walbourn

Since returning from Texas, it's been a relaxing, low-key holiday week.

cuddlyeconomist met me at the SeaTac airport Saturday, and we've been mostly relaxing and hanging out at the house. I had to work Monday & Tuesday, but they were short days with most everyone else still on vacation. Got some things accomplished so I can more easily enjoy the remainder of my vacation with her. We baked a few times, had dinner at home, ate out, played a bit of Lord of the Rings Online, and went to the

nerdvana NYE party. We are headed to San Francisco for her economics conference this weekend before she heads back to Texas, which should prove an interesting contrast to when she came with me to Gamefest. I've unfortunately had a light cold most of the week, but with

cuddlyeconomist so stressed out the past few months it was good for us both to get some extra sleep over the past week.

Wednesday afternoon and most of the day yesterday I was down at New Year's Eve of Loser Fun X playing a few final Living Greyhawk modules. The campaign has come to a close, and this likely marks my last involvement with the RPGA Network. Between D&D 4th Edition which I view as a shallow pen & paper MMO aimed at the ADD gamer crowd, the complete shift away from role-playing tournaments and Living-style campaigns, and making us all use "DCI" numbers (which are traditionally for Magic the Gathering tourneys) instead of our old-school RPGA number, I'm not that interested in what WotC has to offer these days. It's been a great 10 year run with some of the most enjoyable (and some of the most excruciating) RPG gaming experiences of my life. I've met a lot of great people across the US and internationally. I've gotten thousands of hours of enjoyment in over a half-dozen campaign settings and systems, and it provided a social outlet for meeting a lot of new people especially after my move to Seattle. I need to find a way to keep those friendships alive, but I've been trying to make room for some new hobbies over the past years.

Anyhow, happy new year everyone. As

drakemonger said at the

nerdvana party: "2008, don't let the door hit your ass on the way out!" Welcome 2009, "The Year We Hit Bottom" :>