Category Archives: Blog

(Almost) One Year Later

So after a long hiatus, I blog again! It’s always a mixed bag when I have such lengthy absences. While I regret not updating and keeping a log going of what I’ve been up to, it’s usually because a lot is happening, and indeed this last year has been very busy!

Work keeps progressing nicely. I’m learning a lot and getting to experiment with new ideas, which is a very welcome process. The best place to be is the one you keep learning in, and there is much, much more to do. I’ve also returned to writing with my friends (thanks Jorge and Kev!), and the creative environment is nothing short of rejuvenating and reinvigorating!

The biggest change in my life came on July 25th, when I married the woman who changed my life. I remember thinking about blogging around that time with a simple “Hey! I’m married! woo!”. However, two things worked against this. The first was that I left my computer (purposely) at home, and I hate typing with my thumbs. The second is I’d already posted on Facebook, and it made the blog oddly redundant. So here I am now, more than six months later, still battling the ocean that keeps us apart, but with a ring on my finger constantly reminding me of what victory will bring.

It’s been a great year. And it’s already looking to get better.

Can’t rain all the time.

JavaScriptin’

I’ve been developing mainly in JavaScript for the past 5 months, and thought I’d write a quick post about the experience.

I’ve very much enjoyed the change of scenery, moving away from the more static work and doing things that are dynamic and changing while at the same time not repetitive. Working in Flash had similar challenges, but ultimately I ran into a lot of templating and re-use of design and function. The work I’m doing now can be exciting and overwhelming, with the large number of tools and libraries out there. That said, it’s probably some of the most fulfilling work I’ve done.

Everything tends to come back around in one form or another. A couple years back I was trying to swear off being a dev, and now I’m back in the thick of it. Sometimes you just need to have a new angle to appreciate something you’ve got. So thank you, JavaScript. You may make me wanna cry sometimes with cross-browser compatibility, but you’ve got a lot of potential, and you reminded me that I love to build.

Eyes Towards The Sky

He holds himself precariously between the three mountains. At this point, he can still touch all three at the same time, but the time has come for him to choose.

He has been at this level for what feels like eternity. His right arm tenses as it pushes against the rocks. His legs bend and flex as they push against his arm, trying to keep the balance without overpowering it. His left hand wields a spyglass, and with a strain he turns his neck to gaze up at his choice.

From where he is, all three mountains look exactly the same. They project out at the same points. They have the same places where the stones look unsteady, ready for overeager climbers to meet their downfall. They have the same caves, places for the climber to find rest or to give up and decide to go back down the mountain. And from where he is, he cannot see what awaits him at the top of any of the three.

The hour grows late. The time approaches. And he must make a choice.

Duty. Desire. Adventure.

He puts the spyglass away, takes his breath, and climbs.

Koprivshtitsa!

Greetings, earthlings!

I had an awesome weekend with my awesome lady in the town of Koprivshtitsa, Bulgaria. It’s a place of a lot of history where the movement to Bulgarian freedom began, and being the history nut that I am, it was awesome to learn about some of the country’s important figures, from soldiers to diplomats to poets. On top of that, I had two awesome meals that warrant rave review.

Сач dish at Chuchura

First was at a restaurant/hotel called Chuchura, where I ordered a plate of roasted pork steak, bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes, peppers, and onions. What I got was this giant skillet of deliciousness! Being the husky gent that I am, I naturally finished my skillet, and plucked a little from my love’s as well.

Second was breakfast at Boncho’s House, the guest house we stayed at. The room itself was worth it, but the complimentary breakfast of banitsa (a traditional Bulgarian flaky pastry filled with varying foods, in this case sirene, which is the local equivalent to feta) and a crepe with freshly picked and made raspberry jam was one of the best I’ve had anywhere.

All in all, the awesome weekend has me ready to tackle the coming weeks. More updates to come soon, so keep checking in and keep on keepin’ on!

Buffering…

Greetings and salutations! So I’m in the process of changing hosts for the site, and I’ve had the opportunity to make several observations.

Firstly, I found my original blog database, and added the old blog posts to the current one. By doing so, I also realized that my “scant” single blog post a month that I used to pull off looks prolific compared to my current once-a-year output. It’s time for that to change. So I’m making a new goal to at minimum keep this site updated with my wit and charm once a month again!

Secondly, while I continue to update my portfolio for you potential employers out there reading this, I’m also planning to add more creative content to this site, such as an archive of my roleplay writings as well as illustrations.

Thirdly, this site needs more pictures of me and my awesome facial hair.

Lastly, those old blog posts again. I highlight them so much in this post because it’s very interesting for me to read and see the man I was, see the man I’ve become, and look forward to seeing the man I have yet to be. I had a long dry spell of blog posts while that man was getting himself sorted out (that and using a growing number of social media outlets and sites that spread that creative energy out).

Now it all starts to come together.