This is my second Grid example so I changed the colors a bit, but also I have completed the EdX Intro to JavaScript with a verified certificate and 88%. I am upset because it should have been 100% but I was paying attention to someone talking in my office and messed up a question. Grr..

I am now learning about some Python and have enrolled in the professional certification for Computational thinking. I am hoping to have some better understanding of the computer science end of programming and deepen my logical skills.
To add to my future revenue streams I have decided to take my Masters certificate in TEFL

I have been learning a bit about CSS Grids besides the EdX course. This seems simple and maybe it is to some but .. you know

I am afraid to continue in the online course because I think I will not get the JavaScript

Okay not too much time here but so far I have passed the certification in JavaScript in LearnJS app which was okay but not really a great credential seeing as I still cannot write a JS script from my head. I do however have a good overview of the language and components so I believe now I just have to practice more My EdX course is pretty good I have made it through 3 of 5 modules now and feel much better about HTML5 and CSS. I was pretty distracted during my module 3 so I didn't do well on the test at the end. I will really need to focus for module 4 when it get into the Javascript. In the training I am building the project webpage along with the course and get to see how these changes I make in the code translate to the page. I find it very helpful to change around the code options to see exactly how the elements are being effected.

HTML Editor in Blogger update

I am really trying to write the code now but I am finding it difficult not to get caught up in the paralysis by analysis thing. It is a deeeeeeep rabbit hole figuring out what editor or IDE to use, figure out what libraries do, figure out what all the back end stuff is, how can I use CSS to save time and make my site look good etc. I haven't even scratched the surface with the amount I have looked at on the web and that is likely only a tear drop in the ocean of what is out there for the entire Developer information pool

Essentially the editor in Blogger is just a text editor but still allows you to use the icons to embed images and such instead of making you code it. So I cheated a bit and needed to use the image button to load the photo here, but I am going through the code to check what I would need to write. It looks complicated due to the a href="imgName" being from a long string that on a normal web server folder would be much shorter and more relevantly named.
The biggest issue is remembering all these tags whew!
Anyway, I will be back soon.

Okay so it has been a bit slow going the past week.  But I have accomplished the following:

• I have a ton of books on PDF
• I have signed up for and EdX course starts on Oct 1
• I have installed Atom test editor and am playing around in it with someone else's code
• I am amazed by what you can do in HTML5
• This may take more time than I thought :(
• Rode my bike everyday for the past week
• Finally rode up 1000Meters to Mussara near Reus

It is clear to me that once I start playing with the code and the HTML and the environment that I feel like I am being creative and technical. These are two big requirements of whatever I do.

I am not writing this blog yet in the HTML editor as I am in a bit of a hurry to post while no one is around. :O

I am excited about the HTML5 tag "canvas"  this seems pretty cool. I will likely jump ahead to "How do I draw with javaScript" But that is okay because I usually learn things out of order. I see what I want to do and the things I want to know so this is what I focus on. That might be bad for formal education but my didactic way. I also read magazines starting from the back and then reading the other articles randomly.

The first steps into Learning Program Development.

17 Sept 2017

• Enrolled in October 1st class for Web Development on edX
• Found multiple.. an overwhelming number in fact, of web resources for learning on your own.
• This guy is pretty straight forward and has clear explanations https://youtu.be/wrdR5Su_Stg?list=PLrhzvIcii6GOVLttYLcxO-92GxuPPwbul
• Part way through the free FlatIron bootcamp prep https://flatironschool.com/
• Actually write some code and practice. I can watch all the videos and read all the tutorials but if I don't actually write some code I will attain no knowledge. I am right now trying to use the html editor instead of the wysiwyg editor.  It feels much slower and I'm thinking do I really need to use this .. the answer is YESS!! baby steps!

Okay back soon. :)

My new, old pursuit..

It has occurred to me that I am pretty bored with my current career. Maybe I have been for a while as I tend to switch companies about every 3 years or so looking for that holy grail of work environments hoping that I will join a team that is fun and technical on top of challenging and flexible, great management.. you know.. unicorn sh*t. The big problem is that I make a pretty healthy salary from these "dream crushers" at the expense of being away from my family and living in very undesirable locations with other people who either have no soul left or maybe never had one to begin with.

Going forward I will detail my pursuit of a return to Web development. I was an 'okay' front end developer but lacked the pure technical side of the coding and tools for true nut n bolts web programming. I learned Flash and Dreamweaver and I built several business websites and a few private ones as well, none with any special programming required. Also while doing this became a pro photographer and began building custom computers and  working with the new found WORDPRESS. My wife was an online marketing executive so I would pick her brain about SEO and SEM and what the trends were.  I never took the full plunge into development or even went full time.

As I contemplate where the f*ck do I start I have decided to look to edX to begin with. I will start from scratch with HTML5 and CSS to get a real grip on the framework then move into what is known as the "MEAN Stack"  which is JavaScript, Node.JS, MongoDB and JSQuery.  My goal is to become proficient in this stack and provide full stack services. I am quite easily distracted so I will of course jump around trying to get an idea about all of them at once but in my heart I would like to be a focused specialist in each so I will go the route of learning the first 20% about each and then focus on each one individually for the remainder. It seems most logical to begin with JavaScript as this is the platform for all the others.   

I as I get better I will use the skills I learn to update this Blog to then a fully custom built Blog site with really cool functionality and some fun things to do. It is quite possible though that I will fall on my face and go running back to engaging at my current job just to make myself feel valuable again. 

I don't know who will read this if anyone..maybe my lovely wife.. but I will try to be as transparent with this process as possible only because I know there have to be other people that are feeling like I am where you have some abilities and you are reasonably good at some stuff but haven't done what you're meant to do.

"Good luck; we're all counting on you"  

Airplane Clip