As I've been lazy about writing over the past few months or so I'm going to start out what might be a posting bonanza (might not actually be a bonanza) with a summary post. I've made some convenient bolded headings that are mostly indicitive of the sections so that those reading this can skip stuff they're not interested, which might be the entire post for all I know, but oh well?
New Car Smell
Starting with a follow-up from my previous post, I submitted my order for a Model 3, two years and a day after having made the reservation in the first place. Delivery is supposed to be in 4-8 weeks, so we'll see what happens! I got the long-range battery (499km range) and the premium interior, because those are mandatory at the moment, and decided to get the midnight silver paint which was the only optional upgrade I went with.
Nice and NEET
I spent the first couple months of this year, more or less, as a "NEET" which stands for "Not in Employment, Education or Training". To my knowledge, the acronym is primarily used in Japan, despite being made up of English words, and is used to refer to people who have essentially dropped out of productive society. Not entirely applicable in my case since I was actually looking for (and eventually found) full time work - I consider those two months to have been a much needed vacation as much as anything else.
So why use the acronym if I don't think it really applied to me? Partly because I think it makes for a clever section heading, but mostly because it ties into an anime I watched back in the fall as I was facing the prospect of, lets say, a "NEET"-like few months. The anime was "net-juu no susume" or "Recovery of an MMO Junkie" to use the crunchyroll title. The series is about a 30 year old woman who decided to quit a highly stressful office job and became an "elite NEET" (in her words) and play MMOs all day - and then stuff happened. I'm not going to get into any other details here (I may write another post about it) other than to say I absolutely adored the series (one of the highlights of my week while it was airing) and it really resonated with me, and not just because it had some similarity to the situation I found myself in for a couple of months.
Project Progress
One of the main things that I occupied myself with during my NEET-like period was my FR project that I've mentioned in some previous posts. As I had a lot of time on my hands I pushed forward with it and tried to make as much progress as I could. And I was at least somewhat successful! As I was musing in my final post of last year, I decided to start working towards a "demo" of the game's first area. The first part of this was to work out the plot details of the area. I started out working on an actual detailed script and got a decent amount written but eventually decided that I would be better served by doing something on the level of a flow chart to get the major points worked out before getting too lost in the fine details (I do that sometimes). This met with success and I currently have a mostly finished flow chart detailing the first area - there is one small branch that still needs to be finshed but it's not high priority for now because...
Unity
...I have started learning the Unity game engine for the purposes of putting together the eventual demo. I am currently working on creating a framework that I can use to test out ideas for the combat system. It's going along fairly well so far though now that I'm working full time again, the majority of the work is getting done on the weekends with a bit of poking at things in the evening. I may write some more posts about my experience with Unity in the future.
Anywho, that is the summary of things that might be coming to this space in the future. Please look forward to it!
Freak Out,
-TFitC
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Sunday, April 1, 2018
Friday, July 28, 2017
Trepidation
The Word Smith is still on hiatus! But I am not just writing to say that, today I'm going to dip into something a bit more personal. Now, I don't typically blog about personal matters and I don't see that changing, but as I am approaching a somewhat major transition point (though whether or not it's a transition to more of a gas or liquid or Bose-Einstein condensate I'm not sure) I felt it might be useful, perhaps even a bit cathartic, to air things out a bit.
You see, right now I'm looking for work. This after having been (and currently still being) a full-time student for, well, somewhat longer than I'd originally intended. For a number of reasons I am looking to hopefully finish off the degree as a part-time student, with most of those reasons having to do with money (or, I suppose, the lack thereof) to some degree. And so I find myself looking for full-time work which is presently the source of no small amount of trepidation.
I suppose that looking for work is seldom (maybe never) a stress-free affair. While I can't rule out that somebody somewhere might actually enjoy going through interviews, I suspect that such people are few and far between and are perhaps a bit touched. So a certain amount of stress and jitters is probably a normal part of the job hunt. That said, I have some concerns that seem like they amplify these feelings:
At the end of the day, I don't know that airing these things on the interwebs does much good, but it is what it is (whatever that means). I'll muddle through things as best I can and as long as I keep looking and trying I imagine something will turn up sooner or later, though hopefully sooner rather than later.
That is all for now. I hope the next post will be more light hearted. Perhaps I'll get around to writing about one of those programming projects I keep meaning to write about.
Freak Out,
-TFitC
You see, right now I'm looking for work. This after having been (and currently still being) a full-time student for, well, somewhat longer than I'd originally intended. For a number of reasons I am looking to hopefully finish off the degree as a part-time student, with most of those reasons having to do with money (or, I suppose, the lack thereof) to some degree. And so I find myself looking for full-time work which is presently the source of no small amount of trepidation.
I suppose that looking for work is seldom (maybe never) a stress-free affair. While I can't rule out that somebody somewhere might actually enjoy going through interviews, I suspect that such people are few and far between and are perhaps a bit touched. So a certain amount of stress and jitters is probably a normal part of the job hunt. That said, I have some concerns that seem like they amplify these feelings:
- This current detour through grad school that I've been taking for longer than intended means I've also been out of the workforce for several years. While I do have some work experience gained between degrees I nevertheless worry that this break from "real" work puts me at a disadvantage.
- Still not being done the current degree with the (I feel) real possibility that I may simply decide to walk away from it means that I basically have nothing to show for the past several years (well, nothing concrete, anyway) which I again worry puts me at a disadvantage.
- I feel like I probably suffer from Impostor Syndrome which certainly doesn't help to alleviate any concerns I have.
- I seem to have a general lack of confidence (perhaps exacerbated by the fact that I'm still a student at a point in my life when I feel I really shouldn't be anymore)
At the end of the day, I don't know that airing these things on the interwebs does much good, but it is what it is (whatever that means). I'll muddle through things as best I can and as long as I keep looking and trying I imagine something will turn up sooner or later, though hopefully sooner rather than later.
That is all for now. I hope the next post will be more light hearted. Perhaps I'll get around to writing about one of those programming projects I keep meaning to write about.
Freak Out,
-TFitC
Monday, October 18, 2010
Grinding for Fun and Profit
I spent much of my weekend grinding in some fashion - mostly either marking assignments or by staining a fence. Neither was particularly "fun" nor "profitable" (though I suppose I do get paid for marking, though not enough) and I didn't even go up a level. Oh well. Fence staining was slightly more fun than marking since it at least got me outside on a pleasant day and did involve some interaction with friends, so it wasn't all bad.
I'm TAing one of the first year CS courses again this term which mostly involves marking assignments. I've TA'd this course before and it's about as boring as I remember. Somehow, marks seem to be worse than the last time I TA'd this course, though it could be that the online system we're using for marking makes it easier to be pickier about things over all. Meh, whatever.
Today, I'm actually doing some research related work, mostly some planning and reviewing before I dive into coding something. Part of this involved digging out some manga and skimming through it. I think it's pretty awesome that I can read comics and justify it as "work".
Freak Out,
-TFitC
I'm TAing one of the first year CS courses again this term which mostly involves marking assignments. I've TA'd this course before and it's about as boring as I remember. Somehow, marks seem to be worse than the last time I TA'd this course, though it could be that the online system we're using for marking makes it easier to be pickier about things over all. Meh, whatever.
Today, I'm actually doing some research related work, mostly some planning and reviewing before I dive into coding something. Part of this involved digging out some manga and skimming through it. I think it's pretty awesome that I can read comics and justify it as "work".
Freak Out,
-TFitC
Monday, August 2, 2010
Marking Sucks
So, after not having posted in a while, I return to complain about being a TA! Excitement! Well, there are a few other details, but first with the complaining!
For the course that I'm TAing this term, the people in charge decided that each TA would mark an entire assignment, by themselves. Thus I have found myself, over this long weekend, spending a lot of time marking assignments which really sucks. As I've no doubt mentioned before, marking is generally boring and this assignment has been really painful to mark. First, the course material is not in my area of interest (thus I don't particularly care for it much) and second, most of the questions are actually hard to mark because they're the sort of thing where one has to try and follow the student's train of thought which is not always easy, especially since I do try to figure out what the students are trying to do and give part-marks rather than just put in a big X when something's wrong.
On the plus side, since I only mark one assignment it means I haven't had to do TA work for most of the term (besides the midterm), but I honestly think this is too much for one person to do in any reasonable amount of time and I think I'd prefer having the pain spread out a bit. Having each TA do half the marking for two assignments would, I think, be a better arrangement.
In less complainy news, I discovered a new recipe last night! Its from the (now much abused) cook book that I've had for ages and is a recipe for hamburger-vegetable soup. It turned out quite tastey and is definitely going on my will-make-again list.
I also managed to sneak in a little bit of work on the QRT project this weekend despite the marking (and some FASS work today), which I really must write about in more detail sometime, and not just because I said I would about a year ago and never did.
Well, that's all for the present.
Freak Out,
-TFitC
For the course that I'm TAing this term, the people in charge decided that each TA would mark an entire assignment, by themselves. Thus I have found myself, over this long weekend, spending a lot of time marking assignments which really sucks. As I've no doubt mentioned before, marking is generally boring and this assignment has been really painful to mark. First, the course material is not in my area of interest (thus I don't particularly care for it much) and second, most of the questions are actually hard to mark because they're the sort of thing where one has to try and follow the student's train of thought which is not always easy, especially since I do try to figure out what the students are trying to do and give part-marks rather than just put in a big X when something's wrong.
On the plus side, since I only mark one assignment it means I haven't had to do TA work for most of the term (besides the midterm), but I honestly think this is too much for one person to do in any reasonable amount of time and I think I'd prefer having the pain spread out a bit. Having each TA do half the marking for two assignments would, I think, be a better arrangement.
In less complainy news, I discovered a new recipe last night! Its from the (now much abused) cook book that I've had for ages and is a recipe for hamburger-vegetable soup. It turned out quite tastey and is definitely going on my will-make-again list.
I also managed to sneak in a little bit of work on the QRT project this weekend despite the marking (and some FASS work today), which I really must write about in more detail sometime, and not just because I said I would about a year ago and never did.
Well, that's all for the present.
Freak Out,
-TFitC
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Assignment Overload
Gah!
I've been working pretty steadily the past couple days finishing up an assignment that's due tomorrow. I don't know how, when I do get started on these relatively early, I still end up doing a lot of last minute work like this. Though, I suppose, deciding to add a couple of new features and change how some of the rendering is handled at the next-to-last minute doesn't exactly help my case! Ah well. I suppose this goes to show that when I have interesting work to do I'm actually more-or-less willing to actually do it. (I say "more-or-less" because if I didn't actually have to do it I'd most likely have spent my time doing other things.)
Anyway, I'm going to relax for an hour or two before going to work on the other assignment that's due tomorrow. It's much less involved though, only a short 5 minute presentation on something photography related, so it shouldn't take too long - at least in theory.
Freak Out,
-TFitC
I've been working pretty steadily the past couple days finishing up an assignment that's due tomorrow. I don't know how, when I do get started on these relatively early, I still end up doing a lot of last minute work like this. Though, I suppose, deciding to add a couple of new features and change how some of the rendering is handled at the next-to-last minute doesn't exactly help my case! Ah well. I suppose this goes to show that when I have interesting work to do I'm actually more-or-less willing to actually do it. (I say "more-or-less" because if I didn't actually have to do it I'd most likely have spent my time doing other things.)
Anyway, I'm going to relax for an hour or two before going to work on the other assignment that's due tomorrow. It's much less involved though, only a short 5 minute presentation on something photography related, so it shouldn't take too long - at least in theory.
Freak Out,
-TFitC
Sunday, December 14, 2008
One Week
It's now been about a week since my last day of work, and I have to say I haven't missed it. At all. This past week has been so relaxing! And it's not like I haven't done anything, either. I've been putting some time in on one of my projects and have made some decent progress - in fact, I feel like I've been at least as productive as I generally was for an average day at work, and so far I've only been doing project work in the afternoons. It goes to show, I think, that working on something I care about, and feel invested in personally and (possibly most importantly) have some actual creative control over, as well as control over how I spend my time, can make a big difference in how motivated one is - or at least how motivated I tend to be.
Just three more weeks until I start the PhD, so hopefully I'll be able to make some good progress on the project by then.
Freak Out,
-TFitC
Just three more weeks until I start the PhD, so hopefully I'll be able to make some good progress on the project by then.
Freak Out,
-TFitC
Saturday, November 15, 2008
We Learned Chinese on Tuesday
As part of my effort to stave of boredom in my final weeks at work, I tend to browse the web for various things that tickle my fancy at any given time. This past week, I was reading through some on-line Chinese lessons. As I was doing so I thought: "It's Tuesday today. Huh."
That is all.
Freak Out,
-TFitC
That is all.
Freak Out,
-TFitC
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
So Boring...
Aaaaagh. Work is soooo boring right now! I don't really have much to do... Part of the reason I gave six weeks notice for quitting was so that they'd know not to give me any new things to do since I'll be leaving in the near future and obviously can't start anything major since I won't be around to finish it. Having finished off the two new features I was working on, I'm basically just fixing bugs and beefing up documentation. Except... there've been very few bug reports, meaning either there just aren't many, or QA just hasn't gotten around to testing the stuff. I'm inclined to believe it's the second. So that means that I'm mostly doing documentation and whatever little things I can dig up, and it's boooooooring!
Sigh.
Oh well, there could be worse things. Anywho, before I run along, just a quick "congratulations" at the result of the American election. I'm glad to see Obama won.
Freak Out,
-TFitC
Sigh.
Oh well, there could be worse things. Anywho, before I run along, just a quick "congratulations" at the result of the American election. I'm glad to see Obama won.
Freak Out,
-TFitC
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