First post in a long time. See title as to why.
I started a new job. Most or all of you know that by now. I'm contracting through Bisonweb Inc. and they have a contract with Xea Services Inc. who have a contract with 5D software who have a contract with the department of defense for software. Convoluted but true. Suffice it to say, I've been busy.
The good: I went into this job as a non-newbie. This is the first job I've walked into since University where I felt like I knew the score and could come in and contribute right away, which is good, since contractors don't generally have the same lee-way for learning on-the-job as full-time employees. Thank you, Intuit, for making me ready to launch myself into my next position. (I don't rule out a return to Intuit someday, but it's not entirely likely).
The bad: My mom is in the hospital and has been for several weeks. She got an infection on her hip and she's been receiving treatment for that.
The not-so-bad: The dishwasher is once again in the fold. I had no idea how much I was relying on that thing until I had to live without it. I guess a little perspective is never a terrible thing but it would have been nice for it to just have kept on working.
The long and drawn-out: Unit testing. Testing, in general, is something that I don't like to do when I'm programming. I know it has to be done, and I know that I have to do some of it. But the amount I've been doing since I started at 5D is a little out-of-proportion. Still, they're paying me to do it, so I guess I shouldn't complain.
The short and sweet: We're having a baby! Nature should take its course toward the beginning of July and we're excited. Especially Lily who says that she'll share all her babies with the baby but if it's a boy, it's NIck's.
The failure: I gave up on Nano very early on. Generally, it's better not to try to write 1700 words per day when you've started a new job.
The win: Barrack Obama won the election. Yes, I know. Old news. So what? It's still monumental. And he actually won the election unlike our ground-breaking woman-as-a-Prime-Minister-by-default scenario. My concern with Barrack Obama is whether or not he can do the job. I wasn't concerned on that score with McCain but Obama kinda came out of nowhere and smothered voters in charisma.
BSG: We have one episode of BSG left until we're all caught up. Just in time for the new episodes. Must... not... spoil.
Football: Despite being eliminated from the playoff hunt, Houston looks poised to turn in their best record yet. A win over the woeful and embarrassing Raiders, and a home-win over the Bears and they've got it. If I could remove the RosenCopter from the annals, we'd be talking about a wild-card spot. Stupid Sage Rosenfels.
Books: I've gotten up to 38 books this year, the most since I started counting. Yes, it's not 50, but there *is* the new job, after all. Best new book this year: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. It's epic fantasy done right. Doesn't stretch too many boundaries, but that's not what I read it for. Good characters, good pacing, good world building and an underlying creepiness in the epic part.
Comics: I'm reading the Sandman comics that James lent to me. Really, really good. Must... not... spoil.
Hockey: Three times a week at the downtown YMCA, I'm playing floor hockey at 7 am. Sean's made an appearance and all hope is that we'll see him out there again some time. Nice to see I can keep up with a bunch of people I don't know.
That's all for tonight, folks! Sorry there isn't more but who knows? Maybe I'll generate enough energy and give-a-damn to squeeze out another post or two before Christmas.
If not, Merry Christmas.
Liam
