Photography For Sale :)

http://engellam.imagekind.com/nature

Even nerds need a little sunshine

Today, we had a Field Day. Our department put on shorts and headed to the great outdoors for tomfoolery and shenanigans. Beer and crazy competitions. At some point, I decided I needed some carbs for the sack race:

I was preparing to dominate, but I underestimated the competition, and unfortunately, I was beat by a nerdy Jesus look alike with springs in his legs. It's my own fault. I recommended they hire him. =P

I really hope my time outside doesn't give me a tab. I enjoy being pasty. The computer monitor tan is all I need to get by in life.

I am working on something really cool here. Without giving any implementation specs, it's a method of page construction for our internal platform here. I am pleased so far with the designs and the prototype. I just need more time to get it done amongst all the craziness. I have missed architecting good solutions. It has been a while since I was able to feel like I was actually getting anything done in this chaotic work environment.

I wish I had some nerdy side projects to blog about. Then, I'd have something nerdy to talk about and you all would think I was cool. :)

What kind of personality does a female programmer have?

ESTJ - "Administrator". Much in touch with the external environment. Very responsible. Pillar of strength. 8.7% of total population.

Extroverted (E) 65.52% Introverted (I) 34.48% Sensing (S) 58.97% Intuitive (N) 41.03% Thinking (T) 79.31% Feeling (F) 20.69% Judging (J) 76.47% Perceiving (P) 23.53%

Enneagram Test Results Type 1 Perfectionism |||||||||||||||||||| 86% Type 2 Helpfulness |||||||||||| 46% Type 3 Image Awareness |||||||||||| 46% Type 4 Sensitivity |||| 13% Type 5 Detachment |||||||||||||| 53% Type 6 Anxiety |||||||||||||||| 66% Type 7 Adventurousness |||||||||| 40% Type 8 Aggressiveness |||||||||||||||| 70% Type 9 Calmness |||||||||||| 43% Your main type is 1 Your variant is social

type	score	type behavior motivation
1	26	I must be perfect and good to be happy.
8	21	I must be strong and in control to be happy.
6	20	I must be secure and safe to be happy.
5	16	I must be knowledgable and independent to be happy.

Main type	Variant

personality tests by similarminds.com

PhotoShop

May the code gods forgive me, but sometimes I really miss being a PhotoShop monkey. There is just so much fun to be had. I actually used to be quite proficient at photo editing and creative crap. Seems that some of our dev team got poached for other projects, so I thought it'd be fun to put out an APB for them... on a milk carton. 

I promise...

... to try updating my tech blog more often. :)

The problem here is that for a long time, I felt I lost my passion for tech. I interviewed for a management position that didn't quite work out, but it was my own fault. I allowed someone to convince me to step back from it and do something else, under the promise and assumption that, "we really need you right here and right now, and there will always be something available for a person of your skill level". 

Well, now the economy is in the crapper, and no such availabilities exist. I was bitter and I doubted myself for this decision for a long time... until recently, when I decided to start running as a personal goal for 2009. Yes, sneakers on, treadmill moving, the works. In stereotypical super-nerd fashion, I am a thick-framed glasses-wearing asthmatic who is allergic to everything, so this decision presented quite a challenge.

I decided to run because I was tired of being just another doughy programmer with a sit down job and a host of health problems. I have never been athletic in my life, ever. I have never stuck to a workout regime for very long either. Amazingly enough, after only two months, I found myself running an eight minute mile without needing to use my inhaler anymore, and I'm trying to work my way up to a 5K for the end of April.

I am now able to clear my head at the gym and start my morning with a smile. I have no more stress and anxiety in the work place. I am more assertive. I have more energy. I am actually transitioning into a morning person too, believe it or not (and that's saying a lot since I gave up coffee almost five years ago and am notorious for sleeping in). Best of all, I am finally rediscovering that once upon a time, I actually did enjoy writing code. 

The turn of events that led me here may have been for the best, or at least I'm trying to see it that way now. I do enjoy finding simpler ways to do things and architecting good solutions. There may be hope for me yet.