Ice Cavern Studios

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For a whole generatoin of blacks, our parents faught this crap so we wouldn’t have to. Thank you.

Life and Times, Politics, Work

Ok, so once again, I’m having to make another “I’m not dead” blog post. Of course, I really don’t feel bad about any of this. So let me give the rundown of life here over the past couple of weeks.

Work

Work is going very well. It’s been 3 weeks (or so), and I seriously love my job. It’s highly stressful, and there’s a lot of work we’re doing; but man are we having a good time. I have friends at my job, I get along with everyone, and there’s a lot of passion for music, as well as the project. It’s fantastic. I never thought I’d find myself enjoying being in a cubical again, but it fits the atmosphere and personality of my team and Zune as a whole.

Plus, it’s relaly fun to be working in the music industry. At times, I find myself finding it hard to believe, but I’m now in the business of music. Everyone here is. And it’s really cool because I’m getting exposed to music all over the place. Without even really thinking about it, I ended up getting some free Lily Allen tickets for this past Monday. A bunch of us went and heard her(She is amazing live, by the way), and it was cool because we got the tickets through some people we know.

Plus, Zune is just cool. God, I’m looking forward to releasing and being to talk about what we are doing. For now, it’s just cool to know I’m doing it.

Personal Life

As my mother has enjoyed pointing out, I’ve just re-inserted myself back into my old social scene. I’ve resumed climbing like a fiend, I’m hanging out with my east side crew, as well as my west side homies. I’m also hanging out a lot with my friends from work. And not to mention the upcoming craziness with Sakura-con which will promptly begin next thursday. I’m loving it.

The one thing I am a bit worried about is that I haven’t really been looking for an apartment. But I’ll have a good idea about that this weekend after my apartment rental tour. (Yay MS perks) But I think I’m going to be ok there as well.

Oh, and I’m lifting again as well. And I’m doing it with my friend Lowell. So it’ll be easier to stay motivated.

Wow..that’s…yeah. I”m having a good time. Clearly.

Life and Times, Music, Work, Zune

Wow, it’s interesting that I’ve been with Zune for just under a week, and already, the amount of time I spend on things like superfluous web browsing has just dropped. I’m not sure how much of this has to do with the fact that I just have a lot of work to do and a lot of ramping up that needs to be done in a short period of time. But I know that a lot of it has to do with just enjoying my work more.

I like the Zune team. So far, the people on my team seem very cool, and the project we’re working on is…well…really cool. It also helps that the team has a lot of young talent on it, which is nice because I actually have things in common with my coworkers. I didn’t realize how important this was until I went to Groove and I started to have problems with relating to the people on my team.

Plus, I really like the atmosphere that currently exsists. It feels like a start-up, but it’s clearly Microsoft. It’s also fun having open air cubes. I’m thinking as we approach our release (no, I won’t tell you when), I’ll start talking up the features more. Until then, I’m just going to enjoy life.

Life and Times, Work, Zune

So I’ve been in Seattle for less than 100 hours and already I’ve:

• Partied till 5:30 in the morning
• Started my new job (which I’m really excited about)
• Climbed till my arms gave out and my hands were dying
• Determined this move was a great idea

So yeah. I’m doing alright. I’ll try to get back to posting more regularly once I get broadband set up in my temp housing. But for now, just assume I’m doing much better.

Life and Times

And it is done. The good-bye’s have been said. The boxes packed. Items shipped. Car loaded and sent on it’s way. The plane has been boarded, and as I speak, I’m heading back to Seattle. I’ve made it. Im free.

I’m free of a job I hated. I’m free of a place filled with memories that are still painful to recall. I’m free of her influence. I’m free of a town that really doesn’t fit me all that well. And most importantly, I’m free to start over.

The past four months have been a long, at times wonderful, at times painful, road. Right now, I am flying away from all of major things in my life that had been causing me stress. At a rate just over 500 miles per hour, I am putting my personal and professional heartache behind me.

At the same time, I’m leaving good friends. I’m leaving with some things still a bit open. And this makes this a bittersweet moment. But the show must go on.

So now it’s just a matter of waiting. Soon I will be back in Seattle. I have a feeling my social life will kick right back up where I left off just over a year ago. And on Monday, I will being a new job; one I can honestly say I’m excited about. I have friendships to re-kindle; love to find, and new things to experience.

For the first time in a while, I feel truly ready; optimistic; hopeful. The world is wide open, the possibilities are endless. And I’m only just at the beginning.

If I leave here tomorrow
Would you still remember me?
For I must be traveling on, now,
‘Cause there’s too many places I’ve got to see.

Life and Times