Chuck Norris does not "style" his hair. It lays perfectly in place out of sheer terror.
I've been very tense, very angry, very on-edge with just about everything and everyone lately. It's time to get away from that. So this post doesn't talk about bad things in my life, or how the Democrats are going to single-handedly destroy American society with their cowardice or ridiculous political posturing (at least George W. Bush stands FOR something), or how I need a new job, or anything like that. Let's try a different tactic...let's go back to a simpler, happier time.
So, I'm not a big fan of anything made by Apple (although they were honest enough to drop the "Computer" from their name, thus admitting what everyone else already knew: they're not really a computer company any more). My views on the hysteria over the iPhone are no exception. That's why I was so happy to find this:
And then, there's this:
I know, I know...the iPhone is going to usher in a new Golden Age...blah, blah, blah. When will we learn that technology, even though it can sometimes be cool, is not the solution to all of life's problems?
But Chris, "it's sideburns...a hand grenade...a blow dryer..." BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
I can't possibly say enough about 7-11. Convenience stores get something of a bad rap, I believe. Sure, they're more expensive...you do pay for the convenience. But they do have some very affordable food items that are actually pretty delicious, too. It's funny to say that, but 7-11, in some ways, provides comfort food. If you've never had a cheeseburger Big Bite, you don't know what you're missing. It's basically ground beef and cheese, squashed into a hot-dog shape and cooked that way, on the hot-dog roller. Add some chili, ketchup, and mustard...DIVINE!! Their nachos aren't bad, either, or their many flavors of taquitos. Steak and Jack cheese, buffalo chicken....MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!
7-11 also has some special memories from my childhood. When I was very small, about 3 or 4, I can barely remember Dad taking me to 7-11 every day after he'd pick me up from daycare, and he'd buy me some candy there. He'd get himself an Icee and he'd buy me whatever candy I wanted, and we'd go home. That was one of my first great memories with my Dad. It's funny to think that he was only 20 or so at the time...still mostly a kid himself. There are some parts of my Dad that never grew up, even today.
Of course, back home, there are also two giant competitors to 7-11. These two are frankly much more prevalent back home than 7-11. I speak, of course, of QT and Love's. We don't really see much of either one here in Colorado, but I have to admit, those two have the whole convenience store thing down pretty well. You walk in, and all the stuff they have...I mean, WOW! QT has about 20 flavors of coffee and cappuccino. Love's tries to maintain more of a country flavor, but they are no less huge than QT. They seem to be more prevalent in central and western Oklahoma, while QT has eastern Oklahoma locked up. But they are truly amazing.
On a positive note, I did complete my graduate application to the University of Denver this past week. I had to put together an essay describing why I wanted to enter their program and what I expected to get out of it. Considering I wrote the thing in about an hour, I actually thought it was pretty good. So I am attaching it in line here. Enjoy!
As an applicant to the Masters of Applied Science in Information Security Management program at the University of Denver, I have several goals and expectations for my course of study and my future afterward. However, to enumerate those fully, I should first provide some background on myself and my previous career and life experiences. I already work in information security, and have done so since 1999. I have already experienced many interesting situations and positions, with a variety of responsibilities, not all of them pleasant ones. I have worked primarily in network and system security directly, focusing in such areas as network intrusion detection, security incident handling, system and network forensics, firewalls, and operating system and application hardening. Because of this, my first goal is to focus my program in areas in which I have not had as much work experience. For example, the degree program lists possible courses such as Enterprise Management, Cyber-Security Law, Application Security, and Managerial Decision Making. I plan on taking these courses as part of my personal degree plan precisely because I have not experienced these on my own and I would like that additional background.I think it speaks directly to my motives, for a lot of things in my life right now. For that reason, I felt it was blog-worthy.
Second, I have had a great deal of education but none related to my chosen field. My bachelor's degree is in linguistics; while there are some aspects of my training in linguistics that are useful in network security, my degree is largely useless to me. I am looking forward to the opportunity to expand my capabilities with a more formal grounding for my personal work experiences. Since this additional formal grounding is very important to me, and since I already possess a great deal of direct technical experience in information security, I purposely sought a reputable program at a reputable institution that would provide a solid theoretical grounding in fundamental concepts as well as hands-on lab time. I could just as easily have applied to the University of Phoenix or DeVry, but I know full well that those institutions, while fairly reputable, would most likely focus on hands-on work in areas in which I have already received a great deal of experience through my own career work. In such a program, I could easily “sleep-walk” through my degree, taking only classes which provide subjects I know well and thus theoretically reduce the time and effort needed. However, as I stated above, I value the opportunity to gain knowledge in new areas and fill in the gaps in my own experience, and thus make myself more marketable, and the substantial investment in time, sweat, and money that much more meaningful.
Finally, I highly value the opportunity to find a good goal for myself and drive myself to achieve something special in my life again. Over the past few years, my life has been filled with various turmoil: the loss of my grandfathers, a painful divorce and the typical financial pressures attendant to it, difficulties with helping my children adjust to the new arrangement, family health issues, and career challenges and missteps. The constant turmoil, as I was buffeted about by these continual stressful events in only two years' time, left me with a feeling that I was wandering aimlessly, seeking only to survive, to hold myself against the storm. This plan, this program, this goal provides me a second chance, a chance not just to survive but to thrive. It offers the chance to take control of my life again, set a goal, and go for it. I believe it is only when we challenge ourselves do we find life's true victories, and this would represent a great victory for me over my recent trials.
As to my look to the future, I hope in five years' time to be in a managerial position, perhaps as a Chief Information Security Officer of some large government organization or enterprise, where I can use all of my technical skill as well as the managerial theory and concepts I learn as part of this program (and hopeful expand on with further work experience). I would love to find a place where I can settle and grow myself and my skills. Most of all, I hope to find new challenges as my experiences and my life move forward in a positive, constructive way from where I am today.
The next several weeks will be extremely eventful for me, but I need to make sure to focus on and accentuate the positive. I do have a lot in my life that is good, that is positive, that is happy. I need to remember that more. Again, pray for us as we go forward. As you can see above, we don't have long until Owen comes, and that in itself is a wonderful, positive thing, and also a new upcoming challenge. We'll need all the support we can get.
Thanks for reading along.
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