what I'm up to

[eatsoylentgreen]

In the 90s I worked with databases, in 3 different jobs. I'm taking a database class and trying to brush up my skills in that. Costs a thousand dollars. Next up is to decide whether or not to take a programming bootcamp. It's $11k but it would give me skills to interview with, come spring

Comments

[eatsoylentgreen]

eating tomatoes from the garden, plus plums!

The plums are sweet and have a bitterness that I've come to associate with Minnesota fruit, sort of like chewing on an aspirin.

[andrewducker]

Programming bootcamp sounds awesome! Tech Support might also be positive - you're good with people, and there are lots of that kind of job about.

I hope you can keep in touch with your friends - have you had to move far?

[eatsoylentgreen]

an hour drive. Which, if you live in the city, is far.

[andrewducker]

I do, and it is.

I have friends who moved one city over. And it's about 90 minutes door-to-door. We seem them every couple of years now.

Hopefully you can still visit people regularly, and keep things going with them until you've got an income that will cover rent. Although if your mum is alone then I can understand you wanting to stay with her.

[bertine]

I know a few people that have done well with a programming BootCamp. if you find a good one they will help you find a job when you are dne.

[jessmaam]

I was recently (aka this morning) reflecting on how the older I am getting the more and more I am tending to cling to older relatives friends and how I actually am losing friends--some intentionally so, some just due to life changes, some just because...and it caused me to have slight panic, but then I just felt like I need to trust that when the time is right and my focus on my social life is back as a priority, those people who are supposed to be there, will be! That gave me some assurance, hopefully it helps you. Focus on what you need to make your life comfortable for you. Friends who are true will be ready and waiting.

[andrewducker]

Oh, and I'm a software developer - feel free to post any stuff that you're curious about (or can't quite get your head around) and I'll try to help. I'm sure others will too!

[eatsoylentgreen]

ok!

here's an email I'm sending
-------
Hi professor. Can I get your opinion on an idea?

I'm not taking this class for a grade or a degree. I might want one someday but that's not my goal right now.

The reason I'm taking the class is because in 1999, I worked with databases, and haven't since. I'm looking to apply for database jobs again. To do this, often interviewees show a project they are working on.

Here's my idea. I'm at my mom's house, and I see all these historical family pictures. I think it would be cool to make a database of the picture, who is in it, and about when it was taken. This is a good basic database, really useful, and neat to show at an interview.

"Stretch goals" might include making a phone app (so people could take photos on their own) and putting it on the cloud.

Does this seem like a worthwhile project? Any advice?

[andrewducker]

That sounds like an excellent project!

Have you considered a language and database to use?

[eatsoylentgreen]

I am on Ubuntu and saw a database utility (MySQL Workbench) used a lot, so I have that, and am learning MySQL. I've seen MySQL asked for in interviews. The class teacher also has two other favorites, whose names escape me.