Getting Coffee in The Redmond Town Center

Mass Effect (the game I'm working on) has gone into RC (realease Candidate) mode! Which brings one thing to mind... coffee!

I just realized there are 16 Starbucks related coffee places within walking distance of my office.

11 of which (one on each floor of the 3 buildings) are starbucks coffee machines that offer freshly brewed cups of coffee. Just push a button for size, type (left coffee (regular), right coffee (decaf) or hot chololate) and it grinds the beans, brews a single cup, and despenses it into your cup... dumping the used beans into a trash can underneath it. These are located in the mini-cafeterias where they keep a microwave, disposable dishes and cutlery, and the fridges that contain free pop and juice.

Then each of the 3 buildings there is a Starbucks coffee shop in the cafeteria. Here I can also get a nice healthy meal if I don't feel like going to one of the other 15 places to eat (within walking distance).

Plus in the Mall there is a starbucks in the food court, and another one over by Fat Burger (where they buy us lunch on the weekends, and yea... it really is named Fat Burger), Blimpie Sub, some thi place, Subway, Taco Time, Dairy Queen, and McDonalds... and the list goes on...

So, keep in mind as I work through another RC in the Game Industry... I'm walking up and down 3 floors of stairs four times a day... and walking a little to get my food every day... and having slim fast for breakfast... and not eating a lot for dinner... I do get more exercise than I did at Bungie... and the work environment is better too!

Anyway... that's an update for now.

Later,
SteveO

New internet connection!!!

we just had comcast hook up a new internet connection today, it's great!

I'm happy to be back online again... from home at least.

Work is good, I think my term at GTO will be extended, which looks really good for both Microsoft and Volt. I'm happy about it. My manager was impressed that not only could I answer almost all the questions he had for me, but I also could find the answers to the ones I didn't know within a few minutes. it looks like all the time I spend playing with google has helped my ability to find what I need when I need it.

Other than that, I'm happy to have my new car! it's awesome! so far I am averaging about 10mpg better than the Astro! Which means that I am spending somewhere around $100 less per month on gas! I think, that's what I'm estimating... I get about 26mpg... and after doing the math, the astro got just under 16mpg... most of my driving is just to and from work... 6 days a week... I'm averaging about 58 hours a week.

anyway... work work work... isn't that what dad always said? anyway, I guess I'm finally listening to him.

anyhow, I work in the morning. goodnight.

Later,
SteveO

My New Job

I started my new job on tuesday, and I love it. They moved me over to GTO to work on an RPG called Mass Effect. It's a good game, but really what I'm happy about is having an office. I share it with one other person, but it still feels like a promotion from Bungie.

I currently don't have internet access from home, and I'm at work right now, but that's just a little update... I went hiking last weekend, and it felt good to have three whole days in a row off.

Other than that... pretty much normal.

Later,
SteveO

a sad goodbye...

It was a sad goodbye today. I am done at Bungie.

On the up side, my manager gave me a very good review for GTO. As a result (I think) I start a new position on Tuesday at Building 5. Located between Macy's and Bed Bath and Beyond in the Redmond Town Center (with 2 other MS buildings). The perks are that I will get a MS parking pass and have on site parking. Finally, I will be working with one other person from Bungie.

The down side is that I have been listening to horror stories about working at main campus on video games, and I don't get that week off that I really was looking forward to. I just get 3 days... oh well, it's better than only one day... or no days off a week.

well, anyway... It also looks like my lease is really a 1 year lease... man I feel stupid. They told us it was a 6 month lease when we signed the papers... but it said march 31 2008 right on the papers... That just sucks. but I guess on the lighter side, that means I have 6 more months to look for a house. Don't worry... I want to buy one on my own. no co-signers.

anyway... I'm tired. good night.


Later,
SteveO

one long week!

this has been a very long week... I took Tuesday off... and I'll still end up with 80 hours... I am getting really tired right about now... I guess exhausted is more appropriate.

However, they have done a few things to boost our spirits... they gave us all stickers... and today I got a Bungie Halo 3 shirt! So, I guess I got what I came for... so it's time to go!

hehe....

well, maybe not, but I think my time with Bungie is almost over. The project is almost ready to ship... so we are trying to get all of our new passes done.

We are to the point where we only run the game on retail Xbox360 kits. So when it ships, I'm gone. Other than that... I guess I was happy to see the sun at least once this week... I got to go in late today too... we went in at 1PM... which gave me time to walk Jaani, relax with a cup of coffee... and get a couple things around the house done. it's surprising how quickly I can take care of chores these days... I built 2 chairs (that I got like a month ago from Ikea...) took out the trash (because the dumpster was finally emptied after like 3 weeks.) and then I went to Jet City to hang out with Brandy.

Other than that... work work work work... I have been looking around for a new car... I found a bunch of stuff on Craig's list... I was going to have my friend Ricci go with me to look at one in a couple days... It seems that BECU will give me a car lone with no money down... and if I can get the difference, then I think I will be all set...

so... that's what's going on with me...

Later,
SteveO

72 hours...

The work week is 72 hours in... and I’ve worked 39 of them...  We are approaching midnight...

work is long hours, but it works... I guess... just tiring...

 

That is the story...

 

P.S.  we are staging a revolt with spears made of broken CDs and pens taped together...

 

Later,

   SteveO

Explanation

I guess the previous post needs an explanation... you see, at work, we look at that picture of the lady with 4 eyes, and two sets of lips, and we have trouble focusing... and we joke about it causing seizures...

so, yea... I'm here, and I'm alive... I gotta go to bed because I'm tired...

Later,
SteveO