Reboot

It has been about a year so far since I have written anything substantive in this blog. Yet, over the year, I have actually started on writing a number of blog posts that have never materialized. I think that there are a few reasons...

(1) Although I have been treating this as a personal blog, I felt the quality of my writing had to improve, which means spending more time composing and editing.

(2) A number of posts were going to be about the technology underlying my product, and, since there was still more work for me to do, I felt it too soon.

I still get mail about NStatic. I am still developing NStatic, and will eventually release it. Due to health and fatigue, I have not been directly developing for half the year, following several years of non-stop 7-days-a-week development (on this and other products) and no vacations and little entertainment.

My quality of life is at this moment very low, probably equivalent to or less than that of a graduate student; my outlay is over $2K a month. My existence is mostly online. Though I live in the Seattle metropolitan area, I have probably visited Seattle proper at the rate of once or twice for each of the past few years. I needed to correct an imbalance in my life as it has hampering my motivation.

My hiatus began late spring after I accidentally poisoned myself by handling and absorbing thought my skin diluted household bleach, which sent me to visit the hospital, kept me bedridden for a few weeks and subsequently affected my productivity for the remainder of the year. I felt sore internally, and my focus and vision was significantly diminished. Faces and text became blurred that I began wearing glasses, but my eyesight improved over time and seems to have recovered recently after using Visine. On a related note in September, I also suffered effects of stomach ulcers from heavy use of caffiene after trying an energy pill. It wasn't a good year for my health.

I have continued to read academic papers, follow online courses, purchased books on the subject and follow development blogs. I spent some time thinking in a high-level way about my goals. I also started doing things within my limited budget that I cared about like this election, in which I voted and volunteered for Barack Obama, Chris Gregoire, Darcy Burner.

I am getting back to development. If I haven't delivered by the end of first quarter 2009, though it might reflect severe motivation as each delay is an expensive financial impact.

I'll write more posts, but they'll initially be short.

Comments

[Eber Irigoyen]

oh wow, sorry to hear that, this has been one of my favorite blogs of all times

maybe you can start twittering for those short ideas

best regards

[Omer van Kloeten]

It is good to hear that you are getting better. I have enjoyed your blog for over a year now and have actually wondered why you stopped writing.

Hope things turn out for the best.

nice to hear that you are finally recovering. the world needs your talent.

[Vic Berggren]

Good to hear from you again Wes. Happy New Year and hope you have yourself a kick butt 2009!

[Sebastien Lorion]

It is good to hear from you. I was sad to see you disappear from the online world and was worried about your health, both physical and emotional. There are many things I can tell you, but Seth Godin says them better than me:

"Stop trying to be perfect, start being remarkable."

Another gem from him is: "Fail fast and cheap. Fail often. Fail in a way that doesn't kill you. This is the only way to learn what works and what doesn't. [...] You are going to make wrong decisions, no question about it. Make them fast and cheap."

Regarding your subsequent posts ... Of course, I do not know the details of your life so all I can say is that living through and for others has never leaded to a healthy and happy life. You cannot make others happy if you are not happy yourself first. The vision people around have of your life should be taken into account, but only for what it is: *their* vision.

As for caffeine ... tst tst ;) Eating healthy and regularly works wonder too ... especially with a bit of exercise, say an hour a day.

[Sam]

You really should take more care about your health. It would be a pity to waste your talent by living unhealthy.

There might be some good reading material for you in this blog here:
http://www.stevepavlina.com

[Patrick Smacchia]

Good to know you are back on NStatic!
I hope this new year will help you achieve your goals.

[Judah]

Sorry to hear about your health problems. I hope it improves for you in 2009.

And I hope NStatic is a smashing success for you! I've waited for a really long time to play with your tool, and am still looking forward to it.

[sebastien andreo]

Nice to hear you and that NStatic will survive.
All the best for this year !