I'm not sure exactly what I need a blog for but my son thought I needed one so here I am. I believe it was his interest in computers that eventually got me into the computer field so I'm gonna take a half-hearted stab at this even though I don't have time.
I currently work for a international service company based out of Dallas, providing warranty service on Dell desktops, laptops, and printers. In addition, I service travel agency accounts, Lexmark laser printers, and CSAA desktop and server support for all thier northern California offices from Redding to Oroville and accross to Willows. On occation, I get called out to go to Eureka, Yreka, and some of the offices.
And in between all that I manage to squeeze in warranty repair for another warranty company as an independent contractor. Along the way I usually pickup a private client or two that occationally needs help.
You would never know it by my desk, but it takes a lot of organizational skills to manage all this. Especially since I drive around 200 miles/day.
I can't say that I like replacing parts on computers all that much but I do like the people I meet. That's the real bonus. I'd probably make more money working entirely for myself but the income isn't as stable as holding a regular job. Anyway my income has gone from squat, after I moved to Redding, to being able to buy a modest home in the City of Shasta Lake. I get to be somebodys' hero at least once-a-day and get paid for it anyway so its all good.
Of course it's not all about the money. I spend a lot of time helping people in a couple of user groups on Yahoo as well as take phone calls from clients and help them for extended periods without billing them. When I first moved to Redding, I volunteered time in the computer lab at Shasta County Public Library and tought an Internet safety class there also for a few years. Maybe someday I'll get back to that but I'm fairly bushed when I get in at night.
Oh BTW, the name TechZilla was given to me by Teressa. She would kill me if I never said anything about her. She puts up with my long hours and general BS and always has a meal for me when I come home. I make her play secretary for me and allways get great comments from my clients.
I've actually been working on computers practically since I got my first one back 16 years ago. Personally I believe I'm an excellent technician. I'm one of the few at work that consistently get good surveys and comments from the clients. And alot of people are amazed by what I can do. Of course, I could let this go to my head, but I maintain a certain level of humility to keep my hat size in check. There's is allways something new to learn, or a new challenge to overcome where I know absolutely nothing about.
In the last few years, I finally found something that I WAS INTERESTED IN on the computer. The Internet is boring and I get a gazillian emails and instant messaging has lost its luster. I actually stumbled on this.
Having a rather large VHS collection of SCi-Fi movies, I decided I needed to be able to back them in case they get to old I can't play them any more. So I bought a video capture card and burn them to DVD. The card has a tv-tuner in it and I quickly found I could expand my collection by recording tv shows. That lead for the need to edit out commercials. needless to say my collection has grown to over 700 movies. My goal is to have enough personal entertainment I can stop paying for sattelite and never have to see a commercial again.
I've gotten pretty good at editing out the commercials. You can bearly tell where the commercials were if you dind't know what to look for. I've kind of set that project aside for a bit....well a long bit to work on a dvd project. For the last year or so, in my spare time, I've been working on the first 5 minutes of my dvd that I plan to sell sometime.
Seems like I may never get done at this rate but what I'm trying to accomplish is rather unique. My theme is based around the days of the drive-in movies. Alot of people have never experienced a drive-in and I'm trying to re-create that experience as best I can from memory visually on a dvd. Unlike attempts by other people, my dvd will not only be suitable for the living room but also could played through a digital projector system in someones backyard. And no drive-in would be complete without intermission footage urging you to buy something at the snackbar and stuff. I've gathered quite a collection to use. Who knows if I'll ever make a buck at it or not but what the heck. I'm enjoying it and getting satisfaction out of it.
The cable guy just called. I'm gonna see if I can get him to restring my Internet line so it doesn't interfer with my remodeling plans on the house. The idiot installer, strung the wire to the far side of the house and ran the line back around the entire back of the house back to the side they should have gone to in the first place. Its about 200' of wire I don't really need.
CYA