by Nickelby Thane
Cisco Christmas
Nickelby Thane, author of http://cciecisco.blogspot.com who spends his free time dividing among pondering on the blueprint topics of the CCIE R&S and trying to master them as well as getting into his StormTrooper armour and starts harassing anyone he cans and more than often playing around with Wireshark believing he is some kind of data forensic CSI-like expert and finally maintaining a balance on having a real social life and also a virtual life on the Internet. Nickelby or Nick also tries to find time to play around with whatever gadgets he can get his hands on and also learning the Japanese language.
It’s that time of the year again. Presents, people dressing up as elves or Santa Clauses and yes Santarinas, colourful decorations signifying the cheerful and joyous Christmas celebration and yes lots and lots of Christmas food! Christmas holds a very important place in my heart. In fact, it is the only holiday that I am the most cheerful, energetic and helpful. It’s since been 25 years since I felt that way from a young kid who only knew of Christmas presents to the man I am today who knew the real spirit of Christmas. Now since this month’s CCIE Flyer is in December 2009 and because Christmas falls on the same month as well, I am going to write and babble about what Christmas means to me and what I hope to see continue into the future generation.
There have always been arguments on the birth date of Jesus Christ, my lord and savior. Some say he was born in the month of December but not on 25th, others say he was born on months before/after December, etc. For me, it does not matter. Why? 25th is just a date. A date to signify the birth of Christ and a date that people will forever remember as Christmas day. That is what 25th December means to me. But is that all there is to Christmas? Just the date? No. Christmas from the older generation and still exists within today, is the time where families and friends get together, sing cheerful Christmas melodies, watch Christmas movies, eat Christmas food and without knowing it most of the time, strengthening the bond of family and friendship values. I am sure that a majority of us thinks that this is common practice but whether you realized it or not, by doing such actions, you are bringing your family and friends closer and bond is improving each and every time you do it. This is how I try to celebrate Christmas. I always wanted my Christmas to be filled with love, joy, people and yes lots of food (hence my size). I had a colleague before introducing me to Christmas beer while I was in Oslo, Norway but unfortunately I was on medical treatment during that time hence no alcohol for me. I know … sad but hey there’s always next time :-). After all, Christmas is here to stay! Or is it?
The problem with today’s Christmas festival and mind you, other festivals such as the Lunar New Year for Asians and even Thanksgiving in the Western countries are not spared from extreme commercialism (they exist at least where I have experienced). What’s Christmas originally? Look deep into yourself and ask this question. Was it not that before Christmas means to give? To share? To love? If your answer is no, stop reading this article since I am sure you’ll be laughing “Ho ho” all the way if you do finish reading it. But if your answer is yes, then see around you. If your Christmas surroundings are just like what I have asked, you are really a lucky and blessed soul. However, not all are that ‘lucky’. Some companies will tend to increase price for goods knowing very well that this is the opportunity to rake in more sales and profit during the holidays. I have no problems with that but when a ‘sale’ affects some poor lady just trying to get her children his favourite teddy bear for example but just because of the festive season, instead of discounting the teddy bears like good-willed companies, the bear was charged at a premium price. Poor mother couldn’t afford it, child starts crying, it becomes a sad Christmas. I have also seen people enjoying themselves and drink until they are dead drunk and start causing trouble in the neighborhood and at one point started verbally abusing a beggar. Pitiful. If it wasn’t a group of thugs, I would have stepped in but going against a group of 10 or more people, I would have to be Santa Claus to whack senses into them.
It’s sad to note that some people have lost the true meaning and spirit of Christmas. However it would be unfair to say that generally it is like that. Take me for instance. I didn’t win the million dollars lottery although I wish that I could as that would make a nice Christmas gift :P but I am blessed in a way that I got to knew so many wonderful people over the last two years. Mike Down of IPExpert was one of the very first CCIE-related dudes I know and have been a good and humorous friend (except when his favorite football team lost. Note I said football NOT soccer ;-)) and not forgetting the first CEO of a CCIE-related company I know, Wayne Lawson. Then there was Narbik Kocharians, the human router who has been an excellent mentor and also a good and humorous friend (except when he touches Scottish whiskey) even though he still needs to work on replying mails ;-). Not forgetting my boss and good friend at CCIE Flyer, Eman Conde who was very kind to always wait for my late submission of articles and have always tried to help me in any way possible whether it’s work-related or personal-related and not forgetting Dan Conde as well. Thank you guys.
Also not forgetting Cisco/CCIE-related guys like Brandon Carroll, Carl Yost who keep reminding me that I have studies to do and not Tweeting all the time, Arden Packeer, Mark Jackson, James Key, Kady Heaton, Josh Horton, Caue Fernando Wailemann, Leonard B (who maintains the GNS3 labs site), Jeremy Stretch of Packetlife.Net fame, Patrick Swackhammer, Jennifer Huber, Yap Chee Chuen, Chris Jones who I knew for a short time but thankfully still put up with my nonsensical tweets on Twitter :P, Francois Ropert, Patrick Stewart, Steve Rossen, Jo Knight (no … he is not related to Knight Rider’s Michael Knight so stop asking!), Anthony Mattke, Aragoen Celtdra, Hank Yeomans, funny guy Hankito, Jeff Fry who always smacks my head and encouraged me to keep going, Josh Atterbury who did the same for me :-), Matt Hill, skybaba, Shane, Frenchman Nicolas Michel, Darby Weaver, Jason Harry, Catherine Breiling, Con Spathas, Ivan Pepelnjak, the Brians at INE, Scott Morris, Petr L, Jeff Doyle, Joe Astorino, Keith Barker, Larry Hadrava, Kazunori Sakumoto, the first Japanese CCIE I know, Natsukuna :-), funny guy Marko Milivojevic, Scott Bristowe, Robert DeWeese, Todd Lamle, Toyos Yooyen, Victor Cappuccio, Vik Malhi and a lot more guys/girls who I cannot remember by memory at this point had a very positive impact both on my personal life as a guy who wants to have fun doing the things he likes and as a Cisco engineer. I am really sorry for forgetting the names. It is now proven that I have indeed a poor and unreliable memory. Probably time to upgrade the Flash memory in my head …
Over the two years, I have also gotten to know people like Laura Chappell of Wireshark University (and mind you, I do LOVE Wireshark a lot!), a lot of cool 501st legion members especially Takefumi Tenshima-san who I regard as a good friend as well and a bunch of wonderful people I gotten to know. Christmas is often the time I reflect on strengthening my bond with these people and hopefully not being an arse in the process. Last but not least, I thank God for every Christmas as I always have my wonderful and loving family to think about who cares for me as much as I care for them. Thank you all and Merry Christmas!
So after talking so much about Christmas, what did I get myself for Christmas? Go to my personal blog at http://nthane.blogspot.com and find out :-). With that, I leave you guys, the readers of CCIE Flyer, a very sincere and warm Christmas greeting and I do hope all of you have a blessed and wonderful Christmas and always in good health. Please feel free to contact me via my blog or via Twitter (search for ‘nickelby’) or even IM. I especially welcome constructive criticism on the way I write my articles, ideas that you would like to write about or just plain chat and get to know each other kind of stuff. Let’s hope for our friendship to continue into the year 2010 and beyond!
Merry X’Mas and a Happy New Year!!!
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