Ok, ok ok, I know you all missed the crap out of me and I know I have been HORRIBLE at posting any blogs - but really I have a reason, and it’s a good one too. No, I am not bs’ing, I have literally been home about a week out of 3 months. Yes, maybe I could have scrounged up an hour here to drop a line, but frankly when you’re traveling like a planet in orbit all over the world, you get a bit tired… and lazy. We all know how lazy I am, in fact you’ll be lucky to see any pictures in this blog (only if I managed to pull out that inner energy and dig them all up). Here I was holding out because I didn’t just want to write a senseless blog. I wanted to invest some time and energy into it (as usual), but I am going to end up writing senseless chatter anyway - because I am still lazy and recuperating.

Let’s see, a recap of my last blog written long ago, my traveling started in Paris for Blizzcon, then to ESWC Paris, then to MLG Orlando, then to E3, then I finally got to go home 4 days. So picking up from there I headed out to Comic Con which was amazing. 120,000 fanatic anime fans spending more money than you can dream of, and stampeding those of lesser stature in their wake. Consumerism as you have never seen it! I wonder if these traditional corporate-mockers even realized the idols they worshipped that weekend.

From there I headed off to Quake Con Dallas, which was one of my favorite events this year. I got to see a lot of people I hadn’t seen in a while and we partied it up like rock stars, of course. It was me, my girls, and some games just the way I like it. Quake Con also had a small expo with some new games coming out, like Fable (which is amazing looking!).

After Quake Con I headed off to England for I-34 Gaming LAN and Expo. England was amazing; we went to Warwick Castle, the Roman Baths, and the house that my hero Mr. Darcy lived in from the movie Pride & Prejudice - one of my all-time fav’s. Warwick Castle was by far the best thing I saw there, as it was commercialized when it was bought out by the Tussard group a few years ago. I know, pretty sad of me to like a commercialized castle is the best, but they really did a fabulous job. All the rooms were staged as if they still lived in the 19th Century with full wax models of real lords and ladies of the times and detailed information about their lives. All the people that worked there were also dressed up for the part and they orchestrated sword fighting, hawk flights, and knight jousting for the masses to enjoy.  Enjoy we did, and I don’t care how much you mock me for it. My sister and I even got our picture taken with the Queen!!!

After spending a week tooling around England, it was off to Germany for the Leipzig Games Convention. Let me tell you folks, this was bigger and better than the OLD E3. What do I mean when I say that? I mean, if you hardcore game lovers ever want to go on vacation, save your money up for this one. Hundreds of thousands of people all milling around the largest convention center I have ever seen. Hundreds of exhibitor’s all trying to outdo each other for attention by being the loudest, craziest, and throwing the most swag to attract the masses. By far one of the best consumer event’s that I have ever been to, and a statement that the German’s really know how to do it right. The only thing that would be able to compete with it is the Tokyo Game Show (probably the last big gaming event that I have yet to attend). Anyway, we worked with AMD there and of course helped them attract the most people =P.

After Germany, we headed off to Nvision where we had our PMS LAN. There were about 25 of my clan mates there.  While we were there, we also did a charity fund-raising drive for Child’s Play where we rounded up 6K in donations, and Nvidia matched the funds for the drive. PMS donated its own products and rounded up some more for goodie bags for people that sat in our LAN area.  We also used them to throw out to people and, of course, for the fund-raiser. We had a ton Logitech headsets, memory, video cards, key chains, t-shirts and of course an Alienware Desktop as the grand prize. Not too shabby! My time schedule was off whack so I got up around 5 a.m. every morning and would LAN until about 12 p.m. It was the only time I was able to get in some gaming for most of my traveling, and thank God I finally got my fix.

After Nvision, I headed off to PAX, where I finally got to see some of my fellow Frag Dolls (we have all been traveling to different events this summer). PAX was awesome of course, except we worked our tails off, as usual. It’s the one event I wish I didn’t work and could enjoy as a consumer, but it’s also one of the only events we are required to work every year. I was sick the first day as I think all the traveling finally caught up to me, but managed to pull it together after the second day. It was super cool to see all the people I hadn’t seen since last year, and by far E’s party (Thanks E & Kitty!) which he threw on the last day was the best part about it (and of course the Fraggy awards - Good job, Brooke!). I do have a suggestion, however. I think from now on, what goes on at these parties should be classified like Vegas -"What happens at E’s, stays at E’s”. So if you weren’t there, see if someone else can fill you in on the craziness scoop.

After PAX, I got 4 more days at home, but unfortunately they were used for moving and unpacking our new apartment in Downtown San Diego. This was supposed to be my break, but of course I didn’t get one and was off for the Game Stop manager show. The best thing about working this event: I scored a copy of Rock Band 2 from one of the managers! I got to play it when I got home- 2 weeks before release! Muhahahahaahah!

Now I am home, although I have a couple more events to work this year, which include the Best Buy Show, E for All, and BlizzCon. Some crazy season, huh? I started back on WoW, although it is daunting to say the least.  I am thinking about playing some Quake Live next season although I really don’t know. All I know is seeing the European PC scene this year really made me want to move to PC, although I will always love my Rainbow. Not relying on other people is an added bonus too of course, especially when your psycho competitive like me. Then you can only blame yourself, at least! We’ll see, we’ll see. So many games, so little time as they say…

Next week I get to take an excursion to Paris for a couple of weeks - Eat your heart out!  I am off for the Blizzard World Wide Invitational which is pretty much the European BlizzCon, where I will get to try out the latest expansion - World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King. The next weekend I head to Mondial du Gaming Expo which is hosting the ESWC Finals. A couple of my other clan’s teams are invited to compete there.

I am very excited to see the Wrath of the King (everyone knows how much I love WoW), but even more excited to see the European gaming culture. As I have attended BlizzCon before, I really want to see how different it is and how they will operate. I am PRAYING for an exclusive pet or something, but I didn’t see it on the site anywhere.

In between these two huge gaming events, we will be taking 5 days to see some famous Parisan landmarks and museums, and I am very excited about it. As it is my first time in Paris, I wanted to make sure that I had time to see everything I could. But going through all the attractions, it was really hard to narrow it down. From my research, it seems the best way to go about everything is to buy a Paris City Pass and Metro Pass together which will allow me to ride all the transits and get into most of the major attractions for free, with less of a line. So it looks like that is the route I’m going to take.

Even though I think I have everything covered, if any of you have been to Paris before please point out “must see” attractions and anything else you feel that I have to do when I am in the area. Any travel tips and thoughts are also appreciated!

Merci et au revoir!