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 |  Being Retired now, I thought that it was time for a new name to this Blog |
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Talk about perks, my career had one of the best I can think of! I traveled in the course of business, delivering classes for my employer. I am a Senior Training Specialist for Motorola Solutions, and teach classes on a wide variety of subjects centered around 2 way radio communications (for eight more weeks). I knew that when the time arrived that I would retire. That time is now. I've always said that if you can't stand the heat in the kitchen, get out! I can't handle the heat anymore. I was qualified to deliver approximately 32 different classes, but about half of those were 'Legacy' classes, and are not in demand anymore. My students were/are technicians, those who maintained, programmed, calibrated, and repaired large 2-way radio systems. Some of these systems are statewide, and use TCP-IP networking to allow sites to communicate with others. Some are small, traditional type radio sites. The size doesn't matter, in each case the systems must be kept operational at all times, since many of them are Public Safety Systems. So I traveled, sometimes frequently, 3-4 weeks in a row.... where have I been? This probably won't have daily entries, but I will make entries to update you about my life before and during my employment with Motorola Solutions. I also intend to update you all about what I'm doing in retirement. Well, here we go with this new adventure, let's see where it takes us.  Best Cultural And Regional Honorable Mention |
| Locale: Schaumburg, Illinois Week of: April 4, 2022 This week finds me in Schaumburg, Illinois for the first time in almost 2 years. Yes, I've been there a couple of times last year, but it was a one-day stop each time; I'm not counting those as 'real trips'. I had a lot of fun cross-training Syamira, she was great, knew a lot, but on subjects I'm not familiar with. Our training covered topics she's not familiar with. She learned a lot of course, I learned some on Friday when we worked with one of the lab guys on the Direct Attached Storage on one of the Virtual Servers. But it wasn't all fun and games on Monday and Tuesday. Sunday and Monday nights I also delivered a class online o the Philippine Armed Forces. This was to finish up the class we started 2 weeks before. As a result, I was pretty tired Monday. In fact, at one point I nodded off for a brief 'second' before waking. That was when I told her, "I'm exhausted, I need to go to my hotel and get some rest before class tonight." So we ended the day at 2 so I could get some rest. I didn't get much, maybe an hour, but it did help. Luckily we were finished with class at 9 pm that night, so I was able to get some much needed rest. Still, it wasn't until Wednesday that I felt a bit like myself. As I mentioned, things went well as she learned more about the topics she came to discuss. I learned that she's been here for 9 weeks now, spending the first 6 weeks in Fort Lauderdale. There was one surprise for me this week too though. I was in the area outside the classroom when a woman walked by, looked at me and said, "Alright, which class did I have you as my instructor?" I knew her face, but there was no way I would remember what class she had been in. We talked a little more, and in the process learned that she will be in the Networking class I'll deliver in mid-May.  My schedule for the foreseeable future has not changed. Anything less than 45 days away does not usually change, but hey, the customer canceled/delayed my Washington DC class just 13 days prior to the class starting. So the 45 day thing is not set in stone. As of now, other than mandatory weeks off (2), vacation (4), and holiday weeks (5}, my schedule is now full the rest of the year! I do expect a lot of changes though, but my schedule will stay full. Noteworthy Restaurants: Big Bowl - https://www.bigbowl.com/schaumburg/menus/dinner/ Their Poki Salad did not disappoint me one bit. It was just excellent. Penang Malaysian Cuisine https://qmenu.us/#/penang-malaysian-cuisine/menu/0 My best friend Ariel and I took Syamira to dinner there Wednesday. She had been there twice already, neither of us had been there before. It was a very good experience for all three of us. In Closing I will spend the next two weeks at home before going to Los Angeles for a week, followed by a week in Fort Lauderdale. Til next time, be good to yourselves and those you love, and WRITE!  Jim Dorrell |
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Although, I hope you've got a portable table set up for prep while you wait for counters or a microwave for those frozen meals.
