Taking a year off resources
My time off starts in April, and I have a bunch of work to do before then. I thought I would post some of the sites and articles I looked at before I talked to my employer.
Trader Joe’s
A new Trader Joe's opened recently here, and we have gone a few times now and are starting to figure out which things we really like. The price's are great and so far everything we have tried has been very good. Here are a few of our favorites:
- Mandarin Orange Chicken
- Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
- Tandoori Nand
- A Fig walks into a Bar Breakfast Bars
- So Delicious Creamy Orange Ice cream Bars
Lisa - Adding a few of my favs....
- Hawaiian Style Salt & Vinegar chips
- Maple Pecan Granola cereal
- drool creamy orange soy ice cream bars
Fun with the new camera on the 4th of July.
I had fun taking pictures on the 4th this year. Here are a few of the them.
There was a car fire at a neighbor's house. I managed to get a few pics.
This weekend
We went to the opening weekend of the Carolina Renaissance Festival It was pretty much the same as last year. I think they need to do something different with it each year, we are starting to get bored with it.
We saw Corpse Bride. It was a little too short, and it suffers from being in the shadow of Nightmare before Christmas. It was enjoyable, but it just doesn't have the charm of Nightmare.
We also saw Serenity and it was awesome. It does a great job of finishing the story that was started in the series. I really hope it does well, a sequel would be very cool.
Big Ba-Loo
I try not to talk to much about where I work or what I do. Pretty much everyone reading this should know that I'm a Software Developer. What most of you probably do not know, unless you work with me, is that I now work for IBM. The company that I used to work for was acquired. Its been pretty much normal sailing so far, but I'm sure things will be changing in interesting ways in the near future. Now I will continue with more of the not talking about my work. We went to the opening of the local Renaissance Festival this weekend. Its always a blast to see the shows and all the people dressed up and attempting to behave in a manner thats in sync with our fantasty view of the era. You get wizards, faries, pirates, jesters, and all manner of costumed folk. I also tend to spend money on overpriced trinkets that I don't really need. This year I got a comical dragon incense smoker and a leather book cover with a dragon pressed into the cover. If you don't know it by now, I have a thing for Wizards and Dragons. I like to say I collect them, but L likes to say I'm a nut.
Current Music: Southern Culture on the Skids "Devil's Stompin' Ground"
roasted turkey leg!!
Guess what opens this weekend!!!
Joy.
Turkey legs, jousting, and shopping... oh my!
Reading and Thinking
I was just reading over at Wil Wheaton Dot Net that his new book will be in stores soon. I just recently read his first mini-book called Dancing Barefoot. I really enjoyed it and I expect Just a Geek to be as good or better.
Our lunchtime discussions lately have revolved around the concept of balancing our free time with our jobs. I personally value my free time very highly. Our whole lives should not be just about our jobs. The company we work for is pretty good about not over-working us too much, but they do expect more than 40 hours a week as the norm. One of the ideas that we have discussed during lunch has been doing four 10 hour days instead of five 8's. I really like this idea, you have more time in the office for those four days, but you get an extra whole day off.
Now let me say that there is no way this idea would ever be implemented at my office. Its so crazy no one would ever even think to bring it up as a real suggestion.
My company is very conservative when it comes to these kind of things. The concept of Tele-commuting has been brought up repeatably over the last few years and each time its totally shot down. We have VPN access and we have the ability to work from home but that is reserved for when you're sick, for when you have to work late or on the weekend. Oh well, its still fun to dream about these things.
Outsourcing...(Que ominous drum roll) Another topic that comes up everyday is IT outsourcing. My company has embraced this idea completely. However, their current policy is that we are only doing it to grow our development group faster. Indeed we are still hiring locally as well.
Now, I can understand that outsourcing can make very good business sense these days. But, just because it is good for the company does not mean that it's the right thing to do. I don't think the company realizes how unsettled this whole process has made us. We are not afraid that our jobs are going to disappear suddenly, at least not yet, but being treated like a commodity that can be bid on tends to make one question your loyalty. Now I know a lot of people that will fire back with, but you are a commodity, to be traded and bid on like a box of nails or a roll of sheet steel. Bull-Shit! We are people that have an emotional investment in this company. If the company wants us to feel like we are a part of this family, then they need to show us the respect we deserve.
Instead of spending all this time getting a group of cheaper developers up and running, the company could have just hired a couple new local developers and kept the rest of us content.
Current Music: Jane's Addiction "Classic Girl"
Cobwebs in my attic
Time to clear a few random thoughts out of my brain. Because if you don't share what your thinking people will never understand just how crazy you are.
Aztec and Mayan art is so cool. I'm constantly distracted by several wall hangings at a local Mexican restaurant we like. I have been thinking about working on a few Aztec inspired clay figurines and carved wall hangings. Anyone has any good source images?
I have had a really hard time staying focused lately. I get distracted so easily. I'm trying to get into a regular exercise pattern again with the hope that this will help me concentrate better. I'm so out of shape, it's just sad. I think that all the stuff I've been doing with clay lately has helped some. It's good to have a creative outlet, but it's just as important to exercise your body as it is your mind.
At my friends Birthday party the other night there was a discussion about financial planning, wills, and retirement. We are all about the same age, so there is only one conclusion I can make. We are all getting freaking old!
Which do you do, remodel or move? We have been in our house for five years now, and there are things that we would do very different with a new house. No carpet. Two car garage. More storage. A fire place. etc. Moving can be such a hassle that I'm considering replacing the carpet, adding an extension to the driveway, and possibly adding a sunroom. Is it worth it?
Current Music: Jethro Tull "Thick As A Brick"
Older and Bolder
As I get older Birthdays make me think more about the past, mistakes I have made, and where I thought I would be at this point in my life. I have never been good at planning for the future and thinking about what I want to do with my time. I guess thats part of the reason we celebrate birthdays in the first place. Sometimes you just need to stop and think about where you are and where you are going.
In general I'm fairly happy with my current job. There are things I would like to change about it, but I always find it hard to complain about getting paid well to write software. I have been lucky over the years with meeting many very cool people through work. My current job is no exception to that pattern. I don't have much in common with most of my co-workers, but there have been a few that I can truly call friends. The problem is that the people I have the most in common with keep leaving. The reasons differ, but often it comes down to feeling like they don't fit in. Now, I'm known for getting along with just about everyone, but I have to ask myself if I fit in here? I'm not sure that I do and I can't decide how to handle it. It probably doesn't even matter. As one of my friends said "No one really likes their job."
Current Music: Alice in Chains "Nutshell"
All Sick
Everyone is sick, L is home in bed. Everyone at work is sick or has been sick. I woke up this morning with a headache and I'm more tired than normal. It's like some kind of freakin plague.
I can only hope that the intense need I have to see The Lord of the Rings - Return of the King will keep me healthy. The reviews are in and everyone loves it. That additional push has sent me into a frothing at the mouth frenzy to see it. I must see it, my precious.
Current Music: Genesis "Keep it Dark"