Integri-T's Journal

Howdy

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 14:23:36 GMT

Been ages since I checked LJ.
Hope all is well. Life is good and crazy.

New Job!

Fri, 04 Nov 2005 22:39:23 GMT

Well, I almost can't believe it.
I just landed my dream job. 3d painter for canada's largest animation studio. They sent me a test a few weeks ago, and today I signed a 2 year contract with them. Here are the two renders i did that won me the job:

The pay is quite a bit more than I was hoping for which is very cool. So starting Dec 19, I'll be working in Toronto, which should make it much easier to start seeing my friends again.:)

Sat, 01 Oct 2005 13:52:53 GMT

I can't wait for life to get a little less nuts.
Finally managed a week in my relationship without divorce induced hystaria creeping in.
It's been very cool, actually.

Work has been interesting tho. It's been dead, so my boss made me take 2 weeks unpaid vacation. I managed to line up contract work worth almost double what I ussually make, so I was feeling pretty good. then he said don't come in next monday. In the last call he mentioned that a few of us will probably be laid off by next thursday.
Feck.

I've been quietly looking for a job in or around Barrie for some time with no luck, so I'm freaken scared of this.
I don't think going broke, losing my house, and living in a cardboard box in the park would impress my girlfriend much, since her ex was a doctor.

I've got no idea why she is in love with a goof like me.

Not a bad weekend.

Mon, 20 Jun 2005 00:29:33 GMT

I only worked a half a day Thursday, then had my daughter from Thursday afternoon till Saturday night, which was awesome. Friday night I made a fire, and we relaxed by it till bed time.
Then late Saturday night I met up with a lavagirl for dancing and various mayhem. This girl may be tough to keep at my 3 date limit rule.

Sunday, I spent learning Flash animation which went really well for a change; Completed two lessons.

I missed getting to meet up with a good friend that was in town during the weekend, but we keept missing each other's calls.

All in all a good weekend.

Thanks for all the birthday wishes!!

Thu, 19 May 2005 21:50:26 GMT

Truly I have the best friends.

Tried Minx's key to your heart quiz

Sat, 07 May 2005 14:58:18 GMT

It was strangely accurate, though for my sake I would like to think I no longer have those beliefs on marriage.

The Keys to Your Heart

You are attracted to those who are unbridled, untrammeled, and free.

In love, you feel the most alive when your lover is creative and never lets you feel bored.

You'd like to your lover to think you are loyal and faithful... that you'll never change.

You would be forced to break up with someone who was insecure and in constant need of reassurance.

Your ideal relationship is lasting. You want a relationship that looks to the future... one you can grow with.

Your risk of cheating is zero. You care about society and morality. You would never break a commitment.

You think of marriage as something precious. You'll treasure marriage and treat it as sacred.

In this moment, you think of love as something you thirst for. You'll do anything for love, but you won't fall for it easily.

What Are The Keys To Your Heart?

Nice little A.I.

Fri, 06 May 2005 14:00:21 GMT

A friend sent me a link to an impressive little neural net that asks you 20 questions to guess what object you are thinking of. Unfortunately they don't provide any info on the workings of the AI itself, which would have been cool.

Give it a try though, it's pretty amazing.
I did t.v.

http://www.20q.net/index.html

Tue, 19 Apr 2005 23:16:10 GMT

I just can't beleave it's only Tuesday. How am I going to make it through the week?

I should pray for help.
Know any good religions?

An interesting Friday at the shop.

Sat, 16 Apr 2005 14:12:46 GMT

So five minutes before break time, my co-worker George fed his thumb to a table saw. At Neatworks, safety is job 2. Since I'm from barrie, and have no idea where things are in North York, I was naturally chosen to drive him to the hospital. George was having a very difficult time of it, and was showing signs of going into shock. I knew I had to get him engaged into a dialogue to keep him level. It went really well, to the point where we were actually having joking banter back and forth.

Get to the first hospital. We walk in and ask for the emergency room.

Security: "we don't have an emergency room"
Me: "listen my friend needs a doctor, he cut himself rather badly on a table saw"
Security: "I'm sorry, but this is a psychiatric hospital"
Me: "well, my friend also thinks he's a duck"

George was the only one laughing as we headed out to find another hospital.

Things went much better at the next place. After being warned it would be a few hours wait, the doctor showed up in 10 minutes. George was pretty lucky, although he has plastic surgery to look forward to.

I am now the only employee remaining with all my digits intact.

Fri, 08 Apr 2005 18:02:03 GMT

What r people up to saturday night? I don't work this sunday for a change so am up for anything.

In answer to rtwo's question...

Fri, 08 Apr 2005 17:06:29 GMT

What the hell kind of uber coffee table has 46 (46!) pieces??!?

Well, this kind, baby:

It still needs a few coats of laquer, then it's done:)

No worky

Wed, 06 Apr 2005 23:58:46 GMT

Well, it's been a strange work week. As in there hasen't been any.
I'm really hoping I don't find a lay off notice in tomorow's paycheck. Don't get me wrong, I'm not in mad, romantic love with my job, but I don't have a replacement job lined up at the moment.

So what do a bunch of handy carpenter type humans do, to while away the time at a workshop when there is no work?
Why, we build stuff of course.
I designed a coffee table on a napkin during lunch, and spent the afternoon cutting all the pieces for it.
46 pieces to be exact. Maybe if I had a longer lunch I could have come up with a more labour intensive design concept, but I doubt it.

Tomorow i'll build the sucker.

oh, wish me luck on the whole, not being laid off thing.

Life is good, just feeling kinda crappy today.

Fri, 01 Apr 2005 03:35:51 GMT

Was so sick at work yesterday, my boss asked me to stay home today before the rest of the employees catch the plague. I don't get paid sick days, so I'm trying to decide whether I can afford to take friday off as well. I guess i'll decide how I feel in the morning.

In other news, I can actually see a patch of grass in my yard, which is awesome. I also had to turn down the heat in my hottub which is a sure sign of spring:) It was 112 degees. heh.

Man, a few more weeks, and I can start having friends over again by the fire pit, ice cold beers in hand. I can't wait.

My car is a hole money falls into

Sat, 19 Feb 2005 18:18:10 GMT

Two weeks ago i spent 500 on brakes. Last night while driving my daughter back to my place from school, the front axle snapped. I mangaed to manuver the car on the shoulder, so at least we were not hurt. The quote to repair my car is one thousand bucks, plus I dont get it back till tuesday. This, my friends, is a pain when you don't live in a city. Just to take a cab home from the garage cost me thirty dollars. No buses here.

I've been working my butt off at two jobs to try to lower my debts, but thanks to this car of mine I'm worse off than ever.
I'll stop whining now.

Sat, 29 Jan 2005 16:52:31 GMT

What's on for tonite? I feel like getting out, though I work tomorow.

OK, maybe I shouldn't have driven in.

Sun, 23 Jan 2005 02:00:22 GMT

Decided to brave the weather and make the treck to Toronto to hang out with a few friends.
In Barrie, the roads looked really bad, totally covered in snow. After Bradford it was clean black tarmac for as for as the eyes could see. I'm in the center lane, and we are all cruising at about 120 kms. All of a sudden everyone is hitting they're brakes. I apply mine, and for a moment I think, "omg my brakes have failed" because I did not slow down at all. Then I realize no one is slowing down, because we are on a sea of perfect black ice. sadly, the car in front of me managed to find a dry surface with one tire, and is now spinning donuts, and coming at me fast. I look left, but i'm blocked, look right, and a car is along side me there as well. So, realizing it was the only way, I floored the gas, and sped towards the car spinning towards me. Just as we were about to hit, I was ahead of the car to my left, and turned in front of him into the fast lane. The spinning car took out the car that was behind me in the middle lane.

Crazy driving, kids. Can't say I recomend it.

I love my database clients

Tue, 11 Jan 2005 02:00:33 GMT

So I get a call asking me to come fix "a serious problem" with a database I built. This is strange, since it's been working great for everyone at the company for months.

Me: "ok, tell me what's happening."
New Guy: "Well, the database doesnt seem to know which fixup I want added to the delivery schedule"
Me: " Ok, show me"
He clicks away for a sec..
New Guy: "See? It just sent the first fixup on the list, not the one I wanted"
Stunned silence for a full minute.
Me: "um, you know.. you need to select the one you want added to the schedule"
New Guy: "Select?"
Me: " Yes, you know, click on it"
New guy: " Oh, ok thanks!"

Aparently, my database was supposed to tune in to his brainwave energy, and determine which fixup out of thousands he's thinking about at the time. I guess I'll have to add that to the next build.
Of course I had to charge my 3 hour minimum fee for tech support.

Merry Christmas

Sat, 25 Dec 2004 00:27:14 GMT

Have a wonderful holiday.

Nice day for staying in.

Mon, 20 Dec 2004 01:11:11 GMT

Man, I picked the perfect day to stay home and program. Freaken cold outside in cottage country. I've been at my computer for 14 hours so far, and I'm almost finished. I really need to learn how to market my business. I just earned in 14 hours what it takes 2 weeks to earn at my day job.
Crazyness.
I have a house guest this week. My neighbor asked if I would take care of his cat, and I said "sure, no prob". I came home the next day to find a cat, a bag of cat food, and a bottle of Crown Royal at my door. lol.

We made a house!

Sat, 18 Dec 2004 19:21:19 GMT

Zen and I made a gingerbread house last night:)
I am so not ready for christmass. I need to finish building my mom's gift, and shopping for Zen, once I get paid for this database i'm coding this weekend.

Gave my notice at work.

Wed, 15 Dec 2004 02:00:02 GMT

I was sick to my stomach with stress about going in to tell my boss I quit, today.
Surprisingly, it went smooth as silk. Well, more than that, it was actually kinda feaky. I expected an icey response, perhaps some verbal abuse, concidering my bosses temper. Instead, my boss wished me the best, and mentioned 3 times during the conversation that if things didnt work out at my new job, that I have a job waiting for me here. Doesnt get much better than that, I'd say. I'm staying at the old job for the rest of the week so as not to leave 'em stuck.

The new job isn't actually new, as such:) I worked for them some time back. Turns out I can be bought, given the right price.
Who knew?

Ok, someone tell me if SheWhoMustNotBeNamed has a point here.

Thu, 09 Dec 2004 03:38:11 GMT

Last weekend, my daughter slept over friday night as usual.
On Saturday, my daughter asked for a stay at home day. So Zen and i made a giant dinosaur nest on the living room floor out of every pillow and blanket I own, then watched dinosaur documentaries while playing with dinosaur toys all day. The only time she left the nest was to go to the bathroom, was pretty funny.

Well that evening, my ex shows up a little earlier than usual to collect her. Normally she calls first. Well, my daughter had a bit of a scene, not wanting to go home yet. I calm her down, and off they go.

Now I've received a phone call from my ex, explaining that I'm making my daughter's visits too much fun, and it's disrupting they re home life. Apparently, Zen doesnt want to play alone in her room as she should. It takes a full day after being with me for her to settle down into they re routine. So I've been told I need to interact less with her when she's at my place so her life is the same at both houses.

Am I wrong in thinking it's good to make time for my child? Any feedback would be appreciated.

Confused dad

Me Sick

Tue, 07 Dec 2004 23:56:15 GMT

I'm thinking I caught my daughter's strep. This is where it would be cool having a normal job that pays for sick days. As it is, I spent all day outside in freezing rain, with more of the same tomorow. Someone plz kill me.

Saturday Night

Sat, 04 Dec 2004 16:59:53 GMT

So what are people up to tonite?
I'm thinking of comming into toronto.
The crazy week I've had can only be properly ended with yummy big time fun.

My daughter in the star:)

Thu, 02 Dec 2004 23:44:18 GMT

Zen, my little girl, appears in an article in the Toronto Star today!
When I agreed to her taking part in a story Rachel was putting together, I thought it would be a fun experience for Zen , and it truly was. The phone interview went very well. Rachel was great at making Zen feel at ease. The photographer really took her job seriously, spending over an hour taking various shots. The one which made it into the paper was achieved by her standing on a ladder and shooting down through the glass of my sunroof. It looks wonderful, with the reflections of trees scattered across my kid's visage.