Learning

As a web developer, I have to keep up with current trends in best practices, consumer desires, and updates in programming languages. Therefore, I took up an offer a few weeks ago to take two classes a month for the next six months in we related programming. I'm about halfway through my first course and can't wait for it to be done.

Since I quit University of Phoenix this summer I have had the tug to get back into school. I guess it's part of getting older, but I enjoy learning much more than I ever did in high school or my first round of college. Taking up this offer was a way to give in to that pull and have some direction to go in my evenings.

The course I decided to start with deals with a language called jQuery. It basically makes the bells and whistles of a site function. Without it, the site is a little off tune and flat, like most of my sites. This instructor could use more of his language in his speech though. He's so monotone that you can't wait for his video to finish. I don't know, it could just be I was expecting too much, but I'll choose my next course more carefully next time. There are a few I'd like to review again, that I know the instructor is good, so I may go there next.

Last week was my one year anniversary of pacing. I have now been through all four seasons while breathing through my nose. I'm still debating which way I prefer to breath, through my nose or the vent. Pacing has several benefits, not having the tube 24/7 is very nice. It's also great to not have the constant noise of the vent in the background. However, it's very touchy, the wires seem to be much pickier than I expected. Three weeks ago was the trip to Minnesota where I got the wires fixed, and could have died. Last week the pacemaker started beeping again when the wires were bumped. This isn't a good sign for longevity at all. Hopefully it isn't anything to be concerned about, but I'll have to wait and see on that.

That trip up north was a learning experience as well, I learned I'm too trusting of my caregivers, and myself. For a few weeks before the trip we had some difficulty in cathing, but didn't think too much of it. I asked if my supply bag was packed with all the necessary pieces to cath while on the road, and my assistant said yes. Well, nearly five hours away from home, dad and I learned that answer was no. Everything was in the bag except for the required tubes to do the deed.

This meant that after half a day of drinking and normal activities I would have to hold it until we got home. For a high quad like me, this means suffering through a body that's reacting to something wrong, needing to pee, but not reacting correctly. If left untreated it can lead to a heart attack, stroke, and possible death. Thankfully God was with me that day and I didn't have any severe reactions, I just sweated through everything I was wearing and had my version of hot flashes for a few hours.

In less than a week I'll be thirty years old. That sounds old to me, an age that two years ago I wanted to be dead before I reached it. The Lord has carried me through this far with many lessons along the way. I will see what the next thirty years, and this week, have in store.