ANTS

Let me apologize in advance for this post.

I feel that I really need to vent, and I just chose this medium to do it.

 

Ok.....Ants.

They must be sent by the devil.  They are driving me INSANE.

I know, looking from the outside, you'd think I'm over reacting and they're just 'little bugs'

Well...ants in MASS are evil I tell you!

 

Now, if you know where I live, you know that it's not in a normal setting, nor a normal house at all!

This used to be a horse barn, hastily thrown together to be a temporary living space for a project that never came to pass.  We've been living here for 8 years (which was not the plan haha).  We've done our best to fix and deal with what happens.  But after the fire last year, the ants have taken refuge in our home.

This barn has hole...EVERYWHERE.  In the wall, the floor, everywhere.  I've sealed off what I can with regular ol glue (which is now gone) but they just find new ways around. And there are many ways.  Right now we have 5 entry points that the ants are using right now.  2 in the kitchen, 2 in the bathroom, and under the front door.

"Why don't you just take care of them?" You might be asking.

Well, you see.  I've tried almost everything.  Yes, there are some I haven't yet, but some cost and can add up quick.  I tried cornmeal, which worked last year, and they just go around it.  I tried pepper (supposed to not like to cross it) and they just walk the wall around.  I have soapy water in a spray bottle to kill ants to wipe them down, but they are in the same spots again 5 minutes later.  I tried Windex in order to erase their line smell...once it dries they don't care.  Right  now I just tried lemon juice and we'll see how that goes (though I just looked over at the door and saw one right where I had sprayed it)
**Update 15 min later.  Lemon just failed**
We have nothing out for them to get to (as much as is possible).  Right now their favorite is the toaster and George forman grill.  My honey is in a plastic bag and my peanut butter is in the fridge with my bread.  But they don't care haha.

We've tried to find their colonies(nest, hive, whatever) and have not been successful.  One looks like it's actually under the house itself.  But the ants are coming from at least 4 different directions, so that's quite the tracking process.

Why not call a professional?  Not only can that be pricey, but we did that last year and it did absolutely nothing.

Things I haven't tried: Borax, ant poison traps or spray, and I'm sure several other little things.

So, if you have any ideas let me know.  Anything that is a powder or anything like that (cornmeal, pepper, coffee grounds, baking soda) won't work because they just walk around it.

 

Sometimes I feel like "if I just let them swarm right here they'll leave the rest alone."  Nope!  Ants don't stop ever!  I swear they are bent on destroying my house.  They find the most random stuff to go after.  And when that's been swarmed, the scouts go out to find more.  Right now they are in the kitchen and bathroom mostly, but I've had them ALL over the carpet, in the couch, on my desk, and everywhere trying to find the tiniest of crumbs...which is bound to be around due to 2 young children.

And they bite! No, they aren't red ants.  Just your run of the mill black ant, but that doesn't stop them from sometimes biting.  And it hurts *tear*

 

So yes, little tiny ants have driven me insane!  I feel dirty and prisoner in my own 'house' *cough barn *cough*

 

Why don't we move out?  We're working on it! It's not an easy choice, nor is it cheap.  I just hope the ant 'season' ends soon (please o please end soon) so I can go pee without worrying about ants crawling in my pants!

 

 

 

~hyuu!

World of Warcraft Lore

Ok, let me start this off with a warning: This will probably be all over the place because I tend to ramble when I get on a roll.

 

There are roughly two groups of people that play World of Warcraft.  There are the ones that play it because it's a game where they can kill and try to be number one and only see it as a game to play and speed through.  Then there are the story loves, like myself, who play the game because we enjoy it, but also really enjoy the story that Blizzard has put into this world.

The lore lovers are the people who take the time to read the quests to get the full story.  The ones who catch the tear jerking moments, or the funny subtle jokes.  The ones who spend their money on the books and merch and things like that in order to get more of the story. The ones who are willing to wait a little longer for content if it means the story is amazing.

You would think that Blizzard would aim to hit this audience more, since they usually end up spending more time and money.

Well, it feels like (to a lot of us) that Blizzard has decided to sacrifice their stories in order to appeal to the players who race through content in order to be number one.  The ones who play play play nonstop and then complain that there isn't anything to do.  Why don't you pace yourself and enjoy the world a little more??  Ok off topic...

Trust me, I understand from a business point of view that getting content out quickly is important.  But is it really worth sacrificing this amazing world you've created?  Lots of lore junkies complain about the new expansions because they have such potential, but end up with some copout ending.

I know that numbers are important, but, like I said early, the lore lovers are the ones that are going to feel around the world and find easter eggs and things likes that.  The ones spending money on books, comics, and things like that.  So why ruin the lore?
This new expansion looks so exciting! But a lot of us are terrified Blizzard is going to sacrifice characters we've come to love and watched grow in order to give people something that, back in the day, they said they'd never do.  And also wearing out the story line of "good guy turns evil"
Artifact weapons is an interesting concept, but (like you have done with some of the others) make up new weapons or use ones that have been "lost".  Don't kill of major characters just so every character can walk around with the same weapon.  Yes, I know you can change the color and stuff some, but lets face it....all ret pallies are going to have an Ashbringer in one way or another (poor Tirion).

 

Why do I care so much?  I'll explain, but look at any other fandom.  Weren't Harry Potter fans a little upset when tons of their favorite characters got killed?  I know some death is inevitable, but not MASS killing

 

When I started playing World of Warcraft the February after it originally released, I knew nothing of the story.  As a matter of fact, I traded in my (dying) Sims Online subscription for a WoW one haha.

I had never played any of the Warcraft games and I just came to Azeroth because a friend dragged me along.
I'll admit, I went though most of the game not really paying attention to the story.  Once Wrath of the Lich King came around, a light bulb popped up and I realized that the whole world was interconnected with a massive story.  I started reading quests and connecting dots and totally fell in love!  I wish I had gone back and found the lore secrets that I had missed from the Vanilla days.  I actually go to YouTube and watch old quest chains that are lore heavy.  One even brought me to tears (yes, I'm a nerd). Now, I am slowly growing my collection of World of Warcraft novels and am currently reading the short stories on the website.

I know their lore has plot holes, but most stories do.  And, to be honest, they don't have as many as you'd expect going from book to game and back again (also several different authors).

The tv show Reba has more plot holes (though still a good show) haha

 

I know that there are probably quite a few people who will poke holes in what I'm saying (to be fair I'm talking so fast I probably forgot important parts I wanted to say...I do that).  And many that disagree with what I'm saying altogether.  But these thoughts have been racing in my head since Legion was announced.  I know a couple WoW YouTubers agree with my fears and whatnot.  And I know my audience is pretty much non existent, but writing down my feelings helps get them to stop SPINNING around in my head haha.

 

I know World of Warcraft has to die one day, but I really hope they do it on THEIR terms and not while trying to beat a dead horse with dreadful expansion after another.

I personally think they should make a final expansion and then let the players die down gradually.

 

I could go into what WoW means to me, but that would make this post a million miles long.  I'll do that another day.  And YES I know it is "JUST A GAME" and I don't like....depend on it.  But no one can ignore the impact it has had on my life.  And it is an awesome chapter that I will be sad when it closes ;)

 

(I hope that wasn't too hard to understand.  I may have to come back and fix it once my brain settles a little teehee)

 

~hyuu!

August Update

Wow, I totally slacked off on these. I'll regret it when I go back to read these and tons are missing haha.

ANYWAY
Welcome back.

What have you been up to?  We haven't been up to much...really.

 

We registered Hailey for school, she got all excited to go and then Matt got a call saying that they hadn't noticed her birthday, and she's 3 days past the deadline, and it's a state law, so there was no way for her to test ahead or anything. So I had to break her excited little heart and tell her she was, in fact, not going to school this year.
She actually handled it very well, but I can tell she's bored in the house...especially now that Emma's back in school.

 

Brooklyn just turned 2! Where does the time go?!
She talks so much, and has way to much sass!  She does pretty much whatever Hailey is doing and she always surprises me with the stuff that comes out of her mouth.
Her hair is also starting to curl like Hailey's, though I don't think it'll be quite as intense a curl.
Brook is way to smart, well on being just like her sissy

 

 

Matt has FINALLY started his groomer training.  Though it's still pretty slow going.  His work really needs to get their crap together.  They keep losing employees without having any to replace them.  At one point they had 3 people trying to run the whole groomer by themselves, 7 days a week.

And with one about to be out with maternity leave, they are going to be in trouble haha

 

And in that is where our debate comes in.  He's getting the hours he needs here because they are so short handed.  But California is so expensive, that even with the hours, it's still not really cutting it.

So, do we move and hope he can still get good hours and have a lower cost of living here or try to make it here while he can get good hours?

 

I haven't really been up to much.  I stopped taking my vitamins for a while merely because I forgot and I completely felt like poo.  So I'm still going to take them, but I'm going to start taking them slowly....like adding one at a time.

 

Change is whispering in our ear, we just haven't figured out in which way yet.

But we'll let you know when we do figure out our next move!

We love you!

 

 

~hyuu!