Before there was a Blog, there was “Neopets”

When I first moved to Vancouver two years ago, I was a little lonely. Ry was on tour and I was home alone and friendless in my big glass tower with nothing but my ibook G4 and a pirated internet connection. It was sad sad sad. That is until I befriended four little Neopets.

Friendly bunch, aren’t they? Yes. Yes, they are. And delightful company, I might add. We explored Neopia with an adventurous spirit and a pocketful of Neopoints that I earned playing Tetris-like games everyday. Fun fun fun. But being the greedy entrepreneur that I am, I opened up a large store to sell rare items in order make more Neopoints. After my loving shopkeeper, Moosaka Noodlenese sold a very rare book, I had more Neopoints than I knew what to do with.

First, I built my Neopets a house made out of chocolate. Decadent. Oh yes. My Neopets were very happy to live in their beachfront, three story, chocolate condo on Tiki Tack Street in Mystery Island. It was all fun and games for my four little friends, but I felt that it was time they took on some responsibilities of their own, so I bought them each their own petpet. They love their petpets.

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Here’s Mumblefat talking to Snugglymouse. Isn’t that nice?

Then several factors got in the way of me spending time with my little friends:

1. My time availability after getting a real job and real deadlines;
2. My hands turning into “claws” after spending all day typing reports etc. resulting in 3 months bound in wrist braces and being officially banned from Neogaming all together;
3. My interests expanding beyond building digital chocolate houses.

But even though my life became busier, my Neopets were still hungry, bored, and demanding as ever.

I just couldn’t take care of their demanding needs on a daily basis, but I couldn’t let them starve to death, so I sent them away for 6 months. They were reluctant at first, but once they saw the AstroVilla’s 5 star diggs with all the fixings including, Swimming Pool, Tennis Courts Spa/Sauna, Burger bar, Maid Service, they said they were “delighted”.

Today I got four email messages from my Neopets. They’re baaaack! So I said hello, brushed them, gave them some treats, and packed up their favourite toys for another fabulous long vacation. This time they will be heading to the Ye Olde Ship Inn. What could be more fun than that?

Bon Voyage!