Roadside Picnic

Last week brought an uncomfortable realization. Two years ago, all of us in this cohort were strangers. I don't think any of us knew each other. We met on orientation day, then spent the first semester seeing each other every day before splitting into our concentrations, where smaller groups of us saw each other every day - well, four days a week in class, and regularly out of class to work or not work. And now things are winding up, and when this is all done, some of us will never see each other again. Marc's set on going back to Columbus. Marina's maybe heading to law school. Stephen's taking a year before dental school. I'm looking for epi graduate certificate programs. Katy's been mum about her plans. Jessica, too, but we're betting she chases down a PhD somewhere. We became a family, and as families do, we're about to scatter to the winds. I will miss these folks.

Yep, in Indianapolis. Taking a break between the Exhibitor Hall and dinner and dancing this evening.

Our little convoy assembled at the house Wednesday morning. I'd loaded the Focus with the weekend's supplies, and had my personal bags ready to go. Arrived in Indy around 1:30, checked in, and started sorting hotel assignments. This was the first hiccup of the weekend - GenCon placed us in three hotels, and all of the rooms are double/doubles, instead of the suites we expected. There was some scrambling to arrange additional bedding, and one of my bosses and I were ready to make a fast trip to Meijer or CostCo or something and get inflatable mattresses, but one of our friends (staying with the company) came through with a camping cot and two airbeds. So, hooray for Art!

On the other hand, man, seriously, screw flaky gamers. One of the new guys sent me an e-mail letting me know that he wouldn't be able to make it because of his wife's health issues. He sent it at 11AM the day before the con formally begins. We had to cancel four more tables of games because of this shithead, on top of the 10 we had already had to cancel because of the licensor throwing a wobbly. Brief anger, leading to disappointment, but ultimately not surprised. I'd had a lurking suspicion about this guy, mostly because of who recommended him to me. So, yeah, that happened. We handled it.

Oh, hey, lunch Wednesday! We got to Tavern on South and had duck wings before the Munchkin people took over the place for the weekend with their crappy game.

Wednesday night, we assembled the team, had a meeting, had a good time. Played some games and braced ourselves for the next four days.

I love working this convention, by the way. A few weeks after each year's show, I start to think that maybe I'll go as a civilian the next time, but I snap out of that soon enough. I don't know that I'd enjoy it nearly so much from the other side of the curtain now. I like my Exhibitor Badge and the access it grants me. I like having enough time scheduled with work that I don't go into decision paralysis over events I want to attend. I like having a base of operations in the hall, and handshakes and quick chats and evening pickup games with designers I admire. Heck, this morning, Michael Stackpole came by, sat down in our booth, and shared a few words. Yesterday, John Snead said it was nice to see me again. Had breakfast with Steve Kenson yesterday, and then talked with a possible licensee about using Fantasy Craft to power his newly-acquired Lxxx & xxxxL property. It's just cool.

So, yeah, on to Thursday. Finished booth setup, with the new layout I'd pushed for. Much better product presentation, more security and comfort for my staff. Fast dashes to some vendors (I got a Rebel Aces set, so will be hankering for some X-Wing action real soon). And then the VIGs. And sales began. And at 10, the rush of attendees. Meeting and greeting, all the good stuff. Nice coffee flask from ACD Distribution.

We have dinner with our convention staff and a few others on Thursday night. This year, dinner was followed by a meeting with the managers of our host restaurant, with the hopes of arranging a different kind of convention presence for 2015 and after. We're abandoning the traditional large event schedule after this year. We're big enough to fill up our events with players, but not so big that we can reliably and easily fill up the required GM slots. Next year, we're going to partner with a couple of other similarly-sized publishers and rent the restaurant's largest private room for two or three nights, hosting open gaming nights. Food and drink sales will go against our rental costs, and it's not unlikely that our visitors will effectively pay for the facility. It's exciting, and I think it'll work better for us than the traditional process.

More games, more people, more fun on Friday. Handled some little problems with event materials. Played Star Wars: Age of Rebellion in the afternoon and some board and card game prototypes late into the night. Had a moment that reminded me of why I love this con - looked around, and there was about half of my team, some friends and partners, and groups of other folks, sitting/lying around the third-floor lobby of the JW Marriott, playing games and hanging out and having a good time. It was kinda magical.

Traded my booth-credit-acquired books for a fantasy setting guide this morning. Worked the booth. Debated buying Last Night on Earth. Lunch, errands, then back to the hotel to recharge. Watching football fans stream into Lucas Oil Stadium for a Colts game. Arranging meets with friends for dinner and going dancing and stuff. The show's over tomorrow; in 24 hours, I'll be back home.

Things are mostly pretty darn good. I should have a lot more done on the packing and cleaning front, but I'll get it done in time. It's a heck of a thing. I bitch a lot about Lexington, and I am more than ready to move on, but this city's been home for almost 21 years, and I've had more good times than bad here.

C's kid's mom is indeed planning to move to Louisville, so he and I are going to find a house or condo to share. This may cause some problems in my ongoing friendship with his ex-girlfriend. I'm not too concerned on that front. I've got plenty of other stuff to be concerned about.

Got a call Friday evening telling me that the staffing assignment I was supposed to start on the first has been cancelled. Supposed to call tomorrow about a replacement assignment. No big deal, so long as the start date is no sooner.

The plan right now, such as it is, is to pack up in the next 3-4 days, with some items to be purged or given away. The couch is showing its age, there are boxes of software from a ridiculously long time ago, and other bits and pieces here and there.

GenCon event registration opened up today. I was #730 in line, and got all of my wishlist events processed. Cut it down to two and will pick up some generic tickets for Games on Demand when I get to Indy. Most of my team's slots have been assigned; just a few Mistborn events and a room captain slot to fill. I don't think I'm going to handle this part of the prep work next year. School's too important. I'll hand the work off, probably to Ben, and if I attend, I'll just work the booth. Or I'll go as a civilian. But that's 2015. This year, I'm getting into Star Wars: Age of Rebellion and Outbreak: Deep Space games. Because of my duty schedule, I can't do a whole heck of a lot of gaming at the con, and this is very much a working vacation and social getaway for me. In addition, the Colts have a home game on GenCon Saturday night, and if my budget allows, I'm going to get a ticket to that. Also, hopefully, find time to get out to the Indy Childrens' Museum for their terra cotta warriors exhibit. If I don't buy a copy from The Louisville Game Shop, I'll get a copy of AoR at the con. Can't really think of any other releases that I want, but there'll be enough impulse-buy options.

Onward.

There has been progress. Thursday (5/8), I locked down the summer job. It's a temp gig, of course, and maxes out at 90 days. I start on June 1, so won't feel at all bad about leaving the job on August 10.

Friday the 9th was my orientation at UofL. It went pretty well, and I was stunned at how very different the campus is. Any healthy organization will undergo changes in a quarter-century, of course, but still... had a few moments of "When I was here before, this building was a field." Found out that the Bachelor-level Public Health program is very new - I'm going to be part of one of the first graduating classes.

I go back to Louisville tomorrow for advising and registration. Step one is going to be deciding between the BA and BS paths. The BS is more likely, I think, especially as a route to an MPH and/or MS - Epi. Classes to pick, financial routes to pursue, so much more.

Like a place to live. I've procrastinated on this - I left the HL a month ago today, and have 20 days left on my lease here. One way or another, I'm out of Lexington pretty darn soon. I'm planning to look at a couple of places tomorrow before my advising meeting; I'd love to sign a lease and get the keys to a new home this week. Make the move as quickly as possible so I can get settled in before the job starts.

Well, I did it. Friday the 11th was my last day at the paper. I feel good about the decision. I'm free of the place and all of its toxins. It means being away from a lot of good people, of course, but this is the era of easy and ubiquitous connection, so that sting isn't so bad.

Had a really good evening out with friends on Thursday evening - one of the very few times I can remember crossing the work/not-work streams. Shared celebration of my departure and Diane's birthday. Dinner, drinks and pool and great conversations going past midnight. There's going to be at least one more party here before I leave, and at least a couple more when I get settled in Louisville.

Up late Friday night after leaving work, because why not. Slept way later than I should have on Saturday. Missed most of a really gorgeous day. Spent a little while poking around at the Focus' fuse box this afternoon before the constant sweat dripping into my eyes drove me back inside. I'll try again in a couple of hours, in that glorious time around sunset when there's still plenty of light but the heat of the day is gone. Hoping the problem is just a fuse; otherwise it's a trip to the shop and opening up the instrument panel.

Mom&Dad will be here in a bit. Looking forward to seeing them - may not get to again until after the move.

About 8 years ago, a position opened up at the newspaper in my hometown.  I applied and interviewed, and was offered the job.  I turned it down, because my girlfriend at the time convinced me to do so.  Last night, while perusing the job opportunities section of the paper's owner, I saw a similar position available.  Sent in the resume, cover letter, and references this morning, and through some family connections, got some good words back.

If I'm offered the job this time, I'm taking it.  It means moving back to my hometown of about 2500 people, and giving up all the great stuff that I love so very much about Lexington.  It means losing a lot of time and privacy with Erin.  It means some massive changes in my life for the next couple-three years.  It also means formal professional writing experience on my resume, and that's something I've really wanted for some time now.

It means a move.  Repacking everything that I've unpacked in the last twelve days, putting a lot of my goods into storage for a while, and readjusting to a very very different lifestyle.  It means paying a sizable fee for breaking my shiny new lease.

But I feel it'll be worth it.  My relationship with Erin will survive.  The drive to see her will just take a little longer, and our time together, if it does lessen, will be sweeter.  I'll have some new experiences, and those will lead to better things.

Wish me luck, people.  More information as I get it.