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It all came at a price. Had to keep my middle child alive for 3 years. In the process I lost my job, we lost our home and we got $40,000 into debt from medical bills. That all happened from 2000 - 2004 and from April 2004 until about January of 2007 I worked about 90 hours a week to try and get us back on our feet. We still have *so* far to go but so long as there is air in my lungs I will testify of Him.
My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, Commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered process, husband to a murdered thread. And I will have my affinity, in this life or the next. - Gladiator. (Okay, not quite Gladiator but close.)
I work to live. I do not live to work. My clients do not seem capable of grasping this fact.
Ancient of days! august Athena! where, Where are thy men of might? - Lord Byron
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can u add and my albanian language too "Mirëse vjen në CodeProject"
regards
I Love SQL
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Welcome to the CodeProject in Persian
به کد پروجکت خوش آمدید
modified on Thursday, September 25, 2008 12:01 AM
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God I am tired. I just want healthy kids. I mean thank God she's alive but I'm so tired. I now have medicines in my home that I have to give her that could kill her. If I don't give them to her she could die. I love my choices. I'm so tired. Okay, end of rant.
Some assembly required.
Code-frog System Architects, Inc.
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code-frog wrote: I now have medicines in my home that I have to give her that could kill her. If I don't give them to her she could die.
Those are the options? Man there is something seriously wrong with our medical / health care system
Sounds like either way she’s getting screwed. Good luck!
 
ZeePain! wrote: This seems like one of those programs that started small, grew incrementally, building internal pressure, and finally barfed all over its source code sneakers. Or something.
thedailywtf.com[^]
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She's actually very lucky to even be alive. If it were not for a very talented Pediatric Surgeon who's instincts are a gift my daughter would be dead. So this particular experience isn't a bad thing at all. It just is hard at times to keep the pace of life with a chronically ill child.
We now get to shell out hundreds of $$$ to meet a nutritionist because Katie is falling off the growth curve again which puts her back in the "failing-to-thrive" category. We have a special plan that covers 100% of Katie's expenses but it doesn't cover nutrtitionist. Which is kind of lame. She'll die if we don't go see one so how it's not medically necessary is beyond me.
But this is the stuff that has me down at the moment. She's sick again and it just doesn't end. After 4 years with this kid we're learning that it's more than we ever were told to begin with...
But you have to come back to this truth.
THANK GOD SHE'S ALIVE![Rose | [Rose]](https://codeproject.global.ssl.fastly.net/script/Forums/Images/rose.gif)
Some assembly required.
Code-frog System Architects, Inc.
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Dialing in my signature...
Overheard in clients:
Question: "So country music doesn't make you want to get down and boogie?"
Response: "No, it makes me want to clean off the bottom of my shoe."
I just have to say that's about one of the best statements regarding country music I've ever heard. 
Welcome to CP in your language. Post the unicode version in My CP Blog[^] now.
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I received a question in a thread about what I do, my focus and responsibilities. Here's my response taken directly from that thread. I thought it might be interesting for anyone that wanted to read or discuss it here.
I'm actually winding out my 2nd year building something I hope to be much bigger than I am.
My interests and my focus are not rigid by any means and I'm expanding into areas that seem appropriate.
My main skill set is in software development. I wrote an inventory management and scheduling system for America's largest DRAM producer. I was full-time for them for 4 years and really believed I loved my work for them (I'll explain this comment later). I had a great time in C++/ATL/MFC/VB6/SQL/Sybase/MTS 2.0/SAP r/3 yes that was all in one project that was almost 2 years in the making. So my love is programming. However, many of my software clients trust me and have asked me to support them as a desktop and server administrator as well as handling all their connectivity. So you might say my two primary areas of focus are Software and Systems Administration including Networking. I can make just about anything talk on a network, multiple subnets, layer 2 and layer 3 and on from there.
Presently 40% of my revenue and my keystone income comes from the networking/desktop/server support. I have many 1 year contracts that I am responsible for. I carry out these tasks on my own and with one other person that I work with a lot and will someday bring on full-time. The rest of my income is from being a double-agent in a couple of bigger companies. I provide a lot of systems and back end programming for a marketing agency that cranks out tons of web sites and custom software systems. I'm their bread and butter you might say. I also work with 1 other large company providing some pretty high end software consulting but that's a bit of a hush-hush deal with them so I cannot say a whole lot about it.
My growth is averaging about 300% to 400% per quarter and that's been a trend since Q1 of operations. I'm sort of a 1 man show for now but the way things are going that won't last long at all. I'll probably be more of a virtual company with VPN's connecting me to my employees for a while. Bricks & mortar will come later I want to keep costs as low as possible at first and VPN's support 100% of my needs right now.
So that's me and what I do sort of. What's interesting is that word of mouth has me branching into more and more industries providing the same basic work but once I get into a specific industry I get industry specific requests and that's causing some branching in what I do. Right now my biggest challenge is pacing the growth so it doesn't get me to thin. I'm constantly pushing that balance though and sometimes I get caught up in a 2 month run of 100 hour weeks but that is rare especially now that I'm getting a feel for trends in my business. Yes, in less than 2 years I'm seeing very clear patterns. I'm sure they will flux a bit but by and large I think they are predictable for the next few years at least.
What's fun for me is my involvement in on-line communities has me working all over the U.S. I can VPN just about anywhere and do just about anything. Corporate IT guys spend a few minutes on the phone with me. Quiz me about my own security satisfy themselves that my security is seamless and then they throw me a port on an IP and I tunnel in and start work. I have standing work in upper New York, LA and Florida. With a few smaller projects in the mid-east.
Explaining my earlier comment about believing I loved working for the DRAM company. Now that I am self employed I realize how much I love what I do. There is no possible way I could ever go back to being an employee and doing so would kill my spirit. There's something I love about having to be inventive, inspired and motivated. Being self employed means every day is different and it's a chance for you to lose or acquire business. Everything I do is aimed at trying to acquire new business. I love the challenges involved and I really enjoy the work as well as the freedom. No way could I ever go back to being an employee not with the rewards I've experienced thus far on my own.
- Rex
My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my process, prepare to die. Slightly modified quote from Princess Bride.
Code-frog System Architects, Inc.
-- modified at 0:41 Monday 29th August, 2005
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Code-frog is a strange name. I'll admit that. I love it though and it fits me pretty well. My 3 (at the time) year old son and I came up with it one night. I asked for his help. He suggested frog and I wanted something that went with code and there you go.
The system architects part is pretty different. I've picked up tons of networking experience over the last few years. A friend of mine is a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert and has taught me tons. If you can write code and you understand layer 2/3 networking you can find quite a bit of work. So I support my expenses (barely) providing small to medium business networking, desktop and server support. It's a bit stressful at times but I'm pretty good at it. I've taken a lot of work from MCSE's and other titles who were just *that* titles. So networking is my baseline.
I do write a lot of code though for companies all over the country. I've got clients in California, New Mexico, New York and the Florida not to mention Idaho of course. I love what I do but I do a lot. Some day we'll pay off all the debt we got from my daughter and being laid off and then I'll hire a few people and start enjoying 40 hour weeks again. Until then...
That's my story. Someday I'll get my site http://www.code-frog.com[^] updated. If you are bored and really good at HTML and just want to help let me know. I suck at HTML. MMMM, no I SUCK AT HTML yeah, that's better. Anyway, that's my business in a nutshell. I love it and would not trade it for anything. Being self employed fits me very well and I'm quite happy.
- Rex
I know you can't become if you only say what you would have done and you'll miss a million miles of fun." - Len
Work hard, play hard. Don't forget who you are and don't forget where you're from. Do all these things well and you won't have to wonder where you are going.
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You SUCK AT HTML? Maybe, but I really like how your site looks! Maybe it's just me but I love simple sites... Ok ok I don't like when I click e.g. on "Recommended Products" menu and see only blank space... is it really blank or only not FireFox friendly? (=> I am lazy to swith browser or look at source markup).
Never forget: "Stay kul and happy" (I.A.)
David's thoughts / dnhsoftware.org / MyHTMLTidy
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No DUDE! I really suck. It's only IE friendly. I'm going to rebuild it very soon I love my logo and that's about the only thing going for it. I'm big into orange and black and green too. That's why I like it here.
I know you can't become if you only say what you would have done and you'll miss a million miles of fun." - Len
Work hard, play hard. Don't forget who you are and don't forget where you're from. Do all these things well and you won't have to wonder where you are going.
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This is not me whining but it's a story that comes up in some strange ways so it is a bit worth telling once in a place where people can just read it and move on.
In December 1999 I got hired by America's largest semi-conductor maker. Did really well there authored some very cool systems had a great time. I worked in C/C++, SAP R/3, Perl, VB6 and some small Java stuff. Good times.
In December of 2001 my daughter was born with a very serious condition read it here: http://www.pediatricparents.com/Katie.htm[^] (that's current to about 10 days before I got laid off).
February 19, 2003 we sold our current home. It had to many nightmares (saving daughter's life) for us and we wanted to move.
February 21, 2003 I was laid off from work. We were spending $3000 a month out of pocket to feed my daughter and losing my job was devastating. We had no income.
February 24, moved out new occupants moved in. Nowhere to live. Moved in with friends into 1600 square foot home bringing 4 of us and lots of medical equipment. Didn't work. Son was pretty freaked out. Moved from place to place to place. Finally 3 months later got excellent job (for 9 days, didn't know that at time). Got qualifified for current home.
May 15, 2003 we moved in. Katie had a room, Grant had a room and we had a family once again. May 20th contract job ended suddenly. Company lost the bid and almost closed do to problems. We now had a house payment to make.
I went through a series of struggles with school and other things and finally decided to go on my own.
April 30, 2004 I incorporated as Code-frog System Architects, Inc.
Life didn't get any easier but it's slowly improving. So here I am.
None of this is cry for sympathy or other comments. Life happens and here we are. We just had some very bad luck but everyone does at times. No big deal.
- Rex
I know you can't become if you only say what you would have done and you'll miss a million miles of fun." - Len
Work hard, play hard. Don't forget who you are and don't forget where you're from. Do all these things well and you won't have to wonder where you are going.
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I'm very glad everything is going better now, both for you as a family and specially for Katie. She's three years old now, right? How has she been doing lately?
It's great you had the strength to come back after all that! Keep it up, things are getting better!! 
-- LuisR
Luis Alonso Ramos
Intelectix - Chihuahua, Mexico
Not much here: My CP Blog!
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She will be 4 on December 20th. She's doing okay. She has some minor issues with her duodenum but we are not operating. Things will be really interesting once she starts school. That will probably be more psychic wars I'd like to forget but no point hiding from it. We have 90% of what we need to manage her and after that we just go to Pediatrics and it's usually not a big deal there. Usually...
I'd have to say that all in all we are doing well. We are definitely feeling lifes pressures but these days who isn't? No matter what happens life always gets better. You just gotta be willing to ride it all out. After a while your level of normal adjusts and then you just bump along.
It's a whole lot better than it was and for that I'm very grateful. What the future holds I cannot guess at but the past has not been too bad and they say you can see the future by looking at the past. We'll make it...
and on those really rough days that it just all piles up...
BRING ON THE TACOS!!!  Yeah, I am nuts!
I know you can't become if you only say what you would have done and you'll miss a million miles of fun." - Len
Work hard, play hard. Don't forget who you are and don't forget where you're from. Do all these things well and you won't have to wonder where you are going.
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code-frog wrote:
She will be 4 on December 20th. She's doing okay.
It's great to hear (read) that!
code-frog wrote:
We are definitely feeling lifes pressures but these days who isn't? No matter what happens life always gets better. You just gotta be willing to ride it all out.
Yes, you'll always face some problems in different aspects of life, but that's to make it interesting. I always think that if life didn't have problems, how boring it would be. And also, these kind of things are only tests, and when you pass them, great things follow!
code-frog wrote:
BRING ON THE TACOS!!!
Have you ever come down to Mexico? Tacos here are good! (no, not Taco Bell)
-- LuisR
Luis Alonso Ramos
Intelectix - Chihuahua, Mexico
Not much here: My CP Blog!
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Never been to Mexico (but I plan on going sometime). I bet you guys have excellent Tacos (understatement of the millenium). I'm a huge taco fan. I believe that life's problems can be solved in taco contemplation.
I know you can't become if you only say what you would have done and you'll miss a million miles of fun." - Len
Work hard, play hard. Don't forget who you are and don't forget where you're from. Do all these things well and you won't have to wonder where you are going.
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code-frog wrote:
I bet you guys have excellent Tacos
We have excellent many things!! food, beaches, other places for vacations.... girls... oooh too bad, you're married!
You're welcome to come down here whenever you want, and if you're close to Chihuahua, be sure to tell me and we'll go for a ![Beer | [beer]](https://codeproject.global.ssl.fastly.net/script/Forums/Images/beer.gif) .
-- LuisR
Luis Alonso Ramos
Intelectix - Chihuahua, Mexico
Not much here: My CP Blog!
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Here it is.
Welcome to the CodeProject! - Välkommen till CodeProject - Bienvenido a CodeProject - Velkommen til CodeProject - Benvenuto a CodeProject - Willkommen auf Codeproject - Καλώς ήλθες στο τόπο τωνκοδικων - Isten hozott a Kódprojekten - CodeProject main apka swagat hai - Dobrodošli na CodeProject - Benvenguda sus CodeProject - Code Project ma tapai haru ko swagatcha - Codeproject ki Swagathamu - NALVARAVU - CodeProject main aapka swagat hai - CodeProject ke aapnaar shwaga - Benvindo ao CodeProject - CodeProject mein Khush Aamdeed - CodeProject a'gas dynnergh - Bine ati venit la CodeProject - CodeProject-la yaanth - Bienvenue sur Code Project - Dobrodošli na Kod Projekt - സീപിയിലേക്കൂ സ്വാഗതം - Tervetuloa CodeProject - Tere tulemast CodeProject - Witają CodeProject - コード·プロジェクトへようこそ -Bem-vindo ao CodeProject - Codeproject maan apnu swagat che - Добро пожаловатьна
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Fixing my sig...
š
The enemy's gate is down.
Welcome to CP in your language. Post the unicode version in My CP Blog [ ^ ] now.
People who don't understand how awesome Firefox is have never used CPhog. The act of using CPhog alone doesn't make Firefox cool. It opens your eyes to the possibilities and then you start looking for other things like CPhog and your eyes are suddenly open to all sorts of useful things all through Firefox. - (Self Quote)
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š
The enemy's gate is down.
Welcome to CP in your language. Post the unicode version in My CP Blog [ ^ ] now.
People who don't understand how awesome Firefox is have never used CPhog. The act of using CPhog alone doesn't make Firefox cool. It opens your eyes to the possibilities and then you start looking for other things like CPhog and your eyes are suddenly open to all sorts of useful things all through Firefox. - (Self Quote)
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fdsdf
š
The enemy's gate is down.
Welcome to CP in your language. Post the unicode version in My CP Blog [ ^ ] now.
People who don't understand how awesome Firefox is have never used CPhog. The act of using CPhog alone doesn't make Firefox cool. It opens your eyes to the possibilities and then you start looking for other things like CPhog and your eyes are suddenly open to all sorts of useful things all through Firefox. - (Self Quote)
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