First from Fort Wayne - He's Alive!

I've been left with very little time to work on personal stuff since the move, but I'm fighting to make some time. It's all a bit overwhelming, but I'm having an awesome time at my new job. I learn about 50 new things a day as I get a feeling for the new system and the culture of the school.

System-wise, I'm now responsible for everything...that means I can no longer tell people "Well, that sucks, I'm going to have to call the tech. She'll be in tomorrow, hopefully, or the day after" or "Yeah, that's a server thing and we really have no control over that" since the buck stops with me. I'll have to take complete ownership of everything over the next 5 weeks or so as I gradually learn the ropes from my predecessor (I'm incredibly glad I decided not to try to wait until the end of the year to show up and learn the ropes...) and take them over bit by bit.

I've learned alot from Jeremy and Vern already, and I'd like to think I've taught them a little, too. I can see a few things in the current system that I'd like to work on changing, but my number one priority right now is learning the system as it is.

I'm going to have to refamiliarize myself with Python and do more than scratch the surface this time, since I'm going to be teaching a Python class during the Fall semester of next school year. Ditto with C during the Spring semester (though I actually have no previous experience with C). It's going to be an interesting challenge, and I'm up for it.

Culture-wise, there are quite a few changes to get used to. For example, I've got to wear a shirt and tie to work for the very first time ever. I did not have a very suitable wardrobe when I moved up here and I actually made the investment of going to a "Big & Tall" store so I could find nice clothing that I could stand to be in for that long every day.

I'm no longer Simón to the kids, I'm now Mr. Ruiz.

I've not done much in the way of expanding my social life outside the context of work besides going to the local Linux Users' Group activities. I presented this past Thursday for them showing off the new Feisty Fawn installed on an HP Tablet PC (tc4200, if you're curious), and we've been talking about trying to host a LinuxFest here in Fort Wayne.

I really need to put in my presentation proposal for the Ohio LinuxFest already. They sent out their call for presenters before I left Bloomington...

I and my new boss, Vern, have been discussing putting together a full-day workshop for next year's HECC conference (this year I helped out Mike Huffman and Forrest Gaston with their Indiana ACCESS workshop). It also seems like work might pay to send me to NECC this year, which sounds pretty cool.

Anyhow, just wanted you all to know I'm still alive. I'm going to try to post more often (yes, I know, that's not too hard). And yes, I know I need to change my blog's title RSN.

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