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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: Burlington County (Mt Holly), NJ Week of: March 14, 2022 This week I delivered a short class to the US Navy. Unfortunately it was an online class, I didn't get to travel there. I would have loved to have been there, because my students spend each week on lovely San Clemente Island! How nice that would have been. Oh well, such is life, huh. Besides, I will have about 15 chances to travel this year, if not more. But, there was a small change that occurred on Monday too that put a little bump in things for me. I was prepping for a class next week with the Armed Forces Of The Philippines when my cell phone rang about 10:15 or so. It was this week's customer (US Navy), wondering when I'd show up in the Virtual Classroom to deliver the class. I explained that the class was scheduled to run Tue-Wed-Thurs, but he told me they had different dates, Monday and Tuesday only. Apparently they wanted the class to run only 2 days (fine by me really), but no one ever relayed that back to the Training Department. I made a quick call to my Training Coordinator and Manager, then went to the basement to deliver the class. The biggest issue with all of this, is that I had reserved a hotel and car for Tuesday night. This was necessary so I could show them connections to the equipment via a USB Cam, which I couldn't do from home. Of course I had to change reservations while on break to Monday, but that wasn't too bad. Still, it was a minor bump in the overall plan. As you might guess, my schedule can change quickly, sometimes it's my team that changes it, sometimes it's the customer. This week, the customer needed a class canceled/delayed. Now I have a week to rest in April, but it means I don't get to see San Diego (again). That's good really, because I was scheduled for far too many weeks in a row, which our manager hates. I don't mind it, or didn't before all these health issues hit me, but he sure does. Things have changed a little for me in April & May. (For those of you who are really interested in the changes, if any of you really are, I've highlighted that week in red). Week of 3/21: Philippine Armed Services. On line class, teaching Tues-Thurs this week, completing it on a Sunday/Monday 2 weeks later (their request). I will teach from 7pm to 1 am those days. Week of 3/28: Northampton, Ma Week of 4/4: Cross Train one of our Instructor who works out of Indonesia. I cross-trained her manager last year (Online of course, 5 days). She's scheduled to teach a class in our Florida location, then spend some time in Schaumburg. He told her to ask if I would be available, and spend a week with me cross-training her. I feel honored that he would tell her to do that. Week of 4/11: No delivery. The week is called 'Instructor Prep' Week of 4/18: Washington DC, with the Secret Service. I hope to meet 🌻 pwheeler ~ love joy peace  , 🌖 HuntersMoon  and his wife, and hopefully Robert Waltz  , if he can get there from his home in Western Virginia.Week of 4/25: Los Angeles, Port Of Los Angeles to be exact. I will meet Annette  , maybe Jeff  , and if she's available, Schnujo's Giving Away GPs  .Week of 5/2: Commonwealth of Virginia, but the class will be held in Ft Lauderdale. Week of 5/9: Vacation! Week of 5/16: Schaumburg Week of 5/23: Teach from home, another night class since the customer is the US Air Force, the Yokota AFB in Japan. Week of 5/30: Meetings in Schaumburg, or online The week of 5/2 was the week that had my manager concerned. By that time, I would have been on my 10th week in a row, twice the number of consecutive weeks he wants us delivering. Again, I don't mind because in my eyes, I'm an instructor, so teaching is my job.  Yeah, it's going to be a busy year, my schedule remains very full. However, there may be a ray of hope on the horizon since we interviewed 6 people for 2 positions last week. We'll see who they hire, and how fast they can pick things up. Still, in the grand scheme of things, life is good, it's always good! In Closing That's about it for now, til next time, be good to yourselves and those you love, and WRITE!   Jim Dorrell |
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