I have broken that chains of debt. Well, one of them at least. As of yesterday I have completely paid off the balance on one of my credit cards. I'm now one step closer to financial stability. Just one more credit card and a student loan to go!
And what better way to celebrate my newfound financial freedom than to buy pre-sale Nine Inch Nails concert tickets on the other credit card?
Hmmm... I think my plan may be flawed. Ah well....
5th row baby!
9.15.2008
9.07.2008
The Days Are Getting Shorter
Sometimes I wish I were a smoker. Not for the nicotine addiction or the health problems or the money sink that cigarettes are. Only because it would give me a reason to spend a little more time outside. Standing on my balcony is nice, but without a reason to be there, it only lasts so long before I begin to question why I'm on the balcony and go back inside.
The cool breeze is a sure sign that Summer is coming to an end. It's sunny today, but how long will that last? How long before that cool breeze becomes a freezing wind, and before the falling leaves become falling rain?
I could take advantage of the weather. I could take a walk, or go for a leisurely bike ride. But I won't. I'd have no destination and no goal and no company, and I wouldn't be satisfied.
Growing up in small town Cold Lake had certain advantages. On days like these I could cruise down to the Marina, buy an ice cream cone, and sit on the breakwater watching the boats and the waves. I could relax and revel in the fact that it's a lazy sunday, and not have any regrets.
But here in the city there's concrete and traffic and people everywhere. It's harder to sit and relax and just enjoy the day when everything around you is in constant motion. I feel like I should be busy doing something. I feel like if I'm not actively engaged in some sort of activity that somehow I'm wasting time.
I have a personal mantra for days like these:
"Sometimes you need to stop reading the wind and just sail on the current."
It's the kind of thing I have to remind myself sometimes.
(It's also clearly influenced by my father.)
I go home every christmas, but it's been a number of years since I last saw Cold Lake in the warmer months. I think I'm going to save some vacation days up, and plan to make a trip home in the spring for a week. I'll see my parents, play my piano, visit with my aunts and uncles and cousins. I'll spend some time with some old friends.
I'll sit outside in the sun on the breakwater and eat ice cream and watch the waves.
The cool breeze is a sure sign that Summer is coming to an end. It's sunny today, but how long will that last? How long before that cool breeze becomes a freezing wind, and before the falling leaves become falling rain?
I could take advantage of the weather. I could take a walk, or go for a leisurely bike ride. But I won't. I'd have no destination and no goal and no company, and I wouldn't be satisfied.
Growing up in small town Cold Lake had certain advantages. On days like these I could cruise down to the Marina, buy an ice cream cone, and sit on the breakwater watching the boats and the waves. I could relax and revel in the fact that it's a lazy sunday, and not have any regrets.
But here in the city there's concrete and traffic and people everywhere. It's harder to sit and relax and just enjoy the day when everything around you is in constant motion. I feel like I should be busy doing something. I feel like if I'm not actively engaged in some sort of activity that somehow I'm wasting time.
I have a personal mantra for days like these:
"Sometimes you need to stop reading the wind and just sail on the current."
It's the kind of thing I have to remind myself sometimes.
(It's also clearly influenced by my father.)
I go home every christmas, but it's been a number of years since I last saw Cold Lake in the warmer months. I think I'm going to save some vacation days up, and plan to make a trip home in the spring for a week. I'll see my parents, play my piano, visit with my aunts and uncles and cousins. I'll spend some time with some old friends.
I'll sit outside in the sun on the breakwater and eat ice cream and watch the waves.
8.09.2008
Caffeinated Scapegoat
I blame Starbucks:
1) For the emminent closing of the Edge Café, my favorite morning coffee joint. I'm sure they'd do better business if there weren't so many Starbucks locations near to them. I'm going to miss their super-excellent muffins.
2) For my apparent gain in weight over the last 2 or 3 years. First it was the subsidized Starbucks at EA, and now there's a Starbucks behind the Threewave office. I think I might be slightly addicted. I used to walk a whole block to get an afternoon snack, so I wouldn't. Now I just have to go across the back alley.
3) For turning me into a morning coffee drinker. I used to make fun of "those people", and now it looks like I've become one of them. Next I'll be ordering double shot espressos on a regular basis. It's only a matter of time.
4) For my mild mid-to-late afternoon headaches. When the caffeine from my morning coffee wears off I just feel crummy. The only solution seems to be more coffee, which only delays the headache a little longer.
5) For lost productivity at work. I take a break to go to Starbucks almost every day between 3pm and 4pm. I'd feel better if half the office weren't also doing the same thing. Just think how much more work we'd all be getting done if the Starbucks weren't there.
6) For lost money. We have free coffee at work, but I just can't help but go spend a couple bucks for a tall dark from Starbucks, even though I know I don't need it.
7) For my slow internet connection and poor cellphone service. The people maintaining those services are likely just as addicted to Starbucks as I am, and so they're out getting coffee when they could be monitoring their stations.
8) For the clear-cutting of the rain forest. I'm sure there must be some coffee beans in there, and I'm sure Starbucks is involved somehow.
9) For the situation in the middle east. We all know they're all just fighting over coffee, and that oil has nothing to do with it.
Okay, I guess those last 3 might be a stretch.
1) For the emminent closing of the Edge Café, my favorite morning coffee joint. I'm sure they'd do better business if there weren't so many Starbucks locations near to them. I'm going to miss their super-excellent muffins.
2) For my apparent gain in weight over the last 2 or 3 years. First it was the subsidized Starbucks at EA, and now there's a Starbucks behind the Threewave office. I think I might be slightly addicted. I used to walk a whole block to get an afternoon snack, so I wouldn't. Now I just have to go across the back alley.
3) For turning me into a morning coffee drinker. I used to make fun of "those people", and now it looks like I've become one of them. Next I'll be ordering double shot espressos on a regular basis. It's only a matter of time.
4) For my mild mid-to-late afternoon headaches. When the caffeine from my morning coffee wears off I just feel crummy. The only solution seems to be more coffee, which only delays the headache a little longer.
5) For lost productivity at work. I take a break to go to Starbucks almost every day between 3pm and 4pm. I'd feel better if half the office weren't also doing the same thing. Just think how much more work we'd all be getting done if the Starbucks weren't there.
6) For lost money. We have free coffee at work, but I just can't help but go spend a couple bucks for a tall dark from Starbucks, even though I know I don't need it.
7) For my slow internet connection and poor cellphone service. The people maintaining those services are likely just as addicted to Starbucks as I am, and so they're out getting coffee when they could be monitoring their stations.
8) For the clear-cutting of the rain forest. I'm sure there must be some coffee beans in there, and I'm sure Starbucks is involved somehow.
9) For the situation in the middle east. We all know they're all just fighting over coffee, and that oil has nothing to do with it.
Okay, I guess those last 3 might be a stretch.
8.04.2008
Program Not Responding
The world gave me a sunny day today. A day filled with the potential for fun, adventure, excitement, and beauty. And what did I do?
I wasted it in my apartment. I slept in. I went to the mall to pick a few things up, and returned home. And then I had a nap, surfed the web, had another nap, watched some TV, and now I'm blogging.
Yesterday I made a list of things I wanted to get done today. There were 5 things on the list. I've only done one of them.
The pool is rather inviting today. But it's across the courtyard and I can't be bothered to go out in the sun to get there. Besides which, that's the kind of thing that's more fun with friends, and most of mine are at work today.
I guess maybe I needed some time to myself to relax. But I feel like I need more time, especially to do all those things I didn't do today.
But instead of making up for wasted time, I'll be going back to work tommorrow.
I have become a mindless automaton, marching to the beat of a corporate drum, and becoming lifeless when that drum stops beating.
I love the summer, but at the same time I can't wait for the seasons to change.
I wasted it in my apartment. I slept in. I went to the mall to pick a few things up, and returned home. And then I had a nap, surfed the web, had another nap, watched some TV, and now I'm blogging.
Yesterday I made a list of things I wanted to get done today. There were 5 things on the list. I've only done one of them.
The pool is rather inviting today. But it's across the courtyard and I can't be bothered to go out in the sun to get there. Besides which, that's the kind of thing that's more fun with friends, and most of mine are at work today.
I guess maybe I needed some time to myself to relax. But I feel like I need more time, especially to do all those things I didn't do today.
But instead of making up for wasted time, I'll be going back to work tommorrow.
I have become a mindless automaton, marching to the beat of a corporate drum, and becoming lifeless when that drum stops beating.
I love the summer, but at the same time I can't wait for the seasons to change.
7.27.2008
I'm Tuning You All Out
There are certain words in the english language that I can't stand. Slang words. Words that actually make me cringe with disgust and frustration when I hear them. I don't know what it is about these words, but the use of them really makes me angry to the point where I want to beat somebody upside the head with a dictionary.
"Douchebag" is one such word. Can somebody please explain to me how or why, in the last year, "douchebag" become the #1 word for referring to somebody in a negative manner? Weren't words like "jerk", "idiot", or "@$$hole" good enough?
To hell with you and your stupid insults. You're all a bunch of d-bags. So there.
"Douchebag" is one such word. Can somebody please explain to me how or why, in the last year, "douchebag" become the #1 word for referring to somebody in a negative manner? Weren't words like "jerk", "idiot", or "@$$hole" good enough?
To hell with you and your stupid insults. You're all a bunch of d-bags. So there.
7.15.2008
Who Needs a Social Life?
No, really! I mean it. I mean, I'm happy to dedicate my life to the company. I don't need time off. I don't need to see my friends or family. I definitely don't need to enjoy my summer. All that's important is that I come in, do a good job, work extra hours and squeeze in some sleep in between.
/end sarcasm
/end sarcasm
7.04.2008
It's All About The Benjamins?
I love my job. I love the company I work for. I love the people I work with.
There are things, however, that I don't like about my job. Like crunch times. And unpaid overtime because of labour bylaws that don't require it. Like heavy dependencies on other parts of a team that prevent me from doing my job and that lead to the aforementioned unpaid overtime.
But since there's no video game developers union (and I'd be surprised if a union were ever workable for this industry), these things are necessary evils sometimes.
My friends sometimes think that the way my job works is silly. They sometimes can't understand why I would do what I do for the relatively low salary I make when I could be doing other jobs for more moola.
Well, it's like this: You take the good with the bad. I'm sure everbody has a few things about their job that they don't like. And with my job, there's definitely far more good than bad.
There are things, however, that I don't like about my job. Like crunch times. And unpaid overtime because of labour bylaws that don't require it. Like heavy dependencies on other parts of a team that prevent me from doing my job and that lead to the aforementioned unpaid overtime.
But since there's no video game developers union (and I'd be surprised if a union were ever workable for this industry), these things are necessary evils sometimes.
My friends sometimes think that the way my job works is silly. They sometimes can't understand why I would do what I do for the relatively low salary I make when I could be doing other jobs for more moola.
Well, it's like this: You take the good with the bad. I'm sure everbody has a few things about their job that they don't like. And with my job, there's definitely far more good than bad.
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