Today is my last day at my job as a web developer for an engraving business. I have been here exactly a year (November 8, 2004).

As I look ahead to new challenges (on Monday at my new job), I can’t help but reflect on all I’ve learned in a year.

Being a part of a small company is nice, in many ways, because it allows for some creative freedom - when working on web pages. Here, I was able to completely re-develop the site, from the ground up, using techniques that I am familiar with, such as the open-source technologies of MySQL and PHP. Also, I could get "carried away" with design aspects, and have fun with it.

However, being such a small company, and the lone web developer - I had no one to bounce ideas off. I had no one to talk about, when troubleshooting a certain script. This was not a major setback, because I have many good "web friends," whom I can inquire about such things (you all know who you are). And, by keeping abreast to their own blogs, I essentially have "virtual co-workers," in some sense.

But nothing replaces real, human interaction. Nothing can replace the expressions and nuances of talking face-to-face. It makes us better, I believe.

At my new job, I expect more resources, and more room to grow, as a web developer.

But since I’ve worked pretty hard on the site for this company - I still intend to keep working on it - in my spare time - as a "outsourced/free-lance" type deal. My boss (old boss, now) agreed that this would be ideal, for the near-future.

Aside from the web site stuff, I will certainly miss the people I’ve met here - the personalities, laughter, and all those great lunches we had, together. My co-workers here were like my family - since I saw them more than anybody, during this past year. For that reason, I will be very sad to leave them - and I will miss their subtle differences, and the things that made them unique.

I will miss each morning (every morning for the past year), at 7 AM exactly, as I walked into work, and said "Good morning!" to Betsy - who’s in charge of artwork, here - and who always arrived just a bit earlier than I did, each day.

I will miss playing "catch" with Chris at lunch - with a baseball and gloves - under the hot June sun.

I will miss coming back from lunch, and putting the 1 PM Cubs game on the radio in the production area - because although it was summer, and gorgeous outside - work still had to be done, and the afternoon moved a lot faster with Pat Hughes and Ron Santo calling the game.

Every day that the Cubs were on, I made sure to hear the musical intro to the game - which is the same for every game:

(sung, to music)

(softly) Let’s play ball.

Let’s play ball today. The Cubs are on their way, on the radio, tuned to 7-2-0. Everybody loves the Cubs! Everybody loves the Cubs. It’s baseball time again, here on WGN. Chicago Cubs go! On WGN.

That was missing a couple lyrics - but I think I got most of it.

And then immediately the broadcast would cut right into the "Star Spangled Banner," being sung live from Wrigley Field. After that, Pat Hughes always opens his broadcast with: "Chicago Cubs baseball is on the air!" Man, I love hearing that. I get chills every time.

Anyway, to get back on track... (I suppose I miss the Cubs, more than I miss work here!), I will miss a little something from everybody here - and some more than others.

But it’s time to move on. New personalities will take the place of old ones. New ideas, events, and stories will pave my way. I’ll be in a better situation (on Monday), and I am extremely excited about beginning this new job.