My day started at Zoka Coffee in the University District.
Coffee, breakfast, and some light coding / app config. Then bailed for home, which is where I’m at right now. As it’s a holiday weekend, where many our out squeezing in one last extended summer weekend, I’m pretty well tied up with the reality that are my unavoidable deliverables. I’ve got no problem spending my weekend this way, as I know I am working hard towards something much bigger. So with that, here’s a list of what I’ve got on tap this Labor Day weekend.
What are you all doing? @infinitelymeta me on Twitter or *Like* this post on Friendfeed to get in on the conversation. That’s where I tend to hang out on socnets these days.
Happy Labor Day everyone!
Brian’s Uber List
New range/oven delivery for unit 2214 (one of my new tenants stove broke so I replaced it with this:
Put out For Rent sign for my soon to be available 1BR apartment in Eastlake, Seattle WA 98102. It rents for $1400 and is the entire lower floor of an historic Victorian home that was built in 1908. An excellent spacious unit with great lighting. Email eastlakeassociates at gmail if interested or call 206.328.3379 and leave a message.
Java/JSF/AJAX - I’m putting the final interfaces and code tweaks in place for a project that I’ve spend a quarter working on. Final interfaces in place, but still have 75+ line item bug list. Need to go code complete by Monday evening to begin FTP transfer of Development VMware image from one side of our network to an internal only host. Still have A LOT of work ahead of me to finish this project and go into team only beta next week with Public Beta (internal corp net) on Sept 8.
Landscaping & trim to prep for fall. Luckily, I really enjoy this task. Especially when my 5.5 yr old nephew Logan joins me. He makes some pretty good coin and he’s a GREAT helper.
Working with my friend Thom, the Ichthyogenius on our latest project, Reef In A Box that we are looking to launch in the coming months.
Working on the YTranslate.us engine. Coding in PHP/mySQL/Python/etc. Toying with new SMS gateway (thanks to Mona’ Friendfeed post).
Meeting with contractor on some fix-r-up-r projects for 3 of my apts in preparation for Fall/Winter.
Looking for electrician to install some motion-sensor aware lighting in my back alley and in between my building to deal with my unwanted-persons-on-my-property challenge.
Water changes & general maintenance on my 300 gallon reef tank.
Prep/meet with GC on new reef tank project. Wait till you see what I’m going to build. It’s gonna pop!
Shade garden v2. Part of the landscaping stuff I suppose, but definitely worthy of mention.
Replace fire extinguisher in common area to be in compliance with recent Seattle City Fire Department inspection.
As I continue to juggle what is roughly the equivalent of three full time jobs, I’m starting to run up against that magic barrier that is the space - time continuum. I’m going through a significant amount of change right now at my day job, am having to go through an eviction process with one of my tenants (night job), and I’m still feverishly trying to get Infinitely Meta and YTranslate off the ground. Needless to say it consumes nearly every waking hour of my life. I’m not complaining, as I am already hyper-efficient in managing all of the things I CHOOSE to spend my precious time on.
I think right now I need to continue to focus, not lose track of what is most important, and constantly assess and re-assess my priorities in how I spend those 24 hours each and every day.
Tomorrow I have a VERY special meeting with one of my advisors who is going to give me a personal tour of what he is working on. I’ll take lots of pics, ask questions, and blog it when I get back. Then it’s off to the Tweetup and finally the Gnomedex 2008 kickoff.
Hopefully this torrential rain will let up soon. Currently looking strikingly similar to the Pineapple Express weather pattern that we had back in 1997. Time will tell. Personally, I don’t mind the rain. What I do mind are the CRAPPY Seattle drivers who seem to not know how to drive in it.
I thought I’d post some pictures I took while walking around our “camp”, which is where I spent my summer vacation this year. Below, you will find a Flickr set that contains some pictures of “Camp HateToQuitIt” which has been in my mother’s family since around 1898. My folks own about 1000‘ 400′ of shoreline on the Great Sacandaga Lake and about 100 acres of forest up the mountain behind our “camp”.
I’ve been coming up here since I can remember and it is here that I often find peace and serenity. Enjoy the pics, and please understand my sometimes extended absense from posting, as it’s quite nice to be able to unplug and get away from it all.
Here’s the flickr set that should help set the proper context.
After reading this conversation thread on Friendfeed, I started to comment, but did a quick cut and paste into this here blog post. What follows was my original comment (not posted) that I would like to expand upon here. Then I’d like to get your feedback on Friendfeed, Twitter, or whatever stream you like to post your comments to. I really could care less where you reply, just make it findable!
Regarding my use of Linked In -
“I must admit that I have a LI account, but I have not updated it in probably 6 years. I’ve been working with the same team for 8+ years, having weathered 4 M&A events and countless reorgs. I’ve come to ignore Linked In because after having gone through the first M&A event, the only time I would get Linked In email would be when friends are riffed and forced to move on to other new positions in the industry.”
*Expanding on comment here*
This became a recurring pattern after a while, where the only times I’d ever get email updates From Linked In were from people who were let go or less often just quit for other opportunities. I found myself trying to avoid accepting any of the “friend requests” or whatever their term is for adding people to your network, and I just stopped using it altogether.
I haven’t logged into my account in years and if you check out my profile, you’ll see that the last position I posted was “Senior Product Manager”, which was 2 companies and three job title’s ago.
I’m tempted to login to Linked In and update my profile, just so my stuff is accurate, but I have this recurring fear that all those people who tried to “friend” me and all of my CURRENT colleagues are going to come out of the woodwork and start picking my profile apart.
Many of my professional colleagues are not on Twitter, Friendfeed, or most of the other social networking sites I use regularly, and I’m not sure that I want them to “invade” the communities that I participate in outside of my dayjob.
I’m all for transparency, but I’m having a very hard time figuring out the right balance between personal vs my professional uses of these socnets.
What do you think? I’m very curious to hear what other people think and where I’ll find the most valuealbe advice.
I’m in countdown to vacation mode, which requires hyper-productivity on my part. Tying up loose ends with Eastlake Associates LLC, digesting major org changes at my dayjob, and moving rather quickly with startup activity around Infinitely Meta.
I’ve finally got some talent working on my personal & corporate brand. Mad props going out to Sean Blake (aka @bluefox) who has graciously agreed to help with this effort. Here’s what he sent me after I briefed him on the idea / concepts behind Infinitely Meta. What do you think of the new logo/brand?
It’s Sunday morning and I’m still exhausted from July 4. The party was a HUGE success. Great people, great food & great drinks. Things got a little crazy just before the fireworks started up on the roof. This year, I got up on the roof early and setup a tripod with my Panasonic HD video recorder and my Quickcam Pro 9000 that I used to stream the Fireworks show on UStream.
I typically invite those who are brave enough to climb both ladders and view the fireworks from the roof of my 4-plex building as there are unabated views of the Fireworks barge and Lake Union from there. The view is spectacular and the Fireworks show this year was most excellent.
What I hadn’t expected was the mass migration of people from surrounding houses/parties to my roof! At one point, my brother in-law counted over 50 people on the roof. There was even a DOG! Someone even brought the KEG up. It was unreal. I was a bit nervous about the structural integrity of the roof, but I asked everyone to spread out and distribute the weight. I also asked folks to stay away from the edge and just be careful.
The fireworks show was most excellent and I’ll be importing and converting the HD video I shot as soon as possible. Until I get that up, here’s the raw video footage. There is probably some language and conversations that are NSFW, so apologies in advance. I claim no responsibiilty for the content (audio) portion of the video. Enjoy! We did.
Business Processes
$$$$$$ Management - Implemented in Q2. Roll out to field early Q3
$$$$$$ Management - Implemented in Q2. Roll out to field early Q3
$$$$$$ Engagement - Implemeneted in Q2. Roll out to field early Q3
$$$$$$ - Modeled in Q2. Implement in Q3
$$$$$$ - Modeled in Q2. Implement in Q3
$$$$ UIs
New $$$$ - DONE
My $$$$ - DONE
Update $$$$ - ALMOST DONE
Search for $$$$ - DONE
New #### - DONE
My #### - DONE
Update #### - ALMOST DONE
Search for #### - ALMOST DONE
New @@@@ - DONE (partner)
My @@@@ - ALMOST DONE (partner)
Search for @@@@ - IN PROCESS (partner)
&&&& UIs
Review $$$$ - DONE
Acquire $$$$ - DONE
Resubmit $$$$ & Request Review - ALMOST DONE
Review #### - DONE
#### Compliance Check - DONE (Pending review by YYY)
Update #### - ALMOST DONE
Review & Quantify @@@@ - DONE (partner)
Assign @@@@ Project Lead - DONE (partner)
Define Project @@@@ - IN PROCESS (partner)
Review @@@@ Project Plan - IN PROCESS (partner)
Upload & Review $$$$ Documentation - NOT STARTED (Joint)
Upload Final Doc & Signoff - NOT STARTED (Joint)
Live Pre-Alpha / Active Development site: http://$$.$$
ppp ppppp - xxxxxxx - one week “firedrill mode” field support for team
on site at xxxxxx. See email summaries from ppp for details. I believe
his comment on my presentation to the xxxx Java development team was
something like “You hit it out of the park.”
pppp ppppp - supported custom task UI and uuu development for xxxxxxxx
opportunity. [Need to verify VMs that ppp submitted this quarter.]
pppp ppppppp - built custom skin, shell, pages, & rules for xxxxxx opportunity. Assisted with implementation of
yyyyyyyyyy for [Need to follow up and make
sure that pppp submits this solution after the engagement is over]
pppp pppppp - helped with specific UI tweaks for custom jjjjjjjjj for
follow up demo/showcase to sssssss (hot customer).
ppppp ppppp - helped him setup custom ffffff Report viewer portlet for
hhh demo.
ppp ppppp pppp - helped with questions on file attachments
provider/panel for custom UI.
pppp ppppppp- assisted with zzzz UI, assignment, and rules config for
zzzzz demo VMware image.
pppppp pppppppppp- assisted with zzz UI, nnnn and page refactoring
for new version of zzzz w. sss demo / VMware Image. [Need to
confirm that we have this vmware asset/solution.]
ppppppp ppppp - helped with specific questions on Bootcamp training
setup and some of the initial modules. Provided email assistance.
ppppppp ppppppp - support on techniques for using zzz and/or sss
for publish to xxx ccc directly from Windows.
ppppp pppppp - assisted with sss UI, ddddd, page design & layout
for refactoring sssss demo.
ppppppp ppppppppp- assisted pppppp and Course Developer with scoping out
and validating zzz course topics and techniques for Advanced zzz course.
pppppp ppppp - helped ppppp with some issues he was having with zzzzz
Reports. Sent him copy of my generic zzzzz Report Viewer portlet, which
seemed to solve his problem.
General Field Support - monitor and respond to questions when
appropriate on zzz and aaa mailing lists. Day to day repsonding to
questions on qqqq team aliases.
Perfected new technique to **************************** [ again too cool and confidential]
ppppp ppppp - worked with ppppp to setup hosted zzzzzz
environment for him to test sssss z.z.z scenarios. In exchange, he’s
going to personally help us use zzzzzzz to **********************.
Perfected new techniques for ****************** [ sorry. that's the super secret special sauce]
pppp pppp - Product Marketing - Reached out to pppp to help get
our business processes more visibility within the company.
Hoping to use our current zzzzz project as a success story for how xxx
is***************** [sorry]
ppppp pppppppp - Reached out to ppppp to begin exploring
options for building new ******* [sorry]
ppppppppppppppp - managed collaborative development
and implementation of ********* [sorry confidential ]
Training & Mentoring - assisted ppppppp & pppppp
with zzz and xxxx UI skills development for projects they were working
on this quarter. Held several webex sessions to demonstrate techniques
and showcase implementation patterns for zzz/xxxx UI building.
Training & Mentoring - delivered several 1:1 sessions with zzzzzzz
partner development team to establish baseline level of agreement and
understanding for specific *************** [confidential]
Training & Mentoring - held several 1:1 sessions in zzzzzz office with
pppp ppppppp to do skills exchange. I helped him with some zzzz/xxxxx
stuff and he helped me by showing some of his dddd/ssss techniques.
Training & Mentoring - worked directly 1:1 with pppp pp to help develop
zzz UI and kk backend skills and techniques. pppp’s expertise in
Database/DBA stuff is critical to making sure our relational model is
optimized.
Training & Mentoring - Recorded Webex of advanced zzz UI building and
custom Java coding techniques from presentation to xxxxx Java developer
team.
Created new section on aaaaa site for reusable components. Precursor to
zzz Util library that we will roll out on aaaaa site in early Q3. Added several reusable components such as xxxxxxx, yyyyyyy, zzzzzzz, etc.
Personal growth, knowledge & skills development
Technology - Learning fundamentals
Self-paced learning of essential skills needed to independently develop,
deploy, and manage ************** [ confidential]
Implemented all ************** [confidential]
The territorial battles in my reef tank continue today. Lots more Icky white specks on the Achilles Tang and Foxface. I see a new puncture wound on the Achilles as well. But all fish are alive and moving. My friend Thom the Ichthyogenius (more on that later) stopped by yesterday to pick up some fresh RO/DI mixed Salt Water (to 1.023 specific gravity) for a couple of his clients so I got to get his take on the situation.
My other buddy Jon also stopped by to check out my new Jade Green Elephant Ear Mushroom and the new Crocea Clam I introduced yesterday (see below).
After watching these fish go at it constantly pretty much non stop for the past week, its starting to become clear what is happening. Patterns are emerging and I’m hoping that I can get rid of the Ick and let this battle come to a eventual conclusion with a new pecking order in place.
Right now the Achilles tang is vying for top spot on the fish food chain in my tank. He has clearly marked his territory by pecking at a very specific area of live rock in my tank. This area happens to have been the Foxface’s old home. So the Achilles is basically trying to move in and claim the best cave/spot in my reef tank and the Foxface wants nothing to do with it.
Unfortunately both fish are pretty aggressive, and the battle is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. I will continue to monitor the tank, feed a bit more (to distract them), and go out and get some cleaner shrimp to help with the Ick. Aside from that 40 gallon water changes every couple days is about as best I can do.
Day 5? 6? 7? I lost track. I think my Achilles Tang has been in my tank for a little over a week now and WOW what a week it’s been. Day after day of fighting for dominance over my Magnificant Foxface, Purple Tank, Clarkii Clownfish, Coral Beauty, and assorted Damsel fish.
The Achilles has been punctured no fewer than 10 times by the Foxface, whose dorsal spines contain a deadly neurotoxin, which, while clearly effective, does not deliver a fatal blow to the Achilles Tang. Sure it’s pretty beat up in its belly, fin, eye, and other areas of its body, but it has been steadfast and held its ground. It may emerge as the new dominant fish in my tank - IF - it can survive a bout of the Ick. There are lots of parasites on the body of the Achilles and I’ve only got one cleaner shrimp, so tomorrow, I’m off to the fish store to get a few more cleaner shrimp to help control the Ick.
I’ve got some video footage of the action that I need to edit, and you can always check out the action on my Reef Tank Live page here.
Today happens to be the nicest day of the summer thus far here in Seattle. It’s roughly 80 and sunny with a light breeze blowing in from the Puget Sound. Pretty much woke up did some light work, cleaned up my place a bit (it’s still bordering on out of control) and then headed down to Elliott Bay Books for the Gary Vaynerchuk book signing event @ 2:00 pacific.
Got there a bit early so had nice iced american and half turkey sandwich in the Espresso and sandwich bar. They set up a nice room for Gary with about 50 or so seats. I went and grabbed my seat in the back right corner and setup my gear - Ultra Mobile PC with Logitech Quickcam Fusion as I was planning to stream the event live (and record it) on UStream. Elliott Bay Book actually has free wifi, so initially I was psyched to be able to stream it over wifi as its a bit better than using my Cradlepoint 802.11 > Verizon 3G EVDO USB card. Unfortunately the room the signing was in was pretty much in the basement of a brick building and I lost conection to their wifi and was unable to get a signal with my Verizon card.
No worries. I setup both my Logitech and my Panasonic AVCHD HDC-SD1 video camera to record the event *offline*. I was able to get about an hour of HD content that I need to import and also the recording from my logitech, which was at much lower quality.
I’ll do my best to get it posted soon. I’ll let you watch the whole thing as soon as I can get the videos posted, but let’s just say that Gary killed it yet again. He is so much fun to watch/interact with. I’m looking forward to tonight, where I’ll be heading to Gary’s drink up event at Purple, a wine bar in downtown Seattle. I’ve never been there so will see what its all about. Looking forward to a great evening.
Oh I almost forgot - Debbie (tenant) stopped by to drop off her check. Her boyfriend works at Hales Ales in Fremont. They offered to “sponsor” a free keg of tasty Hales Ales for our 2nd Annual Eastlake Associates Tenant Appreciation BBQ! I LOVE MY TENANTS!
If you’re in Seattle and you want to come watch the fireworks over Lake Union from our prime Eastlake, stay tuned. I’ll be sending out more details in the coming days and will post the event to Upcoming. Parking sucks, but all are invited. The whole neighborhood basically turns into a 6+ block neighborhood party. It’s really quite fun.
Awesome day, trending on awesomer.
As I tweeted here, “I love it when a plan comes together!”
