Something about this time of year compels me to reflect on accomplishments and think about the future. That’s probably because it’s the end of the year, and that’s what I’m supposed to do. I have two goals for 2007:

1. Drink more tea
2. Read books

Various managers from Accenture and our client strolled through Cubeworld today bearing candy canes, bullhorn and carol-playing boom box. Despite the poor picture quality (taken using my cell phone), it’s not hard to see that they’re decked out in their best Christmas attire. I’ll be honest, I’m usually somewhat of a Grinch when it comes to the holidays. But I couldn’t help but smile at the spectacle of management unafraid to display a little holiday entertainment at their own expense.

What ever happened to the reverse commute? Remember, that precious little commodity that made the drive to or from work tolerable because all the bad traffic was going the opposite direction? When I look over to the other side of the freeway and the parking lot over there seems no better or worse than the one I’m “driving” in, I get the feeling that the reverse commute is a dying breed.

In reality, Sacramento traffic isn’t all that bad. I grew up in Southern California. Need I say more? But I live in the heart of downtown (blocks from the Accenture office, which I’ve never seen by the way) and commute to the suburbs for our project, which you’d think was a reverse commute!

You haven’t heard from me lately because I’ve been in high gear, supporting a testing effort on the part of our client and, most recently, fixing defects. Learning new things is both exciting and rewarding. It sure can feel frustrating and time-consuming too. I appreciate the foreshadowing of my interviewer, who told me in my final interview I’d experience my fair share of “hair-pulling experiences.” Fortunately, I’ve still got some hair left on my head. Happy Friday.

I'm off to Kirkwood to kick off the snowboarding season. I open up the floor to questions/comments/greetings...