In my never ending quest to get all of my World of Warcraft characters to level 70 before Wrath of the Lich King is released (hopefully later this year) I've been pressing forward on that endeavor.

By the way, note the very clever pun there. Quest? Get it?

This time around it was my Druid, Adore.

Massive thanks must be paid to Matt, who totally sacrificed his evening, got on his Hunter and helped me quest out the last half level in Shadowmoon Valley, bringing Adore's journey to an end with the death of this boar.

And for those interested in such things, my /played was 12 days, 15 hours, 35 minutes and 56 seconds. It would have been faster, but I did dilly-dally in the level 40-50 range, mostly grinding while I worked on my Paladin.

Anyway, go me!

I would totally watch this as a TV series.

"There was a conflict, because she's ugly." Hahaha!

Between Chris flicking me in the ear when I wasn't looking and the butterflies doing the Kentucky Derby in my stomach, I was a pretty big mess.

"Stop it," I finally told Chris.

"Would you relax?" He said. "It's not like he's going to yell at you right here in the airport." I suppose he did have a point. After all, we would want to save some fun for back at the apartment.

"There he is," Chris said, pulling me out of my head.

The look on Matt's face as the escalator descended to the terminal level of the airport was one I remembered quite well.

Almost 2 and a half years ago, the three of us had taken the red eye from LA to Raleigh-Durham and the two things I wanted most that morning were a very strong cup of coffee and a soft bed somewhere down the road.

How anyone is able to sleep on a plane is beyond me.

The drive back to my apartment was quiet, with Matt curled in a ball in the back seat and Chris sitting next to him. Even through all the heartache and anger, the bond between Matt and Chris never faded and even after 6 months apart, you could clearly see that they still loved each other.

After a hot shower, Matt went to bed after issuing very strict (though, through a yawn) instructions not to wake him up unless the building were on fire.

Six months ago, I made a mistake.

Five months ago, Matt told me he couldn't forgive me, and left abruptly in a fit of anger and resentment, hoping to start his life over in Los Angeles.

Two weeks ago, he called so he could scream at me for all the pain I'd caused him, and for driving him to move to a city he hated.

Then, after a few calls, spanning almost half a dozen hours as the middle man between him and Chris, negotiating it like one imagines diplomats negotiate peace talks, I got my exes to agree to come here for the 4th of July.

Howie even offered to play Switzerland for our little peace summit. He was having his own 4th of July party at his house in Southport and of course has a pretty liberal open door policy when it comes to guests.

This is totally worth watching to the end, I promise. [via: Buzzfeed]

This is all a part of a larger effort on my part to, you know, not find myself perched on the ledge of a tall building one day.

Anyway, I just wanted to share one of my most recent affirmative thoughts before I go to bed. It goes as follows: "Out of this experience, only good things will come." It's just a little reminder that, good or bad, every moment in life can be a conduit for positive development in the future.

Sure, it would be a lot easier to look at life with cynicism and negativity but in the end, negative thought doesn't serve any other purpose than keeping me a negative and cynical person. Anyone who knows me knows that I've tried that, and I think it's time to try something different.

Do you have any affirmations, or tricks to keep yourself in a good place? If so, post them in the comments, or send them along via e-mail.

On the way into the office this morning, I passed by the lobby bulletin board and something caught my eye. It was a photo of a Jack Russell Terrier with information below about how the owner was looking for it a new home.

I started reading, not because I was actually interested in a dog, but just out of curiosity. I like little yappy dogs... not sure why.

It was all written in huge blue lettering from a magic marker and there were big glittery hearts all over the place.

Somewhere, a cheerleader was going hungry.

The owner then admitted that the dog was a little "hipper" but "loveing" and that your "chldren" would have fun playing with him.

I bumped into the dog's owner a little later in the day, and asked her if she's found a home for her dog. Her face lit up hopefully, but I politely told her I was only curious and said that the dog looked cute. I then casually asked her where she went to college. To make a long story short, she has two masters degrees from a very expensive school in the north-east.

Hipper. Loveing. Chldren.

I have a question.

Why has it become expected for men to go shirtless in pools?

Looking for some relaxation yesterday afternoon, I slathered myself with SPF-9000, grabbed my iPod, and went down to the pool where I found a lounge chair in indirect sunlight, stretched out, and chilled to the new Coldplay album, which, by the way, I love.

Mission accomplished.

After about 20 minutes, I decided to make use of my new swimsuit, which I wore just in case, took off my shoes and socks, and slipped into the water.

What did I not take off? My shirt.

You see, I enjoy the heat, but not the way UV light sears my skin like I'm a piece of ahi tuna at a Japanese restaurant. Thus, I usually keep my shirt on in the pool so as to keep my body from bursting into flames.

And while people were polite, I did get some looks.

Not to be a all "I'm so hot and sexy" about it, but I do have a reasonably nice body and so these people shouldn't have assumed I was embarrassed by my physique. Nor were there many women hanging around, so it's not like they were disappointed because they didn't get a peek at the goods.

Rather, the attitude was, "You freak, don't you know you're supposed to take your shirt off because you get in the water?"

Seriously though, why?

Enjoy this Wednesday afternoon randomness, brought to us by way of my brother. And remember, Technoviking doesn't dance to the music... the music dances to the Technoviking.

He was good with the jokes, had a quick wit, and I genuinely had an excellent time sparring with him on this level.

"I need a boyfriend like that," I said to Chris, teasing him a little. "Someone I can joke around with. Kind of like a rap battle, but with jokes."

"You'd get tired of that level of repartee after a while," he said.

This stopped me for a moment. After my eyes, I consider my ability to make people laugh to be one of my better qualities. That's what you get, growing up on Nick at Nite; an excellent feel for comedic timing and a smartass wit.

"I'm witty," I reminded him.

He looked up from the coffee maker.

"You're not that witty," he said plainly.

We were standing at the bathroom counter together, getting ready for bed, brushing our teeth and taking turns spitting into the sink. He sleeps in tighty whities, which show off his lower torso (among other things) nicely.

"I'm going to hop in the shower real quick," he said.

While he was in the shower, I lit a candle by the bed. I'm not sure why I did it. I mean, we were about go to sleep, but something inside me said it would be a good night for a little fire in the bedroom.

I'm not sure what's going on, but fire and heat have been reoccurring themes in my world lately.

And of course, as summer presses onward here in North Carolina and as the heat and humidity climb, my libido has been following suit.

Chris came back from his shower and crawled int bed with me. His skin smelled good, like coconut, and when he gave me a good night kiss, it was warm and tender. He was hot from his shower, and when I kissed him back, there was fire in my touch. The moment grabbed us, and wouldn't let go.

We made love. It was gentle, yet consuming, and after it was over, I held him tightly and told him I loved him. Sex and sweat is a great afterglow.

And that's how we drifted away to sleep last night, with a tiny flame flickering in its candle holder, and its light dancing along the ceiling.

So, how did you go to sleep last night?

Cassie walked down the aisle today, taking hopeful first steps toward her own happily ever after. And she looked amazing in her dress.

I stood with her other bridesmaids, again, very thankful that a tux would work with the black dresses the rest of the bridal party was wearing.

My duties were simple, and mostly involved being a spy.

Since I could blend in with the groomsmen, I was supposed to make sure Thom looked good, keep him from seeing her before the wedding, and make sure his friends didn't do anything too silly to the car.

The string quartet in the corner set the tempo as she walked, as did her mother, sobbing in the front row. Howie sat behind her and I noticed him trying to comfort her at several moments. Her crying, though with joy, was sort of pulling attention from the main event.

They emotionally exchanged vows, and left the church with people showering them with bird seeds, cheers, and a lot of clapping.

Later at the reception, I gave my toast. It was a variation on the story I posted a few days ago, but less about Rick and more about the happy couple and how they came together because fate decided they should.

Afterward, I slow danced with Howie as the same string group from the ceremony played Moon River.

After the reception was over and guests were leaving, I sat with Howie and Chris, eating wedding cake on a wooden bench and talking about what the future held for the three of us. None of us had a clue, but we did know that fate wouldn't leave us hanging.

Two drifters off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end
Waiting 'round the bend
My huckleberry friend
Moon River and me