14 August 2005

Birthday Sis

Well, today is my sister's birthday. She has just turned 35 years old. I can't believe that she's really that old. When I was a kid, which seems like just a couple of weeks ago, she was walking me and my little brother (who just turned 30 a couple of weeks ago) to the library for some free after-school day care until my mom could get off of work to pick us up.

It's amazing. Where does the time go? How did I hyperspace forward this far? Here I am, with a five-year-long marriage (so far), a two-year-old son, and another child on the way in just three months?

I remember when I was in high school and "old" people (those who were as old as I now am) would tell me how things just go by so fast. I thought they were crazy. But who would've known that they were exactly right? Maybe it is true that youth is wasted on the young. I suppose I'll be telling my kids that some day, and they won't believe me either. It's just one of those things you have to experience, I guess.

Anyway, happy birthday, Monica. Sorry I didn't get you anything better than a card, which might show up late because of me forgetting to send it earlier. It's hard to think of a good gift for someone turning 35 and living over a thousand miles away. I should've just gotten a cheesehead. The shipping wouldn't have been much (it's just styrofoam), and I think you can get one just about anywhere. I think they even sell them at the company store right in the building where I work! How lazy am I?

Well, happy birthday nonetheless. You're a great big sister.

13 August 2005

Being a Technical Star

I was reading Johanna Rothman's series on Management Myths when I saw the one entitled "I Have to be the Technical Star." I hope most managers don't buy that one.

Management ability and technical ability are not different levels of the same skill set. A great manager does not necessary mean he or she is a great coder, and we all know that the converse definitely doesn't hold water either.

Why is moving into management seen as a "promotion"? Why can't developing as a technical guru and acquiring vast amounts of experience with different languages solving problems in different areas enough for people?

Ooops, I need to go fill out my MBA application now. After all, I've got mouths to feed, and I gotta keep working my way up.