Privileged | We 1/18

My morning was a little rushed since I had a meeting at 11, but it was nice getting help finishing the Secure Code Warrior garbage. It's too bad that meeting went until 12:30, but James was in the office too so we chatted a bit over lunch. It sounds like his job is less direct development, which I'm not sure I'd enjoy. He also broke my heart by saying that he wants to come into office more often than once a week. I wanted to solidarity of remote comrades, but it seems like I'll have to look elsewhere for it. Also it sounds weird, but I'm glad to be in the position I'm in. Despite everything I complain about, I'm making solid money and actually get to learn alongside a team who is nice and supportive.

Speaking of my job, after lunch I got to meet with Sam 1:1 and he wanted me to move into a private room to speak about compensation. He let me know that soon I'll be receiving a bonus for the end of last year as well as a raise active as of February, which had me floored. Sam also told me that he's received nothing but positive feedback about me, which shocked me. I felt like I was struggling to contribute anything or learn much, but Sam thinks the firm still wants me and is willing to pay to keep me, which I didn't expect but I'll accept. I also asked a few people in my cohort if they got the same bonus and raise and they didn't, but someone I did training with did report receiving both.

The rest of my work day James actually helped me debug the automation utility, which wasn't very fruitful but did teach me a few things about json and debugging. I really need to get more done by the time that Thursday demo rolls around, but hopefully Nicole will be free too. The drive home was relatively painless other than a few sus moments, which is still a good commute in my book. One day I'll be free from the car, but maybe I could try weaning off one office day a week starting next month or something.

I got to do a few overdue chores while at home, but got way too absorbed into trying to get a cracked Spotify app sideloaded onto my Chromecast. I figured it was simple since a Chromecast is also an android device, but I didn't realize that there isn't any way to tap specific buttons or spots on the screen since the cracked app installer is made to support touch screens. Then I got the cracked version to install directly, but its UI was also not built for non-touch screens and I had to use the TV remote to try switching between buttons without seeing which one was highlighted. Even then, I still got ads somehow so I gave up on the whole thing.

Around then I had dinner made, but it was nearly time to leave for the DIVA clinic, so I rushed to pack and eat. Even then I only just got to Premier on time, but thankfully we were given time to warm-up. The clinic went alright, but I think it was because early on I started focusing on having fun and the pressure disappeared. At first my serve receive was shaky, only one solid pass, but my serves were all in if kind of lollipops. My hits in hitting line were all pretty good other than for middle, which were no good at all.

Eventually while hitting I got asked to move to another court, which I noticed was only athletic looking guys hitting and made me wonder if I was doing well. I got some solid hits on the right side and then we drilled digs on line and cross, which I did okay with. Around then I got to chatting with a few others on my court, Isaac and Chloe, which was a ton of fun since they agreed with my sentiment to enjoy playing now rather than worrying about our placement. Chloe was being rated as a setter and shared about playing for 14 years so far too, which blew my mind.

Around then we got to scrimmage where we played 5-1, but Isaac was also being rated as an opposite and didn't know how to substitute for middle. Despite that, I had a ton of fun playing against people who I think would all go on to be placed in the high divisions. Eventually we were asked to switch positions and became ridiculously out of rotation, but I was having fun being challenged and finally getting to play again.

At the end I was placed in Advanced division, which surprised me. Chloe attributed it to being both tall and a lefty, which I can understand but still didn't make me feel like I earned a spot there. I felt like I only got a high score because I play on easy mode, but continuing the analogy I feel like nobody gets to choose which difficulty they play on, which doesn't feel fair. I guess I'm just lucky, but I kind of don't like how that's the case.

Afterwards I got food with Sherry, Emily, Min, Devin, and we met with Albert who came from playing in Garland. There we got to chat about the clinic, playing volleyball against old people on their cruise, random things about the game we're learning or have seen, and plenty of random topics. We ended at 12:30, which is not responsible adult time, but I was feeling so good after playing volleyball and interacting with people again that I ignored my alarms to go home and sleep soon and I don't really regret it. We'll see what I say tomorrow though since I'm writing this much later than I want to be.