Spent the weekend in Boston at PAX East, which is a gaming convention. Videogames and tabletop and card games. Attended seminars, panels, fun events and other such things. I did not enter any tournaments. We did, however, take full advantage of the "Free Play" room which was incredible-- Row after row of huge tvs set up with various consoles- Wii, XBox 360, and PS3. You pull a number, like at the deli, then go up and pick a system & a game and they send you off with controllers and game in hand to go play for a half an hour (or, until one of the staff finally needs the console and asks you to wrap it up!).

It was pretty phenomenal. We played the New Mario on Wii a few times and now I want it so bad I could scream.

But since aaron doesn't bother to read my blog I will say this: This weekend was totally all about him. I know he thinks it was partially for me since I've expressed interest in possibly going into the gaming industry, but really? I have never even been to a theatre teacher convention. Conventions aren't my thing. I will say that by and large the people attending this convention were some of the friendliest and most good-natured folk I have ever encountered all in one place.

But I spent alot of my time feeling pretty bored. I'm not a hard-core gamer, and nothing proves that fact more clearly than attending a gaming convention.

And the Q&A entitled: "So you want to get into the game industry" was more of a deterrent than a motivator.

I'm just not sure if I have a career change in me, and when I\ IF I have kids in a few years? Not really feasible.

I said to Aaron: Look, I know you love education and you're phenomenal at it, but you're the one with his future ahead of him as far as college goes- YOU should consider this, not me.

He's also the one with all the talent- he can draw, write, design, and pick up any computer program you set in front of him in no time at all. Oh, and he's also more of a gamer than I am.

We'll see.

I think this convention made me reflect alot on careers in what most people consider to be hobbies. When I was applying to all my colleges in my senior year of HS I kept shaking my head in wonder that more members of the Dramam club weren't planning on majoring in theatre. I didn't get it. How could people do Drama and not want to do it for the rest of their lives?

Ah. I see now. Employablility, job security, real life. got it.

So as much as I can see myself working in the games industry I have to step back, look at it in a way I never looked at the theatre though I probably should have done, and say: Yeah you like it, yeah you'd be fucking fantastic at it, but hey, maybe this should just be a hobby.

And how's the real person job search going? I'm terrified and panicked and all kinds of awful! AAAHHHHH!! Yikes! lol. I have apps in at some places but am not super optimistic. What the fuck am I going to do?????????????????

Love always,

:)