this December day
under my feet cold ripples
keep moving forward
Cold, rainy day. Ripples in the puddles. For me, this means home. What about you?
December 19, 2020: Rainy Day Haiku
Blog
Always in a Rush
always in a rush –
sunlight drifts across the trees
raindrops upon roofs
Wrote this one early this morning as part of Baffled’s Haiku Challenge (on Twitter). I appreciate his daily challenges, forcing me to stretch my mind. Also, these haiku are a great way to keep my Adobe skills sharp. I create most of my posts right now with Adobe Spark.
Today’s desire: capture the feeling of a cold, dark, winter’s morning in Seattle. Today was dreary and damp, hence the focus. I opted for the Playfair font. A unique font, with understated serifs.
A Bit Of Internet History: Microsoft FrontPage
Microsoft FrontPage: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
FrontPage was one of my early forays into web design. I started with cobbling together basic HTML, but my skills in the late 90s/early 2000s were pretty weak. I then discovered Netscape Navigator’s editor. I can’t remember if they stopped supporting the WYSIWYG tool, or if I outgrew it, but the next tool I used was FrontPage.
When I created the website for Christ Episcopal Church (in Seattle’s University District), this was the tool I used. One of our members was on staff at Microsoft, so was able to donate a copy to us. And so I was able to bring the church into the 21st century.
I knew enough HTML to edit the code that FrontPage crafted, and I remember tweaking things from time-to-time. But I don’t really remember much in the way of detail. Reading this article taught me several FrontPage features that I was oblivious to, key amongst them: tasks. It’s pretty cool how the tool was built with a project management focus.
The article goes into the acquisition of Vermeer (the creators of FrontPage), and ensuing issues with hyper-proprietary technology. (Side note: I had no idea that FrontPage was created outside of Microsoft and then brought in by acquisition). And also looks at the other WYSIWG competing editors, and what all of them lack.
It was fun looking back at this clunky tool. It was almost great. That, and a Starbucks gift card, will get you a cup of coffee.
Walking at Night: a Haiku
feet upon pavement
headlights move through the darkness
facelessly pass by
Walking last night, stepping over and around puddles, remembering so many other nights. An element of this Seattle life.
Today’s FOWC Haiku: Gibberish
I appreciate writing prompts and their motivation to create. Today’s Fandango One Word Challenge features “gibberish”. Not the easiest to write with. But, well, I came up with the below.
so much gibberish
mindlessness passing for thought
and smoldering rage
Haiku, December 13, 2020
looking up at dusk
the stars starting to appear
the fog of my breath
Some Thoughts While Re-Organizing My Life
I finished my final final and turned in my final project for fall quarter yesterday. Now, I’m in the process of getting my feet back under me. I have a few hundred emails to go through, so will be spending some dedicated time go through them all.
As I work to process all the stuff, I read this gem: “Malcolm Gladwell’s 3-Word Reminder to Stop You from Overthinking“. Overthinking and analysis-paralysis are perpetual problems for me, but I continue to work on them. Articles like this help remind me of the importance of keeping my brain under control.
A few excerpts that I’m clipping/posting on my wall.
Nothing kills progress faster than indecision!
Uncertainty of the future shouldn’t freeze us but rather free us.
“This belief we have that the future is knowable is crazy. People need to have the freedom to take more chances.” — Malcolm Gladwell
I need to remind myself that the world rewards those who have the stones to keep moving forward regardless if they don’t know their destination
So, I, too, resolve to live by his last line: “Screw it, let’s go!”
Haiku: December 9, 2020
amidst the daylight
the sky holding my gaze
the rain speaks loudly
A Rainy Afternoon Walk
walking through the mist
rain-soaked clothes cooling my skin
memories of sun
tweets, xkcd comics, dreams and sticking to your guns
As I expect you all know, early in 2020 I returned to school to study web application development (head here if you need an update). I’m not the youngest student. However, I’m not the oldest, either. I have had a few people mention that, as I’m older, I don’t have as much to offer the world and that I’m keeping the space from those who will contribute more. Bah! I have a lot to offer. I bring a lot to my classes, to my fellow students, and will bring a lot to wherever I land, career-wise, next.
First thing this morning I came across this tweet:
My dad has spent the last 4 years getting his PhD while working two full time jobs. He did it because he didn’t want me to be the only Doctor in the family. At the age of 65, world, meet Dr. Emmanuel Uloko 😭 my father, my biggest cheerleader and who I compare every man to. pic.twitter.com/LvBqK1aUmt
— Maria Uloko MD (@MariaUloko) December 5, 2020
Motivates me hard! Who knows? Maybe I’ll go after a master’s (not sure I want to do a PhD…though, in my heart-of-hearts, I want to know EVERYTHING about computers).
This comic from xkcd gave me pause, too.
Ultimately, I need to believe in myself, in what I bring, in what I know. Don’t hold back! I’m investing far too much time and energy to be timid about all that.
Ah, to live a bold life! We’ll see, my friends, we’ll see.