flynn043

I'm afraid today's topic won't be quite the entertainment fodder that many of my readers have come to enjoy because this is a serious topic and one that I am very passionate about. And it deserves a serious blog posting!  Someone recently asked me on my Facebook page what I thought about a recent cover story published in For the Record Magazine.  "Industry Disconnect" by Selena Chavis is a great read for anyone who has been pounding the pavement looking for a coding job.  It is also a must read for any coding professional with hiring power.  In short, this article highlights the biggest threat to the future of the coding industry: the ability to hire, mentor, and train recent grads. It's no secret how I feel about mentoring our future workforce.  My thoughts are well documented throughout the Coder Coach and my colleagues in the state of Colorado know how outspoken I am about the topic of mentoring coders. So when I was asked, I thought, wow, what a great top...

How do people start New Year's resolutions on January 1?  Am I the only person in the world who bakes, entertains, gift wraps, and parties myself into oblivion until the point where I don't want to do a darn thing come New Year's Day?  Here we are on January 14 and I am finally getting things organized enough to focus on how to better myself in 2013.  Oh sure, I had lofty goals.  Last year, we took an awesome New Year's day hike at Red Rocks Park near Denver.  And we were going to do it again.  But this year 2013 hit us in a sleep deprived state so we decided to forgo the hike and head to a late breakfast instead.  We did end up at Ikea, though, so I suppose a few hours there could technically be classified as a hike. In general, I hate New Year's resolutions.  I think they are incredibly cliche and what's even more cliche is the fact that they never last.  I think the number 1 New Year's resolution should be to make your New Year's resoluti...

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Yep. You guessed it.  Another animal picture.  This is the last one, though.  I think. Pets are better than TV and in since the news is so depressing lately, I highly suggest turning the tube off and tuning in to the closest animal.  It's even better when you have a camera. This little picture was captured one Christmas when I was snapping pictures of my Christmas decorations - something I often do to either remember how I decorated or to keep a record of Christmases past since I have a tendency to change decor colors every couple of years.  Yes, I'm one of those.  But I think I've already mentioned my affinity for Christmas decorations. This is a picture of my sweet kitty, Mandy, pondering pouncing on Ginger, the dog.  Ginger was raised by cats and actually liked cats better than dogs.  So the cats pretty much had the rule of the roost and there wasn't a lot Ginger ever did about it.  But this picture looks a little sinister, so here's our c...

Today is baking day.  I haven't had a lot of time in the last few years to do any holiday baking, but I decided to take a day to get some goodies baked up for "dessert" on Christmas Day.  We'll see how many of these cookies make it all the way until Tuesday. There will be my mom's famous cut-out cookies, which are now my famous cut-out cookies - the recipe having been stolen by a homemaker friend with a passion for decorating cookies.  The true secret to the cookies is to roll them out using confectioners sugar instead of flour (diabetics beware!).  There will be molasses cookies from a family gingersnap recipe.  What makes them molasses cookies instead of gingersnaps, is an airtight container and a slice or two of fresh bread.  The cookies absorb the moisture from the bread leaving a super soft and spicy treat.  There will be Mexican wedding cookies.  But we never called them that growing up - we called them Grandmother Stanton's horseshoe cookie...

Today is my last work day before Christmas. I have Christmas baking to do. I have shopping to do for Christmas dinner. I can't wait to see family - both those from in town and from out of town. Don't you love this time of year? Don't you feel like a little kid again as the clock ticks down to 5:00? Maybe I'll get off early today. I wonder if it will snow. Is that a squirrel sitting in a tree and staring in at me? How do I get myself to focus on work today?! Today's carol and code?  Maybe you've already guessed: We Wish You... Hey Look!  It's Snowing!! (F90.0, Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, predominantly inattentive type)

What is Christmas - or any holiday celebration - like for you?  Is is a small intimate affair or is it a madhouse?  Do you get along with your family, or do you leave the celebration giving thanks for the fact that you didn't choke anyone to death for another year? I am blessed with a large and happy family.  A very loud and rambunctious group.  Our holiday traditions have undergone some adaptations over the years, but there are a few constants:  there will be lots of food; there will be many goofy white elephant gifts; and there most likely will be a pet or two present. In case you can't tell, I'm a bit of an animal lover.  And while looking through pictures to match my 12 Days of Codes, I found this gem.  This is Beau, my aunt's cat.  And while I have a cat who is really more like a dog and can be found in the mix during family get togethers (and probably looking for a stationary lap to dominate), Beau has a tendency to do a cursory survey of th...