Good things
I am grumpy again, so time for another round of reminding myself of good things:
1. I passed the ICND1 yesterday, making me a Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician. I have the ICND2 scheduled for later this year, which - assuming I pass - will finally bring me up to CCNA (Networking Associate) level. After failing the combined CCNA exam an embarrassing number of times*, it's good to know that I'm making steps in the right direction.
2. Attended an Anúna concert last Friday, for the first time in 5 years. Actually longer, as an attendee - maybe 10 years? Got to catch up for just the right length of time with people, which was good. (Plus, dude, they took part in the Diablo III soundtrack, though they didn't sing it at the Christmas concert. How cool is that?)
3. Two more days of work and I get to go on vacation! I had 5 days off in August for the opera workshop, but other than that, public holidays, and a couple of sick days, I haven't taken any time off this year. That's actually against company policy, and possibly EU policy, but it's the way things have worked out.
3a. Related to the above, I will have an absurd number of vacation days available to me next year. Now to plan how to use them....
4. Also related to the above, I will not be on call for TWO WEEKS IN A ROW (Dec 19 to Jan 2)! This wouldn't normally be notable, but I have been on as either primary or secondary for the last almost three months. Primary means I have to be able to get my work laptop up and connected to the network within 30 minutes, which puts a real cramp on doing most things, including even just a nice walk. Secondary isn't quite as bad, but you're still technically under the same restrictions, in case either the primary person needs your help or a second emergency comes in at the same time.
5. I saw a poster of Peadar's book covers in the window of a shop yesterday. A shoe shop, I think, but still a very prominent window on a very well-travelled shopping street in Dublin City Centre. A little dose of awesomeness for the day!
*Any number greater than 1.
1. I passed the ICND1 yesterday, making me a Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician. I have the ICND2 scheduled for later this year, which - assuming I pass - will finally bring me up to CCNA (Networking Associate) level. After failing the combined CCNA exam an embarrassing number of times*, it's good to know that I'm making steps in the right direction.
2. Attended an Anúna concert last Friday, for the first time in 5 years. Actually longer, as an attendee - maybe 10 years? Got to catch up for just the right length of time with people, which was good. (Plus, dude, they took part in the Diablo III soundtrack, though they didn't sing it at the Christmas concert. How cool is that?)
3. Two more days of work and I get to go on vacation! I had 5 days off in August for the opera workshop, but other than that, public holidays, and a couple of sick days, I haven't taken any time off this year. That's actually against company policy, and possibly EU policy, but it's the way things have worked out.
3a. Related to the above, I will have an absurd number of vacation days available to me next year. Now to plan how to use them....
4. Also related to the above, I will not be on call for TWO WEEKS IN A ROW (Dec 19 to Jan 2)! This wouldn't normally be notable, but I have been on as either primary or secondary for the last almost three months. Primary means I have to be able to get my work laptop up and connected to the network within 30 minutes, which puts a real cramp on doing most things, including even just a nice walk. Secondary isn't quite as bad, but you're still technically under the same restrictions, in case either the primary person needs your help or a second emergency comes in at the same time.
5. I saw a poster of Peadar's book covers in the window of a shop yesterday. A shoe shop, I think, but still a very prominent window on a very well-travelled shopping street in Dublin City Centre. A little dose of awesomeness for the day!
*Any number greater than 1.