November 10, 2005
Almost done!
No, there isn’t a turkey or chicken (or savage pig — inside joke) roasting in the oven.
I’m referring to the software that I have been killing myself to program, for the past 2 months. It is almost done. Between myself and two hired programmers, we’ve almost finished it. Almost ready to go out for testing to the beta testers.. who hopefully won’t find too many bugs or problems.
I’m very excited about this, because it is the culmination of over a year of planning and a LOT of hard work. Plus, once it’s done I’ll have a lot more time to spend exploring Corsica. Well.. that is until my workaholic perfectionist tendancy kicks in and I start thinking of the many many ways I can improve the software even more… Actually, I already have a big list going for adding additional features/functionality.. but I’m really going to try hard to at least take a few weeks "off" and not think about anything more then bug fixes. Wish me luck!
Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know.. because I’m very excited. All that’s left is integration of the new licensing and copyright mechanism (so people will stop stealing from me!), and a few minor bugs. Then it’s out the door for public testing, and hopefully in a few weeks.. public release!
Oh.. crap. Then I have to update my sales website, fix my order system, transfer about 3000 licenses to the new system, and then deal with the (hopefully not huge) deluge of customers with problems… oh ya.. and of course let’s not forget my other business, which also happens to deal with a zillion web hosting customers who seem to always have urgent problems that must be fixed RIGHT FREAKING NOW BEFORE THE WORLD ENDS! Good grief. I always laugh when I read a helpdesk ticket from some customer who is freaking out because he can no longer log into his shopping cart system, that he installed but somehow now expects us to support.
Ahh… but life is good. Working from "home" on software of my own sure beats driving 1.5 hours to downtown Vancouver to see myself being billed out for an hourly rate that is more then 10 times what I was making.
Speaking of which.. I was thinking the other day (sadly, this happens only a few times per week).. actually I was more "reflecting" then anything else… and I realized that I now kind of understand Dave (my step-dad) a little better. I remember talking to him once, a long time ago when I was his helper for a summer and brought bricks up ladders to high places and stirred thick cement in a wheelbarrow.. about how he was self-employed. He told me he always has been.. and always will be. At the time, I couldn’t understand that. I figured, if times ever got tough, then how hard would it be to go and work for someone else, either on a contract basis or directly? After all, if you need money you have to work to get it, right?
Now I understand. Having been totally my own boss now (self-unemployed) for only about a year, I think I’d rather have another kidney stone then work for someone else ever again. The concept of working *for* someone else just makes my whole body start to shake and sweat start to form on my forehead. Even the *thought* of working for "the man" again makes me panic.
I don’t know what the future holds, but I am confident I’ll never get another paycheck without my own signature on it.
Ok, considering i’m probably the only one reading this that can appreciate how much work you’ve done, and how exciting this must be,( :geek: ) i’ll make a comment so you don’t feel neglected.
Congrats on your almost release…..and likewise, I’m starting to feel the itch of working for “the man” and hopefully one day will be self-unemployed like you
(I just have to have a brilliant idea for a company):hammer:
Congratulations Henri!
Being self-employed and one’s own boss has definate advantages – I should know….
Don’t tell me you missed the San Martinu in Propriano : celebrating the patron saint of the village with the new wine?
And if you do get off on that tour of Corsica, the offer of a flat near Ajaccio is still there.
Well done onree, though I probably would not have a clue what you did it sounds like some blood, sweat, and I’m sure a whole bunch of tears went into it. Now get out and fish God******.
I’m so jealous. I too wish I didn’t work for the “man” but unfortunately not all of us are as talented as Henri so we are still stuck in cubicles.
Glad to hear you are doing well. Miss you guys!
Yo H! Thanks for fixin my E mail from Corsica to Canada! E-Toad rules!
Oh Great One. The mortals grow weary. We have waited a week, and LO! we still hear not your voice. What have we done to anger you? Why such silence? We beseech thee, send us another post.
In other news I have taken to eating sushi and going to movies with your cousin. You have nearly been replaced. Now come back. She’s great but she’s never shot anyone, not even once. She just can’t compete.