Your Response Has Been Overwhelming
Thank you. Your kind words, both in comments and emails, has been beyond anything I could’ve possibly imagined.
I have not raided in almost a week. I have neither blogged, made a movie, nor done a podcast. I have done the “you’re never getting a white bear mount” daily quest two or three times while saying hello to the guildies. And I bought another Oracles’ egg.
But I have read to my son every night, and played with him until he begged for mercy. I have done more housework — found the cat-funk in the bathroom! – and gotten more sleep that I have in many months, probably years.
So far, so good.
I’ve actually been recruited for a job in Orlando — mo’ money! — which would basically reduce my commute from a total of two hours per day to twenty minutes. Perhaps this is quitting-WoW karma? One can only hope.
I miss you all, can you imagine that? Why does one play WoW, right? Not for the scintilitaing poop-quests, no indeed. We play because of the people. Y’all are a pretty tight and upright bunch of folks, and I’m proud to know you.
One of the more popular requests is a last round of teeshirt sales, including the frequently hinted-at Spirit Beast shirt. Well, if our Vegas-domiciled artist can get off the pain-pills — poor b@stard basically got eaten by wild marmots — we’ll see what we can do.
Alright! Be good to TJ, we gotta run: cookin’ steak.
/wave!
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This is great, BRK. Keep up little posts about your life…I STILL loved coming to the site and reading it! Even if it wasn’t about WoW. You’ve gained a following, not just because of the game you play but because of the writer and entertainer that you are.
Keep it up!
I second what Tophy wrote. I hope to be able to read what is going on for yrs. to come. BRK you are one funny man. You are a man right. LOL
Anyway hope all works of well for you.
Ladyperrin aka LP from Medivh
yes spirit beast tshirts! Awesome. man its sad to see u go brk. have fun with ur family
also are you gonna blog at all? maybe alil..?
“Y’all are a pretty tight and upright bunch of folks”
Right back at ya, big guy
^_^
mmnmm steak…mmmmm…
glad to hear its going food for you! I hope the job with a low commute works out. 2 hours of commuting sucks. I know i’ve done it!
Although I never actually wrote comments, i’ve been an avid reader since really learning to play my hunter. What kept me coming back was the humor and the in sight into life, as well, as the game. I have to echo the request for RL updates bc I know you’ll still keep us very enthralled with your stories and flair for writing. Best of luck.
Lame.
Only WoW related blog I still read since I quit for the exact same reasons. Neglecting my family. Not horribly, but 3-4 hours a couple times a week that really could’ve been spent elsewhere.
Cheers dude. You really wont regret it.
I <3 steak
Seconded! Thirded? Fifthed? Something like that… I completely understand why you have to quit WoW — I myself took a hiatus for a month, and when I came back it was on a much less-frequent basis. But I hope you’ll come back here occasionally — as Daniel — and keep talking to us. “BRK” was funny and outrageous and kept me coming back even when I wasn’t playing my hunter… but the Airman Howell stories were the ones that made me nearly wet myself laughing.
Kohaku likes how it turned out for BRK.
BRK cooks? May Kohaku suggest BRK to learn to make sushi and cut sashimi and make garlic mashed potato? ^_^ that’s my dinner tonight!
Kohaku agrees with the commenters above about how we would like to know what your daily life consists of.
He cooks and bakes and grills. Make pies from scratch. Crusts and everything.
I’m going to concur to whatever N’th degree about what Tophy has already stated above. Just hearing that your life’s back to a state of semi-normalcy is a relief to both hear and read about. Little posts like these once or twice a week definitely make it worth reserving a spot on my favorites bar for your site.
Very nice indeed, BRK please if nothing else, keep up little posts about you and your family / life. I really miss your sarcasm and would love to continue reading your posts. Coming back to the site is one of my daily tasks when I turn on my Mac. You’re quite a character and very unique!
Live long and prosper my friend!
Agree with all of the above! Really just great to hear from you and hope it happens fairly often! Enjoy your upcoming months BRK and remember, Hobbes likes his steak raw!
Hey BRK.
.
It’s good to see you are in good spirits!
I’m still visiting everyday to see little posts like this. As a lot of people have said, you have a talent and I really hope you don’t let it go. But I suppose putting that talent towards your Son and Wife is the best way to channel it
See you around.
Fo’Shizzle!
I can safely say I have been rather depressed since you gave the big goodbye. I came because I wanted to avoid being a “huntard” and stayed (lurking) because I enjoy the stories, the enthusiastic podcasts and the things you put into this place that make (I refuse to say made) BRK such a special site. I can only hope it continues on in some fashion that can be richly rewarding to the people who come here and especially to the author, his family, and his brain.
From scratch pie crusts!! Once again, you have exceeded expectations! Well done.
As others have said, it would be wonderful if you gave us occasional updates.
Oh, and yes, please! Spirit Beast shirt would make for much happiness!
KEEP THE ASPARAGUS AWAY FROM MY STEAK!!!
that being said…Enjoy sir, I salute you again. Take care.
Sounds like the Life BRK. Sounds like the life. Good luck with the Orlando Job, I’m sure you won’t need my luck, but hey…. Why not, right?
Take Care of yourself. and make sure to stimulate Brain daily!
BRK
What great news – you go guy
w00t for you and your renewed life!
Best luck on the perfect job – commuting ugh!,
Your son screaming for mercy (lol!)
And sleep . . . . amazing stuff!!!!
Its good to hear that it is going well!
Glad things are looking up at the Casa de BRK! Nothing beats spending time with your family. And there’s not one single better investment than the time spent with your children. Oh, and big grats on your new job! Just recently cut down from a 2h/day commute to a 10 min one myself and I’m loving every minute of it!
Take care and keep us posted!
yey BRK!
will you be posting infrequent updates about regular life?
<3cha BRK
I would like to ninth (yes, ninth) the request Tophy first made that you do make a habit of coming back here to periodically blog about your life.
Also, I concur with you on why people play WoW. It’s for the interaction with other human beings, not the interaction with a computer. A lot of people have said RL > WoW, and as a fellow engineer and rocket scientist I’ve got to say that inequality is not only inaccurate but incomplete too. I think the correct inequality is Family > Work > Playtime. It’s really just about priorities, isn’t it? And your Family must come first, naturally. But the thing that bugs me the most about the oversimplified RL > WoW is that it implies WoW isn’t part of RL.
Think about this for a minute. Are the friendships you’ve formed with real people with whom you happen to play a game any less real or any less a part of your life because your interaction with those people typically occurs on a computer? By that logic wouldn’t a phone call to your mother also be less real? Does the technological aspect of our interaction with people somehow degrade the value of that interaction? Well, may be it does if you’re a poor typist or don’t have Vent, but other than things like that I don’t think it does.
If we all keep our priorities straight we’ll be able be excellent fathers, mothers, sons, uncles, brothers, etc while not loosing our jobs and still enjoying some relaxing fun with our friends.
Glad you’re enjoying your time with your son! These years will never come again.
Slap it twice on each side, and put it on a plate! Nah….I kid, I kid. I like my steak cooked “medium” with a nice pink middle, but no blood running. I once ate mine medium rare, with a lot o’pink and some blood…..but after eating out enough times and seeing it “moo” at me, I started ordering it a bit more done =)
I needs to get myself out back and clean up my wonderful Webber……..that thing rocks. It pegs the needle out a 750 degrees……..so I don’t know just how hot it actually gets. Those 3 burners get mighty hot……….still have a scar on my hand =/
Yay, Daniel!
And Yes, I will keep coming here to read about you playing with your son and about work commutes and all that… because you’re just that kind of person. I hope you eventually find a balance that lets you enjoy all the things you love in life while keeping the most important things just that… most important.
If I weren’t full of yummy chicken and rice, steak would sound great!
Good to hear BRK! When I quit WoW (for 6 months!) in July I moved, got a great job, went back to school and saved up enough to buy a car. I’m playing again, very very casually, and enjoying myself. I’m not sayin’, I’m just sayin’.
I’m sure you’ll get your groove back, good luck with the possible new job! You’ve always seemed like a stand-up guy to this reader.
More BRK WOOT!!
I had to run a jackhammer today. Your job sounds better. But me not haz enuff brains. Anyway,make mine a medium well. And marinate it in vicodin if you don’t mind.
Great to hear a blurb back from ya.
I would definitely recommend the pioneer woman if you’re missing the blog scene, and you’re getting into cooking more often. Amazing food, and nothing about WoW.
On a Hunter note, I’ve spoken to all of the Hunter’s I know, we’re glad to see ya move on and wish ya the best. No regrets.
I have this increadibly wise and moving thing to say:
/HUUUUGGGGGGSSSsssssssss
*achem* *bows*
We luv ya man. I would be all over a Glow-Kitty T-shirt.
Like it or not BRK, we are all members of your ‘extended’ familly…..so keep in touch and good luck with the job
Awesome to hear about the steak.
And, uh, y’know… the rest. That’s great!
But the steak… mmmmmm. Wish our apartment had a proper balcony for a grill.
Ding i think you just leveld up on the home front : ) nice to hear from you.
Oh and to TJ your awsome too : )
Hey BRK,
While we all know thatyou’re doing a great thing it would be awesome if you get 10 minutes if you drop by here every now and again, because believe it or not: WE MISS YOU TOO!
Glad it’s going well for you, you deserve it
P.S. I rolled a Dwarf Hunter in your honour the other day, and considering I’m a Horde til I die kinda guy it suprised even me! Still, it is nice to wander around Ironforge and not get attacked….
BRK
Please please PLEASE continue blogging. Besides my homepage, facebook; bigredkitty.net is always the first site I visit when I decide to do my “checking” of various sites.
Even if it’s completely non WoW-Related, I’d still love to see posts like the one I’m commenting on!
Sincerely,
Asahunt
Here’s to you BRK.
/raise glass
You are, as we say down here, good people. Do your real family right; your WoW family ain’t going anywhere
Nom steak.
Even though you haven’t posted much recently, it’s a habit of mine to go to this site second after google. I’m one of the people that helped you get 5 million hits! Woo!
Just remember whats important.
Family & RL > MASSIVE QUANTITIES OF SUSTAINED RANGED DPS
Sincerely,
Glanvar of Stormrage
Thanks for checking in, my esteemed Hunter-becoming-a-better-dad friend.
Enjoy life BRK Been a long time since we chatted but I have always kept up with ya. Hope everything turns out for the best. heh, I still remember runnintgStrat with you. Good luck with everything
As long as there is still whispers on this site from time to time from you Daniel, I will continue to check it on a daily basis. I know I could never thank you enough for everything you have always done for us, your fans and peers. I know I am not speaking alone on that either. Please take care of yourself, and your family. Thank you again for a lifetime of fun stories to re-tell.
Your lifelong faithful readers,
Kestrus and Revelin
Even the crust? Damn.
Groovy, baby!
nice one man. i had a similar revelation (music rather than family) not long ago and have been more than 2 months ‘clean’ of wow but i still read the blogs i used to frequent on occasion.
anyhow i thought id let you know how useful your lessons and writing were to me while i was playing. They really helped me out of the ‘huntard’ and into someone people wanted to play with which was important to me at the time (its amazing just HOW important it can feel,) so thanks a lot dude and i wish you the best.
QFT all the comments above, Family > WoW.
I’d still love to see an Airman Howell book someday, those were always my favorite posts. >.>
Oh, cat-funk. Amazing how stealthy those poopies are.
BRK, please keep in touch, however infrequently… your writing, your humor, are just plain ol’ perfect. I’m soooo happy for you & your family–they deserve all of you.
… But could we have a itty bitty tiny chunk? Just to stay up to date?
Enjoy yer steak!
Just good to hear ur doin well mang. Njoy.
GET TO WORK TJ!
You went from button mashing to grillin’ with the family. That’s the secret no one lets on to, it’s in the beef….
Anyways, jokin’ aside, I’m actually looking forward to seeing a bit less of those “inner headspace WoW conversations” and hearing more about your grillin’ techniques….any particular cut you enjoy?
Take care!
-Longtime Lurker
Tell you what I agree with some of the other posts. WoW or not, you should still blog. You have a gift of written communication. Your opinions are well thought out and relayed. Keep on keepin on.
Hey does this mean you’re just cutting down not quitting, i mean if your blog only updated once a week i’d still read it and you don’t need to do all those crazy videos, are you getting that balance back?
Ahh it’s good to see an update.
Seriously, reading daily updates here has become one of the high points of my day, sad as it is. You really do mean a lot to all of us crazy people BRK/Daniel.
We love ya!
Hi Daniel,
As a fellow hubby/father and 40yo I can relate to your struggle for balance. WoW can easily become an obsession esp for the nerdy min/max types like myself and I’m guessing you. I’ve quit and restarted a few times, each more successfully in terms of achieving a balance. Gear lust is a potent task master….if you can beat that aspect of the game you can successfully play it casually.
Best wishes and I’m very glad you caught the problem before it went terminal.
WANT – Spirit Beast kitty shirt
I have the other three and would love to have the fourth for my collection!
I’ve been rewarded by my habit of checking here every day :]
I was hoping you’d do posts like this, feels like we know you, at least enough for us all to genuinely care. Congratulations on the job offer.
Apparently, “retirement” suits you.
<3
d-(^.^)z
Wow man… as in the sound.
Seems like the ‘problem’ was bigger than anyone knew huh (well apparently not Red Fury). Well it is good to hear you have it under control now. It’s evil what bad things can do to us when it comes in good packages. Keep it up.
In time we can only hope that you might find the time to have a few hours for BRK now and then.
BRK,
Don’t let this little community go to waste… Even if you are not playing WoW anymore (or as much) don’t quit writing. You have an amazing tallent to turn life in general into an expirence, a funny, event filled flavour.
Keep up the gear work with the family and I sincearly hope you decide to keep blogging…. Im there are plenty of adventurs in RL for Brain.
Peace,
Morgan
Nice to see a post from you BRK, keep up the good work with being there for your family.
For us a post on how you are doing and what’s going on, once in a while will be enough.. at least that’s how i feel.
Nice to see that you are doing okay..
Best regards
Mullets Frostwhisper – EU
Again, good on ya Dan. Glad to hear the dear old dad is letting the kids play with the toys instead of hoarding them for himself /smirk
May you live long and prosper (no pun intended).
Cheers,
Stangmar and the Half-Screen Bumblebee of Doom =)
P.S. : Wish I could cook.
By the way, idea for the Spirit Beast shirt phrase, if you haven’t got one already;
“Many will enter, few will win.”
Sorry to hear about the Rabid Marmot Attack… And here I thought Ferocious Bite was bad enough o.o
So, I was thinking about it just now, before bed… I don’t even care that much if we get t-shirts with new designs, but could we maybe just have one last round of shirts with the previous designs? Rhino, Core Hound, etc.? Some of us.. *ahem*… might have not had enough cash flow, the last time they were offered and we might like to have one last shot at some BRK merch before it goes the way of the Dodo.
Good, keep playing as long as you can find a way to keep BALANCE as part of your life. Treat it as a hobby, not a job. Family first ALWAYS, but time for yourself as well as long as it does not interfere with those things in life that are most important.
/cheers
Hi BRK,
While this is very nice (all the stuff you can and do) i just cant stop to think how it is from your wife POV. I mean i know she appreciates it but still transforming like that over night createst issues in both of you. Because deep down you miss the game (”people”), you miss the bloging, you miss the action, the fun of getting that long wished purple pixel … more than you would ever admit to even yourself.
And i know this because i been there, and it felt like fake (even if i did everything by the book).
This is the first time i post a comment on your blog (even tho i read it for about 6 months or so) but is just to tell you that you are doing a great job having that subjective yet objective opinion on most the subjects, and prolly is not the best decision to give that up. Make it lesser if you want, but dont stop it.
My best Regards,
Deex
BRK,
It made me all warm and fuzzy when I saw a new post from you.
No, we don’t need to hear about WoW all the time from you. Just knowing that you’re on the other side of the tubes of the internets is good enough for many of us.
Call it what you will, but what goes around comes around. You shifted your priorities, so maybe something else out there did as well and saw fit to get you the new job offer. Congrats, btw!
As for a phrase for the Spirit Beast shirt: “I Caught Loque’nahak & All I Got Was A Lot Of /t’s”, or something similar to that.
BRK, you’re an inspiration for us all. Be well, do good work, and keep in touch!
~Tinuviel
Don’t forget to update us BRK! We like hearing about your space adventures too! Like KILLING POOR SPACE BATS!!!!
/Sigh
Jk :p
We all love ya, like that crazy uncle we see at Thanksgiving, and maybe Christmas… y’know, the uncle that you’re not supposed to play favorites with “because it’s family,” but you have a favorite uncle anyways? Yeah, you’re that guy for a lot of us.
Take your time away from raiding and enjoy being a family man, and congratulations on the new opportunity! Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. I know I’m not the only one that checks the site every day, hoping to get a /danielmode blog. Anyways, take care Uncle Danny! We love ya, man.
Great stuff mate, bad news though the cat stuff in the bathroom comes back, and I dont even have a cat, damn those oversized mice.
More money and a massive drop in commuting time? Hmmmm let me think, ok, thought over, you’d be crazy to pass it up cos thats 1 hour and 40 minutes you’ll have to play WoW. Ach no, just kidding, time is precious and if you can claw it back on the commute you go for it. I actually found it quicker to go to work on a pushbike than sit in traffic queues.
Good luck with it and enjoy that steak.
We didn’t even get a Brain-BRK Farewell post
It’s good to hear you’re enjoying your “real” life and I hope Mrs Howell and Junior can handle this much Daniel.
I agree with some of the other comments. If you have time, and if your family doesn’t mind, a post like this every month or so would be awesome. We’d love to hear how you’re doing!
Anyway, I’m happy to see things are going well, and that you haven’t quit Wow completely. =D Balance can be amazing when done properly.
Good to see you again BRK
glad to see such a cheerful post. Like everyone i’ll miss your wit and writing, I’d have read your blog even if I didn’t play wow
and would welcome the occasional BRK vs Brain dialogue
all the best to you mate
I just couldn’t resist going all the way back to the beginning, 3rd January 2007.
How happy BRK was a little later at his 1000th hit:) – now over 5 million?!?!
You have spread an awful lot of happiness and wisdom in your time, congratulations and all the best to you.
http://www.bigredkitty.net/2007/01/03/the-birth-of-big-red-kitty/
He’ll be back. I give it 6 weeks, if that. The fact that he has already posted another blog shows that this separation is not as extreme as might have been feared.
It may not be an April Fool’s joke, but this is not the end of BRK and WoW.
Thanks for linking that post Blemor. That’s a classic.
I’ve only been frequenting this place since about last summer, but I agree with most others in that I hope to see some new posts now and then, regardless of whether or not they’re WoW related.
I don’t come here to get the dirt on all of the latest hunter news, strats, etc. (that’s just a bonus). I bookmarked this site awhile back because it’s just flat-out entertaining. I’m curious to hear about the non-WoW related stories as of late, as well as how the “casual approach” feels.
Keep us posted as it were.
By the way, my money’s on BRK coming back. I’ve seen this time and again.
And even after you have resigned from the wow blog world, you still have this many people coming back, hoping that you have more to say…
You sir, are a legend.
I’d like to echo everyones sentiments.
My heart rose when I checked your blog today and saw another post. Even if its not WoW anymore, you’ve got yourself a community. Keep postin’ man, we loves ya
Good luck on the job front, and your doing a very big thing here
Good goin’ big man.
Good luck caring through this decision. I think it’s the wisest thing to do, as I’ve seen what happens when you ignore these messages given to you by your loved one. A former guildie of ours was married, had a beautiful baby girl, couldn’t distance himself from raiding and helping out guildmembers – even after being warned several times by his wife that she couldn’t cope on her own. And even though he didn’t have any intention of hurting her, he just *didn’t* get it. End result ? She packed up her stuff, their baby girl, and left him. Unwilling to reconsile even though he has completely given up on the game now.
There are just some things that are more important in life than a blog, a game, people who need hunter advice or whatnot. Our life partners are our best friend, and our children should be our top priority.
I’m really glad that you heard the message. I’m glad you’ve chosen what is important. And I’m quite sure that – no matter how cool the guildies or the tight WoW community may seem – you will realise that we just do not matter in the greater scheme of things. As we shouldn’t.
Be well. Be happy.
good for you. im glad you have your life back. thats what really matters
enjoy your life BRK, and thank you for the cool podcasts and information about hunterplay.
c ya round 
Congats on the job
good to hear things are going well for you
lol
I too have cut back on WOW, I also found the cat funk in my basement and I am going more house work, not to mention the sleep. My sons are not sick of me yet, but they are young. However no job offer that cuts my drive, oh well one can hope. Glad things are going well for you. Keep us updated on you family rep grind, sounds like you will be exalted in no time, I hear the rewards are all epic
Wave back GL in life hope u will
be back in buisness
BRK, its great to hear from you!
It’s also great to hear that you and your family are doing great. I have a question, Good Sir, with this new job in orlando, would you still work for NASA, or would it be for another company?
Well hope you have a great family filled weekend!
Jack
Good Luck on the new job.
I’ll keep comming back to your blog as long as it is up no matter if you write about WoW or anything else.
Thunderstone
Make a video on how to make pie crust from scratch!!!
Also like to /agree with what Tophy and Cadian said – keep in touch BRK, because we care and we want to know it’s going well
/hugs
/pats to Hobbes
NOW is it okay to tell us your favorite skinning spot?
just sending the love with the rest of the folks!
Gratz on the new gig, man. Glad everything’s working out for ya.
Take good care of yourself.
Mmm steak. Save us some will ya
Congrats and good luck Daniel.
When I took a step back from WoW I discovered my kid actually liked playing with me. I’ve gotten back into my hobby of cooking; the family is eating well again. I’ve been able to get back to the gym. An all around quality of life improvement. I do log to raid but only twice a week if that. I may log later in the evening just to say hi and do a few dailies but I’m nowhere near as active. And I think I’m better for it; as I’m sure you will soon see that you are as well.
Again, good luck
Good to hear things are going well for you.
As someone who did not spend much time with my father when i was young let me tell you he will appreciate it a great deal when he is older, and so will you.
Good fortune in all you do
Kevin
Hey BRK,
How about a brain story about RL and the family. I am sure that it can’t be a totally smooth transition back to RL – LOL
We love you BRK and even if you only get on here now and then to post, you will still be my first choice of blog reading in the morning.
Mmm, there’s no better dessert than a homemade pie, except for possibly a cheesecake made from scratch /drool
It’s great to hear that things are going better out there in the real world and congrats on the new job. A 20 minute drive>>>>>2 hour drive that can easily turn into a 4 hour mess because of idiot drivers.
Mmmm..steak. I love steak, baked potatoes and asparagus. I wish I was having that for breakfast instead of this lousy granola bar.
I also took a break from WoW, but only for a week. Not because I’m married (I’m currently single), but because I needed to catch up on some PS3 gaming. So I played my PS3 for a week. And it was glorious.
Thank you so much for all the time and effort you’ve put into helping noob hunters such as myself. I’ve greatly enjoyed all your posts, whether WoW related or not. You are a wonderful person, and I wish you all the best with the job situation and life in general. As many others have said, I will continue to read your blog whether you post about WoW or life related stuff. Have lots of fun with your son! And again, thank you so much!!
Great to hear from ya BRK.
I myself am on my 16th Oracles Egg…. X(
(Wrath’s only been out 16 weeks right?)
Keep up the domestic responsibilities.
It’s good to hear that all is going well. I was sad to hear of your departure. Your passion shines through within your posts and videos, but I’m happy to see that you are spending more time with your family.
I have a five-year old daughter. I rarely play when she is around. The majority of the time I spend doing me activities’, such as WOW, is when she’s asleep. The time flies by so quickly, make those moments count.
I was a WoW widow until I adopted a “if you can’t beat the crap out of em with his stupid zboard, you might as well join em” attitude. I now am a level 80 hunter on the Icecrown server questing and having fun with my husband who is a ret paladin. I owe alot to that pally as well as to BRK, you both taught me how to be a hunter. I still get lost in caves and dungeons and still fall from high places but my partner is there to rez me if necessary.
I applaude your decision to put family first but I will miss you.
Still seeking the elusive spirit beast,
Pambee
Wotcha BRK,
good to hear RL is recovering, BRILLIANT news on the reduced commute. Getting home in good time for little one’s bed time is fantastic. I don’t give a stuff about the t-shirts especially since they caused you a bunch of headaches last time (your son was packing them? not right…)
Take care of your self and your family. You don’t owe anyone here anything, you don’t HAVE to blog. The fact that you have acrued so many followers of your blog and prevented just as many huntards is a testament and for many ppl would be enough. If you have time and want to, great. But no-one here wants you to feel that you have to.
That said – I do still check just in case there’s an update :S
/salute
BRK – I can ask nothing of someone who has already given so much, given to the point of disaster. I can not ask, but I can offer – this is a huge community, and one that responds to your requests. I ran the tribute run for as long as it lasted, and won’t forget it. He still lives.
That community is yours to direct if you so choose.
And, again, Godspeed BRK.
/salute
You’re doing the right thing. Thanks for everything.
We miss ya.
As Mr Miyagi says brk, its all about balance. Great to hear from you and hope you can still be a casual player
karma indeed! nicely done.
20 min commute is very nice, presuming the job is as well
Phew So, so glad to see just a quick post.
i am probably not the first to say that i was truly concerned about BRK the person, not the blogger or raider, after your Farewell post. I am reassured beyond words that things are OK with you and your family, BRK. Really relieved.
(Damn, i never knew how much all this meant to me till, then. /sniffle)
Things sound like they are going well, and the best is still to come, no doubt.
Cheers! And thanks for thinking of us just a little too.
Please keep blogging…even if you dont play wow…your a hell of an entertainer.
/hugs BRK
So good to hear from you and that life is good! I sincerely hope that when something inspires you, and you have the time that we can see some more BRK vs brain posts. Subject does not matter, they are fun to read no matter what. You are a good writer and have a huge following here. But first and foremost to all of us is to know that you are making good progression in your rep grind and reach exhalted with Howell Household. The rewards are well worth it!
Can we say Big Red Baker?
Just wanted to wish you well again, Nice to have a little howdy from you. Sounds like good times in the house of Daniel.
But also,
Airman Howell sure was a funny read ya know… Just sayin
Mmm, pie
Your health, your family, your job, your playtime.
If WoW features in the fourth category, that’s great: even better if you can share your experience, because you write really well. But if there’s not enough time in the day, or energy, then that’s fine.
Thanks for the gift of BRK writing that you’ve done so far, and hope that the new job and re-energised homelife work well for you.
Woohoo!!
Glad your enjoying spending more time in RL.
As with everything balanace and moderation is the way to go with WoW.
From a Huntard who took the axe out of Ring of Blood cause it looked cool (I’m better now, thanks), SUPER HAPPY to hear things are going better for you BRK. While I’d also love to hear more RL updates (loveloveLOVE the Brain and Airman Howell stories), family first
-Sal
BRK, great to hear from you. I hope you will keep in touch with all of us through your blog – at your own pace. I’ll keep checking the site as long as it is up.
Yay BRK!
Nice to hear from you. I’ve gotten into a daily habit of checking on the blog, and was happy to see your post.
Please keep us updated. You are correct that it is the social aspect of the game that is the biggest draw, and I’d hate for us to lose an on-line friend like you – WoW or not.
He’s a cookin Fool!
Dav wants steak…
and pie…
darn it.
You have NO idea how happy it made me to find another post by BRK today. While family most assuredly comes first, I think we’ve all come to think of ourselves as your family as well and we were feeling a bit adrift with your sudden departure. Even as you couldn’t completely stop playing WoW, we can’t stop checking in on you for our fix. So as you wean yourself off the game and back into your family life and hopefully new job, keep in mind we don’t want to go cold turkey off BRK either!
Now, pass the steak. I’ll take mine medium rare please.
BRK, you’ve been an inspiration to me and to the rest of the WoW blogging community. I will miss your wit and boundless knowledge. Please, please keep us updates with snippets like this.
By the way, not that I expect a response but, I have tagged you on my blog for the Honest Scrap award. Please check it out at runningelk.blogspot.com
Miss you… *sniff*
Elk
Gratz on living the good life, Daniel! I have 6 year old twin daughters and a 2 year old son so my WoW time comes REALLY late at night after family time. I would not trade family time for the world, much less a game, and it sounds like you wouldn’t either. Good luck on the job and your future baking/cooking endeavors.
P.S. Did I miss something? Your original goodbye said you were taking three moths off from the game, but everyone is talking as though your Exodus is permanent. Take your time but please, figure out a way to keep us even a small part of your life with even the occasional blog. You really do have a flair for describing both in-game and RL experiences.
Much love to you and your family, Daniel!
So glad to hear things are going well!
Mmm, now you have me wanting to break out the grill, despite the snow in the forecast. Grilling low and slow, FTW!
So glad to hear from you!
I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT WAS OVER JUST YET! HUGE grats to you BRK you finally found your rhythm! I knew it!!! Now if only we could work raiding into your rhythm (but lets take this one step at a time
) Have fun with the rest of your few months!
PS In honor of BRK I decided to quit WoW and you’re right BRK real life is better!
THE FOOD CHAIN:
CoD 5 > RL > WoW
It was so nice to see that there was a new post when I just out of habit typed in brk site:) Thanks for still being around, telling us your big fans what happens in your life now that its outside of WoW. I congratulate you on your new job, may the only epic greens shower you:) Say hello to all your Ben Franklin friends from me, and tell them that if they want to get over here, I have a nice wallet with much room in it:)
All the best,
//Matt
We miss you too, BRK. Keep posting every once in a while to let us know you’re still alive.
Good luck with everything BRK!
PS. I got the white bear mount on the very first daily I did when I unlocked the quests >.>;;;
NIght elf /salutes.
Just wanted to say thank you. For the casual player like myself, your blog was a tremendous help at staying up-to-date with the game. Best of luck to you!
even tho your not playing wow anymore i hope you continue updating us. your podcast really got me into my hunter and i loved every episode. my favorite is having the little game sounds and chatter in the background. g’luck brk,
We miss you too, BRK! T_T
Even though I loved reading the site, I don’t think BRK should feel obligated to update his blog just for us. It’s his personal life, and if he wants to talk about it, that’s cool, but if he doesn’t, then that’s cool too. It was nice of BRK to open his curtains and let us peek around his home, but now he might want to close the blinds for a bit.
Haven’t posted anything yet since your announcement. Will miss your blog, started reading it when i got my first steps in raiding Kara, never missed a post since that day. Good luck with real life and have fun!
OMG, I’ve missed you SO much. I really glad that things are going well. Give that boy of yours lots and lots of snuggles and read lots and lots of stories because literally before you know it, he’ll be too big to snuggle and be doing all of his own reading.
BRK, glad you are enjoying your wow hiatus.
I too did the same. It is awesome!
Once you are not chained to wow, life does open up.
Peace to you.
great idea! BRK plz give cooking videos, us hunters hungry and our pets begs for better food
Pie and BRK, imba combo 
hugs!
Good to hear from you Daniel! I was thinking of you playing Legos yesterday when the family was at Ikea last night grabbing 3 small dressers that we’re putting in my son’s room. My first though was, groan… another late night early morning building project. Then you and your son playing Legos popped in my head and I envisioned the 3 small dressers as an excellent flat surface for my son to set out almost all his Lego stuff (knights and dragons and stuff of course). Now if I could only drag him away from WoW to come play with me! lol/jk
Here’s hoping your commute gets drastically shorter!
What?!?!
BRK imposes a 100% nerf on my reveling dwarf brethren?? Not even GC would be so cruel! Why all the dwarven hate BRK? Punishing yourself for rolling a mage in a previous life? Enquiring minds demand to know!
Fraz
I’ll miss your stories the most…
And yes, that’s WoW karma fer yah!
/All hail BRK
I salute you as the greatest motivation to become the best hunter this side of Northrend. Your blog, stories, facts, battles with Brain and the side splitting Airman Howell anecdotes are a bigger win than a free slice of mouthwatering cherry pie
Congrats on getting the priorities right and it is something we all struggle with IF we’re all honest with ourselves.
Good luck and two requests if possible:
1.) Keep the T-shirts coming
2.) Do an Airman Howell book or better yet do a script
Hello, BRK. We have gotten to be rather fond of you as well. I will second, third, or whatever number, the requests for occasional updates, would love another go at T-shirts, and will respectfully beg for an occasional Airman Howell story.
Best of wishes from an airman in Alaska!
I love a good steak
Great to hear from you again and like all the others I hope to hear from you again.
Its too bad that you did not have an apprentice (well in a way we are all your apprentice) someone to watch over your Warecraft following while you complete the quests and achievements of family and real life. Someone to hold down the fort untill you can stop in for another pint and a tale or two.
I have looked for a Beastmaster, Podcaster, Bloger with your knowledge and ability to entertain but there are none worthy to carry your armor.
So I quess we will have to “stay right here” until when or if you can ” be right there ”
Errick of Draenor
recipe posts!
Great to here that everything is going well BRK. Good luck with the new job!
As a mom and wife, I know how Mrs. BRK must feel… and I respect and appreciate your decision too
Hope you are enjoying every moment with your family.
This post is the first in a long, long time that’s reminded me of the Damh I used to know, way back when, and while I’m saddened by the fact that it took quitting the game (and blogging) to bring about that change, I’m happy to see the change itself and I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying your time offline.
Glad to see things are going well for you and your family. Good luck!
Glad to hear its goin great man, keep up thee little posts!
Had to make at least one post after reading about your life change. Way to go man! Family first, PERIOD!
I had to give up WoW a couple of months ago but it was the right decision for me and I have few regrets. I do miss the game that was perhaps too well made, lol.
After finding your blog I became a “good” hunter and shed my huntard legacy that I didn’t even realize was a part of my online self. My last days with WoW were great and some of my best because I played well. Thanks again BRK. I wish the best for you in life.
Paul
Echoing the comment above me (and the hundreds of others saying similar things)… congrats on making the change, and getting it to work.
i also see a few people have thrown spirit beast t-shirt ideas out there…. so i thought i might too.
(picture of Loque’nahak, or just a glowy face/eyes & mouth, looking menacing)
“Loque at me!”
or some off colour “i’ve got GONDRIA” type slogan
Be cool man.
Don’t sweat wow.
Avoid it completely for a few months, no raiding, no quests, no buying eggs.
You might even want to deactivate your account for a while.
We all know this is an addiction, and you have the best cure in the world, a family. Put them first. Good to know you’re getting job offers in this crazy economy we’ve got now.
All of that is far more important.
BRK,
WoW can no more be the strife of marital discourse than golf, or TV, or even work. Don’t blame WoW, and don’t blame yourself, and don’t blame the wife. The wife seems to be the only constant while you’re other interests appear to be variable, but what really changed? The wife changed, and she wants you to change with her. She wants a job, she wants to move to Philadelphia, she’s bored.
“Thank you very much for supporting me while we had our children, but now I want to spread my tiny wings and fly away!”
“I am WOMAN, hear me ROAR!”
“”I expect to be supported in the manner I have been accustomed to even if I don’t want to live with you anymore.”
“HALF, Eddie, HALF!”
“This will give me a chance to explore my creative side, so I can live as an artist / sculptor/ cake-maker/ basket-weaver/ escort/ stripper”
All my married friends cry on my single shoulder. They never changed. Their women got itchy.
I truly hope you can do everything to keep your family whole, but I feel those days are behind us. We are a nation of baby’s-daddy’s. Women’s Liberation
I’m late.
I wish you all the best for the future, BRK. Keep up with stories if you want or not, I still thank you so much for all the things you gave to the hunter community. I’m very happy and proud to have “virtually meet” someone like you.
Take care of your family, take care of you. I don’t know many words in English to wish you good and well and great things for your life, so I will stop there…
Thanks again,
Nef
BRK quitting NASA? The death of the space program is imminent; they will not be able to survive without BRK.
Then again, this means there will be an opening in the crisis/risk mitigation area. Hmmmmm…..
Ok, BRK – times up. Start podcasting and blogging again.
POR FAVOR!! (all caps and spanish just has to work!)
Keep telling yourself that you’re having a good time on your hiatus.
That’s the only way you’ll make it though.
Nevermind that you think about the game constantly and want to play when everyone goes to bed.
Keep up the act and don’t break down…
Eventually she’ll “let” you play. But, then sooner or later you’ll spend too much time raiding/grinding etc. and it will start all over again.
Never let the game come before your family and you won’t have this problem.
Hey BRK,
Glad to hear everything is moving in the right direction for you. Im not a hunter, although I did start a baby hunter after reading some of your blog, but I have enjoyed reading your blog despite having an enh. sham and resto druid as my mains.
GL and I eagerly await more updates
Fantastic job!
Keep the kid of yours occupied… he’ll love you even more for it!
Good luck!
Golgat from Maelstrom
Even though I don’t play a hunter anymore, BRK made me a better WoW player. Instead of just mashing buttons he helped me realize there really was some strategy to all of this. Huntard indeed. Thanks BRK and props for righteous farewell.
Your enjoyment and zest for the game is what re inspired me to play the game again, despite this I more than understand your decision to make your family first. It may not take much to be in a family but it takes a real man to be a husband and a father.
[...] who’s done a lot for them. BRK also reported on his blog this week that he hasn’t left Warcraft for good, but it does sound like the choice to focus on his real life and family rather than what happens in [...]
[...] to thank someone who’s done a lot for them. BRK also reported on his blog this week that he hasn’t left Warcraft for good, but it does sound like the choice to focus on his real life and family rather than what happens in [...]
BRK, you did the right thing… but you will be missed greatly.
This greeting, unfortunately, has come too late… but this is in your honor: http://careful-aim.blogspot.com/2009/04/end-of-era.html