2008 is a big year!

Well, so far 2008 has started off with a bang for me. On January 2, 2008 I was offered a new job, which I accepted. I had been unhappy where I was at for some time, and putting up with abuse of a sort from my supervisor. I was frustrated because I was not able to use my education and began to question why I was going for my bachelors degree in Information Security at the time. That changed on January 2nd. I started appreciating that I have worked so hard at my education. I immediately turned my resignation in, which was not received well at all, but I expected that and in the end reaffirmed my decision to leave. Was it scary? Yes. Did I question my decision? Yes I did, I began to wonder if I was doing the right thing, but after talking it over with some friends whom I could trust and felt would give me a honest answer and some soul searching on my own, I felt that I was doing the right thing.

I have been at my new job for a total of 3 weeks now. In that three weeks I have gotten us caught up with everything, gotten inventory done, arranged to have PC's and monitors recycled, and in fact can add an item to my resume that I am now familiar with, something that I was told that I would never have a chance to do at my previous job. I have handled everything in the office by myself on four occasions, whether it be due to weather, sickness, or having to go to another office to install hardware. But I have proven that I can handle what happens in the office without supervision, and with relatively no assistance. I have been told that I am doing a great job, and that everything that I have been doing is very much appreciated. I have also been told from an admin that they have heard nothing but wonderful stuff from others in the office about me. They are saying "Fast response, great attitude." While I am on contract with this company for 3 to 6 months, after that I can be hired on permanently, at this point I have no doubt that I will be hired on permanently.

When I was at my previous company, I would come home frustrated, go outside during the day on the verge of crying or wanting to put my hand thru a wall. It was not a healthy situation at all. I don't know if I could have stayed there much longer and kept my sanity. While I will say this for them, they gave me the opportunity and I did learn a lot while I was there. I got some experience which helped me obtain the job that I have gotten now. But with that company there was no way I could have reached my personal career goals. They didn't have the need for a 3rd system administrator. My suggests to improve security, both physical and data, were unwanted, being told that its not needed. Not needed? I highly doubted that. In order to protect your data and keep your business running, it is highly recommended that only authorized personnel have access to your servers as well as your phone systems. Not needed, I don't think so. What happens in the cause of an emergency? What are employees supposed to do if there is no power? What is their Disaster Recovery Plan? What about Business Continuity? I won't answer those questions here because I know the answers to them.

With my new job, I have come home with a smile on my face for the past 3 weeks and I am loving my job.

Ok I said 2008 is going to be a big year, so what else is happening this year?

Well...............
I will be graduating with my bachelors degree this year as well, right now the current debate is do I graduate in June or September? Will explain this later in another post when I get word back from my school chair.

so thats 2 things for 2008 so far.....what else?

I get married this year. Saturday August 16, 2008 I get married to one of my best friends. I say one of my best friends because I have 2 best friends. I believe you can have more than one best friend.

Wedding plans are coming along and things are coming into place. We are having our engagement photo session next month.

Poseidon:


Zeus: