Saturday, October 28, 2017
Yesterday, while driving around Arundel Mills, I took these photos.
It was a gorgeous day, and today is even prettier. In our area, the leaves are just beginning to change and peak color should be here in no time. This is one of my favorite times of the year.
What else have I been up to?
I have also been researching software products. Microsoft Access is a powerful tool and as a software developer I can do a lot with this software, however it is not supported on the Mac operating system. I do a lot of development work on a Mac computer.
Alternatives for Mac users include, FileMaker Pro and FileMaker Pro Advanced. These packages are also supported on Windows platforms.
In addition, if you are not well versed in database definition [schema/structure] or the SQL standard, you may find the FileMaker offering a bit easier to use, in that there is no programming involved.
Friday, October 20, 2017
For the last two days, I have been developing a new Microsoft Access Database to assist with running, tracking and reporting items associated with an affiliate program.
Thus far I have created the following elements for this new database:
- 2 Tables
- 1 Form
- 4 Reports [2 HTML snippets to use with my site areas]
- 8 Queries
- 1 Macro
- Data Access Page [still working on this]
Though I have extensive experience developing and working with SQL compliant databases [and Microsoft's Access product], in recent years my work in this area has concentrated more on MySQL development efforts and Java JDBC programming.
This has been a great exercise for me, in that I have been looking for a reason to play with Microsoft Access again. I am pretty pleased with my efforts thus far. In 1993, when I first started working with Microsoft Access, I was pretty impressed, and I must say-- I am still impressed with its power.
That said, in 1993 I was writing front-end c routines, back-end Fortran code, c-binding for DEC's RMDBS, and the X-Windows System platform to develop graphical user interfaces for my programs.
When I was tasked to come up to speed with Microsoft's new offering [Access], I felt it comparatively easy to my other system development efforts.
I still have the original HR System I developed for my Crystal City Rockwell office. The system was pretty extensive and gave me a great opportunity to develop in the Windows environment.
Back then, I mostly developed software for Unix or VMS platforms, and used a PC to document my software development life cycle efforts.
I also used Microsoft Access to create a Program Trouble Report database that was used to support Configuration Management efforts for our contract deliverable programs. I also have this system.
My résumé boasts, Microsoft Office Power User, however until this week I had forgotten just how powerful this resource is.
Next week, I am going to continue looking at the Facebook API. I have been adding national events to the WiredPages Facebook page, for the new widget/servlet I am developing for the Style & Events page. See illustration of a similar interface here.
If you would like to have your event listed-- contact me at wiredpages dot qisoftware dot com. Check out the list to see the type of events being listed.
Monday, October 16, 2017
In years past, shopping for a new business suit was one of my favorite things to do. Often it did not matter if the item was on sale or not.
Not the case these days. I shop on a budget and often find great deals.
Item, price paid, original price and where purchased...
- ROMEO & JULIET COUTURE Oversized Sweater w/ Detachable Faux Fur $15 original price $155 Amazon.
- Nine West Women's Snowfall Suede Slouch Boot $67.54 shipping included was $300.00 Nine West Online
- Liz Claiborne Dress $26.00 original price est. $100 Arundel Mills Liz Claiborne Outlet Store
- Mary McFadden Collection- Long Black Sweater $0.00 original price est. $100, Mom's Closet. Shown wearing in this post.
I purchased the brown suede in the Nine West Snowfall Suede Slouch Boot directly from Nine West in February of this year, however showing the Amazon listing for the black suede. Not sure if the brown is still available.
What else have I been up to? Working on software development projects and preparing for the holidays.
Thursday, October 12, 2017
These days I seldom write about fashion unless to discuss an outing and wish to describe or show the outfit I wore for identification purposes.
That said, recently I purchased a pair of black suede boots that I absolutely love. They were such a great deal, I thought I would share the news.
I am showing the boots with a skirt I made several years ago, which some may recognize as one I own. I have a lot I can pair with these boots and feel very lucky to have found them.
Note from the receipt, I purchased them in September [end of summer] which may explain the great deal.
Do you shop off season for fashion finds?
What else have I been up to? Updating my Amazon stores. In the past, I added fashion items either under the "Let Me Know" or "Career Dressing" category. You may have noticed I decided to omit those categories for the new store formats:
I have also been working on a new software project which I am pretty excited about [discussed on Remix] and hoping to do more research on Celebrity Bloggers.
Friday, October 06, 2017
Mostly an uneventful week, however I was able to complete several tasks I had been putting off [discussed below in the itemized list].
Noted in the above illustration, took photos of area points of interest including the now complete apartment complex, "The Arundel" and the Live Hotel construction site @Maryland Live.
- Went by my business bank on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.
- Booted my Macbook today [these days I rarely do this- since I am not in software development mode]:
- ... updated the Thingamablog Remix Business Blog. Sometimes I make minor changes to a blog's appearance-- via the web hosting cPanel interface without installing the updates to the "master" copy of the blog. The "master" database, system and associated files for the Thingamablog Remix blog are maintained on my Macbook.
- integrated other minor changes to the Remix template and backed up the entire blog to an external hard drive.
- Began development work on the new interface for the HanoverMaryland Businesses Page which accesses the Facebook API. Minor issue with SSL Certs. Hope to complete this project tomorrow.
- Paying bills, business phones, site hosting, etc. Always want this noted.
- Minor updates to my stores:
- Played around with a newly released site/blog monetization tool.
Happy the weather is cooler. Since I am going out a bit more, I have added a few items to my wardrobe that will show up in the coming months. I am also planning a nice holiday weekend and meal. Hope you are too.
