I know everyone has probably had their fill of the super emotional
farewell blogs this week, so I appologize in advance for contributing
one more to the pile. When I left 1UP over 7 months ago I didnt write
a farewell because I knew I would still be around doing freelance and
hanging out with everyone.  Plus Ive always been the kind to fade
off instead of making a big to-do about leaving. However, after the
events of this week I feel I need to give a proper goodbye to all my
Ziff alumni.




Dont get me wrong, Im not in any way saying good-bye to 1UP. 
Yes, 1UP will be different and it will go through many changes over
the coming year, but it will still remain.  I know that the crew
that is left has a difficult task pushing forward, they will have to
fill the large gaps that have been left in the wake of the layoffs and
push forward during a difficult economic time when many companies are
collapsing.  But, those that remain at 1UP are some of the most
talented and hardworking persons I have had the priviledge of knowing,
they have a difficult road of ahead and I wish nothing but the best
for them.  So what I am writing is not a farewell or eulogy to
1UP, but rather to the Ziff Davis era of 1UP.




How can I truly explain my gratitude for Ziff Davis and all that I
have gained from my experience there.  Id love to go through and
thank each person one by one and regail stories of my time with
them....but I dont think any of us have that kind of time. So I guess
I'll just have to do this in a more general manner. 


First of all, I think it goes without saying that all those who
have worked at Ziff Davis are among the most talented, compassionate,
creative and humorous individuals on earth.  If it wasnt for
them, 12 and 20 hour work days wouldve been impossible, strenuous
conventions wouldve been a nightmare and day to day wouldve been
mundane.  These people made working all night seem like a slumber
party...ok a stressed out Red Bull fueled slumber party but still a
lot more fun than working the night shift at Best Western.  So,
its probably no surprise that I fell in love with one of them. 
Ok, truthfully I fell in love with all of them on some level, but
there was one in particular that I love deeply and share a life
with.  The amazing and talented former associate producer of
GameVideos, Cesar Quintero....I hope Im not embarrassing him too much
here, but I really cant speak of the importance of Ziff Davis without
mentioning how it brought me together with the most important person
in my life.  At most places its hard enough to find coworkers
that you befriend let alone fall in love with, so that speaks to the
quality of people Ziff Davis employed and the bond we all shared.


Last night when Cesar and I were reminiscing about our time at
Ziff Davis and 1UP, the point we kept coming back to was the
friendships we forged.  Neither of us had the traditional college
experience where we lived in the dorms, so we never really formed a
group of college buddies.  I described Ziff Davis as my college
and all the people I met there have become my core group of
friends.  Friends from all over that never wouldve met had we not
all be brought together to work...friends that I can honestly say I
know will be a part of my life 30 years down the road. 


An example of the strong bond all of us who worked at Ziff have
for me can be quantified by what happened Tuesday night.  Aside
from the shocking news of the layoffs I received some personally
devastating news.  While dozens of us Ziff alumni were out having
farewell drinks with each other I received a phone call that my
father's cancer had not only come back but spread to his spine and
chest.  The prognosis was not good and just like I had about 9
months earlier when I initially learned of my fathers cancer, in the
same place right outside the 1UP offices, I collapsed to the ground in
grief.  Although my friends had their own crisis occurring (not
only losing a wonderful job where they worked with their best friends,
but also facing the task of finding employment in the worst economic
crisis since the Great Depression) they all put aside their troubles
to comfort me.  Many shared with me personal stories of losing
loved ones in their family and struggling with illness....stories that
are helping me at this very moment get through this personal
crisis.  These are selfless people who at a drop of a hat set
aside their struggles to help out a friend.


So, not to dwell on the negative for too long, I'll move on and
thank Ziff Davis for yet another positive contribution to my
life.  They have given me not only love and friendship, but a
career.  Before 1UP I hadnt done much graphic design (I was a
photography major) yet the art department took a chance on me and gave
me on the job training that no college couldve ever given me.  I
now work as a Creative Designer for Current TV working in their
adsales, marketing and branding.  I love my job now and never
wouldve had this opportunity had Ziff Davis and 1UP not taken a chance
on me and nurtured my talents. Ziff Davis has done this for so many
people, it has given them the opportunity to grow and explore their
talents....its rare to find a job like this.


I guess what Im trying to get across in this blog is my extreme
gratitude for my Ziff Davis family and all that they have done for
me.  The end of the Ziff Davis era of 1UP and EGM hit every one
hard...especially those of us who had worked there at some point in
our lives.  It effected us all, even those of us who have long
since left the hallowed halls of Ziff Towers, because it feels like
the end of an era.  But as I said, this is not the end of 1UP but
rather the start of a new chapter.  I know all of the 1UP fans
out there are hurt and upset by the lay offs this week but remember
this....all the people involved are deeply effected, even those that
remain at 1UP because they too are now Ziff Davis alumni.  Also
remember that although many important and talented people are gone,
there are still some truly amazing people left.  As I said, no
one envies the task before them to move on to this new chapter in
1UP's life missing half their team. But, they will go on because they
are immensely talented and passionate people who all have played an
integral role in what made the Ziff Davis era of 1UP so special. So, I
wish them all the best of luck as they move forward into the Hearst
era of 1UP, may it be as fun and inspiring as the last. To all my
fellow Ziff Davis 1UP alumni, my love for you knows no boundaries and
I am eternally grateful to all of you for being a part of my life and
I know you will continue to be a part of my life no matter where you
land.  I know that all the Ziff Davis alumni will be immensely
successful whether they remain at 1UP or move on to new ventures.


Stay sweet, hope your summers not a bummer XOXO