Happy Holidays!

Apologies for my recent inactivity on IR Haven. Besides being busy with my job (which I love and which is going permanent), I went through a couple of weeks of not feeling so hot (mostly exhaustion).

I've also taken an interest in online gaming for relaxation. There are two games that hold my interest currently.

My kids really love Disney's Toontown, a kid-friendly MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) where you tailor-make a cartoon animal character that fights business-like robot "cogs" with laughter-inspiring slapstick gags (throwing pies, squirting water, dropping anvils). It's quite amusing, graphically appropriate (cartoonish on a kid's level) and surprisingly challenging.

My wife and I have gotten into another MMORPG called The Saga of Ryzom. It is a graphically complex and beautiful game with multiple skills you can learn and develop. Your character can be one of four different "races" and the appearance is highly customizable. I may recommend they create mixed race versions -- that would be cool! (Well, they did hint at introducing children into the game at some point in the distant future).

The players within the game are generally very friendly and helpful and the guild system is designed to help players level up in their skills quickly while bonding with their guildmates.

Like any MMORPG, playing it does tend to consume hours at a time, so one must govern their time accordingly...but it can be a lot of fun and help build some friendships in the process.

I'm looking forward to spending time with my relatives and in-laws on Thanksgiving and the upcoming Christmas/New Years' holidays.

Best Holiday Wishes,
Allen