For the past couple weeks I've been in a rut of sorts. It was nothing real specific that I could pinpoint, just the feeling and knowledge that the wind was taken out of my sails, or that I've hit a lull or wind hole. In my off hours, I found myself asking more and more what I was doing with my life. I've got a sweet job and all, but as far as personal betterment is concerned I've been doing jack shit. I've fallen off the swimming wagon, there isn't a whole lot to do in Montgomery I haven't already done, and my days have become uncomfortably interchangeable. I thought about my activities and nothing really stood out; it seemed more like a collection of diversions that killed time between commitments. Keeping up on the news is good and all, but being informed isn't a goal. It's a means to an end of being a well rounded person. I need something to stimulate my mind and intellect, and reading up on political squabbles and glorified press releases just isn't doing it for me.
So I took a cue from an awesome person in my life and picked up a book. It's called Consider Phlebas, the first in a series of space sci-fi novels that revolves around an advanced society called The Culture. It's been a very good read; I've had it for about a week and am already nearly through its 500+ pages. Iain Banks has a way of writing that flows extremely well, and is very descriptive and witty in places, but most importantly it has stretched my mind. The book is quite epic in scope, and the way people, places, societies, and events come to life are a breath of fresh air compared to what I'm used to. It made me realize that most of the things I read on a daily basis aren't very well written, or aren't that creative or imaginative. I'm a computer guy and spend a lot of my time on the web, so this might just be a reflection of the sites I choose to visit, but it made me think about the old programming principle Garbage in, garbage out. If the input is terrible, you're going to get terrible results; there isn't some magic box in the middle that makes good things happen in a puff of glitter and happiness. Even though reading in one's spare time is mostly for fun and diversion it does have an impact on their overall life. For me, I kept remembering the old books I read, video games played, and comic books I tore through. Not only were they entertaining, but they moved me in some way to try something new, read up on some subject, or change my habits for the better. Inspiration is the essence of writing; unfortunately, that tends to be lacking in a lot of the places I visit.
Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy visiting Reddit and other various sites, but I guess I need to find a balance. If there's one thing I've learned after four months of being out here, it's that "balance" is a concept I tend to struggle with. Fortunately I'm still young and have time to learn these things. The Culture series stretches nine books so far, so that should keep me occupied for a little while. Hopefully after then I'll have more to go on, but in the mean time it's good progress on clearing out the garbage that's started to accumulate and weigh me down.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
(Not Yet) Moving
So it looks like I'll be in Alabama for a little bit longer. How long? Don't know. But my lease is up and it goes month to month now, so I remain in limbo. I wouldn't really mind much, except it's making travel plans difficult. I'd like to go back to Seattle for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas, but I don't want to buy plane tickets only to change them and get jacked $100+ for changing my point of origin. I would also like to buy a grotesquely large HDTV the size of a wall, among other amenities, but it's difficult to put them in a fully furnished apartment. In addition, I'd like to get a smart phone and join all the cool kids and their apps, but it helps to know what city has what kind of reception with whatever carrier (preferably Verizon, as I'd like to get a Droid).
It isn't all bad, though. I still get all the sweet temporary assignment perks, and things on this project are starting to get more serious as we're approaching some key deadlines. It means I might be a little more busy, and also get to see more of how things are supposed to shape up on an implementation. This is a well run project, and the more I can learn the better. It's also still warm here, which always makes me smile when I look at the forecasts for Seattle and Missoula. However, I'm kind of itching to get a place of my own built up. The entire time I was in college, I lived a relatively Spartan life (you know, excluding the trips to China and Australia. Yes, I know how much that makes me sound like an asshole). The only time I ever updated my wardrobe was when my mom or sister-in-law would give me new clothes while forcibly removing the old ones, making snide comments about them as often as possible. I only bought a couple posters as decoration, and didn't buy any chairs, couches, or TVs. Usually my money was spent on going out, nicer groceries, and kitchen supplies. I like food and cooking, and have no fashion or interior design sense, so I guess it was kind of a logical series of events.
Now that I have a steady income, I'm ready to put it to use and pimp out my abode. I find myself looking at the TVs and chairs and couches and wanting them with an increasing urge. Same with cooking gadgets, though I have been picking those up as needed. And I made a weekend trip to Atlanta last weekend, so my urge to get out and travel was sated for a little bit. (By the way, Atlanta is an awesome city. I highly recommend it. Between Gladys Knight's Chicken and Waffles and a burger called the Double Coronary from The Vortex, the city might kill you over time, but it's totally worth it). Still, if I'm ever going to win me my trophy wife or not lead a complete life of squalor it might help to have more than a bed, a big screen, and cardboard boxes.
I guess, more than anything, I want to do things. Work takes up a large chunk of time, and when I'm not consulting, I don't want to just sit around and veg while watching Jersey Shore. Getting all set up is something I've been thinking about ever since I got the job and I want to finally get around to doing it, to accomplish that personal goal. I've made it; I've accomplished all those scholastic and career goals I had in college, and buying my own stuff with my own money is tangible proof I can achieve what I set my mind to. I'm more than happy to stay as long as I'm needed, and am fine with the current situation here in Alabama. I'm not unhappy, but there are certain things I'd like to do but can't. I guess the moral of this story, on a Sunday dominated by football both real and fantasy, is that I want my goliath HDTV + TiVo already!!!
It isn't all bad, though. I still get all the sweet temporary assignment perks, and things on this project are starting to get more serious as we're approaching some key deadlines. It means I might be a little more busy, and also get to see more of how things are supposed to shape up on an implementation. This is a well run project, and the more I can learn the better. It's also still warm here, which always makes me smile when I look at the forecasts for Seattle and Missoula. However, I'm kind of itching to get a place of my own built up. The entire time I was in college, I lived a relatively Spartan life (you know, excluding the trips to China and Australia. Yes, I know how much that makes me sound like an asshole). The only time I ever updated my wardrobe was when my mom or sister-in-law would give me new clothes while forcibly removing the old ones, making snide comments about them as often as possible. I only bought a couple posters as decoration, and didn't buy any chairs, couches, or TVs. Usually my money was spent on going out, nicer groceries, and kitchen supplies. I like food and cooking, and have no fashion or interior design sense, so I guess it was kind of a logical series of events.
Now that I have a steady income, I'm ready to put it to use and pimp out my abode. I find myself looking at the TVs and chairs and couches and wanting them with an increasing urge. Same with cooking gadgets, though I have been picking those up as needed. And I made a weekend trip to Atlanta last weekend, so my urge to get out and travel was sated for a little bit. (By the way, Atlanta is an awesome city. I highly recommend it. Between Gladys Knight's Chicken and Waffles and a burger called the Double Coronary from The Vortex, the city might kill you over time, but it's totally worth it). Still, if I'm ever going to win me my trophy wife or not lead a complete life of squalor it might help to have more than a bed, a big screen, and cardboard boxes.
I guess, more than anything, I want to do things. Work takes up a large chunk of time, and when I'm not consulting, I don't want to just sit around and veg while watching Jersey Shore. Getting all set up is something I've been thinking about ever since I got the job and I want to finally get around to doing it, to accomplish that personal goal. I've made it; I've accomplished all those scholastic and career goals I had in college, and buying my own stuff with my own money is tangible proof I can achieve what I set my mind to. I'm more than happy to stay as long as I'm needed, and am fine with the current situation here in Alabama. I'm not unhappy, but there are certain things I'd like to do but can't. I guess the moral of this story, on a Sunday dominated by football both real and fantasy, is that I want my goliath HDTV + TiVo already!!!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Two Years, Six Months
A couple weeks ago I had the privilege of going back to my alma mater to do some recruiting for my company. When I was asked if I would be willing to do it, I was pretty much baffled - I was only in my third week on the job, and they already wanted me to go back? Why not more qualified people? This quickly subsided, however, as the chance to visit Montana for a week, see a football game, and catch up with friends hit me and I forgot about the rest. As the date kept on getting closer and closer, though, that question started sticking out more and more - why me?
It really started bugging me, and I didn't really pin it down until a couple nights before I left: I didn't feel all that qualified to go back and talk with students. For most people who recruit, it consists of going to career fairs, setting up booths, looking over resumes, doing interviews, narrowing down qualified candidates, and passing along anyone who seems like they would be a good fit. For us, when we go to Montana, it's a little more in depth than that. We're typically on campus for a week, talking to classes and having informal talks with students before getting down to the nitty-gritty formalities. Students ask a lot of questions not just about the job, but academic advice, general career guidance, how their resumes look, etc. You get to know these people, most of whom are very bright and motivated, and they look to you for those insights that can help land them a great job. It's a lot of fun, but it's also a huge responsibility and privilege to be in that position. That thought was quite daunting; who am I to be that person, what do I know? I haven't even been in the working world full time for three months. Going further, I haven't even been in my field all that long. I started out college a Journalism major, before switching over to Business and eventually Information Systems in April of '08. That's barely a blip on the radar. And now I'm being asked to represent my company in front of all these eager young students?! Something really doesn't add up.
One of the things I loved about my major, though, was that it didn't focus on specific skills or pieces of technology, but instead taught the basic frameworks you need to be successful. Technology changes every day, but by focusing on the underlying patterns you get a feel for what makes things tick and how to use them to your advantage. And even though I haven't been in the IS field all that long, let alone be full of wisdom and experience, I have shown a knack for applying the concepts to problems I have and getting results. If not, I wouldn't be where I am today. Luck probably played a factor as well, but fortune favors the bold. I went out on a limb becoming an IS major, talking with the women who recruited me into the company, when applying for the presidency of the student group I used to lead, etc. I've come a long way in two and a half years.
When I finally had to get up and speak to a classroom full of students, that's what I kept in the back of my mind. I got this far for a reason, and hopefully I can inspire someone else to do as well or better than me in the same amount of time. The other two people who were with me are in a league of their own, personally and professionally, so when I wasn't speaking it was great to see them in action. Especially in the beginning, when I wasn't really sure of what to expect out of the entire experience, they were great examples of what to do and how it should be done. I probably learned more from them than the students did, and some of what rubbed off has already helped me in my first weeks back. Guess learning by osmosis does work...
As the days passed, I got more comfortable settling into my new position in life and speaking as a professional. In another two and a half years I'll have more experience and will be able to give more practical advice than I can right now. I'll have even more nuanced points of view two and a half years after that, when I'm a polished and battle-hardened monument to professional excellence. But for right now, this is what I can do. I have the frameworks that are working for me, and even though I don't have the instant gratification results I'd like, I can see a lot of progress in my current job and career. Might not be much in the grand scheme, but if anything, it's a great start.
It really started bugging me, and I didn't really pin it down until a couple nights before I left: I didn't feel all that qualified to go back and talk with students. For most people who recruit, it consists of going to career fairs, setting up booths, looking over resumes, doing interviews, narrowing down qualified candidates, and passing along anyone who seems like they would be a good fit. For us, when we go to Montana, it's a little more in depth than that. We're typically on campus for a week, talking to classes and having informal talks with students before getting down to the nitty-gritty formalities. Students ask a lot of questions not just about the job, but academic advice, general career guidance, how their resumes look, etc. You get to know these people, most of whom are very bright and motivated, and they look to you for those insights that can help land them a great job. It's a lot of fun, but it's also a huge responsibility and privilege to be in that position. That thought was quite daunting; who am I to be that person, what do I know? I haven't even been in the working world full time for three months. Going further, I haven't even been in my field all that long. I started out college a Journalism major, before switching over to Business and eventually Information Systems in April of '08. That's barely a blip on the radar. And now I'm being asked to represent my company in front of all these eager young students?! Something really doesn't add up.
One of the things I loved about my major, though, was that it didn't focus on specific skills or pieces of technology, but instead taught the basic frameworks you need to be successful. Technology changes every day, but by focusing on the underlying patterns you get a feel for what makes things tick and how to use them to your advantage. And even though I haven't been in the IS field all that long, let alone be full of wisdom and experience, I have shown a knack for applying the concepts to problems I have and getting results. If not, I wouldn't be where I am today. Luck probably played a factor as well, but fortune favors the bold. I went out on a limb becoming an IS major, talking with the women who recruited me into the company, when applying for the presidency of the student group I used to lead, etc. I've come a long way in two and a half years.
When I finally had to get up and speak to a classroom full of students, that's what I kept in the back of my mind. I got this far for a reason, and hopefully I can inspire someone else to do as well or better than me in the same amount of time. The other two people who were with me are in a league of their own, personally and professionally, so when I wasn't speaking it was great to see them in action. Especially in the beginning, when I wasn't really sure of what to expect out of the entire experience, they were great examples of what to do and how it should be done. I probably learned more from them than the students did, and some of what rubbed off has already helped me in my first weeks back. Guess learning by osmosis does work...
As the days passed, I got more comfortable settling into my new position in life and speaking as a professional. In another two and a half years I'll have more experience and will be able to give more practical advice than I can right now. I'll have even more nuanced points of view two and a half years after that, when I'm a polished and battle-hardened monument to professional excellence. But for right now, this is what I can do. I have the frameworks that are working for me, and even though I don't have the instant gratification results I'd like, I can see a lot of progress in my current job and career. Might not be much in the grand scheme, but if anything, it's a great start.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
No rest for the weary
Once again, I've dropped the ball on updates. It's been pretty busy for me and there hasn't been a good time to sit down and write. I almost mixed up your/you're today, it's been that hectic. And it might continue for a few weeks, as things at work will continue to pile on (and I'm assured they will). So if there are more delays, sorry. I'll at least try and throw something up. Some quick hits before I need to cook dinner and catch up on sleep...
- I went on a recruiting trip to Missoula this past week that went pretty well. I had a lot of fun being on the other side of the employment game, as well as catching up with friends and old professors. I plan on writing more about this soon.
- There might be some news in the near future of where/when I might be moving. I only say this because the lease on my apartment is up on the 15th, and I would imagine I'd be told if I was staying longer or should be prepared to pack up and ship out. There's an outside chance they could tell me to live out of my car indefinitely, but I'd like to think otherwise.
- Fantasy football is off to a bumpy start, thanks to me benching Arian Foster and LeSean McCoy at the worst possible weeks. I also can't get a defense that will net me positive points. I hope this isn't a season long trend.
- I'm in a rut as far as cooking is concerned. I just haven't been able to find a whole lot of new recipes that have piqued my interest. I might start dabbling in some more seafood on occasion (tuna steaks and maybe an occasional swordfish), but other than that it's chef's block for me. Any ideas?
Getting hungry now. Hope to have that Missoula roundup online by the end of this weekend, so stay tuned.
- I went on a recruiting trip to Missoula this past week that went pretty well. I had a lot of fun being on the other side of the employment game, as well as catching up with friends and old professors. I plan on writing more about this soon.
- There might be some news in the near future of where/when I might be moving. I only say this because the lease on my apartment is up on the 15th, and I would imagine I'd be told if I was staying longer or should be prepared to pack up and ship out. There's an outside chance they could tell me to live out of my car indefinitely, but I'd like to think otherwise.
- Fantasy football is off to a bumpy start, thanks to me benching Arian Foster and LeSean McCoy at the worst possible weeks. I also can't get a defense that will net me positive points. I hope this isn't a season long trend.
- I'm in a rut as far as cooking is concerned. I just haven't been able to find a whole lot of new recipes that have piqued my interest. I might start dabbling in some more seafood on occasion (tuna steaks and maybe an occasional swordfish), but other than that it's chef's block for me. Any ideas?
Getting hungry now. Hope to have that Missoula roundup online by the end of this weekend, so stay tuned.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
The Good Times
It seems like most of my posts have been about the more negative side of things. While there certainly are downsides and trials associated with a new job and life, they haven't dominated my life like it might seem. Quite the opposite: I actually really enjoy what I'm doing. It doesn't make for very interesting writing, however, talking about configuring documents for online taxes, or that I just passed 5,000 hours of sleep wearing my CPAP. Confidentiality agreements also prevent me from elaborating on some of the fun, and I'd prefer to keep my job over blabbing stuff I shouldn't to the blagosphere. That kind of limits my options, and since tragedy usually makes for good writing, the temptation to stray towards that area and stay there can be all too easy.
What I do is challenging work, to be sure, but I enjoy doing it. I can sit at my desk and do my work for hours without feeling the need to visit ESPN or Fail Blog, and even though I'd prefer to go home at 5:00, I don't mind staying for an extra half hour or more to get the task I'm working on completed. All things told, I couldn't ask for much more from a job, especially coming out of college in a down economy. I get to work on puzzles for 8+ hours a day with a lot of other young, like-minded individuals, experience new places, and finally apply what I've been spending over 20 years learning. And it's about damn time. The last year of college, while fun, was extremely frustrating because I really wanted to get out and do something, instead of sit in a classroom, act like a sponge, and waste money on cheap food and drink specials. That's probably been the most rewarding part for me so far: realizing my independence. While I had tons of help getting to where I am today, what I do from here on out is pretty much a product of me and my work. And my work is pretty awesome. What I'm doing is actually of benefit to society, and useful for (literally) millions of other people. Instead of being a leech on others in the hope I'll turn out well, I'm finally giving back, making something of myself, and standing on my own. It might not be as noble as working to end human trafficking, but putting something of use out there for others is a great feeling.
Again, adjusting to a new life has been hard, but not first-couple-years-of-Shawshank-for-Andy hard. Most of my frustrations stem from the fact that for most of my life, I've been one of the brighter people in all my groups, classes, and endeavors. There haven't been many challenges I haven't been able to overcome, even if it did take decades (who's laughing now, loop-swoop-and-pull?!) Now, I'm working with all the other people who are just like me, learning an entirely new, complex body of knowledge that will take me longer to master than anything else I've ever learned. There will be a little frustration when I'm still taking baby steps to catch up with people who are light years ahead. Overall, though, I'd much rather be here than working as a code monkey of some kind. Even if it doesn't seem that way, I'm happy with where I am. Don't let the growing pains fool you.
What I do is challenging work, to be sure, but I enjoy doing it. I can sit at my desk and do my work for hours without feeling the need to visit ESPN or Fail Blog, and even though I'd prefer to go home at 5:00, I don't mind staying for an extra half hour or more to get the task I'm working on completed. All things told, I couldn't ask for much more from a job, especially coming out of college in a down economy. I get to work on puzzles for 8+ hours a day with a lot of other young, like-minded individuals, experience new places, and finally apply what I've been spending over 20 years learning. And it's about damn time. The last year of college, while fun, was extremely frustrating because I really wanted to get out and do something, instead of sit in a classroom, act like a sponge, and waste money on cheap food and drink specials. That's probably been the most rewarding part for me so far: realizing my independence. While I had tons of help getting to where I am today, what I do from here on out is pretty much a product of me and my work. And my work is pretty awesome. What I'm doing is actually of benefit to society, and useful for (literally) millions of other people. Instead of being a leech on others in the hope I'll turn out well, I'm finally giving back, making something of myself, and standing on my own. It might not be as noble as working to end human trafficking, but putting something of use out there for others is a great feeling.
Again, adjusting to a new life has been hard, but not first-couple-years-of-Shawshank-for-Andy hard. Most of my frustrations stem from the fact that for most of my life, I've been one of the brighter people in all my groups, classes, and endeavors. There haven't been many challenges I haven't been able to overcome, even if it did take decades (who's laughing now, loop-swoop-and-pull?!) Now, I'm working with all the other people who are just like me, learning an entirely new, complex body of knowledge that will take me longer to master than anything else I've ever learned. There will be a little frustration when I'm still taking baby steps to catch up with people who are light years ahead. Overall, though, I'd much rather be here than working as a code monkey of some kind. Even if it doesn't seem that way, I'm happy with where I am. Don't let the growing pains fool you.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Coffee
Growing up, I can probably count on two hands the number of times I actually drank coffee. 100% of these cases involved me being on a long road trip to/from Seattle, Missoula, and/or Colorado. It was basically my "in case of emergency, break glass" drink when I needed a kick in the ass so I'd stop dozing off at the wheel. I hated the idea of breaking down and getting coffee to stay awake, but when I did, it was always necessary. Why did I hate it? I'm not really sure. I think it goes back to when I was a kid and found out caffeine stunted your growth. Even though I never drank it to begin with, I wanted to be bigger and taller than everyone else, and didn't want anything handicapping my vertical ascension. Well, mission accomplished. With a few exceptions, all of you can suck it.
Even after my growth stopped, I never took up drinking coffee even when I probably should have. Like 8 a.m. classes, for example, or any activity before noon. But it's hard to do something you've been actively loathing for close to two decades at the drop of a hat. There needs to be some kind of catalyst to kick-start that habit. Which is where the working world comes into play. I wake up around 6:30 - 6:45 a.m. five days out of the week now, no exceptions. And when I do arrive at work, they expect me to actually be productive and not drool on myself as I fall in and out of sleep. With my well documented sleep issues, this drooling tends to happen every day of the year except those four days (at most) where I actually wake up feeling rested and refreshed. Especially since I'm new, I really need to be alert and learn what's happening around me if I want to keep this pretty swell gig.
So, enter coffee. For a few weeks in the beginning, I was able to hold out. My mental fortitude was strong, and the occasional energy drink or 5 - 10 minute break/walk would usually do the trick. But as I found myself more sluggish and sluggish, I really needed a quick pick-me-up. And the coffee pot is in the space right next to mine, sitting all warm and ready to be consumed, with plenty of creamer and a large vat of sugar right next to it. I really had no choice but to break down by the time I got back from training. Now, instead of hating the substance, I can tolerate it, with enough sugar to push me that much closer to diabetes. On the bright side, it makes me more active and alert with my work, and time seems to go faster than if I'm jabbing myself with pointy objects to stay awake. It's pretty much a win-win for everyone. On the other hand, it kind of feels like succumbing to some evil, ominous force. Coffee has been the nectar of worker bees for centuries now, functioning as a token of one's status as a contributing member of society. While everyone else I knew started drinking it by the gallon, I abstained; it was a part of who I was. I could always become the exotic tea guy, but it's just not the same. I have been assimilated, drugged and wandering further and further into the hive of productivity.
Even after my growth stopped, I never took up drinking coffee even when I probably should have. Like 8 a.m. classes, for example, or any activity before noon. But it's hard to do something you've been actively loathing for close to two decades at the drop of a hat. There needs to be some kind of catalyst to kick-start that habit. Which is where the working world comes into play. I wake up around 6:30 - 6:45 a.m. five days out of the week now, no exceptions. And when I do arrive at work, they expect me to actually be productive and not drool on myself as I fall in and out of sleep. With my well documented sleep issues, this drooling tends to happen every day of the year except those four days (at most) where I actually wake up feeling rested and refreshed. Especially since I'm new, I really need to be alert and learn what's happening around me if I want to keep this pretty swell gig.
So, enter coffee. For a few weeks in the beginning, I was able to hold out. My mental fortitude was strong, and the occasional energy drink or 5 - 10 minute break/walk would usually do the trick. But as I found myself more sluggish and sluggish, I really needed a quick pick-me-up. And the coffee pot is in the space right next to mine, sitting all warm and ready to be consumed, with plenty of creamer and a large vat of sugar right next to it. I really had no choice but to break down by the time I got back from training. Now, instead of hating the substance, I can tolerate it, with enough sugar to push me that much closer to diabetes. On the bright side, it makes me more active and alert with my work, and time seems to go faster than if I'm jabbing myself with pointy objects to stay awake. It's pretty much a win-win for everyone. On the other hand, it kind of feels like succumbing to some evil, ominous force. Coffee has been the nectar of worker bees for centuries now, functioning as a token of one's status as a contributing member of society. While everyone else I knew started drinking it by the gallon, I abstained; it was a part of who I was. I could always become the exotic tea guy, but it's just not the same. I have been assimilated, drugged and wandering further and further into the hive of productivity.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Mark vs. The Exercise Routine
As some of my earlier posts have mentioned, Montgomery isn't exactly the healthiest place in America. There's fast/fried food everywhere; oppressive heat means most waking hours are spent avoiding the outdoors; and there aren't a whole lot of outdoorsy areas that don't have a high probability of gator sightings, or are just bad areas to avoid altogether. This, combined with my new 40+ hour work week in which I mostly stare at a computer monitor, has not made for the healthiest of living environments. So when it dawned on me a couple weeks ago that I should probably start working out again, the first thought that popped into my head was "Great! Umm... how am I gonna do that?" The answer is easy enough: use the fitness facility I get for free in my apartment complex. The part that's become really hard to answer, though, is when.
I thought it would be easy enough to hit the gym after I get off work. Convenient gap time between then and dinner, I'll have the urge to blow off some steam and get active, etc. Instead, I find myself wiped at the end of each day, wanting to lay down on my couch play some StarCraft or go on Facebook. It's also really inconvenient if I need to work any overtime, run errands, or catch dinner or drinks with co-workers. While working out is great, it shouldn't dictate the more important things in life. This left me with one option: work out early in the morning before work. Which is great, except for the teensy snafus that keep me up at night and make my quality of sleep piss poor to the point I don't want to think of getting out of bed before noon.
The ideal scenario here would be lap swimming. It's low impact, gives a total body workout, and most places even come with a relaxing sauna. If I could get up, eat breakfast, swing by the pool and swim some laps before heading to work, that would be a great schedule. I could do that. Unfortunately, the only place I've found so far is the YMCA, which costs $40/month plus a $50 sign up fee that I really don't want to pay. Alternatively, I could try and swim around the small Lima bean-shaped pool outside the gym here and risk not cracking my head open, but the chances of that happening are roughly 0%.
So far, I've devised a plan that may or may not work: wake up a half hour early and do some push ups, crunches, and stretches until I get into the morning workout mindset, then hit the weights bright and early. I'm really not a fan of this plan, and don't know how long it will last. Maybe not even through the end of the month (or the week). But I need to get active. Unlike college I don't have a lot of leeway to blow off hitting the gym for a few hours; my days are a lot more structured and (somehow) exhausting. If I don't build good habits now, they aren't going to magically appear later when I really need them and putting in the effort to get fit is even harder. I just really wish I didn't have to wake up so early...
(This is yet another reason why I really want my cyborg body right now dammit!)
I thought it would be easy enough to hit the gym after I get off work. Convenient gap time between then and dinner, I'll have the urge to blow off some steam and get active, etc. Instead, I find myself wiped at the end of each day, wanting to lay down on my couch play some StarCraft or go on Facebook. It's also really inconvenient if I need to work any overtime, run errands, or catch dinner or drinks with co-workers. While working out is great, it shouldn't dictate the more important things in life. This left me with one option: work out early in the morning before work. Which is great, except for the teensy snafus that keep me up at night and make my quality of sleep piss poor to the point I don't want to think of getting out of bed before noon.
The ideal scenario here would be lap swimming. It's low impact, gives a total body workout, and most places even come with a relaxing sauna. If I could get up, eat breakfast, swing by the pool and swim some laps before heading to work, that would be a great schedule. I could do that. Unfortunately, the only place I've found so far is the YMCA, which costs $40/month plus a $50 sign up fee that I really don't want to pay. Alternatively, I could try and swim around the small Lima bean-shaped pool outside the gym here and risk not cracking my head open, but the chances of that happening are roughly 0%.
So far, I've devised a plan that may or may not work: wake up a half hour early and do some push ups, crunches, and stretches until I get into the morning workout mindset, then hit the weights bright and early. I'm really not a fan of this plan, and don't know how long it will last. Maybe not even through the end of the month (or the week). But I need to get active. Unlike college I don't have a lot of leeway to blow off hitting the gym for a few hours; my days are a lot more structured and (somehow) exhausting. If I don't build good habits now, they aren't going to magically appear later when I really need them and putting in the effort to get fit is even harder. I just really wish I didn't have to wake up so early...
(This is yet another reason why I really want my cyborg body right now dammit!)
Friday, August 20, 2010
Leeroy Jenkins
Sorry for the long break, but it's been hard to find a decent amount of free time to write anything. Between training, hanging out with family, and a work deadline coming up, it's been hard to find a dedicated time to sit down and write.
In any event, I got back to Montgomery last Sunday after doing my company training for a week. It was, shall we say, an interesting experience. It didn't dawn on me until the first morning that I would be in class for 40 hours over one week. That's five hours less than a semester, in a fraction of the time. I don't know how I never thought of this sooner, but right about the time that sank in, the trainers started working me and the other four like a speed bag for five days straight. One concept, one topic after another, and on to the next. Normally I'd have time to process and take in what's being thrown in my direction. Not anymore. It wasn't all bad, though. I did learn a lot of useful information that's helped me understand more about the job, the systems I'm working with, and how it all fits together. I think it is good that I was on the job for a couple weeks before being sent off because that exposure makes the learning a little easier. It isn't all from scratch, and you can relate to prior experience so you aren't completely lost. It's a complicated system, and I can see now more than ever why the company treats its employees so well. These systems go for millions of dollars, with only a select few who know how to configure and maintain it. The effect of a person well versed with it walking away is crippling. They're counting one me to be one of those experts, have confidence I will be, and will make it worth my while to stick around. So yeah, no wonder they turn up the heat.
On the bright side, the rest of the trainees were in the same boat as me, just as lost and wide eyed in the headlights. Shared misery, as always, made for an excellent bonding mechanism so we made sure to enjoy the greater Denver area in our off hours. Thanks to my cousin's wife I had a car during the entire stay, making it possible to do things like go to Dave and Buster's to relax, or Hacienda Colorado for dinner instead of Subway. Friday night was capped off by a Rockies game, where I managed to watch a professional baseball victory in person for the first time in literally four years. I know I've been in Montana for most of that time, but as a Mariners fan, I died a little inside after realizing that. For most of my formative years we were competitive, or at least had good hitting to make games interesting. Watching players hit back-to-back doubles with two outs is something I haven't seen in ages, as is having some confidence three runs for the opposing team doesn't automatically mean game over. It felt good to be a fan of a winning baseball team again, if only for a short while.
So after all that fun and excitement, as well as good times with the Balceraks in Colorado playing a variety of card games, I came back to work this Monday fresh and eager to apply what I'd learned. At least that was the plan, until I got the wind taken out of my sails when I was told a lot of what I had done the previous week was wrong or incomplete. When the words "I've screwed up worse before, but..." are uttered, you know you did a decent job of botching something. After my head was put through the ringer a stomach punch was the last thing I needed. My team members were nice and reassuring, and gave me the benefit of the doubt that I don't know everything and left stuff incomplete before training, but it wasn't the best news I could have heard. Especially since it was followed by me stepping through error messages I could barely decipher, let alone patch, for the next several days.
But that's part of any new job. As my older brother told me, when you start a new job, you're going to fuck up. It's inevitable, so don't beat yourself up over it. Accept the fact it happened, brush yourself off, and make sure you learned something from it. For me, I now know what the gaps in my knowledge are, and filling those will help me get better quicker, especially with regards to terminology. I've even seen some modest improvements this week; by the end of today, I was patching more problems on my own the first try. I was able to see that something was obviously wrong, and knew how to solve it off the top of my head. Granted, they weren't huge, complex problems, but it's baby steps. I've got to walk before I can crawl. So in the mean time, I just need to keep my head down and learn as much as I can, but still find productive ways to blow off steam outside of work. I'll go from coal to diamond one day. But not yet.
In any event, I got back to Montgomery last Sunday after doing my company training for a week. It was, shall we say, an interesting experience. It didn't dawn on me until the first morning that I would be in class for 40 hours over one week. That's five hours less than a semester, in a fraction of the time. I don't know how I never thought of this sooner, but right about the time that sank in, the trainers started working me and the other four like a speed bag for five days straight. One concept, one topic after another, and on to the next. Normally I'd have time to process and take in what's being thrown in my direction. Not anymore. It wasn't all bad, though. I did learn a lot of useful information that's helped me understand more about the job, the systems I'm working with, and how it all fits together. I think it is good that I was on the job for a couple weeks before being sent off because that exposure makes the learning a little easier. It isn't all from scratch, and you can relate to prior experience so you aren't completely lost. It's a complicated system, and I can see now more than ever why the company treats its employees so well. These systems go for millions of dollars, with only a select few who know how to configure and maintain it. The effect of a person well versed with it walking away is crippling. They're counting one me to be one of those experts, have confidence I will be, and will make it worth my while to stick around. So yeah, no wonder they turn up the heat.
On the bright side, the rest of the trainees were in the same boat as me, just as lost and wide eyed in the headlights. Shared misery, as always, made for an excellent bonding mechanism so we made sure to enjoy the greater Denver area in our off hours. Thanks to my cousin's wife I had a car during the entire stay, making it possible to do things like go to Dave and Buster's to relax, or Hacienda Colorado for dinner instead of Subway. Friday night was capped off by a Rockies game, where I managed to watch a professional baseball victory in person for the first time in literally four years. I know I've been in Montana for most of that time, but as a Mariners fan, I died a little inside after realizing that. For most of my formative years we were competitive, or at least had good hitting to make games interesting. Watching players hit back-to-back doubles with two outs is something I haven't seen in ages, as is having some confidence three runs for the opposing team doesn't automatically mean game over. It felt good to be a fan of a winning baseball team again, if only for a short while.
So after all that fun and excitement, as well as good times with the Balceraks in Colorado playing a variety of card games, I came back to work this Monday fresh and eager to apply what I'd learned. At least that was the plan, until I got the wind taken out of my sails when I was told a lot of what I had done the previous week was wrong or incomplete. When the words "I've screwed up worse before, but..." are uttered, you know you did a decent job of botching something. After my head was put through the ringer a stomach punch was the last thing I needed. My team members were nice and reassuring, and gave me the benefit of the doubt that I don't know everything and left stuff incomplete before training, but it wasn't the best news I could have heard. Especially since it was followed by me stepping through error messages I could barely decipher, let alone patch, for the next several days.
But that's part of any new job. As my older brother told me, when you start a new job, you're going to fuck up. It's inevitable, so don't beat yourself up over it. Accept the fact it happened, brush yourself off, and make sure you learned something from it. For me, I now know what the gaps in my knowledge are, and filling those will help me get better quicker, especially with regards to terminology. I've even seen some modest improvements this week; by the end of today, I was patching more problems on my own the first try. I was able to see that something was obviously wrong, and knew how to solve it off the top of my head. Granted, they weren't huge, complex problems, but it's baby steps. I've got to walk before I can crawl. So in the mean time, I just need to keep my head down and learn as much as I can, but still find productive ways to blow off steam outside of work. I'll go from coal to diamond one day. But not yet.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
The Airport
When I first met people in my office and told them how I got into Montgomery without any incident, they were surprised. Every one of them. Each person has their horror story about flying in or out of Montgomery Regional Airport and the random delays, cancellations, or other oddities that plagued their journey. Well, now I have mine. Despite it being a beautiful day, my flight to Denver is delayed by three hours because the plane has not arrived yet. Which is the same reason why my flight to Montgomery was delayed by a half hour back in July. This was also a common theme among my co-workers and their delays. I don't know if Delta (the major airline that uses the airport) is making moonshine runs with these things, or if the pilots down here get hammered and need some extra time to sober up, but the regularity of these delays is alarming.
Originally my itinerary had me going from Montgomery to Memphis to Denver, arriving in CO around 4:00 pm. When I got to the airport, though, my flight from here to Memphis was delayed to where I would land five minutes before my other plane took off. I called Delta and managed to get my itinerary tweaked so I'd go from here to Atlanta to Denver and arrive around 7:00 pm. They were really nice and quick about it, too, which I thought was nice. As soon as I get that boarding pass and get through security, however, I hear that my other plane just arrived and they should be getting into Memphis at least a half hour before my other plane was to take off.
Needless to say, that did not make me happy. While a half hour is cutting it close, I've done it before. It pisses me off, too, because I was able to get emergency exit seats for both flights. Now, I'm in a window seat to Atlanta, and still need to pick up a boarding pass there, so I don't know where I'm ending up. Probably the very back of the plane in the middle seat, right next to a colic baby. So help me god if that's the case.
The reason I'm going to Denver in the first place is for my week of training with the company. They like to give some people experience on the job before sending them to training, so they have exposure to the terms and concepts of what's going on before they learn about them. Apparently it's more helpful that way. One of the guys in my office knows someone who's doing the training so he made sure to pass along some "good words" about me. On the bright side, the other two guys who got hired from Montana will be there too, and I'm arriving early and leaving late so I can hang out with family in the area. So overall, the training will probably kick my ass, but everything else should be a blast. Seems to be a common theme these days...
Originally my itinerary had me going from Montgomery to Memphis to Denver, arriving in CO around 4:00 pm. When I got to the airport, though, my flight from here to Memphis was delayed to where I would land five minutes before my other plane took off. I called Delta and managed to get my itinerary tweaked so I'd go from here to Atlanta to Denver and arrive around 7:00 pm. They were really nice and quick about it, too, which I thought was nice. As soon as I get that boarding pass and get through security, however, I hear that my other plane just arrived and they should be getting into Memphis at least a half hour before my other plane was to take off.
Needless to say, that did not make me happy. While a half hour is cutting it close, I've done it before. It pisses me off, too, because I was able to get emergency exit seats for both flights. Now, I'm in a window seat to Atlanta, and still need to pick up a boarding pass there, so I don't know where I'm ending up. Probably the very back of the plane in the middle seat, right next to a colic baby. So help me god if that's the case.
The reason I'm going to Denver in the first place is for my week of training with the company. They like to give some people experience on the job before sending them to training, so they have exposure to the terms and concepts of what's going on before they learn about them. Apparently it's more helpful that way. One of the guys in my office knows someone who's doing the training so he made sure to pass along some "good words" about me. On the bright side, the other two guys who got hired from Montana will be there too, and I'm arriving early and leaving late so I can hang out with family in the area. So overall, the training will probably kick my ass, but everything else should be a blast. Seems to be a common theme these days...
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Traffic Cops / The Long Week Ahead
My posts have been non-existent over the past week due to the just-released StarCraft II dominating my off-work hours. It's been a good 10 years in the making, and a good Zerg rush is just awesome and fun to fight off. I can't help myself.
Anyways, traffic cops in the Montgomery area are a lot like fried chicken franchises: they're everywhere. I can count on two mittens the times I've been on the freeway and haven't seen one. There's at least one or two each morning hiding behind a barrier, or sitting on the side of the road having already pulled someone over. This isn't a revelation that came after a couple weeks. On the way to my apartment when I first flew in (a 25 - 30 minute drive), there were a total of nine cop cars that had pulled over five people. I don't know if they knew I was coming and decided to put on a show of force, but it felt like it.
Despite this, there are still plenty of people who go about 90 mph at any given time. It might be because of these people there are so many cops, but they aren't having much of an effect. It works out fine for me, though; I just let those guys speed on ahead and be my lead blockers. The freeway to Montgomery is a straight line until you hit the city, so I can see why people haul ass. It's weird because back in Seattle I'd always think there were cops hiding in certain places waiting to tag me, and 95% of the time I'd be wrong. Here it's the complete opposite. If you think a cop is hiding there, he probably is, or will be the next time you drive by.
Coming up this week I have an assignment that was given to me last Friday, due this Friday, with the disclaimer that I shouldn't be afraid to abuse the company's overtime policy. So it sounds like I'll have some early mornings and late nights in my future. I hear my boss can overreact at times, but considering I'm still getting the hang of things, I will probably log a significant amount of hours at the office. Technically my assignment is due Monday, but I'm flying to Colorado this Saturday for training and to see some family in the area. This is in addition to an already large pile of work due by the end of the month, which could get larger because one of the guys in my team is relocating to Alaska in a week. I knew I wouldn't get a soft landing with this job, so I can't complain too much, but it does remind me that shit's real now. This will start happening more and more, so I better get used to it. And hopefully find a good way to start working out, or at least get exercise, lest I become pudgy.
Anyways, traffic cops in the Montgomery area are a lot like fried chicken franchises: they're everywhere. I can count on two mittens the times I've been on the freeway and haven't seen one. There's at least one or two each morning hiding behind a barrier, or sitting on the side of the road having already pulled someone over. This isn't a revelation that came after a couple weeks. On the way to my apartment when I first flew in (a 25 - 30 minute drive), there were a total of nine cop cars that had pulled over five people. I don't know if they knew I was coming and decided to put on a show of force, but it felt like it.
Despite this, there are still plenty of people who go about 90 mph at any given time. It might be because of these people there are so many cops, but they aren't having much of an effect. It works out fine for me, though; I just let those guys speed on ahead and be my lead blockers. The freeway to Montgomery is a straight line until you hit the city, so I can see why people haul ass. It's weird because back in Seattle I'd always think there were cops hiding in certain places waiting to tag me, and 95% of the time I'd be wrong. Here it's the complete opposite. If you think a cop is hiding there, he probably is, or will be the next time you drive by.
Coming up this week I have an assignment that was given to me last Friday, due this Friday, with the disclaimer that I shouldn't be afraid to abuse the company's overtime policy. So it sounds like I'll have some early mornings and late nights in my future. I hear my boss can overreact at times, but considering I'm still getting the hang of things, I will probably log a significant amount of hours at the office. Technically my assignment is due Monday, but I'm flying to Colorado this Saturday for training and to see some family in the area. This is in addition to an already large pile of work due by the end of the month, which could get larger because one of the guys in my team is relocating to Alaska in a week. I knew I wouldn't get a soft landing with this job, so I can't complain too much, but it does remind me that shit's real now. This will start happening more and more, so I better get used to it. And hopefully find a good way to start working out, or at least get exercise, lest I become pudgy.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Pressure and Time
I almost wanted to post this after my first three days on the job, there's been so much to talk about. This first week on the job have pretty much been all over the map: exciting, stressful, enjoyable, frustrating, rewarding... Overall, though, it's been great. I can see why people love the job and are extremely inclined to stick around. I'm also pretty sure I'll end up being one of those people.
It's been a weird mix of trying to learn a lot of material, and being thrown to the wolves. Days 1 and 4, they were filling me up with as much material about the job as is humanly possible. There were times I thought I'd end up like Cloud from Final Fantasy 7, unable to move and drooling all over myself from the information overload. There are about a dozen software programs I have to be familiar with, and half of those are seemingly vast and infinite in their intricacies and and complexities. As soon as I was given a brief overview about one, I'd quickly move on to another. One of the concepts I'm learning is even more difficult than trying to figure out the situation in Afghanistan. And there's still more I have to learn, some of which will become obsolete quickly as we work to upgrade our software system. If anything is going to push me towards rampant alcohol use, this sheer amount of information is it.
The other days, after going through the assault on my cognitive processes, I was left to my own devices to work on service requests for our client. It's the equivalent of giving a Cub Scout a crash course in survival, then leaving him in the Amazon with a broken leg and a knife. I'd read a request, for example, and see that our system's configuration had to be changed, or I'd have to write some SQL to make something work. Except I'm not too familiar with the system, and my knowledge of SQL up to this point has been limited to some Select and Join statements. I'd spend the rest of the day trying to implement a solution, only to figure out I'd been doing it wrong the entire time. I ended the day on that note Tuesday, frustrated and demoralized, wondering if I made the right choice or if I was cut out for the job. I like to consider myself a relatively bright guy, but I felt like an utter moron for the first time in ages.
That all changed Wednesday. I went back in and worked on another problem before returning to the rat bastard that bitch slapped me the day before. It took several hours, but by the end of the day I finally figured out what needed to happen. And I was able to do it. Google provided an assist, but left to my own devices I devised a solution even my team lead said was good and probably better than he would have came up with. The satisfaction of a job well done was exhilarating. I walked out more determined than ever to kick ass and take names, and knew then and there I had made the best career choice possible. It'll be really hard, but I've seen now I can do it. I can do well at this job.
A co-worker brought up a great point in a separate conversation. The company I'm working for specifically hires bright, Type A individuals because the work is difficult. They know it isn't easy, so they hire people who are self-motivated and determined to do the best work possible, and they compensate/treat them accordingly. It isn't for everyone. I've been told of people who burn out because they find it too stressful or just can't handle the load. That isn't a knock against them; more than anything, they're examples of why it's important to find ways to relax, pick up a hobby, or do something that takes your mind off work. It's why the company pushes people to use their vacation days, and forces them to take time off if they bank a lot of work hours.
Most importantly, though, is they don't expect me to become proficient in all this stuff within a month. My coworkers keep telling me not to worry if I don't understand everything because it takes time. I've heard from them it takes anywhere between 6 months to a year and a half to become comfortable and feel like you know what's going on. Even then, it might take more time. I've heard on a daily basis people say "Huh, I didn't know you could do that," or "I have no idea how that works" - and some of them have been around for five years. One of the service requests I was working on required five people to solve because no one knew how to do it on their own. Everyone keeps encouraging me to ask questions and not to be afraid to ask for help, because it will help me understand everything sooner. They've all been where I am, and are always willing to lend me a hand when I need it.
I wouldn't have things any other way. I didn't want to get into a job where I would perform rote, mundane tasks on a daily basis. I wanted to be challenged, to use my brain on a daily basis so I wouldn't be bored for 40+ hours a week. That's the way I'm wired, and it won't change any time soon. I just need to take things one step at a time, and use my brain to figure problems out for myself. If I need help, it's not because I'm incompetent, I just need to learn. It isn't embarrassing or weak of me to ask questions; I should be asking them. I will get to where I need to be. In the mean time, I just need to relax and have faith in my abilities. If I can do that, I know I'll be successful.
It's been a weird mix of trying to learn a lot of material, and being thrown to the wolves. Days 1 and 4, they were filling me up with as much material about the job as is humanly possible. There were times I thought I'd end up like Cloud from Final Fantasy 7, unable to move and drooling all over myself from the information overload. There are about a dozen software programs I have to be familiar with, and half of those are seemingly vast and infinite in their intricacies and and complexities. As soon as I was given a brief overview about one, I'd quickly move on to another. One of the concepts I'm learning is even more difficult than trying to figure out the situation in Afghanistan. And there's still more I have to learn, some of which will become obsolete quickly as we work to upgrade our software system. If anything is going to push me towards rampant alcohol use, this sheer amount of information is it.
The other days, after going through the assault on my cognitive processes, I was left to my own devices to work on service requests for our client. It's the equivalent of giving a Cub Scout a crash course in survival, then leaving him in the Amazon with a broken leg and a knife. I'd read a request, for example, and see that our system's configuration had to be changed, or I'd have to write some SQL to make something work. Except I'm not too familiar with the system, and my knowledge of SQL up to this point has been limited to some Select and Join statements. I'd spend the rest of the day trying to implement a solution, only to figure out I'd been doing it wrong the entire time. I ended the day on that note Tuesday, frustrated and demoralized, wondering if I made the right choice or if I was cut out for the job. I like to consider myself a relatively bright guy, but I felt like an utter moron for the first time in ages.
That all changed Wednesday. I went back in and worked on another problem before returning to the rat bastard that bitch slapped me the day before. It took several hours, but by the end of the day I finally figured out what needed to happen. And I was able to do it. Google provided an assist, but left to my own devices I devised a solution even my team lead said was good and probably better than he would have came up with. The satisfaction of a job well done was exhilarating. I walked out more determined than ever to kick ass and take names, and knew then and there I had made the best career choice possible. It'll be really hard, but I've seen now I can do it. I can do well at this job.
A co-worker brought up a great point in a separate conversation. The company I'm working for specifically hires bright, Type A individuals because the work is difficult. They know it isn't easy, so they hire people who are self-motivated and determined to do the best work possible, and they compensate/treat them accordingly. It isn't for everyone. I've been told of people who burn out because they find it too stressful or just can't handle the load. That isn't a knock against them; more than anything, they're examples of why it's important to find ways to relax, pick up a hobby, or do something that takes your mind off work. It's why the company pushes people to use their vacation days, and forces them to take time off if they bank a lot of work hours.
Most importantly, though, is they don't expect me to become proficient in all this stuff within a month. My coworkers keep telling me not to worry if I don't understand everything because it takes time. I've heard from them it takes anywhere between 6 months to a year and a half to become comfortable and feel like you know what's going on. Even then, it might take more time. I've heard on a daily basis people say "Huh, I didn't know you could do that," or "I have no idea how that works" - and some of them have been around for five years. One of the service requests I was working on required five people to solve because no one knew how to do it on their own. Everyone keeps encouraging me to ask questions and not to be afraid to ask for help, because it will help me understand everything sooner. They've all been where I am, and are always willing to lend me a hand when I need it.
I wouldn't have things any other way. I didn't want to get into a job where I would perform rote, mundane tasks on a daily basis. I wanted to be challenged, to use my brain on a daily basis so I wouldn't be bored for 40+ hours a week. That's the way I'm wired, and it won't change any time soon. I just need to take things one step at a time, and use my brain to figure problems out for myself. If I need help, it's not because I'm incompetent, I just need to learn. It isn't embarrassing or weak of me to ask questions; I should be asking them. I will get to where I need to be. In the mean time, I just need to relax and have faith in my abilities. If I can do that, I know I'll be successful.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Food
-dary!
Now that I've had a little time to settle in, I've begun to venture around the Montgomery area in search of places to eat. Normally I'd cook (I love cooking), but the temporary housing I'm in has extremely little as far as cooking ware goes. I have a small pot, a sauce pan, a smaller sauce pan, and a regular pan. I also have a cutting knife, measuring cups, a spoon, a spatula, a cheese grater, and that's about it. The place did not come equipped with mixing bowls, a cutting board, casserole dishes, baking sheets, or a variety of other tools I like to employ. If I just pan cooked steaks or chicken it wouldn't be so bad, but I enjoy my toys. I like eating nice food; it's tasty, I can experiment with a wide array of cuisine, it comes out cheaper in the end, and I usually end up with plenty of leftovers. I found out today from a coworker that these places are normally better stocked, so I might have to kick down some doors this weekend, when I'll actually have time to do so. Either that or break down and make a trip to Target, right after I leave a flaming bag of poo in front of the leasing office.
With my preferred method of dining rendered incapacitated, I've been forced to eat out a lot. And so far, I have to say, it's pretty good, both in taste and value. The day I flew in I ordered a pizza from a place not too far from my apartment, and for $10 I got a large five topping pizza and marinara dipping sauce. There's a regional southwest food chain, Moe's, that makes a good burrito plus free chips and salsa for around $7. (Still doesn't beat Chipotle, though.) I've also had wickles: pickles that have been peppered and deep fried (more on that later), and found/was taken to a really sweet Mexican restaurant where I got two enchiladas, a tamale, and rice for $6.88. As an added bonus, there several Sonics within a couple miles of my place, which, as far as fast food goes, is pretty f'n fantastic. (Side note: I apologize for those of you who clicked on both those links. Apparently no one let either company know poorly designed Flash-based sites died years ago.)
On the flip side, if you want to eat healthy, you're pretty much shit out of luck. Tonight, for example, I went out looking for something light, like a salad or sandwich, to mix it up from the aforementioned burritos, pizza, and Sonic. Instead, I came back with a meatball "sub," which looked a lot like a medium deep dish pizza folded in half and sprinkled with parmesan cheese. The healthiest restaurant I've been able to find so far has been a Red Lobster, and I'm pretty sure that doesn't count. If I didn't know any better, I'd guess that the only four food groups were pizza, fast food, assorted fried food, and fried chicken. There are at least five different fried chicken franchises within a three mile radius of my place, possibly more since I haven't ventured very far north. On every menu I've seen you can get some fried chicken item, and it's gotten to the point where my chest and left arm start tingling when I drive by a Popeye's or Church's. The portions, as mentioned, are also pretty big, so even if you are trying to lose calories by eating less bad food, it won't work. It's really easy to see why the South has the highest rate of obesity in the nation. Unless you have the money to dine at more upscale $16 - $20 restaurants on a daily basis it's really easy to give into the temptation to get a bucket of fried chicken and call it good, especially if you have a family and/or are working. Eating healthy is definitely a choice, don't get me wrong, but being in this kind of environment is like trying to live an ascetic life working for Sterling Cooper.
It's because of the unhealthiness that I've decided to start working out again. I might die out here if my eating habits stay the way they are and I don't do something to balance the load. It's also one of the other reasons why I want to start cooking again. I know I'm young and my metabolism is still pretty good, but I can see myself gaining a decent amount of weight if I'm not careful. And I really don't want to see Fat Mark back in action. Finding time to do so, in addition to working 8+ hour days and being busy cooking, is going to be really difficult, but I need to get more active before I fall prey to sloth and gluttony.
Now that I've had a little time to settle in, I've begun to venture around the Montgomery area in search of places to eat. Normally I'd cook (I love cooking), but the temporary housing I'm in has extremely little as far as cooking ware goes. I have a small pot, a sauce pan, a smaller sauce pan, and a regular pan. I also have a cutting knife, measuring cups, a spoon, a spatula, a cheese grater, and that's about it. The place did not come equipped with mixing bowls, a cutting board, casserole dishes, baking sheets, or a variety of other tools I like to employ. If I just pan cooked steaks or chicken it wouldn't be so bad, but I enjoy my toys. I like eating nice food; it's tasty, I can experiment with a wide array of cuisine, it comes out cheaper in the end, and I usually end up with plenty of leftovers. I found out today from a coworker that these places are normally better stocked, so I might have to kick down some doors this weekend, when I'll actually have time to do so. Either that or break down and make a trip to Target, right after I leave a flaming bag of poo in front of the leasing office.
With my preferred method of dining rendered incapacitated, I've been forced to eat out a lot. And so far, I have to say, it's pretty good, both in taste and value. The day I flew in I ordered a pizza from a place not too far from my apartment, and for $10 I got a large five topping pizza and marinara dipping sauce. There's a regional southwest food chain, Moe's, that makes a good burrito plus free chips and salsa for around $7. (Still doesn't beat Chipotle, though.) I've also had wickles: pickles that have been peppered and deep fried (more on that later), and found/was taken to a really sweet Mexican restaurant where I got two enchiladas, a tamale, and rice for $6.88. As an added bonus, there several Sonics within a couple miles of my place, which, as far as fast food goes, is pretty f'n fantastic. (Side note: I apologize for those of you who clicked on both those links. Apparently no one let either company know poorly designed Flash-based sites died years ago.)
On the flip side, if you want to eat healthy, you're pretty much shit out of luck. Tonight, for example, I went out looking for something light, like a salad or sandwich, to mix it up from the aforementioned burritos, pizza, and Sonic. Instead, I came back with a meatball "sub," which looked a lot like a medium deep dish pizza folded in half and sprinkled with parmesan cheese. The healthiest restaurant I've been able to find so far has been a Red Lobster, and I'm pretty sure that doesn't count. If I didn't know any better, I'd guess that the only four food groups were pizza, fast food, assorted fried food, and fried chicken. There are at least five different fried chicken franchises within a three mile radius of my place, possibly more since I haven't ventured very far north. On every menu I've seen you can get some fried chicken item, and it's gotten to the point where my chest and left arm start tingling when I drive by a Popeye's or Church's. The portions, as mentioned, are also pretty big, so even if you are trying to lose calories by eating less bad food, it won't work. It's really easy to see why the South has the highest rate of obesity in the nation. Unless you have the money to dine at more upscale $16 - $20 restaurants on a daily basis it's really easy to give into the temptation to get a bucket of fried chicken and call it good, especially if you have a family and/or are working. Eating healthy is definitely a choice, don't get me wrong, but being in this kind of environment is like trying to live an ascetic life working for Sterling Cooper.
It's because of the unhealthiness that I've decided to start working out again. I might die out here if my eating habits stay the way they are and I don't do something to balance the load. It's also one of the other reasons why I want to start cooking again. I know I'm young and my metabolism is still pretty good, but I can see myself gaining a decent amount of weight if I'm not careful. And I really don't want to see Fat Mark back in action. Finding time to do so, in addition to working 8+ hour days and being busy cooking, is going to be really difficult, but I need to get more active before I fall prey to sloth and gluttony.
Rebirth (Long Post)
After being constantly harassed asked by lots of friends and family to "keep them posted" on how I was doing, and at the suggestion of my brother and his wife, I thought it would be a good idea to start blogging. Again. Not that I don't enjoy writing or human contact (I do), but this way is convenient for everyone involved to see how I'm doing.
(To play catch-up those of you who didn't know, or stumbled across my blog, I recently moved to Montgomery, Alabama for the first big job of my professional career, after graduating from the University of Montana this past May. The company for whom I am working installs software systems for various government agencies in order to to process all the taxes people and businesses file. I work as a consultant to install, implement, troubleshoot, and do whatever else is necessary to make sure this system works and is stable. After getting the job, they decided to send me to Montgomery for about 3 - 4 months before transferring me to (most likely) a new project, also somewhere in the South. After moving there, I'll live there for a couple years before going elsewhere, and the cycle repeats itself.)
Yesterday was a travel day, waking up at 4:15 am to pack my bags for a 7 am flight to Atlanta. Since this is a temporary assignment, the company wasn't paying to move my belongings, so packing was a struggle as many clothes as possible into two bags of luggage without either one of them exceeding 50 lbs (lest Delta Airlines charges me a $90 "overweight" fee). When I got to the airport I found out one was 3 lbs over, but after some crafty rearranging of belongings in my carry-on and CPAP case I was able to make weight. The sucky part came, though, when I realized my ticket had me in the middle of the row for my flight. As I'm 6'5", this was unacceptable. After making my way through security to my gate, I figured I'd talk to the service rep at the desk to see if there was anything he could do to help. I guess he appreciates passengers with a sense of humor, because after asking him if there were some animal sacrifice I could perform to get an emergency exit seat, he was able to get me one after a 20 minute wait.
What came as a shock to me, about moving and starting my career, happened when I got on board the plane. I was seated next to a soft-spoken guy who had an uncanny resemblance to Will Bailey from The West Wing, who worked for Microsoft. We struck up a conversation and he asked me what I did for a living. Then it hit me. "I'm a consultant." Up until now, I'd always been a student, studying whatever, wanting to do "x" as a career path. Now, I'm there. Instead of climbing rung after rung on a ladder, I can go and do whatever I want. The gravity of that personal choice and responsibility was (and still is) shocking in its scope and depth. It's an entirely new experience building my own "empire" by my own devices. As we got to talking about cloud computing and data security, it was funny for me to think of it as a conversation between two professionals. I've never been that before; even though I've worked other jobs before, I was still "student." Not anymore. I've officially reached the end of my beginning, arriving at a point where, more than ever, I'm the master of my own destiny.
A lot of that realizing must have taken it out of me, because about an hour later I started falling in an out of sleep. I probably would have slept the entire flight, but Delta has apparently found a way for a sponge and a slab of concrete to mate and have uncomfortable, bastard children as seat cushions. But the flight did go by faster, so that was nice. The layover in Atlanta was uneventful, as was the flight to Montgomery. When we landed, I started to perk up. This place is going to be home for the next several months, and I wanted to see what it was all about.
I thought our plane taxied to a terminal and I'd be greeted by more air conditioning. Turns out that "terminal" was instead a tarmac, and promptly greeted me with bright light and a bear hug of heat and humidity. At first I thought "hey, this isn't so bad, I can do this!" Ten seconds later: "Okay, now it's getting kind of hot." Thirty seconds later: "My place has air conditioning, right?!" (Fortunately, it does.) It also turns out that my rental car until the Prius arrives is a white Ford Flex. It looks funny, but it handles really well, has a lot of space, stylish interior, plenty of giddy-up, and good gas mileage for its size (24/17).
My apartment is also pretty sweet. After some initial trouble getting onto the property (it required a gate password I didn't have), I arrive to find it's more like a townhouse. I've got a single car garage (which the Flex won't fit in, but the Prius should), decent kitchen, living room, etc. I wish the TV were bigger, but other than that it's pretty nice. Especially the A/C.
(I'll post pictures of a lot of this stuff once I get a camera. Forgot to bring mine on the plane...)
Since moving in, I've done a lot of exploring and running of various errands to get all settled in. I also had dinner with my boss and his family earlier tonight. He's a really cool, down to earth guy, and seems like he'll be fun to work for. He didn't beat around the bush and let me know that the work will start pouring on me soon, but I wouldn't expect anything less. He did a lot to put my mind and ease and make me feel welcome. Going into dinner I was really nervous, but walking out I feel confident that I can do this and kick some ass.
Considering I'm learning so much at once I'll probably break some of my postings up by topic (like "Food") instead of having it all trickle through in several pieces. Those should hopefully happen more often than not, at least once or twice a week. Pictures will also follow as soon as I get a camera, or a family member/good friend decides to mail me one. *hint hint*
Work starts at 9 am. Time to be a productive member of society. This is going to be legen- wait for it...
(To play catch-up those of you who didn't know, or stumbled across my blog, I recently moved to Montgomery, Alabama for the first big job of my professional career, after graduating from the University of Montana this past May. The company for whom I am working installs software systems for various government agencies in order to to process all the taxes people and businesses file. I work as a consultant to install, implement, troubleshoot, and do whatever else is necessary to make sure this system works and is stable. After getting the job, they decided to send me to Montgomery for about 3 - 4 months before transferring me to (most likely) a new project, also somewhere in the South. After moving there, I'll live there for a couple years before going elsewhere, and the cycle repeats itself.)
Yesterday was a travel day, waking up at 4:15 am to pack my bags for a 7 am flight to Atlanta. Since this is a temporary assignment, the company wasn't paying to move my belongings, so packing was a struggle as many clothes as possible into two bags of luggage without either one of them exceeding 50 lbs (lest Delta Airlines charges me a $90 "overweight" fee). When I got to the airport I found out one was 3 lbs over, but after some crafty rearranging of belongings in my carry-on and CPAP case I was able to make weight. The sucky part came, though, when I realized my ticket had me in the middle of the row for my flight. As I'm 6'5", this was unacceptable. After making my way through security to my gate, I figured I'd talk to the service rep at the desk to see if there was anything he could do to help. I guess he appreciates passengers with a sense of humor, because after asking him if there were some animal sacrifice I could perform to get an emergency exit seat, he was able to get me one after a 20 minute wait.
What came as a shock to me, about moving and starting my career, happened when I got on board the plane. I was seated next to a soft-spoken guy who had an uncanny resemblance to Will Bailey from The West Wing, who worked for Microsoft. We struck up a conversation and he asked me what I did for a living. Then it hit me. "I'm a consultant." Up until now, I'd always been a student, studying whatever, wanting to do "x" as a career path. Now, I'm there. Instead of climbing rung after rung on a ladder, I can go and do whatever I want. The gravity of that personal choice and responsibility was (and still is) shocking in its scope and depth. It's an entirely new experience building my own "empire" by my own devices. As we got to talking about cloud computing and data security, it was funny for me to think of it as a conversation between two professionals. I've never been that before; even though I've worked other jobs before, I was still "student." Not anymore. I've officially reached the end of my beginning, arriving at a point where, more than ever, I'm the master of my own destiny.
A lot of that realizing must have taken it out of me, because about an hour later I started falling in an out of sleep. I probably would have slept the entire flight, but Delta has apparently found a way for a sponge and a slab of concrete to mate and have uncomfortable, bastard children as seat cushions. But the flight did go by faster, so that was nice. The layover in Atlanta was uneventful, as was the flight to Montgomery. When we landed, I started to perk up. This place is going to be home for the next several months, and I wanted to see what it was all about.
I thought our plane taxied to a terminal and I'd be greeted by more air conditioning. Turns out that "terminal" was instead a tarmac, and promptly greeted me with bright light and a bear hug of heat and humidity. At first I thought "hey, this isn't so bad, I can do this!" Ten seconds later: "Okay, now it's getting kind of hot." Thirty seconds later: "My place has air conditioning, right?!" (Fortunately, it does.) It also turns out that my rental car until the Prius arrives is a white Ford Flex. It looks funny, but it handles really well, has a lot of space, stylish interior, plenty of giddy-up, and good gas mileage for its size (24/17).
My apartment is also pretty sweet. After some initial trouble getting onto the property (it required a gate password I didn't have), I arrive to find it's more like a townhouse. I've got a single car garage (which the Flex won't fit in, but the Prius should), decent kitchen, living room, etc. I wish the TV were bigger, but other than that it's pretty nice. Especially the A/C.
(I'll post pictures of a lot of this stuff once I get a camera. Forgot to bring mine on the plane...)
Since moving in, I've done a lot of exploring and running of various errands to get all settled in. I also had dinner with my boss and his family earlier tonight. He's a really cool, down to earth guy, and seems like he'll be fun to work for. He didn't beat around the bush and let me know that the work will start pouring on me soon, but I wouldn't expect anything less. He did a lot to put my mind and ease and make me feel welcome. Going into dinner I was really nervous, but walking out I feel confident that I can do this and kick some ass.
Considering I'm learning so much at once I'll probably break some of my postings up by topic (like "Food") instead of having it all trickle through in several pieces. Those should hopefully happen more often than not, at least once or twice a week. Pictures will also follow as soon as I get a camera, or a family member/good friend decides to mail me one. *hint hint*
Work starts at 9 am. Time to be a productive member of society. This is going to be legen- wait for it...
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