ath3na's talking points

So it's been a while since my last post. And by while, I mean.... like 6 months (give or take a week or two). I could name many reasons for my delay in posting... and I think I shall name a few:

1. It gets a little discouraging when you feel like no one reads your blog, or is interested in anything you have to say. I suppose this isn't the best reason in the world, because by stopping posting, I've inevitably caused those people that did read to now stop reading...
2. I was particularly busy in the spring months, what with Michele graduating and my best friend and another good friend moving to town and my service calls on the side, in addition to my nearly 35 hour (yes, I'm still part-time though) work week. Sure, I guess you could say this isn't the greatest reason either, but it's a reason nevertheless. I was busy, no joke.
3. There's really not a 3, because the first two really covered many different reasons, so I'm just gonna leave it at that. Besides, you can't really have a list without having at least 3, imho. Been busy, been technically/bloggingly (yes, I'm perfectly aware this isn't a word... but you understood it didn't you?) discouraged. End of story.

So there's your reasons for my not posting until now, and I will understand if you don't read this until a month for now, or even a few months from now, since I essentially did that to you, if you were in fact a reader before. Hopefully in the future though I will have plenty for you to enjoy. Hit me up in the comments should you want some words of wisdom on a particular subject, after-all the comments are what keeps me going. ;)

So, I know I've been incredibly slack about posting... in fact, I considered canning the blog altogether, but then decided that I actually enjoy posting on here, regardless of readership.

According to Blogger, and far be it for me to say its wrong, I haven't posted since Aug. 29. I know, AUGUST 29!!! Well, in those couple of months.... life's happened. I know, you're surprised, but really... it has. I thought this first post back to blogging that I would mention a few things about what's been going on in life... and update if you will.

Hmmm.... since August 29 I have continued my adventures in Azeroth and abroad in the multiplayer online phenomenon World of Warcraft, though recently I haven't played nearly as much as in the past. I have been teaching 2 classes here at the institution in which I am employed, which has been incredibly exciting and stressful, generally speaking. My TV programs have begun to air again, and I've picked up a few new shows to watch. Currently I watch: Desperate Housewives, Brothers and Sisters, How I Met Your Mother, The Big Bang Theory, Heroes, Private Practice, and Grey's Anatomy (and on occasion Big Shots). I never really though I watched that much TV, and I suppose in the grand scheme of things I don't but...

I have found a tool that is quite wonderful for helping in my intense aversion for commercials and attempts to avoid them at all costs. This is actually why I don't just sit around watching television... I can't stand commercials, I feel it is a waste of my time and that the television companies (while I understand that commercials pay their bills) take advantage of me by requiring me to sit by the television waiting intently on the next few minutes of Heroes and having to suffer meantime by watching more and more commercials per volume than I had to watch last year. [My English isn't perfect and that was one hell of a run on sentence but plz don't correct me]

So back to the tool that helps me avoid the commercials...
If you know anything about downloading with Torrents then you'll love this application. If you don't know about torrents, let me know and I'll be glad to write something that will undoubtedly make you love them. Anyway, this application is called the Torrent Episode Downloader (TED for short). You enter the shows that you watch and it will automatically search Torrent databases for the requested show (every so often, and will even stop looking after it has downloaded that episode for the week if you set it up properly) and download it for you using your default Torrent application (I recommend µtorrent). You can read about and download TED by going here.

More of the update...I've started playing a new game, recommended by Syrion, or rather a compilation of games. I bought the Orange Box, which includes Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episode One, Half-Life 2: Episode 2, Portal, and Team Fortress 2. Portal was fun, I enjoyed playing it and will likely go back and play it again pretty soon. Half-Life 2 is so far so good. I've almost finished it (but haven't started on either episode yet). I'd play Half-Life 2 more but... I'm addicted to Team Fortress 2. It's actually rather interesting that I find TF2 to be so dang awesome. I say this because ever since the days of Quake and Doom, I haven't really been into first person shooters (fps) very much. This game though, it's really the awesomest of awesomeness that could ever be awesome. Now that's a lot of awesome! I enjoy it so much, and it has very quickly become the easiest way for me to let off Steam (no pun intended) ever since I bought it. Thanks Syrion (or Yam, whatever you prefer to be called)! If you have steam and are also a lover of teh awesome of awesomeness, add me. My username is rainbowCipher.

As for Azeroth, it'll just have to wait until I quit pwning n00bs in TF2. Besides, I'm waiting on the next patch where lvling 10-60 will be WAY faster and therefore I can level some new characters and possibly get a new perspective on the game. I'm tired of being stressed out about a video game, for once... can't we all just pwn?

Not that I have any loyal fans or devoted readers but... if anyone is reading this you'll be happy to find that, as my friend Blake says, I made "poast"! I haven't for a little while for a couple of reasons...

1. I've been real busy. No, really, I have. I'm teaching now if you didn't know, and that has put a little additional stress on me, on top of the already somewhat stressful atmosphere of my workplace anyway... and the lack of communication in the county as a whole, though that's a totally different story anyway.
2. I've been a bit lazy about it. Seriously. I mean, I figure all of about 3 people read the incredibly interesting posts, or lack there-of, I post here and only about, eh, 1 one of them comment. This, I'll admit is a little discouraging, especially since I've shared it with friends who are a bit "out of touch" with me, generally speaking.
3. Also, I've picked up a new video game that I subscribe to (sigh). Yes, I know, I like to play video games. But this means that I now pay $30/month. I repeat, $30/month to play video games. This is ridiculous. Sometime soon I must choose. I'm just afraid of which one will loose. The new game I've picked out, per the aforementioned Blake's suggestion, is EVE Online (www.eve-online.com). I had seen it before, and now that I understand it, it's great fun. DISCLAIMER: This game is incredibly addicting, as with most MMO's, however this game has a learning wall. Yes, wall, not curve, but wall. There are many, many websites with suggestions, tips, suggestions, techniques, and strategies. Seek them out. Don't say I didn't warn you.
   

So there ya' have it... I have posted for a while. So in accordance with reason numero dos, I'd like to see how many people would be interested in my continuance of this blog "poast"ing. Leave a comment.

So, here we are, my third post of this lovely thing they call a "blog."

I've decided that I can't be nerdy all of the time, so I shall fluctuate my topics so that I appeal to not only those who define themselves as geeky (in the technical sense) but also those who do not.

Recently at work I've made a rather lovely friend. She had shared with me some of the things she does to help boredom pass. One of the things she does is think of her friends and what they would be if they were a cereal, or an animal, or a... well, you get the point. So, we've started a Google Spreadsheet (I<3google) that lists all of the things we would be. It's quite fun really. I also sent out an invitation to take the Jung Personality test, just to see how well we mesh together. The personality test we took can be found here, it would be fun if you also took it and posted your personality type as a comment. =D

I ended up being an ESFJ (Extroverted Sensing Feeling Judging), and this is after only one try at the personality test so... it's relative. The ESFJ person is labeled as The Caregiver, and I suppose this fits me pretty well. The high-level description of an ESFJ person, as listed on the PersonalityPage.com is:

Warm-hearted, popular, and conscientious. Tend to put the needs of others over their own needs. Feel strong sense of responsibility and duty. Value traditions and security. Interested in serving others. Need positive reinforcement to feel good about themselves. Well-developed sense of space and function.

and this pretty much fits me to a T. I'm much like a good dog, very loyal and trustworthy, and though I'm a very independent person (given I'm a Leo), I'm incredibly dependent on a select few in my life. As long as I have a few people to keep me fueled (with positive reinforcement, to use the quote above), I'm as happy as a lark and singing in the rain. I would do anything for my friends, and when I say anything I mean quite literally a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g. So, I would say that I'm a good friend to have, since having me can be a valuable asset to anyone's arsenal. I'm pretty selective though about who I'll let be one of my "trusted few," so if you get chosen, you should feel privileged and special, and not let go.

Well, that's enough talking about myself now... until next time. Cheerie-0!