially while Matt is in Hong Kong, heh. That way there will be no hubby-aggro and I can immerse myself, only emerging for play and exercise with the pooch. Bwahaha!

Comments

Geek Talk! O.O

[jaelie.livejournal.com]

Here's the thing - two secondary healers is pretty much as good as one main healer, at least so far. While Matt had my back as Logrim I wasn't worried. The only problem with you going druid full time is not that you wouldn't have rez (I have it as a Paladin), but that you would be the main healer.

However, a warrior is useful because of the aggro control. My aggro control is good for one mob only. On the other hand, if Matt's playing his Mage, he can turn adds into sheep... I dunno. Guess we ought to talk it over with Matt... Which one do you want to play?

[jaelie.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah. If you decide to level up Soriel instead, we can concentrate on leveling her on Thursdays while the boys are in class. Or we could turn Thursdays into our "Play on Azgalor" nights... ^_^

[jaelie.livejournal.com]

Well I asked Matt and he doesn't seem to think it'll matter, since his Mage can crank out so much damage. He thinks that as long as we have healing potions, etc, we'll be fine.

So.... Thursdays on Azgalor? ^_~

[jaelie.livejournal.com]

On Azgalor I want to level either my Troll Priest or my Orc Hunter. Both look to be a lot of fun. XD

[jaelie.livejournal.com]

Well, if you're going to be the Shaman, maybe I'll see about getting my Orc Hunter caught up to you. Your Shaman is level 10, right?

[elizagoth.livejournal.com]

My experience so far is that the priest is both easy to level up, and easy to play. Plenty of damage outlay, both with the smite nuke, the shadow word: Pain/DOT, and melee that hits pretty decently. Pair that with the ability to heal yourself, in melee natch, and it's a very solid character. My priest there on Bloodhoof is level 11 now, and I've played her 3 nights. The biggest thing I miss is a form of crowd control (my druid has a root/dot, and my Warlock has the ever handy, and encounter saving Fear!).

Also, I found I think possibly the funnest thing about my Warlock... With the "Drain Soul" spell (it drains life from the target, and creates a Soul Shard, if the target dies with it active), and the Soul Shard regent, I can do a few handy things. I can make Minor Healthstones, which heal in combat, and are instant use (2 min cool down), and now... Soul Gems. Cast the spell for it, target someone, use it, and I "store" a friendly Target's soul for 30 minutes. If they die with their soul "stored", they have the option to rez instantly, with a very respectable amount of mana/hps, and no rez sick. Even cooler? I can use it on *myself* too!

I think druids get some kind of rez, but it's more situational, and isn't at the lower levels. Warl was telling me about it, but I can't remember the details. (He has a 32 druid, but has switched to his rogue).

[jaelie.livejournal.com]

But... but... Warlocks are evil!!!

[elizagoth.livejournal.com]

But... so... handy? The priests are skirting the edges of evil anyway with their shadow words!

I do get to have fun writing mean notes to Elizagoth (the warlock) from Ivyrielle (the NE druid) when I send myself items. I like my roleplay spontaneous!

[kalar.livejournal.com]

Druids do get a Rez. It requires a Regeant (I've got it at skill level 2, and it costs only 5 silver a pop) and has a *30* minute cool down. Essentially, it's to rez the Rezzer. That's the thing with Druids, they really are the Bards of this game. Bardsong = MoW.

Some people have told me that being a druid means that you won't ever get into a group, as you do nothing well. From what I can see, its really pretty easy to get into a group, because you fill whatever hole they are missing (except Mage. Druids DD spells are a joke.

[annawick.livejournal.com]

eh, come on over. tho, this weekend we're going to Arkansas to visit Dave's grandparents. And, yes, Dave likes the paints...

[jaelie.livejournal.com]

No, no. It wouldn't be this weekend. I'm thinking like at least one Saturday a month - like the 15th? The 8th I'm watching all three LOTRs at dogdoolb and pktekguy's place...

[annawick.livejournal.com]

that sounds like a plan. I've been wanting to paint more and I want my kid to see more of you :o)

[daranthalis.livejournal.com]

I miss Roisin Dubh. Pellinor has never been the same. :(

[jaelie.livejournal.com]

I miss Airmia I and Airmia II. /hug!!

Unfortunately, it's very unlikely that I'd ever go back to DAOC, really.

I'm still me, though, and still your friend. ^_^

[daranthalis.livejournal.com]

My Atlanta crowd of friends are trying to talk me into the Dark Side. They love WoW and are trying to convert everyone to it. Who knows? I may convert.

Airmia I is still around here somewhere. Half-Life 2 has been released, so she's probably eagerly awaiting the release of whatever new capture the flag variant that they will hang off the new physics engine. In the mean time, there is still Catacombs to explore.