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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 too 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 |
Visiting The VA Clinic I know we've all done things in our lives that seem silly now that we're older. I think I read the pack in that regard. This is what I didn't do, 32 years ago. I did not visit the local VA Office in Bremerton Washington to get myself registered. Is that the correct term, registering with the VA? Either way, I didn't register. My reasoning? Well, I didn't look beyond the end of my nose because I said (to myself), "I'm healthy, there's nothing wrong with me, so why should I register?" Y'see, the Navy did not provide any guidance or recommendations when I retired, or if they did, I ignored them. Shame on me! So today, I visited the local VA Office. I'm not encouraged by that visit. My health issues are various and many. The problem is, providing proof that any health issue I have is Service Related. About the only thing that may be proven to be service related is this Multiple Myeloma. I read (Somewhere on the Internet, so it must be true, right?) that exposure to Radiation (My lifetime dose is a bit more than 2 REM) can cause this type of Cancer. The rest of my ailments? Good luck. Even my hearing loss may be hard to prove. My advice to any Veteran, is to register with the VA ASAP after retirement or discharge. This way every single ailment, no matter how insignificant it may seem, can be documented. Good luck and God Speed to you all. |
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I'd order it now, but I don't want to chance having it delivered while we're gone, so I'll wait. I did bookmark the page so I can get to it easily. Cross your fingers everyone!