It's Dai Time

Katie & Scott & Simon & Cecily.

Author: Scott (Page 55 of 104)

Day 182: temporary life

August 12, 2009 / / 0 Comments

My Xbox has been temporarily revived!  I played Battlefield 1943 tonight with Ian and it was delightful.  I helped Japan to victory numerous times.

There’s a bit of graphical static that probably means that this new fix is still only temporary, but I’ve had my work (which was taking the heatsinks off and reapplying the thermal paste) rewarded with two of days of relatively solid play.  I am certainly counting the days, though, and not thinking of this as a permanent fix.  As the Elite is rumored to be price-dropping soon, I may be able to sustain my old 360 for just enough time.

The Prestige continues to be a page turner and work continues to be quite the learning experience.  I almost feel, with the basics I’ve been learning in 3D modeling and the systems and tools used on the team, like I’ve only just arrived.  It’s exciting, if a bit scary.

I need to drink more.  I feel dehydrated.

Day 181: american express extended warranty thumbs up

August 11, 2009 / / 0 Comments

I’d just like to take today to throw a quick thank you out to American Express.  I’ve been a happy cardholder of their Blue Cash Rewards card for quite a few years now and been more than happy with their friendly customer support (for the few times I’ve needed replacement cards or to dispute a double charge from a restaurant) and their automatic cash rewards (each year, it just goes as a credit into my statement – no need for me to look up my rewards and hassle them for a check).

Well, they made my Xbox hardware battle a little bit better yesterday emotionally, if not mechanically.  As part of my cardholder benefits is their extended warranty program (which is something I’m told many credit cards have as a benefit).  It covers all purchases I make on the card for double the manufacturer’s warranty (up to a certain limit, I think).

Because my Xbox broke after the one year warranty expired but before two years had passed, all I had to do was round up my documentation (the receipt, the statement, and a repair estimate), fax it over, and wait for a few weeks.

Yesterday, a $99.99 check arrived in the mail for me: enough to pay for the repair of Xbox had I not impatiently ripped it open to attempt to fix it myself.  I know it’s just another bullet point on the benefits list to try to lure new members, but thanks, American Express.

Your extended warranty process was easy and painless, and it made my broken Xbox ordeal a little less painful.  It’s everything I could have hoped for.

Day 180: words words words

August 10, 2009 / / 0 Comments

Today, at work, I read a book during lunch.  That’s right – a book.  I can’t remember the last time I put aside some leisure time to just sit and read.

I started reading The Prestige yesterday.  I picked it randomly from our bookshelf because Katie had read it a while ago and liked it and mentioned that it was different enough from the movie to still be entertaining.  It is different, and it’s quite gripping.

It’s funny; in a small way, I almost wish that I hadn’t seen the movie yet, so that I wasn’t fully aware of all the plot elements that unfold as the story progresses.

But it was so enjoyable.  Instead of taking the lunch hour to read some blogs (which I do all day long anyway) or flounder around and try to get some work done in between bites or attempt to play a casual game or two, I just read.

Maybe it’s because it’s been so long since I’ve done anything so solitary and quiet.  Maybe it’s because the story is exciting.  Something about this book and the bouts of reading I’ve experienced over the past two days has been magical.

It reminds me of the unexpected delight of a brilliant game you’ve never heard of, of a movie on TV that makes you cry, of being at an sporting or musical event that turns out to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

And yet…it’s something more.  In this age of technology and flashing lights, the fact that simple words on a page still have the astounding emotional power they do is awesome.

Now, time to slip into bed and continue turning those pages.  Alfred Borden awaits.

Day 179: call the understudy

August 9, 2009 / / 0 Comments

I miss the theatre.

Today, Katie and I watched the Young Playwright’s Showcase that was a part of the Theatreworks New Works Festival and it made me wish that I had opted to participate in some kind of playwriting workshop/competition when I was in high school.

It made me wish that I had more time to give to theatre in my life, that I could attend open auditions with the confidence that my regular full-time and wonderful job wouldn’t get in the way.

Tonight, we also watched four episodes of Slings and Arrows, one of the best TV shows ever.  And it made me miss being a part of that crazy experiment that putting on a live show is.

I want to do improv in the streets, reenact Shakespeare on the lawn, write an original one-act in 24 hours and have it staged by people who have never acted before.  I want to capture that magic within the confines of my 10-6 (and sometimes later) job and home life and have it be part of a delicate balance, but theatre isn’t really like that.  Theatre consumes you, it becomes more than just a simple piece of your life puzzle.

But maybe that’s just sad, defeatist talk.  Maybe I just haven’t found that magical place on the spectrum yet where I actually can have everything I want.

« Older posts Newer posts »

© 2025 It's Dai Time

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑