| Job Hunt |
[Jul. 22nd, 2009|02:33 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  contemplative | ] |
The company I am working for was acquired in May. In September, I'll either be converting to a contractor through an agency, or I'll be at or looking for a new position.
Thinking through my historical career, I have come to the realization that this is really the first time that I'll be doing a professional job search. I've always been in the right place at the right time to have a networking contact have something that is really interesting. So this is kind of a new experience for me. It's a bit scary to say the least.
So I'm starting with my network of contacts for leads. Hint hint. |
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| Online Gui OS |
[Sep. 11th, 2007|09:24 am] |
Seen on /. http://slashdot.org/articles/07/09/10/1924211.shtml
Right now, the site is down, but this was only a matter of time. With the current technology out today. I could potentially see some rather interesting turns in remote desktop computing with this stuff.
www.ajaxwindows.com
This is from Micheal Robertson of mp3.com and lindo.. err Linspire. I wonder if this will grow to be big enough to get on MS's radar and get a court hearing to change the name. (Which, I think is why it is named as such.) Such as, the Windows name and the like, would get more publicity in court than anyplace else, like the Iraq.
Mark |
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| Interesting 404 |
[Jul. 30th, 2007|09:08 am] |
I have always found that one of the measures of a site designer is the time and attention that they would put into a the error pages. The site will have content, but using the canned 404 pages with an outstanding site takes away from the designer. (I think think that's why I would never call myself a designer. I never take/make the time to do that part.)
But I came across this link on dig about a really cool 404 page. My conclusion is that it is. (I didn't poke on the site, just the 404 error page.)
http://www.bluedaniel.com/404.shtml
So using flash this page is really cool. The foreground to background blurring, and the link back to the main page of the site. One of the neater things that the canned 404 pages lack.
Mark |
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| More New Web Technology |
[Jul. 23rd, 2007|11:03 am] |
Hiya,
Been a while, but I was reading an article, http://www.boagworld.com/archives/2007/07/emerging_design_trends.html
It pointed out a few things that were cool. The two most notables, were a right hand link bar that would migrate to the bottom of the page if the window were to resize to a smaller than 800 pixel width, interesting.
Secondly, right handed navigation was mentioned. Which when I first heard about css, that was my first thought, you can make a right handed nav bar, making it like tabs in a book.
Interesting, but a lot of common sense.
Mark |
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| Cool Web page UI |
[Apr. 17th, 2007|08:47 am] |
In my last blog, I had written about some frustrating things about Ajax and multiple requests for backend server data. That has put me into a mode where I look web pages in a new way. How the layout is put together, what's the technology behind the content, and those things that make a page stand out in my head. I'll put the rest of it in a cut to prevent my geeking from boring you.
( Click if interested ) |
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| Memory Lane |
[Feb. 18th, 2007|01:32 am] |
Ever go through one of those times when you take a trip down memory lane? Look through old photos and thinking about old friends. I've been doing that lately. I think it has something to do with the feeling of being out of balance lately.
Anyhow, at times I feel all giddy remembering some of the friends and adventures I had when I was BBSing. The online romances from chat, the online gibberish and gossip that heard about, and how it all spilled over into real life. Walking into HH to just feel at home, that everyone knew who I was. The feeling that I just fit in, being accepted for who I was, it was a great feeling. Something that I learned from.
Camping at CMA, getting to relax, unwind, and let my shields down to just be. Knowing that the environment I was in was safe for me to let my personal space be bigger than normal and it was always entered with perfect love and perfect trust. Laughing inside at those people that I could see was there for the sole reason of the free sex attitude. Using a guise of sex magick. heh. Or watching the ladies drool a little over that "adonis" guy walking by the camp.
I remember late night drives out to knock on one of my best friends window. Waking her up to talk through the window. 40 minute drive just to chat for a few minutes and drive back.
There's obviously more. But all in all, I miss something out of it all. It's not the childishness of it, nor the constant drama between so and so, and that other person. I just wish I could put my finger on it. |
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| Famliy Reunion |
[Jan. 2nd, 2007|12:30 am] |
I returned from a family reunion this past weekend. The trip itself was good. The flying part was horrible. It was great to see everyone in the family again. The trip was also to celebrate my dad's 70th birthday.
The trip to Vegas was rescheduled due to flight delayed, we re-routed through LA to get to LV. The trip back was delayed from the tornados that touched down just south of the airport in Dallas. We got stuck in LV another night. The flight in the morning took us through Denver, which had a couple feet of snow the night before. But I think they were much more prepared for the inclimate weather, since earlier this month of the closures.
Note to self: When ever we travel again, we will be staying in an an extended stay hotel. Something with a little kitchenette. In room coffee makers, and a place to stretch out. Paying 15 bucks for a pot of coffe in a 5star is just not priced right.
I did leave quite a bit of money there though, isn't that the point? I entered a no limit hold em tournament thursday morning. 35 entry, and was the last one out. It is an interesting game. I was the small stack several times but with a little luck, I won a few hands to double or triple up. As I played there were several things that started to make sense to me. Reading people, not in the magickal sense, but by watching actions, betting habits, and fidgets, and even poker faces gave me clues as to what I should do. Add that to the basic odds of the hand you hold, and the possbile hands you could be facing. Finally, there's the one main point that that I had to accept, losing. You have to be willing to lose when you know there is a coin toss against you. Of course, there are more levels in the process. But learning all that in the first time I've played the game against in a face to face game. Online games have nothing to playing against people you don't know.
Anyhow, that's been the past week, and I hope all my freinds in Dallas made it through the storms just fine. |
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| Hectic lifestyle |
[Nov. 28th, 2006|10:54 am] |
So, this past weekends Thanksgiving was a blow out of activity. The brother-in-law came to to town to celebrate thanks with us this year. It was a good time. It was good to see them again. Saturday, instead of casually working on the office move plans, I was standing beside an Isuzu trooper watching kiddo trying to take a starter out. Then once he had to go to work, I spent the next few hours under the car. Removed the exhaust to make enough room for the starter to come out, tested/failed the starter, and installed the new one. The bolts on the exhaust were so rusted that it was hell removing them. Stayed up late in the early morning designing an expanded network. Sunday was only slightly better, instead of a car, it was a pet store, picking up/out two puppies to take home. We didn't plan for pups until after the new year, but these happened along, with the help of the mother-in-law. So spent another late night/early morning putting the finishing touches on the network diagrams.
The office move itself has been a huge project. 5 weeks notice, to plan and execute an office move of 40. I think it's all coming together though. Ijust hope the new network design works as well as it does on paper. |
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| Since When Did Brown Deliver People? |
[Nov. 9th, 2006|02:34 pm] |
I was going to lunch today and saw a UPS truck in the next lane at the light ahead of me. No Biggie, I see them everyday. As I drove up beside the truck, I noticed slide windows on the side, that's strange, don't usually see that. Then I saw people sitting in the truck, like a bus! Mind you, this looked like a normal UPS truck based on color and size, even the garage door on the back.
OMG, Brown delivers people now. I wonder how much it is for an Priority overnight delivery to New York?
On the home front, the cook top on the stove cracked last night during a cleaning cycle of the oven. The wife called in, the response was something along the lines of; "If the cleaning cycle broke the top, we will replace the cooktop, but do not pay for the labor or service call." It was then added that the manufacturer has never seen that before. So I'm asking myself, "Then why is there a policy for cooktop replacement?" That's so reminiscent of stupids laws and common sense product disclaimers/instructions; "Someone at some point had to of done something to create the need." It's illegal to feed a moose beer in Alaska, Don't insert into anus and strike with hammer, etc. |
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| Busy Busy |
[Nov. 7th, 2006|01:25 pm] |
I'm getting busy at work again. Moving the office in less than 30 days. Lots of stuff to do, plans to make and execution. Perfect execution is needed to make this go without a hitch. The plans change on the daily basis, so I'll need to be light on my feet to adjust.
On the personal side, we finished painting, patching, and light redeco'd the bathroom this past weekend. It's a light mint green in color. I like it. It's brightens the room up and the color match with the new shower curtain and vanity/sink accessories work together. With the door slightly ajar, the green glow is like one of those Sci-Fi movie glows. Maybe it's just how my mind works.
I did play in a pool tournament late last week. For not having competed more than a few times in the past 9 months, I think I did much better then my personal goal/expectation. I made some mistakes, from the lack of playing, a couple of bad shot selections, and but mostly plain bad execution when I missed. I won matches by playing intelligently, capitalizing on opponent's mistakes, and evaluating percentages on each shot. Of course, the 8 person field, they didn't pay for 3rd place.
And, wow, another post. Maybe I can make this a habit.
Teach an old dog a new trick, and he'll still expect the same treat. |
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| Hair Cut |
[Oct. 30th, 2006|06:28 pm] |
So I got my hair cut yesterday......
Into a new style of cut. I've had my hair in pony tail for quite some time, years even. The new style is long enough to not have in a pony tail, but long enough to not stick straight out. I did go based on a picture to the hair stylist. Although, I took a russian roulette chance by just going down the local shop and putting my name on a list.
I think it turned out well.
I'm guessing you'd want a picture, but since I hate photos, you can have this link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8ebr3QI0FY
I can't have to many photos of me laying around, when I become an internationally spy, they can be used to identify me. |
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| The Balance of Life |
[Oct. 27th, 2006|10:23 pm] |
Yunno, I've always believed and still do that one should seek a balanced life, in all things. Its interesting, now that I have some time to reflect, on how I've let my life get unbalanced. Working so much the past few years, I didn't notice that I was becoming a social hermit, not that I was ever that outgoing. Being content with my home life with all the chaos is still an internal battle for me. I am still fully in love with my wife, and I love the house we are in. The kids could be more introspective and responsible for the places they are in life. But We are working on that front to guide them to take more self directed action. But then again, I've look back at my own life, and see those things that I should have done better. Anyhow, for me the meaning of life is to live it, with a balance of all things. Good and bad. The good holds you up and makes you look forward, the sad gives you an opportunity to learn. So that's what I'm working on. Putting balance back in my life. BUT! Wait, there's more! Keeping in mind to not achieve that balance by going to far to the opposite side. I don't want to become a metronome bouncing ticking from extreme to extreme. |
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| 2.5 years and I get my 2nd post done |
[Oct. 26th, 2006|07:17 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | work | ] |
| [ | mood |
| | thoughtful | ] |
| [ | music |
| | CCR - Born on the Bayou | ] |
I have no idea where to begin.
Job Change - Work at Austin-Cnxt was overwhelming with stuff to do, react to Corporate changes, appease the locals, figure out what changed, incorporate/work-around/complain/ignore the changes being made and the locals were popping up like rabbits in a long distance relationship. Upper management changes brought a new site director, which brought me to believe that the change would be the downfall of all things left of what I loved about working at the Austin site. I decided, in Feb, that I would update my resume, start putting out feelers and look for a job in June. The beginning of June comes around, and I get a call from a past co-worker/manager, wanting to go to lunch. During the lunch, I expressed my discontent about where I was and that I was going to be posting resumes later that week. Guess what, he was working at a place that looking for someone with my mad skillz. One interview later, I beat out two other candidates for the Systems Administrator position for a start up company in S. Austin.
It was so hard leaving the last job, I'd been walking through them there doors for around 10 years. The memories and accomplishments were being left behind. The whole process was such a whirlwind and roller coaster of emotional stress. But it's been 4 months at the new job, and I'm loving it. It brought me back to what I like about what I do for a living. I've learned new technology, implemented solutions to solve problems, expanded capabilities, and work with a smart bunch of people. And have more to learn, implement and make go. It's kewl.
I'll see what I can do about getting more posts up. |
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| First post |
[Feb. 24th, 2004|11:43 pm] |
So this is my first post. What do I say?
This year so far, has been a strange one. The things that life are sending me seem to be overwhelming, undaunting, and more than one person should deal with. But me? I look at the other side of things. I see friends with more stressful situations, no jobs, bad relationships, wanting a relationship so badly they choose to settle on "ok for now" instead of "oh mah gawd, I don't know how I lived without before", money trouble, health trouble, or any other possible list of things that life deals out. So how I can in such bad shape? I have a marriage that works, without too much work. I have a wife that cares about me, and shows it in many subtle ways. My family of 4 teenage boys, who I love unconditionally, has been a gift in many ways; most of which they may never truly know how. Man, I think 31 years old, with a 19yr old son. How did I end up here? Because I chose to marry their mom; eyes wide open, knowing the possibilities. (Not to mention the immortals words from my dad when I was younger "Mark, boys and girls make babies, don't make babies.") I'm making the payments on the mortgage, for a place that I feel is home. My systems administration position seems to fit me; AND I enjoy the job. The environment that I work in is outstanding. I drive my own destiny; I have a simple goal set and my work ethics place me in a position where I continue to challenge myself and grow. I have very little direction from my boss, because he feels that I do everything that needs to be done plus. He and his boss doesn't have any complaints. So how can life be so hustle and bussle? Life is moving so fast. Things that need to be done seem never ending. Things that I want to be done seem like there's never anytime for it. Is this the signs of what is to come? Is life's chaos expanding my little universe that far? I don't know. What I do know, I will continue to maintain, keep reaching for that achieving a bit better, learning thast life is not a constant; but a variable. |
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