Crazy work all day to meet deadlines, come home, food while watching old Carnivale episodes, homework until 9:00, leisure reading and bed by 9:30.
It's time to get the writing, working out, and video games in there. Seriously.
Things have been in such an upheaval cause of the move I just haven't had the time to institute a proper routine. This one, I think, is a "recovery" routine. Keeping my head above water until things slow down.
I don't like it, so I need to work on changing that this week.
Yes, this is also why things are quiet here, and totally empty of substance. Work is taking a lot of creative energy right now (don't get me wrong - I love it! It's just... it's like crunch time for video game writers/designers, you know? That last hill before the launch when you're frantically getting as much done as possible in order to launch a product, knowing it'll still be slightly buggy and there will be things to iron out after the launch, but working your ass off as quickly as possible to make sure there's the least possible amount of bugginess for the launch).
Also, got hit with some more responsibilities. This job is really pushing me as far as being able to wear a lot of hats and succeed in many different roles - writer, designer/developer, salesperson, trainer, project manager, coordinator, customer service, etc.
If you would have told me a year ago I'd be spending time at my job reviewing film footage and managing sales and marketing projects, I'd have laughed.
Oh, yes, I love it... but I'm working twice as hard - with four times as much responsibility - and still getting paid my "tech writer" salary.
Yeah, that's supposed to change.
I'm also supposed to have health insurance that works.
I'm not holding my breath.
But life would sure feel a little less hectic if I had working health insurance and was being compensated appropriately, eh?
Yeah.
Le sigh.
New routine next week. Just need to iron it out.
Just like this project.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Seriously, this routine has got to change...
Monday, April 21, 2008
Stuff I Need to Work On
1) Getting into a writing routine here in the new digs
2) Cooking for myself again in the new digs (I'm so befuddled when I come home that making food just seems like too much trouble. But I don't have enough money [less and less now that I have the new digs] to go out)
3) Make a new budget. I have yet to put together the Official Budget for the New Digs. Mainly because I know it's going to be tight & moderately unhappy.
4) Finding a good source of laundry quarters. Washer/Dryer prices are obscene! $1.75 for a wash and $1.25 for dry. I brought $2.00 down with me last week thinking I had it covered. Oh no. Now I need to figure that into the budget as well, and plan to have the cash on hand for it (I no longer carry cash)
5) Fit my homework schedule around my writing schedule (and not vice versa).
6) Make a new workout schedule for the new digs.
I had a choice this month: Get the big work project done that's generating a bunch of sales revenue, or finish Black Desert.
I chose to get the Big Work Project done. It's official due date is May 1st. Black Desert's is next year.
And, let's face it: the day job pays my health insurance. Black Desert can wait an extra month to get finished.
Still. Kinda peeved about that.
Mainly, I'm teaching myself how to juggle. It's loads of fun, but sometimes it hurts my head.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Things that aren't silly unless you do them all at once...
... take 7 credits worth of community college classes (4 of those being Economics, with graphs. I won't tell you what my last quiz score was, but I did pass the first test) while leading a work project projected to bring in eight figures, moving to a new place (you wouldn't believe the amount of shit you realize you need when you go from renting a room to being an actual Adult), finishing the second book of a 3-book contract, attempt a social life, and work out how I'm going to pay for a gaming computer next month when the stimulus check comes in (Ok, I will prob'ly put the check toward my big credit card in the end, but it's fun to dream).
Honestly, one class a quarter when you have a full time job and a book contract to fulfill is... more than enough. Two was...
Silly.
The rest of it is just par for the course.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Good Investment #1
.... a new mattress.
I'd been sleeping on the same old futon mattress for the last five years. After awhile, you just get used to it, and you think all mattresses are like that.
Not so.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Happenings
I passed my first economics test tonight! Yes, that's right... I got a C! Seriously, have you seen the graphs? The graphs, oh I loathe them.
Hey, I'll take the C.
In other news, I'm mostly settled now in the new place. Furniture was delivered and mostly put together. The not-Boyfriend dropped by and gave me an old TV that's pretty ghetto looking but has a clear picture.
We ended up going out to dinner and talking for four hours. It was a good talk, pretty adult, actually, and we covered a lot of ground. I love it when we talk cause we're both so fucking honest, and when he's willing to talk straight, well.. yeah, it was a fun, adult talk, and fun to hang out with him again. Hearing about all his latest antics, though... well, it was sad to realize that I've lost the trust I used to have in him. I don't know if that will ever come back. That trust has been pretty well crushed over the last six months. It's something that will have to be rebuilt, if possible. I'm not sure he's up for it. But then, I'm not sure I'm up for it right now either.
Suffice to say, it was good to talk, and to realize, once again, that though we're powerfully attracted to each other, he's got way too much bullshit he needs to work out on his own to make anything feasible right now.
And, let's face it, yo: I deserve somebody who realizes I am full of awesome! :)
In other news, there are dates and marketing homework and I just finished some grocery shopping. I'm taking out a date of mine to see Spamalot next week, which should be fun. I'm not exactly hooked into anything serious right now, and that suits me just fine, to be honest. I like going out and getting to know folks.
It's fun to sit around and snuggle on the couch and hold hands and go out and do stuff without having to deal with that whole "commitment freakout" thing - from me or from whoever I'm dating. I never dated in highschool, really, or even college. I didn't start seriously dating, as in, dating in the sense that most folks mean it, until I was 25. I have some catching up to do. I always waited until I liked somebody a whole lot, then fell hard, went monogamous, and battled it out for a year or three.
This isn't what most folks do, apparently.
More than that, though, you know, I really like my life. I like where I'm at. I feel confident and sexy and powerful. I love my job, and my new digs. I'm going back to school (and passing, if nothing else!). I have my sweet book contract. Now, all I need is a dog and a bigger social circle out here and a house eventually and I'm set.
See, the thing is, I got the life I wanted. Or, rather, I'm continuing to work toward getting it.
And I'm really happy with where I am so far.
Wow. This apartment thing was huge for my self-esteem, you know? There was just something I needed... I needed to be able to say I could survive on my own again. I needed my own space.
The life I wanted.
Monday, April 14, 2008
New Digs
Stephanie says: Boy, Kameron, you have a LOT OF SHIT!
Which the three of us hauled up two flights of stairs.
Yeah, that's a lot of shit.
And more in the bedroom.
Lots of shit.
But having the balcony was worth the stairs. Steph and the Old Man prob'ly don't agree. But seriously: balcony, people!
This morning: first pancakes in the new digs!
You know what I did after I finished eating? I piled all the dishes into the DISHWASHER and started it! It was a miracle!
Like CIVILIZATION OR SOMETHING!
More pics later today of the place all put together. I still have a load of stuff from Ikea coming in today. Those 30 years worth of National Geographics had to go *somewhere.*
Friday, April 11, 2008
In Which the Protagonist Falls In Love
It really is a very nice apartment.
Picked up the keys today, signed the lease, checked to make sure everything is clean and tidy and in order. Sat on the floor for a few minutes and let myself realize that I finally had a place of my own that nobody else was partially or wholly paying for (dorm rooms don't count!).
My own place.
It was a moment that put me in mind of how great it must feel when you finally own your own home.
I'm working on that next.
But for tonight, my bed is taken apart, my things are boxed up, and me, Steph, and the Old Man will be shlepping my stuff over to my new digs early tomorrow.
Welcome to spring.
A whole new year.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Curse of the Golden Flower
Pretty, but lame. Like a hot date you can just never get yourself to care about.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Goodnight
Work deadlines, project details, corp bios, film shooting, film scripting, worktime workout, apartment logistics (DSL, DP&L, adjusted paperwork dates), come home and continue to dig out the yard for patio project, catch up on Econ homework, eat, collapse.
Tomorrow: more of same.
Also, some writing in there. Um. Somewhere.
It'll be quiet here this week.
Sunday, April 06, 2008
24-Month Theme Song
This has probably been the Kameron Hurley theme song over the last two years. Crazy does love company. Here's to hoping something with a little more sanity will come to represent the next couple of years.
I just hope that whatever it is has an equally catchy beat.
Gnarls Barkely - "Crazy"
I remember when, I remember, I remember when I lost my mind
There was something so pleasant about that place.
Even your emotions had an echo
In so much space
And when you're out there
Without care,
Yeah, I was out of touch
But it wasn't because I didn't know enough
I just knew too much
Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
Possibly
And I hope that you are having the time of your life
But think twice, that's my only advice
Come on now, who do you, who do you, who do you, who do you think you are,
Ha ha ha bless your soul
You really think you're in control
Well, I think you're crazy
I think you're crazy
I think you're crazy
Just like me
My heroes had the heart to lose their lives out on a limb
And all I remember is thinking, I want to be like them
Ever since I was little, ever since I was little it looked like fun
And it's no coincidence I've come
And I can die when I'm done
Maybe I'm crazy
Maybe you're crazy
Maybe we're crazy
Probably
Uh, uh
You Know....
... People who don't own books must have a way easier time moving around from place to place.
Just sayin'.
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Ways to Finish a Saturday
Ways to Spend a Saturday
The Old Man has had a hankering to move this bloody fucking bush from out behind the kitchen window and park it in the back of the back yard.
He's been hankering to do this for a year.
I move out next week.
So it was time.Three hours of digging and it's finally out!
The guys were really helpful!
It's all about leverage.
And pick axes.
And more pick axes.
And some more pick axing.
Prepping the back yard.
Mmmmm tasty prep work.
Pulling up sod was never so exciting.
Now comes the bloody fucking bitch part.
Up and out!
All I needed for incentive was the promise that at some point in the day, we'd have actually moved the fucking bush.
Eventually, it would move. Really.
Yes, we had to roll it. The truck kept getting stuck in the yard. No, I don't have an pictures of that. It was only mildly amusing.
This is why I work out, yo.
I think this is how I would look after playing rubgy.
At one point, I did move the bush by tackling it.
Really, the guys were totally useful.
The reveal!
Once we got it upright, it was all down hill from there. Literally.
I still couldn't quite believe we moved it.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh success!!
The boys housed each other down. We're down with that sort of thing here at Hacienda Dayton.
This is Stephanie's "Ha ha you're all muddy and I'm not!" dance.
To be fair, she did buy us pizza.Yes, there's a gigantic hole now. These big rocks are how we leveraged that bad boy out of there.
Gratuitous gear shot.
The dogs weren't all that helpful.
My ass will never look the same.
It's Funny
I need some kind of intellectual stimulation to get turned on. The person can be cute as hell, but unless there's some kind of intellectual engagement, I'm just not interested in any more more than cuddling.
I need someone who challenges me.
Smart, witty guys are really fucking hot.
The rest I could take or leave.
Not that cute isn't a great bonus, mind you, but the hottest sex I've ever had was with somebody who'd look me in the eye and take me on. Physically - in a literally powerful way in that we were pretty evenly matched in strength and the power of our desires - and intellectually - in his ability to question, challenge, and engage on every level.
And that's a really tough combination to find.
Friday, April 04, 2008
Song of the Day
.... the lyrics of which were IM'd to me by the Not-Boyfriend, for some brain-addled reason. Sometimes I think he doesn't make connections in his head about why he sends me stuff like this.
Oh well. It's a good song, in any case.
Buckcherry - "Sorry"
Oh I had alot to say
Was thinking on my time away
I missed you and things weren't the same
'Cause everything inside it never comes out right
And when I see you cry it makes me wanna die.
I'm sorry I'm bad, I'm sorry you're blue
I'm sorry about all the things I said to you
And I know I can't take it back
I love how you kiss, I love all your sounds
And baby the way you make my world go 'round
And I just wanted to say I'm sorry.
This time I think I'm to blame
It's harder to get through the days
We get older and blame turns to shame
'Cause everything inside it never comes out right
And when I see you cry it makes me wanna die.
I'm sorry I'm bad, I'm sorry you're blue
I'm sorry about all the things I said to you
And I know I can't take it back
I love how you kiss, I love all your sounds
And baby the way you make my world go 'round
And I just wanted to say I'm sorry.
Every single day I think about how we came all this way
The sleepless nights and the tears you cried
It's never too late to make it right
Oh yeah sorry
I'm sorry I'm bad, I'm sorry you're blue
I'm sorry about all the things I said to you
And I know I can't take it back
I love how you kiss, I love all your sounds
And baby the way you make my world go 'round
And I just wanted to say I'm sorry.
I'm sorry baby.
I'm sorry baby, Yeah.
I'm sorry.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Conversations with my Coworkers
Coworker 1: "Wow, Kameron I like your new haircut! It's really... edgy."
Me: "Edgy?" If someone would have said this in any other place in the world but Dayton, OH I'd think it was a compliment.
Coworker 2: "No, it's really great! It fits you really well. I mean, you're not normal. I mean, a usual sort of person, so it really fits you. It's very hip and edgy!"
Me: ....?
Edgy. My haircut is "edgy."
General consensus is that the haircut is, indeed, a good one, but it does make me look a lot more like a young, hip professional. It's short and highlighted, and add that to the naturally curly crazy effect, and I look like I should be painting huge canvases with buckets of pain downtown or walking around at art shows with glasses of wine in hand.
Ok, so, I did go walk around an art gallery last night on date #3, but that's beside the point.
Yeah, I suppose the haircut suits me.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
The Apartment Hunt is Over!
Got my new digs a few hops from the The Greene (no, not *at* The Greene as some of my coworkers believe. I can't afford to live *at* The Greene). I now have a "Beavercreek" address instead of a "Dayton" address, which I think also makes me feel better.
One bedroom, dishwasher, air conditioning, balcony, onsite laundry. The only drawback is that it's more than I wanted to spend and no utilities are included. My commute also goes from 15 min to 35 min.
But, yo: it's my own place! It's big! It has a walk-through closet!
The first month is free. I sign and pick up the keys on the 12th. Photos to follow shortly thereafter.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
April
There have been a lot of seriously not funny April Fool's jokes today.
The one at work was the least funny of all.
Stop, people. Just stop. When you've had a lot of wacky, crazy shit happen to you over a very brief period of time, you're primed for more wacky badness. It's like mild PTSD.
I don't like it. I start getting jumpy and twitchy.
Please stop.
Thank you.
As the World Turns
My parents worked for a local PNW (Pacific Northwest) burger chain, Burgerville, for 25 years. They were both fired about ten years ago within 24 hours of each other during a big muckity-much shakeup.
For the last five years or so, my dad has owned a Pizza Schmizza franchise, also a local chain.
Today, my mom sent me this e-mail:
"Yesterday Figaro's Pizza bought out Pizza Schmizza and
today Starbucks bought Burgerville."
Damn.
It's a changing world, yo.