Karma

Sometimes I really get to feeling like karma is out to get me. Everytime something good happens to me I immediately get robbed of it by something bad. Since I always end up with the bad last I go for days with a bitter taste in my mouth. It ruins whatever good has happened to me. It just doesn't seem fair to try so hard to get anything, but always end up heartbroken. Why is it?

I got an interview.... in person!

Radical wants to interview me (for 3 hours) in person next Tuesday. I'm so excited and nervous. I would really love to get this job, but I think it might be some tough competion, they are doing a lot of interviews.

As a bonus I get to travel to the coast and stay over night at Justin's place. So I'm going to meet up with everyone I can and go out for sushi with the old gang! Pretty cool even if I don't get the job.

Phone Interview!

That's right everyone I finally heard back from one of the 15 or 16 companies I applied at and they want to do a phone interview with me tomorrow.

Now this is the first small step of many and I could very easily not go any furthur in this application process by not knowing the answer to some obscure programming question. With that said I just don't want to get my hopes or anyone else's hopes too high in case I bomb it. I'm going to do my best though because Radical Entertainment is a really good company according to what I've read. In 2004 they were voted the best company to work at in BC.

So I'm going to spend today studying up for the verbal test I'll be put through tomorrow morning. Lucky for me I have both those days off.

Wish my lots of luck as I'm sure I'll be needing some.

Zombie Swap Package

Today I packed up and sent away my beautiful Zombie Swap package. I was sad to see it go, it's pretty awesome. I will be making another one for myself. In fact I knew that as I worked on this one because I bought supplies to make a second one ;)

So here it is folks in all it's glory. It's an Emergency Zombie Defence Station. Think of it like a fire extingusher, no home should be without one. It's akin to an emergency eye wash station, or a first aid station, or some other kind of industrial safety station.

It features a transparent plexiglass cover that doubles as a riot shield and straps on to your arm. It also has a sawed off shotgun mounted to it along with shotgun shells for it. Since ammunition can be scarce during the zombpocalypse there is also a machete inside the case. When coupled with the riot shield you'll become a zombie hacking machine!

Along with the awesome case I made one of those safety and instructional signs that you would see near something like this. I got it printed and laminated at Staples and it turned out beautifuly. It's pretty sweet and I'm really proud of it.

So here it is.....

Choices

Well since I haven't had any offers on hiring me I decided to send out some more resumes. I applied at 7 more places. With the exception Relic they were all small studios that I haven't even heard of. Some have shipped titles but most have not, which could be a little bit sketchy. So even if I did get a job at one of these places they might not be very organized or on the ball. However I'm desperate and you never know. These types of places are usualy started by ex-employees of somewhere else.

Now since I don't have a job and probably won't be getting on before October I'm faced with a difficult choice of moving for October 1st, or staying in Kelowna and working at COBS while I continue to try and get a job remotely. I think my odds of landing a job are better if I'm in town and can easily go for an interview when they ask, but I still haven't even been asked yet.

I'm going to have to think about this a fair bit. I'd like to move, but I don't like the idea of having to scramble to get a job once I'm in Vancouver. I'll likely have to apply all over to get a temp job in case it takes me a while to get back into the game industry. We shall see.

Days off!

So starting today I have 2 days off in a row! Doesn't sound like much but it's been weeks coming.

Last night I did a guest comic for Sydney's comic strip while she was at work. You can see it here http://rapidfirecomic.blogspot.com/.

Today I've got to start working on my zombie swap project. I won't say much about it in case it doesn't turn out like I hope. However it should be most excellent *grin*

Still no word on finding a new job. I think I might have to send out more resumes or something. Unfortunately that means applying at plaes that haven't really established a track record yet and may not have any idea as to what they are doing. I can also start emailing non-game related developers too. They usually want database related skills though, and I don't have a whole lot of experience with that. However they often pay better and don't have much overtime required. I hate finding a job.

I love you guys

It made me feel really good to know that I'm missed and thought of often by everyone I'm missing. It's pretty easy to feel forgotten about when you're lonely and away from the ones you love. I'm glad I have family like you.

I'm not moving any time soon

No job yet. In fact I got 2 emails today that officially turned me down. At least I heard back though and it was exciting none the less. So scratch Hothead Games and Backbone. Whatever for hothead, but Backbone is where Brad, Justin, and Stephane all work, so that sucks to not even get an interview. However they aren't a huge developer and it really was a long shot, I just hoped that knowing people on the inside would increase my chances.

I'm really doubting that I'm going to be able to get a job for October. I think I may have to make a call to move down without a job and get something to pay the bills, or just wait until I get the job I want before moving. Both have their cons.

I found a place in town yesterday while I was out bike riding some errands and shopping for odds and ends for the zombie swap that sells freeze dried (they corrected me, it's flash frozen... whatever :P) ice cream! I haven't had it since last year at Playland. I also got myself a new incense burner and I priced out some components for my zombie swap gift. I hope my swap partner likes it.

Today after work I went to a hair salon to get a trim. I should have gotten it a bit shorter on the sides, but oh well. It was a nice experience though. I've rarely treated myself to much all summer so even though it was costly I didn't really care. Before they start they give you a scalp massage with some fragrant product and afterwards I had my hair washed. I had really forgotten how good it feels to have a massage. I haven't had a massage or a back rub in so long that I had completely forgotten that they even existed. It was really relaxing and soothing. Plus it felt really nice to have complements on my hair colour, curl, and condition. It made my day :)

Work's been fine lately. I've either gotten into a groove where I just don't care anymore and don't mind having to work, or I've hit rock bottom and I just don't care anymore and don't mind having to work. So even though I only got one day off this week I'm not too tired and I don't resent work for keeping me from doing something else with my time. Granted not having a social life is what makes that possible, but I've been trying to live a rich inner life lately.

Internally I've been in a bit of turmoil. It's tough for me to intentionally break communications with my best friend for such a long period of time with no definitive end. This time last year I was ready to uproot and move across the country just to be able to maintain the friendship, now I feel like I'm actively destroying it. It's like cutting off a limb to save the body, it feels wrong to do it. What if in doing so I lose everything? On the other hand I'm not emotionally capable of continuing the friendship right now. I just hope I'm doing the right thing, it really isn't easy and some days it really ties my stomache in knots.

Here's my new doo!