I agreed to build the site immediately with only one stipulation. Having worked with James the penchant procrastinator on another project for the AHS, the André Bluemel Meadow, I made him promise to be as available and responsive as possible to me. (If you want to know more about the meadow project visit the Five Star Developer’s Blog.) With such a short timeline I needed immediate answers to my questions because even a 24 hour delay could put the deadline at risk… and I did mention I was tricked right? I assumed the auction web site would need to be finalized a few days before the auction started, but I was soon told there was going to be a preview period. The auction web site was going to be announced to 21,000 AHS members via an email newsletter and a printed article in the American Gardener Magazine two weeks prior to the auction.

Considering the short timeline and potential for disaster that accompanies every major project, this one went very well. I built the site using WordPress as a content management system and extending it with a custom plugin to manage information about each experience. James did a great job filling in the database with information, sending me graphics when necessary and keeping his cell phone on to answer my calls all hours of the night.

From what I hear the AHS office had a great time testing the site and out bidding each other.  I enjoyed registering my rabbit, Sneaky Pete Gagliardi, to outbid my brother while he slept. I am hoping the real bidders find the auction as fun as the AHS office. Even those who are not participating in the auction can watch the action in the sidebar where the highest bid and the first name, city and state of the bidder are displayed.

The six week auction started on Saturday, September 19th and is off to a good start with 4 items already having bids. If you want to place a bid yourself or just watch the action visit http://www.ahs.org/auction.

For all you Pittsburgh people looking for Tamara mayo you should look in the Greek store in the strip because that’s the only place Tzveti knows it’s sold, or use gerular mayo with some spice.

Design and photography credits for the web site go to Rob Larson, you can see more pictures from the food photo shoot on his blog.

Professionally I am a Multimedia Developer in Pittsburgh, PA. At work I focus on Flash Programming, mostly we building e-learning tools and simulations. Outside of work I’m interested in developing web sites where I get to try out new ideas, tools and applications.

Additionally, I live on Mt. Washington with my bunny, Sneaky Pete, who is a black and white mini-lop. We like hosting picnics for the firework nights, gardening and hanging out on the deck. I also enjoy running, rowing with the work team, golfing with the ladies league and bumming around town for happy hours, parties, art openings, plays, the symphony and baseball games.

This blog is my newest project as I explore producing content for the web and social networking. I became interested in producing content because I found myself finding answers to my development problems on other peoples blogs. I thought that some of the stuff I learn through my own work might also help people out…. so lets see! If you read anything here that helps you let me know and I’ll know the effort is worth it.

After some research I decided to start social networking with Twitter and Ma.gnolia. Twitter answers the question “What are doing?” Although this did not attract me at first, the idea eventually grew on me. It’s simple, it’s fun and it fills my friends and family in on what I’m up to during the day. All the little things that don’t really matter… but in a way they do.

Ma.gnolia was something I was instantly attracted to because I share links with friends and family all the time and Ma.gnolia lets me share those links with everyone, categorize them with tags and access them from any computer. Plus it was programmed by Happy Cog and has a fun loving, easy to use interface that could have only come from them.

To view my Twitter page visit: http://www.twitter.com/tricky_deer. If you sign up start following me and I’ll start following you and we can be Twitter buddies!

To sign-up for you own Ma.gnolia account just visit the web site. To add me as a contact go to Contacts > Find Members and search for trickydeer.