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 |  I travel the country on business, sometimes the world. Come see where I've been. |
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Talk about perks, my job has one of the best ones I can think of! I travel 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. I'm qualified to deliver approximately 30 different classes, but about half of those are 'Legacy' classes, and are not in demand anymore. My students are technicians, those who maintain, program, calibrate, and repair 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 get to travel, sometimes frequently, 3-4 weeks in a row.... where am I this week? This probably won't have daily entries, but I will make entries when I get to go somewhere, and keep an updated list of coming trips. My schedule changes faster than the weather, so don't be too surprised to see me list an upcoming class, only to remark later on that it is cancelled, or delayed. Delays are fine of course, but a later date might mean that someone else gets to go instead of me,,, Well, here we go with this, let's see where it takes us.  Best Cultural And Regional Honorable Mention |
| Locale: Fort Lauderdale, Florida Week of: 6/13/22 I'm back in Fort Lauderdale this week, still having fun of course. Right now, I'm scheduled to return in July for four more days, then December for a week. We'll see what the future holds, won't we? The first week was spent delivering a basic Networking Class. This week was a more advanced Networking class that focused on the networking addresses and equipment used in our radio systems. Like the class last week, there are a lot of hands-on opportunities, and the students spent most of it doing just that. The students love it too, making it even better. Monday, and part of Tuesday was 'Death By Powerpoint' as I like to call it. After that. it was all hands on. I emphasized to the students that everything we were doing was in the Powerpoint slideshow, but doing it was far better than reading slides. Additionally, there's a lab guide to follow, and we did. Actually, we went above and beyond the lab guide. Since I was here two weeks, I rented a car for the weekend and drove up to Clearwater/St. Petersburg, My Father-In-Law lives there alone now after losing his wife in September. I figured he would like some company, and I was correct. He insisted on fixing me dinner Friday night, and took me to breakfast both Saturday and Sunday. In return, I was able to do what I'd intended, take him to dinner Saturday night. (See below about where we went). It was a great weekend though. He needed someone to talk to, someone with a common background (We served on the USS Theodore Roosevelt SSBN 600 together) that would understand the things he mentioned. So I listened. A lot. It was a very good visit, and a must really. After all, he's 87, no telling when or if I'll see him again. Noteworthy Restaurants: Batch - New Southern Kitchen https://www.batchsouthernkitchen.com/ftl/ I came here to try their Shrimp & Grits. While they were very good, they don't compare to the dish in Charleston, SC, at Fleet Landing. I'll come back here though, the meal was good, service was good, I had a nice time there! Tiki Tiki https://letstikitiki.com/menu/ This place was 'found for me', it was recommended I come here. I have to say it was a good recommendation. I tried the Ahi Tuna Nachos which were HUGE! I couldn't finish them of course, but did add what Tuna that was left to my leftovers I took back with me. My meal was their Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl. Do you see a theme here?  As mentioned, I added the tuna from the Nacho's to the leftovers of this bowl, and had it for lunch the next day. Wow! Con Murphy https://www.conmurphysfl.com/ Let's just say that although the food was pretty good, I probably won't return here. The blackened Grouper on my sandwich looked a little like Tilapia. I've sold enough fish in my life that I can identify some, Tilapia is easy to identify, and I don't really eat Tilapia, even though it is a white fish with a mild flavor. Plus, I don't want to pay Grouper prices and get Tilapia. Now, Tilapia is not on their menu, but it would be easy to use any white fish in place of Grouper, and charge for Grouper. Tilapia is MUCH less expensive than Grouper. Am I being paranoid? Maybe, I'd like to think I'm not. After my experience in North Carolina years ago, I wouldn't be surprised if this was being done by far more than one restaurant. Especially in today's world and times. So, I won't be going back. In Closing I am home for three weeks now, teaching classes the first two weeks, then working on a course review with a curriculum developer the week of July 4th. My next trip is to Kansas, the town of Salina, followed by a return to Fort Lauderdale again! Til next time, be good to yourselves and those you love, and WRITE!  Jim Dorrell |
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I then went to Taiwan for two weeks; but, although that was nice, it wasn't 'home'. 
