very odds and ends.

So, I've been at a networking conference in Eugene, Oregon for the past few days. It isn't the showplace of the Western World, but it's really pretty in a "forest moon of Endor" kind of way. I lack a car, so I can't exactly go out and See Nature, but it's all probably just as good, because I've been kept busy at the conference for practically all of my waking hours anyway.

A fascinating thing at the conference yesterday. At one of the birds-of-a-feather sessions (i.e. specific subtopics with a more limited audience) in the evening, we were talking about what tools would make our jobs easier, as network engineers. I stood up, and spelled out a situation, the tools I would like as well as the tools I was building, and entertained a few questions from the audience. Afterward, people actually gathered around me and we started discussing the topic more. After that, people came up to me to find out who I was, and asked me further questions.

Realization: I think I just became a slightly bigger fish in this particular pond. Cool.

I also got to do a post-mortem of sorts with one of the higher-ups at my former employer about how I was perceived at that job. It was constructive. We came to emphatic agreement on a number of things, and I confirmed a few things that I suspected, but didn't know for sure.

Observation: Sometimes you have to be in a "buck stops here" situation before you get a chance to learn the skills you need to advance.

This just in..... one more answer to my poll (it's not too late to ask a question if you haven't yet):

tafkar: It started out as "cool person", but I didn't get much more of a read, because of the circumstances. Since then, it has continuously been "very interesting person that I'd really like to hang out with more." As always, it's all about the scheduling.

One more thing.

Rich, I have your cloak. G gave it to me to bring back to Boston for D to wear. We figured you'd appreciate that.