Fall of Deathwing!

Finally saw it for myself!

I finally got Dreah up to the required iLevel of 272 (without PvP Gear!!!).

I gemmed and enchanted as best as I knew how. I was still sporting an iLevel 333-346 helm, if I remember correctly. But, everything else was where it needed to be.  So, off I went to LFR land.

To be honest, in the asshat area; it wasn’t that bad. We didn’t have anyone try to wipe the raid. We did that on our own without anyone trying to help us. I think we wiped 2-3 times before it was all over. Mostly, it was due to a lot of new people running the raid for the first time.

People often dropped group without offering a “why.”  But, we made it through with less pain than I expected!

There was one nice hunter who traded a Trinket drop for the Helm drop. The great thing was, a second trinket dropped, he won it, and gave it  to me!

I came out with TWO PURPLEZZZZZ!!!!

The negative part of the experience had to do with my computer. I lagged really bad. I’ve almost gotten Zwingli (of Sentinels) to the required iLevel of 272. Once he gets the achievement, I’ll probably not run it again.  I’ll go back to focusing on alts and pvp.

For some reason, I really wanted to see LFR at least once before MoP came out.

Now I can say that I’ve done it!

Here’s a link to Dreah’s armory/achievement page.

Z

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Army, Navy or Air Force Reserves?

A Navy and Air Force recruiter(s) has been talking to me about the Reserves.

I participate in a service industry (non-combat personnel), and there is a Reserve equivalent. I would probably go in as an Air Force “Captain,” and whatever the equivalent to the Navy is, due to education and experience.

Again, these two are the ones actively recruiting me at this time. I’ve not spoken with an Army (Officer’s) Recruiter.

This has been my thinking:

Pros about becoming a Reservist:

1. One Weekend a Month turns out to be a $500+ month pay raise for me.  That is significant, since my family is trying to get out of debt.
2. I could purchase the TriCare (military) insurance at less than $200 per month (for me and two kids. Wife is taken care of by her job).  Right now, my insurance runs over $1000 per month. That would be a HUGE SAVINGS! Honestly, this is the biggest selling point to me at the moment.
3. I always wanted to join the military; just never seemed to be the right time.

Cons about Reservist Service:

1. I would be gone one weekend a month, and we are raising two young children.
2. Could be deployed into a combat zone and possibly die (though not likely, I would be a non-combat personnel), leaving a widow and two fatherless kids.

Now, when I think about the Branches of Service; this is what I think of:

Army – Easiest Branch to get into (in my field). I’ve heard that my career path doesn’t tend to stay in for very long (high turnover rate). Worse food, worse accommodations. But, if you like to see action; boy will you get it!  High deployment possibility.

Personally, even though I don’t want to be away from my wife and children for long periods of time; I wouldn’t mind playing in the dirt. I had often dreamed of going on some assignment somewhere, and coming back 6-9 months later. My reason to avoid deployment (if an option and not required) is family based; not preference based. I’m the kind that would actually want to go.

Even though I have plenty of ex-Army buddies; it’s never been a Branch I wanted to check out.

Air Force – Great food, great accommodations. Great Pay. While deployment is possible, not necessarily probable. I would spend most of (if not all) my time stationed at a base. My ex-Air Force friends have told me, “This is the closest you’ll come to living a civilian life while being able to wear a military uniform.”

It also seems to be the hardest to get into for my line of work. Their turn over is minimal, and they’ve been cutting in this category. In the state of TX, there are two current openings.

My dad (who died right before I was born) was an ex-Air Force guy. Turns out that he had been military police, and I have a piece of his uniform (some silver wings). This is an emotional thing for me. A connection to a dad that I never got to know.

Along the lines of family, they would be the most family friendly (or so I’ve been told).  This may be the “smartest” choice.

I’ve never been good at making the smartest choice. I’m too much of an “feeler/intuitive.”  I’m an INFJ for those who speak Meyers Briggs.

     

Navy/Marines -  I added the Marines here for a reason.  You see, as a young child I always wanted to be a Marine. I blame it on my brother, and John Wayne. I actually checked out the Marine Reserves while in college…and you know what? They only take Marines coming from active duty!  Also, they don’t have COs of their own, they use the Navy’s Commissioned Officers.

Ok, I never dreamed about joining the Navy. I grew up around water, and I really have no need to live on it ever again. I don’t get excited about swimming; and who ever thought that a “white” uniform was a good idea?!  White!  Really?  I mean, the Marine’s uniform looks soooooo much better!

Along the lines of the Navy, they are known for having great food, and good base accommodations. They also have good pay. I would either have a base assignment, fleet assignment, or Marine assignment as a reservist (or so I understand). There would be a high possibility of deployment.  They are almost as hard to get into as the Air Force; but not quite as bad.

As I think about it; my mind says “Air Force. No brainer.” Also, there is a little bit of my heart that pushes that way as well. Something about having it in common with my deceased father.  But, a larger part of my heart says Navy (MARINES!).

Of course, the largest part of my heart, 99.9% of it belongs to my family. As an adult, a husband and a father; that weighs in most heavily.

I appreciate any wisdom you might be able to share as I make my decision.

Z

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RL Rambling

This began as a comment to Feliz from my previous post.

Forgive me as I ramble…  Yes, it picks up in mid-thought.

But, as I was writing, my mind was a whirling; and I think there is more going on than motivation to play a game. I’m feeling some dissatisfaction in my life; coming upon a possible transition this year, and not sure that I like where things are going.

edit: This is turning into a blog post…

Truth to be told, I’m not sure I want to stay in my current profession. I lead a small non-profit, making pretty good $$$ (stay away from school loans; they eat your paycheck!), have respect within my community. It sounds good, until you actually start doing it and go, “Meh.”  I never actually “wanted” to go into this particular profession, but instead kind of fell into it (as one way to put it). I can’t say I’m miserable, but I’m getting to the age where I think, “Ok, I’m going to spend my career doing this? I’m going to be known as Such and Such Zwingli…” And, I’m not sure that I’m all that sure about it.

Hey, I’m blessed. I know I’m blessed. I’ve a fairly stable position. Good paycheck. A place within my larger RL community. A wonderful family. Meaningful work to be about.  I know that I’m blessed beyond the average.

But, while I’m pleased with my family and community; the work has me down.

I have to also admit that not just work has me down. As people know, my mother is dealing with depression; and I’m sure it is affecting me as well. She’s about 5 hours away from me, and I wish I could be there. I hope to be able to see her in a week or two.

In between work and extended family, there’s been quite a bit of worry and stress. I can only assume that has some affect upon my play time.

I mean… I have enough expendable income to pay a monthly fee to play a game. That puts me within the .0005% of the world’s economy; right?

Life ain’t all bad.

And, I get to go to Subway and order extra Bacon!  Yes, things are looking up.

Z

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Just Floating

You ever feel like you are just floating?

I’m feeling this way right now.

Yes, Reusing Pic!

Yep, exactly like that.

Or well, not exactly like that. She’s quite happy with the experience.

But me…not so much.

I find myself floating from alt to alt, from server to server. Never on long enough to really get anything done. I float between logging onto my PvP Alt – Khesed; if nothing else to see who else from <Phoenix Rising> is on. I find myself logging onto Caligan to see if there is an Effer (Grats Grimm!) on.

But it seems that my time to play has become so screwed up that I hardly run into anyone!  /sadpanda

I’ve not played at night much, mostly in the morning on my day off.  To be honest though, the last few weeks have hardly seen me on for substantial periods of time. RL stuff has been pretty intense around the Zwingli household and job site.

But, I can’t pretend that I’m lacking a key component: motivation.

I can’t seem to get excited about anything: not PvE, PvP, or RP.

Which is weird, since there are options a plenty to go around. PvE hasn’t been better for as long as I can remember (I go back as far as 2006). That anyone can see the endgame through LFR is beyond awesome. Yet, I just can’t seem to get the motivation to gear up and go for it. I’ve one character able to enter into the new heroics, but that is about it.

PvP sounds neat, and I enjoy reading some blogs about it. But, at the moment it is very repetitious. I can only log into a couple of BGs, and that is getting old. Combine that with the utter stupidity of people (not unlike LFG), and I can only go through it in small spurts.

I only know of two serious RP servers, neither of which contains a high level character of mine. Even though I have alts on these servers, I’ve not been able to find my place.

Yes, I’ve even got some alts in some RP gulids!

I’M IN YUR GUILD, EATIN’ YUR PUDDIN’ POPS!!!!

But, there doesn’t seem to be the motivation that I had back in Wrath, BC, or even Vanilla.

I’m not feeling burned out…just sort of listless.

Should I go Hunter, Paladin, or Druid? (Those happen to be the types of characters I play.)

Should I go Horde today?

I’m not asking any questions expecting answers. I’m not asking for advice. I just need to put this down, in digital ink. Perhaps it will help me sort through a little bit.

Or maybe, this is art reflecting reality?  Maybe, just maybe I’m feeling this way in my Real Life…and it is pouring over into my game play.

I guess that is a post for another day, on a different blog…no?

Z

P.s. Mom Update: She’s doing better, but still hospitalized. Hopefully she will be well enough to check out in a week or so.

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Bad Idea, Maybe?

Have you ever done something for someone…

Only to come back and think, “You know, maybe that wasn’t such a great idea.”

Maybe?

Yeah, I’m there.

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b/c Depression Sucks

I found out today that my mom has been admitted to a hospital/phsyc unit.

I don’t doubt that this is needed. I don’t doubt that it is in my mother’s best interest.

It just sucks.

And you can quote me on that…this day of 4.3.12

I can’t begin to give words to the depths of this suckiness.

It just shouldn’t be happening. There is something that screams within me of the utter injustice of it all.

My mother is a strong woman, and I know this will take all of her strength.

She raised her children, practically alone (she was separated from my “dad” for about 14 years…don’t ask). She was the primary caregiver and bread winner for 3 kids.  She endured more hardship than I ever care of thinking about:

• loosing my biological father about 2 months before I was born.
• Raising 3 young biological kids, and one teenage step-child filled with piss and vinegar raging at the death of her dad.
• Teaching in a school where racism was so entrenched that kids feared for their lives.
• Her own children being bullied in the school district due to her status as a teacher, and other reasons.
• Putting up with a 2nd husband that barely lived up to the term(s): Husband, Father, Partner…

He’s dead. She is at a point in her life where she can literally do whatever she wants (kids all raised, living successfully, etc).

What. The. Hell. Is. Fair. About. This?!

Yes, I know the answer.

I’m just pissed.

Depression sucks.

Z

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