Bit of a Rockaty Ride…

…brought to you by Virgin America and storm front Wisconsin.

So there seems to be some nice parallelism in my writing this post since, its once again being written from, oh let’s say, 34,029 Feet—yeah that sounds right. As perhaps someone has noticed, it’s been a while again since I updated this. And while I’m sure no one is dying from anticipation I still feel that I’m not living up to my promise (to you and myself) to be more proactive about maintain the blog with new content. Why you ask? Well, the reason is twofold: work and play.

On the work side I’ve actually getting pretty engrossed with my current project since it happens to be something I’m pretty interested in…the Web. While I don’t get to do anything as drastic as design pages or anything, I am very active in designing the web strategy for the client. What does that mean? Put simply, it’s determining (1) why they should be on the Web, (2) what capabilities should the web presence provide, (3) how can we fulfill on delivering these capabilities, and (4) what are the first steps in implementing these capabilities. See? Pretty cool, no? Anyhow, I think it is. It’s actually the second Web related project I’ve been on. If I had my way I’d stick to web projects; they are interesting and I feel I have something real I can add to the team.

Actually, that is all a very good seagway into two big things I’m working on in the ‘play’ arena. Both relate to the web. The first is my very own website. Yes sirs (and ma’ams), extranerousperipheralstuff.com is coming back. The form is yet to be decided, but at the very least It will serve as the new home for this ramblelog ©. I’ve been playing around with HTML and CSS coding and I’m hoping I can bring a bit more unique and clean look to the site. Don’t get me wrong, I’m quite pleased with what I’ve got here, but there is something satisfying about hand coding—or perhaps I’m crazy <_<

The second Web-thing I’ve been working on actually has become my way of experimenting. It’s the ever developing website for my friend’s wedding. Kind of a weird thing to be working on given neither of us have ever created a web page before, but we were talking over lunch one day and jokingly suggested that people in the invite wouldn’t an electronic RSVP be cool—perhaps via a google email address. Well, the conversation quickly spiraled out of control, as things do when you are talking tech as geeks, and we had an arm length list of cool things to do on a wedding webpage.

So with heads filled with hopes and dreams we went and registered him a domain and started trying to figure out how to implement all these crazy things. The plan was: Dan handles all the technical back-end and I try to pretty it up and come up with a reasonably attractive interface. So far, both areas show promise, but neither is totally there yet—well Dan’s bit almost is. If you want to see the work-in-progress, head on over to dna.ludwinksi.com. As I said, it’s a far from complete, but I’m pretty pleased with what Dan and I have been able to achieve in two weeks of self-instruction and messing around. All sorts of features are up in various states from CSS roll-over menus (which might get ditched) to google maps integration to a functioning RSVP that feeds a back end database. Perhaps I’ll post another entry with a bit more about how we are designing the site. Actually I think “regular” (notice the quotes) updates might be fun—I’ll do that!

Other things… Oh yeah! The reason I’m back East, again. Not surprisingly it’s for work. It’s kind of funny actually. Despite my company being HQ’d in Bethesda (outside DC), until four weeks ago I’d not been back. Now I’ve been back twice in a month. Who knows the next time I’ll get back. While it adds some hecticness to my schedule and totally breakdowns the routine of my life there are a number of perks. First and foremost is that I get to see one of my friends who lives back east and works at the NIH. Given I’d not seen him in a year I was glad to make it back. It was interesting actually, despite having not seen each other in a year, we talk so often that it felt like no time at all. I’m taking this as a good sign. Also, being back east gives me the chance to experience seasons and exciting weather things like thunder and lightning! Yeah, yeah, I’m weird but I love the stuff. What beats hanging by the window as the lightening crackles and the thunder booms? Answer: nothing. Another neat thing: clouds. I’m not talking tendrils or perhaps sheets of fog that happen to be 1000 feet up, I mean big ol’ poufy cumulus clouds—the ones you wish you could use as pillows or blankets.

Speaking of traveling, I get the distinct privilege of traveling AGAIN midnight on Sunday, but this time to Minnesota. Surprisingly, I’ve actually been there before. About four years ago (give or take a few months) I was out in St. Paul to participate in my very first collegiate Mock Trial Tournament—oh the memories. This time the agenda will be different, but I have the feeling I’ll see just as little of the city and be more focused on work than play. Alas, I shall survive. Part of me though is pretty excited to have the travel done with and be able to focus again on San Francisco.

Speaking of San Francisco, I’m excited to have a new guest headed out there joining me. So in conclusion: Mike, welcomewelcome!