I hate LAX.

I hate LAX.

If ever there was an airport that sits on the edge of a land the $Diety forgot, this is that airport.  I'd call it Hell, but it's more of a special type of Purgatory where people go to be forgotten, wandering between terminals having to go out of and into security between flights, where you sit in armpit terminals waiting for your aircraft for hours while watching the delayed time increment by 15 minute intervals every 15 minutes.  Best of all, even once your plane finally gets to the gate you're informed over the amazingly unintelligible PA system that there are mechanical issues and they're getting a mechanic to come out and look at the problem.

And that about sums up my afternoon sitting in the American Eagle terminal.

50,000

Thanks to everyone who has ever been here, and those of you that keep coming back.  Somehow this blog has managed to rack up 50,000 page views in the time it's been online. Sure, it's a small number compared to an actually big Internet site, but to think that my blog has been looked at 50,000 times is pretty amazing to me and I certainly don't take it for granted.

So here's to all of you! You people kick ass!

Jason

So here's my token "back in the saddle" blog post.

I've been doing anything other than studying lately.  Since my last attempt in May I've been rather demoralized, mostly exhausted, and utterly disinterested in looking at anything that remotely resembles the CCIE R&S lab exam.

I suppose failing the thing four times will have that effect on a person.

But enough screwing around.  I need to get this finished and move on with my life.

I have done a fair amount of thinking about this whole ordeal to date and I think I can see a few things that I should have done differently.  First, I should not have taken the lab four times already. The first time I really wasn't ready, but it was the first time and you have to get it over with and see where you are at some point.  I don't regret the first time, but the second I went back far too soon.  I got it in my head that I didn't really miss the first time by much and that I could have passed, but that really was not the case.  The third time I did pass config, but still no love.  It was close, the closest I've come to passing, so I don't feel too bad about that one, but number four was the same knee-jerk "I can do it!" reaction that two was, and again I went back far too soon.

That's four attempts total, in a little over 5 months.  Way too close together, and far too much me deluding myself about my abilities.

That's enough with the self loathing though.  Shit happens, and I am truly thankful for both a very understanding employer (who is footing the bill), and a supportive wife who hasn't yet reached the point where she wants her husband back (don't say it...).

The plan going forward is to take the next couple months to start over, and look at everything from the ground up. No rushing into a new date, and no delusions about my skill level. Time to take a good look at where my skills are, and ensure that the next time is the last. 

So here's my token "back in the saddle" blog post.  I hope you've enjoyed it. You can also count on more content rich, awe inspiring, witty technical writing that you've come to know and love from me.  Lots more.  Because you, the fan, deserve only the best :)