I am reading several programming books these days and was a very happy geek the other day when the Canada Post delivery boy showed up with my package from Amazon.ca:

1. Building a Web Site with Ajax: Visual QuickProject Guide
2. PHP 6 and MySQL 5 for Dynamic Web Sites: Visual QuickPro Guide
3. Joel on Software
4. Zend PHP Certification Study Guide
5. The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master

I recently read PHP5 Advanced Visual QuickPro Guide and have tagged I would say close to 100 different spots within the book on topics I want to either reread again or need to implement in one of my projects.

I read the preface and introduction of The Pragmatic Programmer and can already tell I have a great book in my hands (as if I didn’t know already from all the rave reviews). I have been studying various programming concepts, ideals and languages since 1996.

“Kaizen” is a Japanese term that captures the concept of continuously making many small improvements.

Continually making improvements to any product or service is essential to its longevity. Other then scripts I’ve abandoned writing for one reason or another, I have always gone back to spruce up my code and implement new concepts and techniques I have encountered. Just as I will be going back to spruce up some of my blog posts as well as future articles I write.

It feels great being able to sink my teeth into something I love doing and believe in again. I look forward to learning more about the topics I have been speaking of lately and contributing more to their communities I am becoming a part of as of late here in Vancouver. I also look forward to sharing my findings and knowledge in upcoming blog posts and articles I have on my list.

Last night I attended the Social Media: A New Way to Market event where I met both presenters, Kris Krug and Rob Cottingham. I managed to get home just before the snow started after bussing home with Monica Hamburg who I met at the Joomla DocCamp and had a lovely coffee with last week. Tomorrow night, I look forward to the Vancouver Bloggers meetup! At the end of February, I have Northern Voice to look forward to, a conference I wanted to attend last year but could not because of work.

My 2008 got off to a rough start after putting my back out just before Christmas. Now I feel like I’m off to the races! I am curious to know what others are doing for self improvement in 2008. Have you taken any courses or attended any workshops? Met anyone new at a networking event? Have you followed up with them? Read any good books or articles lately?