Tag: master list

Unsettled

I wanted to be a pilot as a kid. I didn’t know what to do in middle and high school, so I just went to college because that seemed like the thing to do. I was this close to going to a vocational college for aeronautics and airplane maintenance (just before 9/11). I had a full ride at a 4-year and got through my first year. An english class in which I had to write a short story was the best experience there.

After the year was up I decided graphic and web design was more interesting, so I took out a loan and attended a 2-year college. Completed my courses and graduated with an AA. I became more interested in video games toward the end of college and decided to apply to video game companies. I got in as a game tester and did that for a year, then applied for a online marketing internship in the same game company because, hey, completely relevant to my education and degree. That’s hard to find. I kicked ass and rose in the ranks but, ultimately, marketing was too far removed for the game development process. I quit and moved to a new city because I was also tired of having lived in the same place for 24 years.

I got a job at another game company as a tester again. This was very satisfying, as I got to work on a game series which I’d wanted to work on since college. I rose through the ranks again. By this time I’d started writing short stories as well, and I was taking writing classes. I love it. It’s pure expression, unhindered by anyone else’s presence. Money became a priority for a while so, after three years or so, I found a new job in another state. I moved, got better pay. I was kind of depressed around this time after a couple of rough relationships and my personal life wasn’t well. This and my yearning to work at a particular company prompted me to move again. I was living on a boat then. That was cool. I worked on contract for six months until the dream company called and I went to work here. It’s another satisfying experience.

Been thinking about where to go next. If I manage to get a well-paying position here, I’ll stick around. Pay down some debt so I can resume my travels and get my pilot’s license. (I traveled a lot for a while there). Seattle or Vancouver also call to me, and working as a professional pilot. Getting my stories published. Just a matter of time by my estimation.

Unsettled

I wanted to be a pilot as a kid. I didn’t know what to do in middle and high school, so I just went to college because that seemed like the thing to do. I was this close to going to a vocational college for aeronautics and airplane maintenance (just before 9/11). I had a full ride at a 4-year and got through my first year. An english class in which I had to write a short story was the best experience there.

After the year was up I decided graphic and web design was more interesting, so I took out a loan and attended a 2-year college. Completed my courses and graduated with an AA. I became more interested in video games toward the end of college and decided to apply to video game companies. I got in as a game tester and did that for a year, then applied for a online marketing internship in the same game company because, hey, completely relevant to my education and degree. That’s hard to find. I kicked ass and rose in the ranks but, ultimately, marketing was too far removed for the game development process. I quit and moved to a new city because I was also tired of having lived in the same place for 24 years.

I got a job at another game company as a tester again. This was very satisfying, as I got to work on a game series which I’d wanted to work on since college. I rose through the ranks again. By this time I’d started writing short stories as well, and I was taking writing classes. I love it. It’s pure expression, unhindered by anyone else’s presence. Money became a priority for a while so, after three years or so, I found a new job in another state. I moved, got better pay. I was kind of depressed around this time after a couple of rough relationships and my personal life wasn’t well. This and my yearning to work at a particular company prompted me to move again. I was living on a boat then. That was cool. I worked on contract for six months until the dream company called and I went to work here. It’s another satisfying experience.

Been thinking about where to go next. If I manage to get a well-paying position here, I’ll stick around. Pay down some debt so I can resume my travels and get my pilot’s license. (I traveled a lot for a while there). Seattle or Vancouver also call to me, and working as a professional pilot. Getting my stories published. Just a matter of time by my estimation.

Plans

Fell into the ineffectual pattern of making plans. This thing, that thing. Items on a list that grows longer and longer. To compensate, I’ve been reducing where I can. Getting rid of devices, clothes, things. Online accounts of all sorts. Inexplicably, I had multiple accounts at sites like tumblr, twitter, google, yahoo. Just need the one for each, if that.

Keeping my transportation though (bicycle, motorcycle, SUV). There’s a lot of value in that.

Don’t know why, but when I visit my grandfather’s grave, it feels right to kneel. One knee. Talk, probably, and explain things. That habit that one never shakes. Explaining why things have turned out the way they have. Tell him how my pop is doing, since I don’t figure my pop to be someone who’ll visit a grave. My brothers, my mom. Tell him about the way the place has changed since I last visited the family in Tepa. More stores, more people, newer cars. Tell him that I’m not and will not ever be the family man, but that even though things weren’t perfect for anyone, we turned out alright. Alive and responsible for that life, anyway. That bit of maturity.

Aw, hell. What happens in the moment is anyone’s guess.

Bought the ticket. I’ll be there in January, a few weeks after visiting my folks. I’ll need to ask my pop to borrow the keys to his house, which is built over the house he originally bought for his folks. My grandma’s still around some when she’s not out in Chicago or Los Angeles or Modesto, staying with family. Kind of hope she won’t be there when I visit. I’m hoping for no fuss.

Plans

Fell into the ineffectual pattern of making plans. This thing, that thing. Items on a list that grows longer and longer. To compensate, I’ve been reducing where I can. Getting rid of devices, clothes, things. Online accounts of all sorts. Inexplicably, I had multiple accounts at sites like tumblr, twitter, google, yahoo. Just need the one for each, if that.

Keeping my transportation though (bicycle, motorcycle, SUV). There’s a lot of value in that.

Don’t know why, but when I visit my grandfather’s grave, it feels right to kneel. One knee. Talk, probably, and explain things. That habit that one never shakes. Explaining why things have turned out the way they have. Tell him how my pop is doing, since I don’t figure my pop to be someone who’ll visit a grave. My brothers, my mom. Tell him about the way the place has changed since I last visited the family in Tepa. More stores, more people, newer cars. Tell him that I’m not and will not ever be the family man, but that even though things weren’t perfect for anyone, we turned out alright. Alive and responsible for that life, anyway. That bit of maturity.

Aw, hell. What happens in the moment is anyone’s guess.

Bought the ticket. I’ll be there in January, a few weeks after visiting my folks. I’ll need to ask my pop to borrow the keys to his house, which is built over the house he originally bought for his folks. My grandma’s still around some when she’s not out in Chicago or Los Angeles or Modesto, staying with family. Kind of hope she won’t be there when I visit. I’m hoping for no fuss.

Flight

Got caught in a wikipedia vortex that lasted for four hours. Lots of history of the west coast of North America (best place on Earth, I reckon), cities in California, the various wars and treaties involved in carving out the current boundaries. Depresses me a bit because I’ve traveled some and it’s not enough. I haven’t experienced nearly enough of what’s out here. Figure the only way it’ll happen is to give it all away and live poor or get myself rich. Both difficult.

At one point I got turned onto zeppelins. They’re a marvel, you know that? Big gas-filled balloons several times larger than the larget jumbo jets. Hardly see them now, but they’re something else. Takes a bit of work to get on one nowadays, let alone get to fly a zeppelin. Seems a waste to me to just be the passenger.

The master list is updated. More specific. I want to get a pilot’s license, starting with the small prop plane VFR and IFR. Then helicopters. Then, goddamn it, then the zeppelins. Few as there are it’ll be a challenge, especially if approached as a hobby. There’s no hobbying into the gondola of a zeppelin. It’s going to be a choice. Difficult as always, until it’s simple as breathing.

Flight

Got caught in a wikipedia vortex that lasted for four hours. Lots of history of the west coast of North America (best place on Earth, I reckon), cities in California, the various wars and treaties involved in carving out the current boundaries. Depresses me a bit because I’ve traveled some and it’s not enough. I haven’t experienced nearly enough of what’s out here. Figure the only way it’ll happen is to give it all away and live poor or get myself rich. Both difficult.

At one point I got turned onto zeppelins. They’re a marvel, you know that? Big gas-filled balloons several times larger than the larget jumbo jets. Hardly see them now, but they’re something else. Takes a bit of work to get on one nowadays, let alone get to fly a zeppelin. Seems a waste to me to just be the passenger.

The master list is updated. More specific. I want to get a pilot’s license, starting with the small prop plane VFR and IFR. Then helicopters. Then, goddamn it, then the zeppelins. Few as there are it’ll be a challenge, especially if approached as a hobby. There’s no hobbying into the gondola of a zeppelin. It’s going to be a choice. Difficult as always, until it’s simple as breathing.