Other than that, thanks for dropping by. See you on the webz!

I’m utilizing WP 2.8.2, a free theme, and a couple plug-ins (twitter, akismet, etc.). I also have Google Analytics installed to see how traffic goes. So far I’ve had 1 developer send me a code to try out their game (Flipn’ Monsters!) and so I reviewed it for them.

More to come as I have a # of games to review yet. Spread the word!

So check out my post on “What’s Hot in IT Jobs” and let me know what you think!

Although my blogging here has pretty much died down, I still Twitter occassionally and update the family blog when I get a chance. Hopefully I can put out more tech/business related posts and articles as I get time.

Happy 2009! Hope your Christmas and New Years days off were great. I spent a lot of time with my new boy (born in December – see allenandkaren.blogspot.com for info on this awesome experience) and when juggling time I have put this blog on the back burner.

No idea if I’ll be able to resurrect it as much in ‘09 either. Work is my #1 focus during the day and when I get home at night I just want to hang out with the family! (That and my laptop died so I can’t bring my computer around on the couch).

But I’ll try to update when I can. The best way to see what’s going on is to follow me on Twitter – my handle there is Valien. I tend to micro-blog on that since it’s a lot easier for me to output something there than here.

You can always follow our forums on Chumpmonkey.com. It’s got decent activity and I’d love to see it grow some more.

Have a great ‘09! Work hard. Save more and spend less.

I tell you what though. It’s still a bear to find some quality C# and JAVA professionals. It’s a great time to be a developer. So many software companies (and non-software companies that need developers) are coming into this area and they all need top-notch personnel.

With all the C# work that we’ve been doing I finally reinstalled Visual Studio 2008 Express on my wife’s PC (since my PC is way too old and my laptop is dead) and started going through the C# tutorials on MSDN. It’s been a lot of fun for me. Learning all about event handlers, methods, classes, etc. Old parts of my brain are being dusted off and I’m remembering how to code again. I’m probably going to pick up this book – Head First C#. I went to B&N today during lunch to look at the book and I’m impressed. Has all the info that I’m looking for in an easy-to-digest format.  Maybe I’ll become a decent programmer again. Hey, if only to have fun and learn something useful I’m game!

Blog changes coming this week! I promise! No really. For real this time. (I’m finally tired of seeing it looking bad).

BTW, change your Gmail to HTTPS only cause life will get uglier soon.

Read a pretty cool article on Dave Mendoza’s Blog about Pat Cronin, one of the Senior VP’s with Volt. Talks about his background as a recruiter and the industry, etc. Good read for the most part. Make sure you read both part 1 and part 2. It’s encouraging to me as a new person to this industry that I can succeed and do well in this business. Just think, back when he started there was no ‘net and online sourcing sources like LinkedIn. Must have been really rough back then!

I’ve had a pretty decent week. Made a few client visits and am really trying to grow that part of my work week. I’m struggling to get potential clients to confirm a meeting. Really people, I’m nice! I won’t bite your head off! I just want to say hello…in person. Been trying to get better on calls as well and followups.

Had a few candidates do some telephone and personal interviews. Some were good and things are moving forward. Slow process at times though cause you are working around the candidates schedule, the clients schedules, etc. It’s a balancing act.

Got some new searches going as well! That’s always exciting cause that’s the bread and butter of our business! No searches = no work = no job! So if any of you are talented Hyperion, Java, C#/ASP.Net, or Web Design gurus let me know! I have work for you!

Enjoy the Olympics over the next couple of weeks. Even though it’s 08/08/08 for us it’s already 8/09 in China. So why are the Olympics on our time schedule? Not like the US started it…

How do I pick the one to use? One could spend all day literally in multiple networks linking up, posting micro-blogs, etc. It’s crazy. Most of it is useless IMO.

What I’ve found to be quite valuable are the following (in no particular order):

Facebook.com – Mostly for a personal/family/HS and College network. I check in about once a week to catch up or do research. Don’t play any games or anything. As it is, it’s getting crazy with all the 3rd party applications.

LinkedIn.com – I <3 this site. I’ve used it to network with college classmates, HS classmates, and all kinds of business people here in the Upstate and across the US. Great resource. I’ve used it to meet people and it’s opened up warm leads for me. If it ever goes pure pay I’ll probably pay to keep it.

Twitter.com – I’m still experimenting with this site. In fact, I’ve found it easier to micro-blog using Twitter than to blog here. Probably cause I can jot out a 140 character message a lot faster than coming up with a couple of paragraphs of other stuff. It’s been a decent resource so far in networking and communicating with other professionals.

Brightkite.com – Just signed on in the Beta. No idea how this might help, but it’s beta and free so why not.

Plaxo.com – I probably should use this site a little more. Has some great potential but with my limited time I tend to gravitate towards LinkedIn instead.

Hmm, I think that’s about it for now. Who knows I might fry out on the whole social mash-up thing and go retro and offline in a few months. hehe.

Have a great weekend everyone! Remember, if you know any great Java, PHP, or Clinical Analysts then send them my way. I can put you to work tomorrow (well, almost that fast.)

I didn’t have access to a PC while out due to my laptop being dead so I was only able to check my Gmail from my phone (Gmail Mobile rocks btw) and do some Twittering as well. I will say that a surfing the web from a WAP enabled phone is horrible. It’s great for getting small tidbits of news or something but most sites out there are not WAP optimized and it’s still woefully slow.

I think a mobile phone being a killer ‘net device is still a bit out there.

I’m busy unpacking and following up on clients and setting up meetings. The new place is a good bit closer to home which is really nice. I’ll try to take some pics and get them uploaded to show ‘em off.

Now off to a GSATC lunch! Yum!

It might not happen till I get back from the 4th. Headed out to visit some of the wife’s family up in PA and DE. Should be lots of fun. I get to go fishing (hopefully!) and maybe I’ll catch something worthy of taking a picture of…

This week is a short one for FGP. We are moving to our new offices about 2-3 miles away. Great for me as it’s about 3-4 miles closer to where I live. That translates to about $250.00 a year in gas savings (based on $3/gallon). I like closer.

Our new digs are going to be awesome. I’m going to try to take some pics and post them down the road.

Well, off to hit the phones and go meet a few potential clients today. Gotta pay the bills!

On one end it’s been super great because my wife and I have found out that we’ll be having a baby boy come this November. You can read more about it on our family blog – http://allenandkaren.blogspot.com. We are thrilled beyond all measure and amazed that the life inside my wife’s tummy is our boy. I’m trying to queue up sleep but it’s not working.

On the other hand it’s been a sad week because a good friend of mine passed away last week and his funeral was yesterday. James Anthony Larsen was 31 years old and passed away from a cardiac arrest after playing basketball with some co-workers/friends last Friday. It was a shock to everyone in our church and to those that knew him from work (he worked at Nuvox Communications). I’ve known James for a couple of years and my wife and I have eaten dinner with him and his wife, Lori, in the past as well. They have two beautiful daughters who will now never get to know their dad like their mom or friends did.

The exciting thing about it all is that James is now with our Heavenly Father and we rejoice with the knowledge of that. It’s also a wakeup call to us younger people in that it’s brings the reality that our life is but a vapor as it says in James 4:14 – Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. (KJV) Without the hope of Christ and eternal life we have nothing.

The other reality is that it made my wife and I think about our finances and other things should something happen. Does she know where our accounts are? How to access them? Is our insurance up to par? Some questions were easily answered as we’ve been working on this for a while, some need to be answered soon.

What about you? Are you prepared for the unexpected? Both eternally and financially?

Remember the Larsen family as they go through this time of mourning and healing.