Now usually I will start a ZERO GAME several months in advance, but this one was a sort of "last minute" decision, as I suddenly realized that the creation of flake 8 million would be a great way to start a game, and the game itself could be a sort of "celebration" of the success of the Slopes.  So this game was started about a month before the event itself would occur, and most certainly on a whim.

During this time, I had a LOT to do.  For instance, I had to put together SEVERAL pages, "x"plaining what a ZERO GAME is, and how to play it.  I had to make a score sheet, I had to write and create a page for the rules, I had to contact donators and make a prizes page, I had to get those prizes to me and have them photographed, I had to send out several letters to advertise the event, as well as create flakes on the Slopes to do the same thing.  All this being done while the flake counter got closer to the BIG event.  Frankly, it is VERY hard work, and quite stressful at the same time!

After the contest began, I was again VERY busy.  I had to check and mark each individual scoring flake, and then update the score sheet several times per day.  During the game, I also had to prepare several emails to my list, not to mention, try to keep up with the SEVERAL emails I was getting from the flakers, (my apologies if I missed any of them!).  I also like to try and play when I have time, but this time I hardly even had a chance to do that!

After the game ended I had even MORE work to do!  I had to prepare MORE pages, wait for my emails from the winners, discuss various things with them all, and get their prize money and gifts prepared and mailed.  Here it now is, almost 3 weeks after the fact, and I am STILL "working" while I make this page!

Add to ALL of the above, and try to remember that I have a FULL TIME job, and a family and friends to try to keep up with.  Really, it can be VERY difficult to keep up with it all, especially since there is really only ONE person doing it.  As this is "donated" time, it becomes increasingly hard to justify spending so MUCH of it promoting a site that isn't even mine.  I DO enjoy this "work", and the fun times it all makes for, but when we are talking about dozens upon dozens of "man hours" required, it becomes a sort of "second job", and really, one I don't need or get paid for.

The fun that everyone has, including myself, has continued to get me to do it.  But putting in as much time on the internet as I do for my REAL job...and for about 6 weeks, has helped me to decide that I just can't keep doing it.  It has been a common sense thing more than anything else.

Now that the game has NEARLY been completed, I can't wait for my "regular life" to return.  I can once again "dabble" in a little bit of this, and a little bit of that while I am on line ;)  I can say good bye to "time schedules" and the stress that is involved with them. The Zero Game is FUN, but it has once again, (as it always does), burned me out.

Now as for me, I am officially on "cyber vacation" for the neXt 6 weeks or so while I recuperate from it all.  The very BEST part of a Zero Game for me is when it is FINALLY all over with!  :D

"X"
Tuesday, March 19th/2009