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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: 10/30/23 Well, it's been a bit of a tough patch for me these past few weeks. I delivered a Networking Class in Schaumburg, and while I thought it went 'okay' (I still have a bit to learn about our new Juniper Router), some of the students did not agree with my assessment. Oh well, you can't please everyone all the time. I need to hitch up my big boy pants and continue learning/teaching. I went to Brentwood Tennessee the week of 10/23 and delivered two classes there. Those both went well, I would have been very shocked if they hadn't. Brentwood is a nice area, a bit upscale and not a place I'd live. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice area with beautiful houses. It's just not an area I'd be comfortable in. Why? Because I've never lived in an area like that and I'd feel out of place. Yes, I could adjust, but I like my current situation and feel living in that kind of neighborhood would be living a lie so-to-speak. I was in Schaumburg again last week for a class with one of our new instructors sitting in. I'll have another new instructor sitting in next week too. I'm happy about that because that means we have new people qualifying courses, which will take some of the load off us. Teaching and traveling as much as I do is not hard, then again, it's very tough. The wear and tear, the constant changing of time zones can get to you after a while. It's gotten to me at times. In many ways, I'm looking forward to being in Los Angeles again. I'm only there for three days the week before, and the week after Thanksgiving. I'll be staying at the Doubletree by Hilton in Downtown LA, a block and a half from the training site. This is the same hotel I stayed in for my first field class in February 2002. Back then it was called the New Otani Hotel. As usual, my schedule has changed due to customers canceling classes. Our field classes are scheduled with the assistance of a Project Manager. Often times the classes are scheduled far too early, or far too late. It's a rare occasion when a class is scheduled at the appropriate time. Is it the Project Managers fault? In some ways, yes. In some ways no, because dates slip due to delays in system installation. Below is my current schedule through the end of the year. I don't see this changing too much either. 11/6: Schaumburg 11/13: Los Angeles with LAPD 11/20: Home - Thanksgiving week 11/27: Los Angeles with LAPD 12/4: Fort Lauderdale 12/11: No idea, right now I'm on hold for a class in Maryland 12/18: Christmas Break 12/25: Christmas Break 1/1/24: Kansas (Thursday/Friday) 1/8/24: Fort Lauderdale Well, that's about it for an update, at least for now. Until my next post, be good to those you love, spoil them, and write!   Jim Dorrell |
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