So... we're live with the redesign.
Actually we've been live for about 30 hours or so as of this writing.
Wow. So THIS is what responsibility feels like... not sure I was expecting this.
On the plus side, we had a great first couple of days in terms of user response, page views up quite a bit, seem to be signing up new users more often, and a slew of new photos have been submitted.
We've had our issues, to be sure, but overall the effort put in has been nothing short of miraculous. When I sit back and look at the issues list from moment of relaunch to where we stand now, I'm blown away by how much we've gotten accomplished. The scary thing is we're not done yet, and I guess we never ever will be, that's kind of the point.
So make a Rob happy, visit your favorite pet social network, www.wagnbrag.com, post to the forums, upload a few pictures, make a brag book or two, and rate some photos. Have some fun!
I'll be over there... passed out in the corner in the fetal position sucking my thumb... I promise I won't drool...
too much
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Redesign Eve
Twas the night before relaunch
And all through the net
All the developers were coding,
for the deadline not met.
I on my caffeine buzz
And Staci in her car
Had resigned ourselves to "adequate"
They had pushed us that far
When out from the IM window
Came the messages in a flurry
"Just one last thing..."
Let's change it in a hurry
The pixels and text
On the monitor they appear
Does it work in Firefox?
Yes, but fails in IE I fear
"Ping the CSS guy," they scream
"No matter the cost"
For if it fails there
Our project is lost
On into the night
More modifications requested
With a weary head
I was sure I'd been bested
When who should log on
Trying to save the day?
The genius designer
Who's name I can't say.
"Close div tags, center ad spaces"
The corrections did flow
It all came together
Results starting to show.
Then promptly at 10
The work finally completed
Without all the help
We would have been defeated
And I heard him exclaim
As he hit Alt plus F4
"Merry Redesign To All"
Now, let's do some more.
And all through the net
All the developers were coding,
for the deadline not met.
I on my caffeine buzz
And Staci in her car
Had resigned ourselves to "adequate"
They had pushed us that far
When out from the IM window
Came the messages in a flurry
"Just one last thing..."
Let's change it in a hurry
The pixels and text
On the monitor they appear
Does it work in Firefox?
Yes, but fails in IE I fear
"Ping the CSS guy," they scream
"No matter the cost"
For if it fails there
Our project is lost
On into the night
More modifications requested
With a weary head
I was sure I'd been bested
When who should log on
Trying to save the day?
The genius designer
Who's name I can't say.
"Close div tags, center ad spaces"
The corrections did flow
It all came together
Results starting to show.
Then promptly at 10
The work finally completed
Without all the help
We would have been defeated
And I heard him exclaim
As he hit Alt plus F4
"Merry Redesign To All"
Now, let's do some more.
Check out www.wagnbrag.com at some random time tomorrow (12/19) when we will be (re)launching with our new layout and forums!
Monday, December 17, 2007
Working from home
So one of the benefits of the new gig is that I get to work from home. It's a nice benefit, that actually increases my work day a lot more than I thought it would. Every day I'm in front of the computer around 7:50am, and sit there until 5:30ish.
Currently I'm set up at my kitchen table while I'm still cleaning up the basement office. It's convenient - the coffee pot is 5 steps away, the light from outside is perfect, and the house is quiet. I also get to look outside and watch the birds at the feeder.
It's weird, as much as I enjoyed taking hikes with my family while growing up and viewing the nature that was around, it's just not something that stuck with me. I'm too much a Gen X'er in the suburbs to want to go sleep on the dirt. I prefer my conditioned air, my mattress, my refrigerator, and oh yeah, my internet connection.
But I love watching the birds. The way they flitter around, always paranoid.
As I type this up there are 2 pairs of cardinals up and down on the feeder. The males will fly up, briefly fight with each other, then knock a bunch of seed down onto the ground for the females. This type of cooperative existence is inspiring in some kind of strange way. Working together to ensure everyone gets what they need to make it through the day. It's something simple that we all can learn from.
Currently I'm set up at my kitchen table while I'm still cleaning up the basement office. It's convenient - the coffee pot is 5 steps away, the light from outside is perfect, and the house is quiet. I also get to look outside and watch the birds at the feeder.
It's weird, as much as I enjoyed taking hikes with my family while growing up and viewing the nature that was around, it's just not something that stuck with me. I'm too much a Gen X'er in the suburbs to want to go sleep on the dirt. I prefer my conditioned air, my mattress, my refrigerator, and oh yeah, my internet connection.
But I love watching the birds. The way they flitter around, always paranoid.
As I type this up there are 2 pairs of cardinals up and down on the feeder. The males will fly up, briefly fight with each other, then knock a bunch of seed down onto the ground for the females. This type of cooperative existence is inspiring in some kind of strange way. Working together to ensure everyone gets what they need to make it through the day. It's something simple that we all can learn from.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Ok, so it's been awhile... 5 years ish.
A lot has changed, I'm on my 3rd job since my last post, no longer with Siemens, Home Computer Helpers, OR Planet Discover.
I know have a VERY exciting job with the E W Scripps company as the Project Manager for their pet focused social networking site, www.wagnbrag.com.
It's high stress, high reward, and I'm loving it.
I have spent most of my professional (ah hell, ask my family my whole) life walking around saying that things would be better if people would just do things MY way. Well, now I have the chance to put up or shut up.
I'm not sure I'm going to update this very often, I'll try, but... well hell it's been 5 years, 2 kids, and 3 jobs since my last post, history is not on your side there.
A lot has changed, I'm on my 3rd job since my last post, no longer with Siemens, Home Computer Helpers, OR Planet Discover.
I know have a VERY exciting job with the E W Scripps company as the Project Manager for their pet focused social networking site, www.wagnbrag.com.
It's high stress, high reward, and I'm loving it.
I have spent most of my professional (ah hell, ask my family my whole) life walking around saying that things would be better if people would just do things MY way. Well, now I have the chance to put up or shut up.
I'm not sure I'm going to update this very often, I'll try, but... well hell it's been 5 years, 2 kids, and 3 jobs since my last post, history is not on your side there.