Author: SK

I am getting stuck with my caching templates. It’s really complex, so I think I really have to nail it. But it’s also causing me a headache. I’ve been digging at it pretty much all day today. If I was really careful when I first started it, it would have been much, much better. Instead, I have to dig through it and find issues. But at least it’s fun and I am proud of what I accomplished.

Things are a bit crazy at work. The implementation of the caching mechanism is just making things worse for me. It’s really complicated and it’s hard to work in this type of an environment. But on the other hand, it’s my baby. I love working on this! It’s a great pleasure and it’s making me feel good when I see it’s working.

I am adjusting my learning. I need to study less but on a deeper level. I have time. I don’t need to zip through technologies and learn on a very shallow level. I need to dig in to the technology. I need to create a project based on it. I need to document it. I need to be able to utilize it during an interview.

This will slow me down a great deal. This will change my learning style. But I have found a hole in my previuos learning. I cannot continue with the way I have been.

Plus, now I have the tools to utilize.

I have an SVN so I can easily work on projects both at home and at work.
I have a wiki that I can utilize and document my learning.
I am reading PDFs, which make it easier to carry the book around. 🙂

Do I learn too much? One thing is for sure. I have a short memory. I don’t remember a lot of stuff. I don’t really know what the cause is, but it’s not good. But I do remember a lot and I think one way to make sure that I will remember more is to make sure that I document what I learn. I need to do more detailed learning. Reading a book and expecting to get “stuck” in my mind is just not going to work.

Yes, I will change the way I learn. I have already started doing that, actually. My wiki is going to be the central place. My blogs will also be a destination.

I have an interview tomorrow! I am ready. I want it to happen. I can’t wait that much. I will get the job because I am a great candidate. I have to get that message across. I will not get the job though if I will not remember a lot of stuff. But I hope they don’t grill me on the syntax but more on abstract way of thinking, developing. I hope the focus is on being the right fit, rather than knowing every little detail.

I know my stuff. Either they will like it or not. But I have to get on with it since it’s distracting me a little bit.

I also have to keep in mind that my goal is to get a new job by the end of March 010. I still have time. But I will get this job! I want to work in a learning environment. I want to work in a Java shop.

I am preparing for an interview at LM. I do want to be in a position where I get an offer. I am not sure if I am going to take it, etc. But I don’t want to fail. I don’t know, failure is a step back. But on the other hand, it’s a good experience. I will learn from it either way. If I don’t get it, then I will learn from what I did not know. Based on my previous experience, I know that’s a big motivator.

But if I am not going to know a lot of answers for a lot of questions, then something is not right.

I am already finding flaws in my learning process. I will improve it. I will document what I have learned. I will slow it down a bit more to digest it more. I will write about it. I have to have a good reference for the things that I have learned. I don’t want to just forget it after I read it. Not a really good way to learn.

I had an interview with Proclivity systems that totally went wrong. I got asked really detailed questions that I did not know how to answer. My rustyness is starting to show. But I never knew these anyway. One problem with me is that I don’t get too dirty with a technology that I am using. I should modify my approach. When learning a new technology, new language, I really need to dig it. I need to write about it. I need to practice it. I really need to get dirty. Otherwise, I know that technology when I use it, but totally forget about it when I don’t.

I have another interview on Friday. This one I hope I don’t blow. I can’t. Even if  I don’t accept the job, I hope to do well. I think I would love working for Lime Wire. They seem to have a good environment, with good people, with quality code. But there are a lot of unknowns.

I got some really good news today! I got an interview with Lime Wire! I am still not 100% convinced that it’s THE place for me, but I should I at least try the interview process going if I want to find something by the end of March!

So I submitted my revised homework last week and it turned out that it meets their needs. Supposedly, they are excited to have me come in for an interview! Now, what I need to do is start preparing for it. I am still rusty in some areas of Java, so I will spend some time preparing for this upcoming Friday! Plus, I have a tech talk tomorrow with Proclivity Systems and hopefully I’ll get an interview as well.

The ideal situation for me would be to get offers from 2 places. I would choose the best one from the two. Plus, it would give me some leverage in negotiations. But what am I talking about, I first need to get that offer. I will worry about it later.

My wife asked me a very good question. Why do I need to change jobs again? Because I think the longer I stay around here in NBC, the more I lose out, the more my skills degrade. There is not enough Java in here.

I am not sure if I can drink… Yesterday I had a few drinks and I felt really bad at night. At some point, I couldn’t sleep… What is going on with me? I think yesterday I had some acid issues that woke me up and then were bothering me. Once I took a pill, everything was ok.

My wife just can’t take me drinking. I think it’s just the way she is. I can’t really do anything about that… I don’t do it often, so I should not concern myself with that. If she wants to do what she’s doing, then who cares. I am not a drunk.

As far as my job search, I think I’m back to earth. I don’t think I really have to rush anyway. I had a talk with Proclivity today. It might be a good fit, but I only had a single talk. I will talk to them again on Tuesday. We’ll see what happens. It’ll be more technical, so I should prepare.

I feel like I’m on top of the world today. Everything is going right. I finished my homework for LW. I had great time with my son. I received another lead. A good one, actually. I’m on a roll! I love it.

It’s funny how quickly things can change.