My work is slowly taking over my life, we not really.  My kids make sure that work doesn’t take over, as long as they are awake.  But it is slowly taking over my sleep life, dreams that is.  I am frequently finding myself solving work related programming problems in my sleep, and also discovering various other problems that I didn’t know existed.  I haven’t yet had the dream where I get fired.  I guess that is a good thing.  I feel that I need to get some type of way to record my dreams though, perhaps a notepad.  That seems so archaic, isn’t there a Dream DVR yet that I could but, then just replay the good parts and fast forward through the boring.

Ah well, I guess I will just have to remember what I dreamt and hope to get something out of it. It was a good dream, solved lot of problems and everyone was happy. We will see when I get to work today.  It would be much easier if I could program here at home, but I can’t, at least not on work stuff.

Have a great day.

For those that don’t know, I recently got a new job.  I am a computer programmer, more specifically database programming.  I really like my job.  I have been interested in computers since I was in 5th grade when my family got our first computer, an Apple II+.  Yes, it was A LONG time ago.  The best part of getting this job is that I have a title, ‘Software Engineer’.  Now, those that know my family would agree that my father gets pretty ‘hot’ under the collar when that word is used to describe ANYTHING other than someone who is a Civil Engineer.  Well, I was thinking about that today, so I looked up the definition of Engineer at Merriam Webster online.  There are several definitions of an engineer.

As a noun here is the definitions:

1: a member of a military group devoted to engineering work

2obsolete : a crafty schemer : plotter

3 a: a designer or builder of engines

3 b: a person who is trained in or follows as a profession a branch of engineering c: a person who carries through an enterprise by skillful or artful contrivance

4: a person who runs or supervises an engine or an apparatus

Both my father and I would fall under 3b.  Engineering has the definition of:

1: the activities or function of an engineer 

2 a: the application of science and mathematics by which the properties of matter and the sources of energy in nature are made useful to people b: the design and manufacture of complex products (software engineering)

3: calculated manipulation or direction (as of behavior) (social engineering)

 So, the logic is that I am in the design and manufacture of complex products(software), so I am trained in a branch of engineering.  I suppose that my father could argue just as well the other way, but according to the dictionary, what I do IS engineering and I am an engineer. 

Just for the record, my father is a great guy, who has been a Civil Engineer for over 40 years.  He is well known and respected in his field, and is truly one of the greatest guys I have ever known.  Dad, if you don’t want to consider me a Software Engineer, just remember that I was in the Army Reserves, and there I was trained as a Combat Engineer, so I guess I have all my bases covered, right?

I have been working now for, oh 2 days, today will be the third.  Every thing is fine, I am just trying to get a grasp on the business process.  I guess I am relieved that I really understand the programming.  I do need to understand the business process of the project that I will be working on, so I think that will be my major undertaking for about the next 2 or 3 weeks.  I will just delve into that and hopefully it will make a little more sense each day.  I do think now that I will be able to add to the company at some point.

I am getting to know the people who I am working with, so that is nice.  On the surface, I am not sure that I have a whole lot in common with many of them, but hey, I have only known them for 2 days, how much can I possible learn.  And I have been READING most of that time.  I am sure it will get better as time goes on.  I need to re-learn how to interact with adults, so that is difficult.  Not all conversation needs to be about kids, right?

Enough on this for now.  It is exciting and fun, and I can’t wait to go to work!

Yesterday was the big day and it went well.  I had a great first day, a real whirlwind of meeting people and learning about what the company does.  I am not sure that  I really understand that part, but hey, it’s only been one day!  I am really excited about the way the God is blessing me and my family right now.  I am really starting to see that I am a significant part of His plan. I put my life into His hands and let go of the ledge of ’self’ that I have been clinging to, and I am not falling!  He caught me in a HUGE way, more than I could ever have imagined!!!

 I am really excited about this job though.  I think that I will have not problem understanding the programming basics, and learning a new programming language will not be a difficult task.  Once I get a good understanding of the business process, I know that I will be a great asset to the company. 

They really have a unique employee setup in regards to just about everything, time off, work hours, health care, etc.  It is just a great opportunity for me and my family.  I just can’t wait to get paid so I can start giving back.  That may sound strange coming from me, but that is how I feel.  I want to be a good steward of what God is trusting me with, and he is getting me pretty excited about doing it also!

 That’s all for now, have a great weekend!

I am official employed, or will be in one week.  That is when I start my new job.  I will be a computer programmer.  The company looks like a great place to work.  I am really exited, but also really anxious!  I have a pretty good self-confidence problem when it comes to things that I am not used to.  I need to learn a lot of new stuff, so that is pretty scary.  I have been told by the wonderful Pogerina that all will be fine.

My largest concern with all of this is my kids.   I have been a SAHD for the last 2 years, and this means BIG changes for them.  I think the Peanut and Cashew will be ok, one is old enough to understand what is going on, the other is not.  The Walnut though, he’s 3 and it will be a hard adjustment I think.  Only time will tell.  As for homeschooling, we will just have to work on it at night, and my wonderful wife can do some during the day, she works from home.  The Peanut has quite a bit of schoolwork that she can do herself, with minimal adult interference! She is really smart and it amazes me at times.  She will be just fine.

As for me, keep me in your prayers as I start this journey.  I am taking the unknown road, yet again.  For me, this road is less travelled, and I hope the path is clear enough to pass without too much difficulty.