The eagle has landed. Elvis has left the building. The bird has flown the coup. The excrement has collided with the oscillator. It's the end of an error era.

After nearly ten years of tending all things technical at my current place of employment, I've finally decided to move on and take up gainful employment elsewhere. Some have known that I've been a bit frustrated with my personal job situation for about three years now, but it escalated a bit over the course of 2005 and really came to a head (for me) during the month of November.

There really isn't an underlying "the sky is falling" type of theme related to my decision to leave. It's actually a good place to work and there is a lot of work to do. I just think it's time for me to go.

So, round about this time a long time friend of mine alerted me to the fact that the job market had significantly improved during the latter part of 05. The last time I (really) tried the job market was 2001 when it was headed well south. I only had three interviews that year. One was a thank-you-but-goodbye, while the other two were somewhat disastrous in different ways -- I showed up 20 minutes late for one where I didn't have a clue where I was driving to, and the other one was one September 11th. I followed up with three interviews in 2002 with folks who wanted to work with me but didn't seem to have the budget for it at the time.

This time around has been a bit different. There have been consistent queries, and I received an offer almost immediately after my first interview. The position seemed pretty good for what I was looking for. It's a full-time developer/architect/consultant position. I took a slight pay cut, but I have a fraction of the responsibility I am leaving.

It was ten years ago I left my last place of employment in San Diego in preparation to take the job I am currently leaving. That was a wild ride and a definite turning point in my life. I have a box of photos next to my desk here at home from that trip, which I plan on posting online at some point. It's a shame that I didn't make it to ten years here (February 12), but according to the employee handbook there was nothing awaiting me at this finish line anyhow.

Well, on to the sappy stuff. I'm going to miss the heck out of the people on my team I work with. They are a very gifted, somewhat under-appreciated group of folks who always manage to get it done without going (too) postal about it. It's been a pleasure working for them. Although I am technically their "boss," they generally need very little supervision and have a habit of making me look good. I'm sure we'll cross paths again. At least, I hope so. I also hope that somehow they all get the recognition they deserve. Sorry for crying on you this morning.

There are also those who I had just started to acquaint myself with in the department -- I regret not having the time to get to know you more personally, but it seems apparent to me that the company made a good choice in bringing you on board.

To friends in other departments I work with, I'm going to miss you as well. I've traveled with you, stayed up in the wee hours of the morning helping prep meetings with you, and so on and so forth. You've been a pleasure to work with and for, and I echo the hope of keeping in touch with you over time.

To the nice ladies in A/P - I'm sorry I was such a jerk with the invoices, and my wife thanks you very much for processing my expense reports so promptly.

And now from the sappy to the crappy stuff. Where do I start? Well, [ THIS SECTION DELETED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT TASK FORCE ]

And to those who have not much good to say about me after I leave -- I probably earned it. I'm sorry.

All in all, it has been an honor to work with these folks, and I have also met some really cool people from various vendors over the years. It's been humbling to put your notice in and find out how many people care. I hope what they say about it being a small world and all is really true.