Well, it snowed for 24 hours straight and we got ~22" of soft powdery, Christmas joy. This also canceled the plans of my sister & bro-in-law moving most of their stuff into their apartment. Thus I had nothing to do all day Saturday and nowhere was I going. So, WoW.
So I spent the afternoon off & on and most of the evening playing WoW.
I recently created a new character to be my Auction House auctioneer and banker. That means I won't be leveling this character, her only purpose is to check the Auction House periodically for deals for reselling & such, and my other characters will mail her loot that can be sold. She thus holds on to the bulk of my gold and stays parked in the city.
Meanwhile I decided to make use of Patch 3.3's new Dungeon Finder in-game tool with my main Warlock. It allows you to queue for groups of your level across servers. Awesome.
I started with random WotLK regular dungeons since I never did most of them while leveling, was unsure if I was geared up enough to do the Heroic versions (they tend to be 30-50% harder -- ie, mobs have up to twice as much health and hit that much harder), and am out of practice for raiding. So I played several normal-mode 5-man instances. I got lucky and ran thru some of the new Ice Crown Citadel instances (3 runs total) and got 4 pieces of upgraded gear -- iLevel 219!
Then Stevo & I got on Skype and he convinced me to do Heroic versions and I did -- and rocked 'em! >8:-]
I was able to acquire 45 Emblems of Triumph throughout the evening and at the end of the night bought a sweet pair of pauldrons, major upgrade. I socketed 'em and threw an enchantment I bought with WG's Stone Keeper Shards on 'em.
Steve also introduced me to an add-on called GearScore. It shows me what my gear score (adding all the Item Levels of all of my gear), and adds the gear score to the tooltips so I can see everyone else's gear score. It also has a handy chart to show what instances/dungeons are around my level with that gear score! =D
I also learned some things about managing my aggro. That started when I was the overpowering 'lock in Halls of Lightning normal mode with a group of level 78-79ers. If I pulled aggro off the tank on bosses, we'd wipe. And we did. I had to DPS sslloowwllyy to avoid that.
Then Stevo tanked an instance just to mess around (it was late at night) and I hadn't updated my Recount add-on (which shows how much damage I'm putting out) so I only had Omen Threat Meter add-on to determine "how well I'm doing". I reasoned that if I'm pulling aggro off Steve that I must be putting out quite a bit. ;P He confirmed: 2700 DPS on one of the bosses. That's a new high for me. >8:-]
12.20.2009
12.13.2009
Ikea Shopping
Saturday I showed my parents my apartment -- they were impressed & happy for me. Then we headed to my sister & bro-in-law's [who are signing the lease for their new apt in Columbia as I type this] and the 5 of us went to Ikea in White Marsh in 3 cars so I could do some shopping.
I love Ikea. ^_^
I was able to get everything I wanted (plus a few other things) -- a bed & mattress, dresser, nightstand, end table, coffee table. I also picked up a set of 6 cool glasses (perfect size to fill with ice and pour half-full for a perfect 2 oz. pour), a blue comforter with lines on it, and a few more kitchen gadgety things [knives! with black & white handles!].
We got back to my place in the late afternoon and hauled everything inside. Mom & Marie ran out to get pizza while Dad, Frederic & I started building. Dad & I also built the red retro diner table & stools which I had bought at a Target like 3-4 years ago because 1.) it's AWESOME and 2.) it was on sale for $30, down from $130 and the only one!
The next thing I need to buy is a couch. I've been looking at futons, so I can have a place for someone visiting to sleep on... but I have yet to find a futon that's A.) very comfortable, B.) sized well [many are too long in the seat] and 3.) has arms. None of the futons at Ikea were to my liking. There's one at Value City Furniture that looks cool, but until I sit on it I can't tell if it'll be comfortable at all -- most of them you can feel the springs when sitting. >:-P
Mostly likely I'll just get a "normal" couch... but then I'll get it shipped, and have to be at the apt when it arrives and... oy.
I also have to plan when to get the Verizon FiOS hooked up -- gotta be a weekend since I work all day during the week of course. I can just use my laptop, so I won't have to haul my desktop over before potentially sleeping there permanently -- home is where my computer is. >8-]
And I have to see how much the cable will be on top of the internet access... cause I can live without TV. The only shows I watch are the ones I watch with Jason, and I'd rather watch 'em with Jason & Megan than just by myself. Tho I can see having the TV on while playing on my computer just to fill all the silence... ;P
I love Ikea. ^_^
I was able to get everything I wanted (plus a few other things) -- a bed & mattress, dresser, nightstand, end table, coffee table. I also picked up a set of 6 cool glasses (perfect size to fill with ice and pour half-full for a perfect 2 oz. pour), a blue comforter with lines on it, and a few more kitchen gadgety things [knives! with black & white handles!].
We got back to my place in the late afternoon and hauled everything inside. Mom & Marie ran out to get pizza while Dad, Frederic & I started building. Dad & I also built the red retro diner table & stools which I had bought at a Target like 3-4 years ago because 1.) it's AWESOME and 2.) it was on sale for $30, down from $130 and the only one!
The next thing I need to buy is a couch. I've been looking at futons, so I can have a place for someone visiting to sleep on... but I have yet to find a futon that's A.) very comfortable, B.) sized well [many are too long in the seat] and 3.) has arms. None of the futons at Ikea were to my liking. There's one at Value City Furniture that looks cool, but until I sit on it I can't tell if it'll be comfortable at all -- most of them you can feel the springs when sitting. >:-P
Mostly likely I'll just get a "normal" couch... but then I'll get it shipped, and have to be at the apt when it arrives and... oy.
I also have to plan when to get the Verizon FiOS hooked up -- gotta be a weekend since I work all day during the week of course. I can just use my laptop, so I won't have to haul my desktop over before potentially sleeping there permanently -- home is where my computer is. >8-]
And I have to see how much the cable will be on top of the internet access... cause I can live without TV. The only shows I watch are the ones I watch with Jason, and I'd rather watch 'em with Jason & Megan than just by myself. Tho I can see having the TV on while playing on my computer just to fill all the silence... ;P
12.08.2009
Blogger glitched somehow and now I can't properly edit the previous post on Manhattan for typos or to post the link to the pics.
Anyway, a couple of pics I took from NYC are here.
Anyway, a couple of pics I took from NYC are here.
Manhattan in the Rain/Snow
Saturday, Dec 5th Stevo & I took a charter bus from his college (Stevenson, formerly known as Villa Julie, right near where I work) up to Manhattan.
Fun times!
The bus left at 8:15am. It was lightly raining in NYC when we arrived around noon. By 4pm that had turned to snow (big flakes) but never stuck to the ground, which was soaked.
We got dropped off at 46th & 6th, and Steve & I walked down to Herald Square (Macy's), as Tannen's Magic Shop is near there (34th).
Popped into Tannen's... nice to say I've been there now, but nothing special about it really ,except the history.
Steve wanted to take a cab from there to Canal St to Chinatown, but I convinced him to take the subway. That saved us about $20, and Steve got to get comfortable taking the subway.
We walked around Chinatown, Steve bought a couple of watches (haggled of course) and I bought the standard white "I <3 NY" T-shirt, for $3.
Then we wandered, with Steve's map, looking for the Ghostbuster's firehouse. We found it! =)
After that we got back on the subway (missed the 2 hour mark on our metro cards by just 2 minutes!) and took it up back to Times Square.
We met up with 2 Australian guys (in their late 30s?) whom Steve knows from his guild in World of Warcraft! The 4 of us were lounging in a coffee shop for somewhere between an hour and a half to 2 hours. At first it was a little awkward I think, but once we started talking about the common ground -- WoW -- the conversation was never-ending. ;P
On a side-note, I can't find the name of that coffee shop anywhere online. I thought it was something like Gregory's Caffe & Bakery, but it was only a few blocks from Times Square...
After that, we set off to walking around more... up/down (?) 5th Ave... we went to Rockefella Center to see the Christmas tree (by this point it was ~4pm and snowing) and I was able to snap a few good photos of the lit tree.
Then we headed to the south-west corner of Central Park, where the apt building used at the end of Ghostbusters is... That was neat to see.
Following that we backtracked and popped into The Shops at Columbus Circle, spending a good deal of time at Borders. At this point my hat was dripping wet. >:-/
We killed a hour or so in that mall, then headed back toward Times Square, looking for a place to eat dinner on the way. Decided on Applebee's if the wait wasn't too long, and it was only 10-15 min (and we only waited like 7 min). That was a mere 2 blocks from where the bus would pick us up at 8pm. Applebee's in Manhattan was much more expensive than anywhere else -- I didn't expect that... appetizers were 2x normal price, and entrees were +$8 or so above normal. Despite being packed, service was fast -- we probably waited less than ever for our entrees.
When we arrive back at 46th & 6th and saw a bunch of other people from the bus, we knew we had more fun than anyone else. ^_^ Of course, we were soaked thru-and-thru all day [I don't think I've been more wet, even in the shower...!!], but that's because we walked around all day in the rain/snow... and didn't wimp out and stay indoors/in cabs all day -- we had an adventure!
>8:-]
I was texting with my sister off and on all day -- getting her weather report of the Baltimore area, so I knew to expect to come back to 4-5" of snow. That was fun, everyone getting off the bus and scrambling to clean off their cars. And that wasn't powdery snow, oh no, it was icy snow. Safe drive home though.
Fun times!
The bus left at 8:15am. It was lightly raining in NYC when we arrived around noon. By 4pm that had turned to snow (big flakes) but never stuck to the ground, which was soaked.
We got dropped off at 46th & 6th, and Steve & I walked down to Herald Square (Macy's), as Tannen's Magic Shop is near there (34th).
Popped into Tannen's... nice to say I've been there now, but nothing special about it really ,except the history.
Steve wanted to take a cab from there to Canal St to Chinatown, but I convinced him to take the subway. That saved us about $20, and Steve got to get comfortable taking the subway.
We walked around Chinatown, Steve bought a couple of watches (haggled of course) and I bought the standard white "I <3 NY" T-shirt, for $3.
Then we wandered, with Steve's map, looking for the Ghostbuster's firehouse. We found it! =)
After that we got back on the subway (missed the 2 hour mark on our metro cards by just 2 minutes!) and took it up back to Times Square.
We met up with 2 Australian guys (in their late 30s?) whom Steve knows from his guild in World of Warcraft! The 4 of us were lounging in a coffee shop for somewhere between an hour and a half to 2 hours. At first it was a little awkward I think, but once we started talking about the common ground -- WoW -- the conversation was never-ending. ;P
On a side-note, I can't find the name of that coffee shop anywhere online. I thought it was something like Gregory's Caffe & Bakery, but it was only a few blocks from Times Square...
After that, we set off to walking around more... up/down (?) 5th Ave... we went to Rockefella Center to see the Christmas tree (by this point it was ~4pm and snowing) and I was able to snap a few good photos of the lit tree.
Then we headed to the south-west corner of Central Park, where the apt building used at the end of Ghostbusters is... That was neat to see.
Following that we backtracked and popped into The Shops at Columbus Circle, spending a good deal of time at Borders. At this point my hat was dripping wet. >:-/
We killed a hour or so in that mall, then headed back toward Times Square, looking for a place to eat dinner on the way. Decided on Applebee's if the wait wasn't too long, and it was only 10-15 min (and we only waited like 7 min). That was a mere 2 blocks from where the bus would pick us up at 8pm. Applebee's in Manhattan was much more expensive than anywhere else -- I didn't expect that... appetizers were 2x normal price, and entrees were +$8 or so above normal. Despite being packed, service was fast -- we probably waited less than ever for our entrees.
When we arrive back at 46th & 6th and saw a bunch of other people from the bus, we knew we had more fun than anyone else. ^_^ Of course, we were soaked thru-and-thru all day [I don't think I've been more wet, even in the shower...!!], but that's because we walked around all day in the rain/snow... and didn't wimp out and stay indoors/in cabs all day -- we had an adventure!
>8:-]
I was texting with my sister off and on all day -- getting her weather report of the Baltimore area, so I knew to expect to come back to 4-5" of snow. That was fun, everyone getting off the bus and scrambling to clean off their cars. And that wasn't powdery snow, oh no, it was icy snow. Safe drive home though.
12.07.2009
Enchanted Hills
Last weekend (a week ago) on Saturday, my sister & bro-in-law came over and borrowed my laptop downstairs to look at apartments in Columbia (where they are now moving to later this month) with my Mom.
I popped downstairs to see what sites they were on and casually asked them to search for apartments in the Owings Mills/Reisterstown area. We found a few in my price range, with varying reviews, and 1 that seemed perfect for me at a great price. I decided I'd do a little research during the week, then I went back upstairs to play WoW, knowing Stevo was on...
When Marie & Frederic were ready to leave, they asked what time I was coming over (they live Reisterstown), and I shrugged and said noon-ish.
They basically forced me into looking at this apartment... and when we were there the gal said there was a waiting list 6 people long for Jan-Feb move-ins. But one apt might be available for early Dec. So I knew my financial situation, so I applied for the apt.
By the next day (Monday) I got a phone call saying my application was approved, and the lady they were holding that apt for never answered her phone, so it was mine. I came in at lunch on Tues to sign the lease, then Friday I paid my deposit and first month's rent and got my keys.
Friday night after work Marie & I went to Target and a nearby dollar store (actually, almost every store ever is up & down the main road my apt is off of: Reisterstown Road), then met up with Frederic when he got home from work.
We got take-out Chinese food and took it to my [empty] apartment & ate on the floor. ^_^
Here are some of those pics from Friday night... [I swear no alcohol was involved!] The place is actually bigger than it looks in the pics (it's 850 sq feet), since the photographer [myself] takes up space even when backed up to the wall. You'll have to come over and see it for yourself when I get settled in! =)
I'm taking my time moving stuff in. I want to have a full Christmas at home...
Next weekend my Family & I are going up to Ikea and I'm buying a new bed (bigger!), dresser, night stand, and whatever fun [smaller] things abound.
I found a cheap-but-good futon I want for my couch (obviously doubling as a bed for someone to crash on) elsewhere.
I popped downstairs to see what sites they were on and casually asked them to search for apartments in the Owings Mills/Reisterstown area. We found a few in my price range, with varying reviews, and 1 that seemed perfect for me at a great price. I decided I'd do a little research during the week, then I went back upstairs to play WoW, knowing Stevo was on...
When Marie & Frederic were ready to leave, they asked what time I was coming over (they live Reisterstown), and I shrugged and said noon-ish.
They basically forced me into looking at this apartment... and when we were there the gal said there was a waiting list 6 people long for Jan-Feb move-ins. But one apt might be available for early Dec. So I knew my financial situation, so I applied for the apt.
By the next day (Monday) I got a phone call saying my application was approved, and the lady they were holding that apt for never answered her phone, so it was mine. I came in at lunch on Tues to sign the lease, then Friday I paid my deposit and first month's rent and got my keys.
Friday night after work Marie & I went to Target and a nearby dollar store (actually, almost every store ever is up & down the main road my apt is off of: Reisterstown Road), then met up with Frederic when he got home from work.
We got take-out Chinese food and took it to my [empty] apartment & ate on the floor. ^_^
Here are some of those pics from Friday night... [I swear no alcohol was involved!] The place is actually bigger than it looks in the pics (it's 850 sq feet), since the photographer [myself] takes up space even when backed up to the wall. You'll have to come over and see it for yourself when I get settled in! =)
I'm taking my time moving stuff in. I want to have a full Christmas at home...
Next weekend my Family & I are going up to Ikea and I'm buying a new bed (bigger!), dresser, night stand, and whatever fun [smaller] things abound.
I found a cheap-but-good futon I want for my couch (obviously doubling as a bed for someone to crash on) elsewhere.
12.02.2009
Rain, rain, go away...
I love the sound of rain on the roof as I lay in bed falling asleep.
But I'm so sick of driving in it!
When did monsoon season develop in freakin' Baltimore?!
But I'm so sick of driving in it!
When did monsoon season develop in freakin' Baltimore?!
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