The Queue: Garbage time

The last week of the year is like the end of a lopsided sports match; nothing really matters, and it just feels like you’re running out the clock. Enough people take vacation time that no real work feels like it can be done, and even if you’re going to work, it is likely going to be slow. Unless you’re working at a mall, in which case, good luck.

This year it has a double meaning for me as I’ve spent the last few days being sick with a fever. I don’t recommend it. At least I seem to be through the worst of it in time for the new year.

While I rest up for a new year of Queues, our daily question and answer column, it’s time for — The Queue!

All those people wishing for a white Christmas really did a number on us this year! I drove to my folks’ place on the 24th in a nice little snowstorm, and it kept snowing off and on for the next three days. Luckily, it wasn’t at night, because then throwing on the high beams looks like you’re in Star Wars and just made the jump to light speed.

For some reason, nobody around here wants to come take my free snow either. Maybe we just need a better sales pitch. Unfortunately, by the time that we have a good amount of extra snow to get rid of, the local and not-so-local ski hills are pretty well stocked. We just need to work on this supply and demand issue, then we’ll be rich. Rich, I say! Richer than astronauts!!

I love doing side quests. Sometimes too much. In the most recent Borderlands game, I hit max level before fighting the second-act boss. There were still two more whole acts to do! It was extra annoying because I didn’t unlock the Paragon point progression system until I beat the main story quest. So then it felt like doing extra side quests wasn’t the right way to play. I forced myself to blow through the rest as fast as possible and had to go back for all the fun side stuff. Ultimately, not the biggest deal since I wound up doing everything, but it has stuck with me as a sour experience. I’ve also had an experience very like that in multiple Warcraft expansions, where I’ll still have multiple zones left to do when I hit max level because I’ll fully quest out the first few zones.

What can I say, the little exclamation points, they compel me!

Of course!

If I don’t, my weakaura will yell at me. Even without an addon, my buff bar wouldn’t look right if I don’t have everything up that can be kept up without consuming something. It’s just proper feng shui.

That’s betting it all on yourself, and it can pay off! But only if you’ve got the skills to pay those bills. There’s definitely a world where they managed to dodge every one of those attacks and looked like a stone-cold badass while doing it.

That’s been my problem with watching other people play games. Backseat gaming can be annoying, and I don’t wanna be that guy offering too many suggestions to improve their play experience. That’s why I default to snark and peanut gallery-style comments. It’s more fun, at least for me.

Here’s the proof that Bacardi is definitely prepping packages of fantastic loot for all of your gaming endeavours each week. He’s a hard-working kitty, and he deserves his flowers, too.

Would you rather?

Be able to receive text messages but never send them

Or

Be able to send text messages but never receive them.

Today’s Anna Earworm™: I Think I’m Paranoid

I hope you all have a safe and happy New Year’s Eve. I’ll see you all next year!