Hey there! Yes, I am still here. November was a mess, kind of. I was in the middle of remodeling Its Just Hewitt before coming down with pneumonia. Shortly after that we had a kitchen drain leak and clog issue. Now that the drain is fixed and I have recovered, it is time to get things back in order.
I have spent the month of December working on creating a new list of small goals. I feel as though 2023 went by and that I accomplished less than I wanted. There are different ways I can help people. And I have not found my rhythm, nor have I found a passion for any niche. The soul searching continues.
Programming
I made it a goal to look through unfinished projects and delete the ones I would not be returning to. This inspired me to get back into working on old programming projects.
One of my projects involves a text based game, or interactive fiction as they call it. The first IF game I played was titled Realm of the Magi. For being text based, the game mechanics were what inspired me dabble in creating one myself.
Another project involves learning the ins and outs of DirectX11. Previously I was teaching myself DirectX9. I came across several tutorials that utilize similar methods. The framework is nearly complete for my project.
Furthermore, I have been working on writing programs for data manipulation. My current job of ten years has been mostly data work and writing these programs might open opportunities for freelance work.
Reading
I have added several books to my reading list. I have never enjoyed reading books. But just like writing, it is another activity to do instead of gaming or spending too much time on social media.
The first book I checked out from the public library and started reading is “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey. I am part way through the book and it has been good so far.
The second book I checked out is called “12 Rules for Life” by Jordan Peterson. I have not begun reading this yet. I want to finish The 7 Habits book first.
A Little Gaming
I have been casually playing the original Final Fantasy VII. I started a new game towards the beginning of December. With all of the graphical games out there, you may be wondering, “Why Final Fantasy VII?”.
I played this game for a very long time back in high school. For years I played. The storyline and characters draw you in, as a role playing game should.
And to this day, it is one of my favorites. For those who have played and know what “Ruby Weapon” is, I have never defeated it. But I plan to one day.
The Following Months
The new year is here. I am not doing the resolution thing. However, I have many goals and changes that I will continue working on in 2024. And new routines to focus on.
As I wrote in The New Year is Approaching, you should never wait until the new year to make positive changes to your life. Start Today!
Thank you for reading and Happy New Year!