Hello Internet? I'm Still Here

It's been a while... Again. I decided to start doing something different. As far as blog posting is concerned. I'm using the blogger app to voice record my my blogs. So far it seems pretty accurate. I don't have to do a lot of editing and it seems to capture how I am speaking with accuracy. Of course, to an extent I will have to go back and proofread, and do some editing.  And it seems to be a good method for capturing for my "thought stream".

I've also decided not to spend so much time on trying to find a picture that identifies my post. I'm not a journalist, or an influencer, or some popular person who's thoughts and opinions are the driving force behind the decisions of many individuals. So essentially I'm going for readability and as plain text as possible.

It seems anyway nowadays that the internet is less concerned with reading blog posts as it is more concerned with 10, 15, or 30 second tick tock videos (this, of course very revealing of the declining attention span that modern internet users have.)

Further, while looking at my blog post over the really the last decade, it seems that there is a mix of life events and " hot takes" , which of course are purely my personal opinion or honest thought on whatever it is I am giving a hot take on. The topics discussed on this blog essentially detail much of topics of interest that I have and I see no reason for that to change.

Sometimes, I have not had the energy, time, or inspiration to write. All of this is okay and I also understand that this probably contributes to the fact that no one really reads my blog unless they know me or somehow against their better judgment subscribe to receive updates every time I post. This too is okay.

It is interesting to note that often times I have the perception that many of my thoughts brilliant or absurd, simply go into the void. In a way that satisfies me. It seems to an extent that maybe my externalized thoughts have no affect on the external world they're evicted into. Now of course that isn't true.  I mean, my thoughts have an effect.  For one thing they're taking up server space! For another thing it might be that somewhere out there on the internet someone is reading my thoughts and maybe giving them consideration. To the effect that my thoughts (on the internet or otherwise) have influence is nothing relevant.

And yet here I am still posting. Still up keeping this blog that was started in 2009. At that time I was chronicling my time as a Catholic seminarian with the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. After my time of discernment of the priesthood, I of course attended college as a meteorology student - which unfortunately ended abruptly. Nonetheless, I married my best friend soon after I left my university campus, and now I'm working in the IT field which was my backup career. Of note it is not so different from my second major which was computer science.

As it pertains to the present, I have, after a few years of being absent from a couple of my habits that I had well developed and established over the years, resumed reading books at a fairly good pace. I finally read and completed Frank Herbert's Dune I'm proud to say. At the moment am reading through the fourth book of the "Star Carrier" series by Ian Douglas, which if you haven't read it is a military hard science fiction in a similar vein as Battlestar Galactica. There are nine books in that series, so I've got some reading ahead of me.

If someone had told me 5 years ago that juggling a family life full-time job and several hobbies including astronomy, meteorology, and computer programming would be difficult - I might find myself to be of agreement. However, I found that with a little bit of time management, discipline, and denying myself binge watching YouTube one can indeed find time for just about anything. I think that is a crucial lesson that I have learned in the last 5 years that has been the hardest lesson not in understanding, but in application. Especially with my responsibilities as an on-call technician I have had to learn to deal with one of my personal irritations, that is, being interrupted. And despite this, despite the distractions and interruptions that work and family life often brings to my attention I am still able to find time to read and to pursue my interests and hobbies.

I don't always get to do everything I want to do when I want to do it. That's okay! In fact, in a lot of ways, I'm better for it. In case a lot of people do not know when you are In a technical support role for a tech company. At some point you get used to jumping from task to task to task. You even get used to having days where the frustration level and the chaos of the situation is such that you wonder how and why your company hired you. I think this is what people mean when they refer to Impostor Syndrome - that self-perception that your skills are absolute rubbish. But the most satisfying part of every day is going to bed knowing that I've done my best and more importantly, there's only 24 hours in one day. Again, time management is a skill and a good one to learn at that.

It's Been a While, Where Have I Been?

So I really have been quite absent.  In point of fact I've been virtually non existant.  This has been a good thing, as I've not had the drive or ambition to write anything.  There've been many life events that've come and gone, and by the time I've thought to myself maybe I should write something about this the moment has passed and really not even sure what to say.

Nothing tragic has happened.  In case you're wondering.  Everything is fine.  Everything is super.

To date I've received another promotion at work and am now a technical support lead at my company.  This comes with more opportunities and the responsibility of being on call every few weeks as I work to keep that internet thing everyone likes working.  I recently heard the news that one of my best friends is engaged and I'm completely stoked for that.  I've got a couple of kids and the life my wife and I are building for ourselves in our home is beginning to take shape.

Within that last year I was also blessed to have been a part of the happy marriage of another one of my best friends.  Hearing the recent news of my best friend's engagement has given me reason to reminisce some.  What seems like just a few short years ago was our college days.  Our ambitions and thoughts about our futures (then) are different from what they are currently.  And that's okay.  In fact having caught up with my friends over the previous summer and winter months I can say with confidence that we're all doing okay and succeeding.  But I knew this anyway.  I've always made attempts to surround myself with ambitious people, people who are driven to build their skills and knowledge, and many more times people who are more knowledgeable.  To that end I'm thankful that despite the setbacks and delays in our personal goals, things are moving along

Within the last year I actually gave serious thought to beginning a YouTube channel.  However, after vetting that idea I laid it to rest, or at least filed it away in the recesses of my mind.  If I'm not even able to keep up regularly blogging my thoughts - and even I don't always understand where I come up with them - then when will I ever have time to dedicate to a YouTube channel.

In conclusion, as I sit here with Suite No. 3 in D by Johann Sebastian Bach playing and my laundry rolling around in the dryer, I can only be thankful that the last two years has been a time for growth and opportunities for my many family and friends.  This isn't the same for everyone.  There's a lot of anger out there.  There's a lot of stupidity, ignorance, all of the negative stuff of life.  I remain confident in my conviction that if the only concern you have is to improve yourself, learn something new each day, and make great effort to avoid social and political drama, you're going to be much better off than you would be otherwise.

Second Promotion

Source: https://xkcd.com/806/

I am happy to announce that for the past month I have been working in a different department.  As the title suggests I have been promoted.  Again.

It has been less than a year since I left my old job as an Optician and began working at an ISP in technical support.  Moreover the two promotions, first as a residential tier 2, and then to a business technical tier 1 analyst have both come as tremendous surprises (as well as new challenges).  Regardless, I transitioned well into the residential tier 2 position and so far as a business analyst I'm getting along with my team and building upon my knowledge base and skill set.

Mkay, so what exactly do I do?

Essentially I do the same thing I was doing for residential clients.  I trouble shoot reported issues and assist end users in solutions that resolve their problems.  But I also do so much more than I did when I was in the residential department.

With our business clients I give technical support for their phone systems, email, and general web hosting.  To say that each trouble ticket is more involved than I have previously worked with would be an understatement.

A simple issue of internet being reported as down also means that the phone systems that I support will likely also be effected.  The work that I do for a lot of trouble tickets usually involves more than just myself.  Since I am supporting everything from small businesses to medical facilities.  This means that every second counts.

I think this is the first company I've worked for where I can say with confidence that I love my job and I look forward to commuting to work every day.

The Best Part of My Morning Routine

My Van Der Hagen safety razor,
badger hair brush, shave soap, and bowl

Recently, I just made a change up in my morning routine, and it was the best decision I ever made.  I made the switch to a traditional safety razor.

When I started shaving, half my life ago it seems, I used a typical electric shaver.  It was a good start and at the time not anything time consuming.  I was in high school and was merely concerned with making sure I at least looked "cleaned up" as possible.  I was also known for occasionally being one of those guys who used Axe body spray if I was in a hurry.  Yeah, thank God I am much more organized now!

So for many years I used an electric razor.  It wasn't until ~2009 when I started thinking, "gee, I wish there was a better way to shave in the morning."  I was tired of shaving only to find that by lunch time I was already developing a 5 o'clock shadow.  Most of all, I was tired of having to constantly shell out tens of dollars on new blades for my electric razor.  If that wasn't enough - I've had at least a couple of electric razors short out which means if I didn't have a back up razor, then I was just out of luck and up the creek without a paddle.  Worst yet, is that I'd have to spend money on a new electric razor; good one that was reliable and get a close enough shave would end up setting me back at least $75 or more depending on availability.  Plus there's the whole having to ask a store attendant to unlock the case.

Simply put, I was just done and looking for a better shave that had a lot more bang for my buck.

I switched to a cartridge razor and Barbasol shaving cream and loved it.  However, as the years went on I began noticing that the cost effectiveness of the cartridge razor was really not too different from when I was using an electric razor.  Yeah, I mean it was a lot less expensive overall, but I just can't justify dropping $15 bucks on a five cartridge pack that I'm just going to be buying the next month anyway.  Sure, I tried stretching my cartridges until the aloe strip (a great innovation, by the way!) as long as they could go, but as any one can tell you - shaving with a dull blade is not ideal.

So, I made the decision to go on the market for a safety razor.  But before that, I made a crucial switch.  I switched to shave soap, and as much as I did love my can of Barbasol, I could not help but notice my face just felt a bit smoother and cleaner.  It was bittersweet, but it was time to say good bye to the way I had shaved before.

While looking around for safety razors I found that Van Der Hagen (which makes my shave soap) also makes safety razors.  So I dropped the $15 dollars on a safety razor kit that included the razor and 5 fresh blades.  So far I was impressed.  That's very cost effective.

But I was a little concerned that I would slice myself open.  So I decided to do my research.  A Google search shows several results for how to guides for safety razors.  I read my usual go to on Wikihow.  It proved useful, and I definitely was confident that I was very likely not going to slice up my face like I was performing surgery.  So I decided that I wanted to find a useful video to reinforce what I was reading.  I knew I could shave with a safety razor just fine (it's a safety razor afterall), but really wanted to cross reference my research to make sure my first shave was as enjoyable as possible.

I decided to search YouTube for an instructional video, and I struck gold.

If you're thinking of shaving with a safety razor, you must watch this video and subscribe to Geofatboy on YouTube!  Geofatboy explains perfectly how to use a safety razor.  Best of all he offers little practical hints and advice that before I saw his channel I had no idea I was missing in my shaving routine.  Little things like "clearing the run ways" and "pinching your brush" are a couple seemingly insignificant tips, but just altering what I do before I take the blade to my face has made all the difference in starting my day with a good shave.

Since watching a couple instructional videos I've noticed my shave in the morning is just better.  It feels good and my face feels clean all day long - something I haven't had before, which I would say is an added benefit.  I emphatically recommend giving a traditional wet shave with a safety razor and shave soap a try.  If you don't like it, that's fine, but at very least give it a chance.  I'm glad I have.

The New Job: Tech Support

Wow, has life been busy!  A month ago was my last day at Walmart as an Optician (yes, I can fix your glasses, and no I didn't do eye exams - that's the Optometrist!) and a few days later started my new job at a local Internet Service Provider (ISP).  So far it's a great job, and one that I'm naturally good at.  During the same time, as I was transitioning between jobs, my wife was weaning our daughter which was its own adventure - one that I just won't get into.

So what am I doing exactly?  Well I do technical support.  Essentially I'm the guy who fixes your internet when you call in saying that your internet is slow or down.  (Occasionally I help out the customer service representatives by taking payments from customers too, but that's not exactly exciting.)  The exciting part of every day is helping people get their internet up and running.  This involves listening to the problem being described by the customer and then diagnosing the root of the problem by running tests and assembling stats on what's happening.  Sometimes I do have to escalate some issues to be handled by another department, but that's in extreme cases.

It's not always busy at the office which has a geeky ambiance that I enjoy.  It has all the markings of my dream job.  Alright, alright so what don't I like about the job?  Well, to be honest there's nothing I like less than any other part.  I mean, it's work.  However, the people I work with really have a sincere focus on team work and an emphasis on supporting each other.  It's also an environment where everyone is highly encouraged to learn something new every day regardless of whether or not you're in technical support or accounting.  It's just an all around great place to work!

Given that one of my goals is to get in to IT or programming, this is a great first step.  The best part is that I can already see that my simple entry level position is not the end of the line for me.  There's room to move up.  And you know what else?  I'm encouraged to move up if I want to.  This is a company where if you're good and what you do, then results will usually follow.

It's really a great opportunity to expand upon my skill set.  And the absolute best part is that I have a regular schedule.  That makes all the difference.  I think the sacrifice I made taking a pay cut to accept this position has opened a door to me, and I'm happy I walked through.

However, I'm not naive.  I know there are going to be tough days.  I know there are going to be days I wish I hadn't shown up to work.  There are going to be days where things are overwhelming, and maybe things just aren't working right and tickets get back logged.  This isn't any different from any other job.  The difference is that in this job I think I'm going to have a good experience during the tough times because I know I have the support of my coworkers and supervisor who want to see me be my best.

Noravirus & Job Hunting

So I've been a bit "under the weather" this week.  I managed to make it half way through my shift on Monday only to leave work.  After returning home and immediately falling asleep I woke up later with the usual symptoms now in full flare: fever, cephalgia (headache), and of course making my "offering to the porcelain god."  So that wasn't fun.  Fortunately - I'm not sure how - I somehow survived this short round of noravirus, commonly known as the stomach flu.  My dear wife was there to keep the Gatorade and a bucket at my side to avoid dehydration with much success.

Unlike the last time I had the stomach flu I'm not being wiped out for a few weeks.  The 2017 noravirus was essentially a week long taste of death, without actually dying, and recovery lasting a few weeks after the symptoms went away.  And some folk out there think the man cold and man flu is just a myth.  Ha!  I beg to differ!

Of course as life would have it, the day I'm better and can return to work, the roads are covered in ~1/4 inch of ice making travel impossible (can't stop at an intersection if you're on ice).

On the other side of things, because of changes happening at work, such as the threat of reducing payable hours, I'm putting myself back on the job market for something decent.  As I look back on my now "on again off again" work relationship with Walmart I see that the company has always been there when I've needed a a job.  In fact I emphatically support anyone who wants to work there!  For someone starting out on the job market, or going to school, or is in need of something, it does the trick.  The problem frequently arises when you're trying to take care of a family (whether married or a single parent) and perhaps other financial responsibilities (student debt, rent/mortgage, car payments, etc.) that the wages don't really cover.  This of course leaves the employee with a couple of options:

1. Get a second job and hope that work schedules don't conflict, or
2. Take your chances on the job market

Option 2 seems the best option in most cases.  As I mentioned in a previous post, I'm looking primarily for a job that utilizes my computer, analytical, and technical skills.  Unfortunately, where I live there's a lot of manufacturing jobs and it's semi rural.  A lot of people don't think tech is really all that important.  There's much more emphasis on a job sometimes requiring 12 hour days, boots on your feet, and the type of work that a trained monkey could do in its sleep.  In a sense, finding a job within my skill set is like finding a needle in a haystack.  Sometimes I really perceive that I'm really "not from 'round 'ere."

I press on, because there has to be a job out there that I can retire from, and can support my family with.  The good news is that I did here about a potential job that would likely utilize AND develop my skills which apparently has a place not too far from me, so I'm definitely going to apply to that!

Leaps, Bounds, Milestones, and Other Thoughts, Oh My!

So, I've just realized that I haven't posted an update on my daughter in a long time, not since she began crawling.  Visiting relatives over Christmas, a crazy work life balance, and a hundred other distractions have gotten in the way.  Looking at the photos on my phone I realized just how much my daughter has grown in the last couple of months.

For starters Isabelle had her first taste of a snow storm on January 12th when we received 15.5 inches (39.37 cm) of snow accumulation over the course of 36 hours.  My little daughter thought the snow was just absolutely the BEST thing ever, like a new toy, but cold, and magical as it turns to water in your hand.  As I began the couple hour long process of moving the snow off of the cars and drive way my wife Jessica brought our daughter outside to see the snow.

On Thursday of this past week Jessica and I looked up and found Isabelle grabbing the table with one hand and standing more steady than she has.  Her legs are getting stronger and I'm sure at this rate she'll be walking very soon!  So far it would seem that at only 9 months she's a little ahead of the game on milestones.

Some days it seems like I can't quite keep up with how fast she's growing and developing.  Sometimes, I'm sure, people might think I'm crazy and wonder how I plan to give time to my family and to my hobbies.  Sometimes, I think I am crazy taking on a lot.  However, I would not trade it for anything else in the world.  I do miss my "old life" as it had a lot of great memories and I still keep in contact with my friends, but I've learned that this life is exciting too, and I know I have the support of my old life.  But I really don't consider it my old life.

In retrospect I consider the adventure of getting married and starting a family as just another chapter in the book of my life.  It's something that I've noticed some people think is an "end of your life" moment, however I think that assertion is very short sighted.  I still have just as active and fulfilling of a life now as when I was in college or even when I spent a short time as a Catholic seminarian.  As I look to the year ahead, I'm excited to see how my family will grow and develop, and to see what friends I can run into.

Work-Life Balance Not Exactly Ideal

Image source

So the balancing act between my work and life probably could not be any worse.  At the moment my goal of waking up early just isn't going to happen because my biorhythm is not well supported by my work schedule.  Due to short staffing and payroll cut backs I can't be full time.  Being part time has immense drawbacks since I get left with all the hours that no one else wants.  Essentially I work afternoon and evenings half the week followed immediately by morning and daytime shifts.  This pretty much leaves me exhausted and unable to function day to day by the end of the week.  Every precious minute I get to sleep, is welcomed with no protest!

From another point of view I wonder what the chaotic schedule is doing to the relationship I have with my wife and daughter.  I'm away from home at odd times and there's no consistency.  At times I'm unable to remember the last time I had a chance to actually have a good conversation with my wife that didn't revolve around finances, benefits, or how much my next pay check is going to be.  At the same time my work schedule and every day agenda at work is also partially dictated by whatever mood my boss happens to be in.  Such inconsistency causes great mental stress and anxiety about even going into work.

To summarize: I need a new job.

I have been out on the job market actually since March of last year, and so far with no success.  My wonderful wife has helped my compile a list of applications when I've been at work and I've received tips of who's looking to hire.  (As an added bonus: jobs that would give me the work/life balance I desperately need!)  Unfortunately, the story is the same after every interview.  I've got potential, but this other person has more experience.  Sure I make it into the final batch of qualified candidates, however, this does not help my need to provide, support, and be there for my family.

To say it's been rough would be a great understatement!

But this has got me thinking about where I want to go in life and what I need.  I don't need another job.  And even a retail job that's full time won't cut it.  I need a job that I can retire from in 30 years.  A job that utilizes my natural talents, nourishes and expands my potential, and develops my existing skill set.  Such a job - I realize - would likely be related to computer science or IT.  It's almost ecstasy to think that I could find a job where my day to day forced interaction with the general public would be drastically reduced or very limited.  I think that's what I really want though.  I'm just done with only retailers willing to hire me, and then force me into a position where I can't grow in my job.

Life Goals, Rhinosinusitis, & Looking Forward to Christmas

So I would've been at work today, but instead evolutionary responses to pathogens decided to manifest themselves beginning yesterday evening and at the moment continue to prevent my otherwise optimal biological functions.  Postnasal discharge, irritation of the pharynx, minor inflammation of the larynx, cephalgia, and generalized ache and fatigue are the symptoms that point to rhinosinusitis - commonly said as the common cold.  It's fascinating how when we look at the medical terminology it makes things seem a lot worse than it is.  Of course, so far I'm not bad off.  I'm faring better than my daughter fared this past week.  I don't have any excessive phlegm, fever, or respiratory inflammation that has been characterized by some who've been so fortunate as to already been afflicted with this round of cold.

The symptoms of course are easily mitigated by AleveⓇ, green tea with honey, and rest. Vitamin C is also a good thing to add, just because the body needs it (or so I've been consistently told).  Vicks Vaporub™ of course is a gift from God if congestion and respiratory inflammation become exasperated.  But so far, unlike most men of my condition, I'm not in critical condition.

Today I finished one of the three books I was reading.  The book "Personality Hacker: Harness the Power of Your Personality Type to Transform Your Work, Relationships, and Life" was written by Joel Mark Witt and Antonia Dodge and is a fantastic read if you're interested in personality theory and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).  I first heard of their book by listening to the Personality Hacker Podcast which I heard about via their YouTube channel which I definitely recommend taking a look at.  You can read my review of their book here.

Aside from having the imposition of a malaise I've been making some positive progress toward my goal of waking up early.  Alternatively I'm not waking up at 5:30 every morning like the video says, but reasonably around 7:30.  This of course has not been without challenge.  My work schedule constantly fluctuates so going to bed at the same time every evening has been difficult.  My goal has been to be ready to sleep by 11 pm, and this is done well most nights.  Of course with the responsibilities and joys that come with parenting I must see this is as an attainable, if at times impractical, goal - especially while my daughter was ill with rhinosinusitis and my wife and I found ourselves up late at night making sure she was as comfortable as possible.

I'm looking forward to the next few days off of work to spend with the family and visiting with relatives.  Christmas, at least per my perception, is a much bigger deal than Thanksgiving.  Both are filled with food, but there's just a more relaxed ambiance that comes with Christmas.  There's less rushing around to do, all is quiet.

I want to take this opportunity to wish every one who somehow chances to fall upon my blog a very Merry Christmas!

My Daughter Is Crawling Successfully

Took a few weeks of trying, but finally got a video of my beautiful baby girl crawling forward.  Typically, as infants learn to crawl they figure out how to move backwards before they move forward.  At seven months my daughter figured out how to crawl forward, and since then has wanted to do nothing less!

Every day I anticipate with excitement and joy what developmental milestones she will reach next.  Guess the next milestone will be walking and adding a few more words to her vocabulary.  In addition to "dad" and "hi" she's added "momma," "hungry," (very important!) and "hey."  Little by little she grows and it amazes me that we all start out with just a couple of words and working out how to move around.

New Goal: Wake Up Early

So, recently I saw a video on YouTube about the benefits of waking up at 5 am every day.  Now, I haven't woken up before 6:30 am since the time I was in seminary.  Most of the time I spent going to college was spent with my alarm sounding at 6:30 am and actually getting out of bed and beginning my day around 7:30.  Some days I slept in until almost 10 or 11 am, especially if I was out with friends the previous night, or needed to catch up on sleep.

A couple of moves later and living in a new state, the current work/life balance has yielded an ever changing sleep schedule.  This biorhythm has begun to introduce a chaos, stress, and fatigue into a cycle that functioned well and previously provided me with a healthy lifestyle where I was able to get things done.  At current, it seems like I don't get anything done, and my routine clothes itself in appearance of disorder and slothfulness.  Sometimes, when I begin winding down before bed I find myself thinking to myself, "I didn't get anything done today and now I have to push my tasks to the next day."  Needless to say I rarely find within myself a sense of accomplishment at the end of my day.

Well, I've decided to change that!

So beginning tomorrow morning I will be beginning an experiment to restore what was stereotype to my biorhythm.  This experiment will cover the better part of the month to resurrect the habit of a regular bed time and wake time.  The process will not yield perfection overnight.  Any sort of change in habit - especially when a bad habit has developed - takes time.  It is said that to develop a new habit takes at least 27 days, or on average one month.

It'll take some altering of a few bad habits I have developed.  Some important things that I've already been working on with some success, which have greatly helped me prepare for the experiment:

• No phone use for at least 30 minutes before bed
• Establish a procedural pre-bedtime sequence so that the body eventually learns that it's time to get to sleep.
• When the alarm sounds in the morning hitting the snooze < 5 times (still bad at this!)
• Establishing an unalterable sequential morning routine

It's been hard as a parent establishing a consistent routine for myself, but I think it needs to happen.  I remind myself that there will come a time when I will expect a routine from my daughter, and any other children I may have, thus it's important that I establish a routine so that the example is already set and ready to be imitated.

The best benefit to redeveloping a routine is that I will have more time for those things I want to do that aren't important.  Things like reading, blogging, catching up with friends will become much less difficult and more things that I just have time to do.  I think that's the ultimate and best benefit of all!

My Daughter's First Taste of "Food"

This was my daughter's first taste of "food."  I deliberately use quotes because, as her face will say, it's not exactly creme brulee!

Welcome to Autumn

Autumn Has Arrived

Autumn in Missouri is off to a good start!  The weather has been typical of the Midwest roller coaster that's experienced every year.  The few crisp mornings we've had make me miss my time living near Chicago with all the lake fronts.  From looking at forecast models, it would seem that autumn has made a consistent appearence up north.  Here in Missouri the weather couldn't be more, as the locals say, "bipolar."  80s one day 60s the next.

Job Hunt & Work Woes

Since it's been made known to me that I'm likely stuck in my current position at work without any future considerations I've been looking around for other work.  So I've been giving my resume out and filling out job applications, and so far to no success.  Much of the time the feedback I've been receiving is that I'm just not experienced enough for this or that position.

Things on the job couldn't be more chaotic.  Unfortunately the schedule has been tossed around and I've been getting scheduled a lot of six day weeks!  This of course has been abandoning me adrift in stress and exhaustion.  After a six day stretch all I want is to be alone.  Without people.  Often after working 6 days I forget what day it is (thank God for Google!).

Baby's First Word!

Isabelle's first word is "hi."  As the days have gone by she has begun to build her vocabulary.  She's added "dad" to her words, and at least once has said "hi dad" when I've arrived home from work.  Some days I wonder what she'll say next.  Not long from now she will be crawling and so far has been working very well at developing her arm muscles and coordination to at least support herself.

My Daughter Is 3 Months Old & Other Updates

My Baby Girl

How time flies!  It seems like yesterday she was born.

I'm impressed every day at how she's growing and developing.  Already she is sitting up (with assistance), grabbing and lifting toward her mouth, and babbling.  Speaking of babbling; her babbles sound more and more like language than just little coos.  Could she be an early talker?

Parenting - at least for the moment - is relatively easy.  Sometimes I get caught up thinking that my child is just the most perfect person to ever walk the Earth (of courseI'm sure every parent thinks this).  To an extent though it does seem at times that my little girl is becoming an overachiever like her dad.

But enough about her - I could go on about child development theory and what milestones she's getting close to, and how quickly she's achieving them.

Work v. Life Balance

Still working as an Optician, however it has become apparent to me that those above my boss won't open up my position to be full time.  While I have enough hours it's unfortunate that it's just enough.  In a manner of speaking I've come to a crossroad.  I can try to move elsewhere within a company I've worked at prior (in college) and apply my previous experience as a cashier and negotiate a full time position as a supervisor.  The other option I have is to keep looking around and applying for jobs, many of which are either in the medical field or in manufacturing.

Most of the opportunities for work that relate to my experience and tenure of my resume unfortunately don't pay very well, and leaping into another field of work inevitably means facing the unknown and risking not knowing anything about a job.  Most who know me well know that I prefer to expand within my academic goals and experience.  With most of my experience in typical white collar jobs it would be quite a transition to accept a blue collar position.

Plans To Continue My Education?

Since I left the Chicago suburbs - due to financial aid difficulties and inability to fund my own education - I've discovered through colleagues and others that there's a very slim job market for Meteorologists.  This of course I've taken into account, and after a couple years of thought and reflection on my academic career I've decided to make a slight adjustment to my academic plans.

During my time studying in the suburbs of Chicago I thought very seriously about a double major in Computer Science, given my enjoyment of computer programming and ability to work with computers on more than a basic level.  As I've discussed my interests and knowledge with my wife and friends it's apparent to me that perhaps I should consider well pursuing a career in IT.  The more I look into it the more I see a promising job market.  So this is definitely an option I'm greatly considering!

"But what of Meteorology?  Chasing storms?  Aren't you throwing all your learning and work away?"

Goodness no!  The weather will always be an interest, and I'd never carelessly throw away a piece of information on a whim.  I'll continue my interest as precisely that, an interest.  I'll still make observations and give reports via social networks to the National Weather Service.  It's just that I've decided to step back from a childhood dream and pursue something different, that's still an interest I've had since childhood.

So for now I've decided to teach myself the Python programming language.  After that probably Java as it seems knowing C and Java are good starting points and Python is a good bonus.  There's also certification sequences I can learn that can give me a start in IT related work.

So... long update!  There's been a lot on my mind and I've been itching to write and get my thoughts out, so... yeah.  You should probably know I can be long winded anyway 😜.

Why I Left LinkedIn

Those who know me won't be surprised to learn that after several years of inactivity I have left LinkedIn.  LinkedIn is a social network where you can post your resume and connect with others on the job market.

So, why did I leave?

Well, just as in other postings I've made, I'm cutting down on my social network usage.  With LinkedIn I had a profile set up with my work history and resume, and for a while it was cool to check in and see what new connections I was suggested.  Sure it was great when I received an endorsement on my skills ranging from public speaking to various tenets of computer knowledge, however I never actually used the site, and overall I was dissatisfied.

With all the jobs out there I've applied to - that give the option to apply with LinkedIn - it seemed redundant to import my information, and then fill out the exact same information that was on my profile.

Okay, okay, okay, I probably didn't take full advantage of LinkedIn.  You're right, I didn't.  I just didn't have the drive.  Overall, I've found better usage on job sites such as Indeed.com.  Also, I have a tendency to prefer the old fashioned way of applying for jobs: in person or directly through a company's website!

So, while you won't see me on LinkedIn there are a couple of ways to connect with me via a social network:

Twitter:  @noherp2012
My Twitter handle is used more often than even my Facebook*.  I've been on Twitter since 2009 and pretty much don't take it as seriously (although I've been known to post anything interesting or remotely controversial 😏).  So pretty much I just use it as an outlet for the random happenings of life (hmm, kind of like a 240 character blog post...) what in common parlance is called shitposting.  Seriously, if you're into that sort of thing I'm not going to stop you from following me on Twitter.

Google+:  Link to profile towards top
Pretty much the entire point of my G+ is to utilize a GSuite service that comes free with my email account (like Blogger, YouTube, Drive, Docs, Groups, Photos, Sites, Maps, Keep, Calendar...).  But over the years I've kept it geared more towards sharing and posting stuff relevant to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and connecting with other people who share that common interest.

*Disclaimer: I only accept friend requests on Facebook from people I have actually met in the real world.

I do occasionally pop in and out of Goodreads, but only when I'm updating my reading progress.  Quite frankly I find Goodreads a mere convenient interface to share with others what I'm reading.  Aside from that don't expect me to be on there frequently.

Alright, so I do enjoy a good tangent every now and again, and given that my blog here is more about free writing and life updates I don't feel ashamed for my endless tangents or rants (probably followed by some family and a couple of friends than a random stranger).

That's all for now!  Now to get back to taking care of that pesky laundry that never actually goes away.

Surprise Birthday Weekend!

My wife had been planning something for a few weeks - and it totally surprised me!

I had planned to take the family to Illinois to visit my parents over my birthday weekend (turned 34... I think...) and that, of course, became the main focal point of the trip.  It was great to give Isabelle time to spend with her grandparents and her uncles, aunts, and cousins who came to join in the fun.  After all, family is important, and it's good to make sure children are exposed to their family members - no matter how odd they may be.

That turned out to not be the only fun that happened, as my dear wife invited my best friends - a few who I haven't seen since the wedding - into town to surprise me with their presence.  I had a fantastic time catching up with everyone, and I was incredibly honored by the event.

So, to all my friends, and especially my dearest wife: Thank you!

16 Days Into Fatherhood

Yep, you could say that reality is starting to sink in. This is my life now. A life of caring for more than just me. It's about the family now. By now most parents I've encountered would be exhausted and probably ready to give up. Nope, not me! I've come to realize that sometimes in those moments when the baby is asleep, when suddenly it seems like equilibrium has been restored are those very moments when taking a quick nap or seizing the opportunity to take care of a chore or two.

I finally said to Jessica this morning, "I think our days of sleeping in a little are over." She gave me an exhausted, emotionally drained look, of course, as if to say, well, duh, you think? Overall I think we are getting the hang of things.

Amidst it all Isabelle continues to amaze me! She's already trying to get her arms and legs into motion to crawl, although the mechanics need to get worked out some. In some ways it seems like she's taking after her dad in being an overachiever. This has got me thinking what will I do if she becomes an overachiever or starts to get ahead of other kids her age? And I think that I'm just going to encourage her. I can't wait to see how her personality and natural talents will develop over the course of her life.

New Baby Has Arrived!

A little late on this update, but understandably I've been busy!

On April 25th (just a week and a half ago!) at 6:15 pm Jessica and I welcomed our baby girl to the family naming her Isabelle Claire. Weight at birth was just under 6 lbs, but don't let her small size fool you. She passed her tests with flying colors and so far, at home, has made an attempt to try learning how to crawl, so she just may yet be an overachiever like her dad!

All the excitement at everything she does comes at the very small price of being just a little fatigued. But that is okay! What is interesting is that I was advised by some parents during Jessica's pregnancy "Oh, that first week is so hard. Watch out!" The first week with Isabelle home was probably anything but as hard, or terrible as some say. That is not to say that my experience with fatherhood is the exception--or even the rule--but rather I count myself fortunate and blessed that my wife and I have somehow narrowly escaped the drastic changes Isabelle has no doubt brought to our family life.

Jessica and I thank everyone for the continued support and prayers on our behalf as we get settled in what is now our new reality. And you know something? It just isn't that bad.

Altering My Use of Social Media - Part 2

So, a couple months ago I decided to take the Facebook app off my phone. (You can read about my reasons here.) After a couple of months of not using Facebook on my phone I've discovered more than just some space and battery being saved.

From time to time I just get into a mood. A real mood. A mood to write, blog, tinker with a website, or practice my coding (C++). I have to be honest those notifications were getting in the way of things I wanted to do, and much more than I thought.

After seeing the results of two months without Facebook on my phone, I've decided to keep it off my phone. I'm still going to use Facebook, but I've discovered that I only use it to keep in touch with friends and share... well... pointless stuff. A lot of what I share on Facebook is a lot of inside jokes that only friends and family members understand, so that's also why I don't accept friend requests from anyone unless I've actually met them (you know, in like real life).

As much as I still use social networking I've found that my main outlet is Twitter or Google+. It's not that Facebook doesn't cut it for me, or that I don't find it entertaining. It's mostly the fact that the amount of time I spend on Twitter and Google is considerably less than what I spend on Facebook.

That being said, I've been able to find more time for blogging - which presently is my best medium for writing and getting my thoughts out. So, until next time...

Baby Countdown

In case any of you have been completely out of the loop in the last several months: Jessica and I will are expecting the birth of our first child by approximately the end of the month or the first part of May. It's an exciting time filled with getting the crib ready, making sure we have enough diapers (at this point we have the equivalent of a Wal-Mart distribution center!), and packing the hospital bag that we'll be taking with us.

I think that, as much as we can be, we are ready. Now we wait!