Over the hills and back again.
My week itself was pretty uneventfull. Lies and myself watched several episodes of BBC's Robin Hood, which is pretty okay, watched the first ep of 'Tru Calling' and generally had a very quiet sort of week. Monday and Tuesday saw very little action except cleaning up Gino (more props they you might think at first sight *grin*), but Wednesday saw Jules and me meeting up in Rotterdam, and then going to Krimpen and nearly getting through Blizzard's Skibi Tower Defense scenario (we made the 42nd wave twice and lost only just). It was a lot of fun and way overdue for the both of us. Thursday saw some nice but tough Crossfire action; we're at an 'awkward' level where Dungeons are either too ridicuously early or too frickin' hard, but still managed to finish the Mana Tombs minus one weird mission. Still, t'was good, and next time we'll be lvl 65 and we'll start with the Ring of Blood, something that Glok assures us is cool (never did it with my solo-ing main...). In other news, Wrath of the Lich King was announced, and with Conan not really doing it for me, WoLTK it is. Hello Azeroth, I am back.

The weekend can be defined as 'pretty busy', but not in an unpleasant way (I can stand more of these weekends). Friday was my chill day, with computering and going to Yasmijn's b'day in Schoonhoven. Biggest oopsie of the day was discovering the Lies had accidentally damaged the car while parking her in the driveway on Wednesday, and I could get to the garage on Monday. Still the car's driving characteristics were not heavily impacted, and I happily drove her through half the country over the course of the weekend. The birthday was good, and a lot of fun with linking up with the vampire crew I'd be doing my first "Mark Bosveldt Returns" session the next day. Went home around 12, and offc slept like a log.
Saturday saw an okay day (starting with the new 'Stargate Atlantis' offc) and my preparations for the Vampire session, plus arranging some stuff for the car. The session was good, and I managed to make a few small inroads in Rotterdam by Night, though I really need to speak to the Prince and my Tremere Regent... I have plans, though... mucho plans. Fun fact to discover was that in five years (since 2003) I had not even spent a single point of XP or even my initial character creation Disciplines or Freebies (started as a humie); everything had been earned ingame. Still, I have a decent Fledgeling with a reasonable amount of Masquerade protecting influence, so I think I can be of use in the recently re-instated domain of Rotterdam.
On Sunday Lies and me first drove to Almere, for the birthday of her nephew. Chilled a bit there with the present youngsters, and then drove to Arnhem, relatively near, to participate in the Sonsbeek closing ceremonies, which were very impressive. Also talked to a few German people who have a few interesting larp ideas, of which I will tell more soon enough. Was cool to see a few last vids and pics from the full Sonsbeek Chronicle and give Brody a good send off as he is returning to Berlin. Sonsbeek was finally closed with participants from all the art pieces and all the art guilds walking to the big villa with torches, picknicking on the big field overlooking Arnhem and finishing with a performance, lasershow and letting up chinese ballons. Offered Onno to drive home with us, and dropped him off home. We were home before 12 as I had to be back at work the next morning.

The week was pretty good, but full of changing plans. Very few evenings or nights went as planned, but not in a bad way. Was a bit annoyed by some surprised @ Pathe cinema de Kuip, but even that turned out to be a good night in the end. It is the way it is. Work has become more positive and I feel that I will serve out the remaining months till the end of the year with a lot of fun. I am also in a new course, one in learning how to advice in ICT affairs, and I think that might be a good next step to combine my reasonably okay social skills with my reasonable ICT knowledge. We shallt see. Friday Cora, Rennie and myself went to visit the location for the coming Lex, the Seven Hills. Only Rennie had been there before, and we had a quick run through the location, and we're pretty happy now that we have a 'feel for the place'. Due to us needing to visit during the day we could not bring the Foresight crew, but hey, better luck next time. The coming weekend will see Lies and me going to drahkan's b-day, also meeting up with the Unity group and giving our concept a good run-through. Sunday I'll go to Utrecht to meet up with the EE'ers and help with some logistics and prop-building, and hopefully after most of them also going at it on Saturday we'll have a few nice props for Exodus... but you'll see those soon enough.

But first Symbols, and while doing the old nostalgia-talk over MSN with maglok, I dug op this:

For years, I've lived a double life.
In the day, I do my job -
I ride the bus, roll up my sleeves with the hoi polloi.
But at night, I live a life of exhilaration,
of missed heartbeats and adrenalin.
And, if the truth be known, a life of dubious virtue.
I won't deny it - I've been engaged in violence, even indulged in it.
I've maimed and killed adversaries - and not merely in self-defence.
I've exhibited disregard for life, limb and property,
and savoured every moment.
You may not think it, to look at me,
but I have commanded armies and conquered worlds.
And though in achieving these things I've set morality aside,
I have no regrets.
For though I’ve led a double life, at least I can say:
I've lived.

It is an old PS commercial (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Bqq38WZctA), but it is fairly larpish. Enjoy.