let dash off dot com

a note from the editor on various personal projects and individualized goals.  2010 “will be the best year of my life yet,” he says.

END OF APRIL 2010 - - HOW ARE THINGS GOIN’?

GOAL #1: Eliminate $8,000 of school loan debt this year.

SO HOWZIT GOIN’? I am on schedule with this, and have paid 3x$750 so far this year. It’s somewhat equivalent to having a car payment. I’ve been watching my finances more closely as well, since I have once overdrafted my checking account; fortunately I have overdraft protection where insufficient funds are compensated automatically with my savings account.

Today I have a current balance in my checking account of a little over $50. I will be paid tomorrow, and rent will be paid on Saturday. My entire tax refund went into savings this year. Money made through the band(s) will be paid back to myself to pay for amenities related to band trips or the automobile.

CAN I DO THIS? As long as I keep my day job and maintain a level head on my shoulders, this is attainable.

GOAL #2: Publish at least 1 board game this year.

SO HOWZIT GOIN’? Although I have a lot of material, and I experienced a tremendous creative period in late 2009/early 2010, the board game effort is on hiatus for the time being. My spare time is being directed to bicycle training (for one of my other goals). That being said, I am confident in the current crop of prototypes. Four key projects include:

• Death Before Dishonor: a combination of Othello and Tetris, with a martial arts theme. The prototype is in excellent shape, and I plan on submitting this in a first batch of offerings.
• Bunnies vs. Gophers: one of the first successful games I’ve made; surprisingly deep in strategy but needs more testing before release.
• My Pet Robot: a card game for up to four players that is working well at this point. A lot of testing went into this one so far, as my board gamer friends really enjoy it.  It is overdue for a blind public playtest session.
• Pipeline: Working title for a tile-based path/loop-making game. Also very solid; needs more thematic elements and hopefully multiple players (currently for only 2 players).

There are other prototypes sitting around at the moment that need some more work before being ready to present. I will revisit my board game making in late June, after the bike trip is finished.

Incidentally, the Flash plug-in for MultiMedia Fusion 2 was released earlier this year, and I’m excited to develop web-based applications (primarily for band-related content). I will purchase this mid-summer and hopefully develop some web-based games in conjunction with the release of the next album. A friend also informed me of a digital media printer available at a local craft store, so that may be an option for physically printing my own game components.

CAN I DO THIS? Although any publishing effort is an uphill battle, I am confident in this. At the very least, I can self-publish a card game—such as “My Pet Robot”–through a game-publishing website I learned about last year. I purchased a couple games from there, and although the board games leave something to be desired, I was definitely satisfied with the quality of the card game I purchased.

GOAL #3: Bike Odyssey 2010: This time, with a partner.

SO HOWZIT GOIN’? This is progressing much, much better than I imagined. Highlights include:

• The Date is confirmed: 7^th - 13^th June
• I’ve secured a ride back home
• There are three other riders with me; one invited me to join him on last year’s MS Bike Challenge ride, while the two others are members of the bicycle collective where I occasionally volunteer.
• I’ve recently renovated my bicycle with new brake pads, a thorough chain cleaning, and a new set of tires
• Better yet, I’ve turned this into a benefit event! The ride and a music event (a couple weeks away, in early May) will generate funds and supplies for Heart’s Place Shelter, a homeless shelter in the basement of 2640, the community center for which I regularly volunteer.

CAN I DO THIS? Yup. I’m in good (bicycling) shape, and will be even better off in a month. Also, it doesn’t seem too difficult to keep my fellow team mates motivated; they’re also big fans of bicycling and this will be a new experience for each of them.

GOAL #4: Develop two significant program aspects for [the day job].

SO HOWZIT GOIN’? Out of all the goals I’ve set, this one seems the most difficult. There is a lot about this goal that is simply beyond my control. However, it might have helped if I had defined this goal more succinctly. But that’s life.

Meanwhile, the [re-entry program] initiative now has a two-week-long training that I authored; feedback has been very positive from my Executive Director and the Program Coordinator. I reckon this could qualify me as being halfway to attaining this goal, but the proof of the pudding is in the taste; I’d rather see the program successful when put into action as opposed to simply nodding at it while it’s only on paper. Furthermore, two resignations have left the [re-entry program] short-staffed for the time being, making this (already lofty) program a challenge that needs serious attention.

I’ve also coordinated a film screening (for “10 Rules For Dealing With the Police”) that is related directly to the day job; I’ve taken steps to distance the film screening from the day job, however, to avoid any potential political entanglements.

At last week’s strategic planning meeting, I’d unveiled three distinct visionary plans I’d been sitting on for a while, including one about a “non-profit temp agency” initiative which seems promising to more of the staff than just me.

CAN I DO THIS? Technically, yes, though I’m doubtful how influential I will be with this outcome…I don’t write or approve the grants! Our ED dictates how staffing is allocated, and there’s only so much I can influence.

SO, AFTER THE FIRST THIRD OF THE YEAR: I have made some measurable progress. I do feel I’m a third of the way through my goals. We’ll see what I have to say in August…Many changes will have taken place by then.

Tags: bike odyssey, board games, cycling, day job, dmfs, game-making, music, personal, writing //