07/03/2004: "Another Year Older"

I turned thirty-one on Thursday. Normally, birthdays are a time for reflection, and this birthday wasn't much different. There's a genuine sense of accomplishment this year, mostly because I've continued to work towards my dream of writing and developing games in a professional capacity, and I've seen a measure of success.

There's always the obligatory birthday swag. Amy went way over her budget for me, but I love her, so I'll let her get away with it this once. Aside from some gaming books ("Complete Divine" and the new "Eberron" campaign setting) and a new bag for my laptop, she bought me a Tungsten E Palm. I've been using a Palm m130 for the past two and a half years, and it was starting to show its age. This new machine is sweet!

In the news...

The Game Mechanics have posted a product page for "Artifacts of the Ages: Legendary Weapons," and it lists the project's authors. My name is there, and I'm in very good company. The designers include Eric Cagle, Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, Andy Collins, Brian Cortijo, Darrin Drader, Sean K. Reynolds, Mat Smith, Owen K.C. Stephens, and Rodney Thompson. Check the product page out for author bios!

Not much writing being done lately. I'm mostly waiting for GenCon Indy. I sent an article in to Dragon Magazine last week, and my fingers are crossed. I should be getting another writing assignment from Fantasy Flight Games sometime next week. I'll post more information here when I'm able to.

Work. I've been doing receiving for a dental implant company since late August of last year. Recently (two weeks ago), I was moved into the stockroom under the guise of cross-training. Pulling parts is interesting, especially parts that I recognize as having been physically received by myself several weeks/months ago, but it's also a lot of standing around, bean-counting. Standing up for eight hours at a stretch sure makes me yearn for a job where I can sit on my fat butt all day and type.

It's Fourth of July weekend, so everyone be safe and have a good time for Independence Day!