alaspooryorick

Sunday is the 10th anniversary of my first day as a professional software developer.

I feel really effin' fortunate to have fallen into a career that I love, that I do well, and that can support me in the lifestyle to which I've become accustomed. I say fallen into because I have math degrees and only ever took one programming class in college. I had almost given up the job search after getting my Masters and was planning to return to college when I was hired on at FormMaker Software, Inc.

I still remember getting the phone call with the job offer. I was very collected during the call but went motherhumpin' haywire the instant I hung up the phone.

I made $32k back then and thought I was rich biotch!

I spent two years at that job, then flew the coop for a contracting position at Southern Company (yes, I know they're an evil empire). I started there at $30 per hour. When I left 5 years later, I was making $68 an hour. Let's just say that, at one point, they needed me really really badly. Alabama Power Company has an outage call system that stayed online through Hurricane Ivan, the worst storm in their recorded history. I wrote it.

Now, I'm back at my original company. In October, it will be my 3rd anniversay of this stint. That's when I get a performance review for a pay raise, but that honestly doesn't mean as much to me as August 14th. I make far less than $68 an hour now, but I get benefits, and I feel comfortable, like I could spend many more years here.

Oh, and I wouldn't have been able to access SG from SoCo.

Peace and (piece) to all of you.

Love,

M@