Not that bloggy...really.

Oh, my dear wife. What are you trying to do to me?

First, I fall prey to the AI blogging epidemic. Now pyramid-scheme blogging with rules? What next?!?!

Alas, here are the rules imposed upon such hapless victims as myself:
1. Write the title to your own memoir using 6 words.
2. Post it on your blog.
3. Link to the person that tagged you.
4. Tag five more blogs.

Drum roll please...

Either way is fine by me.

There it is. I know what you're thinking: profound, daring, poignant. Well, maybe I come across as a little opinionated, but I'm willing to take that risk.

Now the problem--I don't really have any blogging associates. Unless I count my wife's. So, I'll just tag her back 5 times (I love you Sweetie!), and let her pass along another 5 tags.

All-nighters used to be so fun!

Now I have a family, and a house, and a job, and a yard, and have to behave responsibly pretty much every day (even on vacation, although I'm not sure I did a great job of that last week--thanks for hanging in there with me EEEEMommy!).

But if I do give up sleep for a night, there are a few qualifying reasons in my book:
- sick child(ren)
- sick spouse
- sick me
- talking and playing games with good friends (making for even better friends)
- being in a tent (or just under the stars)
- New Year's Eve

I think that's about it. Maybe I'll think of a few more, but I'm sure that "fixing e-mail servers that got broken in the course of applying patches for a project with an overly-aggressive schedule" won't be on it.

Blah!

Presentation Skills

On Tuesday, I had an opportunity to give a presentation (yes, replete with PowerPoint slides).

I prepared many hours for said presentation. Many hours.

My slideshow was keenly templated, doused in captivating animations, and encumbered in geekily-detailed glory!

There was no stopping me!

No, really, there was no stopping me. Even though my presentation was supposed to last for 20 minutes, maybe 30 at the most, it took me about 50 to complete. That's right 2.5 times as long as it was supposed to be.

Now, in my defense, it had been almost 2 years since I had given a similar such presentation. And I didn't have an opportunity to fully rehearse it so as to know it's possible duration (or was it that I didn't MAKE that opportunity?). And I did allow my technical comrades to ask questions during my presentation...

But still, 2.5 times?

Wow!

Well, today, I have another opportunity--instead of my fellow engineers, however, it will be a room full of of not-so-technical types (i.e. not interested in the full geekness). I've eliminated about 40% of the slides, polished my comments, and rehearsed.

All I can say is...please pray for me!