That went rather well. · 3:39am Oct 15th, 2014
In reference to my last blog post, some of you have no doubt noticed that my internet-ing has not been hampered as much as either I or my family expected. The short of it is their plan fell apart when they once again configured the signal repeater/WiFi extender to connect to the main WiFi router. See, this extender is located in my 'lair', literally sitting right atop my computer's case, and as has always been the situation, feeds my desktop through an ethernet port. Having easy access to that means that even though the password remains changed, my tablet was still able to connect via the WPS function on the extender. This does, however leave me in an awkward situation. Unlike my desktop—I like to think of it as Cerberus—and tablet, the laptop that I do most of my writing from is of very old software and hardware, making WPS a non-option. The only connection is through a 'mobile' wireless device that has very limited bandwidth per month, and overages on that get rather expensive. So, of course, I am trying not to do too much on that.
Now that things have more or less settled into a certain rhythm, I should feasibly be getting back to writing, though I certainly cannot dedicate as much time to sitting down and forcing myself to write. This means that I should be able to finish the epilogue of The Alchemist's Heart soon and get it out to my editors. After that, you'll get a lovely double-shot of TAH as I release Chapter 36 and the Epilogue simultaneously.
I've also been discussing a possible spin-off of one of my stories with an author interested in picking it up. I won't say what or who at this point because there is still a lot up in the air, like if it'll ever even get posted. 
Even if it does, you needn't worry about quality of writing. This particular author, though seriously lacking in followers, is nothing if not wonderful. I'm actually excited that he took to the idea so well.
[You know who you are, so if you want to comment on this part and spill the beans, the ball is in your court now.
]
Lastly, Seven has indeed gotten his head stuck in another video game. This time, it is the PC version of Square Enix's the Last Remnant, a very interesting strategic RPG that is as much figuring out what each union should be doing at any given time as it is about improving character skills/statistics and equipment. I'm only eight hours in and I expect I've only experienced at tiny portion of it. In just my last hour of gameplay, I've accidentally wandered into an area with enemies too strong for me, killed one such enemy before getting thoroughly thumped by the next encounter, and then discovered a rare monster [read miniboss] relevant to a task that could be completed for a reward. This ended in me repeating the same battle for forty-five minutes as said miniboss thoroughly trounced me time and time again, giving me even more trouble than the 'Fire Idol' boss. It wasn't until I looked up how much trouble that encounter gave others that I realized that I couldn't just keep bum-rushing it and hoping for the best.
My only complaints about the game are that, like other things I tend to pick up, it's mildly addicting, and at this point, attribute level-ups [since the game doesn't have 'levels' in the same sense as traditional RPGs] seem almost semi-random.
Edit: Also, thoughts on my altered avatar?
Eh, it's the same thing, right? Just with less pink and brown an what-not. Why don't you write a new HiE once you're done with Alchemist's heart? It might be good to try something...'better' for a given definition of what it is.
Are you not able to break the new password? Dictionary attack or something like that? Where there's a network, there's a hole, just need to find it.
Seven's becoming a human again! We started out with When a Pony Calls and now we are coming full circle!
Dude. Repeater has an ethernet port, and is under your physical control? Grab $20 and go buy a cheap-ass hub, switch, or router, and at least one other ethernet cord.
1) Plug your new box into the other end of the existing ethernet port.
2) Use the other ethernet cord to plug your desktop into the new box.
3a) If you didn't buy something with wifi, plug the laptop into the new box when nobody's looking
3b) If you did buy something with wifi, set up a new wifi network, hide the SSID, and have the laptop connect to that. The signal will go from laptop -> your wifi -> new box -> ethernet -> repeater -> house router -> internet.
Cute avatar is cute.
2533984 Problem is that the area of the house I use the laptop in is not where the extender is. A long-enough ethernet cord would be expensive... and promptly chewed by cats.
2534012
Cheap wifi router it is then! $28 at Best Buy, you can probably do better.
So, instead of Button, you're going all gender-swappy now? (I'm assuming) Hey, you asked for it. You already know why I was banned from playing a character with weather magic, and then you had to go and make me play one with gender-bending abilities.
It's your own damned fault...
2534103 - too big and too easily noticable!
$13.66 from FleaBay. You can most probably do better :>.