It all started with an urgent voicemail message.  "Hey Jaybird, this is Simon, call me back when you get this," was all it said.  Little did I know it would take me on the adventure of a lifetime... or at least an adventure of a month-time.  I called Simon back and he asked me if I'd like to make hundreds of dollars in one day.  How could I say no?  This, I knew, would be a money making scheme.

Now, when it comes to money making schemes, one could say I've tried more than a few.  Some have worked out well (online surveys, online blackjack) and some not so well (Treeloot, Ad-bars).  This scheme though would be the most enduring and if it worked, the most rewarding.  It was perhaps the Scheme of Schemes.

On Friday, November 17th, the Playstation 3 would hit stores all over the nation.  There would no doubt be lines and instant sell-outs everywhere.  The Playstation 3 had a retail value of $600.  Pre-orders on eBay were already going on average for $1500.  The plan was simple.  Assemble a team, campout all night in line, and buy as many PS3s as possible.  From there it would be as simple as going directly to eBay and collecting $1000.  Thus the PS3 Adventure began (cue credits and theme music)...

Wednesday, November 8th - 9 days until launch

Simon informs me of his plans to camp-out for PS3s.  We plan to get 4 people on the team consisting of, himself, me, Rachel (Simon's girlfriend), and Jeff (mutual friend).  This way (with their being a limit of one PS3 per customer) we can each buy one PS3 to have 4 in total, put them up on eBay, and split the profits evenly.  No team member is yet confirmed, but I do my best to say I'm in.

Thursday, November 9th - 8 days until launch

Now, the first problem I had to overcome was that I had work both Thursday night and Friday morning.  Those would both get in the way of a Thursday night stake-out.  I had to get the time off.  Luckily, the camp-out was still a week away, so getting time off shouldn't be a problem.  I never had any problems getting time off before at either of my jobs.  The library is very accommodating and the restaurant is easy as long as you have someone to cover for you.  Getting someone to cover for me shouldn't be too hard either, as I cover for another employee all the time and in his own words, "Owes me."

I went to my first job Thursday morning and asked for the next Friday morning off.  My boss was hesitant.  I offered to work another morning during the week to make up for the day off and she said she would think about it and send me an email about it later.  Time-off for job one still unconfirmed.

When I arrived home after my first job and school, I called the employee that I figured could cover for me.  No luck, got his voicemail.  I leave a message.  Time-off for job two unconfirmed.

I talk to Simon again and we plan to have a team meeting on Monday, November 13th to go over what needs to get done.

Friday, November 10th - 7 days until launch

Confirmation via email that I will have my first job off on Friday morning.  To make up for it, I must start work at or before 9 am Monday-Thursday of the coming week.  If I must, I must.

I get a voicemail message back from the employee that "owes me" and he informs me that he can't cover for me.  As I ponder what exactly "owes me" means he says that a certain someone else could cover for me... maybe.  Job two time-off still unconfirmed.

At some point over the next few days, we get confirmation that everyone is in on the plan, with the exception of me still hanging in limbo on my job status.

Sunday, November 12th - 5 days until launch

I read the morning newspaper to discover that Wal-Mart will be releasing their PS3s at 12:01 am Friday morning.  Very interesting.

As I begin to read more about the PS3 launch, the I realize this will be a little more challenging than first anticipated.

Monday, November 13th - 4 days until launch

I give my friend/co-worker Tracie a call to see what is going on with my time off for Thursday evening.  It appears the person who was going to cover for me is in fact already working Thursday night (no one told her this).  That leaves but one person who can cover for me.  She said she'll get back to me.  Time-off unconfirmed.

That evening we have our first official team meeting.  The meeting is set to begin around 9 pm.  I arrive at Simon's apartment a little after 9 only to find Jeff has yet to show up.  The reason we are having the meeting so late is Jeff had some prior engagements, so we must wait.  Simon shows off his cool new laptop and tempts me with Marvel Ultimate Alliance, but alas, we do not play.

Around 10 pm Jeff has yet to show, so we decide to begin the meeting without him.  We plan what we need to bring in terms of food, entertainment, and survival gear for the treacherous Seattle winter climate.  We also begin to plot out possible locations for camping, which of course brings up Operation: Double Trouble.  Camp-out at Wal-Mart, get the 12:01 PS3s and if possible, get to another location in time to get another round of PS3s in the morning.  Double the PS3s, double the profit.

Also, Rachel proposes a bake sale while we wait in line to make a few extra dollars off of others waiting.  The proposal is turned down.

We are finally able to get a hold of Jeff and he makes his way over.

Simon scribbles some notes as Jeff searches possible camping locations

I chime in with some helpful comments as Jeff continues doing real work

We wrap up the meeting around 11 pm.  We plan to meet up again around 4 pm on Thursday before we set out on the adventure.

Continue On, The Adventure Has Just Begun! >>>

Jaybird currently resides in Seattle where he reads comics, works in a library, and writes for this site.  He has also been known to blow your mind, rock your world, and eat pizza.