One of the difficulties I'm facing with this unemployment and job search is a theme that I noticed in the last job search: I really need to learn more front-end development. This unfortunately brings me squarely to face the one white whale that has eluded me: JavaScript. So I find myself once again faced with understanding this language in order to progress.
So, to mix up my literary metaphors, and to draw upon one of my heroes, Chris Crawford:
I have committed myself, I have dedicated myself, to the pursuit of the dragon. And having made that commitment … all of a sudden, I can see him! There he is, right in front of me, clear as day.… You're so much bigger than I ever imagined, and I'm, I'm not so sure I like this. I mean, yes, you're glorious and beautiful, but you're ugly, too. Your breath reeks of death!… Am I so pitiful that you can sneer in my face like that? Yes, yes, you frighten me! You hurt me! I've felt your claws ripping through my soul! But I'm going to die someday, and before I can do that, I've got to face you, eyeball to eyeball. I've got to look you right in the eye, and see what's inside, but I'm not good enough to do that yet. I'm not experienced enough, so I'm going to have to start learning. Today. Here. Now. Come, dragon, I will fight you. Sancho Panza, my sword! (He picks up a sword from the desk behind him, which he unsheaths from its scabbard.) For truth! For beauty! For art! Charge!
True, it's not for art or beauty (that will come out of my pursuits of JavaScript). But this is one dragon too many in my life and it needs dispatching.
Charge!