Catch up Saturday

Work has been demanding on Thursday and Friday so I didn't get my daily readings in.  I plan on starting those plus today's reading after I finish this post.

I also have been putting together the written exam and skills test for the Technical Computer Applications contest for SkillsUSA districts.  I'll have to get that finished up soon so it is ready for the February 23rd contest date.

Next week I'll be in New Orleans for a Cisco workshop so hopefully I'll have some time in the evening to get my readings in.  Anyway, I better get started because we got family plans this evening.

One more (procrastinating) thought.  I can pretty much assume that nobody reads this blog right now, which is fine because I use it to "check in" to make sure I'm on track with what I'm trying to accomplish.  The only statically linked place to this blog is my Facebook profile so any other visitors would have stumbled across this by a Google search.

CCNA exam scheduled

I booked my CCNA exam for March 4th.  Since I've been through the CCNA/CCNP before, I don't think I need to spend more than a month of good studying.  My study plan is to follow the "31 Days Before your CCNA Exam" and follow up each days reading with the recommended reading in the ICND1 & ICND2 books.  I will begin today, although I am already through chapter 9 of the ICND1 book.  This plan will give me a full week after the 31 days of continuous studying.  I'll use that time to take practice tests and labs.

Here we go!

CCNA progress

Last year I tried to get back into studying for my CCNA again but I was side tracked.  I kept my notes in FreeMind and I decided to pick up where I left off.  I am following the plan recommended in the CCNA Official Exam Certification Library (3rd edition).  That method includes bouncing between the ICND1 and ICND2 books but following major topics in order.  I completed 6 chapters before I got derailed last year so I skimmed chapters 7 and 8 this evening.  So far everything is very basic but I am taking occasional notes on those things that are good to memorize that you don't necessarily remember unless you are preparing for a certification.

yet another blog

Its been a while since I've bothered with online blogging of any type.  I remember farting around with a blog before content management systems made it so easy.  I did a few with my own domain name but nothing that lasted very long or had anything useful.  I think the longest I've ever contributed to a blog was my Xanga over 5 years ago.

My main motivation for this blog is to keep my self in check with studying for my Cisco certifications.  I figure if I can find a study buddy then they can also be an accountability partner.  I went through the CCNA and CCNP tests which I earned in 2003 and expired in 2006.  Since then, the certification has changed quite a bit and it feels like such a drag when I think about going through the whole process again.  Ultimately I want to get a CCIE in routing and switching which means the CCNA & CCNP is a prerequisite.

The other main topics I want this to be centered around are bicycling and music.  I ride a Trek 7.3FX which I enjoy taking on the Katy Trail and on the roads.  In 2009 I completed the MS-150 from Peculiar to Sedalia, MO.  On the music side I enjoy "DJ'ing", remixing, and occasionally producing stuff.  I'm really enjoying Ableton Live because it does just about anything I'd want a music program to do. (whether that be as a DJ, remixer, or producer)