@FrankLuke let's see... been a while, so I'll go back some and you should stop me if I'm repeating myself.
Got laid off in February after 13 years; I worked for a gov't contractor, we lost a major project due to sequestration (our customer loved us but that wasn't enough) and the company took a very tactical approach -- you're on this project you're out. They lost several good people and, quite likely, their ability to rebuild certain areas without major effort. Sad. But -
It hadn't really been a good place to be for a while; what was going to be phase 2 of a project that was right in my sweet spot, that I was excited about, got cut. But aside from phase 1 of that, I should have left a couple years ago. Guess I needed some help.
A new opportunity dropped right into my lap, so I wasn't unemployed any longer than I wanted to be. I started there in late May and it's a great team and interesting technology (big data, which I know is a buzzword). So I'm learning about databases now. :-)
Non-work-wise, I'm still active in my congregation and actually led part of a Rosh Hashana service last week and will be doing the same for Yom Kippur. In my congregation it's a pretty big deal that a layperson would be trusted with that, so that's very nice.
@FrankLuke a member of the Postgress family.
SE-wise, Mi Yodeya is still going well, Writers is still in beta trying to build more momentum, and I got kinda drafted to run in the election for The Workplace in April, so I now have three diamonds. :-)
So what about you? What have you been up to these many months?
@MonicaCellio Never worked in those. MySQL, Paradox, Oracle, SQL-Server, FireBird, Interbase. Thankfully, the internals are all ANSCI compliant at the core, so it's learning the fringes and specifics that takes time.
@FrankLuke this is all new to me, but for now at least I'm focused on interface points. Most immediately, Hadoop integration. I'm doing documentation, not development, but of course this is doc for pretty technical users, including programmers. (We have APIs, among things.)
I'm getting used to ApEx, it takes time. It's unlike other languages. Almost everything beyond the simple stuff I have to pass over to a PL-SQL library. I could do it more inside ApEx, but that isn't encouraged. Easier to have it outside for SVN.
Outside for SVN, meaning that you don't have to manage the PL-SQL stuff? If it's your code either way I'm not sure why it's not all under source control?
@MonicaCellio I mean it's easier to get it into SVN to track it later by going out to the library. We keep the ApEx under SVN, too, but ApEx doesn't keep each form in it's own file.
But an ApEx export (1 file of the whole program) might be 6 Mg. I've seen the SVN change tracker choke trying to show me the differences in two versions. I prefer each form to be its own file. Much better to track later.
@MonicaCellio Much better writing, though. I've written 60K words in 2014. I have a few stories that I plan to put in personal collections when the themes are finished (Joshua's Pawn Shop and Lou's Bar and Grill). What's stopping me from releasing them as shorts (which I want to do) is covers.
My GIMP skills are low and it's a steep learning curve.
Lou's (you read the werewolf story that started it) has 4 completed stories now. Joshua has 2. The second Joshua went almost twice as long as planned, but I still need to finish a scene. The pivotal scene just lacks something. The hero makes an intuitive leap that needs a little more prep.
@MonicaCellio That can be arranged. Which of these catches your attention most: Sixes Wild (4 friend play poker against the devil), Snake Oil Man (a western charlatan makes a deal for a real healing potion), Keeping Up Appearances (a Photoshopper envious of other finds a program that can change more than pictures).
@FrankLuke oh, that last sounds like it might have a sort-of Twilight Zone edge to it. If I have to pick just one let's do that one, but if you're willing to send more I'm interested!
(And you know that when I can actually buy them I will.)
@MonicaCellio I should be able to send them tomorrow. Funny you say TZ... I shared the same pitch with a writing friend, and he said, "That would be a great TZ episode!"
Joshua's is a little different, but set in the same story universe. Joshua runs a pawn shop. People who need to find it, do. Inside, they find something of theirs and have the opportunity to change things.
@FrankLuke thanks! Whenever you have time; Yom Kippur is this Shabbat (and then Sunday is sukkah-building day), so I won't read anything before next week anyway.
My mother freaked out at the ending of The Buick Eight. She used to read Stepehn King, but this ending freaked her. My wife on the other hand, really enjoyed Buick and she ahtes horror.
@FrankLuke glad it's not just me. :-) I made a couple quick mental leaps to "A Kind of Stopwatch". I loved TZ. Haven't seen it in years. (I mean ok, they haven't made it in years, but I mean I haven't rewatched recently.)
@FrankLuke sounds interesting -- so Joshua is a sort of "fixer" if you're desperate enough?
@MonicaCellio They tried another relaunch a few years ago, but it went only a season. Did you see any of those.
@MonicaCellio Yeah, I start dropping clues to his identity in the stories. He has a friend named Rocky and a brother named Jacob (whom everyone calls James).
@FrankLuke I assume that's a Joshua story, from context. :-) I've read a little King but neither love nor hate him, so I'll be interested in seeing what data point I give you on that one when the time comes. :-)
@FrankLuke I remember there was a series (a couple seasons I think) in maybe the early 90s that had a varied format -- one hour with stories of whatever length within that, not all the same. And I remember something newer than that that didn't last very long; my only clear memory from the latter was an episode about some kids who find an Incan (Mayan?) ritual object that calls for human sacrifice and trigger it.
I'll apply Google to this problem later. :-) (Will need to drop off in another 5 minutes or so; early start tomorrow.)
I'm going to have to go now. I'll send Lou's first and get "Buick" all formatted. I'm hoping to get Fun and Games finally finished in the next few days. Joshua stories aren't supposed to be creepy, but this one is. At least I found it creepy. The Scrabble scene really so.
