this is my story... if you like to know a bit more...

the sections below are based on the phases of my personal journey and not based on job positions. Also, sections are in inverted chronological order. If you like to see a more standard type of information`.

freelancing :: y >= 2009.04

from April 2009 I decided to work on a freelance basis to enable me explore other development opportunities in different environments as well as learn new technologies and skills.

My employer at the time (Advent Processing Solutions) did not want to lose my skills, so they extended an offer to me, which allowed me to collaborate and work with them on a sub-contract basis.

This was the perfect solution (consider that I look like this after 10 years of coding) and I still provide some development services to the now re-branded Envisage Cloud company and a new start-up sister company OSSM Cloud Solutions.

After five years, I am now ready for my next challenge and am looking to expand my network to take on new projects for new companies.

serious development :: y >= 2004.08 && y <= 2009.03

here is when I really got serious with development. Thaks to all my self-studying efforts while working, thanks to the sleepless and endless nights spent in front of a PC with a not-so-bright look on my face I managed to get a job as software developer in UPS. My career finally made the U-turn change I had been working so hard for over the previous three years.

I could finally prove I was to become a good programmer despite my lack of formal studies and unrelated background.

my digital age :: for (y = 2001; y <= 2004; y++)

consider that the 1st line of iPods was launched in 2001, LinkedIn was created in 2003, Facebook in 2004, GMail also in 2004 (however, Google IPO was launched in 2004). When I left Italy in 2001 I had created a Hotmail account with Microsoft, although I could only keep in touch with my brother and a few others that were attending University at the time (and therefore had university addresses).

So, probably this was not just my digital age. However, to cut a long story short, I got my first laptop as a birthday present. From that moment on, I basically stopped sleeping until about 2006 ;p)

Sleepless and endless nights coding away (or at least trying!!!), peculiar day dreams about getting caught into an infinite loop of coding mistakes, incontrollably spinning for eternity...

But I was definitely hooked....

and it was all worth it, I can assure you ;g)

making cocktails :: y = 1990; while (y <= 2001) { y+=1; }

to be followed carefully:

• take a (very cold) double cocktail glass, brush the border with a slice of lime (not lemon)
• place a layer of salt on a coffee saucer
• gently spin the border of the glass over the salt (a tiny layer of salt must stick to the border)
• get a shaker (boston style if possible)
• pour 7/10 of good Tequila (white not reposado)
• add 2/10 of Triple Sec (not Cointreau, it is too sweet)
• add 1/3 of freshly squeezed lime (not lemon) juice
• put 4/5 crystal ice cubes in the shaker
• shake vigorously for 7/10 seconds
• get a strainer and pour liquid in the cold glass

eso es todo lo que necesitas saber...

my studies :: 1989 >= y <= 1993

this is kind of embarassing... I really did not study much... I tried, but I'd rather be a good self-learner than a poor student. Besides, I started working when I was 15. I wasn't on the lazy side for sure.

I started high school while working, but when the opportunity of a good full time job presented itself I took it without much consideration on the study front.