I am really enjoying Jade Dynasty. So much so that it makes me a tiny bit embarrassed to admit it out loud, especially considering I also keep a paid account to WoW going. Actually I've discovered it might wind up being quite convenient - WoW typically has maintenance on Tuesdays. JD is down for maintenance right now (Wednesday). Brilliant! If those are the only 2 days I play, then that will be mutually beneficial.

However, with WoW's latest expansion announced, I really need to put my nose to the grindstone and get serious about leveling up Sarelimar. Seriously - Wratch of the Lith King (as I like to call it) has been out for nearly a year. And I'm still not level 80. Unacceptable! How can this be? And then I go and find another MMORPG to play in the meantime???

So, no excuses. No pain, no gain. No Fear! And all that stuff, but regardless I am bound and determined to reach the current level cap BEFORE the next expansion is released!

You, dear reader, can hold me to that, too.

Glenn and I started new characters on WoW yesterday. One of our real-life friends and his wife invited us to play with them on a server he has a higher level toon on.

This new venture has proven to be interesting on so many levels: for the first time since we hooked up, my husband and I were actually exploring places for the first time together, which was totally cool. Also, I decided to play a warrior of all things; I am so not the warrior type - or so I thought! I actually took to the warrior class like a fish takes to water! Glenn's playing a blood elf hunter, and BOTH of us thoroughly enjoyed our new identities on WoW to the utmost. You may see on my profile where it says I logged "15 hours" on WoW "this week". I think those were ALL from yesterday! LOL

The city of Orgrimmar is amazing. And it was positively thrilling to be face to face with the Great Warchief himself, Thrall. It was an honor ... I've been reading one of the Warcraft books and it paints a different picture of Thrall than what you encounter on the Alliance side, although there are Alliance who recognize and appreciate Thrall's good works too.

For the first time since I've played WoW I won a duel yesterday. Playing a warrior! Lol. Oh that's the other thing, I'm playing an *orc* warrior! Two persona types I never thought I'd ever have an interest in playing.

Finally, the server we're on is a PvP server - which I'm sure will be quite interesting once we get to higher levels. In fact, Glenn and I both witnessed something last night that would be unheard of on the server we usually play on: high-level Alliance characters taking out guards in Orgrimmar!! We stood there transfixed by the sight; transfixed and totally appreciative of what was unfolding before our eyes. On the server we're used to playing on, that would NEVER happen. It was a sight to see.

Anyway, I had great fun yesterday. I think Krysti was a bit overwhelmed because she's never played WoW before, and I remember that feeling well. I fear I may have...

I never considered myself a gamer until I met my husband, who proceeded to introduce me to my closet inner gamer. Especially the role-playing games ... I'd gotten so far from the things about my childhood that defined me, and I never in a million years thought I'd reconnect with that through video games. Now all of a sudden I find myself using the lingo like a pro and hanging out with good people whose company I enjoy, people who remind me of my childhood friends.

I don't care what anyone says, playing video games is a cathartic and necessary part of life. It gives us a chance to be kids again. Not to say people don't abuse the privilege, but I'm here to say it is possible to play video games and not be "addicted" and still get on with your "real" life.