This is the last night of my twenties

I feel like I should do something to commemorate the occasion, but I have no clue what to do. The idea I had earlier (which I will most likely follow up on) was to pop out to the Pit Stop and splurge on a bottle of single malt whiskey. Some Irish or Scotch stuff like Oban maybe. Tomorrow Sarah has dog training class, so I'm having a party during Game Night at Brad's house. We'll play games, drink beers, eat snacks, get in the hot tub. The usual. (Well, minus the hot tub.)

I've wanted to mark my 30th birthday with an event ever since I heard that my friend (and now boss) Matt quit smoking on his 30th. Since I don't smoke or drink heavily, I don't really have a vice to give up. But I do have a growing collection of projects that need to be finished, many of which I deeply desire to see to completion. So, to commemorate my birthday, tomorrow night will be the last night I go to Game Night until I have a Squid Games prototype game of my own to play test there. There are three titles that are in the works and could be ready more or less soon. This means I'll be updating the Squid Games blog more often in the next few weeks as well, so you'll be able to check the progress and developments there.

Now, off to get some whiskey.

Generic Update

So, I didn't work today. I was hoping it was going to take much longer for this to happen. I guess we didn't have any inside jobs to do right now, and since it's been raining and muddy...we don't work. This will be easier once I make more money.

I think Sarah and I found some cheapish insurance. Not the best coverage, but at least it's coverage. This way, we can get in car wrecks or break limbs again and have some help paying for it. :D

Also, I've decided that after my 30th birthday is a few weeks, I'm not going back to Game Night until I have a working prototype to bring for a play test session. I really want this to happen, and this is going to be a good way of obtaining the time and motivation to get it done.

I'm a construction worker.

I really like the new job. I really hate going on steep, high roofs. (Fine on high ladders, just not on steep, high roofs.) Started to get the hang of extension ladders. So far, I've dug a bunch of ditches and holes, filled in some of those holes, demolished an old concrete porch, chopped some huge-ass tree roots, shoveled a ton of gravel (maybe more), built a form for a concrete patio slab, framed a closet, scraped and primed a house, mixed some quick crete, installed some roof vents, and painted some window trim. I think that covers it.

I've also toned and slimmed a bit, even in 2 weeks, which is funny because I don't have much fat to trim anyway. And I ate some polish sausage that I bought at the grocery store. It would have been great without the MSG and with a more garlic--just like Dzadza (my grandpa) used to make.

I know I'll have to get on another high, steep roof at some point in this job, but I hope it's not anytime soon. Nice low, shallow ones will suit me just fine. Or even high shallow ones. I'm fine of ladders, even high ones that bounce a little. I guess I'm partially afraid of heights--afraid of the heights that don't offer me any kind of secure foot or hand holds. Which seems perfectly reasonable, except that I work with a bunch of guys that can do this stuff without it being an issue. At any rate, I'll take painting or digging over roofing anyday.

Power tools I've used in the last two weeks of work

circular saw
table saw
pneumatic nail gun
fuel nail gun (Paslode)
hammer drill
cordless drill
sawzall
cement mixer
jackhammer

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I'm writing this post because I realized I won't be able to keep up with this blog nearly as well as I did before. Same goes for email, which is maybe more disappointing. But the good news is that I started my new job today, and I really enjoy it. I work with good and enjoyable people. And this job has more potential for advancement than my last one. And the learning curve is longer--I will continue to acquire new skills, and it will take time for those skills to develop. But I am very sad that I am leaving some of the people at my last job behind--it seems weird, but I genuinely love a few of them. That's a bold thing to say, maybe. Now I need to spend some time getting this love out of my heart and into people's lives, or really what's it worth? Not so easy for a nerdish introvert, even one as verbose as I am. :P

All this sentimentality is surely seeping from the hard day's work today and from the recent news that my good friend Aaron will be leaving Athens in a few months. This has been a long time coming, but doesn't make it easier. Sarah can tell you about it, but I've really come to love him and his family. I don't know if he shares the feeling, but I feel very kindred with him.

Also: Hey, thank you for being my friends. For serious.

I'll be getting up some pics of the road trip to Wyoming soon, and giving a report. Maybe Kevin already did that on his blog, I haven't checked yet. It was a good time, and again left me wanting to explore the mountains more. It's a wonderful thing to feel so small, yet to be a part of something so big. Easy to forget that when you're surrounded by civilization and media, you know?