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September 19, 2005

Moving forward

I turned in my two weeks notice to SkyWay today.

When I left WHAS back in February, I knew that I was leaving on good ground. I left the place better than what I found it. I put my heart and soul into my work and I honestly believe that it showed. I've visited the station a few times since I left, and found that most of the stuff that I did remains in place and still working properly. That, I guess, is a good sign.

Moving on to SkyWay was a difficult choice for me. I knew that I needed a change in direction. I felt as if I was only using a small amount of the overall abilities that I have while I was at the station. I needed to branch out and do more. SkyWay offered me the opportunity to continue my work with servers and phone systems, but allowed me to really dig my hands deeper into Linux and, best of all, create something from the ground up.

I launched the 2nd SkyWay bird, aka Horizons, in the beginning of July. Since that time, I have been working on my PHP and SQL skills, not to mention beginning my first steps into BASH scripting, which I had never done before until now. I created a unique backend from scratch that allows SkyWay employees to manage both satellite systems.

Now that I've sat here and thought about it, I've done quite a bit since February of this year:

-Installed and configured two IP servers.
-Installed and configured two SQL servers.
-Wrote Perl scripts to control both IP and SQL servers.
-Created serveral new Web sites for SkyWay.
-Created MANY databases to house information for the SkyWay site.
-Installed and configured a new file server.
-Installed and configured a new e-mail server.
-Installed and configured a new DNS server.
-Designed the interface for a new modem.
-Installed and configured several Web servers.
-Installed and configured one secure Web server.
-Reconfigured a Panasonic PBX with no help from anyone.
-Design flyers and posters for trade shows.
-Create several manuals from scratch.
-Created a backend management system using PHP and SQL.
-Provided helpdesk support for clients.
-Provided helpdesk support for employees.
-Took a trip to Canada to install servers.
-Took a trip to Atlanta to install servers.
-Tuned satellite dishes and LNB's.
-Taught others how to tune dishes and LNB's.
-Re-configured a demo station for customer use.
-Ran new network, RG6 and phone wiring.
-Re-arranged furniture ... several times.
-Designed a satellite location system called SkyFinder.

I'm sure that there's stuff that I'm leaving out, but I'm sure that you get the point I'm trying to make here. While at SkyWay, I can honestly say that I've been able to broaden my horizons a bit.

Now it's time for me to move in another direction. I've always been of the belief that God has a plan for all of us, and that when things happen that you shouldn't question His plan. In July, right after I got back from installing the servers in Atlanta, my dad had a heart attack. Two weeks later, Amanda's dad had a heart attack. In addition to other family issues, it seemed to both Amanda and I that God was telling us that we needed to go back home to our families. That they needed us and our support.

We've been going to Frankfort every weekend since July, with a few minor exceptions. Two weekends ago, I was a groomsman in Hash's wedding. This past weekend, I got to meet my brother, Roger, for the first time. He is my long lost brother from Germany. I didn't know about him until sometime just before the turn of the century. I have been waiting for him for a long time, and finally got the chance to meet him two days ago. It was surreal. I will write more about Roger at a later date.

Anyhow, Amanda and I had pretty much decided to move back to Frankfort. As luck would have it, a good man named Bud was looking for someone with my skillset to join his company as a consultant. Michael met Bud through school, as Bud taught one of his classes. Michael introduced me to Bud and we hit it off. I met with Bud's associates over the next few weeks and hit it off with each of them as well. This past weekend, Bud made me an offer to work for him and I accepted.

Why the change? Several reasons really.

1. I've done my part for king and country. I came to SkyWay to launch a satellite Internet system, and I've done just that. Not everyone can say that they lauched an ISP from the ground up. :)

2. I've gotten to a point at SkyWay where I'm getting into a routine again. It's the same problem that I was facing at the TV station. I don't do routine well at all. Bud's company promises something different every single day, and that can keep me on my toes.

3. I've been behind a desk since Feb. I have gained weight from sitting all the time. Add to the fact that I've stopped smoking, and it adds on even more weight. I REALLY need to start moving again. Not to mention that I hardly got to see real daylight while I was working.

4. I'm the only "tech" person that understands what the hell I'm doing at my job. If I got hit by a bus, I'm not sure what would happen to this company. NO ONE knows how the backend works at all. Hopefully, I will be able to change this before I go.

In two weeks I will bid farewell to SkyWay and say hello to my new position as a consultant. I'm excited about the prospects and even more excited about working with some people that really understand where I'm coming from. It'll be a nice change.

I think I've said enough for one night.

~out...

Posted by ed at September 19, 2005 08:56 PM

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