Friday, July 20, 2007

What I did on my summer vacation

I'm wiping my jaw off from where it touched the floor when it dropped as I noticed the date of my last post. Time flies when you're having fun, but I wasn't having THAT much fun. I had a working vacation and you can view the results here.
I also got a "real" job! I get to actually leave my house and sit at a different computer for a few hours a day. One that doesn't have a keyboard with applesauce on it! How glamorous. I have a fancy title (Communications Manager) and as part of my duties, I got to paint the company's name on the door so it looks like the set of a Sam Spade movie.
Also, I've been learning some geeky stuff that should come in handy soon. After a couple of years of trying to learn out of books, I think I've come up with a good technique:
1) Read the book all the way through quickly to get a general overview of what you're getting into.
2) Try a couple of the projects out.
3) If the chapters have little quizzes, write down the questions on one side of a sheet of notebook paper and the answers on the other side so you can carry a super-condensed version of the book around to look at when you get stuck on a train or something.
4) As you go through, try to come up with your own real-life project and use that as your guide when you go through the book again so you will have something to motivate you.
5) College is over, your loans are (hopefully!) paid off so don't sweat the technique too much. Go out and catch a damn movie once in a while!
(warning, Flash 8 required and there's some loud theme music)
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