Spelling = Not Required, Punctuation = Optional

Wow. I used to consider myself half decent at communication, especially writing. Looking over some old posts, and emails including business emails I sound like english is not my first or best language. Sometimes I start sentences without finish.

Things I've Learned/Need to Learn

I need to learn how to end a phone conversation without saying goodbye, I feel like I would seem more commanding that way.

Things I've learned since going to the YMCA to work out
1) It's well worth the extra money to rent a locker
2) It's far less ackward to introduce yourself to the men you walk around with naked everyday than to just go on ignoring them
3) It's not any cheaper than a health club
4) It's probably less intimidating than a health club
5) There is a reason why all the treadmills tell you to cut your workout off at 30 minutes when people are waiting. Most people want to workout for longer than 30 minutes. You can't fit a decent workout into a 15 minute timeframe.
6) Jogging and taking a shower in the middle of the day instead of eating lunch out make you feel great.

Acronyms, Buzzwords and Discontent

Words/Acronyms I can't go more than a week without hearing

1) Enterprise software
2) ROI (Return on Investment)
3) Business process

Words/Acronyms I haven't heard in years
1) RAD (Rapid Application Development - I probably haven't heard this one because all enterprise app development is rapid now)
2) Project Specification (My employers seem to like to wing it more than not these days in fact sometimes introducing errors to force me to work on something immediately instead of planning it)


Q> What is my point?
A> I'm tired of writing software that just makes peoples businesses run better. I'm tired of writing software to replace an employee or take more orders faster. I get a great deal of satisfaction out of solving a unique problem but I don't get any sense of advancing human achievement. I want to write software that touches the everyday person's life, or even makes it a little better or easier. I want to write something unique and fun that some guy on the street might say, "Hey that's cool." I want to do this with people and not just on my own. I want to feel part of a team, I want camaraderie.

I've been interviewing for a lot of jobs lately and a lot of friends have tried to set me up and I've found quite a few on my own. I've really appreciated that but at the same time every interview I go to I feel like I'm just in for more of the same. There are little things that seem to make it a little better, like a team to be part of or a more comfortable work environment, but its still writing software for business and that's just no fun. Not that I've gotten any offers anyway. Its a little frustrating to interview for jobs you don't think you really want, and you know your qualified for and ultimately be brushed off like you weren't even considered. Maybe its the fact that I don't think I want them that shows through in my interview, because I'm really fucking good at what I do, I just don't seem to get that across to people. Anyway, ultimately I'd like to find a job that I'm proud of, one that I tell people about who may have no interest in listening. Any idea how I can find that?

On the upside a software I planned, architected and developed last year was recently written up as a case study in a trade journal. Hit me up if you want to read a copy.

April

April is where its at for me. It when I finally start to come out of the funk I've been in for the last 3 months. I'm certain this is not uncommon, but I'm glad its hear anyway.

Toronto was kick ass, photos pending.