July

16th So much for updating more often. The Summer is probably about halfway done, and I'm still waiting for it to start. The weather has been seriously lousy this last month and a half. If it's not raining, it's just cloudy and cold, and nice weather always falls on work days. This whole weekend looks pretty good, but I'm at work today. I'll try to get to the beach tomorrow though.

Sculpin QA moved to a new office yesterday. We're not down-town any longer, more like mid-town by the Sobeys and Dairy Queen area. The place is definitely an improvement from our old space though. There's so much more room, and we've got bigger desks. It's also really close to my house so I may walk to work when it's nice out.

After the move yesterday Noel, Jimmy and I hosted a barbecue at our house. It seemed like most of the office was there, so we got more familiar with some of the new guys. The place was a pretty huge disaster this morning, but somehow I actually kinda enjoy cleaning it up alone, with a nice quiet house and sunny weather outside.

Aside from work I haven't been doing a whole lot. Mainly just playing video games I guess. A few weeks ago I created a website for a video game I had made in my spare time last summer. The game doesn't have any music for the time being, but Shaun is composing some great retro music for it so I'm hoping to update soon with a much more enjoyable version.

Joey and Merina will be coming home for August. Their wedding is on the 11th. I'm hoping it'll feel more like Summer once they arrive, although I only managed to take the week of their wedding off. I hope the weather is nice.

May

2nd Oh wow it's May already. The weather really needs to improve. Today was supposed to be the one not-rainy day in the middle of two weeks of rain... and it's gloomy out. I'm anxious to be out on the beach, or taking this new dog for a walk. Yep, my mom adopted a new dog. His name is Wyatt, and he's a quiet grown-up dog from the Humane Society. She's had him a couple weeks and he's apparently doing really well, but I haven't been home to take him for a test walk yet.

The week before last I went to Winnipeg with Kalon for Joey and Merina's social. We only stayed 6 days and it went by so fast. I would have been happy to stay for a couple more weeks. The social went very well from what I could tell. (I've never been to one before, but a ton of people came out and everyone seemed to have a great time dancing, doing karaoke and winning prizes.)

The night after the social Joey, Kalon and I went to see Video Games Live at the Burton Cummings theatre, hosted by Tommy Talarico. It was a really cool show, although maybe a bit overpriced for what it was.

On Saturday we all went to Merina's aunt and uncle's house for an Easter Supper, and then we flew back Sunday morning. Once back in Charlottetown we went out for supper at the Gahan with my mom and I got their PEI Burger Love burger, it was pretty amazing.

Last week Noel, Jimmy and I finally found a new place. It's actually a four bedroom house that Jamieson from work found (he'll be living with us). There's an apartment in the basement but it's pretty separate so we basically have a whole house, garage and driveway, with a patio and backyard for bbqs. We signed the lease on Sunday and should be good to move in on Tuesday, though I'll be waiting for the weekend to go. It's gonna feel a bit strange to leave 610 behind, but a lot has changed around here since I moved in three years ago so maybe it is time to leave. (Actually now that I think about it, today is EXACTLY three years from when I first moved in. Time goes way too fast...)

Finally some computer related news that very few people will care about. I bought a video card cooler a few months ago, but haven't had the guts to install it. Dalton offered to install it for me and I just got it back before the weekend. The difference is amazing! My video card maxes out around 65 degrees now instead of 90, and the cooling fan doesn't make nearly as much noise when it does. I'm quite happy about this.

Yesterday Chris and John MacPhee (from Paper Lions) did an acoustic set at Timothy's downtown. It was really good. Chris has been putting together some songs for a solo side project and it seems to be coming along. After the show we all went for some food at the Gahan. It seems like it has been a long time really since I've gone out in Charlottetown.

April

18th Okay so I stopped updating again for a while. It's really hard to keep up. A few bits of news... First, Noel, Jimmy and I have been on the search for a new place to live. We're moving out May 1st, and still haven't found the right spot so we're getting a bit nervous. (Also Jamieson might be coming with us.) If anyone knows of a sweet 3 or 4 bedroom in Charlottetown, tell me!

It's a bit strange to think I'll be leaving this house after nearly three years living here. That first day here after moving my stuff felt so strange and exciting, and I've accumulated quite a few memories since then. I can't imagine the next move will feel quite the same as last time since we're staying in the city, but I'm hoping the new place will freshen up my existence for a little while at least.

Secondly, I'm a tester again! Sculpin really needed some employees, and I felt like I needed a shift, so I volunteered to go back to testing video games for a little while. I have the option to go back to doing design anytime. I started Monday of last week and so far it's going well. Also, the company I work for (Other Ocean Interactive) is amazing.

Thirdly, I'm going to Winnipeg tomorrow. Last week I made a last minute request to take most of this week off, and work approved it. The tickets were expensive, but Kalon is coming along, so it should be a fun time. Joey and Merina are having a fundraiser social on Thursday so we're going out for that, and then flying home Sunday, which feels a bit weird since it's Easter, but it was the only affordable flight back.

I've started reading books a bit more lately. Maybe I'm becoming a hippie, but I like how a book is cheap, will entertain you for several hours without using any electricity, and then is practically completely biodegradable afterwards. Unlike a video game which is a bit expensive, entertains you with electricity, and then leaves behind a big chunk of plastic. (Not counting downloadable games of course.) Right now I'm about halfway through Dune, a good old classic science-fiction novel. I don't usually like space themed books, but this one is quite good so far.

Oh, other big news. Mom adopted a new dog from the humane society, she'll have him home on Tuesday. He's a really shaggy dog that looks like he has a moustache named Wyatt. We went out to take him for a walk on the weekend and he's really nice, but extremely nervous. He's got big shoes to fill coming after Buddy, but I think he'll turn out to be a nice companion. Maybe he'll even be ready for car rides and beach trips this Summer. (I wonder if he'll go in the water...)