Hello! Yes, I'm alive. Finally saying something >_>
Snow day today! It seemed like a good time to finally poke my head out into the world and tell everyone how I'm doing (and hopefully hear how you are doing as well!)
Just looking through my emails, I see that I've been deluding myself about the last time I sent an update &_& Par the course for my long emails, I'll title a section before delving into a topic, so you can skip parts if you want.
Work
I've been with Bergen County Cooperative Library System (BCCLS, pronounced "buckles") now for 1 1/2 years (2 in June). I still love it here. While certainly not what I envisioned while I was back in grad school, I find the work to be enjoyable, with enough work to make me feel like an important part of the organization, and with projects that engage me intellectually. In August I went for training in the API aspects of the software we use to run the libraries. It was one of the most effectively used weeks of my professional life, as the access to the guts of the software has enabled to me to take my work to another level, performing more efficiently and allowing me to take on projects that would otherwise have been out of my purview. One project I'm particularly proud of is the creation of a web page for the local schools to use in order to discharge the public library books, letting students return borrowed materials at a location they are at anyway without having to worry about overdue fines as the books travel back to the library that owns them. I'll be doing a minor presentation on it at an upcoming conference in FL, first week of March.
Social Activities
On one hand, I feel like my social circles are limited, since a lot of the people I associated with in GA were in the game World of Warcraft and I spend a good portion of time (not excessive) still playing with them. The other hand, I don't really feel any lack of socialization, given knitting club and the occasional outing with a friend/coworker. Obviously I feel my human contact quota is fulfilled since I don't seek the same level of stimulation online as I used to. Or is it because when i was younger, I interacted more in "real life" and spend a correspondingly higher amount of time interacting with internet friends?
Other than online interactions, I have my knitting club, which is turning into an awesome group of people (mostly girls, but there are actually 2 other guys that show up on a regular basis, technically tripling the population of males compared to the knitting club in GA). This is a great wacky group that is the highlight of my week every week. I actually ended up spending Thanksgiving with a friend that I met through this group.
Vacation
The "big event" of 2009 (in my mind) was my first ever official vacation. I took a couple weeks off and made my way down to GA to visit family and friends. It was a good time. It felt great to roam familiar territory and see friendly faces. My only regret was having to leave. =p Getting my first pedicure was certainly an interesting experience. It's a trip I'm already hoping to repeat in 2011, though somehow cramming more visitation time in seems impossible, it's certainly something I'm aiming for!
Knitting
Been taking a lot of time off from knitting since last summer. Just been busy with other things and lacking in motivation. I always knit at least a few hours each week, since I never skip Sit-n-Knit with my group on Thursdays. Recently, my participation in Sock Wars V was ended when I received my death socks. They are gorgeous, but I think I'm going to have to start lying about my shoe size, because they keep ending up slightly larger than necessary. My long term goal of being able to dress in only hand made socks by June 2010 has not yet been completed, but having 3 pairs currently, I'm confident about making it happen. I only have 1 pair for a friend and something babyish for another friend to make before having full attention back to knitting for myself and getting this project completed.
Pets
Became the adoptive owner of a Main Coone cat in August/September. First I was cat sitting, but due to circumstances ended up permanently adopting her. She's fairly old already, so she'll probably only be with us for a couple years more. Her name is Nala. After a grumpy start, she seems to have settled in okay. She and Quyen don't get along like best friends, but for the most part are able to be civil to each other. Nala has mostly claimed the bedroom as her doman, spending a lot of her time sleeping in the clothes basket during the day, on next to my head or on me at night.
Gaming
World of Warcraft has obviously been on the menu at times. Although I actually stopped playing completely for about 7 months. Other games I have splashed around in follow.
Aion - PC - was kind of pretty, with a neat new story and, of course, WINGS! How can you say no to that? I played it for a couple months before realizing it was going to be too much of a time sink for me to ever really enjoy (especially since the people I was playing with were investing a lot more time so we were at different places in the game). I moved on to other pastures, which is just as well since my online friends did too, eventually.
Prototype - PS3 - I saw this game while in GA on vacation and loved it enough that I purchased it later when I got back to NJ. It was a fun game!
Dragon Age: Origins - PC - This game, from the company that developed Baldur's Gate and Neverwiner Nights, was high on the interest list even before I knew it had gay sex in it. Of course even if the game sucked I would have purchased it in support of a company that finally but a major gay element in a game (in a way that didn't make fun of it or was stupid). I liked this game intensely and have a second play through waiting for me to pick it up again (I don't usually play games multiple times).
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 - PS3 - <3 ninjas. Nothing more need be said. Travis favored the blade and chain weapon. I favored the Dragon Sword and, later, the dual swords.
Bayonetta - PS3 - Travis initally got this for Christmas, but I'm the one that finished it first. I fell in love with the sassy witch when I noticed her butterfly motif. The fact that she kicks angelic ass doesn't hurt either. My favourite weapon was, of course, the sword. Shapeshifting was my favourite power.
Dante's Inferno - PS3 - Travis got this game for himself. I've played a couple levels, but the similarity to God of War turns me off a lot. I liked the first GoW well enough, but I never even finished II. Playing DI on easy mode is certianly helping a lot though. =) I get all the story without too much effort/annoyance.
Prince of Persia - PS3 - Recently played the Epilogue. I must say that it was a bit of a stupid ending. Especially since the next PoP coming out isn't a sequel, but a complete reboot of the series (as I have been informed).
Just looking through my emails, I see that I've been deluding myself about the last time I sent an update &_& Par the course for my long emails, I'll title a section before delving into a topic, so you can skip parts if you want.
Work
I've been with Bergen County Cooperative Library System (BCCLS, pronounced "buckles") now for 1 1/2 years (2 in June). I still love it here. While certainly not what I envisioned while I was back in grad school, I find the work to be enjoyable, with enough work to make me feel like an important part of the organization, and with projects that engage me intellectually. In August I went for training in the API aspects of the software we use to run the libraries. It was one of the most effectively used weeks of my professional life, as the access to the guts of the software has enabled to me to take my work to another level, performing more efficiently and allowing me to take on projects that would otherwise have been out of my purview. One project I'm particularly proud of is the creation of a web page for the local schools to use in order to discharge the public library books, letting students return borrowed materials at a location they are at anyway without having to worry about overdue fines as the books travel back to the library that owns them. I'll be doing a minor presentation on it at an upcoming conference in FL, first week of March.
Social Activities
On one hand, I feel like my social circles are limited, since a lot of the people I associated with in GA were in the game World of Warcraft and I spend a good portion of time (not excessive) still playing with them. The other hand, I don't really feel any lack of socialization, given knitting club and the occasional outing with a friend/coworker. Obviously I feel my human contact quota is fulfilled since I don't seek the same level of stimulation online as I used to. Or is it because when i was younger, I interacted more in "real life" and spend a correspondingly higher amount of time interacting with internet friends?
Other than online interactions, I have my knitting club, which is turning into an awesome group of people (mostly girls, but there are actually 2 other guys that show up on a regular basis, technically tripling the population of males compared to the knitting club in GA). This is a great wacky group that is the highlight of my week every week. I actually ended up spending Thanksgiving with a friend that I met through this group.
Vacation
The "big event" of 2009 (in my mind) was my first ever official vacation. I took a couple weeks off and made my way down to GA to visit family and friends. It was a good time. It felt great to roam familiar territory and see friendly faces. My only regret was having to leave. =p Getting my first pedicure was certainly an interesting experience. It's a trip I'm already hoping to repeat in 2011, though somehow cramming more visitation time in seems impossible, it's certainly something I'm aiming for!
Knitting
Been taking a lot of time off from knitting since last summer. Just been busy with other things and lacking in motivation. I always knit at least a few hours each week, since I never skip Sit-n-Knit with my group on Thursdays. Recently, my participation in Sock Wars V was ended when I received my death socks. They are gorgeous, but I think I'm going to have to start lying about my shoe size, because they keep ending up slightly larger than necessary. My long term goal of being able to dress in only hand made socks by June 2010 has not yet been completed, but having 3 pairs currently, I'm confident about making it happen. I only have 1 pair for a friend and something babyish for another friend to make before having full attention back to knitting for myself and getting this project completed.
Pets
Became the adoptive owner of a Main Coone cat in August/September. First I was cat sitting, but due to circumstances ended up permanently adopting her. She's fairly old already, so she'll probably only be with us for a couple years more. Her name is Nala. After a grumpy start, she seems to have settled in okay. She and Quyen don't get along like best friends, but for the most part are able to be civil to each other. Nala has mostly claimed the bedroom as her doman, spending a lot of her time sleeping in the clothes basket during the day, on next to my head or on me at night.
Gaming
World of Warcraft has obviously been on the menu at times. Although I actually stopped playing completely for about 7 months. Other games I have splashed around in follow.
Aion - PC - was kind of pretty, with a neat new story and, of course, WINGS! How can you say no to that? I played it for a couple months before realizing it was going to be too much of a time sink for me to ever really enjoy (especially since the people I was playing with were investing a lot more time so we were at different places in the game). I moved on to other pastures, which is just as well since my online friends did too, eventually.
Prototype - PS3 - I saw this game while in GA on vacation and loved it enough that I purchased it later when I got back to NJ. It was a fun game!
Dragon Age: Origins - PC - This game, from the company that developed Baldur's Gate and Neverwiner Nights, was high on the interest list even before I knew it had gay sex in it. Of course even if the game sucked I would have purchased it in support of a company that finally but a major gay element in a game (in a way that didn't make fun of it or was stupid). I liked this game intensely and have a second play through waiting for me to pick it up again (I don't usually play games multiple times).
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 - PS3 - <3 ninjas. Nothing more need be said. Travis favored the blade and chain weapon. I favored the Dragon Sword and, later, the dual swords.
Bayonetta - PS3 - Travis initally got this for Christmas, but I'm the one that finished it first. I fell in love with the sassy witch when I noticed her butterfly motif. The fact that she kicks angelic ass doesn't hurt either. My favourite weapon was, of course, the sword. Shapeshifting was my favourite power.
Dante's Inferno - PS3 - Travis got this game for himself. I've played a couple levels, but the similarity to God of War turns me off a lot. I liked the first GoW well enough, but I never even finished II. Playing DI on easy mode is certianly helping a lot though. =) I get all the story without too much effort/annoyance.
Prince of Persia - PS3 - Recently played the Epilogue. I must say that it was a bit of a stupid ending. Especially since the next PoP coming out isn't a sequel, but a complete reboot of the series (as I have been informed).