Busy

[libertango]

Today, I passed my first-ever Microsoft certification test, whose unwieldy moniker is, "Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional".

This officially meakes me a Microsoft Certified Professional, or MCP... which, with about $2, will get you a coffee at Starbucks. :) The big daddy of Microsoft certifications is the Microsoft Certified System Engineer, or MCSE, which would take a minimum of six more tests in addition to the one I passed today.

Still, to celebrate, Ulrika and I went out -- first to JaK's Grill in Issaquah (the obnoxious orthography is official, being the initials of the owners). We were told there'd be a one-hour wait. Time then for Plan B, which was Ivar's Salmon House, on the shore of Lake Union. Which we were able to drive to, park, give Sarah a bounce to empty herself, and get seated, in far less than an hour.

I had the keta salmon and the smoked salmon chowder, and Ulrika had the shrimp louie. I've really liked the taste of keta salmon ever since I first had it in a salmon sampler at Ivar's not-quite-two-years ago, and it's notably cheaper than the more well known varieties like king and coho.

We then went up to Capitol Hill to B&O Espresso for dessert, a chocolate raspberry torte. B&O was chummy, cozy, friendly, and tasty, as nearly always.

And so to bed, as I have to get up at 4AM because my shift begins at 5AM. (I don't know if I've mentioned my new schedule here. Wed-Sat, 5AM-4PM. The good news is three day "weekends", Sun-Tue, but the bad news is a) Ulrika and I share only Sunday off, and b) the hideously early time I have to get up.) (I just realized, as I wrote that, that I was saying "hideously" in my head in a Peter Lorre voice. So, to get the same effect, draw it out in your own mind... heeeeeeeee-deously... you see?)

Comments

[marykaykare.livejournal.com]

Oh hey. You shoulda yelled. We'd have met you at B&O.

MKK

[ivymcallister.livejournal.com]

>>Ulrika and I share only Sunday off<<

Oh, that's no fun. We are in the same situation, it seems. There just aren't enough hours in a Sunday, are there? When you have the whole weekend free, time always seems to move so very slowly on Sunday afternoons, but when it is your only day together, it seems to fly by.

I hope your schedule changes soon. For the better. :)

Best-
Ivy

[jhulten.livejournal.com]

I my experience the MCSE is diluted too heavily to be the job ticket it once was. Better to pursue something like the MCDBA that is less common.

[willowing.livejournal.com]

well done! congrats.. :) (my bro did the same he passed them too! )

[darkmane.livejournal.com]

MCSE, MCSD, all the certifications pretty much suck as far as getting jobs. You can use them to get helpdesk or testing position, but that's about it.

The non-technical stuff (Budgetting, prioritizing and customer service) that are part of a Sys/network admins life are not covered. Plus too many idiots have gotten certified, some managers are gunshy of MCSEs now. They call them 'paper MCSEs', look good on paper, but no experience.

[numbat.livejournal.com]

Early morning starts are eee...villll. Say what you will about restaurant work at least it doesn't require me to get up in the morning.