Alex doing 'mechanicals'

There's audio as well!

Trying to explain mommy's sweet tooth

he says, which tooth is MY sweet tooth?

How a 7 y/o understands veteran's status

As we waited to deplane and sat about mid way down the aircraft, my son says:

Mom, you know those old guys who fight in the war?
(No particular war. I had recently explained Memorial Day to him.)
Yes?
The ones they always let off first?
(I don't know what mode of transportation he's referring to.)
Yes?
Well, you were in the war and they should let you and me off first too!

Conversations with my son cont...

My son's first grade teacher was due to have her baby before the school year ended so the whole class was pretty involved in the 'growing process'. As expected, she went into labor over the weekend and did not come to school Monday morning. When my son got home that afternoon, he announced that Mrs. Teacher had gone to the hospital to lay her baby.

You need a writer, I need a job

After serving 9 years in the United States Air Force and then attending Purdue University, I went on to work at various startups and large companies such as Intel Corp. and Cisco Systems.

I am dedicated, articulate, and enthusiastic and have strong analytical and organizational abilities. I can effectively communicate with others and am able to work independently or as an integral part of a team to accomplish goals. I am experienced in prioritizing and completing numerous concurrent responsibilities while meeting time and budget targets. With a sound professional attitude and strong work ethic, I would be the perfect fit for your organization.

Authoring Tools
Windows 95/98/2000/NT/XP
MS Office
FrameMaker
RoboHelp
FrontPage
Visio
CVS/VSS/SVN (eclipse/subversion)
HTML
Bugzilla
Paintshop Pro
Adobe Suite
Doxygen
Web 2.0

Professional Experience
Senior Technical Writer: Intel Corporation/Consultant Santa Clara, California 12/2008- 06/2009

Created, authored, and developed new online and embedded F1 help for Intel’s new Project Offset PC Game Editor. The editor permits artists and game developers to create and manage video game database assets.

Produced new developer API documentation for Project Offset’s back-end engine.

Assigned to the Game Engine Technology team, I worked with engineers to develop and layout UI design for Project Offset’s PC Game Editor.

Assisted in the development of marketing and customer facing game documentation by providing content and recommending layout design.

Senior Technical Writer: BroadWare Technologies acquired by Cisco Systems, Inc. San Jose, California 10/2005–06/2008

Managed, authored, and updated developer API documentation and web-based help for IP-based video surveillance software. Software solutions enable surveillance of distributed environments such as airports, casinos, and other large public sectors.

Guided engineers in developing, creating, and designing user friendly UI layout and flow. Instrumental in final look and feel of UI design. Assisted in customer feedback of newly developed UI to implement recommended changes.

Wrote jargon-free user guides for industry leaders such as IBM, Lockheed-Martin, and the US Navy.

Collaborated with SMEs on content development for new and developing software products.

Senior Technical Writer: ViVOtech Inc. Santa Clara, California 3/2004 – 10/2005

Established and managed the technical publications department. Company products enable retailers, banks, wireless operators, and service providers with end to end payment and promotion systems using RFID technology.

Implemented policies and procedures, ensuring a standardized and uniform user-friendly GUI design for company's flagship products.

Routinely composed and edited marketing materials and user documentation and provided additional writing support to various groups throughout the company.

Technical Writer: Consultant San Jose, California 2003 - 2004

Performed documentation project management and quality assurance testing.

Authored and updated online documentation for use by internal customers.

Executed technical writing standards for newly created quality assurance department.

Edited and implemented training procedures and manuals for delivery to national customer base.

Senior Technical Writer: Intel Corporation Santa Clara, California 2000 - 2003

Project manager for TCAD research and development department documentation.

Established consistent look and feel for User Guides, Quick Start Guides, Command Reference Manuals, and API and developer documents.

Edited existing technical documentation as required by engineers and software developers.

Streamlined document submission processes for developer specs, white papers, and engineering notes, eliminated dependency on hard copy, and created an intranet, single source documentation web site for developers and internal customers.

Conducted installation and low level testing of developing GUI tools while establishing initial documentation outline.

Maintained working relationships with engineers, developers, and various other SMEs.

Technical Writer: CyberIQ Systems San Jose, California 2000

Planned, organized, authored, and edited multiple user guides, marketing white papers, and various other in-house documents for switch and appliance-based systems.

Interviewed engineering and QA team members for technical content compilation. Products provided local clustering, global traffic distribution and secure content switching for e-sites.

Technical Writer: SunGard Futures Systems Chicago, Illinois 1998 - 2000

Managed online documentation projects pertaining to exchange-based back office support system software.

Effective translation and management of information into online documentation that developers and end users could understand.

Interviewed and extracted detailed program information from software developers and engineers.

Trained newly assigned technical writers.

Data Processor/Licensed Agent: CFS Bank/ Insurance Agency Munster, Indiana 1995 - 1997

United States Air Force 1985 - 1994
Honorable discharge
Secret security clearance

Education
Purdue University Indiana Bachelor of Arts, English May 1999
Spokane Falls Community College: Spokane, Washington Associate of Arts, Liberal Arts May 1994

Things my son has said cont...

While watching TV:
(7 y/o) Mom, what are they making?
(me) A fake duck honey. (hunting decoy)
(7 y/o) Is it duck tape?
(me) No. It's a wooden duck.
(7 y/o) Well, how do they make the duck sticky?

Observing the Cone Zone

For those of you who don't know, I live in a school drop off/pick up zone. Fitting since I have a kid who doesn't actually attend the local school but I digress...

My driveway is a sensitive lil guy. He doesn't like to be blocked, turned around on, or otherwise engaged in inappropriate or illicit behavior. To protect him from the daily violations that he faces while 300+ parents drive their precious lil do gooders to school, I have had to place a Cone Zone at his entrance.

Now, this Cone Zone in no way benefits me or my family. It does not permit me additional room to use my lil driveway for his true calling, allowing me to take my own lil do gooder to school. It also does not allow my trash bins a temporary home either. They are relegated to the sidewalk or sometimes, even the neighbor's driveway. That's ok with their lil driveway tho, she doesn't mind. In fact, I think she might have a thing for mine. Imagine, lil do gooder driveways trying to make their way to the local school.

Sometimes the Cone Zone can't ensure my lil driveway is safe. He is often brutalized by autos, strollers, stray dogs (and their blog posts), and parents without the common sense to walk on the sidewalk or my lawn. I have even witnessed hour long conversations right on his heart, stifling his need to complete his calling. Those darn insensitive do gooder parents.

I have often tried to speak up on his behalf, offering to call professional vehicle removers for those parent's vehicles who are 'stuck' in his warm embrace. They have mostly declined, citing their ability to put something where the sun doesn't shine.

All in all, I love my lil driveway and encourage others to respect the Cone Zone. If you would like to borrow the Cone for his Zone, please ask. He is used to his nightly toddy and warm bed and gets upset when waking up next to a strange curb.

Thank You

Quotes from the front lines of my job search...

One hour prior to starting a new job, I get a call - 'Hi Susan, listen, we're not ready for you. We don't have a budget lined up and we're not sure we have work for you to do.'

From my son - 'Would you hurry up and get a job already so I can have some money?'

Things my son has said...

Today (Oct 15) is my birthday. When I asked my son about his day at school, he told me that he told his 1st grade class that today his mommy is 56 y/o. And his father wonders why I taught him to say 'mommy is 35'.

Blowing up a balloon from VBS - 'Look mom, God's whoopie cushion'

After wiping his nose - 'My nose is loose'

While emptying the silverware rack from the dishwasher and finding a dirty spoon - 'Look mom, a bug peed on it'

Waking up one morning - 'I'm bigger than yesterday'

When discussing his upcoming birthday - '5.5 y/o is taller than 5 y/o'