However, the first time I know that I can do something so much easier in Windows, I run back to that comfortable environment.  I had a short dabble in OS X, but when I lost a job opportunity because I didn't know enough Linux, I gave my PowerBook to my wife and tried again to immerse myself into the OS.   Only to go back to Windows when I couldn't do what I wanted to do.

So, what's my problem?  Why am I unsatisfied with Windows?  What is the deal with Linux?

......The first part of this post was a couple months ago.  To continue....

I haven't stuck with Windows because I know the OS, there is no mystery for me.  Basically, I'm bored with it.

Linux is that new thing, the shiny unknown that taunts me with, "Windows is evil; it's closed source.  Every time you launch Windows, a kitten dies.  Linux is open source, we are happy, shiny, and don't judge.  We have everything you want from Windows, in a guilt-free package."

However, Linux doesn't offer everything for me.  Where Linux is free and open source, there is a lot of tweaking I need to do to make it an environment I would be comfortable to use.  I can be working on a project, and then notice something that I would want to modify, change, try to make it better that has nothing to do with the project.

I have that same feeling with Windows, but I can get there much faster.  There are plenty of utils that can make Windows look completely different.  I have found the ones I want in Windows (by the way, we are talking XP -- Vista takes up too many resources)  and it is a comfortable environment.

Since I started this post, I have gone through 3 different distros and finally went back to Windows.  There is still a strong appeal to go back to Linux, but I literally did nothing but tweak Linux, I got nothing done.

It's time to get stuff done.

I want to change that. I want 2009 to be the year I look back ans say, "This was the year I got focused I started the habits that shaped the remaining years of my life."

Tall order, no? I'm putting a lot of pressure on myself. However, I feel I need to do this.

2008 was a banner year for a lot of the podcasters I listen to.  I was very happy for them, their hard work paid off, but honestly, I felt jealous.

I have noone to blame but myself.   I am going to make things happen, and not wait for some sign that it will work out.  I will make it work out.

Tomorrow, I will have the alpha release posted.  Next Friday will be the first episode.

I will make 2009 a year I will be proud of.

I field the calls that are related to my company's ,main application and the supporting applications.  There is more working in depth with the SQL databases and writing .Net applications if the need arises.

Over the summer, my company sent me to SQL class.  I've had experience with queries in my dealings with MySql for sites I have scripted, but I wanted to get an idea of what the differences were with Microsoft SQL.  Turns, out there was not much.  Stored procedures and views were things I haven't dealt with, so that was helpful.  All in all, it was a week off to make sure I knew what I needed for work.

This class satisfied the C# .Net component -- at least the introduction of it.  I've had a rather sorted past with programming languages.  In high school (oh so many years ago), I learned basic and pascal, and it fueled my desire to enter college as a Computer Science major instead of Culinary Arts.  Once I entered college, it was something entirely different for me.  I couldn't grasp what came easily a few years ago.  I can't even blame wild partying for the reason.  Maybe there wasn't the guidance I needed.  I don't know.  There were other failed attempts over the years, so much so that I have said in interviews that I'm not a programmer, I'm a support tech.

Now, for this job I need to dive into the programming aspect.  I like scripting in PHP, so maybe I can get the hang of programming.  C# shouldn't be that difficult to grasp.

The class was remotely -- I was in a small training room, not much bigger than a closet, just me a speaker phone and two computers.  The fun was that I was able to have the phone muted, make my own comments and think out loud for the concepts the intstructor was teaching.  I enjoyed the concept, and I will do that again.

The content of the class itself was ok.  It was a Microsoft based course, so it was rather focused on the gee-wiz factors of Visual Studio.  The instructor would stray away from the class book when she felt it was necessary and I think it made it better.

Next week, I'll find out if any of what I learned will stick.  At the very least, I'll know what Object Oriented Programming is and will be able to sort out code for troubleshooting.