I am working on a blog re-design right now. Well, maybe not right now, because at this moment I am trying to write without waking baby Jacob who is asleep on my lap. Also, I really have to pee. Although by the time that you read this, hopefully that will have passed. Especially because I going to schedule this post to publish in around 18 hours. Ahem.
Anyways, I really am working on a blog re-design. I have set up a local copy of WordPress and installed a new theme and I’m just finishing up some new content and tweaking it a bit before I go live. I’m not sure exactly when that will be. I’m toying with the idea of doing it on Thursday, so you will all think the new site is some kind of April Fool’s joke. Only not funny, and hopefully sort of pretty. But now that I’ve written this here I guess you’ll just think, “Oh, this is the new site that she was talking about.” And then hopefully you’ll think, “Wow!” Or at least not, “Oh dear.”
I don’t seem to be able to stay on topic today. I think it’s because I really have to pee.
Working on the new site has been an interesting exercise. I am an engineer and I worked for 10 years as a programmer. I know my way around a while loop and I can speak intelligently about the advantages of different programming languages. But I never believed I was all that good at programming. I was competent, sure. But some of the programmers I worked with were exceptional. They were living their calling, and dedicated to their craft. Compared to them, I was middling at best.
When there is technical website-type stuff to do I usually defer to my husband Jon. He is much more up-to-speed on technology in general. He likes to listen to technology podcasts and read computing magazines. While my technical education far outpaces his, he has more practical and up-to-date knowledge than I do. Also, Jon is more patient when things don’t work right on the first try. Also, if I try to work with him I drive him totally crazy with constant questions and demands. I am maybe a tad obsessive about some things. Staying out of it is usually best.
This time I decided not to defer to Jon. I wanted to figure it out for myself. And I did figure it out for myself. But most surprisingly, for me, I was good at writing CSS and HTML. While I don’t usually think of myself as a great programmer, after 10 years in the trenches I’ve learned a few things. I know my way around computer languages and code structure. With a manual to figure out the basics and some examples to copy for the rest I can do it, and do it well. I felt competent and in control as I tweaked stylesheets and edited widgets. I didn’t even swear. I actually enjoyed re-designing my site.
My re-design experience makes me wonder what other things I might be better at than I realize. What other things I might enjoy if I weren’t too caught up in old stories. Like brussel sprouts. For 25 years I was convinced I hated brussel sprouts. And then one day I tasted some well-cooked ones and they were delicious. I was shocked to see myself take seconds. Sometimes, we let previous experiences hold us back.
Have you ever been surprised to discover that you were good at something? Or have you enjoyed something that you previously thought you detested? I’d love to hear your stories. And, please, check back on Thursday to see the new site design!
PS – I did manage to go pee. I feel much better now. Thank you for your concern. 
Sounds very impressive and I can’t wait to see it!
I haven’t found anything that I’m exceptional at, although I did worry about how patient I’d be after having kids. And I can honestly say I have impressed myself with how patient I really am with kids.
.-= Sara´s last post ..Baking gone sour =-.
Can’t wait to see it. I have a zillion things I’d like to change about my blog, but haven’t the skills (at least not yet – though likely not ever).
I’ve just realized I’m great with space and patterns. My brother calls it a mechanics’ gene that runs through some members of our family (though I can’t even change oil). I’m naturally a math/sci person who majored in English. Go figure.
.-= Ironic Mom´s last post ..5 Stupid Comments Made to Parents of Twins =-.
Can’t wait to see the new site. I’m working on a redesign too but extremely slowly as my husband isn’t into web stuff so I gotta do it all which means reteaching myself and learning new things since I’ve been out of touch for 3 years now.
I don’t think I’ve found any new skills becoming a mom. HAHAHA… I think I’m a better multitasker though. Change a diaper, talk on the phone, make a grocery list in my head and figure out the fastest route to the grocery store before diaper change is finished
The more I work from home the more I realize I loved programming. And math. And science. And strategy type games. Now if I can only find a work from home job that combines all of this and only requires 10 hours of work a week because that’s all the time I have. HAHA. I’m not counting on this happening any time soon!
Will be back to visit in a few days!
.-= Cheryl´s last post ..I love to vacuum. Do you? =-.
I’ve tried, and I have gotten very frustrated and angry while attempting programming.
It’s awesome you can do it, I am genuinely envious!
.-= *pol´s last post ..Happy Birthday my boy! =-.
I look forward to seeing the new look
I can barely handle the most basic programming and I need all teh tutorials I can find JUST to keep my silly widgets intact.
I discovered that I do in fact like broccoli. It must be very well cooks and some sort of sauce or seasoning is appreciated but overall I actually like it
Can’t wait to see it!
I discovered recently that I have a talent for understanding the big picture – seeing the connections between disparate parts. I fully understood how all the pieces of our organization fit together – something I found so easy but others simply could not grasp. It was a weird and vague realization that is difficult to explain and likely will not lead me to a CEO position anytime soon.
Separate unrelated note: Yea I’m number 5 on the comments. And baby LOVES asparagus spears.
.-= harriet Fancott´s last post ..Are you worried about the future? =-.
Uh, no. Usually when I assume I’m crappy at something and then I decide to give it one more shot I discover that I’m just as bad as I thought, if not worse. And programming? Let’s not even go there. I have been curious about why your site isn’t a little more pimped out, though — looking forward to your makeover.
.-= Allison McCaskill´s last post ..*****************I know it’s wrong to exploit my kids when I’m out of post ideas but… =-.
I just loved the categories used with this post.
I can’t wait to see your new blog design. I bet it will be “fab”.
I learned that I am pretty good at being professional and assertive. I used to be really bad at that. I’m not sure why all of the sudden I think that I can be professional; it’s like, who do I think I am? And then I think, “Oh yeah, I am me. I can be professional.”
Neat, huh?
You lost me at line #5 where you mention a “local copy” of wordpress?!? Well, this tells you all about my general technical skills! It’s probably because I always defer to my husband, but mainly because I’m not terribly interested, and just clicking through typepad “design” buttons bores me terribly. Wrong approach, I need to learn all this stuff … I hope to find someday soon that in fact configuring my blog is a bit like trying again brussels sprouts:)
.-= Francesca´s last post ..worth every minute =-.
Looking forward to seeing the new design! The only thing I can think of is poker. I’m not really into card games and was very anti the idea of poker night and our friends kept begging us to play. Finally one night after a bottle of wine they convinced me and they taught me how to play. And I won and won and won. I haven’t played since (ha! they don’t invite me after that winning streak) but it was fun and ironic to be awesome at something I resisted.
.-= AmberDusick´s last post ..Feeling tiny. =-.
You are braver than I am, mama! Hubby did my site design, and I gladly let him have at it
I’m excited to seeing the new look!
.-= Dionna @ Code Name: Mama´s last post ..The Joys of Breastfeeding a Toddler #1 =-.
I’m making a note to check back on Thursday. I love pretty
Uh oh Amber! Now that I know this I might have to bombard you with a question once in awhile. I suck at the technical blg thing. I can do the basics but need my hand held for everything else. I’ll try not to though. Unless it’s okay with you of course. Not that I have any questions at the moment.
.-= Melodie´s last post ..March Love Links =-.
I was about 20 when I learned I had a knack for ballroom dancing. It’s been a ton of fun!
So glad to hear that your website development is going so well. I’m looking forward to seeing it!
.-= Lady M´s last post ..Signs of Spring =-.
Can’t wait to see the new look.
I did a little programming in two different schools but since I don’t use it, I’ve lost it and now feel a bit out of my depth when messing around.
I don’t know what I’ve been surprised I’m good at because I tend to start everything assuming I will rock it out. It’s when I start bumbling around with it that I get surprised (and it happens an awful lot). I just hate getting my ego knocked.
.-= Marilyn @ A Lot of Loves´s last post ..Sidewalk Chalk: Wednesday of Few Words =-.
Heck the only reason I have a local copy of WP is to test my designs before handing them over! Saves on the server load (uploading/downloading/deleting/etc) and on time.
I can’t wait to see your new design!!
.-= Sarah @ OneStarryNight´s last post ..Wordless Wednesday: In My Kitchen =-.