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Monday, February 27, 2012

Hurdles, Roadbumps, and Occupational Hazards


 Recently, I've been a little nostalgic for a certain MMO. I used to be addicted to this thing so bad that it was like breathing air. I had to play every single day. I was such an addict that I refused to pay a monthly fee, and went with a lifetime account option.

 One day I didn't play, then the next was without the game. Pretty soon, I had realized that I had not logged in for a while. I kept up with the new updates when they'd come out. I'd log in, check it out, and then log off. It just didn't have the appeal that it used to.

 The game changed hands in the intervening years, giving the title a new life. It was something that made me want to log back in and play around in the new areas.

Hurdle one, the  e-mail account I had used when signing up was no longer valid. It was tied to an ISP that I had since dropped. So, I forgot a bunch of details like my incredibly hard to remember username. I'm remembering that it had alternate caps and lowercase letters, so no one but me could log in. Ha, a good idea at the time, but I have since forgotten such name and have wiped all memory of the title off of my hard drive.

 I e-mailed the new company of my problem. They responded wanting all sorts of info that I could not get to, being that the e-mail addy was no longer available. 

 So now, I'm negotiating with the customer service rep to give me access, even though I don't have access to the original email. The person is now willing to pare down the essential info that I need to provide to two memorable pieces of info. I hope I get them right.

 I have decided to attend college. I have never done so, and seeing as how the job market is so bleak, I thought I'd pursue an education that may allow me more choice in career.

 The amount of hoops to go through almost seems endless. It's almost as if they're weeding out the weak-willed prospective students by not really giving an order in which to go about the steps to start. Everything states that you must do something else before doing that one thing, but the one thing they point you to states that the other needs to happen first. What?

 I'm to get my transcript. I won't even mention what my shot records will take. Tough cookies. I tried this before, and the school that I graduated from is still holding my transcript hostage for some handsome sum, like a ransom. This is due to my hoarding of textbooks and library books.I also used them for various unconventional experiments that the books never withstood. I wasn't aware that they kept records so well. Darn administrators. But they know not who they are dealing with. I will find a way to get that piece of paper that gives me the right to closer to my role in higher ed.

 Occupational hazards are sometimes worth the trouble. I was a mason's helper for a while. It was pretty fun, but the one time I was checking the hopper for the consistancy of the mortar, Boom! right in the eye. My safety glasses were not doing their job. I ended up washing my eyeball so much that I could pass for a Ren and Stimpy eye model, red veins and all.

Image grabbed from
srqpix

Update: I've since beaten one of the hurdles. Made a ss of it:




  Thanks for letting me rant, I'll do funny next time, pinky swar.

56 comments:

  1. LOL Do you have your books? You should return them so you can get your transcript! Kudos to you for choosing to go back to school. Did you ever try an employment agency to find a job? Reputable ones are usually very good.

    As far as getting your login code for your game, I'm useless and out of ideas. Wishing you luck though!

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  2. Books are long gone. I've not been to an agency. And The bottom pic is of the game after I successfully beat the problem into submission.

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  3. Indeed, kudos for choosing school. I really can't decide where to go next, might do the same just to get somewhere.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's all I could come up with after a round of agency tests.

      Delete
  4. What just.. this post felt all over. I used to be addicted too! But.. not addicted enough to pay.. at all.

    Also, good luck at college!

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  5. What MMO is this? I bet it's WoW.... I was addicted too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's Champion's Online. I had never played wow, until my neph let me control his alt for a while. I was still 'meh' because I was stuck on this 8 bit pixel looking game from 2000. Oh well, hehe. I got in!

      Delete
  6. I remember a game I had a similar experience with. I think ultimately I either got it sorted, and remembered stuff, or I just gave up and started again. It was free to play though, I imagine if you had a lifetime access or it was a sub game you would want to get your old account back. I played Champions Online but I never really got into it. I did the tutorial missions at the start which were badass, and I learned how to fly but after that I just logged out and didn't log in again. I'm not totally sure why. Oh well. But well done for going to college. I'd like to say it's worth it but I've never finished it. Hope the job market at least is better when you're done. That is another advantage of it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe it was because you didn't have Shockgrubz, hero for all to hang with. I've got a HQ and everythin, man. I do agree that the grind is monotonous, but that's every game.

      Thanks for the well wishes.

      Delete
  7. I sooo avoided MMO games, as I didn't want them to run my life and still do so to this day. Kudos indeed on going back to school. Although I know they make you jump through so many damn hoops and charge you for every little thing, so have tons of fun..haha

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    Replies
    1. They can be ultimate time sinks, for sure.

      I've been through a few hoops already and am feeling like a natural jumper. Fun to be had, haha!

      Delete
  8. My son is heavily addicted to those games.

    Good luck on going back to school! I would do that,too, but I feel too old...and lazy

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    Replies
    1. Then if I can play responsibly and go to school at the same time, I can be viewed as a positive role model? haha, and

      I knew a guy that started college at 63. He was 72 when he told me how much fun he had once he got over being the 'old guy'. That man was one of my inspirations to do this.

      Delete
  9. Haha, my friends are trying to get me into SWTOR, it looks way too addictive though. Good luck with the whole textbook crap, those book cost like freaking $80 a piece, even though the ones they give out are old and worth like $5 a piece.

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    Replies
    1. I would not be able to put the lightsaber down, once it got into my grubby little hands.

      I might try some bargain textbook outlets, if I can find a reputable one.

      Delete
  10. Well hey, good luck in making it into the system! I hate it that they make it so hard... you shouldn't have to fight for education. Of course, you'll make it through I'm sure so all is good!

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  11. Gotta say that I'm slightly jealous of you.

    Oh how I miss college!

    Best of luck!

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    Replies
    1. No need for jelly,

      we can can that in the fall!

      Thanks for the luck, man.

      Delete
  12. I met a guy who was trying to start college again and one of his previous school does not mail out transcripts. They must be picked up by hand. The school was 1,200 miles away. He had to save money to make the trip to pick up a piece of paper.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow. I hope I don't have to do that. If I do, I will get a camera and post every day a video of my journey. I will try to get so many followers that I'll get sponsored, so I won't have to worry about money or lodging. Huh, I almost wish they'd do that now, hehe.

      Delete
  13. i hope you could arm-twist them into giving you your papers :)good luck

    i know. i have a few skype accounts because i don't remember my passwords or user names after a while.

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    Replies
    1. I love a good arm-twist in the morning!

      I've never skyped. Huh.

      Thanks for the luck.

      Delete
  14. You do need to rant to get things out of your system, otherwise you get ulcers!

    This MMO sounds familiar. I used to be a WoW addict, loved my Horde 'Lock. I had to stop playing just after WotLK came out, and as soon as I heard that the developers had RUINED my favourite areas, I vowed never to play again. Fuck up Mulgore? Flood Thousand Needles?? Crack open the Barrens??? HOW DARE YOU?!?! I've have ENOUGH of my favourite places being destroyed IRL without losing my InGame homes too!
    /rant

    When you discover how to be organised, can you share the secret with me? I used to be organised, once upon a time, but have no idea how I did it!

    Take care!

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    Replies
    1. Ha, thanks for your rant on my page. It fits nicely with mine.

      I'll let you know the moment I uncover the secret to organization. At the moment, all I can come up with is that it exists only in the middle of my ocd and add.

      Delete
  15. There's nothing wrong with a bit of a rant sir....entertaining to read for a start!

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  16. i remember that cartoon character!

    http://underthefluorescents.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He was so cuddly, but yet he was just skin and bones.

      Delete
  17. good chjoice going back to college, should help you a lot with your future

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  18. So they allowed you access to the game once again? That's nice to hear. MMORPGs that I played ages ago are now discontinued and closed, so I can't pick them up again even if I wanted to.

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    1. That blows. All of the ones that I used to play are still around, I think. Twelvesky2, Bitchia, and...well, yeah, Dink Smallwood isn't around anymore, so I am with you there.

      Delete
  19. Strange change of topic, but entertaining none the less!

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    1. I'm always changing topics......and strange, hehe. Glad you were entertained.

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  20. I do hope you nab that transcript, so you can study! You're right, they do try to weed out the people who aren't serious.

    Getting stuff in your eyes is a nasty business! I got splashed in the eye cooking bacon once. It burned like a bastard and left a scar in my eye. Serves me right for stuffing my face!

    The update looks great! :)

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    Replies
    1. I've taken a few practice tests to see where I need work. I'm very needy in the maths area.

      I've cooked bacon au natural. Not a pretty sight, but also a dangerous one.

      Delete
    2. Maths was my WORST!!! I dropped it for ceramic art first chance I got!

      Oh my lord! Bacon, you, au natural? That's dangerously delicious! :)

      Delete
  21. Thats a lot of work for a game! I hope it lives up to your remembered expectations!

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    1. It did. I now have a secret hideout. I've always wanted my heroes to have homes. I got depressed when I'd think about how their identities would collapse under the constant stress of mission after mission with no rest and relaxation.

      Delete
  22. Going to college? Good decision, my friend. Some jobs, if you are qualified for them, are never full with people, like doctors, dentists, accountants etc lol.

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    1. Well, I don't think I'll be going for those examples, but I will be a professional of some type. I want to make my ancestors proud!

      Delete
  23. Glad to see you managed to get back into your game. Nothing wrong with MMO's if you control them :-)

    Best of luck getting into college. I went to uni in my thirties, it was no help to me getting a job (changed courses) but I loved every minute.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, a mixture of constraint and moderation for the mmo's will help me.

      I'm glad to hear that it was lovely for you. I'll try to stay on track and have fun. Thanks.

      Delete
  24. LOL, WHUP ASS ON DEM HURDLES!

    And trust me, I know how it goes when it comes to tryin' to get into ANY kind of further education. Past failures, old debts, all kinds of stuff is drowning me like mad but I may have yet found a way to get in, even if it's a diploma mill.

    Hell, as long as I'm makin' forward progress on ANYTHING (and they'll take FASFA money instead of mine~!) I'll be friggin' happy.

    Keep bangin' yer head against that wall, bro! Either it'll go down or you will, but at least a definite conclusion will have occurred!

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  25. Excellent interview, I enjoyed it.

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