diegolewis.com

headphones

diego — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:30:36 +0000

The woman sitting across from me on the train tapped my shoulder to tell me she could hear the music from my headphones. To be polite, I turned down the volume. Then, she said she wasn’t bothered by the noise but I should be concerned about hearing loss. I did have the volume turned all the way up; but, I still couldn’t drowned out the other CTA noises. Just how damaging can the second loudest sound be?

duck confit pizza is good

diego — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 21:39:16 +0000

My bass and amp came out of the closet for the first time in a while. I was suddenly struck with the need to learn a new song. Well, an old song that’s new to me. I wonder if I could start a punk cover band at 29? What would we call ourselves? The Elderly, Hospice, I wear Depends

I’m having a good weekend. Wicker Park fest had some good music. Also, Revolution Brewing has a mean duck pizza. The beer there speaks for itself.

quick update

diego — Tue, 18 May 2010 16:22:18 +0000

I’m working on some travel websites. Looking at hotels all day makes me think about putting a few more stamps on my passport. Portland and, hopefully, Boston are in my immediate future but Merrie is looking into Europe and the Caribbean. Once I make some substantial changes I will put a screen shot up in my portfolio.

I haven’t returned to IIT. My graduate experience has been huge disappointment. I don’t know what my future holds academically.

to potential employers

diego — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 19:19:29 +0000

For the past few months I’ve been actively looking for a new job. During that time, I’ve read a number of articles related to a person’s web presence. I’d like to say up front, this blog and other social media accounts were not set up to market myself. There are plenty misspellings and most posts are not related to programming.

Enjoy browsing around and getting to know me. I can also be found on twitter and linked in. I choose not to have a facebook page.

Beginning the Hunt

diego — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:28:17 +0000

Financial problems and surgery put a quick end to my career as a grad student. Oh well, maybe I will return to part time. Maybe I will try again for the fall of 2012.

Time to turn my attention back to my real career and find a job. I sent my first resume out this week and you can bet I will spend many hours on the job boards the next few weeks.

Wish me luck.

time off

diego — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:35:02 +0000

I haven’t written anything in a while. It’s because I’m not sure what to say. So much has happened and I don’t know where my life is headed.

On the happy side, I finished the 2009 Chicago Marathon. My knee started hurting in the first 10 miles so I didn’t have the fastest time but I don’t care. I finished!

Off and running

diego — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:23:02 +0000

I’m over committed again.

The level of academics is seriously higher here at IIT than at NEIU. I need to be spending so many more hours studding. I should be so much more focused on my classes.

My first contract project for NorthShore is getting fumbled. Just setting up my home pc became a big deal. I thought it would take a few hours: defrag the hard drive, install some software, nothing major. Instead, it took so long that I was almost to my deadline when I began doing real work. I few quirks in the presentation and the JavaScript had me start from scratch a few times doubling or tripling the amount of work I had anticipated. Then when I thought I had everything finally finished I go to present it and the very first page has JavaScript errors. It was terribly embarrassing sitting next to Teddy and finding out it was in production and broken after all that work, including an all-nighter last Wednesday.

The second bathroom still isn’t finished. This project I want to complete more than anything else. It’s been months and I’m sick of getting burned in the shower every times someone else turns on a faucet. Merrie has been understanding because of everything going on but I know she’s sick of having a huge section of the house closed off.

Embarrassment: August 12, 2009

diego — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:46:51 +0000

Friday is my last day here at NorthShore. I wanted send a nice simple thanks to everyone for +3 good years and invite them for a beer after I leave. Sounds simple enough. I guess I was overdue for some email mistakes.

First, I spent a few minutes mentally going through the room trying to include everyone. Then, I realize an email just went out to the entire floor and I didn’t need to go through all this. I clicked to close the email out, only I hit send.

SH*T! I send out a recall on the message.

Well one mistake is OK I guess. I open up the email to the floor hit reply all, clear out the old message and hit “To” to open the phonebook because there are a few people I want to include who work elsewhere. Instead of To I clicked Send.

SH*T! SH*T! I send out another recall.

Finally, I managed to get out a good by email titled “third time’s a charm.” Of course, there are some people who didn’t get the previous 2 mistakes and will have no idea what that is supposed to mean. Then there’s everyone else who will remember me as the computer programmer that doesn’t know how to send an email.

Some times I’m simply amazing.

Get your dog! Get your dog!

diego — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:16:34 +0000

This morning I was standing on a field in the park holding Lou’s leash. I heard someone yell “Get your dog! Get your dog! Get your dog!” and turned to see what was happening. The man yelling was jogging up the hill on the field. Dudley, a larger and more intimidating dog than Lou, was standing watching him.
As he approached us and jogged passed he started screaming hysterically and waving his hands like a maniac.
“Get your dog! I don’t want to get bit! If your dog bites me, I’m calling my attorney! I have one! I live in Lakeshore East! Get your dog!” and on and on
Lou jumped and I lost the leash I was lightly holding. The dogs followed, running from one side of the jogger to the other and I trailed after trying to get Louie’s attention. I yelled something. I think it was “Shut the hell up and they will stop chasing you” but I don’t remember. After we crossed the line of small trees, Dudley turned back but the man continued to run and scream about Lou, still on his heals. Finally, after maybe 100 yards, Lou gave up his pursuit and we walked back.

I’m trying to tell that without any emotion just giving a factual account.

Now that I’ve done that, I have to say…

What an idiot!

Chicago is a dog friendly city. If you have an irrational fear of dogs, don’t be the most ridiculous thing around. Of course the dogs were curious of the screaming and flailing arms, they’re dogs.
Never in my life have I thought, “I’m not helping unless this guy has a lawyer.” Honestly, what does that have to do with anything? I spoke to one last night. So what? Why would anyone shout “I’m calling my attorney!” in that situation?
Why would I care where he lives? How is that relevant? Taken with the previous comment, I’ll assume he was trying to communicate that he was wealthy. Did he think we would cheerfully sit and watch a poor person get mauled by one of our dogs?
Fear all 35lbs of puggle furry! Ha. I think it’s funny when anyone over the age of 10 is scared of Lou.

Big Suit - Tiny Suit

diego — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:26:36 +0000

I think my newest suit is a years old, maybe just a little older. I had it tailored big since an ever-expanding waist is the reason I needed a new one in the first place. So how does it fit now? Now, after jogging over 100 miles this year and cutting way back on the beer, it doesn’t fit at all anymore. I couldn’t even button the coat. Damn things cost hundreds of dollars and are rarely worn. It would be easier to just rent a tux when I need one.