The dawning of a new era. The part-time teacher/professor.

Let me summarize.

1. I dropped my kids off at the bus stop for their first day of school, then headed to part-time job #1, where I would take some photos for the yearbook. This was from 8:00 to 8:30. At 8:30, I leisurely left the building to take my youngest son to daycare (temporary for the next week). Then I came back to PT job #1 and taught my ONE class. Then I walked out of the building for the day!

2. Since my college teaching job doesn't start until Wednesday, my husband and I went out for lunch. Then I strolled over to my college office, did about 45 minutes of work, and then leisurely strolled out of that building.

3. I picked up a few things at the grocery store, and then I headed to the library. In the middle of the afternoon! I felt so decadent. In fact, one of the librarians who knows I'm a teacher asked why I wasn't in school. Like a truant!

4. Then I picked up my youngest from daycare, and then we walked down to the bus stop to await the arrival of the two schoolgoers.

And, it was a lovely, sunshiny day. Almost perfect!

I shall report back when the college classes start. That might change things! :)

ENOUGH!

As I reread back through my most recent posts, I am disgusted by the amount of griping, grousing, bitching, and moaning (OK, except for the D&D stuff).

Yuena would remonstrate me, no doubt, telling me I am doing too much "shoulding" all over myself.

And so it is now time to refocus. Honestly, what does the complaining solve? What does it get done? Nothing.

To the best of my ability, I am going to focus on the good things going on for me - even if it's a tiny little thing.

Here goes...

1. Elliot's pre-kindy eye screening was today, and his eyes are healthy. No need of glasses at this time! Although, the deck is stacked against the little guy seeing as though me, Brent, and Kirby all wear glasses. But hey, he's got good enough vision for now!

2. Spencer received his letter regarding his advanced math placement this coming year. Even though he's going into fifth grade, he tested well enough for sixth grade math. He definitely has inherited his dad's aptitude in that area.

3. The kids and I rented Zac Efron's latest "17 Again" today. Much better than HSM3. Yes, I think I like ZE much better without Vanessa Hudgens as a co-star.

When you look, there are blessings every day.

It Pours.

That Which Does Not Kill Us Makes Us Stronger.

The Lord Works In Mysterious Ways.

All I know these days is: I know nothing. I feel sure of nothing.

1. The new school year (and consequently my one-hour-a-day high school teaching job) begins in a week and a half.

2. My new college professoring job starts two weeks from today.

3. My sprained ankle is still tender, after two weeks.

4. My minivan is near to falling apart...all these little things!

5. My exercise regimen has been spotty, due to ankle injury.

6. It's time for my kids to be back in school and back into a schedule...and I can feel it!

7. Things in my personal life are...there. No other way to explain it.

At first glance, this would seem like a bitch list. It may be that, but it's also a rundown of everything I'm unsure of: my professional and personal life, my career, my children, my health.

Nothing is certain right now. I'm not even sure what principles/knowledge my daily decisions are based on. What a crossroads to be at in my mid-thirties! Ha! What a joke - aren't I supposed to have things figured out so that I can go about the business of living a satisfied life?

I realize this rant makes no sense. This is just one of those times when the rant is for me, and not so much for you. Hope you understand.

Alas! The mighty mission at the keyboard is approaching its end. There were three DnD adventures I needed to recall and recap, and I am now finally on the third. This was just last night's adventure, and so should be fresh in my mind.

Hopefully, a worthy tale for my listeners. Ummm...readers.

This is Captain Tiki's adventure, the one at sea and the party is as follows:

Andromeda - a sexually expressive Deepwoods Sniping Druid
Mercutio - the much-abused Dragon Disciple/Sorcerer (aka Powder Monkey, Cock Blocker, Wizard etc.)
Captain Bella - the party's resident Rogue/Honorable Dread Pirate, and Captain of the vessel, the Nightshade
Willow - a brooding orc-, merfolk-, and certain human-hating Ranger/Bloodhound

This party left off in the port of Gradsul, where a day's repair awaited the Nightshade.

Bella and Willow: off to the nearest tavern
Andromeda: off to the forest with Taewynn and their cats
Mercutio: hang around the ship, but sends Fizz out to spread his seed

At the local Seaside Bar, Willow purchased a mead and broods. Bella buys a round for everyone in the bar (except for Willow, who obviously spoke too soon). A rousing chorus of "Are you shitting me?" goes up around the room.

Bella and Willow hatches a Bar Rumble plan, in which the two local bars (one of sailors, the other of farmers) will fight each other Jets vs. Sharks-style. Bella then meanders to the other bar to buy drinks for those guys, and begin to spread her own seed...of discontent.

Fizz has returned, meanwhile, to Mercutio, looking much, much happier and calmer. Speaking of calm, Andromeda is not when she discovers that although she wished to be ordering from the LUNCH menu, the restaurant where she and Taewynn sit is nearing the very end of its lunch rush. In fact, they've hit the early dinner senior citizen crowd.

Bella buys the farmers' bar patrons a drink, and general cry of "Farmers Are Good People" is heard 'round the tavern. It is OOG considered that this would be an excellent t-shirt slogan.

Mercutio meets Andromeda coming back to the ship with her druid friend, and Lawful Neutral Mercutio feels the need to lay down the Non-Wenching Rules of the Ship (which really only apply to him, but whatever). There is much confusion and questioning by Andromeda, and it seems Mercutio is attempting to pull rank - thus setting off a spell battle between the two players.

Andromeda morphes into giant octopus form. Mercutio responds by casting Fly on himself, and then Invisibility. Andromeda casts Standing Wave, which carries her around, following the sound of Merc's voice as he taunts her. In the final blow, Mercutio casts Dancing Lights...and since Andromeda cannot obviously compete with that, she is done. In what can only be perceived as a "victory dance", Mercutio humps the Captain's wheel. It is assumed by Andromeda that the wheel is now tainted, because she can see the movement of the wheel and in what manner it is moving, but she cannot see Mercutio, whom she assumed has his clothes off (which he doesn't).

Back at the Seaside Bar, a half-orc enters. Willow stares, glares, and broods some more. It is not her nature to start something, but she will finish it, given the chance. At this time, Bella bops in, buys yet another round, and yells, "Sailors Are Good People!". By the way, Andromeda has arrived.

And, then, of all things, Fizz the owl flies in the tavern, clutching a waterskin and a note for the bartender...who, by the way, doesn't know how to read. So Willow "translates" for the barkeep and tells him the note roughly says, "I'm from the Farmer Bar, I want a cheap beer, but I don't want to soil my shoes by stepping in that place. Please, fill this waterskin, and send it back with the owl." The bartender is angry, and begins to spread discontent around the bar, while Andromeda buys a beer and leaves the inn. Pretty soon, some of the Seaside bar patrons appear to be riled, so Willow and Bella exit through the front door, hoping to lead them to the Farmer Bar (well, not really lead, but appear to lead, then follow sneakily). About fifteen patrons end up in front of the Farmer Bar, unsure of what to do next when Bella from the back of the crowd chucks a rock through the window, and Willow screams "Farmers Suck!" Despite these great efforts, the attempt at a bar brawl fizzles. Willow and Bella return to the ship to analyze bar failure/mob mentality strategies.

Willow miserably fails a Bluff check as she tells Mercutio the bartender bitch-slapped Fizz around when he flew in with the waterskin.

An uneventful night passes, and the party leaves the next morning. Up head - the Gryrax peninsula.

The Events of the Day:

1. Attack by three giant squid, who reach with ten tentacles onto the ship. Squid #1: Willow critically fumbles, only gets in two of her six weapon attacks. Andromeda critically hits and Squid #1 peels off side of ship. Squid #2 and #3 pull up their ugly faces over the ship. Their tentacle slaps do A LOT of damage to Mercutio, Willow, and Bella. Squid #2 succeeds on a grapple with Willow and does another ten biting damage. Eventually, the party, with the help of Willow's wolverine (Logan) and Andromeda's lion (Aslan), squid #2 is calamari. Squid #3 does a fair amount of smackage, but through a tremendous whole=group effort, that sucker dies too.

2. OOG: Dinner Break. Cold cut sandwiches, fruit, chips. Also, a raging debate: should the Tikis buy a kneeboard for the upcoming camping trip? Or maybe a new tube? Everyone had opinions on this one.

3. Back in the game, Fizz spots four sea turtle-looking things...official name: TOJANIDA. Spanish or something. Mercutio casts an off-ship ice storm, which sends a pretty serious message to the ToJos. The fighting begins, and Mercutio is blinding by stinging stream of Tostada ink. Fizz casts Bull Strength on Willow, which beefs up the ranger's damage. Bella and Willow make a kill each, meanwhile a lightning bolt spell cast by Mercutio sends sizzling meat chunks all over the ship. Searches of the whole carcasses, as well as the meat chunks, turn up a fair amount of platinum pieces for the entire party.

4. The party reaches Blue, Andromeda disembarks to say goodbye to Taewynn, but everyone else stays on board. The almighty leveling beam touches each party member. Whoohoo!

5. The last leg of the sea journey is nearing to an end, as the Nightshade comes into Relmor Bay. A squad of Triton makes an attack, but the party proves to be ready, picking off the aquatic humanoids one by one. Kills: Mercutio - Two, Willow - Two, Bella - One, Andromeda - Three.

6. Thorgrin the dwarf meets the fleet at the docks of Prymp. He is obviously delighted to have the entire fleet of ships return, whole, full of good iron. After many attempts of the party to use "Jedi Mind Tricks", Thorgrin grants each person "One Magical Upgrade on Weapon". Mercutio steps in here and asks for a free taco...Thorgrin is feeling generous, obviously, and grants "Free Tacos to All!"

7. Andromeda makes a comment about "never having a dwarf before". Thorgrin looks her over and declares "I'd do you." Andromeda ends up passing the dwarf over, as she says she'd appreciate someone with a little more enthusiasm.

And that's it!

This was going to be an interesting time in a couple of different ways: first, we were supposed to be playing this game while camping, which ended up not happening due to weather. Second, the Captain's niece and nephew (Kristin and Matthew) were joining us for the quest. Finally, it was the debut adventure for new DM Kimba.

Seen previously in Alex's campaign:
Olivet, the renowned bard
Firn, the butt kicking monk
Balen Thunderaxe, the cleaving dwarf
Kat the Sorceress, with her familiar Luna

Newcomers:
Bobby the half orc Barbarian played by Matthew
Elly Bell the adorable gnome illusionist played by Kristin

The previous four had recently suffered a loss to their party. They said a quick goodbye to Silver Fang the barbarian and Greenie the rogue, and began looking for replacements.

They found a half-orc with a gnome on its shoulders that would probably fit the bill.

In the town of Cellular, this newly-formed party discovered that the children of the town have gone missing. Actually, this information is gathered by everyone but the underage half-orc, who has consumed six pints of ale.

After leaving the tavern to consult with the mayor, Bobby randomly punches a house window, then attempts to loot an empty house. Elly Belle the Gnome casts Dancing Lights, which distracts Bobby. Olivet the Bard breaks out into a rendition of "Thriller" in a tribute to Michael Jackson.

The mayor regales the company with tales of the missing children, clues, etc. Fourteen children are missing, and there are rumors of witches and dragons. The adventurers quickly take up the task of finding out where they have gone.

Bobby and Bailin declare their "bromance", which is a platonic frienship between two men...in this case, two men who loves axes.

Highlights of the night include:

1. Dire squirrels attack! Bailin takes out like five at one time, Firn punches one out of the tree (a la pinata), and a couple of magic missiles and double-axes later - squirrel carcasses litter the ground.

2. The ground becomes squishy, and after a Will save, Elly Bell the Gnome and Bobby the Barbarian become terrified, Olivet fumbles his roll and craps his pants out of fear. Turns out the party is now doing battle with a crocodile and a hag (ugly). Bailin fumbles and drops his axe, Kat flings magic missiles, Firn uses Stunning Fists, and Bailin ends the battle by whaling on both croc and hag. Bobby apologizes for doing nothing during the fracas. Olivet cuts open the croc and discovers a pouch and a ring.

3. The party travels on and spies a white, encircled structure. Bobby rushes into the building, the party follows, the half-orc keeps running into....a murder of crows! There is much punching, axing, crossbowing, and fireballing that follows. A weird guy shows up in the middle of the fight...no reason why, but he's not around long. Soon, all crows are dead.

4. The hallways are confusing, doorways here and there, corridors that wind along - it is one freaky maze. Elly does some wall climbing (spider climb), and notices some skeletons piled in one corner of a room that the party cannot see into yet.

5. Skeleton Party! Elly the Gnome chooses to investigate the pile of bones, while the rest of the party seems bent on Skeleton Annihilation. Kat the Sorceress fireballs four in one go. In general, there is a bunch of hacking and slashing, while the Bard inspires courage in the party. The battle ends, the skeletons die (again), and Kat finds a ring in the midst of the bone piles.

Thus ends another good night of gaming. Well done, Kimba, Kristin, and Matthew.

Happy One Year Anniversary to the Gamers!