Week of July 27: A return to normalcy, although some might call an obsession with this game abnormal - at best. The week begins withShady and I working on getting his capture award and farming for materials to finish the sandman spike for the Final Invitation. While we wait for our group, Shady and I do some treasure quests. We only have 3 items to collect and 1 area that is not gold. Success! We now have cleared all the treasure quest. Finally the rest of them show up: ShadyGuyJMV, Tommy, Ghost and me are together for more quests. We are still helping Ghost level up, but Tommy and ghost didn't arrive until after 7pm. By time everyone leaves, Ghost only has his urgent left for level 5. He really enjoyed getting hit by silver los's fireball while wearing blango. Been there, done that.

On Tuesday evening, Shady interrupts my bowling to show me...he defeated dual rajang. Grrr, now I will have to re-double my efforts in getting the sandman spike and trying Yuffies tactics. Meanwhile, I am still farming Cephadrome for parts while awaiting the cycle of quests until my buddy Kirin shows up. Oh, here it is now. This time, 'hammer time.' Much better. it dies in 12 minutes, but again just my luck, it is up against the mountain side and I cannot carve.

Wednesday, Shady reminds me that 'you get better rewards if you capture" mantra. Yikes, after 17 unsuccesful Cephadrome solo quests, it takes just 4 more to get the parts needed for sandman spike upgrade. We discuss armor and Shady tells me that he saw Yuffie's post stating a defense 'over 500' while wearing Kirin S. Off to the armory...Well, my Kirin quest farming pays off, and after a quick gyp for rubbery hides, I have full Kirin. Er, well not full Kirin S - I could only make 2 pieces - but full Kirin nonetheless. My defense is 433. Now, where was the print-out of how to beat dual rajang....

Thursday, after bowling - online with Shady, Zephero, and Zeke hunting "G' Kirin. Shady wants to try the 'one hit' killing with a power-up GS. It doesn't work, Zeke and Zephero fall to the prancing clown and abandon. Grr, I hate abandoning - I think this makes 5 times now. We re-up and off we go. "One hit" fails again - twice. But at least I get to play with my new sandman spike. Zephero and Zeke disconnect - so Shady and I finish it off about a minute later.

Friday, Oh lucky me, again the offline Kirin shows up. Off I go for more punishment. This time I try using Azure ogre sword. Results are much of the same: 25+ minutes to kill, but I ONLY us the meds, 10 potions, 7 herbs, and 1 mega. Yea, I know, but I get so frustrated while it prances back and forth - being able to hit me but not hit it. So, I go blitzkrieg and take some thunder hits. Well, well, I can make another kirin "S" piece of armor.

Saturday: Online for some White Fatalis, and Garean with Akantor bow is really easy, easier than with DDU. Still no gunpowder skill, so I elect to torture myself against Lunastra. Takes two times to kill it.

Week of July 20: Back from L.A. I am glad to be away from that traffic. Vow, to not complain about Bay Area traffic for at least 2 weeks. ShadyGuy is waiting and wanting to do some Rajang runs. We manage 1 before the sleep deprivation overwhelms. Offline, since Mono is finished, I opt to get the Kirin title next. I have some Genprey armor fabricated and upgrade to the Hvy. armor sphere stage. So, grabbing my Dragonslayer sword, I head off to see the wizard, er town chief. What? No, Kirin. All dressed up and nowhere to go. Re-equip with and it is off to the snowy mountains to play with Khezu.

1,2,3,,,,,9 quest later, Kirin shows up. Now I remember why I really do not like it. I do not what to admit to how many herbs and potions I used (7 & 7) plus the meds and 3 megas. The most annoying part is when it runs past you, even though you are not next to it, it still hits. Toward the end of the battle, I refine my attack and smack him as it nears me. Perhaps next time I will use a hammer.

I am back to fighting the G cephadrome is search of coral fins to complete the sandman spke.