Steve Sizemore's Weblog

Here's a list of the internet based media I'm into lately:

podcasts
engadget
macCast
make
techPhile
this WEEK in TECH

video
command-N
diggnation
From the Shadows
strongbad email
systm

Posted by at 10:37 AM | Permalink

I'm back at our Lake Gray office. I'm enjoying one of the best cups of coffee I've ever had. Comm Flight coffee leaves much to be desired. So I'm back to my normal routine: a 4 mile commute, sleeping 'til 6:30, great coffee, fast internet, my iPod, and great office banter. Now if I could just figure out what I was working on.

Posted by at 7:20 AM | Permalink

Well I just finished with a week of annual training with the Air National Guard. We did a Phase 1 ORI. Basically we simulated packing up and deploying to an oversees location. Picture all the logistics of moving a few hundred people and material to go war. While that was going on the network control center was inspected on some of our Information Assurance procedures. It was a long week of 12+ hour days and checklists.

Complicated checklists that tell you what to do if you get a classified message on an unclassified network. Or what do to if you get a virus. We didn't do so well. Some of the members of the NCC, that should have known the procedures, seemed less than confident about it. The inspector picked up on our self-doubt and dug deeper. The most important thing ... when you're being evaluated is to appear confident at all times. Just looking smart can allow others to give you the benifit of the doubt. Some of us didn't look so smart this weekend.

The one nice thing about this week is that on Monday I sewed on the rank of Technical Seargent. I was pretty excited but at the same time I felt kinda guilty. There were several other people that put in for the same position. I just felt bad that I won. Everyone one was cool about it though. So I guess I got all worried for nothing.

What else? I turn 27 tomorrow. No big plans. I'm seriously considering not going back to work tomorrow. I probably should go, just because I've been away for an entire week, and I know I have a lot of work to do. I just feel really drained. Throughout this week, I slowly lost the ability to communicate and think clearly. Things got a little fuzzy toward the end. Am I getting to old for this? So I may just skip work altogether, just so I can return 100% rested and ready to work. Is it better to go to work and give 50% or rest up and work at 105%? Does this make me some sort of rock star primadona? ... slacker?

Posted by at 8:14 PM | Permalink

I'm in a creative slump right now. You can probably tell this from my lack of quality posts lately. The thing about writer's block isn't that your ideas are bad; it's just that YOU think all your ideas are bad. This has been true with my photos, blog posts, and my work lately.

I'm not sure why I'm in this slump. Things have been going incredibly well over the past few weeks. I just got promoted at Anteon. I'm now a Senior Software Engineer. I'm really stoked about the engineer part. It only took a college degree and 5 years experience with the company. I got my promotion with the Florida Air National Guard. I'm now a Technical Sergeant (E-6) and in charge of the career development and training of several other members. I'm really excited about this. The pay is a little better for one thing, and after 8 years of service, I'm looking forward most of all to taking on more responsibilities. It was hard coming to drill once a month, and doing the same exact thing for 8 years. Plus I need to feel like I'm moving forward all the time.

Michele and I are expecting our third child. I'm really excited about this too. I just found out on my way back from OKC. We had our first two kids when we we're really young. At that time I was focused on getting my education and establishing my career. Now, I feel like I have more time to soak in the child birth experience. I'm enjoying spending more time with my family.

I refinanced my house, and paid off all my debt. I still have enough money to do some home improvement stuff I've wanted to do.

So now you're up to date. I hope you realize how hard it was to hit the submit button on this post. I'm sure I've come out of this slump soon. I have to. Hopefully I'll get into work tomorrow and lay down a few lines of great code or redesign some great new layouts. Man, I hope so.

Posted by at 10:15 PM | Permalink