The Albe’s Team came down to our neck of the woods recently (Twilight trip? No idea.) They hit up some of the more notorious spots on campus and a few even I didn’t recognize. For instance, where in the blue hell is that indoor park? Is that in Athens??

h/t DigBMX

Today is the first day of the last week of a loooooong trip.

I started working at UGA almost 13 years ago as a student worker. I’ve technically worked here on three separate occasions. I started as a student worker then left to work some corporate gigs (and drop out of school the first time). I returned a couple years later and started to pursue a degree again. That lasted for a year or two before I left to work in Gwinnett County Public Schools (and dropped out a second time).  At the time I thought I was gone from UGA for good. However, I still had the unfinished business of getting my degree. So after 5 years or so in GCPS I returned to UGA for the third time. I came back, finished my degree and changed career paths drastically.

Starting a week from today I’ll be a full time web developer. Which, is something I’ve been sort of pretending to be since about 2000.  My goal in 2010 was to make the transition from wanna-be developer/design to full blown developer/designer. That goal became a reality thanks to W3BG. So I’ll be leaving UGA for what appears to be the final time. I look back fondly on the times I’ve spent here. I’ve enjoyed my time and I’ll always be a DAWG. But in an odd way I *finally* feel like I’m a “grown up” and have a career ahead of me. It’s both scary and exciting all at once…

So I had a bunch of separate smaller posts in mind but I’ve decided to make them into bullet points instead.  Otherwise, the may never see the light of day. So here’s where things are as of February 8th 2010.

• George is shutting down Mystic Negro.  Atleast, he’s shutting down the BMX section.  I don’t see the need to rehash his reasons here, just go read the post. I commented and told him that it didn’t surprise me.  I’m just hoping he continues to blog about something. I’ll miss his acerbic wit.  At least, I’ll miss it in blog form. I still get small doses via IM.
• Herschel Walker won in his MMA debut. Goooo Dawgs, SIC’ EM! In related news Jason David Frank, aka Tommy the Green Power Ranger, also won his MMA debut (albeit in a sloppier fashion).  My inner fanboy is going totally bonkers right now. Power Rangers + Damn Good Dawgs + MMA = WICKED AWESOME!
• Now on to the BIG news. I’ve worked in IT Support since I was 21. I’m now 34. I’ve long since passed my sell-by date for this type of work.  Roughly 6 years ago I returned to UGA to finish my BA.  I finished that goal a little over 2 years ago. Since that time I’ve been floundering trying to figure out what comes next. About 4 years ago I established CycleSixtySix Studios as an LLC to funnel all my web design/development interests through. That too has been floundering.  For this year, with much encouragement from The Wifs, I made it my mission to dedicate myself to working in web development full time, whether for myself or someone else. To that end I’m pleased to announce that effective February 22nd I’ll be employed as a full time web developer for W3BG Web Group. No more IT Support, it’s time for something new.  It’s a sweet deal that includes an opportunity to do most of my work from the comfort of my home office. They’re also very cool with regards to Cycle projects so long as they don’t conflict with deadlines and such.
  

  Short version, this rules and I’m PUMPED!

In relation to the last point, I want to publicly thank Joel Caughran and ALL my friends at the Chemistry Department for making my time there enjoyable. I’ll miss y’all and hope you will keep in touch! I’ll try to stop by from time to time and make sure no one is slacking, ya bunch of heathens! =)

With everything that’s been happening lately, this song seems fitting (despite the fact it’s supposed to be much more ironic than it actually is, which is in itself very ironic)

The Dawgs are mere minutes away from their first victory over The Basset Hounds since 2004. This will also be their first SEC victory of the season. They’ve had some near misses recently against other top ranked teams and a HUGE win over the Nerds. It would be oh-so-sweet to pick off the Big Orange. It would also be some big time momentum leading up to the games against the Gators and Commodores.

The Wifs (who I’m still trying to convince to start a blog of her own) is out at her weekly pottery class so it’s a quiet night at home. It’s just me and our ridiculous amount of pets. Considering the circumstances, I can’t think of anything better than sitting on the couch in my pajamas watching the Dawgs. That’s a darn good Saturday night right there!

UPDATE: DAWGS WIN!!  Final score was 78-63.  The Dawgs win in a dominating fashion! Over a Top 10 team no less!

Goooooooo DAWGS!! SIC’EM!!