I closed out the old in the last post, so let’s ring in the new.
My last year of being a Staff Engineer was fruitful in that I undertook projects that I conceived of and brought them to completion. These projects improved performance, added features, increased reliability, and decreased costs. I’d like to think I’m a halfway decent mentor to some of the less experience developers, which is one of the reasons I have tried to avoid implementing AI into my work flow. I’ve heard many describe these AI tools like “having a junior developer in your pocket”, and I don’t doubt that is true, but then if you have a fake junior developer in your pocket, then how do you expect the real junior developers to improve, to become better at being able to spot when the AI tools’ work is crap? In the coming year I hope for more of the same. There is some work on the horizon I wish to undertake, and some I wish to oversee as others take on the work. And I’m going to continue trying to avoid AI where I can.
Because my work is awesome about my ability to vacation, we have 3 booked for this year. JoCo in March, another in June, and then a third in August. The JoCo is exciting, but the August cruise is unique. For that one we are doing an 11-day out of Dover that goes to France, Spain, Portugal, and I think somewhere else. But the real draw is that we will be at sea during the solar eclipse in the path of totality. I’m looking forward to this so much!
I’m looking forward to some improved health in 2026. I should be out of the woods, and my wife should be recovered, and we can both start exercising and other things. I plan to absolutely abuse our health insurance this year, just max it out and take care of every little thing we’ve been overlooking for years. I’ve said that before, but this time I mean it.
I resolve to read more, and write more, and do all the things more. Just more. Just better. And I’m going to make an effort to be more local in my purchasing and other dealings.
Last year’s wish, as covered in the last post, went horribly. So what do I wish for 2026?
Retribution. Comeuppance. I want a full throated revocation of authoritarianism and I want justice, real justice. I’m preparing to not get it though. I’m preparing for a slog. I’m also trying to prepare for these morons to push us into a completely avoidable depression. I’m not sure how I’m going to do that, but I’m going to try.
Happy New Year, folks. I truly do wish the best for all of us. Well, for those of us who aren’t pieces of shit. For them, I hope they get the misery they desire for others. Ten fold.
