oddgirl’s blog

Tossed my pics of The Gates up. They’re divided in two sections – one is the general pics, the other is the pics of my pals.

You can also see a movie. It’s 32 MB – if I have some time I’ll compress it – but for now this is the raw avi of a 360 degree view near the boathouse in Central Park. I love my new digital camera. Super fun to use and take pics with. 512 MB memory card, and it fits in my pocket. Awesome.

I always forget how much I love New York until I get here. What incredible energy. I feel totally pumped being here – adrenaline city for me.

ps. Comments are set so that I moderate them. Spam has been horrible and this is the only way I can manage it.

Sad to hear of the passing of Hunter S. Thompson. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was a pretty formative read for me in my teen years.

Those crazy computer kids! Now Microsoft explain what the h3ck they’re talking about.

The Gates have been getting a lot of press, including a review by The Daily Show. Watch Piles of Sheet.

Beautiful and amazing.

Perhaps someday I will get around to redesigning this site. And here’s where I’m going to get the fonts.

And a lightbulb joke from bingobongobango:

Q: How many Bush Administration officials does it take to screw in a light bulb?

A: None. There is nothing wrong with the light bulb; its conditions are improving every day. Any reports of its lack of incandescence are a delusional spin from the liberal media. That light bulb has served honorably, and anything you say undermines the lighting effect. Why do you hate freedom?

Yesterday in New York, The Gates were unfurled. And in two weeks I’ll be there to see it in person. Should be a fun little trip – a few days in New York with Big Daddy and Super Model Tim, a couple days in DC drinking with some old friends and a couple more days back in NY with Super Model Tim. It’s going to be an art, drinking, theatre, drinking, friends, drinking, ex-girlfriends, drinking week or so. I get to take a train which I love doing – and I have my ipod shuffle to keep me company.

The timing worked out so that when I get back I should be full-time over at the new job and ready to go. I’m already feeling like I understand the fundamentals about what we’re building and that I’m ready to start contributing.

A little self-promotion – my website is a finalist in the Community category of the SxSW Interactive Awards, which means we’re automagically entered in the People’s Choice competition. I submitted the site for a Webby award as well – but haven’t heard back from those folks yet. If ya know someone over there, put in a good word for us, eh? They announce finalists in April or so…

Somehow I scored a full pass for the Game Developer’s Conference through work so I’ll be there the second week of March. Will is giving a presentation which should be cool. Wonder if that’ll give me street cred, since my badge will say Maxis on it… I’m looking at the conference as boot camp for my new job and I’m told that I’m going to learn a ton in the three days. March is going to be a great month – vacation, new job, GDC, planning for vacation #2 of 2005 in April. yeah. it’s all good.

I know that I’ve been neglecting my blog even more so lately. I can’t claim that it’s been too much work or too much partying and the only new woman in my life is Villanelle – an undead mage currently residing on the Spinebreaker server.

I’ve been spending my hours exploring Azeroth. Hours. And hours.

I’ve had a pretty typical experience with most games. I play for awhile – 2 or 3 weeks until I get 40-60% through and then I start on the next game. I’m not finishing this one, but I’m also not stopping. In fact I want to go play right now. My Mage is calling me….

So… what else it going on? I’m doing two jobs right now: Still in my old role, but transitioning out soon. Starting to get my head around my new job, but not quite doing it full time (btw – great article with Will over on The Onion). The days that I’ve spent over at the new office have been the most interesting, most exciting of any work I’ve ever done and these next few weeks that I’m dividing my time between offices seem like they will never end because I just want to be there.

It’s the work, the other people on the project, the game we’re going to make. I got to give some input towards a presentation for the Execs this past week – and I felt like I made a couple of good contributions – and that I’m starting to feel like I’m getting it. I’m hoping we make something that is going to leave blog entries neglected for months.