Category: Personal Reflections

Lessons learned about life; pearls of wisdom I’ve gleaned through pain, failure and honest reflection

Another Career Transition Update

Carl Setzer

I’m currently studying web development. Here’s my post that explains the why, and this link will be show you the series of updates about my change.

My last coding focused class was in the spring, where I took PHP and JQuery, two key programming languages for creating websites. Over the summer I took Project Management, Math and Desktop Software support (when I mapped out my path, I had a few gaps and I thought studying hardware would be fun). With PHP, I got to do some work with MySQL databases. This quarter I’m whole hog into SQL, MySQL and Databases: I get to study database theory and design, along with a class specifically focused on SQL scripting! This might be my favorite part yet!

I really enjoy databases. That might actually be a better descriptor of my current study program. Yeah, lots of web site creation, but I’ve had several classes with database elements (an intro to Office, including Access, and then there’s PHP where we did MySQL API calls, and a few other elements). And now my two data systems classes. Drives home the point that Web 2.0 is, ultimately, about interacting with data.

For some reason, databases come naturally to me (I’m sure I just jinxed myself and the rest of the quarter I’ll struggle mightily with SQL syntax…knocking on some wood now). So far, each of the database classes have just felt straightforward, that the syntax is clear. Javascript, for instance, was considerably less so. I’m looking forward to this, even though I still feel like I’m drinking from the proverbial fire-hose.

As I’m slowly marching towards the end of this stage, I feel the need to plan my next steps. When I went into this, I expected to come out and become a Web Developer, whatever that really meant. Now, I see so many possibilities, so many directions, so many things I can do with this knowledge. And I see how much more I want to learn. I’m exploring these and will post more soon.

Monday morning haiku

Carl Setzer 
dawn upon the clouds
hints of red within the leaves 
gentle morning mists

A Word Challenge Haiku: Insidious

Carl Setzer

I’m very fond of “Word Challenges”. Today I’m taking on Fandango’s One Word Challenge, and the word is “insidious“.

Morning Glory
Morning Glory
despite their beauty
these insidious flowers
destructively grow

Photo by Munro Studio on Unsplash

A Blog, A Reflection, And A Recommendation

Carl Setzer6 Comments

My friend Bill posted this earlier today: “Where everyone would love to drown“. Seeing the headline in my inbox, and knowing Bill, my brain connected it to the Stevie Nicks song “Sara”. Google, and its scion YouTube, assisted me as I wanted to listen as I read. Here’s what I played:

Hints of youth, of those people who’ve impacted us greatly, but who fade to myth over the decades. That’s what came to mind for me.

In response, a haiku awakened. True to form, I guess. 

Summers of my youth
Tastes of freedom and heartache
Crowds passing me by

I highly recommend you head over to Bill’s blog, the Pink Lightsaber. He’s a talented writer well worth the gift of attention.

Dandelions Windchimes

Carl Setzer

with the wind waiting

gentle sun upon wind chimes

breeze awakes slowly

An evening walk

Carl Setzer
Iris

walking through my town
spring’s glories slip past my eyes
flowers start to fade

Did You Know Keanu Reeve’s Was In Paula Abdul’s “Rush, Rush” Video?

Carl Setzer

I loved this song back in the early 90s (I probably still have this CD somewhere in my “stuff”). I remember the video. I don’t remember Keanu Reeves in it, though. Someone else shared this today, which is when I noticed him.

Who would’ve guessed, looking at Keanu Reeve’s early work (yes, that’s Keanu in this video), that he would become the powerhouse that he is now? I certainly didn’t.

Some Thoughts On The Coffee Industry, and a Book Recommendation

Carl Setzer1 Comment
Starbucks Logo

In the early 2000s (2004-2009, to be specific) I worked at Starbucks, first in Global Communications then on the Corporate Social Responsibility team. I loved my time there and is the one place I would return in a hearbeat.

We former Partners (as Starbucks employees are referred) have an alumni group, the Green Apron Network. It’s a great group of folks whose presence I greatly enjoy and am privileged to be part of. One of the great figures of Starbucks’ corporate history is a man by the name of Major Cohen. If there is anyone who knows coffee better, I am unaware of them. Recently retired, Major has written a book, “Coffee For Dummies“. Though I haven’t read it yet (I have a copy on its way), I know Major well enough to highly recommend it. A few of my friends have already read it, and recommend it. I’ll write more about the book once I have read it.

So, check it out! There’s a Kindle version, so you can start reading it right now. If you read it, leave me a comment and let me know what you think.