Blood Sports

As you may recall, about two weeks ago, I went to Codman Square Health Clinic to get my blood tested for a possible organ donation for my dad. They took two tubes of blood, quickly and efficiently. Last week, I got a call saying that they hadn't actually done the right test. Le sigh.

So this morning, I go back down, and fight my way through several confused staffers until they figure out what to do with me. Which takes an hour and a half. I read the new issue PC Gamer from cover to cover while waiting. They draw *five* tubes of blood this time. Again, I have to say that the actual taking of the blood was quick and efficient -- they have *that* half of the equation down pat at least. I leave for work.

While I'm on the T platform, I get a call on my cell phone. As it turns out, Codman Square *can't* do the right test after all! I just wasted two hours and a pint of my blood.

Will try to make it out to UMass Memorial in Worcester sometime this weekend, for try number three...

Blood Sports

As you may recall, about two weeks ago, I went to Codman Square Health Clinic to get my blood tested for a possible organ donation for my dad. They took two tubes of blood, quickly and efficiently. Last week, I got a call saying that they hadn't actually done the right test. Le sigh.

So this morning, I go back down, and fight my way through several confused staffers until they figure out what to do with me. Which takes an hour and a half. I read the new issue PC Gamer from cover to cover while waiting. They draw *five* tubes of blood this time. Again, I have to say that the actual taking of the blood was quick and efficient -- they have *that* half of the equation down pat at least. I leave for work.

While I'm on the T platform, I get a call on my cell phone. As it turns out, Codman Square *can't* do the right test after all! I just wasted two hours and a pint of my blood.

Will try to make it out to UMass Memorial in Worcester sometime this weekend, for try number three...

Weekly Warcraft update

Bing and Bob only got out for a little bit this weekend, mostly in Redridge Mountains. This is the first time we've been in a contested zone on a PvP server, and it sure is a different experience. There were a couple high-level Horde charaters hiding just outside of Lakeshire, griefing by killing any low-level Alliance people who came by. They got us twice in a row, before we figured a way out of town that didn't go past them.

Shortly thereafter, we saw a pair of low-level Horde characters, and decided to attack them. They ran, which seemed initially like a good sign. We pursued, but it turned out that they were just picking an advantageous ground for the fight. Though we were of comparable levels, they killed us fairly handily. We came back, only to be killed again. The third time, we advanced more cautiously.

"I think they're gone," said Bob. Right on cue, a bright red arrow appeared over his head (indicating that the enemy Hunter had tagged him with the Hunter's Mark skill). We ran, and managed to get away. Well, at least Bob is holding up his job as the Comedy end of this duo :-) Maybe we should spend a bit of time in the Battlegrounds, and practice up on our PvP skills...

In this month's issue of PC Gamer, Gary Whitta had a column about My Little Pwnies, the guild of all-female Gnome Rogues. Sadly, for most of the guild members, their guild is a secondary character at best, so there are rarely more than one or two of us on-line at any given time. Heck, for me, MLP is now *tertiary*, since I've started adventuring wih herooftheage regularly.

My primary character remains Rumpelstilt, so named because one of his primary goals was to "spin dross into gold"; i.e. play the Auction House. This weekened, he had a personal best in the single-sale category. He sold a Tempestria's Necklace of Frozen Wrath for about 114 gold pieces. I don't keep records of his expenses, so I'm not sure what the exact profit margin on that was, but it was in the ballpark of 50-60%.

Much of that money was immediately re-invested in Enchantment fodder. He did some adventuring with the guys from work this weekend, and did a bunch of enchanting for them, which used up lots of components. Hmmm... He's now in a level range where he could possibly go find the highest-level Enchantment trainer and survive. Been stuck at 225 for a long time, since the person who can train higher than that lives inside a pretty tough dungeon.

Rumpel also did a little shopping for personal items, though he didn't buy a huge amount. His gear is generally "good enough" to adventure with, so he's no longer willing to buy clothes that have the absolute best stats, but look dorkier than the ones he has now. He's already a Gnome, so looks plenty dorky to start with :) Pointy wizard hats are Right Out.

Weekly Warcraft update

Bing and Bob only got out for a little bit this weekend, mostly in Redridge Mountains. This is the first time we've been in a contested zone on a PvP server, and it sure is a different experience. There were a couple high-level Horde charaters hiding just outside of Lakeshire, griefing by killing any low-level Alliance people who came by. They got us twice in a row, before we figured a way out of town that didn't go past them.

Shortly thereafter, we saw a pair of low-level Horde characters, and decided to attack them. They ran, which seemed initially like a good sign. We pursued, but it turned out that they were just picking an advantageous ground for the fight. Though we were of comparable levels, they killed us fairly handily. We came back, only to be killed again. The third time, we advanced more cautiously.

"I think they're gone," said Bob. Right on cue, a bright red arrow appeared over his head (indicating that the enemy Hunter had tagged him with the Hunter's Mark skill). We ran, and managed to get away. Well, at least Bob is holding up his job as the Comedy end of this duo :-) Maybe we should spend a bit of time in the Battlegrounds, and practice up on our PvP skills...

In this month's issue of PC Gamer, Gary Whitta had a column about My Little Pwnies, the guild of all-female Gnome Rogues. Sadly, for most of the guild members, their guild is a secondary character at best, so there are rarely more than one or two of us on-line at any given time. Heck, for me, MLP is now *tertiary*, since I've started adventuring wih herooftheage regularly.

My primary character remains Rumpelstilt, so named because one of his primary goals was to "spin dross into gold"; i.e. play the Auction House. This weekened, he had a personal best in the single-sale category. He sold a Tempestria's Necklace of Frozen Wrath for about 114 gold pieces. I don't keep records of his expenses, so I'm not sure what the exact profit margin on that was, but it was in the ballpark of 50-60%.

Much of that money was immediately re-invested in Enchantment fodder. He did some adventuring with the guys from work this weekend, and did a bunch of enchanting for them, which used up lots of components. Hmmm... He's now in a level range where he could possibly go find the highest-level Enchantment trainer and survive. Been stuck at 225 for a long time, since the person who can train higher than that lives inside a pretty tough dungeon.

Rumpel also did a little shopping for personal items, though he didn't buy a huge amount. His gear is generally "good enough" to adventure with, so he's no longer willing to buy clothes that have the absolute best stats, but look dorkier than the ones he has now. He's already a Gnome, so looks plenty dorky to start with :) Pointy wizard hats are Right Out.

Katamari fans are cool

Crocheted Katamari are kinda cool.

Crocheted functional Katamari... now that's awesome!

Katamari fans are cool

Crocheted Katamari are kinda cool.

Crocheted functional Katamari... now that's awesome!