Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Friday, September 25, 2009
Belated Beginnings
Well, we have been rather ignorant in keeping up with the blog, haven't we sister? :o It must be remedied.
Don't worry folks, it most definitely will. I myself have been enrolled into both writing classes and art classes to improve my current standing in those two hobbies of mine.
What's been happening aside from that in my life? There's one particular issue bearing down on my mind, even though I've at the moment pushed it as far away from my mind unless it presents itself to me.
Being an avid Warcraft player, I enjoy getting people involved with the game. To give them some stress-relief from the burdening days of school, work, or possibly a depressing lifestyle that's in the process of being fixed. While many have found the game a bad plan of substitute, others have found extra hope in it.
Unfortunately, Warcraft is not for all people. One friend in particular, Jussi, has lost touch with reality, if not her life. I had introduced her since she needed inspiration for her art, and Warcraft had given me more than enough to write and draw about for months at a time. At the time, I was blind. I should have never introduced her to it. It was hard enough getting her to publish art on a daily basis, or at least sketch something in her notebook.
Nevertheless, it was introduced. For two weeks, she fought over who to RAF with, which is a program that allows a veteran player and a new player to level together at 300 times the speed of a solo player. As a reward for recruitment, free levels were offered, up to 40 free levels, and the veteran was given a very special mount only available through the program. Being a mount collector, yes, I did want the mount, but at the same time, I was more interested in playing with her.
She went with her friend, who pulled her into a guilt trip saying she owed him, and how he promised to help her with everything in the game. It proved to be a problem. A very large problem. Instead of aiding her, he used her to progress his own characters. Never taught her the hot keys, how to play, how to sell, how to research her class and work on getting better at playing while leveling. When she had quests to do, he forbid it, yet when he needed things done, he made her follow him around like a puppy.
Eventually, he returned to his own server, and I said good riddance. The fact he had the audacity to use an old friend like that was terrible. I took the reins along with my fiance, and helped her into the game.
Possibly the worst mistake I ever made. What was easy for me to pull in and out of, she was attached to. She became addicted. Addicted enough to drop her entire art career, to toss away everything for a raiding guild she had found on a game with a fellow player who to anyone outside of the guild, saw as more than a friendship.
Day and night, her username was found on Warcraft, and it was no idle matter while she went to sleep. Warcraft naturally AFKs you at 30 minutes, and kicks you from the server after an hour. So she was very active. I was distressed that she had tossed so much away for a game.
I can not blame the game, because years of psychology have revealed to me that it is not the game that 'steals' people away; it is the person's lack of willpower, and their lack of discipline. Jussi had none, and for the past five years of knowing her, I had been trying to get her on a path to get some to do what she needed to do to move on with her life.
I wrote a journal on Deviantart regarding it, stating I would be missing from Warcraft for a while, because seeing her on constantly distraught me. To know one of my best friends had willingly tossed everything she previously worked for, in the blink of an eye for a raiding guild was stressing.
She would leave her instant messengers on, but never answer them. When she did, it was always a 'Brb. Raiding.' or a 'Hold on.' To which would never be replied to again. When on Warcraft to speak to her, the same results came. All that matters to her is raiding.
When I emailed her about it, texted her about it, DA noted her about it, contacted her through every means of contact she had that I was aware of, except Warcraft, I received no response.
When I confronted her about it on Warcraft, she suddenly launched into an angry rage that I had no right to go off on her. I had never brought the topic up to her before, she said. Never have I, so it was wrong to lash out at her. It was evident then that she had let Warcraft take up so much time that she couldn't even check a program or an email for a moment to see what I had been trying to tell her for weeks.
When my fiance confronted her, she went off on him, asking him where the hell he's been for the past few weeks. He was angry at her audacity. He plays the game six hours a day, and every time, she is on just as well, but once again, the Brbs, the Hold Ons, and the refusal to reply due to raiding, regardless of the time of day.
While it is her place to choose what she wants to do, I as a friend can not stand seeing someone fall like that, hence why my attention was still on her. But when she sent me a DA note stating some things that told me "I never checked any of your emails or notes, so none of the things I'm saying make any sense"; that's when I got angry.
She insulted my passion for writing. She accused me of being addicted to writing, of being a hypocrite. If I can spend so much time on writing, she can spend just as much time on Warcraft. It was then I had lost respect for her. To dare compare a career field in the world, something that shows more emotion to a video game, was a dense point of view.
In addition to all of this, she lashed out at my fiance, accusing him of following me like a puppy, as if she had forgotten that the two of us had come together because of our love for art and writing. When I went to write, so did he, because I am his inspiration to write. And so she attempted to use that as a means to 'justify' her recent negative attitude and hostility.
I have only one option left to 'save' her, to get her back into reality and realize that moderation is necessary in order to successfully live a good life. If Warcraft becomes all that she does, the consequences of real life will hit her harder than seemingly necessary.
Two days ago, she wrote about it, stating how she has realized Warcraft is taking up her life. A friend disappeared off to school, and she didn't want to be left behind. As a result, she swore to draw every morning, and she would not touch Warcraft until 2 PM everyday and on from there. That was her plan, her goal, her ambition.
And yet, she is online. On Warcraft. All day. She will not read articles about art, she will not enroll into art classes online, which practically let her stay at home, study art, while playing Warcraft. She will not acknowledge any of her 'friends', unless they are on Warcraft with her. She has pretty much segregated herself and anyone who ever knew her. If you don't play Warcraft, she wants nothing to do with you, and assumes you no longer exist.
I have one option left to ride on, and that's to contact her mother about it. Being a fellow writer, I hope she too sees the problems I'm seeing. I hope she realizes that her daughter is throwing her life away for a video game that, instead of inspiring her, has killed any willpower and discipline left in her to pursue anything outside of a mouse click. I already have taken blame for introducing her, but it is no fault of mine that she mingled with the wrong people in the game, and it is no fault of mine that she has chosen Warcraft over life. One option left.
And I pray it opens her eyes.
Don't worry folks, it most definitely will. I myself have been enrolled into both writing classes and art classes to improve my current standing in those two hobbies of mine.
What's been happening aside from that in my life? There's one particular issue bearing down on my mind, even though I've at the moment pushed it as far away from my mind unless it presents itself to me.
Being an avid Warcraft player, I enjoy getting people involved with the game. To give them some stress-relief from the burdening days of school, work, or possibly a depressing lifestyle that's in the process of being fixed. While many have found the game a bad plan of substitute, others have found extra hope in it.
Unfortunately, Warcraft is not for all people. One friend in particular, Jussi, has lost touch with reality, if not her life. I had introduced her since she needed inspiration for her art, and Warcraft had given me more than enough to write and draw about for months at a time. At the time, I was blind. I should have never introduced her to it. It was hard enough getting her to publish art on a daily basis, or at least sketch something in her notebook.
Nevertheless, it was introduced. For two weeks, she fought over who to RAF with, which is a program that allows a veteran player and a new player to level together at 300 times the speed of a solo player. As a reward for recruitment, free levels were offered, up to 40 free levels, and the veteran was given a very special mount only available through the program. Being a mount collector, yes, I did want the mount, but at the same time, I was more interested in playing with her.
She went with her friend, who pulled her into a guilt trip saying she owed him, and how he promised to help her with everything in the game. It proved to be a problem. A very large problem. Instead of aiding her, he used her to progress his own characters. Never taught her the hot keys, how to play, how to sell, how to research her class and work on getting better at playing while leveling. When she had quests to do, he forbid it, yet when he needed things done, he made her follow him around like a puppy.
Eventually, he returned to his own server, and I said good riddance. The fact he had the audacity to use an old friend like that was terrible. I took the reins along with my fiance, and helped her into the game.
Possibly the worst mistake I ever made. What was easy for me to pull in and out of, she was attached to. She became addicted. Addicted enough to drop her entire art career, to toss away everything for a raiding guild she had found on a game with a fellow player who to anyone outside of the guild, saw as more than a friendship.
Day and night, her username was found on Warcraft, and it was no idle matter while she went to sleep. Warcraft naturally AFKs you at 30 minutes, and kicks you from the server after an hour. So she was very active. I was distressed that she had tossed so much away for a game.
I can not blame the game, because years of psychology have revealed to me that it is not the game that 'steals' people away; it is the person's lack of willpower, and their lack of discipline. Jussi had none, and for the past five years of knowing her, I had been trying to get her on a path to get some to do what she needed to do to move on with her life.
I wrote a journal on Deviantart regarding it, stating I would be missing from Warcraft for a while, because seeing her on constantly distraught me. To know one of my best friends had willingly tossed everything she previously worked for, in the blink of an eye for a raiding guild was stressing.
She would leave her instant messengers on, but never answer them. When she did, it was always a 'Brb. Raiding.' or a 'Hold on.' To which would never be replied to again. When on Warcraft to speak to her, the same results came. All that matters to her is raiding.
When I emailed her about it, texted her about it, DA noted her about it, contacted her through every means of contact she had that I was aware of, except Warcraft, I received no response.
When I confronted her about it on Warcraft, she suddenly launched into an angry rage that I had no right to go off on her. I had never brought the topic up to her before, she said. Never have I, so it was wrong to lash out at her. It was evident then that she had let Warcraft take up so much time that she couldn't even check a program or an email for a moment to see what I had been trying to tell her for weeks.
When my fiance confronted her, she went off on him, asking him where the hell he's been for the past few weeks. He was angry at her audacity. He plays the game six hours a day, and every time, she is on just as well, but once again, the Brbs, the Hold Ons, and the refusal to reply due to raiding, regardless of the time of day.
While it is her place to choose what she wants to do, I as a friend can not stand seeing someone fall like that, hence why my attention was still on her. But when she sent me a DA note stating some things that told me "I never checked any of your emails or notes, so none of the things I'm saying make any sense"; that's when I got angry.
She insulted my passion for writing. She accused me of being addicted to writing, of being a hypocrite. If I can spend so much time on writing, she can spend just as much time on Warcraft. It was then I had lost respect for her. To dare compare a career field in the world, something that shows more emotion to a video game, was a dense point of view.
In addition to all of this, she lashed out at my fiance, accusing him of following me like a puppy, as if she had forgotten that the two of us had come together because of our love for art and writing. When I went to write, so did he, because I am his inspiration to write. And so she attempted to use that as a means to 'justify' her recent negative attitude and hostility.
I have only one option left to 'save' her, to get her back into reality and realize that moderation is necessary in order to successfully live a good life. If Warcraft becomes all that she does, the consequences of real life will hit her harder than seemingly necessary.
Two days ago, she wrote about it, stating how she has realized Warcraft is taking up her life. A friend disappeared off to school, and she didn't want to be left behind. As a result, she swore to draw every morning, and she would not touch Warcraft until 2 PM everyday and on from there. That was her plan, her goal, her ambition.
And yet, she is online. On Warcraft. All day. She will not read articles about art, she will not enroll into art classes online, which practically let her stay at home, study art, while playing Warcraft. She will not acknowledge any of her 'friends', unless they are on Warcraft with her. She has pretty much segregated herself and anyone who ever knew her. If you don't play Warcraft, she wants nothing to do with you, and assumes you no longer exist.
I have one option left to ride on, and that's to contact her mother about it. Being a fellow writer, I hope she too sees the problems I'm seeing. I hope she realizes that her daughter is throwing her life away for a video game that, instead of inspiring her, has killed any willpower and discipline left in her to pursue anything outside of a mouse click. I already have taken blame for introducing her, but it is no fault of mine that she mingled with the wrong people in the game, and it is no fault of mine that she has chosen Warcraft over life. One option left.
And I pray it opens her eyes.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Oops!
Sorry about not updating. I've been so busy lately, and not even time to draw sketches! I will probably continue to be busy until July 20 or so.
Oh well, here's a little tidbit on my day yesterday.
Yesterday as I was leaving my house at 6 AM to go to work, I turned around at the last second to grab a granola bar and proceeded to smash my left ring finger with the door. A few seconds later, I lost my hearing and gained a ringing in my ears instead, I felt dizzy and sick to my stomach, and was literally gasping for air. Someone said when I mentioned this to them that it must have been bad enough to send me into shock. If I weren't sitting down I definitely would have passed out. Thankfully my boyfriend was there and he helped me call work to say "I'm going to be late, I just need to stop feeling faint." All over a goddamn finger!
So I went back in and got my freaking granola bar and some juice and some water and peanut butter on bread. After about 20 minutes I felt good as new and went into work late. ( Boo, this is the second time I've been late ;3; )
Now then... Yesterday was the Boilermaker (I'm not sure if other countries know about it, probably not- It's the most famous run/walk race in NY). As soon as I got there, I was working on a nonstop rush that lasted five and a half hours with no breathing break inbetween. At some point I was working deli so I tried to make myself two breakfast wraps and pay for them later. I dropped them as I was pulling them out of the oven. It was the only food I dropped that day. Later on I made more, but that was after another two hours of rush. Plus my bandaid on my finger kept falling off and I kept having to go get another one (I think I'm going to have to replace some bandaids there. I've gone through all but a few of them with this injury and another I had.)
There's another big reason as to why it was so busy besides the fact that we were swarmed with customers. One of my coworkers called in sick. He had the 4:30 AM shift and we really needed him today. I try not to spite him too much even though I know it's just because he wanted to sleep in; I very highly doubt he felt as awful as I did (for twenty minutes). xD
However, the tips were quite nice since most of the people were from out of town. C:
Afterwards I went to the mall and had a great time with my buddies. I bought unmentionables! 8D
Oh well, here's a little tidbit on my day yesterday.
Yesterday as I was leaving my house at 6 AM to go to work, I turned around at the last second to grab a granola bar and proceeded to smash my left ring finger with the door. A few seconds later, I lost my hearing and gained a ringing in my ears instead, I felt dizzy and sick to my stomach, and was literally gasping for air. Someone said when I mentioned this to them that it must have been bad enough to send me into shock. If I weren't sitting down I definitely would have passed out. Thankfully my boyfriend was there and he helped me call work to say "I'm going to be late, I just need to stop feeling faint." All over a goddamn finger!
So I went back in and got my freaking granola bar and some juice and some water and peanut butter on bread. After about 20 minutes I felt good as new and went into work late. ( Boo, this is the second time I've been late ;3; )
Now then... Yesterday was the Boilermaker (I'm not sure if other countries know about it, probably not- It's the most famous run/walk race in NY). As soon as I got there, I was working on a nonstop rush that lasted five and a half hours with no breathing break inbetween. At some point I was working deli so I tried to make myself two breakfast wraps and pay for them later. I dropped them as I was pulling them out of the oven. It was the only food I dropped that day. Later on I made more, but that was after another two hours of rush. Plus my bandaid on my finger kept falling off and I kept having to go get another one (I think I'm going to have to replace some bandaids there. I've gone through all but a few of them with this injury and another I had.)
There's another big reason as to why it was so busy besides the fact that we were swarmed with customers. One of my coworkers called in sick. He had the 4:30 AM shift and we really needed him today. I try not to spite him too much even though I know it's just because he wanted to sleep in; I very highly doubt he felt as awful as I did (for twenty minutes). xD
However, the tips were quite nice since most of the people were from out of town. C:
Afterwards I went to the mall and had a great time with my buddies. I bought unmentionables! 8D
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
So I Lied
So I lied and decided to write another post. In all reality to, it's not my fault, it's this guy's.
On Arrival
Why hello.
WTF ARE YOU DOING HERE? D8< ? Ah, that's why. Well, welcome. Since my sister started the blog, welcoming you is pointless. She serves the coffee, I do not. I just entertain people.
I am the GREAT RATTLECAT T MANDELBROTT. Your new MASTER!
I live to entertain you.
Speaking of entertaining, I have a radio :D. It airs every Friday, for those interested, I'll have links and whatnot to it shortly, which normally means, in two weeks.
Since this is a 'sketchblog' of sorts, I should probably, you know, throw some art in.
There. Now you have art. This is just a lil dabble of Raichu, my favorite Poke'mon. I was testing textures and attempting my hand at lineart (you can clearly see I failed). So yes. I'm working on a few images, since Sugar Caine decided to pose for my sketchbook this morning.
So yes...I'll...leave you to my sister. She actually knows how to talk to people :D
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Welcome to Coffee Break!
This is a blog meant for journal writing, art posting, and a webcomic between myself and my sister Rattlecat. Obviously, this being the first entry, I'm not entirely certain of the future plan of this blog, but hopefully it'll be an enjoyable experience for myself, my sister and any readers we might end up with.
First off, an introduction. My name is Chaz, your resident zombie host, and I hate coffee. However, I adore working in a coffee shop. This blog is supposed to give off the same sort of easy-going atmosphere, complete with a venus fly-trap in the corner.
... Yes, you read that right.
It was my sister's idea. With any coffee shop comes flies and sucky customers, so we needed a fly trap to get one or both of those groups. What's your name, little guy?
... "Sugar Caine"... Those initials are SC. For Sucky Customers. Which you will eat.
I like it!
Rattles and myself will be keeping up this blog, so watch this space for more updates and adventures.
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