For my reading and viewing pleasure

I picked up a couple of new items today. The first is the Star Trek: Voyager Season 2, Disks 3 and 4 (of 7) on DVD of course. I've been waiting a few weeks for them to come into the library.

The second is a book called Extreme Programming Adventures in C#. I first saw
this book on the XProgramming.com
web site. Since I'm learning more and more about xtreme programming and agile
development in general I thought this would be a good book to read.

The few hours a day I spend riding the bus has allowed me to make some pretty good head way in studying my next MCSD.Net test, 70-300, Analyzing Requirements and Defining Microsoft .Net Solution Architectures. It's a pretty broad subject and covers a lot of skills I know. Now it's making sure I understand them the way Microsoft intended.

Interestingly enough I started working on a couple of use cases I forgot I had committed to creating for two features in the product I have been working on for the past year. I learned a few things about use cases that I didn't really understand before. According to the study guide I'm reading (Microsoft Press), an Actor can also be "an entity, such as another system or database, that resides outside the system." In my applications case, there are a couple of external "actors" I didn't think about until I read the chapter on Use Cases.

Changed my site a little bit again. Since the Blog is the focal point I decided to make it the actual landing page. We'll see how that goes for a while.

I know links are king when it comes to blog posts but right now I'm too tired to try and find the Amazon links for the Voyager DVD.

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Marines Prayer

Marine’s Prayer

Almighty Father, whose command is over all and whose love never fails, make me aware of Thy presence and obedient to Thy will. Keep me true to my best self, guarding me against dishonesty in purpose and deed and helping me to live so that I can face my fellow Marines, my loved ones, and Thee without shame or fear. Protect my family.

Give me the will to do the work of a Marine and to accept my share of responsibilities with vigor and enthusiasm. Grant me the courage to be proficient in my daily performance. Keep me loyal and faithful to my superiors and to the duties my Country and the Marine Corps have entrusted to me. Help me to wear my uniform with dignity, and let it remind me daily of the traditions which I must uphold.

If I am inclined to doubt, steady my faith; if I am tempted, make me strong to resist; if I should miss the mark, give me courage to try again.

Guide me with the light of truth and grant me wisdom by which I may understand the answer to my prayer.

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Listening to the sounds

My Wife bless her heart is learning to play the piano. It's
wonderful. She plays on a piano that she inherited from her deceased Mother. We
have had that piano for almost 10 years. All three of my daughters have had
piano lessons but never really got into it. But my Wife is discovering a lot of
hobbies as she finds more time on her hands. This is funny because she really
doesn’t have that much extra time. But she's finding it.

I'm sitting here in the office while she is playing in the living room. It's beautiful.
It's mostly hunt and peck at the moment. But she is giving it her all. I can
tell that she is really trying to learn the music. Understand the notes. Get a
feel for the keyboard. I'm proud of her.

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9/11 Remembered

Remembering those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001

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Beating 30 days

So I thought I would post today, duh! It's been exactly 1 month since my last. Forgive me Father!

A lot of stuff has happened in a month so I will try and put everything in bullet points.

1. Trying to shift career gears is like trying to turn a very large ship. It could take

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