Attack of the Germs

Today is real bad. Small boss got sick. His wife tell him don't go work he didn't listen. His buddy poke him he didn't respond. Got to work and didn't work. All colleagues sniggering at his lame body. =) I would have sniggered loudest if not for the fact I'm coming down with something. Shoo!! Go away and don't disturb me. Can't risk the time wasted on being sick.

Then big big boss order him to go home only he go. (Big boss not around, in taiwan leh. Supposed to come back but got delayed. Must be related to that thing about blowing up half the factory floor. =p)

Finally the silver lining in the cloud seems to shimmer a bit. The stuck project had a breakthrough and it's now the small stuff that needs to clean up. Can't do much as the client don't want us to kacau (Malay for interrupt, make a nuisance). All that remains is to test the newest fixes and that should solve it. Can't blame them though, if it was me, I'd much earlier on screw myself so hard only a tuft of my hair would be jutting out from the ground.

So today only work on the 'new' project or rather a new variation/branch/version of that buggy system. This was suppose to be a last resort thing if everything else fails. Thank goodness we got lucky. Am already late late late for this. Suppose to have it finished last Friday and now would be testing phase but due to unforseen circumstances (how many of us use that phrase =) ) it was delayed.

Bz .. or not .. bz .. or not ..

The day started out not too bad, but then it got sorta crappy halfway. No reason, I had enough sleep this time, was in a positive mood and yet.. and yet.. mmm.

So what I do? Went poking into other people's life (or meta-life) and added somemore new links to friend's blogs. Sheesh, then it struck me, I have been saying I want to change and customize my own blog but haven't done anything yet up to now.

Time is really wheezing pass like some old locomotive on it's final round. Wheeze wheeze wheeze, and there it goes.

Have been learning how to guide two newer guys on a project we are all working on together but then, I got lost. =p Didn't know what I was suppose to do. Hehe... anyhow, subsequently I found my path again, 'the path to the light, forsake the dark side'. =D

Seems everyone's been getting a fantastically persistent syndrome of Star Wars-y. Definitely NOT good news for me. The final four books in the New Jedi Order will surely increase in price. =(

Grumpy people

Aisay, today is so rushed, now my 'driver' is rushing me to shutdown PC for the day as he has to 'go' (toilet =p he don't like office toilet...). So, I will try continue from home ... if I can get my PC up.

Head Under Heels

Not the usual kind, rather it's the straightforwardly direct kind. My head is all the way down to my heels. Have quite a lot on my mind, sometimes get lost when just started. Well, still learning learning learning, what more can I do?

The book 'Coder to Developer' is quite good. Helps by providing some relieve from the mundanity of life (=p if there is such a word). The other day, I went to this LB product preview thingy and it was quite good. The organization sure knows how to get people interested and they were pretty good at building up atmosphere. There were almost 3000 people attending (obviously there are some who are their own people, and not so obviously I have no idea what is the percentage of noobs) and it was very encouraging. However after proper discouragement from my buddy, I was able to climb back down from the 'high' feeling which was rather addictive. ;-) hey man, I meant that in a good way).

Well, having all this really helps in quite some way, of course, it goes without saying having great and encouraging colleagues also helps a long way towards alleviating stress and tension. (hehe, the singularly first person who commented here, make it soooooo very obvious who I'm referring too).

Back to work for me!! Tons more to do and nanotime left.

Manage manage manage

"Manage", what is it? What does it mean? What does it represent?

I've been learning a whole new dimension to this world. Nothing otherworldly or anything of that sort ;-) Have been so very busy for .. err.. a month I think. *scratch scratch head* hehe, I do not know how long, just know that I've been very unaware. Three things to do, solve bug for customer, build new software for customer, mentor a new person. Sounds so simple eh, and so easy, buuuutttt I realised the impact of the number THREE. It is not as simple as it sounds. Like most things in life, there is fine print to it.

Mentoring someone is a big big planning job. No planning, no mentoring. Bad planning, bad mentoring. =( Was so bogged down and occupied with being unhappy and irritable and stressed out by item number one, I totally left item number two and item number three alone. Ultimately, that most certainly is a bad bad thing. Especially item number three. When you are new to a place and you are supposed to be mentored by a specific person, and your supposed 'mentor' just can't keep up with him/herself even, you really feel so cut off, adrift in the raging storm. Anyhow, finally the boss decided to pass guidance to my senior. Good move, though I feel really bad, underperforming like that.

Item number two have been almost a month delayed by now. The piece of software was supposed to have passed acceptance test a few days ago, but as of now, is still very much under development. You know how some websites have this icon that shows it's under construction? Well, my current progress is more akin to the icon which shows the icon which shows the website is under construction is itself under construction =p

My motivation and energy level have been so very low for such a long long time, recently I rediscovered myself. That was a real relieve. Now, even though the THREE things are still there awaiting resolution, however I am looking at things differently, in a more positive light. This most certainly has affected my ability to do things. I feel more energetic and more able to work properly and for longer hours. I totally do not mind working more since I have been so inefficient.

My senior mentioned to me that from research, a typical programmer only have around 1/3 days of the month in which he/she is one hundred percent effective. I disagree greatly with that, of course did not say that out. =p If say out loud and then unable to prove it, that would be really bad, especially since there have been many times when I did say things out and unable to do it. You know, this technique of vocalizing our goals and objectives, doesn't really work. Trust me on that. ;-)

Got to go work now. Signing off,
The Newbie Developer.
(previously known as The Pro Programmer)