Challenge Roundup: The Challenger is Still Standing!

Posted by Kevin Lawver 2 months ago | Permalink | Comments (5)

Before I get to the challenges, a little thought on craft. I write code for a living. Usually, other people tell me what they want, and I go build it. Yes, it’s more complicated than that, and more collaborative, but at its essence, I take orders and produce things. I took a long weekend as a mini-vacation to get away from stress at work and started a project just for me. There are no orders, no requirements document, no design, just stuff in my head slowly turning into working code (oh yes, no deadlines either).

I’ve been feeling burned out, tired of dealing with all the “stuff” that goes in to working for a large company. I started this project as a way to rediscover my craft, to do something selfish with my skills, like I imagine a carpenter has the pet project in their shed that’s crazy and big and may take years to whittle down to the end goal, but there’s no hurry. I have to say, being able to wallow in the tiny little bits of code that go into the whole without time constraint or constant interruption has been freeing and a lot of fun. I guess this goes back to my Living Out Loud post. Instead of living out loud right now, I’m living inside, just for me, re-discovering the parts of my job that make me happy.

And after that little diversion, on to the challenges!!

There you go! It’s off to watch some Canadian situational comedy (just discovered the ultimately quirky Corner Gas) and do laundry… and rediscover my craft.

Comments

  1. Yeah Write!'s Buddy IconYeah Write!

    Posted 2 months ago

    cool! i feel like a star!

  2. THX 0477's Buddy IconTHX 0477

    Posted 2 months ago

    Baby, you are a star! And kudos to Kevin for rediscovering what makes what you do what you do…for you, um, to do…what?

  3. ACORN's Buddy IconACORN

    Posted 2 months ago

    Yay! Yeah, its the breaks between work that I live for. (‘course, there wouldn’t be breaks if there wasn’t anything to take a “break” from.)

  4. Blusparrow's Buddy IconBlusparrow

    Posted 2 months ago

    Lol THX !!! I was jsut going to say that is great doing whate ever you do? What is it that you do? and he beat me to it. Awesome Kev it is like me writing on her because I can take how ever long I want to do it and their is basically no restrictions.
    LoA

  5. YodaOnCrack's Buddy IconYodaOnCrack

    Posted 2 months ago

    The proverbial “hamster in the wheel” feeling is something I fight daily, working for a large company as well. Kudos to you for rediscovering your craft and inspiring others with this project of yours. Ficlets is all about tapping into the well of creativity and discovering something new. I think I’m gonna go check out those challenges right now.