I haven’t posted in awhile, so I’ll try to be concise. [Edit: FAIL!]
I successfully filmed a concept car today using our brand new video hardware. The software needed to process it should come in tomorrow – once that’s done, I’ll have a solid idea of where we stand (product-wise), but I’m proud. I stood up and became the Multimedia Editor at my job, making decisions that required the spending of over $10k, and it looks like my decisions will be validated shortly. From what I’ve seen through the camera, I think there will be a solid quality improvement in our video. I have three more to do next week (in advance of the NAIAS), and at least five or six to do during the show itself.
I may still actually be working at the auto show on the 15th of this month, which is interesting since on that day I’ll gain a significant understanding on how seriously my company takes my position, my place in that role, and whether they were serious about my raise or want to see how far they can string me along. It’s also interesting because the 15th is the day my student loans finally come due, after two years of extensions.
It’s been an entire year since my job duties changed fundamentally, and nine months since I was promised a large raise for my surprising contributions. It’s been six months since my title formally changed (at my insistence), and five months since anything was said about my raise. Everyone on up the ranks has agreed in conversation that I am overdue for significant compensation, we’ll see soon enough whether they mean it.
I need to come up with games to play on the train for SkennCon! Preferably ones that can be played without too many props, or ones where the prop is something fun that people can keep. If you’ve got any ideas, email me!
New Years Eve and Day involved a lot of travel around the snowstorm, but I made it everywhere I needed to go without incident, I was warmly welcomed in all places, and women shouted for me to take my pants off. That’s the bar next year will have to surpass, so I hope I’m invited to a NYE party with a hot tub. And my girlfriend – that’d be nice, too.
Speaking of which, my lovely girlfriend and I natter on like neighbors with nothing better to do, or partners who live together. We text in the morning, chat at lunch, and go over our days before bedtime. We shared a special evening at Lolita’s in Cleveland recently (Michael Symon’s restaurant, for those who follow Iron Chef) and her family and friends welcomed me while I was in town. We have our happy days and cranky days, but these days the small stuff are just that, and nothing more, and there’s no one I’d rather keep warm at night.
Obama won the first state, and I won’t protest too much if he wins over the country to become the Democratic nominee. His lack of experience in congress is less a weakness and more a sign he hasn’t had a chance to truly dive into corruption, and I think he has the best chance of anyone, Republican or Democrat, at truly winning over people of all kinds. I’m surprised to be saying that; I’m surprised that a black man is the leading contender for President. Maybe the polls will say otherwise at some other date, but I’m just amazed that our country is even willing to consider a non-white President.
I don’t agree with all of his policies, but if he does win, it will do something to make me believe our country isn’t headed toward the crevasse of know-nothing bigotry and outright greed.
I love when people say that this country is the best country in the world, because “best” is such a simplistic phrase – it implies we’re best at every single thing we do, in every single way. I think in terms of the lifestyle of the average citizen, we’ve got it better than nearly anyone (or did until the dollar plummeted), but we are so cruel to each other. Our firearm homicide rate is only exceeded by war-torn third-world countries. Our lack of integrity in dealing with non-citizens. Our inability to get the concept of equal rights down in gender, race, or sexuality. We live in a land where we leave our mentally ill to rot because they can’t keep a job. Patriotism is should be about feeling a responsibility and kinship for others living in our country rather than injecting your moral beliefs on others. “You’re alright so long as you live in my town, go to my temple.”
My point is that I keep hearing people of varying ethnicities, cultures and political leanings getting behind this guy, and I haven’t heard of that happening in ages. That’s something, at least. A start.
did you say girlfriend? aww yay :)
Yeah! Did I not mention it? *chuckle*