Ok, it's been a while since I've posted :( Sorry!
Not too much has been happening in the life of the Shanda...a whole lot of sitting at home, writing some of my book, and wondering when work is going to pick up!!!
All of us at work have been so bored that we are now replying on Buffy The Vampire Slayer to get us through parts of our day...thank god we have a TV in the lunch room! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE BUFFY! Just not in a gay way...because that's wrong and I love my boyfriend very much...sickos!!!
I got my new cell phone today, not that I needed a new one, but my old one was a bit dated (like my mom should own in instead of me) and the buttons were way to small to push while driving...and I really don't recommend squinting at your phone while driving down a highway...it can be dangerous...some people can't drive!!!
I'm sitting at my computer today, petting my siamese cat, Yoda, and trying to think of a good way to kill off a few bad guys in my novel, and nothing is coming to me...my imagination chooses today to take an extended lunch break...gee...thanks imagination!!!
So far, I'd have to say my story is doing pretty well. I've introduced the main character, and her future love interest. It's going to take some time, and only one of my friends is allowed to read it at all while I work on it, so I'm working only on mine and his feedback...and I'm a bit biased.
But, if I only ever publish one thing, this will be it. So keep an eye out in the next few years for a new vampire novel where the main character is a vampire elf. :)

I am a catastrophe on legs.

I can't seem to go more than a week without damaging my extremities lately!! My friends all think it's hilarious that I'm such a massive clutz!

A couple of weeks ago, you'll recall, I hurt myself playing baseball with my co-workers. Then on Saturday, while at a Staggette for my girlfriend, I twisted my ankle while dancing, but I was too drunk to notice, and I danced on it all night. Then, yesterday, I slammed my poor baby toe into my bed frame and actually caused it to bleed.

So, needless to say, I'm a hobbling freak!!

My boyfriend, Geoff, thinks it's funny that he's dating a walking time bomb. I told him that it's contagious and he's going to hurt himself next (now watch karma at work...) Mwahaha!! That'll teach him to mock!!

Anyways, I guess I'm going to take a few weeks off of activities that could result in further damage to my body!

I fear That not all is tRue

a secret lies behind the doorway

Can yoU Speak the truTh

or allow honestY?

I trust you

I love you

I hear deviOus whispers

they keep me awake at night

can yoU speak to me

or am i too far away?

The darkness sometimes comes

The darkness is shades of green

I wear my heart on my sLeave

you can see me in yOur grey eyes

can you see me at all

or am i inVisible?

I'll not betray your trust

i want to believe in you

my mind achEs with your treacherY

can i fOrgive you

or are yoU dead to my heart?

If you'll not betray mine

I have created yet another character on WoW...I now have a Dwarf Priest.

I started off thinking that the horde side of this game is so much more fun. And my mind hasn't changed. I have been told by people that play that I have the oddest collection of characters on this game. Most people choose one side of the battle, I find that in order to see everything that the game holds, you really have to try both sides. I have tried every type of character (save trying each type with a different race) and so far, shaman is my favorite class.

Here is a list of my characters (so far...)

Alliance:
Lilita (17) Human Rogue (Kael'Thas)
Shimera (23) Human Mage (Kael'Thas)
Seriya (10) Dwarf Priest (Cenarion Circle)
Arlinaea (10) Night Elf Hunter (Gorgonash)
In the future: a Gnome named MissCarnage

Horde:
Shavida (55) Troll Shaman (Kael'Thas)
Xantippe (36) Undead Warlock (Kael'Thas)
Bigbuns (33) Tauren Druid (Kael'Thas)
Babybel (17) Troll Rogue (Kael'Thas)
Fightincow (8) Tauren Warrior (Kael'Thas)
In the future: an Orc named Killforfood

With all of the characters that I have, it's a wonder that I have time to concentrate on any one. Shavida is obviously my main character. I have spent more time and effort with her than all of the others combined. I really don't intend on creating any more characters at this point.

I think one of the things about on-line gaming that I have started to understand, is that, while it is fun and time consuming, that it all it should consume. I have had people tell me that they get out of bed, play, go to work, play, shower, play...where is the friends and family in there?

I realize that even as I say this, I'm thinking of which character I intend on playing tonight. Although, I can say that I am going to be stopping in at my mom's house to do some visiting before I head on to my boyfriend's house. Then, if all goes according to plan, my boyfriend and I will be logged on and playing WoW before 7pm.

As a hobby, it's pretty fun, but I can't see this lasting too long...I'm already drawing bored of living in the matrix.

Why do human beings kill for religious reasons??

Gods are defined as an omnipitent and powerful beings that watch over us and judge our rights and wrongs, and allows us the decisions and abilities to live our lives. Each version of a god has had this power. From the Greek and Roman gods that were responsible for the rising of the sun, the rain, the snowfall, death, birth, war, love...each God, from Buddha to Allah to the Christian God has the same attributes. From creation to destruction, and from forgiveness to Hell worthy trespasses.

What I fail to understand is the inability for human beings to understand that not everyone will believe what you believe. Belief is not a bad thing, zealotry is. When people believe something different than me, does that make them wrong? Not to me. Should people die for believing differently? Absolutely not. So why is it happening? Are we still living in a world where we cannot have free thinkers or individuals?

For example, I am an athiest, I don't beleive in an all knowing, all powerful God, but instead, I believe in evolution. I believe that Darwin was a smart guy, but not everyone believes that. Some want to attribute our existence to a God that made us out of nothing. Let there be light. And although I can't see this being a logical answer, I don't fault others for wanting to believe it. And I certainly don't want people to die to make them see my side of it. In fact, some of my best friends are religious, and I love them for having the strength to have that belief.

I can't say that I know why those people flew a plane into the towers on 9-11, but I know it was religiously motivated, and what true god out there would allow their followers to die? I know that the terrorists that took over those planes were proud that they could die for their beliefs, but they were most definately wrong to kill others. Especially those that may share the same beliefs??

Who was to know who would die when the planes crashed? Or who was in the building when it collapsed? How many people died terrified in those buildings, and had no idea what was happening to them? How many people shared the same religion as the killers?

If there is a Heaven, in any religion, then murder, for any reason, would prevent you from entrance, so you would either be dropped into the hotbox below, or left on Earth to wander forever. So what is the purpose of religious sacrifice if you are permanently banned from the afterlife that you are aiming for? There are those that thinks that their God speaks to them...I doubt that it's God, it's probably a short circuit in the cerebelum that makes them hear illogical voices.

Of course, depending on your religion...if you are Catholic, then all non catholics are going to Hell, if you are Baptist, then all non baptists are going to Hell, if you are Muslim...etc. etc. So, does that mean we are all headed to the hotbox? I am starting to truly believe that religion was a bad idea to start with. Since humans were introduced to the idea of higher beings, we have waged wars and mass genocide. If there is a God, he/she cries every day at our ignorance.

That's my serious rant for the month, I was totally saddened today to see that more soldiers were killed while overseas and away from their families. :(

PART THREE:
Most of the week in New Orleans was a bit of a blur. There was mass drinking, some body shots, lots of beads, and a little bit of annoyance with Chris (never travel with one person, you get tired and irritated with each other really fast)

We met an awesome couple that were from New Zealand, they were on this huge travel kick, so they were leaving New O to head to London or something like that. Another couple we met was gay men, flamboyant even...danced through the streets and took me and Chris to our first Drag Show. Another couple we didn't even learn their names, they were Chicago to us, and we were Vancouver to them.

We spent a lot of time in Margaritaville, they have great Mojitos. Listened to some music and chilled. We went to the market a few times, bought some gifts for people. We got caught in a monsoon type rain that was gone moments after it started falling. We went to the zoo and the aquarium. Wandered some cemetaries and took some pictures. Took a tram for the first time, and got tired of them really quickly. Went back to the pubs for more drinking. Ate at a fast food place called "Fat Burger" and ordered a beer with my massive burger. Fed some pidgeons. Went on one of those boats with the big red paddle wheel. Spent $15 US on a bottle of shampoo, because there was nothing else available.

Wow, I think that's about it. I'm sure there was more, but it all blended together to make one fast and happy holiday. All in all, we both had a great time, and although Chris was still drunk when we got on the plane, we made it home without too many incidents. :P

PART TWO:
Sunday morning, Chris and I woke up in our hotel room and groaned audibly at the screaming bells in our heads. They refused to quiet, so we went for breakfast to placate them.

We had coupons (I know, how lame) for a restaurant down the road from us that served grits, and Chris desperatley wanted to try grits, so we went there. They were air conditioned, and yet looked out onto the Quarter, so we could watch the people walking by. While Chris pondered the menu, I noticed a pretty blond girl a few tables over, sitting by herself, shaking like a leaf as she tried to eat her eggs and toast. So, being the proud polite Canadian that I am, I invited her to our table for the company.

Turns out, our new friend, Jamie, is a 20 year old from California, and she's bisexual. Now, I won't lie, I found this fascinating. How could a person want to have relationships with both genders? I have a hard enough time with the one! So we had ourselves some breakfast, ordered up a couple of beers to go and were on our way. Jamie stuck with us the entire day, which was cool, we went to Ripley's museum, bought some wacky clothes, and posed for a picture with an drug dealer. (He kind of walked into the picture and posed with us actually, but whatever)

Near the end of the night, we all went back to a pub that was closest to our hotel and got smashed. Chris and I had found out the night before that this particular pub was in fact a gay bar. I had no problems with that, don't have to fight off the gay men. So we drank and firted, and at one point (there are pictures, that's why I know) I was kissing Jamie...she was a good kisser, and she was promising to do all of these freaky things to me. But, I was tired, and not so interested in trying new things, so I went back to my hotel and fell asleep. When I woke up, Jamie was on her plane home, and Chris was raring to go on our first walking tour of the Garden District.

It was hot, there was houses and buildings, some lady broke a shoe, we took a lot of pictures, and then we were back in the pubs.

I've made it a mission that I'm going to take one trip per year so that I don't feel that I'm being weighed down by work and life in BC.

Last year, I went to New Orleans and had the time of my life. My friend Chris came with me, mostly because he is a bit of a ghoul, just like me. And it's a party town, and we both wanted to do ghost tours, drink a Hurricane, earn some beads, and walk with a cup of beer from pub to pub.

PART ONE:
We got to New Orleans at about 3pm, and before we had even left the airport, we were sweating like nobody's business. The temperature was sitting at about 42 degrees. I'm used to highs of about 30. I immediatly regretted packing jeans.

Our room was a dissapointment. The ad had claimed that it was "Air Conditioned". It had a ceiling fan. The beds were huge, but lumpy, and the shower had no pressure at all. But who cares, we weren't planning on spending a lot of time in there anyways! We were on the streets in the time it took us to shower, change, and unpack some essentials.

The French Quarter was totally packed. I had a few strings of beads around my neck before we got to the first pub! To be fair though, I didn't flash anyone the first night, they were just throwing them down from the balconys. So we got to the first place and immediatly ordered a Hurricane each. That's a drink that they only make in New Orleans, and they won't tell anyone whats in it. Then, while we did the random party wander, we were ticketed with "Party Pooper" tickets by some lady looking for a hand out. I pleeded not guilty and showed her my nearly empty big ass beer and walked away. I think Chris gave her some money though. :P

World of Warcraft? Way of Life??

So last night, being the huge geek that I am, I went home from a slow day at work, sat down at my computer, and promptly logged into WoW. I then played for an astonishing 6 hours straight, heading to bed when my eyes could no longer stay open without the use of toothpicks.

Six hours...you would think that I would at least be able to level my main character Shavida in that time, but no. I spent all my time farming (that means killing things to get a specific item) for a couple of those hours. Shavida (level 55 Troll Shaman) was killed spectacularily by a giant dinosaur in Un'Goro crater as I was killing oozes to try to get this pattern that I need for tribal Leatherworking, and then, once I ressurected her, she was promptly killed again by another dinosaur becuase she wasn't at full health. What a load of crap.

Then, on an impulse at about 10pm, I created a new character on a PVP server (player versus player) and deleted my other one. I was only at level nine, so it was easy enough to get my new character back up to par. But, I like this character better already, I deleted a rogue, and created a hunter. I already have two other rogues, so it was getting redundant :( I decided on a hunter because it's one of the only classes that I don't already have. I have a shaman, a paladin, 2 rogues, a warlock, a druid, a mage, and now a hunter. That leaves just the warrior and the priest, and I don't like those classes, so I'll probably never create one.

I think tonight, if I play at all (which I probably will, because Geoff is busy planning a bachelor party for his best friend) I am going to make it my mission to get Shavida at least to level 56, she's about half way there.

I hated WoW at first, mostly because my boyfriend played it without me, and I was getting bored of watching him play. But when I started my own character on his account, I was so thrilled by the hugeness of the game that I think I lost myself a bit in it. I am a huge fan of RPG games like the Final Fantasy's, so this was almost like the next step for me. Logical, and obsessive.

Man, I need to get out...I hear there is sunshine...seeing is believing...

OK, so here is Blog #1. I have never made one of these before, so until I get used to it, you'll probably be reading all about my escapades on my days off, but I think that's the point, isn't it?

To start off, let me tell you a bit about me. I was born in Naniamo, BC in 1980, on a rainy night in April. I am both a Taurus and an Aries sign (figure that one out!). I have a cat named Yoda who has been with me since he was a week old and he's now 12! I have an awesome boyfriend named Geoff that I have been with for about five years (some off and on in there in the first couple years). I have an awesome mom, wicked sister, cool dad, diva niece, and an angelic step mom. I currently work at a financial institustion in Cloverdale BC and I am working my way to my own corner office with a window of my very own! :P

Saturday - My co-workers and I entered a softball tournament at Softball City to help raise money for cancer research (the tournament raised about $5000). We all left straight from work and showed up on the ball field with about an hour of rest before we started out triple header!!

The first game was more of a warm up (that's my excuse for losing) Geoff (that's my boyfriend) and I missed the first few minutes becuase we were trying in vain to get the attention of the waiter or waitress in the grill upstairs so that we could eat! But we got there, and everyone was doing what they were supposed to. Well, kind of. There were people batting, pitching, throwing and catching. I wasn't really paying attention since I had already downed a few "adult only" beverages. We ended up losing the first game by a few runs.

The second game started pretty much right away, we had about 5 minutes of breathing time. they put me and Geoff's friend Dave in the line up and we were off. My first hit went straight to the short stop, but thankfully, he dropped it, so I was able to take first base. Then, after a few errors on the other teams side, I made it to third base where my manager offered me a concoction that burnt my throat. Then, a power hitter came up and I ran to home base, somehow tripping over my own feet and doing a very good impression of Superman as I flew through the air. I landed hard on my right knee and rolled onto my back to protect my face (apparently it's against the rules there to slide into base, but they don't require helmets??) so I lost some skin on my knees, and I have some road rash on my back. But, I was safe, and that's all that mattered. (Right?) I ended up playing the rest of game two with a sore knee, but my last at bat was awesome, I smoked that thing all the way out to the left fielder, and luck was with me, he couldn't hold on to it! So I took second base too. :P We ended up winning this game by a few runs.

Game Three I mostly sat out of, my knee was throbbing by this point, and I was trying to drown the pain in some Pina Colada Breezers, and it was working quite successfully right up until they asked me to come in and play first baseman again. Then, I had a full inning to semi-sober! We won game three by a landslide (22-8) so we go on to the next day. We drove Dave home and went back to my place to sleep. Although I didn't sleep much because I am a big wimp and everytime I moved, my knee rubbed on the sheets.

Sunday - Big day of NOTHING! Geoff and I went back to his place, did some of his laundry (he did, not me, I played on his laptop) then, we packed up his computer and headed to my place for some drastic Game dorking. Geoff and I both play World of Warcraft, an online RPG style game that has over 6 million players as of the beginning of this year, so I am a Sheep. Baaaa. I did some of my laundry (only one load, then I ran out of quarters!) I got my main character to level 55 (the highest level is 60) and got some new equipment for her (yes, I am a total geek, aware and accepting). I currently have seven active characters that I play on this game. I'm going to assume that you know all about this game and just tell you that my main character Shavida, is a Troll Shaman, and she kicks serious NPC butt! So that was pretty much Sunday in a nutshell...didn't do much else.