Internet Down! How to tether for internet

Sigh. Internet down. Now I can't log on to World of Warcraft and I certainly can't look up recipes for organic garlic aioli. No sweat, I can bring it back up... I think?

Restart modem and router. Fail.

Restarting computer. Fail.

Working around in command prompt. More fail.

One agonizingly long phone call later (which, by the way is a longer queue than LFR tyvm), and the result is about as rewarding as one of those sacks of riches that passes as "loot" from bosses now: An automated message from my internet provider stating that they are having difficulties with internet service. No kidding?!?!

"Fix it now damn you I have stuff to do!"

Of course screaming at auto voice only results in bringing me back to the start of the automated menu. I may as well ask for the Ashes of A'lar mount to magically appear in my loot one day.

So what's a girl to do? Tether internet through my phone!

I plug in my USB from my phone to my computer.

Go to Settings, then Wireless and Networking.

From there I select Tethering and make sure my connect through USB is selected.

Now I am finally online, but it is slow. This will work in a pinch, and it will cost you your data. However this is a simple solution to an otherwise frustrating night. Just don't expect to top dps charts this way!

Well I guess that means I'm off to look up that recipe instead!

Cheers!

Sitting Myself

Talk about off days. You know when you just don't have your head in the game and just plain suck? Well that was me the other night: sucking.

Sure, I could justify it by citing at least a dozen excuses or blame some other clueless raider. Maybe that's the smart thing to do, the easy way out. But since I'm being honest, my game was so off, it was newb worthy. Standing in the circle? Running into the wall? Yeah that was all me. So why waste everyone's time and nurse hurt feelings when deep down I knew I should not be raiding?

Earlier in the night I whispered the GM and the raid leader to sit when I saw my game start to slip. It was one of those days where I was preoccupied and upset over some personal drama. Worse yet, I caused majority of the Elegon wipes by either not paying attention or trying to get off one more cast. I have seen scenarios like this with other people;  but rather than whine, complain or blame everyone else, I took responsibility. I apologized to the raid and left group.

Of course, I do realize this could also mean the loss of my raid spot. This is ultimately the reason people don't fess up to their mistakes. Am I worried or freaked out about it? Who wouldn't be?

The raid leader felt awful afterwards, but I told him that is what leading is about: making the tough calls. This is what we have to do to move forward. In my case, my constant mistakes and general messups meant my gaming sucked, and I knew it.

I was more upset with myself than with anyone or anything else and I left vent right after so I could lick my wounds in solitary dish washing. Yes, doing something mindless like dishes can be thetapeutic, especially when one flays the skin off of one's proverbial back. Yes, I'm very hard on myself. I think my insides are bruised from all my mental beatings.

Really though, the way I see it, there is no shame in sitting out. Well as long as you don't throw a tantrum over it or cause unnecessary drama... Because then it's just sad, pathetic, and embarrassing. Just bow out with your head held high and your pride in tact. Fix whatever is messed up in your head or life first then get back in the game once you are ready to raid again.

Now will I jump back on the proverbial raiding horse? That's a question I will answer at a later time.

Elegon Mount: Astral Cloud Serpent

Surprise Surprise.. Elegon drops a mount.

It wasn't in any of the loot tables, but it dropped off of Elegon today in Mal'ganis. The Astral Cloud Serpent can drop from either normal or heroic mode, and it is assumed the chance is greater in heroic. Why it is not in any of the loot tables (including dungeon journal) is beyond me, but I think it would make a perfect match for my Celestial Dragon pet.

World of Warcraft Server Transfer - Video about going from Low Pop to Full Pop

My personal video blog about my experience transferring servers from Anetheron to Mal'ganis.
Dedicated to Trudyn (an old friend who is the GM of my new guild Duality) of Mal'ganis realm.
This video is also dedicated to the wonderful players of Anetheron, wherever you may be.

Goodbye Anetheron

So, I finally did it. I left Anetheron.

The decision was not easy, but it was inevitable.

For those of you who calls that realm home, it is a low population server where everyone pretty much everyone knows everyone. I had some good times questing with friends and we'd do crazy things like run naked through lava or have hilarious trade chat banter.

But even the friendship and the good times cannot prevent the slow decline in population. The raiding is difficult, and filling up empty spots in raids is often met without success. Usually server reset is a great opportunity to raid. Well imagine this: Tuesday night at 8pm on trade chat asking for a single dps and getting no one.

That was my raid night.

I have seen friends transfer servers one by one. Each time I said goodbye to them as they left, it was always bittersweet and tinged with regret.  I have also seen friends just silently leave or no longer log on, and there was always the question of "will I ever see them again?".

And now I'm one of them.

I still have my alts on Anetheron; and thanks to cross realm, I can still hang out with my friends. But cross realm can also be blamed for this steady decline. Why transfer or join this server when you can cross realm to do something with a friend? 

But most painful of all is the death of guilds. As people leave, it is hard to fill those empty spots. This is what happened to us. If one or two people don't show up for raid, we don't raid. We can't find someone to take their space, and soon the players we do have get absorbed into other groups until we are left wondering what will happen or what to do next.

The uncertainty and the frustration all resulted in this difficult and final decision. And so it is with a heavy heart that Lkpriest says farewell to Anetheron. Thank you for the good times.

Stand Against Bullying

Who likes getting picked on? No one. And yet it happens in some form or other. The repercussions are serious and sometimes lasting.
I recall watching three guys bullying a disabled girl in school once. It was so upsetting that I walked up to them and told them off. The thought later crossed my mind that they could have turned on me. Hurt me. But I didn't care at the time. I was livid.
But isn't that the essence of bullying? Insecure people picking on those they perceive as weak? And by not taking a stand and letting these bullies know it is not acceptable in any situation, we can stop the madness.
I also have a confession. I used to get bullied. Maybe because I appear to be an easy target? I do not know. Whatever the reason, those times were never easy and always painful to recall. This is one of those times.
I was outside with some of my friends during recess and this girl was going around saying hateful things about me. When I asked her about it, she started pushing me around. We ended up fighting and, thanks to self defense lessons, I was able to successfully defend myself. Mind you, this girl was twice my size and when I asked her later why she did it, she said didn't know why.. Just that she thought she could kick my ass and get away with it.
I do not advocate fighting or violence. In fact, I never pick fights or pick on people (having been both a witness and a victim to bullying). However knowing how to protect yourself in any situation is crucial.
Not only for your safety, but for security and self confidence.
Cyberbullying also runs rampant. Mostly due to the anonymity of being online. Even something like a game that's supposed to be fun, bullying exists in some form.
So if you are in-game and someone is picking on you, ignore and report them... Especially if things cross a line.