wwward.expressions

Looking in on old flames...

Curiosity got the better of me this evening. I checked out one of my old ex-girlfriend's websites to see what I had been missing all these years. She's doing well, and I'm glad to see everything turned out well for her and her family. While the parting is tough, in the end, I always want the best for those I loved.

I live a long way from there now, and if not for the Internet, I wouldn't be able to indulge such curiosity. Now that I know, it satisfies a sense of rightness with the world. All is well, everyone I care about is fine.

All that has past is another life to me... foreign and somewhat uncomfortable now. What price is change - that it takes the familiar away?

I'm not dead yet...

I've had little free time lately. The new job has proven to be a 24/7 commitment.

While the IT operations skill set it getting supercharged, the personal enjoyment skill set has taken a beating.

I'm adding a tremendous amount of Cisco-specific experience, something I've been sorely ignoring throughout my career (largely due to the distinct compartmentalization of responsibilities in most of the firms I've worked for,) and am glad to be learning. One of the boons of a small company is having access and challenges across a broad range of disciplines.

In just six months, I've had my hands all over Cisco's better security products, wireless equipment, carrier grade routers, and high end switchgear. Most of the training has been "trial by fire," and so far the house still stands.

In other news, the holidays are upon us, and I'm looking forward to two weeks of personal time at the end of December. I'd like a chance to catch my breath, reflect, and engage some of my long neglected personal work.

During this hectic six months, I've managed to purge most of the unwanted technology I lamented in my earlier post. The Mylo, extra phone, and handheld computers were thinned out. I've managed to back off from a nice, but overkill PowerMac down to a petite Macbook - although with substantial performance compromise - and I feel that I'm approaching a sensible balance in my resources.

I picked up a new Yaesu FT-817 multiband radio recently. I was hoping, although I've been at work too much to make headway, to buff up my amateur radio activities and participate in the local community. Expect to hear me on the HF bands as soon as I can practically pass the General exam. In the meantime, I may focus on getting up on 6 meters. I hear 10 meters is still very challenging, but I have privileges there as well with the current ticket.

Rest in peace, my old friend - October 14, 2007

Pretty Kitty came to live with us out of a dark, rainy night in the winter of 2000. Once we fed her, she took up residence, as all stray cats tend to do when finding a friendly home. 7 years later, Pretty Kitty - as she came to be known - died of a terminal disease. Pretty Kitty lived a vibrant life right up until the end, first enjoying our cozy woodland home in North Carolina, and later adventuring with us as we migrated to Connecticut. She adopted the life of a city cat, staring out the wide windows of our ivory tower apartment at the people below on the sidewalk, and enjoying the sunshine in the afternoon.

I miss her warm welcome when I come home from work, as I miss how she would sleep on my pillow at night. I miss her gentle reminder noises when she wanted my attention, and her contented purring. I miss the softness of her fur, and her calming presence in the house.

To my dear Pretty Kitty, I miss you terribly... Rest in peace.

Bill