Gift-Giving

I'm on a new book now, but I'm gonna build this one up a bit because, from what I've read so far, it deserves it. And, I have Kushiel to thank for this one. Yet another gift from her, although this one she doesn't know she's given. So unfair too, because this one ranks up there with the amazing scenery surprises for sheer beauty.

If you haven't guessed yet, I'm on book one of the "Kushiel's Legacy" series. About a fifth of the way in to a 900-page page-turner. And in my memory, I'm having a hard time remembering experiencing such sensuous, sumptious, *beautiful* prose. The way Carey describes things and events feels like melting sugar over my mind's eye. It often feels like poetry, and it makes me yearn to improve as a writer and a lover.

Dread was bored and Derf was soloing avatars. I offered my services to the person who cooked up the most interesting thing to do, but nobody took me up on it. I soon hooked up with Deej, PLing Catabolic's party in Yuhtunga. I stayed for about 45 minutes then went to bed. Poor Deej - after I left, they kept pulling gobs and wiped!

Getting It Right

(And then there are days like today!)

I was up early Saturday and had to get out of the house after writing my letter to SIL about her issues. I cruised around town and even tried to find the part for our mower, but, no dice. Did you know a lot of stores open late on Sunday? Me either, but they do. Guess I should try waking up at 7 instead of going to bed then!

In any case, after a little Shiroma-time, the lot of us headed to meet our friends at the mall. We shopped and ate and had a really nice time. I also saw the second-coolest t-shirt ever at Hot Topic. Classic Soundwave spinning tracks while Ravage gets the next record ready. Laserbeak is behind them plugging something in to the turntable. If they'd had my size I'd be wearing it but they didn't. Plus they had a 2-for-1 and Ape vetoed my other choice, the Hello Kitty emote version.

Long intro short, I didn't log in until 7:30. Beseiged was about to start so I took care of some chores and made ready. And this one was much better than many recent ones. Good length, good challenge and good SUs! Afterwards I flagged up on WHM. I wanted to see if I could get a merit or two before bed.

While waiting, I tried GD and Milk. Not too much chatter tonight, although poor Deej is still having a hard time leveling DNC. He asked if I had any Fire crystals and I switched to Jesup and sent what I had. I really need to find a chaperone - I saw a Mithra in full Wedding attire plus the ring hanging around WG. Yup, still want that outfit...

Back on Aer, I soon got an invite from Yayna (not Yanya? Are there two?) specifically requesting a meripo. Hot damn! It took a bit to fill the party as I was 3/6, then the trek to the other side of Bhaflau via Undersea. I need to get that route marked on my map ASAP! The good news was the targets tonight were colibri, not the undead things I faced last time.

Once there, we ran a full 50 chain and most of another with zero downtime. Dizeve, our bard, handled pulls and refreshed me. I also made use of Sublimation whenever she was unable to keep the buffs on me (which wasn't often ^^) and I didn't have to call MP one single time. In fact, we'd have had no downtime at all I think had it not been for a flock of colibri killing all of us except Yayna. I never did find out what aggravated them all but someone apologized for it, leading me to think an AoE skill or enfeeb went wrong.

In any case, Yayna was great about my time limit and we wound up breaking up just after midnight, not quite two hours after the action began. I wound up with about 22,000 LP (3 total merits) and over 4k XP, getting my buffer over 25%.

Jonte was very complimentary as well, making special note of my use of Regen. Well, to be fair, Regen works great when damage isn't spikey or huge. The birds smacked everyone, but most hits were well under C3 damage, so a Regen had time to work. Not to say I didn't use cures - there was a good amount of red HP on links or resists. And Aujir got to be my first Martyr!

Also, post-wipe I offered my apologies. I used Bene when things got bad thinking I could get heat off Diz, thus allowing her to start sleeping the birds. But, despite a lot of recovered HP, I only managed to pull one of four birds... Jonte told me to relax and I said I wasn't stressed but that it was just part of my job. At about the same time as he said the same thing - /psych

Aujir said he'd never level WHM and went so far as to say "f whm". I missed it the first time by but when I saw it later I said "Bad Aujir! No cure for you!" then lol-ed and /laughed. I said I knew WHM wasn't to everyone's tastes.

On ending, I gave rides to Mea and Holla, then repatriated to go spend my points. I was going to plunk down for Protectra V, but then I realized Cure Time would be a better use, making me a better WHM. Still, I am gonna get P5!

Slow night

Besieged, then attempt to party in Deej's party when tank left and he rearranged jobs to accommodate me on WHM. As I arrived they split up and I logged out with Deej trying to make something of the rest of the evening.

Friends

This is kinda turning into a theme, I'm afraid ^^

August will probably go down as the most interesting one for me in terms of personal relationships. It's also been a very emotional one and I offer my sincere thanks and appreciation for those of you who've been putting up with this manic, mopey Mithra.

Friday Night was a little GD chat and a duo session with Deej (dual Dancers - sweet!) so he could get 40. Then I checked in again with GD and Chaos was looking for more BLU spells. I said that after a short break and Besieged I'd be able to help.

During Besieged (600+ people = major lag!) I cured someone I couldn't see clearly in a dogpile of folks. I did see his name though, in the log. Yalto. One of the GD originals. He didn't respond and I didn't engage further. But I'd love to know, assuming it's really him, how he's been. Aleu's said hi once or twice since they left but I have no idea how they're doing as people, not players.

Returning to GD, it seemed Chaos, Dread and Ben were doing something in the Citadel. So I checked in on Deej and found him in West Ronfaure working on his new SAM. I offered my PL services for a bit and by the time I made it there he was 5. I stuck around until he hit 7.

Earlier, while on our duo, Deej and I made it to the cliff's edge in Qufim. Looking out over the ocean he commented on the way the snow gets blown up from the crashing waves below. I mentioned how K likes to check out beautiful scenery and Deej said he knew what I meant. I added that K was one of a kind.

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Now I need friends more... Sis-in-law pulled her crap again and called Ape some nasty things. I let her have it and she took off in a huff. I think things are gonna get nasty around here for awhile...

Long Night, Friendly Night

Wednesday, I tried partying on DRG, 14. After a so-so wait, I got invited to the Dunes by Endrey. I'll just say that I've been in better... 4 members, sync *21* except me at 14. I was getting bad XP but I figured once we got more people in, we could sync properly. And, lo and behold, I talked Dark into coming out on his PLD. He left two pulls later. I followed him out.

Not having a lot of time, I went back in time and fought a battle in Meriph. I think there were no fewer than FIVE waves. I spent almost as much time raising folks as I did curing. I myself only needed one raise, being lucky with the other recasts. Chaos lifted me up after a particularly-brutal end.

I swear there were at least two area-wide wipes at the hand of certain Yag NMs. It got ugly. And, it lasted for nearly 2 hours >< Between waves I joked an "oh no not again" lamenting my need for sleep. Someone told me I could just quit! Wouldn't that mean no XP? But when all was said and done I got about 2,800 LP and 600 AN.



Thursday I found a quiet GD and bored Deej. I offered to help him with the SAM unlock. We met in Kazham, got the Yhoat crystal, flagged in Norg and then made our way to both NMs. Neither was much trouble for our duo, WHM and DNC39. Then I took him back to Norg to close it out (after the 3-hour cooldown...)

I think Kepi wanted in but didn't make it on by 10 and I wanted to go to bed. I can't keep nodding off during meetings... /yawn. Maybe I can help Kep tomorrow.