I got up to get more coffee, and returned to find +Kiyomi Foreman barking away at my computer?!
In album Good morning, Kiyomi! (5 photos)
Kiyomi at her computer
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Good morning, Kiyomi!
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Ken & Kiyomi: A Boy and his Dog
Minding the Lathe of Dreams
Scott Tiernan
June 18, 2012 at 6:58 am
Good morning.
Ken Foreman
June 18, 2012 at 7:01 am
Good morning! …another Monday. I hope your day goes well. =)
I'm dragging this morning, had bizarre dreams where Doctor Who and his companions were trying to help us defend the earth from a zombie invasion. After all his companions died and Martha died in my arms, Doctor Who turned me and said "well, it doesn't look good for you, chap." and then I woke up.
If Matt Smith couldn't save his companions, I don't think humanity has much hope. What a crappy way to start a Monday. =(
Scott Tiernan
June 18, 2012 at 7:04 am
Ouch! That is depressing. Hopefully your actions and decisions do not involve true life and death matters.
I'm technically still on my Sunday. I don't get to go to bed until about 7:30am or so.
Here's hoping your Monday gets better!
Ken Foreman
June 18, 2012 at 7:08 am
That was my week last week. I was "Primary On-Call Engineer" two weeks ago, "Secondary On-Call Engineer" last week. My On-Call ends at 10 AM this morning. Given how these past two weeks have been, it'll be nice for me to turn off my phone today and have a "working vacation." =P
Scott Tiernan
June 18, 2012 at 7:10 am
Nice. It's been a long time since I worked in IT and had an on-call phone. I can't say I miss that part of the job.
Ken Foreman
June 18, 2012 at 7:13 am
I love and loathe On-Call. I love it because it keeps me sharp and thinking about things I might not otherwise, I loathe it because it takes a toll on me never getting a good nights' sleep or knowing when the phone will ring next.
Turning 40yo in a couple months, I'm wondering whether I should make it my goal to be in a position where I don't need to be On-Call by the time I'm 50yo. Being 60yo and still working an IT job where I get middle-of-the-night calls is just sad, a modern version of Ralph Kramden in The Honeymooners (a slave to the network instead of a slave to the bus).
Scott Tiernan
June 18, 2012 at 7:15 am
I hear ya. My 40s has led me to reexamine my career path and take some steps to increase my flexibility and earning potential, including a degree in business administration (which should be complete in 11 weeks).
Ken Foreman
June 18, 2012 at 7:19 am
Very cool! Congrats on the BA degree!
I have my Associate of Applied Computer Science from University of Maryland, College Park. I got my TS/SCI while in the Air Force. Got MSCD, MSCD, RHCT, RHCSA, and RHCE since. As I get older, I wonder if I should finish my degree in MIS? Seeing many of my friends get their MIS, MBA, or PMP and move into management as their next step.
Personally, I don't want to manage others. If I can make Principal Engineer or Systems Architect, I'll be where I want to be in life.
Scott Tiernan
June 18, 2012 at 7:25 am
Thanks. And thank you for your service in the Air Force.
I'm one of those guys that got a couple of MCSEs and hasn't been back in tech since. I moved to Arizona during the tech bust…and was losing part-time help desk jobs to Oracle DBAs.
Since then I've been in risk management for financial companies. I'm hoping to use both skill sets to get a good job…but without a PMP cert or a massive update of my skills I'm probably out of running for anything bridging those two worlds.
Fortunately, I am happy in the world of risk management, so no complaints here. Yet.
Ken Foreman
June 18, 2012 at 8:34 am
There were three events in my life I consider "watershed moments." These are things I would never change if I had my life to do over again, no regrets, brought me nothing but happiness and the experience of knowing:
1. Serving in the US Air Force from 1992 to 1992 during Desert Storm
2. Meeting my wife, +Victoria Foreman, and marrying her in 2000.
3. Meeting Walt & Merle, adopting +Kiyomi Foreman when she was 10 weeks old.
It sounds like you've led a good life too. I had friends at Price-Waterhouse and Accenture doing risk management. Being in healthcare or risk management seems to have a constant demand just as IT does.