posting this pic so I can use it as my profile image...

An Indifferent Sort of Day

I worked almost a full day yesterday. I did the regressions for the new build, did a smoke test and a playthrough. Fun.

Last night I played DDR for half an hour, Michelle did laundry, we ordered pizza and relaxed at home. Michelle played Evil Genius and I spent about an hour playing Bloodrayne2. So far, I'm preferring the original Bloodrayne, but nostalgia always makes the originals seem better.

I did a few sketches for Cosmo, but nothing really clicked. I should look up pictures of actual space probes and see what inspires me, I guess. Though a realistic probe won't have a lot of personality... Unless that's the plan - that Cosmo is sent out in a pretty boring configuration and gets more and more interesting, more personality added along the way. Hmn. It probably should have eyes and a mouth, at the least. That way, when he's happy or bored or lonesome, I can get that across.

It's a gray overcast day, things are slow at work, nothing to be done. Not really in the mood to be at work now. Nothing going on. I can leave whenever I like, but it would be nice to have a decent paycheck.

After Christmas 04

It was a nice long holiday weekend, I had 5 days off!! It was pretty relaxing, but I'm slightly bummed that I didn't get many 'useful' things done. Just slightly. :o)

I played at least 10 hours of 'Evil Genius', which is a game about building your evil lair and sending out minions to gather funds and research through world domination. It's fun and addictive. Michelle really has a thing for it, and has been playing quite a bit, too.

I got lots of neat goodies for Christmas! We didn't have a big to-do, I made a roast and mashed potatoes, and we hung out at home and relaxed. Michelle and I each gave one another slippers.

Back at work today, but it won't be a full day. Most people are off / out of town, so it's pretty quiet around here.

Cosmo the Space Probe!

Got to work early today - about 7:45. It was either stay late last night or come in early. I hates me some staying late! It's not the hours, it's the time. I look at the clock, and my brain says "I should be at home watching The Simpsons right now." and I lose all motivation to be useful.

Wrote up a few bugs today, though not as many as yesterday. We're waiting on a new build which I think is gonna be a long while coming.

I went to work with Michelle last night, she had to close down, count the money, all that fun stuff. We didn't leave her store until after 2am. Ugh! I'm glad this only happens at Christmas time. She works hard!

Didn't work out this morning or do anything useful since I had to work so early. Michelle is closing tonight, so mebbe I'll get something done when I get home from work. Still need more goodies for her Christmas! I've thought of another item, I'll probably get that tonight. All her items are kinda small, so hopefully she doesn't show up with huge boxes for me, cause hers are small (tho good!).

Thinking about the children's book about the space probe. It's about a deep space probe named Cosmo that is sent out by Earth, a very basic, clunky no-frills design. Cosmo is sent off to explore the universe and he enjoys that. Cosmo eventually gets lonely, and then meets another (alien) space probe going the opposite direction. They chat for a bit, then Cosmo is alone again. He's disovered by an alien race who study him and make an addition to his hardware to help him out, and send him on his way. Cosmo is encountered by a number of friendly alien races, and each one adds something.

...Cosmo gets faster engines, better computers, new sensing equipment for tasting colors and seeing music, and so on. Eventually Cosmo makes it back to Earth and it's been hundreds of years. The Earthlings don't recognize Cosmo and greet it as a new alien. Cosmo is happy to be home, but misses the stars, so they send him out again, this time with a friend to keep him company.

It's a cute idea and I'd like to do it. I need to finish all my other projects (and they are legion) before I start another one. The NaNoWriMo novel, Fiction Interactive.com, etc.

Go Go Go!

Busy day! We got a new build just as we left last night, so testing began in ernest this morning. I wrote up like 2 bugs, this build is really buggy!

Got up this morning at dawn, did a walk/run, snuggled with Michelle, lost all my motivation and didn't write. I burned a backup CD instead, and read a book I bought recently... Can't recall the name. It's about a boy investigating the murder of a dog.

Back to Work!

Today is the first day of the new routine, back to being disciplined. Damn it. :o) Got up this morning at dawn, walked my two laps around the park - forgot again to get the pedometer from Michelle - and got some writing done before leaving for work. At least a few hundred words, go me.

Boss man Tim responded re: my 'what's up' letter from Friday. Brian, Gabe, Tim and I had a conference call, and we got some more details about work. Looks like there might well be some dead time ahead, where we'll be off work and getting paid for half time. Not bad for not working!

It seems that we won't become RT employees until like February (if at all) because it's unlikely any contracts will be signed for the Prototype Project until late January - (if then). Bleh. I don't like all the hurry up and wait of it all, it's a strain to be uncertain about one's employment.

Went over to pick up a gift for Michelle during lunch, and it turns out the item I'd been considering was $170.00!! Whoo! No, thanks. Luckily I saw the price tag before a sales associate could help me. I was in the store for all of 15 seconds, and spotted the tag. Yikes! Not that Michelle isn't worth it, but that's a lot for a shirt.

Are you a bug, Bill Murray?

Dave talked to me first thing this morning about the possibility of me working a few weeks for the company doing the Bratz game - (I'm pretty sure he meant I'd work on-site, here.) It seems that the next project has a verbal agreement, but nothing has yet been signed. So, the next project might not happen. Fun.

He said the Bratz people might be interested in me, but probably not interested in someone as high level as Brian. Ha. Apart from spending more time on the phone with the guys up north and/or chatting with Gabe, we have the same job. And I have very nearly twice the amount of bugs entered as he does.

And don't get me started on regressions. Sometimes it seems like I'm working alone. I've got like two or three times the testing experience he does. Whatever. I'm not looking to stay at this company, so whatever. Brian's done a great job of making everyone see him as management material. Way to go dude. That's the art, I suppose, not being a best worker. Pleh. One day I will learn to play the 'social' card.

Got up at dawn, walked at the park, did my weights, did some writing, snuggled with Michelle, and helped her carry down her gifts to be mailed. Who's the Good Du?

I had an idea last night, to do a book for 'Retail Spanish' which would help workers to be better equipped to help Spanish-speaking customers. I think I'll put together a query and send it out, see what kind of response I get.

Finally!

I was the excellent du this morning and got up, took a walk, and did some writing! Yay! Only like a hundred words maybe, but still. A step in the 'good habits' direction.

It turns out I left my camera in Ed's car the other night. He's gonna drop it off sometime this weekend. I'll be able to give him his Christmas gift!

Stopped on the way home and picked up some Druid Circle cookies - oatmeal, raisins, and walnuts! Yummmy!

Chillin at The W

The party last night at 'The W' went ok. Ed and I showed up about 40 minutes into the shindig, just in time to join the awards presentation. Everyone got an award, an anime animation cell with a cute reason why. Mine was a chubby little guy who is about to barf. Ok...

There was a woman there dressed up as the main character of the game, and she was alarmingly upbeat. I guess that's her job, but wow. Drinks were free, and Ed and I had one each. We left after about an hour, headed over to Pinks. We each had a Chili Dog and a Guadelejara Dog, yum.

So last night was cool. I did very little chatting at the party, another opportunity missed. Bleh.

I got up this morning and took a walk - very nice morning, slightly brisk but not at all cold. I came back and got ready for work, and spent a few minutes snuggling with Michelle. So nice! Then just as I was heading out the door, she spotted a spider on the wall, and I was enlisted to kill it. Manly chore done, I headed off to work.

Slow/typical day, entered a few bugs, no new build, yadda yadda.

Neat!

Holy cow, I actually got some writing done this morning! What do you know bout dat? I think I would have kept going, but I had to leave for work.

The release party for the game is tonight, we'll probably be released early to attend. Tim gave me an Xmas card with huge quantities of gift cards. Wow! I never expected such a thing. Very cool.

Ed is going to the party with me tonight, he's meeting me here and then we'll drive up to Westwood. Traffic should be lots of fun at that hour.

Finished all the Christmas shopping except for Michelle's. Dunno what I'll get her. I probably should figure that out, shouldn't I?

More Of The Same

Still lazy, have been for weeks. Can't seem to shake it. I end up watching cable tv all day, 'French Kiss' segues into 'Groundhog Day' segues into 'Armageddon' and there it is, I've wasted six hours. I think the thing to do is just leave the tv turned off.

Granted, I sit in front of a computer all day at work, and spent a lot of time in November sitting in front on the home pc writing, but does that mean that December has to be a useless month? Ugh. Maybe.

I did some Xmas shopping yesterday, but picked up an incorrect item, so there is some 'waiting in the returns line' to be done. I don't know if I'll do it today or tomorrow. I should get it over with, I suppose. I should have been more careful.

Bad Bad Bad

Didn't get paid today, wheee! So this will be another weekend without cash. Payroll says I might get paid today, but perhaps not until Monday. Fun.

We got a new build to test, we've checked all the fixes we can over the network, but we're waiting for our installation discs.

Slept in, was lazy, am lazy, unproductive, bad bad Mike. No more.

Sleep In And Snuggle Day!

Good day so far, slept in, snuggled muchly, got some rest this morning. Michelle will be closing, mebbe I'll get some writing done this evening. Depending on my hunger level, I might stop at the park on the way home and do a couple of laps.

Jamba Juice still has the Pumpkin Smash, and I had one for lunch. Yummy!

Had a busy evening last night, I did laundry and spent about an hour exercising.

The game wrap party for the research study version of the game is Monday night at "The W" a trendy hotel in Los Angeles. Michelle has to work, so Ed's going with me. Maybe he'll run into a cute girl and hook up.

Still no news on the job front. Brian guessed it might well be the end of the month before we hear more. He could be right!

Hey, How About That!

What do you know, I actually got some writing done this morning. Not a lot, but some. I forgot to do a word count. I got up around 5:45 and showered, had me a english muffin, and got to work.

I emailed the book to myself and printed it out at work - just to have a hard copy. I'll probably go through it tonight and jot some notes on it. Maybe, maybe not. I don't want to get caught up in the editing, and stop writing. I doubt that will happen.

Still no news on the job front - though now it looks like I'll be lucky if I get paid on Friday. Yoh has once again misplaced my timesheet. Great. Just what I need right now. Oh well, if I need to get irate with someone, I will. Ugh.

Another Gray Day

Same old stuff, got up, worked out, didn't do anything productive beyond that. I've decided that on days Michelle opens, I'll exercise at night. That way I can be up, showered, and out of the way, on the PC getting some work done by about 6am. I've been really lax lately, so lazy over the past few weeks.

We're supposed to find out about our new salary info in the next few days, hope it's an improvement!

It's Cold In The World

Hard to get out of bed lately. I used to spring out of bed at the first bleep of the alarm, and now I have to drag myself out after a few swats of the snooze.

Got up, worked out, showered, ate, and spent about 15-20 minutes in front of the computer writing. I'd describe it more as editing than writing, really. I might have to go through and re-read everything, clean it up a bit and get back into the novel. Michelle has set a deadline of December 30 for my next 25,000 words. Whew! It's already the 6th, I'd better get my ass in gear. I should ask for a prize of some sort!

On the days that Michelle opens, my best use of time would probably be to get up, work out, shower, and be ready for work before Michelle gets up. That would mean getting up at 4:30, which just seems too early, even for me. But it would give me a solid few hours before I'd have to leave for work to work on my project of choice. I'm more productive in the mornings than the evenings. In the evening, all I wanna do is lounge around and watch tv.

I keep forgetting to get a print out of 'Speaking...' up to this point. Mebbe I'll get in to work early tomorrow and do that. I'd hate for anything to happen to the original. I email it to myself after every work session, and that helps, but I worry.

I need to get some blank DVDs and start making backups of everything at least once a month.

Pulled Like Taffy!!

Interestingly, I mistyped the title as "Pulled Life Taffy". Freudian slip of the fingers? Mebbe. I just feel pulled in different directions, ideas are always more fun than doing the work.

November is past and with it 'Speaking to the 4th Wall', my NaNoWriMo attempt. I'm going to continue 'Speaking' starting tomorrow, and I WILL finish it over the next couple of months.

I need to get back to work on FictionInteractive.com, and I have some ideas for a Nani Power page on Ideagateway, in the 'Authors of Note' section. I've never made a such a thing before, and I don't know how it works. I think she's a great writer, but there's very little info on the web about her. Maybe her fans are not the sort who make web sites? I dunno. I also don't know what all such a page entails. How do you get permissions for exerpts and whatnot.

I need to get back on track when it comes to working on my projects. Maybe alternate projects, depending on what sort of mood I'm in. That way progress is made in different directions, it's more engaging, and work gets done, eventually.

Today at work has been slow. I expected more meetings, but it looks like we're done with that for now. We're supposed to get a new build here soon. Here's hoping.

Meetings and Theoretical Tirades

Yeah, we were in meetings all day today. The producers from up north came down, and we reviewed our preproduction process for the game - which happened before I arrived, so I didn't have anything to contribute.

Michelle closed tonight, so it was a boring night at home alone. I did spend like half an hour formatting the Ohio trip pics for MeeMurr.com, but didn't make that much progress.

Still don't know about the next project at work - if it's been greenlit, I mean.

Yep. It's Wednesday. Sure Enough.

Decent day, we actually had some work to do for a change. Lotsa bugs to verify, good times for all. The project is late, but not as bad as I thought. We'll see if my guesstimate of being 2 weeks overdue will come true.

Slept in this morning, took today off from exercise and projects. I went to get a haircut during lunch, and it took forever!

Not a lot going on...