May 4, 2008
Washington – You can have it all
I went for a nice long drive yesterday. Ten hours long, in fact, and nearly 400 miles.
I work for a medical company that does home-health care, and I deliver medication, supplies, equipment and oxygen to peoples homes so that they don’t have to be in a clinic or hospital to get their medical treatments. It’s usually for people that have recurring infections, some cancer patients, patients with special formula diets, etc. where it’s not necessary for them to receive the intense care of a clinic or hospital, or where they can self-administer.
So, nice long drive. 400 miles. Started off all gloomy and rainy, but as the day progressed, it started getting nicer, and I was again reminded of how much I love living in beautiful Western Washington. I took a few pictures, and thought I’d share them with my few readers.
This is out near Forks, WA, on the way through the Olympic National Park. The mountains are all obscured by low cloud cover, but the serenity of the lake and the surrounding forest made me stop and take a few photos.
There’s lots of little waterfalls along the side of the road. I decided to turn of my radio going through this area to focus on the natural beauty of my surroundings. 
This is near La Push, which I’ve heard is a popular surfing area in Washington. The highway comes right up near the edge of the ocean, and the waves breaking over the beach is so serene and peaceful. The cloud cover had started to break a bit, though these pictures are still a little dark.
Despite the bad rep that Washington gets for being a nasty, rainy place, I love it here. Any outdoors activity you can do, you can probably do here, from hiking in the mountains, to skiing, to kayaking, or fishing. If you like the outdoors, I think Washington is the place for you.
It’s certainly the place for me.
May 1, 2008
Crazy-go-nuts
In 12 days, my brother is coming home from his 2-year Mission in Colorado. During this time, my family hasn’t seen him except for pictures he’s sent home, and have only communicated through letters and a twice-a-year phone call. Things are going to be a little crazy around here as we prepare for his homecoming.
April 27, 2008
Hooking
New crochet project in the works. I’m experimenting alot with different techniques/hook sizes/yarns, so it may be a while. Also, I’m planning on making it bigger than any of my previous crochet projects. Couple notes, though:
It’s not WoW related.
It IS video game related.
I repeat a lot of quotes from the game while I’m crocheting, in a funny voice. And I crack myself up.
Also, I’ve been listening to Jonathan Coulton and Victims of Science. Those are all the clues you’ll get.
April 23, 2008
New Toys for Old Boys
I got my tax refund back recently. Actually, like a week ago. And yes, TJ, I am one of those people that wait until the very last minute to get it all done. Fortunately for people in your profession, I did mine myself.
Actually, my mom did them, as payment for setting up her new computer.
ANYWAY, I got my refund, which was quite a relief after not working for 3 months. Know what I spent it on?
Bills, mostly.
But I also got a little something for myself, the Belkin n52te gamepad, and let me tell you, I’m loving it. It’s taken a bit of practice to get used to it, and a mod to remind me what buttons do what, but I feel like I have alot more freedom of movement with my fingers than when using my laptop’s keyboard. I’ve yet to try any serious work-out sessions with it, like PVPing with my hunter twink, but it’ll happen.
April 17, 2008
Lucky
I’ve been leveling Uhtar quite a bit, recently, and my level-70 Warrior friend, Rap, has been helping out quite a bit. Seems he wants to get some Arena team set up, and thinks I’d make a good addition. Go figure.
Anyway, he’s been tanking all my quests for me, helping me plow through all the Azeroth material in personal-record time. One thing we’ve noticed, though, is I seem to have really good luck. Greens drop constantly for me, blues seem to drop far more often than they should, and the other day, I got one of these:
Now, if I were a Warlock, I’d have popped that thing on in a heartbeat. But, as I was still saving for my epic mount, it got sent to my bank-alt and AH’d. Plus, as an Alchemist, I had the Philosopher’s Stone and, working in WPL, the Argent Dawn Commission.
Rap seems to be pretty jealous of my treasure finding skills luck.
April 16, 2008
And now back to the show
Okay, I’ve been gone for a while. Not like I left, or had urgent, pressing business, or I was kidnapped or anything like that. I’ve just been really lazy about posting to my blog. I’ve been playing alot of WoW, though (since I’m still not back at work. This friday, though! =D), and I guess there’s lots of stuff I’ve screen-shot to post about, and just not done it. I’ll be putting some of it up, but in bits and pieces, so it doesn’t seem like an overwhelming flood of “Here’s what I did today” info.
BattleGrounds
Meet Sein. Sein is a BG monster. Seriously. I’ve been playing about a round of WSG a day with him, and even joined a Twink guild, I’d Crit That, on Echo Isles. If I don’t manage to come out on top with HK’s and killing blows, it’s usually because I’ve been running defense or running the flag. I’m having alot of fun with it.
I think one of my favorite things to do is target all the healers in the opposing team. Paladins can be a bit of a nuisance, especially since they have that free-movement blessing (which totally negates my Concussive Shot), but Priests, Druids, and Shaman are easy pickings for my gun-toting buddy. I really dislike rogues, but I can come out on top about 80% of the time with Wing Clip, traps, and jump-shotting CS.
So that’s one of the many things I’ve been up to recently. See you again real soon. (For reals. Really.)
March 30, 2008
WTF!?
Despite the fact that it’s ten years old, my buddies and I still get together now and then for a rousing game of StarCraft. This last Friday was one of those days, and I had alot of fun during the matches, and even though I’m not a spectacular player, I still managed to do pretty well. But that’s not what this post is really about.
Before the event was supposed to start, I drove over to my friend Ulrich’s house and hung out for a bit; then we took his car to my friend Charlie’s house, where we got the party started. Now, Ulrich doesn’t live in the greatest neighborhood; it’s not awful, but it’s pretty close to the low-income housing developments. Anyway, while we were out getting our game on, someone swiped my windshield wiper blades.
Who the hell steals wiper blades? And they didn’t just take the blades, either, but the whole plastic assembly. I’ve got two metal arms attached to the rotors, but that’s it. I live in freakin’ Seattle! It’s almost April!
/sigh
March 28, 2008
Hello, my name is Shawn, and I’m a SHAMAN!
So, just a few updates on what’s going on right now with me.
Health and Life
- I finished all my treatments for my recent illness, and should be able to go back to work soon.
- I’m looking into several work-alternative options, such as going back to school with state aid, and applying for medical disability. I think I’d much prefer the first option.
Fuller
- Ran Wailing Caverns with the Yellow Pox yesterday. The Serpent’s Shoulders, Gloves of the Fang, and Worn Turtle Shell Shield all dropped. Blackmyst already had the shoulders and gloves, and Lazz already had the shield, so I happily picked those up. Robe of the Moccasin also dropped, grats to DeadRabbit for getting that one.
- After the WC run, I realized I really don’t like playing Elemental, and respecced to Enhancement. We’re running the instances enough that gear issues haven’t been a problem. Discussed with Blackmyst, and he agreed and was fine with the respec.
- I dropped Skinning. I make quite a profit on the AH, and can afford to buy my mats. Plus, Blackmyst skins a ton of stuff, and usually sends some my way. I appreciate it, and I keep him in some good gear (+1 Deviate Scale Belt for Blackmyst).
- I picked up Engineering. I LOVE the goggles/hats made by engineers, and I figure, despite the fact that DeadRabbit is an Engineer as well, we won’t be encroaching on each others profits, as there’s not much to be made from Engineering, anyway.
- I also made myself a Deviate Scale Belt, and picked up Razor’s Edge. I’m looking pretty good in my Blues. Now I just need a good chest piece. Hmmm, Armor of the Fang would be nice…
Uhtar
- Getting pretty close to 40! I’ve got four more levels to go, and have been doing a little prep work, like saving my money for my mount. Speaking of which…
- I spent the last couple days running around, doing some gray quests. Why?
- That’s right, I’m Exalted with Darnassus at level 36. I’m getting myself a Tiger mount.
- I plan on doing some SM runs with my 70 warrior friend today. He wants to get me some good mail armor for when I turn 40. In turn, I’ll be running his 20 druid through SFK and BFD. Tried to Solo BFD last night, got a little hung up near the end with the healers. But finishing the quests in there put me over the top for Darnassus Rep.
- Also, at 40: DUAL WIELD! I’m a little excited.
Oh, and as a Pink Floyd fan, this made me smile:
(If, for some bizarre reason, you don’t know what I’m referencing, you can find it here.)
March 25, 2008
Favorite 2.4 Shaman Change
I’ve been playing Uhtar, my Shaman, a bit more the last few days. Shaman strikes me as a more versatile class than the Warlock, and my Warlock is still sitting at 64. (I know, I should just make the push to 70, but I really hate playing him. It is not my style at all). I did a SM Lib run yesterday, that went really well (Priest, Warrior, Mage, and 2 Shaman. Totem FOREST), and managed to get 3 levels yesterday, with all my saved up rested Exp.
Anyway, I’m sitting here, waiting for the updater to finish so I can play today, and I’m looking over the Shaman updates. I am quite pleased at a few of them, namely:
- Elemental Focus: This buff will no longer be removed when Shamanistic Focus is triggered. This would happen to me all the time. I’d be whacking away at something, it’d proc, then proc again and disappear.
- Ghost Wolf: Cast time reduced to 2 seconds, down from 3. I wonder if, fully talented, this is now an instant spell? Edit: Fully talented, Ghost wolf is now an instant spell. I am very pleased.
- The Global Cooldown of all Totems has been reduced to 1 seconds, down from 1.5 seconds.
But my absolute favorite change so far:
- Totem timer icons will now show up under your player portrait when you cast totem spells. Right-clicking a totem timer icon will destroy that totem.
That’s right, no longer do we Shaman have to rely on our Totemic Call to squelch those aggro-drawing Fire Totems, we can turn them off individually. And, having never used a Totem Timer add-on before, I’ll probably find the UI addition pretty handy.
Well, I’m off to go play my Shaman.
March 18, 2008
WoWCraft 2
I’ve got Shamans on the brain. So, I couldn’t let my next WoWCraft not be Shaman-focused. It’s not quite finished; I’m going to do a little more detail work tomorrow, but it’s so close that I feel like it’s ready for pics.
And my reference pics:
I might finish it up with some swirly-deals tomorrow. Other than that, it’s time for me to move on to my next project.
Any (reasonable) suggestions? (I’m looking at you, Dammerung)
Rymes 