WRUP: When did it become November?

It's November. When did that happen? Yes, at the end of October, thank you so much. But seriously, it seems like this year just flew by. Already, stores are busily stocking the shelves with winter holiday decorations, ignoring the upcoming Thanksgiving in a mad dash to get the biggest sales out. And while that's obnoxious, I can't blame them because time is just whizzing right on by.

So, when we rounded up the hottest news in "what are you playing" this week, I asked your intrepid staff of WoW Insider do-gooders what they're doing to prep for the holiday season.

And yes. I'm totally ignoring the election. That wasn't an accident.

Alex Ziebart (@AlexZiebart) Hopefully I'm finishing up my time with the Golden Lotus this weekend. That, and I'm hoping to get some LFR time in. Outside of World of Warcraft, I'm hoping to knock out Operation: Jackhammer in Mass Effect 3. To prep for the holidays, I'm plugging in the Christmas lights that have been hanging around the border of my window since last year. Why take them down? They're only going back up again!

Chase Hasbrouck (@alarondruid, @alaronmonk)

Dan Desmond (@Antigen_) Unfortunately Skyrim just got its 1.8 update which had the wonderful consequence of desyncing the Creation Kit that goes with it, meaning my side project gets to be put on hold until that issue is addressed. I suppose I could fill time by leveling my mining on my druid and blacksmithing on my paladin, as well as lying in wait for that one day when the August Celestials don't send me to the Jade Temple.

I'm not sure if I want to decorate my apartment or not. I may just see if my parents have any old lights they're not going to use rather than go out and buy new ones, but then I'd have to hang them up and... bah, humbug, so much hassle. At least there's Thanksgiving to look forward to!

Daniel Whitcomb (@danielwhitcomb) I'm heading out of town to visit some friends and go to a combination Wedding Reception/Karaoke Costume Party, so no video games for me. If I get back in early enough on Sunday, I may try to fit in Operation Jackhammer on ME3 MP, or do a round of August Celestial/Shadopan Dailies.

As far as Holiday prep goes, I am a single guy living 700+ miles from my immediate family, so I don't have much to prep for. Amazon.com will take care of shipping my presents back home. My Roommate wants to decorate our house pretty nice this year though, so I will probably help him out with that.

Elizabeth Wachowski (@leeatwaterlives) hopefully leveling my druid, now that the baby can amuse himself for short periods. I am working both Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, so I get a pass on holiday prep.

Lisa Poisso (@lisapoisso) I'm dinging. My WoW shadow priest needs to ding, my Guild Wars 2 engie needs to ding, and my husband and I need a date night to ding. (Oh wait, am I allowed to say that in a family-friendly post?) As far as prepping for the holidays, a little plotting and planning seems to be in order. The town we live in now gives kids the whole week off for Thanksgiving, so we'll have time for something beyond frantic feasting followed by normal weekend chores and back to work!

Matt "Matticus" Low (@matticus) Leveling my Shaman as well and adding some raid gear to my Horde priest. It's nice to play on both the Horde and Alliance factions. They're actually more similar than I thought. I've been reassigned from healing to shadow on my main priest so I'm doing what I can to catch up. Spent almost 8 years as a healer and this is my first raid as an official ranged DPS. Quite daunting for me!

Matt Rossi (@MattWRossi)

Megan O'Neill (@slowpoker) Same old thing in WoW: continuing to work on multiple reps. Special activities like alt leveling, or challenge modes, or dungeon soloing in preparation for 5.1 pets, may occur. Also may occur: Guild Wars 2 and Diablo III, again.

I'm writing as much Nanowrimo now so I don't feel guilty at Thanksgiving spending all this time not writing.

Michael Gray (@writegray) Writing the third installment of The Mystery Hounds, revealing the Moriarty-like figure that's been causing all the trouble. I'm already cleaning the house to make room for the tree.

Olivia Grace (@oliviadgrace) I'm going to be playing my shaman on WoW, some arenas, some RBGs (hopefully) and the first guild raid since the expansion. Yes, we're rather behind -- RL aggro! I am also leveling my paladin, she's still not 90 and I'm a little ashamed. I also have a hankering for a bit of BL2, so if there's time, then some of that. I'm nothing if not ambitious.

And, for obvious reasons, we don't celebrate Thanksgiving over here. The holiday season is really just Christmas, so it's far too far away for me to even consider planning anything!

Robin Torres (@cosmiclaurel) I will be stubbornly boycotting the fact that the holiday season is supposed to have begun already. I'll be observing the boycott by staying home and playing Mists all weekend. I'd also like to play X-COM. I used to play it back in the day and the new one has the same amazing gameplay. But I can't. If I start, I won't be seen anywhere else for a week or four. So Pandaria it is! (not exactly a hardship)

The weekend is the perfect time to kick back, relax and enjoy some game time. Are you an achievement junkie? Can't get enough raiding? Rolling a new alt? Considering taking the leap into roleplaying? Whatever your favorite way to play World of Warcraft, let us know in the comments what you're playing this weekend!