Okay bad day.
Laroo is in England (which is great for her). I miss her already. Alot. But she's going to see a lot of stage productions (for "work"), gong to Stratford and taking a tour of Stonehenge where you can touch the plinths. The stones. The rocks. Whatever they are.
Last night I determined the combination of (a) an ISP that oversold so much they have brought their network to a grinding halt in my area; (b) a wireless router that I am finding out is the biggest lemon on the market (not just my opinion) and; (c) iTunes means I will no longer purchase music from iTunes. The service is slooooow here in the Great White North. Not to mention that they don't have the stuff I am looking for (although it's available in the U.S.A.).
And work got interesting. I discovered today that there is a huge flaw in this big project they are ramping up with ridiculous deadlines. There's no way we can do what Marketing wants us to do. I figured this out at five o'clock today and get to tell people tomorrow morning. Joy.
There's a bright spot though. The Order of the Stick is probably the funniest as well as the best written web comic I have ever read. 477 strips read in two nights.
It's geeky but if you have ever played D&D even once in your life you'll get the most of the in jokes. What makes it great is the writing: there are very well developed characters, incredible plots, real human drama (or demi-human) and something that goes beyond what you normal think of as "funny pages".
Don't let the stick-figure art throw you (like it did to me the first time I looked at it a while back). I'm accusing it of literature.
As soon as I get a permanent address, I'm buying all the books. And probably the "I dream of the day when I will learn to stop asking questions for which I will regret knowing the answers.".
I think I relate to Roy the most...
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Restlessnessness
Kind of an odd day. After three days of having my back attempting to hunch me over like Quasimodo (Quasimoby?) I find myself at odds with myself. Not over anything in particular, but just a feeling of being bored combined with a feeling of being bore with my usual distractions. Gaming, reading, drinking coffee etc. I can' seem to do any f them for more than thirty seconds.
Laroo is spending most of the day with relatives fixing her deck. She's coming into town for dinner but I'm still booored.
The first week of the new job went pretty well all considered. I have myself a good team (despite the fact that I'm about fifteen years senior in years to all of them). I just have to keep reminding myself that I'm not going to be 100% effective after five days. I am chomping at the bit though so next week I'll introduce some things that may or may not prove popular to everyone. Some of the people some of the time is the best I can hope for I think.
See now I'm bored of writing this. Twitchy. It's annoying.
Well there is laundry. Of course there's always laundry.
Not quite sure why this is happening. You would think that my first weekend after a new job I'd be more than willing to sink into my distractions, as I am wont to do. Something is fizzing in my brain but I can't for the life of me think of what it is. Did I forget something? Miss something? Not miss something. Frustrating.
Laroo is spending most of the day with relatives fixing her deck. She's coming into town for dinner but I'm still booored.
The first week of the new job went pretty well all considered. I have myself a good team (despite the fact that I'm about fifteen years senior in years to all of them). I just have to keep reminding myself that I'm not going to be 100% effective after five days. I am chomping at the bit though so next week I'll introduce some things that may or may not prove popular to everyone. Some of the people some of the time is the best I can hope for I think.
See now I'm bored of writing this. Twitchy. It's annoying.
Well there is laundry. Of course there's always laundry.
Not quite sure why this is happening. You would think that my first weekend after a new job I'd be more than willing to sink into my distractions, as I am wont to do. Something is fizzing in my brain but I can't for the life of me think of what it is. Did I forget something? Miss something? Not miss something. Frustrating.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Two Days, Still Employed
What a difference a day makes. Especially when that day starts with your alarm going off at seven AM. A sound you hadn't heard in over two months...
But so far, so good. I haven't started a new job in years, and it's kind of showing. Although I'm anxious to "get the ball rolling" on some ideas, I really need to reign myself in a bit (mixing metaphors). Okay hows about this, I'm chomping at the bit to get going but I need to reign myself in. Better.
It's interesting: so far most people have been giving the impression that I don't know what I'm getting into, it's pretty bad, disorganized, chaotic etc.
They have no idea. This is cake! So far at least. This old warhorse has gone into this battlefield before. I can see what can go wrong, what will go wrong if certain things happen and how to fix it. But it's only my second day.
On the home-front, I've given up on trying to find a place until later this month when people start to give notice for the end of August. I've called about a dozen places. Six don't answer their phones, five say they have rented out already and one, well I expect to look up and hear someone say "It rubs it on it's skin or else it gets the hose again!". Besides, now that rent is about a third of my monthly take-home pay, I'll use the money I would have to put down for over-lapping rents to hire movers.
And and by the way, much Love to Laroo. She got stung by some nasty wasps not once but twice last week. Her leg is swollen up like a thing that swells up really big. She's on antihistamines and antibiotics. Knocked her right on her keister (mmmmm... Laroo keister). Poor Laroo.
And huzzahs to The German. I'm surprised you're willing to go within fifty feet of Capa, let alone work with him. Work him over maybe...
But so far, so good. I haven't started a new job in years, and it's kind of showing. Although I'm anxious to "get the ball rolling" on some ideas, I really need to reign myself in a bit (mixing metaphors). Okay hows about this, I'm chomping at the bit to get going but I need to reign myself in. Better.
It's interesting: so far most people have been giving the impression that I don't know what I'm getting into, it's pretty bad, disorganized, chaotic etc.
They have no idea. This is cake! So far at least. This old warhorse has gone into this battlefield before. I can see what can go wrong, what will go wrong if certain things happen and how to fix it. But it's only my second day.
On the home-front, I've given up on trying to find a place until later this month when people start to give notice for the end of August. I've called about a dozen places. Six don't answer their phones, five say they have rented out already and one, well I expect to look up and hear someone say "It rubs it on it's skin or else it gets the hose again!". Besides, now that rent is about a third of my monthly take-home pay, I'll use the money I would have to put down for over-lapping rents to hire movers.
And and by the way, much Love to Laroo. She got stung by some nasty wasps not once but twice last week. Her leg is swollen up like a thing that swells up really big. She's on antihistamines and antibiotics. Knocked her right on her keister (mmmmm... Laroo keister). Poor Laroo.
And huzzahs to The German. I'm surprised you're willing to go within fifty feet of Capa, let alone work with him. Work him over maybe...
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Rent to Own
Naturally, since I'm looking for a new place, I decided to look at actually buying something instead of renting. In this burg you're looking at about $250k for a place with about 500 square feet. So did some math.
Base mortgage amount: $250,000 (and that's low end)
10 year mortgage at 8% (going rate): $96,848 interest
Condo fees: $200 x 120 (10 years worth): $24,000
$1508.02 a month in payments, paid bi-weekly.
So that makes it $120,848 in money paid above and beyond the actual cost of the place.
Renting the same place (given a steady rent, I know not all that realistic)
$1000 x 12 x 10 (ten years) = $120,000.
Steady rent is not realistic again, but consider your own place needs to be maintained, and frankly condo fees go up as well, so for the purposes of this exercise I'll assume they cancel out.
So I can rent and save up money to buy a place for cash (or come close) or buy and pay 75% more per month as opposed to renting. And wind up in the exact same place (capital vs savings).
Looks like I'll be renting with the caveat that I put away $500 per month towards a down payment on a place that is significantly larger than a closet.
Base mortgage amount: $250,000 (and that's low end)
10 year mortgage at 8% (going rate): $96,848 interest
Condo fees: $200 x 120 (10 years worth): $24,000
$1508.02 a month in payments, paid bi-weekly.
So that makes it $120,848 in money paid above and beyond the actual cost of the place.
Renting the same place (given a steady rent, I know not all that realistic)
$1000 x 12 x 10 (ten years) = $120,000.
Steady rent is not realistic again, but consider your own place needs to be maintained, and frankly condo fees go up as well, so for the purposes of this exercise I'll assume they cancel out.
So I can rent and save up money to buy a place for cash (or come close) or buy and pay 75% more per month as opposed to renting. And wind up in the exact same place (capital vs savings).
Looks like I'll be renting with the caveat that I put away $500 per month towards a down payment on a place that is significantly larger than a closet.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Hot. Holy Crap.
Okay it's about twenty-eight degrees in my place. This is not a comfortable temperature for me. But that's okay as the view due to the heat from my balcony. Hot.
And this of course is the last evening of the mini-retirement, which I will be spending watching the Venture Brothers (Season 2) reading books ("Soon I Will Be Invincible") and playing computer games (name withheld due to NDA).
And it's too damn hot to even blog. So all I'll say is, work sucks, stick it to the man and people call the cops when you live on the fourth floor and go out on the patio with a soaked white T-shirt. At least if you're an almost-forty year old male computer geek.
And this of course is the last evening of the mini-retirement, which I will be spending watching the Venture Brothers (Season 2) reading books ("Soon I Will Be Invincible") and playing computer games (name withheld due to NDA).
And it's too damn hot to even blog. So all I'll say is, work sucks, stick it to the man and people call the cops when you live on the fourth floor and go out on the patio with a soaked white T-shirt. At least if you're an almost-forty year old male computer geek.
Monday, July 09, 2007
Indentured Again
No I didn't just come back from the dentist. I came back from my new place of employment!
Yup, I signed my life away on the dotted line. My mini-retirement is coming to an end as of next Monday. So I need to do all the stuff I've been putting off for two month in the next five days....
The job looks okay: note quite the pay-cheque I was hoping for but they do have a bonus structure that almost gets me there. I'll be doing the exact same thing I was doing at my last place of employment: leading. As much as I ever lead anyways. But the difference is in my ignorance. I'm guessing (ie hoping) there will be less of "Do you have a sec" and "Can you do me a favour?".
And yes, for those who know me, I'll be happy to pass along a resume. Except for Capa, apparently he needs some long-term disability due to starting some exercise.
Wobbly Pops are good for what ails ya. Ale is good for what ails ya? That works.
Sooooo the next mid-life challenge on the roster is attempting to find a two-bedroom apartment that is within walking distance to work. And, of course, finding something for September 1st is the absolute worst time of year to do so in this burg...
Yup, I signed my life away on the dotted line. My mini-retirement is coming to an end as of next Monday. So I need to do all the stuff I've been putting off for two month in the next five days....
The job looks okay: note quite the pay-cheque I was hoping for but they do have a bonus structure that almost gets me there. I'll be doing the exact same thing I was doing at my last place of employment: leading. As much as I ever lead anyways. But the difference is in my ignorance. I'm guessing (ie hoping) there will be less of "Do you have a sec" and "Can you do me a favour?".
And yes, for those who know me, I'll be happy to pass along a resume. Except for Capa, apparently he needs some long-term disability due to starting some exercise.
Wobbly Pops are good for what ails ya. Ale is good for what ails ya? That works.
Sooooo the next mid-life challenge on the roster is attempting to find a two-bedroom apartment that is within walking distance to work. And, of course, finding something for September 1st is the absolute worst time of year to do so in this burg...
Friday, July 06, 2007
Almost ... There ....
Okay I almost have a new job. The offer is being drawn up (after some negotiations today) and should be available for my Dyk Moby on Monday.
The amazing thing is that I didn't realize I was that stressed out about finding a job. It's a huge relief but also a huge surprise that it was weighing me down so much. And there's still the nagging worry that "Almost...there..." will turn into "They come from ... behind ...!". But that may be because I've been playing Lego Star Wars again. Love that game.
And on top of that, it looks like a great job. I won't go into details as this is a blog after all, but it's the kind of situation where change is happening fast. They need someone who can put some structure around it while still delivering software.
So pretty much my last job.
At least this time I won't be sucked into doing legacy crapola. It's all about leadership baby.
I start the week after next, so I'm going to take the next week to really and truly relax (and tell all those recruiters I'm no longer looking for work) and lavish Laroo with the affection she so richly deserves.
The amazing thing is that I didn't realize I was that stressed out about finding a job. It's a huge relief but also a huge surprise that it was weighing me down so much. And there's still the nagging worry that "Almost...there..." will turn into "They come from ... behind ...!". But that may be because I've been playing Lego Star Wars again. Love that game.
And on top of that, it looks like a great job. I won't go into details as this is a blog after all, but it's the kind of situation where change is happening fast. They need someone who can put some structure around it while still delivering software.
So pretty much my last job.
At least this time I won't be sucked into doing legacy crapola. It's all about leadership baby.
I start the week after next, so I'm going to take the next week to really and truly relax (and tell all those recruiters I'm no longer looking for work) and lavish Laroo with the affection she so richly deserves.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Crash. Burn.
Okay that didn't go well.
While waiting for the number 2 folks to get back to me on my second interview, while holding off number 3 until I hear from number 2, I had a second interview today with number 45 (or there abouts).
It was a technical interview. And it was all about .NET.
Now if you plonk a sizable chunk of C# in front of me and tell me something is busted, I can can pretty much fix it. If you plonk a software specification in front of me, well, I'll be pulling out manuals quite a bit. It's one of the reasons I left my old job: my technical skills (skillz?) are sorely behind in terms of the latest and greatest.
And I don't hide that fact. When it comes to databases, I can boast some 'leetness but when it comes to C# I always let the people interviewing know I don't hit the ground running, I just hit the ground.
And I told the person I first interviewed that exact thing.
So the second interview comes up as technical inquisition. I aced (I think) the team-building and database parts. C# .... not so much. And it was three quarters of the interview.
This has stressed me out. Critical hit to my confidence stat.
So I probably won't be hearing from them. I hope I'll be hearing from number 2 today. Number 3 is actually scaring me a little now.
Dammit, maybe I should just give up and sling over-priced caffeinated beverages for a living...
While waiting for the number 2 folks to get back to me on my second interview, while holding off number 3 until I hear from number 2, I had a second interview today with number 45 (or there abouts).
It was a technical interview. And it was all about .NET.
Now if you plonk a sizable chunk of C# in front of me and tell me something is busted, I can can pretty much fix it. If you plonk a software specification in front of me, well, I'll be pulling out manuals quite a bit. It's one of the reasons I left my old job: my technical skills (skillz?) are sorely behind in terms of the latest and greatest.
And I don't hide that fact. When it comes to databases, I can boast some 'leetness but when it comes to C# I always let the people interviewing know I don't hit the ground running, I just hit the ground.
And I told the person I first interviewed that exact thing.
So the second interview comes up as technical inquisition. I aced (I think) the team-building and database parts. C# .... not so much. And it was three quarters of the interview.
This has stressed me out. Critical hit to my confidence stat.
So I probably won't be hearing from them. I hope I'll be hearing from number 2 today. Number 3 is actually scaring me a little now.
Dammit, maybe I should just give up and sling over-priced caffeinated beverages for a living...
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