braaaiiinnnnss

I don't think I've ever fully appreciated how awesome a restful night's sleep can be until now. It's a classic case of taking something for granted, because the sleep I've been having feels like I wake up every ten minutes, for about 5 hours total.

Oh how sweet the first night of sleep will be when I get myself a new queen sized bed, in a bigger place!

responsible gaming

When Square Enix announced the release of Final Fantasy XIV Online, I'm sure a lot of people assumed it was going to be a typical MMORPG, where players would spend every waking moment feeding their addiction of leveling completely fictional characters in a virtual world as if they were inhabiting that character for real.

So I found it really refreshing that Square Enix are pushing for their players to be responsible.

Before the collector's edition went live on the 24th, there were many outraged comments from all quarters of the world wide web about the 8 hour limit of gaining experience for characters per week. I was baffled by the outcry, it's not as if you can't spend all day every day playing if you really wanted to. It's just that this system encourages people to take a more casual approach to the game than, say, World of Warcraft.

This element of the game is further highlighted by the note to players that pops up as you start the game:

Exploring Eorzea is a thrilling experience. During your time there, you will be able to talk, join, and adventure with many other individuals in an experience that is unique to online games. That being said, I have no desire to see your real life suffer as a consequence.

Don't forget your family, your friends, your school, or your work.

It is an unfortunate truth that there are people out there who actually need this type of reminder to experience real life outside their games, but I am pleased that SE are aware that gaming can be an addiction for many.

I've had a chance to play about 4 hours of the game since purchasing the collectors edition on Friday, and I love it. It really is a completely different game to WoW, and it suits casual gamers like myself. I can jump online, do a few quests, explore a little and still feel like I've made progress by the time I log out. No need for all nighters or running late for a date with mates with this game, no need for missing showers just for that extra experience and turning up to work all smelly and gross. No junk food diets, no missing family gatherings, no failing subjects at university. Just a satisfying, casual game.

However, I am a little tired of seeing so many freaking cat girls running around...

good thing I like candles

When I find out if I'm moving or staying put, I am definately changing my electricity provider to someone a little cheaper. I received a letter from AGL informing me of yet another price rise, including an increase on the service charge. I'm now paying $91.52 (incl. GST) just to have electricity connected, before usage is even measured.

"Factors influencing this price change include increased charges for the use of the distribution network (poles and wires) and the review of our prices which includes the cost of providing electricity in NSW."

I'm sorry Mr Electricity Provider, but why are we paying a service charge when you're just going to keep raising the prices based on consumption every quarter? What the hell is the point of that extra charge if you're going to keep upping the cost based on consumption anyway? How is the average joe expected to be able to afford to live?

What a rort.

scaredy cat

I have come to the realisation that I can't watch horror or crime shows before bed. My imagination is far too hyperactive for my own good and I end up having weird, disorientating dreams. Not very restful.

Yep, there's a self-professed wuss here.

techno snobs

Ok so I may not be the world's leading expert on notebook computers, but I know which brands I don't like based on experience. Take acer for example, my mum's desktop PC and my sister's laptop were both a big waste of money.

I don't get why people will tell me "don't buy this brand, they're bad" when they have very little experience or knowledge about the piece of technology they're dissing. If they had one that blew up in their face or something, I'd understand. I almost understand the general distate among PC users for Macs... almost.

I bought myself a Sony Vaio, E Series. NOT PINK. There, I've come out. I've been told the laptop is a waste of money. So far, the thing has proved itself to be the best choice I've ever made: the graphics are crystal clear, can't complain about speeds, it's whisper quiet, and it's a brand that I've had in the past (albeit not computers) that has not let me down. So why not buy it and enjoy my purchase? I'm enjoying my worldwide warranty, my 1GB graphics card, my 64-bit processor, my 500GB hardrive, my 4GB of RAM, my backlit lcd screen, the power efficiency rating, the position of all the ports... it's a computer that was made just for me, heehee!

If I'm happy with my investment, people should be happy that I'm happy rather than try to stir up argument. Or maybe... they're jealous? :P

shoes and handbags and scarves, oh my!

My name is Skye, and I'm a shoe addict.

I can not believe how many pairs of shoes I own that I just don't wear, or how many handbags I have in my closet that I don't use. I throw them in the wardrobe thinking, "I'll get use out of them one day" yet I am still waiting for that day to come.

I am a shoe and handbag hoarder.

It's not like I don't love the shoes I own, otherwise it wouldn't be so hard to get rid of them. And that's just what I need to do, I simply do not have the room to support my Imelda Marcos-esque obsession. Every pair of shoes has at least one story to go with it. Those silver sequined heels that I wore on NYE when I went out dancing with my aunty and nearly broke both our ankles, or those stunning red Diana Ferraris that are just a smidge too big, or even my old Nikes that I played tennis in for the last couple of years at high school. Those joggers finally fell to bits a couple of weeks ago, but it is still hard to throw them away. Ugh, I'm such a girl!

Now my handbags on the other hand, I don't have attachments to. I'm yet to find a handbag I really like, I think I'm just making do till I find the perfect one. I have the massive black leather one mum gave me that is perfect for uni books, and the white one that is just the right size for out and about, but then I about 5 others stashed away in the top of my closet, waiting to see the light of day but only ever catching glimpses through the cracks in the cupboard doors. I need to get ruthless, methinks.

Same with my scarves, I seem to only ever wear the one, so maybe I should think about donating the others to Vinnies so at least someone out there will get use from them. Or get a new one like my old faithful scarf, it's getting a bit... well, grotty for want of a better word.

Ah, the things you can find in a woman's wardrobe!