High Tech Survivor

Full Circle: Reliving the Journey

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 23:16:00 +0000

I started this blog 2 and a half years ago, thinking I hated all things computers. I had just quit my high tech job in Seattle and had no idea where life would take me. Anywhere but high tech.

It was only about 2 months or so until I started doodling architecture design sketches for foodscout.org, which should have been my first clue that my future would be much more software-oriented than I had thought.

Then I moved on to Asheville, got myself the worst-paying software job I've ever had, and tried to make a go of that for about 6 months before dedicating myself full time to building websites for clients and finishing foodscout. That's been a good amount of fun but one thing that taught me is that I hate being poor.

Wow have I had less money than I've ever had in my life. John and I decided last November that it wasn't worth it and we both set out to find all new soul-sucking software jobs again. I interviewed at many places, hated almost all of them, with a couple of exceptions. But nothing worked out.

In April, we all but gave up on the job search entirely and decided to build something. We sat down for a "brainstorming meeting" determined to come up with an idea that might bring in some money. The first thing John suggested was "what about templated, commoditized websites for Republican organizations so that we can sell them kick-ass websites that are really inexpensive?" And, meeting adjourned. I immediately got to work and 2 months later, just a week before I started my new job, we launched GOP Web Connect.

And that brings us to this week, when I started working at the absolute best possible job in all of Asheville. I'm a software developer at the National Climatic Data Center (contractor), a place where everyone runs to the windows when a big storm rolls through town and everyone you meet tells you "This is just a wonderful place to work."

I've spent the last 3 days shopping for all the things I have needed but haven't been able to afford since I moved to Asheville in 2007. Like a ladder to clean out the gutters. And a real living room chair to replace the lawn chair with the Mexican blanket draped over it that's sitting there now.

I'm not complaining though. The last 2 and a half years of total uncertainty have been a blessing. I was forced to learn to adapt and accept not knowing what comes next. Embrace it even. I also learned to enjoy building software for its own sake, not because some corporate hierarchy tells me to. And I had time to focus on the things that really matter - community, friendship, love, health, art.

I still have all those things, all those lessons learned. But now, on top of that, I have lots and lots of money too!!! Well, I'm not rich or anything, but it's all relative. Compared to what I've had, I may as well be a millionaire.

Life is good. I have no complaints whatsoever.

Feng Shui Fountain on the Cheap

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:10:00 +0000

About a year ago, I was browsing my neighborhood thrift store (which sadly is going out of business) and I found this fantastic copper pot for $7. I had just been shopping for a copper table fountain around that time which were about $2-300. Ouch!

About 3 months ago my hot water heater blew up and needed to be replaced to the tune of about $500. Knowing that I had the perfect fountain bowl, I asked the guy installing my water heater to please save all the little pieces of copper pipe that were being trimmed.

And finally, in April, John kindly bought me a fountain pump for my birthday as a little incentive to get that thing built. Feeling motivated, we went to the hardware store and picked up a couple of copper pipe connector thingies.

Voila! A fountain! It only cost us about $40 total and it looks cooler than most of the ones I found online.

According to our feng shui expert, having "water features" in the house was supposed to help our finances, which is good because I've been REALLY broke. I'm not going to assert that one definitely caused the other but I will tell you with complete honesty and no sarcasm that the money has been flowing as consistently as my little fountain.

Starting from the day I plugged that thing in about 3 weeks ago, I've gotten several checks in the mail from new clients as well as old clients who had overdue bills. Then I got a good job offer in Asheville, for a job I had applied for last December with no success. And just this week I find out that I am going to inherit several thousand dollars from a relative that I didn't know had any assets to bequeath.

Apparently water features don't work the same for everyone though. So don't go putting one in your livingroom thinking it will make you rich. For you, it could cause you to go broke or make your hair fall out or something. I made that up, but seriously, it doesn't work the same for everyone.

April Snow in the Mountains

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 23:47:00 +0000

I'm a techno-geek

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 03:03:00 +0000

When I quit my software job in Dec 2006, supposedly for good, I never would have guessed what a total nerd I would eventually turn into. I realized it today when I was thinking about how many new technologies I wanted to learn but didn't have time for.

If you remember from my New Years Resolution, I am learning to write iPhone applications. I just got a great book on the subject which is helping me move along with it much faster. And I actually enjoy reading it. How creepy is that?

I've been having so much fun on facebook over the last several months that now I want to learn to write facebook applications. I hear it's not too difficult, but it's something I have to sit down and figure out....when I have time.

And then today, sci-fi came to life for me when I watched this video about prototype called Ubiquity. You just have to see it to understand.

Maybe I'm easily impressed, but I thought this was really cool. Apparently you can write simple little applications that plug into Ubiquity. Now I want to do that too.

I wasn't ever like this before. Not even when I first got into software. I did it for the paycheck and for the relaxed dress code. If gardening had paid as well, I would have done that instead. Now I do this stuff in my spare time for no pay. Life is funny.

Gregory is home!

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 22:54:00 +0000

I can't believe it! Several days of freezing temperatures and Gregory is home, no worse for wear. He is 2 pounds lighter and pretty thirsty, but the vet said he looked fine.

He was in Weaverville, 17 miles away. I'm going to talk with my neighbors and try to find out how he might have gotten out there. What I really want is to find some explanation so that I don't have to think some sicko did this intentionally out of malice.

He seems just as happy and relieved to be home as I am to have him here. He only gets off my lap to get some water and then he comes right back. I am so grateful. I am so grateful. I am so grateful.

Gregory is missing, and I am lost

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 23:08:00 +0000

In the fall of 1995, Gregory appeared in my life one day as an apartment stray. Last Sunday, over 13 years later, he disappeared. I don't know where he is or what happened to him.

If someone had found him, surely they would have called me. I have signs all over the neighborhood, ads in the papers and online, lost cat reports at the shelter and emergency clinic, and my number is on his collar if he hasn't lost it. It's been terribly cold the last few nights. If he's trapped outside I don't know that he'd survive. If he's trapped inside he'd be awfully thirsty by now.

Gregory, my old friend, I'm sorry I couldn't save you this time. If I could throw a blanket over the whole world, to keep you warm and protected, until someone found you and brought you home to me, I would.

Gregory was last seen in West Asheville near Olney Rd. and Vermont Ave. He is grey and white, 10 pounds, male, neutered.

2009 New Years Resolutions

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 20:07:00 +0000

As usual, I have 5 resolutions for 2009 that I plan to do my best to live up to.

Write an iPhone application

Limit myself to 2 Greens+ chocolate bars per week - You may remember that I have a bit of an addiction to these

Exercise at least 5 days a week

Straighten the house each night before I go to bed - I started this habit a few days ago and I like it so much I want to make it a regular thing

Visit 2 new places this year - I make this resolution every year. I think it's a good one.

2008 Resolutions - How did I do?

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:24:00 +0000

Just about a year ago today, I made my annual list of 5 New Years Resolutions. No point in making them if I don't go back and see whether or not I lived up to them. So, let's take a look...

Chew my food thoroughly - I remembered to do this only intermittently and didn't remember until now that it was a resolution I had made.

Walk my dog twice a week - If you go by a weekly average, then yes. There were 2 months in there where I walked him every day. During the cold weather though, he was lucky if he got even 1 each week. So I didn't really stick to this one either.

Plant a vegetable garden - Yes! I did do this! Of course, I planted it too late and now everything appears to be completely dead, probably from frost. But it still counts!

No more hitting refresh buttons on websites, email, and RSS readers - Oh my goodness, did I really say that? Yeah, didn't stick with that AT ALL. But I am better than I was a year ago. There are only a couple of things that I check compulsively now and I don't exactly do it all day long like I used to.

Travel to 2 new places this year - I don't know. Does Charlotte count? I don't think I can really say I did this. I've been too worried about money to take a real vacation anywhere. I went to New Hampshire last January, which counts, but that's only one new place.

So...wow, terrible. Usually I stick to at least 2. This year I can only say I really stuck to one, and the result of it is a giant outdoor litterbox for the cats (which may also explain why nothing is growing in my garden). I will say though, that with the exception of the 5th resolution, I made significant progress with regard to all of them.

I haven't come up with my resolutions for 2009 though. Maybe I need to aim lower, huh?

Pickin' the mandolin on my way back to bondage

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:45:00 +0000

If you're not a bluegrass fan, you may not relate to what I'm saying. I love bluegrass. Doesn't matter what kind of mood I'm in - if a good bluegrass tune starts playing, I feel like dancing. The music makes me so happy. Even the sad songs make me happy. So when John asked me the other day, after I'd spent weeks feeling like every day was a big waste of time, what I'd really enjoy doing, I said "I'd like to play in a bluegrass band. But that's not going to happen."

He seems to think I'd make a pretty good mandolin player. I took violin lessons for years but I never got to be that good, so playing is a frustrating experience for me. (Say what you want, Aunt Kathie, but I'm really not good at it.) But a mandolin has frets so it's easier to play. You don't have to worry about being in tune. That made a lot of sense to me and so I became pretty enthused about the idea of learning to play the mandolin. And I just so happen to have one lying around. It's the one my grandfather used to play when we'd visit for the holidays.

If I didn't think of something interesting to occupy my time, I was going to drive myself insane. I can only job hunt for so many hours a week and for some reason it's hard to do anything else when you're thinking about getting a job. I started playing mandolin yesterday and it's managed to hold my attention so far. I'd happily play it all day long if my finger tips didn't hurt so bad. Good fun.

The Holidays Are A Pain

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 15:59:00 +0000

I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday season because it is seriously interfering with my job search. Trying to look for a job between Thanksgiving and New Years Day is a complete waste of time. No one does anything the week of Thanksgiving. And then when they get back to work, everyone is just thinking about their Christmas vacation coming up in a couple of weeks. I don't know why anyone even bothers showing up to work the week between Christmas and New Years. If anyone is there at all, they are probably just playing video games the whole time.

I had a company call me a week ago Tuesday saying they wanted someone to start THAT WEEK, and asking if I could come in for an interview. I said "sure!" I hear nothing for a full week so I figured they hired someone else. Nope, as it turns out, they just didn't get around to dealing with the hiring because everyone is on vacation. At least most companies have the decency to tell you up front that they won't be getting back to anyone until January.

That's great for all of you, but I'm trying to find a job and this is a big inconvenience. Come on people, get back to work!!! I've got 3 hungry pets to feed and they don't care one bit about the holidays.

Job Hunting Again

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:16:00 +0000

It's been almost 2 years since I started this blog. 2 Years since I left my software job in Seattle and said, "never again!" Then I started building websites for clients and I said, "ok, again, but this is really kind of different so it doesn't count."

Now, 2 years later, I'm here to tell you, unequivocally, "Again!"

2 Things have changed since December of 2006. (1) I am running out of money and (2) I actually don't hate software development like I thought I did. (Good job Aunt Kathie - you called that one at the very beginning.)

The truth is, I have had a ton of fun building websites and various web applications over the last couple of years. In fact, it was only about 2 months after quitting that job in Seattle that I started getting the itch to build foodscout.org.

I was definitely unsatisfied with my life at that point. I felt like every day was a total waste of time and energy. I kept thinking "there has to be more to life than this." Turns out that it was unfair to blame those feelings on my job. The job added to it, sure, but once again, I found that I had to look inward to really solve the problem. Working with interesting people, doing interesting things doesn't actually sound too bad to me at all, now that life in general is so much dang fun.

Now, I know what you're thinking. "Diana, that sounds like a bullshit justification for falling back into that thing you swore you were done with." And you may be quite right about that. If so, I refer you to reason number (1) above: I am running out of money. Anyone looking for a good Java developer who isn't burned out on high tech?

Gas Shortage in Asheville...Again

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:30:00 +0000

Last week we tried to get gas at the station down the street and found all the pumps labeled 'out of order.' Weird, but we just went to the next one, cursed at having to pay $45 for 10 gallons of gas, and went on our way.

It wasn't until I walked past a radio playing some local talk show that I discovered the 'Asheville gas shortage'. The talk show host was screaming at how disappointed he was in Asheville citizens for buying into some rumor about a gas shortage, thereby creating an unnecessary gas shortage.

Today, it happened again, except this time the 2nd gas station was also out of gas. There was one station opened and it had several cars waiting in line. Not really needing gas, we went on our way to the grocery store and let everyone else fend for themselves. Searching online, I found out that the gas shortage also effected Nashville, TN, Charlotte, NC, and somewhere in Louisiana.

Again, today I see every yahoo and his brother online talking about how idiots have caused a gas shortage. I suppose that everyone learned that story in high school about how Johnny Carson caused a toilet paper shortage simply by making a joke about a made-up toilet paper shortage, and now they think they are very smart and special for 'knowing' that everyone is out panicking over an invented gas shortage.

I wasn't out panicking over a gas shortage, I was just going to the gas station to get gas as though I live in a prosperous nation. I'm betting that most other people were doing the same. Only there wasn't any gas. But if we blame 'those idiots' who panic, then we don't have to face up to the possible reality that our economy is imploding and our government is fleecing the people through massive printing/devaluing of our dollar to support lousy banks, an endless war, and a dying American worldwide empire.

In short, I don't know if the gas shortage is real or just another psychological failure of the American people, kind of like our collective psychological delusion that supposedly drove up gas prices in the first place. More importantly, you don't know either. If you had that sort of insight, you'd probably be making lots of money off of stocks and commodities and derivatives and lots of other big financial words that I don't fully understand. So shut your pie hole.

Wordless Wednesday: A cicada isn't quite ready to let go of its old shell

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:09:00 +0000

Can you guess the name of this rock?

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:02:00 +0000

If you guessed, "Chimney Rock" then you would be right! This natural rock structure, through no human intervention whatsoever, looks exactly like a....uh....CHIMNEY! Amazing.

The town of Chimney Rock is a charming little touristy town nestled in a lush green valley here in Western North Carolina. It has a bit of a Disney World feel to it, but much smaller and less crowded. For some reason, it is a popular spot for bikers.

We also took a little ride 1/2 a mile down the road to Lake Lure. Looks like a nice place to go swimming - if you enjoy swimming in lakes - but otherwise wasn't terribly fascinating.

Happy Birthday Aunt Kathie!

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:59:00 +0000

I was sure that by this time, some brilliant inspiration would hit me. I might draw you a picture or write something profound. I even considered writing a haiku, something I have only done in high school English classes. But nothing came to me.

But no matter, it is still your birthday and I at least want you to know that I am sending you the happiest of happy birthday wishes.

For those of you who do not know my Aunt Kathie, you are really missing out. I suggest you go on up to her little town outside of Binghamton, NY and meet her. She probably won't mind, but you ought to let her know you're coming. You'll see that she is just about the most loving, generous, supportive, appreciative, open-hearted person in the world. She's also funny, talented, fascinating, intelligent, and wise. Really, you have no idea of what you are missing. That's a picture of her. Isn't she magnificent???

A few of my favorite features of Aunt Kathie include:

She always encourages me to follow through on my ideas - she never gives me reasons why something isn't possible.

She always tells me she loves me, even though I already know.

If she says she is going to do something, she always does it - even if it takes her months or years to get around to it!

She is my biggest fan.

She takes fantastic pictures.

She is great at Clue, my favorite board game.

She loves to honor others for their greatness.

So, happy birthday Aunt Kathie! Have the best day ever - you deserve it!

Google Adsense Payday

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 18:21:00 +0000

Cha-ching! After about 10 months of having google ads on various sites, including this one, VeganGirl, and FoodScout, I finally got my first Google Adsense check. Woo hoo! Like many Adsense paycheck recipients before me, for instance this guy, I am following the tradition of posting an obscured picture of myself holding my new riches. My check is a tad bit smaller than his.

Click on the picture to see the check up close and to get a glimpse of how awesome my hair looks.

Now, how to spend my new found fortune?

Wordless Wednesday: Sweeter than he is smart

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:03:00 +0000

Birds in my fireplace

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:27:00 +0000

Early this morning I was awoken (much too early) by the words, "Sweetie!!! There's cat vomit on the floor and birds in the fireplace!" Whuh? Sure enough, that was the situation. 2 little birds had managed to come down through the chimney and into our fireplace. Lucky for them, the screen trapped them safely away from the cats.

We locked the dog and the cats outside the back door and propped the front door open. Our house is very small so we figured that once we let the birds out of the fireplace, they would fly around for a minute and find the way out.

Unfortunately, they seemed convinced that the little windows above the fireplace were their escape path. They flew straight into it. Once they were convinced that there was no getting through it, they just perched on window sills. It was at this point that John asked if I was just going to leave the cat vomit on the floor. "I am so not concerned about the cat vomit right now."

Finally, one of them flew to a window that actually is able to open. Amazingly, the bird sat on that window sill while John opened the screen and the bird flew out. With a little encouragement from us, the other bird followed.

The floor is cleaned up now as well.

Let there be light! (and a cool breeze)

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:30:00 +0000

9 Months ago, after much obsessing over styles, sizes, and functionality, we bought a lovely ceiling fan to replace the hideous and enormous royal blue ceiling fan that came with our kitchen. The new fan has lived in a box in our dining room (also known as the storage closet) this entire time. We removed and sold the blue fan as soon as the new one arrived, thinking that we'd install it right away.

Getting around in the kitchen at night has been an interesting challenge. Oh well, there's always the little lights over the stove and sink. I am so very happy to report that our beautiful ceiling fan is now installed and working. All I have to do is flip a little switch and *poof!* the light goes on. You know, like normal people do.

Getting that one box out of the dining room also inspired us to organize all the rest of the junk that was being stored in there. Maybe in another 9 months we'll actually have some furniture. "Dining room" - before and after:

Wordless Wednesday: Giant Asheville Insect

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Wed, 28 May 2008 11:35:00 +0000

It's durian season!

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Sun, 25 May 2008 16:03:00 +0000

It had been nearly a year since I was last able to buy a whole durian. Sure, you can always get those little plastic boxes with the saran-wrapped durian. But it's just not the same. In Seattle, you can get a whole durian just about any time of year from any number of different Asian markets.

Up here in the mountains of Asheville, we are not so lucky. There is one Korean market in town that carries whole durians. They get them by driving down to Atlanta (about 4 hours away) every Sunday and bringing half a dozen back with them. If the durians don't look good that Sunday, they don't get any. During the winter months, they don't bother bringing any back. In spring, they get them if they look good. Once May arrives, they apparently get them every week.

But even so, if you don't act quick, you still miss out. We've gone down there every week for the past 4 weeks to pick up a durian but with no luck. "Oh, we had some, but some guy came in and bought the last 2 about an hour ago." "Sorry, a women bought the entire case as soon as we brought them in." Why they don't buy a full dozen I will never know.

But this week, we called down there just as the store opened on Sunday to ask if there were any whole durians. Hooray! There were! 10 minutes later we arrived at the store and bought the most delicious durian this side of the Pacific Ocean.

Xondie becomes a real company

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Mon, 19 May 2008 18:47:00 +0000

Many weeks ago, I mentioned that we were starting our own web site business. Now it's actually a real business. Not only is it officially registered, but we actually have a *real* website up now! http://www.xondie.com. We've even been paid now and again for website work.

Our old "temporary" web page was rather embarrassing. It's one thing to have a crappy 1-page site for a business. But this is a WEB DESIGN business. Kinda gives the wrong impression when our own website blows.

Next step: business cards! Getting there....

Olde Time Things

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:57:00 +0000

The nice thing about last week's outing, on the Ghost Trolley, is that the tickets were good for free admission to the Thomas Wolfe Memorial, which includes an exhibit, short movie, and a tour of the boarding house that his mother ran, where Tom spent much of his childhood.

Thomas Wolfe, the famous playwright and author, lived from 1900 to 1938 and his father moved to Asheville maybe 20 years before - I can't remember exactly. Like so many people did (and continue to do) his father moved here because his wife at the time was suffering from lung ailments and the mountain air in Asheville was thought to have special restorative properties.

Anyway, the neat thing is that all of the stuff in the house was genuine olde time things that the Wolfe family actually owned, right down to the dishes and the kitchen tools. They even have an old working phonograph that they still turn on for special occasions.

The most interesting part of the tour was learning about how his novel, "Look Homeward, Angel," was autobiographical to such detail that the people of Asheville were pissed when it came out because the characters so obviously portrayed real people in Asheville, and not always in a very flattering light. Makes me want to read the book.

I'm afraid the pictures aren't the greatest because it was hard to get a shot with the tour moving so fast and people constantly being in the way of the shot.

Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:54:00 +0000

Xondie - We build websites

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 21:25:00 +0000

It's official. We registered our business with Buncombe County (that's where we live) and opened a bank account for it. We've got more of a website up, although it's still pretty darn incomplete. I guess it's a good sign that we've been too busy to finish our own website.

You'll notice we took the 'bad word' out of our tagline, but now it's not much of a tagline at all. We'll have to keep working on that.