judyonthenet

I’m volunteering at the Game Developer Conference 2010 in San Francisco now, which means I have to actually get up in the morning on a daily basis (and rather early, I might add). I figured since I’m still “funemployed”, I might as well go volunteer, attend some sessions, hopefully learn something, and maybe even meet new people. Yesterday was the first day of volunteer work, and it was a doozy. (Bag stuffing is surprisingly exhausting.) This is technically the third time I volunteered, but the last two times were in college (2004 and earlier) and in San Jose, so I still feel like a newbie.

Right now is the first time since Sunday I really had time to just sit and relax in front of the computer. After working a ton yesterday, then getting home late, then waking up early today, listening to a bunch of people talk all day, dealing with SF streets… I’m probably going to pass out once I post this.

The Moscone Center… looks warmer than it actually is

If anybody is around SoMa, let me know cuz I’m working until Saturday!

New thing I learned today: Applications of utility theory in gaming.

The lecture didn’t sound that exciting, but it was very well presented, educational, and interesting. I probably learned about utility in the AI context from my AI course in college, but it’s been a while.

I’ve been out of work over 5 months, and I still have no prospects at the moment. Now that our move is finally complete, I’ve been taking a good look at local options, and there aren’t many. I’d prefer to stick with hardware, but there are few hardware companies on the Peninsula. Because I’m looking for a change, I’m content with software, of which there are more options up here. The problem is, I’m pretty much a newbie at software engineering, and no one seems to want to hire n00bs.

I’m also trying to keep commutes short. I’m adamant in my belief that a short commute significantly improves your quality of life. (The exception is if the job is the *perfect* job.) Mountain View, which has more hardware engineering options, isn’t too far, but it’s pushing it, in my opinion. I want to dry up all possibilities that are nearby first. I know this is rather picky of me; many people tolerate much longer commutes. Feeling this way also makes me feel a bit guilty.

Anyway, 5 months already, and I still have no job. I don’t think I know how to sell myself. I’m open to anything, which makes it hard to focus. I’m studying things, but are they relevant to anything I’m going to do? With a significantly higher rent, I’m starting to feel the uneasiness of being “funemployed”. (Strangely, Kelvin still seems unperturbed he’s married to a bum.) The fact I’m in this position voluntarily… also adds to the guilt.

I don’t have anything to show for my off time, either. What can I say I have accomplished in the last 5 months? I don’t know. Am I any better of a person now than I was 5 months ago? I’m not sure. I keep asking myself these things, and it’s mentally distracting. I need to make some milestones for myself ASAP, otherwise it seems like I’m going nowhere.

*sigh* At least the view is nice here.

Maybe one day I can own my own place with a view.

New thing I learned today: Cabbage lasts a friggin’ long time in the fridge.

I made corned beef and cabbage last night from cabbage that came in a grocery box a month ago! Speaking of cooking, I haven’t eaten out for lunch since we moved, so pat on the back for me for saving money by eating in.

Finally, everything is moved over, and I’m back online. I’m officially settled, physically. Mentally, I don’t think I’m quite there yet. The professionally just-cleaned apartment, unpacked stuff everywhere, and cable television… I feel like I’m staying at a hotel, and nothing seems permanent. It took me a while to warm up to the Campbell apartment, so I imagine it will take me even longer to get used to San Mateo. We’ll see how it goes.

We had our big move Sunday. We hired professional movers; no way we could have done the move on our own. One flight of stairs at the old apartment, and two or three flights at the new one… I’m pretty sure someone would have hurt themselves. Major kudos to the movers getting our bed into the loft area past a spiral staircase. We suffered only two casualties: a cheap, small IKEA lamp that was dropped by a mover, and one of the Corelle mugs I use for tea that Kelvin dropped while unwrapping it from packing.

Because of our procrastination, we didn’t have everything packed by the time the movers came. We had to do a walk-through with manager of the old apartment Monday, so Sunday night and all-day Monday was spent getting all the remnants of our old home out to the new home. We’ve been unpacking ever since, but there’s still junk everywhere. AT&T came an installed Uverse today (AT&T sent an email saying he was coming yesterday, but it was shown in the system as today. AT&T sucks.), and we set up the computer desk and computers today.

I probably could have had my computer up and running earlier, but Kelvin set up the TV yesterday. We get “basic” cable included in our rent. That means we get local channels and a handful of cable channels. Except we don’t. Our TV found all the cable channels, excluding premium stuff like HBO. I had to search through hundreds of channels of nothing my TV also picked up, but nonetheless, I found a lot more than I expected. I was happy to get anything outside of CBS, but now I’m really happy. Brain… rotting…

New thing I learned today: Who Traci Lords is.

I’ve been hooked on the Biography Channel all day. I don’t know if the show only profiles interesting people or makes everything they profile seem interesting.

In case you haven’t heard, Kelvin got a new job at a startup in Burlingame. Commuting from Campbell to Burlingame is unreasonable (IMO anyway, I know some crazy people do even longer commutes), so we’re moving from the South Bay to the Peninsula. More specifically, San Mateo!

I’m not familiar with the Peninsula, except for maybe Mountain View (which can also be argued as South Bay). I’m also familiar with IKEA in East Palo Alto. And my great-uncle’s house in San Carlos. And Kelvin’s auntie’s house in Burlingame. Yep, that’s the extent of my knowledge concerning the area between SF and South Bay.

Here’s some pros and cons for the move, at least from what I can tell so far…

View from Campbell apartment

What I will miss about living in my Campbell apartment
Being one freeway exit away from Mom
Cheap rent
Large kitchen
Easy access to 17 & 85 intersection
Easy commute to the many tech companies in South Bay
Close to Kelvin’s dad, mom, and brother
Closer to friends
Parking for second car easy 99% of the time
Only one flight of stairs to our apartment
Nice old lady landlord

What I won’t miss at the Campbell apartment
Having to drag our never-ending pile of laundry to the laundry room
Obnoxious left turn from apartment driveway onto busy 6-lane 40mph road
The only channel we received was CBS (we only have over-the-air)
Useless dishwasher
Useless A/C in the dining room
Sweltering indoors during the summer
Hearing our neighbor snore
The 1% of the time when the apartment completely runs out of parking

View from San Mateo apartment. It’s a little hard to see in this pic because
it’s sundown and a bit foggy, but you can actually see East Bay!

What I look forward to at the San Mateo apartment
Indoor washer & dryer
Two bathrooms
Nice, safe, wealthy neighborhood
Gorgeous view
Easy to get to from major freeways
Computers separate from bedroom (computers by TV and away from bed so device lights won’t disturb crazy-light-sensitive Kelvin when he’s trying to sleep)
Our own garage for one car and miscellaneous tools
Plenty of designated visitor parking
Closer to SF, BART
Free basic cable (OMG I can watch something on TV that’s NOT CSI)
Plenty of storage space for our junk
Near several downtown areas with good dining and very close to shopping and a farmer’s market
Nice neighbors (well, they seem nice)
Another nice old lady landlord (again, she seems nice)

What I don’t look forward to at the San Mateo apartment
Further away from my mom (30 minutes vs. 5 minutes)
50% more expensive rent! (WAH. Must find job!)
Smaller living space (equivalent square footage, but more of it is taken up by bathroom, closets)
TINY “bedroom” loft area
Few hardware companies nearby to apply for jobs at
No designated second car parking, street parking only for 2nd car
Ancient appliances, oven has no window
Colder climate
Far from Fry’s, Best Buy
No friends nearby
Falling down and/or knocking head on spiral staircase

After this post, my computer’s going to be packed for our move tomorrow. We should have internet Monday, so hopefully this computer break will be short.

New thing I learned today: Hillsborough is a rich town located between San Mateo and Burlingame. The city requires homes to have a minimum size of 2500sqft, keeping the neighborhood exclusive to wealthy.

Even though I’ve lived in the Bay Area most of my life, I never heard of or knew Hillsborough existed until I started researching apartments in Burlingame and San Mateo (Hillsborough obviously doesn’t have any apartments). Apparently, Martin Yan lives there!

I’d have a more interesting blog post, but I’m busy recuperating from my Let’s Make a Deal experience. Basically, it was a lot of waiting in line before the taping and a lot of screaming during the taping. My voice is totally shot. Kelvin and I didn’t get to be contestants, but Anna got (and lost) a Quickie Deal. It was still fun and somewhat educational. Will post in greater detail when I’m not half dead and have something besides an iPhone to blog with.