Tag Archives: web

(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.

Whistle While You Work

Happy New Year! Yeah, I’m about 2 weeks and more than a couple pounds after the fact, but still. Hope everyone is trying to start their year strong.

This year is one for better organization and time management. Usually I see this in terms of work, but I’m also trying to manage my free time and optimize my learning. I recently started an account on LibraryThing, and already I’m enjoying the process of trying to remember all the books I’ve read as I come up with a reading list for this year. I’ve already re-read The Hobbit, and currently reading The Silmarillion for the very first time. I’m a quarter of the way through, and while it may seem like Middle-Earth overload or even silly to do a prequel of a prequel, the opening chapters alone almost warrant their own entry in the cinematic universe (so long as they steer clear from introducing unnecessary nods to the other films).

I want to read at least 12 books this year, but likely more. At the urging of my awesome fiancee (who is the main contributor to my reading renaissance as a whole), I’ll be moving to Dostoyevsky works next. I also have to fit a re-reading of the A Song of Ice and Fire series in before the next book is published, but I have some time until then!

What’s This?!

My site…the caterpillar has become…a prettier caterpillar! I’ve painstakingly given my homepage the attention it deserves! With the cleaner interface and room for customization, I can focus on getting work up on here.

It’s not often that I get to be my own client. Usually I lament about not giving my site attention. So to see this through to this point has been quite inspiring. With one piece done, it’s time to move ahead to the next phase.

…I could also use a trip outside.

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.