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(Re)starting the engine

Firstly, to those of you who have for some reason, returned here on more than one occasion or subscribed to my feed, I apologise for the lights being out at the ‘Station over the past 6 weeks or so. For a ton of reasons I have not been here for a while, and not only that but I have been neglecting NewsGator and some of you guys too.

Transitions

Over the past few months as we approach the end of 2006, I have come to realise I need to step it up a gear in the employment stakes. After graduating from University I promised myself some quality time to read, do and learn all the things that project constraints prevented me from doing during my time at University. Since the summer I have learnt a lot about all aspects of the web, programming, Linux & the *nix shell(s), 3DS Max and my other software tools. Whilst my hunger for knowledge and skills is still strong as ever, I feel much more confident about my knowledge of the tools of ‘my’ industry. Hopefully over the coming months I intend to try and distil what I have learnt and post it here, both for my own benefit - as revision and in the hope that some of my experiences may help others.

Singletrack

Unfortunately this great learning experience has had its downsides. Once I start on doing something, or learning how to do something, I become focused on that one task. I know what is possible with the tools I use, so I constantly strive to push myself to or even beyond the limits of these tools. When it comes to a personal project, I find it very hard to draw the line and say ‘that’s enough’ for any given iteration. This can have a seriously detrimental effect on my time, as I can invest a great deal of it on a seemingly simple task in order to do it to the best of my ability. Whilst at times this is no bad thing, it can, and often does mean one project suffers for the sake of another, and this is what has happened over the past 6 weeks or so.

Transformations

At the moment I am still in the middle of that transformation phase, somewhere between ‘full time student’ and ‘working designer’, and I am having to gear what I am now having to gear what I am doing towards what is going to be most valuable in terms of generating business, or finding employment. It is this transformation that has kept me away from the ‘Station and begun to align me towards a new direction. I have been busy working on a new business project which you will be hearing about soon, as well as spending some considerable time on my portfolio. I have also spent a lot of time rediscovering life away from the computer screen, and getting in touch with some neglected skills and hobbies, mostly via my sketchbooks; some pages from which I intend to share with you soon.

Elsewhere

Most of my TV time recently has been dedicated to catching up with possibly the greatest Sci-Fi series ever - Battlestar Galactica which at the midpoint of season 3, leaves us with a fantastic cliffhanger until it returns on January 21. I won’t go into detail for those who are yet to see it, but the end of the episode shows us a new side to Adama, one which even appears to supprise Tigh.

Unfortunately my temporary separation from the online world has left me behind with my reading, but today I found out that Brian Gilham has secured his well earned place in 9rules, so congratulations to you Brian. I look forward to seeing what 9rules brings to Ekonoline, already knowing what great content you will be giving to the 9rules readers.

Christmas is fast approaching and I have some last minute shopping to finish off and a busy few days ahead at work. I hope to deliver you a few festive treats before Sunday, and hopefully get some of the things I haven’t had time to offload from my mind, uploaded to the ‘Station.

Untill then, don’t let it get to you, and if it does, sit back take a deep breath and remember, it will all be over in a matter of days!