The first of my unemployment blogs

Hey all, I know it has been a really long time since I last posted anything on this, but I think I should get back into it. The main reason that I stopped writing in this was because I had just managed to get my dream job in the games industry. I was working in the Publishing Quality Assurance department at Realtime Worlds. If you think the company name sounds familiar, you are probably correct. More than likely it will ring a bell with you due to the companies recent liquidation, and my subsequent unemployment. It has been just over a month now, and I am starting to get extremely bored. Needless to say, my happy life is now a little less happy since the Realtime bubble burst. In short, I really want to start working again.

As well as this job less being tough on me, it has also taken its toll on my girlfriend and our relationship. She has been fantastic and has helped me at every junction, but I can tell that it is upsetting her. I don't think can take it too much longer...

So, tonight I started working towards an online portfolio of everything I have ever done. Writing, design, drawings, music, code, just everything I can get online. Hopefully this will draw some interest to myself and maybe help me out.

If you get a chance to, why not check out my site? It isn't quite finished yet, as there is a lot of content I still want to put online, but it is a start.

Hope you enjoy it!

Couple of days late

Hey all,

Haven't posted in a couple of days. Been really busy with getting ready for charity run/jog/walk, telling my parents about my new job and chilling out at home.

Did the charity run/jog/walk and now I am in agony! My feet really hurt...

Anyway, going to go and have breakfast to build up my strength.

Stephen out.

On the road again

Hey all,

I'm heading back home tonight so that I can join my family in a charity walk. I have been lookin forward to it all week. The walk is in aid of a breast cancer charity, and I have tried to raise some money. Not as easy as I thought. Should be fun, and I am even going to run 6 miles of the 10 to see how fit I am. I can already venture a guess that it is not very.

On Sunday I have a flourist to visit about wedding flowers. The first time I have actually had to look at any of this stuff. I hope I don't seem to disinterested. It's not that I don't care, it's just that I will be useless at making any decisions.

Monday and Tuesday: penultimate and ultimate days at present job.

I am nervous about leaving my job, but I feel that this is a chance I have to take. If I don't I will regret it for the rest of my life.

Not really feeling up to driving 2 hours after I finish work, but you gotta do what you gotta do...

Stephen out.

Moving on up!

Hey all,

I got the job! I am so happy...

Stephen out!

Wii Fit plot: you are fat...

Hey all,

Just a quick post tonight. Been a long day at work, and now that I am at home I am shattered.

No further news on my new job, but I am getting increasingly nervous. Hoping they will get back to me with an update soon.

Lying in bed watching a rifftrax version of transformers 2. It's hilarious and makes the film actually bearable.

Going to go online tonight and play some streets of rage. Have a couple of beers and relax. Maybe even watch "The Box".

Anyway, not much else to say now so I am going to rap it up here.

Stephen out.

When you say nothing

Funeral today...it was a lot harder to deal with than I had anticipated.

Don't feel much like writing...

Stephen out!

Take me home...

Hey all,

I am at home with my family. Preparations for funeral tomorrow are putting a relatively somber tone on an otherwise nice visit.

I am tired, sad and in need of tomorrow to come and go.

Halo reach beta up and running...will need to get a play.

Stephen out.

Lazy Sunday Afternoon

Hey all,

For the first day in a long while I have been able to relax and spend some time with my girlfriend.

Has been great. Not much else to report so I am going to leave it there.

Stephen out.

Saturday night, dance, I like the way you move!

Hey all,

Another Saturday at work over. I cannot say I care much for doing a Saturday shift. It is over now, but I won't get a day off for two weeks! So busy, all the time, it's great!

Was so tired this morning after a late night poker game. I trooped on though.

Looking forward to a lazy night in me thinks. Maybe play some gears of war later on tonight.  I will have to wait and see how long I sleep.

My girlfriend was looking at wedding dresses today. She told me that she fell in love with a dress, but it is too expensive. It breaks my heart to not be able to get her the dress she wants. Will just have to try my best.

Spent a lot of time at work today trying to find out what video capture card I should buy. Apparently me difficult than originally thought. Probably going to send in an email to tested.com.

I think that should do it for today. Hope all reading this are doing okay.

Stephen out.

All in...

Hey all,

Had my interview today. Thought it went kind of well. Nearly four hours of interview will really take it out of you!

Haven't seen my girlfriend a lot today, really miss her. When I did speak to her she seemed really down about work. I feel sorry for her. Wish I could help.

The other problem with taking this new job is that it will be a pay cut and the work is not a full contract as it may not last more than six months. This could put a damper on buying a house.

Watched the halo reach trailers today. Man, that game is looking great. Probably should end this now, am in the middle of playing poker and I think I can win.

Stephen out.

Stevesplosion

Hey all,

I am so tired. I know these posts are getting shorter and shorter but at least they are consistent.

Went to check out the Joneses at the cinema. Was okay, but would have been nothing without David Duchovny. Interesting film choice considering iron man 2 came out tonight!

Wedding plans go on...going to look at flowers on Sunday the 9th.

Anyway, looking forward to tomorrow. Day off work, job interview, beers and poker. Should be good. Despite having to work Saturday. Sigh...

In other news bungie the creators of halo have just signed a 10 year deal with activision! I am confident that that is one of the signs of the apocalypse!

Good place to stop I think. So, good night and good luck.

Stephen out.

Wooo!

Hey all,

Just a short post tonight. Been a petty laid back day. Confirmed my interview for my job on Friday, got the day off for a funeral on Tuesday and played some games.

Mixed feelings over the last day have made getting through the day quite hard. I had a couple of beers tonight and that seemed to help.

My girlfriend was out with her friend tonight so I haven't seen her much today. I miss her when I don't see her enough.

Anyway...mixed feelings and a busy week ahead are all I have on my mind.

Stephen out!

A new star in heaven...

Hey everyone,

Well this is going to make 3 days in a row. Which I believe is the longest I have ever kept a blog for. The last one was not so successful.

Had another one of those days at work where it just ain't worth it. I also agreed to work on Saturday...again! However, there is a method to my madness. I have a final interview for the job of my dreams. So fingers crossed.

Not much to report on the wedding today, except for the fact that a friend who was round for some drinks tonight did not know we had set a date. I feel kind of bad about it.

Been having a really difficult time today, I got a phone call from my dad last night telling me that a close family friend had died. She used to help my parents by looking after me and my brother when we were younger. I hadn't seen her in a few years, but I had sent her cards wishing her well. Unfortunately at 21:35 on the 26th of April 2010 she lost her battle with cancer. I will miss her...

I have been very fortunate in that I have not had to deal with death too often in my life. I lost one of my grand parents before I was born and two when I was too young to really understand.

The first time it ever hit me was when my gran died when I was 19. I was devastated, as were my family. Now for the second time in my life I am dealing with death, and it does not get any easier. I am glad it doesn't. Each tear is a reminder of how much people meant to you, and you are better for having had them in your lives. I am not a religious person, but I have to believe that they go on to a better place.

Anyway, I don't really feel much like typing any more so I am going to call it a night.

Stephen out.

Posting is such sweet sorrow

Hey folks,

Another day, another dime. Same shit, different day. And other such typical scrawling about everyday life. Not like me to start off something on a low note, but today has just been appalling.

It's not enough to just hate your work any more. You just have to despise every waking minute your presence is required there. What does this have to do with the wedding you ask? I will tell you. Money. I wouldn't be in this job if I didn't absolutely have to. It's thankless and for lack of a better description, dead end. I will get no where being here.

Like I said though, it's all about affording to live, and even more so about affording the wedding. I don't want to sound bitter about being in a job I hate to pay for the day though. Far from it. I would endure a job a thousand times worse to give my girlfriend the day she wants. Maybe not much more than a thousand though...

It just goes to show that if you don't do well in university; big arrow pointing at me. Then you could end up where I am. However, there are people in the same boat as me who did well at university, and for those people I feel eternal pity. It is such a waste of a mind.

Got a text from my girlfriend today saying that she missed me. It is nice to feel missed, I of course missed her too, and responded in kind. It is amazing how much you can miss someone being around and they have only been gone a few hours. I'm not sure if it is because of love or being accustomed to having them there. Either way the feeling is strong, and either way I think it just as poignant.

Moving onto games I guess. I got generally quite excited when I saw an update on Major Nelson's blog informing the world that the Split/Second demo was now ready for download. Will probably add it to my download queue so I can have it ready to roll for when I get home.

Anyway all, I have probably ranted enough for today. It's funny I say all like there are actually people reading this. Two days in a row now. Bring it on!

Stephen out!

The first post is always the hardest

Hey all,

Do you ever feel like you have grown up too fast? That your youth should still be present, yet you find yourself acting older? Yes? I don't...I feel like I am clinging on to my childhood every day. I work full time, I live with my girlfriend (soon to be my wife) and I live pay cheque to pay cheque. Such are the perils of adult life.

However, I still watch cartoons, I prefer to muck about than do anything constructive and I still laugh when I hear dirty words; like boob lol. Most importantly, I still play video games. I hear you saying, "they aren't just for kids though!" You are 100% correct; they are not. But, for me it is another way for me to clutch on to a part of my youth.

Anyway, this blog is mostly a way for me to write up how I am feeling. Kind of like some sort of online diary. What an age we live in!

The number one reason I am starting this is to document a gamers anxieties and joys on the run up to his marriage.

Well, that will do for entry number one. Hopefully, I will update this everyday since I can do it from my phone, but in all honesty I am lazy and easily distracted. Ironic, since it's probably due to years of playing games.

Oh well,

Stephen Out!