Distant Communication

Well as I am sure you realize, by looking at this site, that I am once again present on the virtual communication network that we call the internet. Over the last several months I have been wrestling with an "adverse computer situation," namely not having one that was worth anything more than a door stop (and a poor one at that). I had been working with a first generation MacBook CoreDuo, when suddenly it stopped working after a strange stint of shutting off at random times. My good friend Matt deduced that a chip had come unset from the logic board. Now there are MANY chips on a logic board most of them incredibly small, so finding the exact chip was near impossible. Granted we had very few tools, and Matt was only visiting for a short while. So this left me computer-less. I used the computers at the Austin Public Library for a short while, but quickly grew tired of it. Mainly because it was inconvenient, and really more trouble than it was worth. Getting anything done was basically impossible.

I should mention that at this time I was not only computer-less but also job-less. The house I had been living in had split up, and I was (and still am) living with a friend. I made some money working light construction, helping remodel a beautiful old house in central Austin, and a small office on the south side. I amassed just enough cash to purchase an old laptop off of Craig's List for $100. It's a Compaq Presario 2500. It's big, it's old, it's heavy, it's battery is completely dead, and it's third party AC chord is a little finicky, but it's a computer and it works. The computer came with a copy of Windows XP that, after downloading and burning an Xubuntu installation disc, I promptly ditched. Linux has been the salvation of this old machine, and I am formulating a post on my particular setup for the future.

So... "Working Computer: CHECK." Now I once again have access to e-mail, Skype, and the various messaging systems I use to communicate. So I began doing so with reckless abandon. Realizing that I was completely broke and frankly a little tired of food service, I start applying for any web job I could find that I felt reasonably capable of doing. Along with updating my LinkedIn profile and posting my resume on this site, I went through everything that came to mind to get my name out. I went to several interviews, had many tantalizing discussions with potential clients, and then finally I ran across Michael Favia who hires me on to the development team at Blogging Systems (soon to be Respond Media). Good pay, comfortable hours, friendly people, and a relaxed environment... nice. This whole process took about 3 weeks at which time I was (and for a few more days, still am) living off beans and rice. Don't get me wrong, I like beans and rice, but I won't lie in saying this job will offer a welcome change.

That should bring us up to the present. I am finishing up my second week working with "Respond Media," and have honestly loved the work. It feels good to get back into my coding mind, to work for a company that is using Drupal for corporate level sites, and to know that I am good enough to get a great job doing it.

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