Hanging out in a cold creek in 90 degree weather.
IT Director, Photographer, Dad
Day 5. Character.
Sometimes a picture can capture so many things. This picture gives me all kinds of old soul vibes. I have a soft spot for things that feel vintage, with that pre to early computer time frame. You know, the 60’s and 70’s.
Day 4 - Ok, we're getting the hang of this.
Markets are great places, I always like seeing what people are selling, enjoying a soft pretzel, and wandering around. It can be a great way to spend an hour on a weekend.
One a Day, Day Three! 5/18/2021
Went to Zoo America over at Hershey with Emma. It wasn’t amazing, but it was still fun. Caught a picture of this little guy on the beach.
It's a streak! One a Day. 5/17/2021
They say if you can do something for two weeks in a row it will become a habit. Lets put it to the test. Day two.
Which one are you going with? Cue Carl Weathers - “You’ve got a stew going baby!”
Lets Do This. One a Day. 5/16/2021
I’ll get it started with this. I got my hands on a Fuji X100F. It’s a lot of fun. A 35mm digital camera, no zoom, film style controls, and non-interchangable lens. It’s a a great sort of point and shoot feel, with all the control of a pro camera. And great image quality. So here is pic 1. Of none other than Emma. She’s just the best.
Inventory? What is free time?
Lets see. Where are we? Well, I’ll be honest, 2020 has been a trip so far, but where am I? Well life has a way of simplifying itself when immersed in too much complexity.
Am I still coding? Well… Yes and No. Admittedly my quest to master Python has taken a pause, but it has not been wasted, and I do plan on resuming my quest shortly.
I have begun to finally get into a groove with the podcast - No, Seriously - And soon it should be a fully operational weekly podcast machine. Editing is a chore I must say.
What else? Well, that is the question. As 2020 wraps up, and the punches have been absorbed, I’m just glad to have made it this far relatively unscathed. I know it hasn’t been so easy for many, and I need to remain aware of my place in the world.
Overall - I think I have a problem typical of so many creative types who have a day job and a family competing for time. I want to do so much and have time to do so little. I would ask, for instance, “Is there a book about this?”. Well there might be, but who am I kidding, when the hell would I read it? I suppose I could digest an audiobook in small chunks on my commute to and from work?
My other problem is me. My interests and passions in life seem to remain fairly constant nowadays. I do enjoy Music, and playing Music. And I think that is task one. How on earth does that manifest at this stage of my life? The days of academic music are long gone for me, and the saxophone is a conquest I no longer have the time or outlet for pursuing. I think it may be time to sell off the Sax, and funnel the proceeds into something new. Namely, I’d like to spend more time on either Piano or Guitar. If we’re being honest, both will win that contest.
In that vein, I think I have found a new way to ingest music, and I don’t know how I hadn’t thought of it before this. I will pick an artist, or musician, album, whatever… And research them and their history. Get an understanding of their defining work and explore. This is how everyone else does it anyways right? You hear the hit, and then dig in. Seems so obvious, but for a long time I have had so many artificial barriers to inviting new music that it always seems complicated.
Noting that this will take time, will not be easy, and could require a therapist… and moving on.
As part of that exercise, I have been contemplating writing these adventures up and publishing them here over time. Could be fun.
Ok, Hopefully my next update here happens before we turn the calendars over to 2021.
Vulfpeck Live at Madison Square Garden. Wow.
This is some magic.
Let's See Where We Are
I’ve been taking inventory of things in my life to try to optimize my time. Basically the typical thing everyone is forever trying to do, find time inside no time.
The last time I posted I made a list of things I was working on, or wanted to work on. I have now decided I don’t need to bother with the past. There is certainly no time for the past. Lets see how I’ve done in the last month.
Current
Learn how to properly code. In Python to start. Objective C, C#, Swift, and Ruby to follow
I’ve made quite a bit of progress here. I’m about 60% into where I want to be with Python, and this time it’s finally sticking.
Develop an iOS App
I’ve made no progress here. This one is complicated, and frankly I’m not even sure yet what my app will do.
Build out a VMWare Homelab and become fully fluent in Linux (CentOS, Ubuntu)
I have completed this one, and have begun to work on managing my python projects in it, including git repositories.
Finish my MCSA, and MCSE certs
I have 2 tests remaining, and I just need to schedule them and get this over with. But alas I have not done this yet.
Create and Publish a Podcast on a weekly basis (It’s called “No, Seriously” - more on this coming)
We are recording this show, but admittedly I have dropped the ball on editing and publishing this.
Spend more time playing music (How and what instruments to be determined)
Still missing the boat on this one.
Play Disc Golf at least once a week.
Been making it out pretty consistently, enjoying this game more every trip.
Adding one - Photography!
I do enjoy taking pictures, and I need to make myself keep the camera around and take more pictures.
All future initiatives remain. And I don’t really have any notes here.
Future
VCP Certification
AWS, Azure and Google Cloud
Become fully fluent in SQL query languages and Database administration. (no more enough to be dangerous)
Begin a regular workout program of some sort. (Hoping this moves to current soon.)
Learn how to cook some new things. (wood fired pizza?)
Taking Inventory
As are most people, I often find myself looking for ways to organize my life. In my head at least, organization is calm. In practice, this isn’t always true, and eventually you can find a balance, although who’s to say how long it will take to find that.
I have recently been trying to take a measure of everything I’m trying to do in my life, hobbies, goals, family, etc, and it seems every time I do this, I am surprised at the number of things I have going at any given time. As usual, you immediately realize that you don’t have nearly enough time to keep every ball in the air that you intend to. So, for the first time, I am going to attempt to list everything I’m working on, interested in working on, or abandoned, and try to find creative ways to put time into them, or cut them out. These may be personal or professional in nature, but in either case they are things I am working on now, have in the past, or would like to. I’m going to separate them into current, future, and past as well.
Current
Learn how to properly code. In Python to start. Objective C, C#, Swift, and Ruby to follow
Develop an iOS App
Build out a VMWare Homelab and become fully fluent in Linux (CentOS, Ubuntu)
Finish my MCSA, and MCSE certs
Create and Publish a Podcast on a weekly basis (It’s called “No, Seriously” - more on this coming)
Spend more time playing music (How and what instruments to be determined)
Play Disc Golf at least once a week.
Future
VCP Certification
AWS, Azure and Google Cloud
Become fully fluent in SQL query languages and Database administration. (no more enough to be dangerous)
Begin a regular workout program of some sort. (Hoping this moves to current soon.)
Learn how to cook some new things. (wood fired pizza?)
Past
This list is in development. I will likely add things as I remember them.
I hope to keep up with this, and maybe post updates and findings on this process over time.