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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 was a Senior Training Specialist for Motorola Solutions, and taught classes on a wide variety of subjects centered around 2-way radio communications. I knew that when the time arrived that I would retire, and I have. 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 were not in demand anymore. My students were 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? Some of the places I've been (I can't list them all here, the list would be toio long) are pretty interesting. 1. Hawaii - Four times, Oahu, Maui (twice), and the Big Island 2. BangkokThailand, twice 3. Frankfurt Germany, twice 4. Algiers, Algeria 5. Melbourne Australia 6. Bismarck North Dakota, Summer & Winter 7. Los Angeles, Too many times to count 8. Washington DC, Too many times to count 9. Seattle three or four times 10. Texas, all over the state 11. Florida, all over the state 12. New Mexico, HOME! Several times  Best Cultural And Regional Honorable Mention |
| Locale: Flagler County, Florida Week of: January 4, 2021 This week finds me in Flagler County Florida for a class with the county techs. I drove down because I'm still avoiding flying as much as I can. Yeah, I know that they've tested airliners and found that the virus can't live in one because of the air circulation. That's not my worry. It's the airports, and everywhere between my car and the plane. So thanks, but no thanks, I'll drive when possible. This has been a fun class, but it's had its moments too. Imagine coming to a customer prepared to deliver a class consisting of equipment A and equipment B. Then, despite all your prep e-mails back and forth, despite all the pre-work you put in, you start the class, and discover that they only have equipment B. The problem is, covering equipment A and B would normally take 4 days (so you might wonder why it was scheduled for five? Don't worry, I do too, but they won't change it, no matter what we tell them), but now in covering only equipment B, you can get 2.5, maybe 3 days of training in. Oh wait, they paid for 5, so what to do, what to do? Fortunately, they have equipment C & D (yes, I'm using letters just to make it more understandable to Multicast Sites vs. Simulcast Sites will bore you to tears), and you just happen to be the only instructor who can really talk about equipment C & D at length. You got all that? I hope so, because there's a test following this.... So it's been a good week. The customer is happy with the training, especially since I know they don't want training on equipment they don't have, and that extra stuff I've taught them? Very few know it well, and they've had a lot of questions about it, so we've done well. Plus, I've gotten to spend a week in the warmth of Florida, huh! That's a wi-win if you ask me! To top it off, I've found at least two nice restaurants. Well, three really, but the third one happens to be closed this week.. Dang it. Noteworthy Restaurants: Flagler Fish Company https://flaglerfishandbeefcompany.com/daily-menu/ This is the kind of place I love to stop in and dine. A local run place, nothing fancy, just good food. To say their fish sandwich was good would be a gross understatement. It was Excellent! Along with that, Smoked Fish Dip. So good, I will stop there on the way out tomorrow, but a half-pint of it to take home!  Portugal Wine Bar And Grill https://www.portugalwinebarandgrill.com/menu When I saw this on Google Maps, I knew I had to visit it. Why? One word. Paella. Yummmmm. A platter so large I had enough for a second night of enjoyment. It was a nice place to visit too, a bit 'fancy', but that was alright. In Closing I am home the next four weeks, delivering online classes the next three weeks before getting a week off to study and such. Then it's off to High Point NC, at least as of now. Til next time, be good to yourselves and those you love, and WRITE!  Jim Dorrell |
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