Jan 27

Written by: Peter Henry
Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:24 PM

I know, I know, it's a bit early for an update, actually it's been exactly three weeks since I wrote my original article about what I plan on doing to get better, but I wanted to show progress, improvement and forward movement!  So here goes!  (I hope to write this type of status update monthly, at least I hope to :>)

Completed	Goal	Notes
	Present at Ottawa Code Camp 2009
	Get my next MS certification (Web Apps)
	Learn WPF/Silverlight/XAML so much that I become the Markus Egger of Ottawa (if you're doing WPF and haven't heard of this guy, you're missing out on some great info), ya, I know this is a "reach for the stars" kind of goal but nothing ventured, nothing gained (another other clichés I can mangle? :>)
	Start another study group, I have a bit of a training bug, this let's me fulfill that side of my personality
	Create a blog entry for creating/debugging/delivering a Windows Service (some juicy, time saving tips here!)
	Create two screen savers (just something I've always wanted to do, boring I know, but these will be slightly different, stay tuned!)
	Learn about unit testing with C#/VS
	Help people via blogs (something I'm starting to see now and I LOVE it when someone posts a comment saying my entry helped them, I LOVE THAT!)
	Learn more about patterns
Jan 09	Install and expose sample code via SVN	Although I have not exposed any code externally yet, I have learned quite a bit about SVN (both the server and Visual Studio client).  Enough to use it at work and at home.
	Learn to better recognize negative personalities, then to avoid them, to not let them sway my convictions and to seek out positive people to surround myself and family
Updates to the list (as things get completed I plan on adding new things to it, very Agile-ish :> sort of like a Product Backlog? :>>>>)

 I would like to say I have more progress, but it's only been three weeks.  And this is a yearly set of goals afterall.  I'm a bit disappointed, BUT that's kind of what this type of thing is for, early status updates (like in Sprint meetings) to keep on top of things and to revector yourself/myself.  This is more for me to make a public commitment than anything else.

To be completely fair, I have made baby steps towards quite a few of the above goals.  For example,

• I have tested the waters for the MCTS Framework interest (and there's a lot! :>)
• I've told the Ottawa Code Camp organizer about my interest in presenting
• I've identified two places at work where I can learn Silverlight/XAML and it'll benefit both my new company and I! :>  Double score there! 
• I'm a few weeks away from writing (and I hope, passing :>) the MCTS web certifiication exam
• At work, I've met some really cool and positive people who are able to joke around and get their work done.  It's an amazing environment to be a part of!  I just hope I can build a symbiotic relationship with them (geeky way to say I hope I can fit in! :>). There are some cool, smart and funny people there, it makes going into the office cool again! :>
• I've had a few people this month tell me they like my blog material and one or two have even left comments!  I have a fan! :> HAHA :>  I feel like Mike Rowe on Discovery Channel's Dirty Jobs, except in my case when I say have "one viewer" it's more the truth than when he says it! :> LOL

Well, like I said, this is more for me than anything else, but if you have any comments, please drop me a line.  As always, I read all comments and always appreciate them.

Copyright ©2009 Peter Henry

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