Winning the lottery?
Imagine that you bought a lottery ticket with the expectation that you've got a 1 in 100 million chance of winning the jackpot of, oh, $100 million. Now imagine if the folks running the lottery told you out of the blue that hey, you've really got a 1 in 2 chance of winning that huge jackpot. What would you do? Granted there's a 50% chance you're out of luck, but you'd probably be in an advanced state of "freaking out" over the thought that your odds are incredibly good that you've won.
This is kinda like my mental state at the moment. The details aren't yet fit for this blog, but I found out that something I wanted really, really badly and that I'd dismissed as not in the realm of possibility has suddenly had the odds narrowed by a major amount, enough to place it well within the realm of "could very easily happen." And now I find myself trying not to think about it too hard, but unable to avoid it. It's not something anywhere near as major as winning a huge jackpot, but it is something that I've wanted that means a great deal to me personally for many years. It's the kind of thing that wipes off some of the layers of pessimism that gradually build up over the course of a lifetime, and I think if it happens, it'll rank easily in my Top 10 Greatest Instantaneous Life Moments, if not the Top 5. To qualify that, I consider an instantaneous life moment something like getting my first Apple II, having a girl say "yes" to a date (or a marriage proposal), seeing that Santa had delivered an assload of Empire Strikes Back figures on Christmas morning, winning a large sum of money on a gamble/lottery ticket etc. Other joyous moments are not quite so sudden (getting married, graduating, etc) and so wouldn't quite fit into this category.
Waiting to find out is going to be hard and difficult. I hope that if it happens, it happens soon so that I can sleep at night again. :-) I promise to update this blog the second I find out if it happens (even if I can't reveal the details). Feel free to guess in the comments as to what this event might be. I bet one or more of you might actually get it. :-)
Comments
Crossing my fingers for Dark Forces 2!
Posted by: ArsonVictim | October 30, 2003 12:27 AM
I'll leave the guessing to others.. but I can totally understand the feelings you describe. While something can be in the back of your mind as a glimmer of hope, as soon as that starts to become real in any way shape or form, impending doom sets in. Not wanting to get your hopes up in case it falls apart, but equally not wanting to miss the enjoyment and anticipation. Guess you can chase the cats to get through the insomnia ;)
BTW, glad the flight and whole Aspyr thing went well :) Just had a few extensive flights myself... pressurised containers are for beer... not for travel.
Posted by: ben b | October 30, 2003 12:37 AM
Well, the first thing that popped into my mind was that you're going to get to go to Neverland, er, I mean Skywalker Ranch. ;-)
Other than that, I'm guessing something Mame related.
And yes, I am guessing. I have NO idea what he's talking about.
Posted by: lyssa | October 30, 2003 06:14 AM
Oh oh oh, I just thought of another one... You'll get to meet Steve Jobs at MWSF.
I'm sure I'll be adding more guesses as the day progresses. Wheeee, something fun to do today!
Posted by: lyssa | October 30, 2003 06:20 AM
You're pregnant?
Hey, that fills the "you've got a 1 in 100 million chance of ..." description :-)
Posted by: Anonymous & Coward | October 30, 2003 07:16 AM
Not much question in my mind: Dark Forces II: Jedi Knight. What I'm curious about though (assuming I'm right) is why it's suddenly such a shoe-in. Guesses: LucasArts is re-releasing JK as part of a JK bundle, or Aspyr wants to do the same, or Aspyr wants to beef up it's budget line like MacPlay has been doing. Or maybe it was just a happy side-effect from discussions over Jedi Academy?
Your hints and the recent JK2 patch also lead me to believe that Jedi Academy is a virtual certainty. Angus, no less. (No, Brad, I don't know the connection to the codename!) Going further, I figure Aspyr is quietly doing their darndest to spring it on us in the next 6 weeks, as a surprise for Mac gamers this holiday season.
Ill-founded speculation is so much fun-- you could be working on Sims: Making Magic for all I know! You go, Brad!
Posted by: Matt Diamond | October 30, 2003 08:56 AM
Actually, I believe the title would be The Sims: Making Whoopee. ;-)
Posted by: lyssa | October 30, 2003 12:56 PM
I agree. Based on what I know about Brad (not much) JK: DF II would make the most sense.
Posted by: a2daj | October 30, 2003 01:20 PM
I hafta admit I'm kinda surprised at all the work-related guesses. I guess that goes to show that I need to write about more varied topics. :-)
Posted by: Brad Oliver | October 30, 2003 01:33 PM
Indeed, i'm surprised that people would actually think you'd be THAT excited about a porting job, i mean come on people, he compared it to getting married! geez...
Posted by: Ben Hines | October 30, 2003 06:02 PM
Hmm. Well since you sometimes code for Mac in your spare time for fun, and you're a Star Wars nut, AND you've also said that you'd willingly port JK for free, I think we can safely conclude that "work-related" is a meaningless distinction here. Nice try though. :-)
But whatever it is, I hope you get it.
Posted by: Matt Diamond | October 31, 2003 02:40 PM
You saw a new Lamborghini on sale for $50?
You're doing a cameo in StarGate? "Hey look! It's Brad, SG fanboy supreme!"
Hmm, if you just got some mails claiming you can get all the diplomas you want or several millions of $ after giving ex-prime ministers some cash "to work things out" then, hold on,.. It might just NOT be .... a total coincidence! Dude, gold-filled trucks and lusty models will be piling up on your doorstep!
Congrats, Brad!
Posted by: Thuros M. | November 2, 2003 10:28 AM
Oh, btw, that Thuros M. character is really me. Sorry for the confusion.
All: "Who the hell are you?"
Me: "Indeed."
Posted by: Arthur Langereis | November 2, 2003 10:30 AM
OMFG! I figured it out! Brad's a finalist in the "Have a Hot Tub Soak With Amanda Tapping" contest for Stargate SG-1! ;)
Posted by: flargh | November 2, 2003 02:21 PM
Damn you Peter! Oh well, at least I have some time to get my staff weapon ready.
Posted by: Brad Oliver | November 4, 2003 01:17 PM