Holidays 2k18

It's shaping up to be a very busy and crazy holiday season!

My sister is due end of the year, but could end up due earlier. Regardless of timing, I will be an uncle very soon.
My parents are scheduled to get in within the next couple days. Visiting from New City, they will stay until a few days post-Christmas.
Work continues on. I may be needed on Christmas eve, Boxing Day, perhaps even New Years Eve/Day.
I've been working with a certain someone on getting the logistics just-so with family events for this holiday season. It will be akin to an elite ping pong match.

First Christmas living back in Hometown! Haven't had this phenomenon since 2007...

Social(ly Inept) Media

Do you enjoy social media?

It's a question I've been asking myself since stumbling on articles about people who've quit different outlets and experienced their lives improve.

With broadcasting, the name of the game is to be spread across every platform as much as possible to maximize the possibility of reaching target demographics.
But realistically, managing a presence is a job in of itself.
And multiplied, becomes absolutely laborious. It's for this reason that companies are starting to hire "Social Media Specialists", seasoned vets of platforms who know how trends tend to shift.

But to be on these platforms personally? The incentive to keep active is even trickier.
I use Twitter on and off. I like the set-up, but I clogged my feed fast by following some accounts of personalities and celebrities I like - and then advertisements further pushed it to the point of discontent. I honestly don't mind that that's the case, as it doesn't eat up my time now.

Facebook is tricky. Lots of family and friends. Constant barrage of Birthdays (I fight with a guilt if I don't say Happy Birthday, but it's a coin toss if that person will even care), events, status updates, etc.
Facebook messenger is a cornerstone connection for chatting and playing games, so it itself holds an important role.

Instagram is my meme and friends feed. I appreciate that unlike facebook, it has a clear "Ok you caught up go away" feature when you scroll enough. But it's still quite the addictive thing.
Snapchat ... I don't even know what to do with snapchat. It's just there.

Youtube (For this post am counting) is my greatest time-sink. I am passionate about music, it's my inspiration and my motivation. And the video content is my TV. I'm okay with this.

PTE/blogger is the content from me which my other accounts wish they had. Condensed here, in a coder's playground with silly features and banners.

The point of this post is to get you to think about what social media you use, and why. What purpose is each thing serving? And is it a benefit you like, or would change?

I've got lots to sort out for me. Especially since I also need to contend with Eric Riccy.

PTE 3.0

I mean technically, this is still PTE 1.0, but I continue to ruin innovate to understand the world of website design and the true powers of HTML/CSS/Java.

PTE now has an e-mail subscription service! Now new posts can be found out about in a new way, making bugging me about posting easier than ever!
wait

Also I've added the translate feature. It's what I attempted years ago which ended in a blunder. I realize it will not be perfect, but it's going to do much better than I did, and that's what counts.

Game & Noise

I've been busy busy working as much as I can. I've still kept on with the side projects discussed last post, but I've come to terms where I am in terms of game development.I've never really grown far past the ability to make a quiz game.
Comically, the design environment of my flash days seems to have stunted me, as now I know only how to code in a visual environment.
And that may make you point to trying Visual Studio. I have tried. That program is akin to going to advanced drawing class to learn cartooning.
Sure, they're both drawing. But they are two very different approaches.
Luckily for me, I have my sister trying to help me learn Visual Studio and figure this out. We shall see how it goes.

Other than that, things are pretty typical life. Groceries on weekends. Trying to visit family and friends whenever possible. Hanging out with a certain someone whenever I can.


One thing I've found I've been doing more as of late is reading random news articles. There was one I read about that reminded me of the Initiators Vs Reciprocators Post. I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on it. I might make more posts about my random readings in the future.
At least it'd be content!™

Features Ft. Old Habits

As some of you noticed, I brought back PTE's Test Your Luck, now as as a clickable button. (That can re-roll upon clicking again.)

Gamer Jay FM is back as well, managed and continuing development by Gamer Jay himself. For those who are new or don't remember, Gamer Jay FM is a Video Game Music radio station. GJ handles the logistics, playlists and design. I help out with jingles and other stuff here and there.
Every listen helps him keep going! If the player isn't showing up, consider unblocking the cookie trackers, as I can guarantee them safe. (I run a cookie tracker myself) Else, the link will show up regardless, which will take you to the radionomy site where it can be played natively.

I've also experimented with a simple BGM button feature, just to understand source coding better. It's this song if you're curious.

Admittedly making and re-implementing these features has reignited my passion for making things, and I've gotten to old habits of trying to make a game. Will I ever learn?

Maybe someday.

Congrats to my sister!

Now moved in, and living in her own house.

Watershed

I recently tried live streaming for the first time. It was a 3 hour ordeal, so do not feel obligated to view it.

Overall it went better than expected. It started as messy as you can imagine, and ended on a quieter note, but viewers were very supportive and friendly. They even joined the game I was streaming, and I managed to have a party of 6 by the end, starting from just Dyland and I.

There's a few of things I gotta sort out still though.
The first, and biggest one is the divide: Youtube VS Twitch. I have friends on both platforms, so there's a sort of pull to using either service. I could use both, but that could get complicated.

The second thing is scheduling. I'm a very on-the-fly person, but I understand that people want a structure so they can tune in live and visit with me consistently. But, add to that that I'm going to be  working day-times very soon, and weekend work in general, and time outside that will be my only personal time to see a certain someone: It's a contention point.

Thirdly, I'm timid. This fact was clear enough when I blacked myself out over writing essays, but now the tension is a constant. The expectation to perform daily is going to exacerbate this tension, and performing live on-air, especially for the first while, will not be aiding.

Ultimately, I did enjoy the experience. I plan to continue streaming. But, there's much going on behind the scenes.

i'm still an oopsie

Call-back

While tabling up ideas for posts, I went back and re-read the infamous "Initiators and Reciprocators" Post.
What a wild ride.

May 26, 2014. I re-create my family's home network, naming it with a broken keyboard, which would go on and stick for the next 4 YEARS.
And I went on about Radio plans, since I had enrolled in Broadcasting by that point:

ON to the 'real post', I was talking to a relative of mine recently whom when I told him about my radio plans, worriedly told me that I'm probably screwed because radio makes no money and I should do trades.
I am aware that radio is not an especially monetary gaining sort of field, I'm walking into the school portion knowing that. I'm not going back on my plans however, sink or swim: I am trying radio.
(A later version of me may regret this and facepalm at this post. That alone makes it worth it. Heheh.)

...

...

Mission Accomplished

But, it should be known: I do not regret my efforts and plan. In fact, I enjoyed radio. And at the time it was a palpable plan, with unknown variables.
But, fast forward to today: I have yet to get into it professionally.
Not for a lack of trying though. That said, admittedly at first after graduation I focused my career more on what I had learned from second year studies. I had thought those skills to be more lucrative and in-demand.

Now after moving (again) and trying to make things work, I'm just most interested in following whatever opportunity comes.Your motivational quote here.

PS Still a 'reciprocator' also
PPS Article 13: PTE Destroyer?

Octopost

This past week has been without posts as my mom was in town. It was a very busy week, but very nice to see her and spend time with her. As well, I visited with many relatives and continued helping my sister and bro-in-law with renovations.

Now things are back to business as usual. Crazy to me that it's October already. I've been featured on live-streams with Dyland as of late (There's one done today even), while otherwise still keeping busy with weekend work. I'll try live-streaming for myself at some point, still sorting out ideas and such.

In other news, the banners have continued! I'm now experimenting with graphical programs, so there will be more in the works, especially as inspiration and ideas come to me.

Ponder Wonder

 I was recently asked a question that I'm not sure if I was ever asked.

Why is this blog called "The Paper Train Express?"

The greatest reason was, when I searched up the title, nobody had taken it before. I wanted this blog to be easily found, but also uniquely named, which was no easy feat.
The specific words were chosen based on a combination of interests and purpose:

"Train" because I enjoy trains. I'm not die-hard into miniature sets and don't know every name of every locomotive, but I like their function, their look, the way they've helped shape and grow cities and towns.

"Paper" because I saw the blank post page like a piece of blank loose-leaf in a journal. As well, I foresaw PTE as a news-type outlet, though the extent it would be wasn't planned.

Finally, "Express", because I intended posts to be a quick read. Pictures helped with that, being they could summarize part of or an entire post with whatever reaction images I pulled from the net. (Or drew, but back then I was posting too much to keep up with drawings. Now I'd have to get carpal tunnel to catch up with old posts, so it's a tricky situation that I'm still looking into.)

 So there you have it. I figured this post would be suitable for today, since today marks the 9th anniversary of this blog.
I know, it's hard to believe for me too. It's all thanks to you, the PTE readers. Somehow always curious what I'm up to next. I can't guarantee I'll be able to keep up posting too constantly, though after doing the filtering and post combing, I've realized that a lot of the posts in the years with highest post counts are filler: being either just a picture, just a feature (Lookin' at you spoiler/button posts), or  a news-style update.
What I can take from that: PTE is as good as it's ever been!
Or PTE was never good.

Pte shutdown when

In Other News...Banners Are Back!!hopefully monthly

Proper Train Express

I know, it's madness. TWO posts in one month?? What is this, 2013?

Anyway, I've started work on a long overdue task. PTE posts have not contained profanity for years, but some of the eldest posts from the early days on this blog most certainly did.
I've done the painstaking task of trying to comb through every post and filter out the bad. I've managed to get the worst of it, but I'll be continuing work for the next bit. If you do find an offensive post, please let me know in the comments, and I will address/delete the post as necessary.

And if you comment 'Every post is offensive' in an attempt to shut PTE down, I've thought of that, so too late stole your thunder.

September Post

Your Monthly Update Post!!*

I visited Gamer Jay's cabin this past weekend. It was a wonderful retreat, nice to spend time with him and his family. They have a little dachshund named Tubey, and he was the cutest little pupper. He would snuggle up on my lap. He'd whine at my room door so he could curl up on my bed and sleep. I mean, he kept sleeping in the center of the bed, but... still cute.

GJ and I also spent one of the days exploring the laketown nearby. We went on a Sunday, so some places were closed, but we still had a good time. I behaved with my finances mostly, buying a candy sampler just for kicks. (It was a good deal I swear)

Now back home, it's business as usual. Later this month my mom will be visiting though, which should be good. No other news for now!

*Posts are not meant to actually be monthly and this notation is in hopes that Eric Riccy rectifies this. Blame the win10tho for being glitchy about PTE functioning correctly.

makin' steaks

I got steak on the cheap recently, but I've never cooked it before.

A wiser version of me would've taken note to all the things my parents do when they cook it. But so far I'm stuck on the first step.

I didn't realize how hard steak could freeze. I knew to preserve it, freezing was the way to go. But I was going to cook it for dinner tonight.
I'M HAVING STEAK FOR BREAKFAST TOMORROW MAYBE

or lunch.

or my evening will be centered around attempting to cook steak.

So abridged version: If ya gonna have steak, give it like a day to thaw apparently.

The Storm

Over a month long break from PTE posting.
I gotta admit, it was a good plan, because now I have lots to post about.

It wasn't an intentional break either. Now living again again in Hometown, I've been really trying to figure life out. I achieved the dream, finally being with a certain someone. But now it's led to a whole new set of challenges.

First, Survival. Going broke is not an option. Not having work is not an option. But finding work so far has been a really rough go.
I've been lucky enough to have friends helping me out. Both in trying to find work and to keep me going. But things have been a roller coaster, and I've had an equal or greater difficult time with this as I have had with New City over the past 2 years.
Some things never change.

Second, Social. Now that I've moved in with someone whom I've waited to be with for over 5 years, we find we want to spend a lot of time together.
This means though I haven't visited with some friends as much. And other friends I've ruffled feathers, as they don't especially enjoy the 'package deal'.
The silver lining is her and I have gotten along very well, and overall things have been smooth sailing.

Third, Situation. Space is tight, but we're doing our best. The next move is at the back of my mind, but until the first point is figured out, this third point does nothing but eat at me. Plus I know there's many things for me to figure out beyond that, but with everything else on my plate, beyond things are moot for now.
That doesn't mean my mind stops worrying though. Ah well.

So there's a little window into how things are going. It's not the gut-punch year 2 was for certain. Having a certain someone has made all the difference.
But it remains the challenge it always was. I'd better not disappoint.

I'm curious: How do you feel about hanging out with a couple vs. the individual friend? Should a friend group change because of a significant other moving back? Why/Why not?
Opinions make good comments. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

back in hometown!

dont tell nobody ok

The Calm Before The Storm

It Begins.

22 days later

ok i know its been a bit but hear me out

Extra Spicy

Now that May is here...things are busier than ever.

Packin' & Snackin'

Spring is so wonderful.

Eric Riccy Birthday Special

Old I tell ya. 

Making the dream ACTUALLY real Feat. Zoo

With such a close title to last post, I'm sure this might get overlooked. But it is important news!

Making the dream real

I'm starting my own company!

Bubble Burst

I've managed to find trouble by trying to be productive.

Post Forward

Spring is best season.

Instead of the lull

Bit of an update post...

Precursor Post

A Hometown trip is brewing.

V-Day Update

hey at least its sfw these days.

Conflictions

Hopefully this post gets a good amount of feedback, because I need opinions.

Solution of the Lost Color

Mystery of the Lost Color

Ricston Checks In

Resolutions For PTE