Learning French, Pt.1

For December, one of my projects is to spruce up my French language skills. Languages are one of the few things for which "use it or lose it" is invariably true. I spoke French fluently more than 10 years ago, but it eroded for lack of practice. Increasingly, I am having difficulty reading French publications and listening to French dialogue (in movies and song, for example).

So I'm studying French as anyone would if they were learning a new language. You start with grammar and writing (this month), then do literature and reading (January2013), listening and culture (February2013), and finally conversation (March2013). So by summer next year, I should be fluent again. It is easy this time because I already have some background in the language.

But it will take hard work and commitment to finish well. I use library books and study for an hour each day. Apart from an ongoing effort to connect with French students and speakers around town, I also do a lot of memory exercises, and try to translate as much English to French as I can. Heck, I also read the Bible in French and have switched my email, Facebook, iPod, and some programs I used day-to-day to the French language. I call this the "poor man's immersion", and I can testify that it helps in getting your mindset back into the language and culture.

Free Weekends

A lot has happened over the last month that I'm surprised I have not gone insane by now. There have been births, deaths, deadlines, demanding projects, and other personal obligations that consumed every wake hour I had. It is actually amazing how easily we burn through weeks and months without a second thought, until our bodies must physically warn us about the abuse (burnout). Without anything substantial to show for the month, it feels like you wasted or lost time. Life is quite cutthroat at that rate.

But the secret to maintaining sanity and preventing a total breakdown: rest and play. Yes, mindless play and laughter like kids do best. And plenty of rest like you have no concern in this world. So as a family we started a year ago the practice of reserving a free weekend (Friday evening through Sunday night) each month during which we unplug from the busyness around us. During our monthly planning sessions, the first thing we decide is when to have this weekend. We schedule absolutely nothing (or as little as possible) that whole time so we can rest, no matter what is on our plate. We might plan a leisurely getaway, but we usually just stay home because travel can be cumbersome and tiring itself.

A miracle happens during that weekend for me: willful neglect of social media, email, and entertainment (except background music). I typically don't do church or answer my phone as well. Nor do I concern myself with anything remotely considered an adult responsibility. Complete blackout from the usual grind. On the other end of the weekend, we are energized and have better perspective on the challenges we face. Definitely time well spent.

Study Frenzy

I really don't miss school/college, but I do love to learn. So it is not surprising that from time to time, I choose topics to study and can sometimes overdo it, much like I find myself this week. Because of upcoming changes in my work environments, I've found it necessary to spruce up some technical skills. So I am currently reading:

• Ext JS 4: a technology for rich web user interfaces and mobile applications. You can produce some nice-looking and responsive websites and mobile apps this way.
• Spring 3.1: a technology used widely in Java to wire various components of an application. For example, I use it a lot to manage how I use Hibernate (data persistence), security, website presentation on the server, and application configuration, to mention but a few.
• Hibernate 4.1: my preferred library to handle interaction with databases, abstracting a lot of the details and allowing me to use ORM in my apps.
• Mule ESB 3.3: in an enterprise with different kinds of applications and systems, you need a data conduit that can connect everything together. I use this enterprise service bus to achieve exactly that, enabling legacy and other proprietary applications to communicate.
• ActiveMQ: a better way to move data reliably using message queuing. This is part of what will be implemented on the ESB.

All the above studies are skill/tool upgrades except ActiveMQ. Usually when I find myself using older libraries and technologies (or newer ones offer attractive features or fix old problems), I conduct a study to learn what's new and end up upgrading my entire code base. So it looks like the rest of the year will be consumed with completing this upgrade.

Besides these studies, I am also primarily still developing LeafCompass, the portal for landscapers. The first release is out, to be followed soon by a mobile version and a comprehensive support site.

As if that isn't enough, I am in self-taught mode for business administration: I'm feeling the itch to start ramping up my small business Strive Consulting, LLC and taking on more jobs, and eventually becoming completely self-employed. So I am designing a new app that will help administer that business too (so I can achieve operational automation and efficiency through technology).

Talk of busyness, I am! But the study frenzy seems like a necessary step at this stage in my life. I know it will pay off, so I do it despite how boring it is and how tired I end up.

We Fit(ness) Together

I'd be hard-pressed to find anyone that never works out and yet is physically fit. So that we look and feel good, we all must work out. Some do gyms and others get personal trainers -- we just do DVD programs at home. Enter "Insanity", which we have been doing on and off for the last couple of months. My wife does another women's Beachbody product from time to time, which has served her well.

We've seen some results, even with our lackluster commitment, so we know that if we work harder at it and be more consistent, we'll see even better results. Actually, my wife has been more successful at exercise than I, working out pretty much every weekday even if I do not join her. I realize that (1) I have a bad habit of working out in 1-2 week spurts then taking a week or two off, (2) I work out better in the evenings than in the mornings, and (3) exercise can become routine and boring, creating less of an desire to commit seriously.

So I've designated October and November as the months I intend to finish the entire "Insanity" workout. To encourage my wife in her workouts, I'll workout in the mornings with her. I'll workout everyday (except Sundays) so I can be true to the workout and see if it really delivers on its promise of serious abs and better cardio response. I'll work out to my own music though, to keep things interesting, and will "test" my physical fitness every 2 weeks with a brisk hike up the Manitou Springs Incline. Yes, this all sounds like a New Year's resolution -- and it is. Simply applied really late into the year.

At the other end though, I expect good health and vanity. I mean, why else do we work out?

Be Still

Psalm 46:10 (NIV) “He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;”

Right now I’m struggling with the stillness God has placed in my life. As my friends run around franticly with their busy schedules I sit with little to do. As Americans we fill our days and our importance is based on how busy we are. In my devotionals it talks about King David being anointed at age 15 but not made king till age 30. 15 years of waiting- wow! Not an easy thing to do. I struggle with being still and waiting on God. I’ve been calling out to God. Talking to him in verbal conversation. Even though I struggle I am finding some sweet time with Him. I see how too often I exhort God and go about my busy life but now I’m resting in Him. Take some time to be still and be with God.