The past two years (not including this past weekend) I’ve spent Memorial Day in Melbourne, FL at a LAN Party. LAN stands for Local Area Network. I go with the boyfriend.
Ok, I have a confession to make. My boyfriend is a Gamer. And I mean a serious gamer. Like plays in tournaments and is a part of a clan.
I know I know, a clan sounds kind of crazy. I thought so myself at first. He is a part of the Gunslingers: Tied the Leader clan. There are 95 members of the clan and you have to be chosen. Not just anybody can be apart of it.
The clan’s mission is…
We are the TTL Gunslingers. We are one from many. We deal in lead. United by an uncommon code of conduct, we are a clan of gamers who seek our thrills through online multiplayer gaming. The TTL Gunslingers seek to uphold the highest standards of sportsmanship and fair-play. We fight with honor and a light heart; but with the expressed intention to carry the day. At the conclusion of a match, in either defeat or victory, our opponents can expect to hear little else from us than “Good Game!” This portal is a doorway to our forum, an unseen highway that leads to MidWorld. We bid you welcome to submit a bid to join our community. Be our guest. Challenge us to a match. Network with other like-minded gamers. Seek out teammates that will watch your back as you travel the hostile paths of Xbox Live. For over four years, we have been building friendship and community through the games that we play. ‘TTL’ stands for ‘Tied the Leader’. Our brand is an homage to the once-ubiquitous announcement of equality and balance that was heard in Halo 2, the game that first brought together our founding members. The ‘Gunslingers’ of tribute are the heroes from ‘The Dark Tower’ by Stephen King.
Sounds kind of crazy, right? Well, it’s not. I find this online gaming community to be MUCH like our blogging community. We are all friends, even though many of us have never met.
For the past 4 years, I’ve gotten to know many of these gamers. However, I never knew them by their real names. I call them by their Gamer Tags. So, Dweezle, Los Jacklos, Wife de Los, L Askan, ChubbyHands…and many more. I call them my friends.
Each year the clan gets together a few times a year for 3-4 days of gaming, fun, drinking, and just a good time. Sean finally invited me a couple of years ago. To be honest, I was nervous about hanging with a bunch of crazy dorky gamers…or that’s the image of them I had in my head. But, it was friendship at first sight. Everyone was SO cool and welcoming. I never actually learned real names, still just used gamer tags. We always room with Los Jacklos and Wife de Los. It’s always a GREAT time.
The hotel is RIGHT on the beach…so the guys spend their time gaming, playing volleyball on the beach, and enjoying some delicious rum buckets. The girlfriends and wives spend a little time gaming, and more time reading on the beach, getting massages and just having a good time.
We didn’t get to go this year, which made me so sad. Hopefully next year we can again.
So, here are some fun pictures that hold a lot of memories for me and Sean.
All of these pictures make me miss it so much!
When I first started dating Sean, I would get annoyed at his gaming. But, after I went to my first LAN I understood why. It wasn’t about locking himself up in a room and playing video games all night–it was about spending time with his friends. He laughs and they talk through the mics while he games and he has a blast. It reminds me of why I blog–It’s not because I love writing, but because of the friendships I’ve found here. I like talking with each and everyone of you.
Does your S.O. game ever? What do you think about it?
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Nice read Lisa (SkinnyHands)! We missed you both this year in Chicago. It was a blast! We will return to the beach again soon…
That looks fun!
Yes, Andy loves his video games and so does his brother – they are hilarious together.
I don’t mind it at all, he knows that I love to blog about food and fitness and that definitely is pretty strange sometimes too if you think about it– taking pictures of meals and what not haha!
I LOVE your new site. I’m finally getting back to my normal life, reading blogs etc. This looks absolutely AMAZING!!
All my guy friends are obsessed with the gaming… not to the extent of your bf, but still.
Halo was my favorite. They let me play until I started to get good and beat them. My alter ego was Ms Bax and I was a BAMF when it came to Rockets… ha
Sean is very lucky to have such a supportive girlfriend! Not only do you support him, you also get into it and have fun yourself. That is wonderful because I know it must bring you closer as a couple. Andrew doesn’t play video games, but he is obsessed with disc golf. At first it really annoyed me b/c he was always out practicing or at tournaments, but now I love that he is out getting some healthy exercise (that is the only form of exercise he gets!), has a hobby he’s really good at and is proud of, and gives us each our own time to be independent.
Aaahh Looks like so much fun!! You are so beautiful!
Daniel does like a fair bit of gaming, and I really don’t mind. I suppose I always just feel happy that he supports my hobbies/passions, so I’ll support his. Except when he’s on a few-hour-long bender!!
I love this post! I think that the general perception of video games and gamers can be pretty negative, its awesome to see this side of it
Navyguy and I love playing video games together.
Girrrrl, have you met an Asian that’s not a gamer? OK now you have. Kind of.
I know my way around some games but as far as WoW and stuff like that, not so much. I super love Rock Band. Does that count?
Thank you for shedding some light on a common stereotype. I’ll admit that I don’t spend much time with any gamers, but you make a great point about gaming being similar to blogging communities. Great insights!
Wow that is an intense love of gaming. My one ex bf was like that, well not as much, but he was alwaysss playing. My current bf has an XBox but hasn’t really been using it that much.
Mike isn’t a gamer however my sister is a HUGE gamer. She’s always telling me she’s the leader in points etc…I have no clue what that means. Then again she doesn’t know what a deadlift is
She’s won a few rockband tournaments and I know she plays that game up there with the gun…sorry I can’t remember the name LOL! I think her screen name is Shakypaws79 in case you happen to play with her some day
Well you know my S.O. does not game but I think its cool as long as it does not take over a person’s life.
Looks like a fun time. Especially if the beach is involved!
Oh, and you were right about what you said about Sean
Well your boy is one hot gamer
My ex was really seriously into it…I supported him, we had fun, but when we broke up it wasn’t something I stuck to since I’m not really a television person. But it was a good experience, it makes me much more patient when my fantastic boyfriend plays video games with his friends now. I get called “the best girlfriend” because I don’t make a big deal out of it.
My bf does not game. He is just completely UTTERLY obsessed with sports. more than anyone I have ever met. Seriously. Most people do NOT understand until they stay @ the house with us. The tv ALWAYS has sports on no matter what time of the year. OBSESSED lil’ boy he is! And he is in every fantasy football, baseball, basketball, soccer, etc. Craziness. I’ve just learned to live with it & enjoy more sports than I used to
That’s cool that you were in Melbourne- that’s not too far from me! Too bad you didn’t go this year
Hope you have a FUN weekend!!
YOU ARE SO FREAKIN CUTE! I missed you girl!!!
I think its so great that you can play with him. Honestly, I hate video games now because my ex used to pretty much be obsessed with them and let it get in the way of school, working, us, etc. so I can’t stand and would never be able to date another guy who plays video games. There is nothing wrong with it in moderation but he had no such concept.
You and your bf look HOT!! Your abs are AMAZING!!
My boyfriend’s not really into gaming. I think he was more into them when he was younger. It must be interesting to be one of the female counterparts in that gaming group.
Cute post, looks like tons of fun! But then again, anything involving beach, friends and drinks I am in
All of my friends hubbies are into world of warcraft or something like that? They have the headsets and play on there for hours on end. I don’t do the whole gaming thing b/c I have an addictive personality and can see me becoming a hermit, not showering, quitting my job and ignoring my dog so I think I will just hear or read about it for now!
It seems kind of nerdy but it totally doesn’t bother me because my brother is a gamer and I was a nerdy child. Pokemon anyone?
My interest for gaming died out really quickly though and I’m kind of scarred. I remember my brother nagging me nonstop to play that damn Halo with him.
Brent is not a gamer at all. We just got a wii not too long ago and we hardly ever play that. I do love reading Felicia Day’s blog though. I think she is one super COOL gal. Does your bf watch The Guild?
My hubby is into Call of Duty, it must have something to do with guys ‘in bred’ desire to be a “hero” or something!
I just wanted to know i’m adding you to my blogroll and I love your blog and check it often, but I just am bad at commenting..but i’m trying to get better!
xoxo Katie
My boyfriend is not a gamer, but one of my friend’s husbands is. I am not sure that they go to any conferences or anything like that, but when they would talk about it it was just like you said: about friendships which made it seem really cool.
I liked learning about Sean’s hobby. It’s great that you can join him.
My boyfriend doesn’t play a lot of video games, but he is obsessed with computers and software engineering. I can’t really help him, but I try to ask questions about his work.
How awesome!! Austin was a gamer when I met him with his xBox back in ’01. Now he’s all with the 360 and live and all of that – i think it’s great – he gets to virtually play with his brothers and friends from college – sometimes I find that he keeps up better with his friends than I do through gaming! And i’m with you – i’ve got my blogging!!
My hubby isn’t a gamer, but he does enjoy playing his PS3 occasionally with his buddies online. He doesn’t play a lot, but seems to go through phases. It was one of those things…”Babe, I HAVE to have a PS3. I swear, I’ll play it every day!” So I bought it for him for Christmas, and I think I’ve seen him play it maybe 10-15 times.
Looks like guys had a fun time!!
So.. I’m a half-Okie (born in KS, but all my family lives in Oklahoma) that just moved from Melbourne, Fla. I actually lived there for nearly 3 years before we moved to Jacksonville, Fla. Small world!
Those were great pictures! Living in Austin…I know a lot of gamers! Plus my Dad works for Capcom and he used to work for EA sports…so I have had my fair share of games in my life!
My SO does not game at all, but that gaming event does look like fun. Everyone has their own “thing” and others may not understand it, but it doesn’t matter. My SO is obsessed with tractors and equipment, I don’t get it.
love this flashback. oh marshall would be in seventh heaven if i liked to play video games…
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