Tizeye

Other than the fire drills at school and work, can't say that I have ever evacuated. I'm tough, I can take it! Hurricanes...where is your sense of adventure. They are so everyday. Earthquake? Woke up one morning to pool trap tapping noise. Looked out the window and water in the pool and the water was swishing back and forth with waves pushing over the top edge...and I slept through an earthquake! Granted, it was in California, and I was in Arizona, but still felt it.

I loved the Air Force and intended to stay 20. Unfortunately, with more Captains than the sum total of all other officer ranks, it is the personnel crunch point for the military to manage retirement. Promote to Major and guaranteed 20 years (assuming you don't screw up), not promoted from Captain to Major, involuntary honorable discharge with severance. I hit the Major board at a bad time with an overall reduction in force in place, and normal selection rate of 80% dropped the 65%. Also, receiving severance prohibited backdoor to retirement through the Reserves or switching to a different branch of the military. Ironically, with my specialty had one possible alternative switching to a commissioned position with the National Public Health Service, but that essentially meant providing services on remote Indian Reservations and wasn't going to subject my family to that. The irony is that wouldn't have gotten out at 20 years. Being the first entry class of the new fiscal year, my 20 year anniversary was October 4, 2001...three weeks after 9/11. All retirements were cancelled, so would probably look at the 25 year mark. There was one other possible avenue to Major...and would have loved to see the look on the Coronel's face as the first Social Worker ever to receive a Presidential override (Selection committee report not official until POTUS signs it, or overrides with strike through certain names). I was pissed at not selected and when my uncle asked me if I would like for him to have a word with the President, I said "No." Now wonder what would have happened if I had said "Yes." While he was quiet about what he did (probably classified) and flipped between the State Department and DoD, officially, he had the position of Under Secretary and head of all foreign and domestic property leases - Embassy, military, etc He personally briefed the POTUS (five of them) biweekly on conditions, risks, etc. He was so quiet that at one point he has taken hostage in the Middle East and wouldn't talk about the experience even to his wife other than a 45 held to his head and not knowing is that was going to be his last breath. In retrospect, I strongly suspect I would have received a Presidential override if I had given him permission to proceed. One of those life events that you now say "what if." 8 years, 9 months and 22 days. It is not that I was counting. A very important document - even today - is the DD214 which is a summary of your entire military history - including the number of years, months and days between entry and discharge.

When people insist on seeing my photo ID, I ask them is they are sure it in not my evil twin brother. Caution them that he is pure evil and want to keep away from him. Of course, I don't have a twin brother, but it makes a good line that they were not anticipating.

The short version: Lawn maintenance (Business partnership age 14-16) Grocery Store bag/stock Mental Health technician Department Store clerk x2 Freelance Photography and taught darkroom technique The Orkin Man Juvenile Probation Officer Policy Analyst in the Florida Legislature Fundraiser - American Heart Association Family Advocacy Representative - Dept of the Navy (civilian) (Licensed Professional) Family Advocacy Officer - Dept of the Air Force (active duty) (Licensed Professional) Stock Broker (Licensed Professional) Car Sales, and forgot in the above Financial trading software sales and seminars Realtor (Licensed Professional) Photographer Author

Pooled assets with friend who had a truck and yard mowing business. First official punch a timeclock job was bag/stockboy at Kwik Chek (Winn Dixie) which left for inpatient mental health (joke in there somewhere what Winn Dixie did to us) as a psych tech. During college, department store sales, initially camera/electronics, later shoes. Still remember the interview..."What do you know about cameras?" "Well, I have my own darkroom." "You're hired". Short stint as The Orkin Man. Juvenile Probation Officer before returning for Masters Degree. Internship and subsequent employment - policy analyst in the Florida Legislature staff on the House Committee for Health and Rehabilitative Services (one of my favorite jobs). Ironically, my staff director later was elected to the Legislature, and a co-worker who stayed in the system bouncing between House and Senate positions progressed to the most powerful non-elected position as Clerk of the House of Representatives. It was interesting going back to visit both of them as took daughter to college. Left as wife was pregnant with first child and needed something more stable that "Service at the pleasure of the Speaker of the House" and President Carter nominated the Florida House Speaker to a federal sub-cabinet position. Short stint as fund raiser with the American Heart Association for N Florida when got a letter from the Dept of the Navy, joking that the Navy recruiter wanted me until noted Civilian Personnel Office in the return address. Drove to Camp Lejeune, after the interview they asked me to sit in the hallway, had a little pow wow, came out and asked how soon could I start. Myself and my counterpart, Kate at Camp Pendelton, staffed the pilot project creating the Navy's Family Advocacy Program dealing with child abuse and neglect, spouse abuse, and in the Navy, rape intervention. It was successful and the created the active duty commissioned officer, and the selection committee called me from Bethesda "Where is your application?" I jumped ship and went active duty Air Force with similar and broader experience. The Navy's was located in the Pediatric Dept, where both Army and Air Force were in the Mental Health Dept where also provided general mental health counseling and alcohol abuse treatment - at one point Deputy Dir of an inpatient Alcohol Treatment Program. There was no drug rehab program as it was known as the civilian re-orientation program while they awaited their less than honorable discharge...but alcohol was different. After 8 years, 9 months and 22 days in the Air Force initially had a short stint with the VA but was just too burned out from the toll counseling takes, so major career change. Became a Stockbroker, initially with Merrill Lynch, then Charles Schwab where progressed through broad areas ranging from investment sales to back office operations. When laid off at Schwab...just shy of getting Certified Financial Planner (required letter from supervisor that doing financial planning to sit for the test...and I was unemployed) tried using the insurance and security license but most places, including banks, want you to have a book of business (customers) that you will bring to them. As a hold over, worked for a couple of years at Lexus of Orlando and saw all these Realtors coming in buying their Lexus. Both my mother and sister were Realtors in a distant city so decided to get my license and became a Realtor, and technically, still am as keep my licensed active ($60 every two years to State) but parked as "referral only" (avoids monthly Association, MLS, and office fees) at Caldwell Banker, but may revert it back to full if decide to sell my house - and switch to a 100% no commission cut flat fee Broker such as Charles Rutenberg. When first started as a Realtor, the other Realtors in the office saw my listing photos and remarked "Larry, you should turn pro" so I created Larry Gray Photography LLC. The irony is, now that I am retired, I tell people that I am self employed - photographer and Realtor. And then there is author, writing a book during the COVID year, but that will never happen again as discovered how publishers rip authors off. I make far more selling photos.

It wasn’t the filing the taxes online, early or at the last minute, it was the message back “Accepted by IRS.” Last year was not the case and didn’t know was rejected until one day late. Reason given was that last year’s AGI didn’t match. Reviewed and confirmed didn’t have a typo on the AGI and the filing was correct. Essentially, the problem was on the IRS side - but they never make a mistake. Ended up mailing the return, postmarked a day late. Didn’t have a penalty percentage of taxes owed because when you multiply the percentage by zero, it is still zero. Was glad to see they corrected their records with the mailed in return, as this year the prior year AGI matched and the return was accepted.

My wife objects if I go parking anymore. She knows what happens.

While neither resort or mountainous, I have two out of three across the street. Put my canoe in the lake if calm as any breeze impacts a solo occupied canoe. Also, take a dip in the pool, relax in the deck chairs and overview of the lake with the advantage to see if anyone is over there from my house before heading to the pool. Ocean? An hour away. Took the grandkids there last week and watch a rocket launch - the last Delta Heavy, ending an era. Was quite windy with rough surf but positioned umbrella as windbreak and I actually dosed off which never happens at the beach. The parents watched the grandkids.

Just go to Acadamy Sports. They have a whole wall of Yeti right next to the Stanley Cups.

If you want an unobstructed view of the northern lights, forget Finland and go to the Arctic Circle. Don’t know about lodging, but need to make some compromises. Still determined to go to Finland? If you have Apple TV+, the Reluctant Traveler, Season 1, Episode 1 is Finland. Great source to develop your must do list while there.

I look in the fridge, only to realize the ice cream in in the freezer.

I miss getting a paycheck from my old job. Seems like they should just keep coming when nobody works anyway.

HQ in Phoenix and probably equally "American Made" as Trek. Parts, obviously are international sourced and I don't think an electric motor is even made in the USA with Bafang and Borsch being the major providers. Not certain what they use. They are designed, assembled, supported and distributed from their Phoenix HQ rather than an Ali Baba import and rebranding. The low price without the markup capability does keep them out of LBS, but that seems to be changing as they grow. As I earlier stated "utility", with the low price and hauling capability, something like this should be the go to alternative for those 1 to 2 mile drives to the grocery store for a 6 pack and munchies. Company history from their "About" page. About Us – Lectric eBikes A YouTuber touring the HQ/Factory. Love the conference room table, but is appropriate with their vision that set the bike standard.

After my hospitalization, currently on blood thinners so riding any bike other than a stationary bike is a high risk activity. Intrigued by ebikes, but any bike is out right now and for the next few months. And I just bought so street treads for my hardtail. While I have looked at converted road, gravel and mountain ebikes, with some quite stealth adaption of the original, I prefer the original. For ebikes, I think much more utilitarian. Lectric has a good reputation and US made (or at least assembled) rather than direct foreign imports. I see several neighbors tooling around the neighborhood on them and everybody I have talked to has been pleased. At $799 (entry, two level assist) and $999 (original, three level assist, and better components) the price is killer. THey are heavy...but great utility.

Both sets of kid and grandchildren left - one today, the other tomorrow. Clean house and return life back to normal!

The “Eyesore on I4” also known as the Majesty Building. Many of you may have even it towering near the Altamonte Springs exit. The owners, a Christian radio broadcasting company, began construction in 2001 and still not completed. At least now it looks complete rather than a skeleton, but not occupied by either them or rented space to other businesses as planned. Worst case of financial management ever! Funded by contributions collected through broadcast appeals only. It has cost them more with inflating construction costs over two decades. If the had done traditional construction loan mortgage, it would have been finished, occupied, and tenant revenue more than paying it off, and even accelerated with “donation appeals” to their listeners. Still wouldn’t offset the eyesore design though.

You run out of posts when you reach the end of the Internet.

But that is what genetic engineering is for! Why do you think brown cows don’t make chocolate milk? Engineered that trait away because somebody thought milk should be white. 😡

It is better than green water.

Currently trying our luck.

My grandson would say blasphemy! But he would eat separately.

Probably save for afternoon coffee. Focus was on the 6 regular glazed with the "Hot" sign illuminated this AM. Grandson had never had Krispie Kreme so had to have that experience. His dad remained behind and had always wanted to try them when visiting...so we sent him a picture.

Haven’t experienced it yet…but pending.

I have wondered for years...why is Baltimore even a harbor other than as established during colonial times. With the advances in transportation, seems like NewPort News or Norfolk are far more logical. It became apparent as I watched my Mini come across the Atlantic with port calls in Canada and NYC before reaching my destination port of Brunswick. The immediate port prior was Baltimore. Upon entering the Potomac, it took a full friggin 24 hours for it to cruise to Baltimore, dock and unload, then another 24 hours to leave and re-enter the Atlantic. Seems like the height of inefficiency that trains should have killed decades ago.

The signature on my original SS card issued in 9th grade is "quaint" early script. As I entered college, working a 3-11 shift at the hospital and little to do in evening after visiting hours, looking at and reading doctor's handwriting and signatures..."Dang, I need something unique." Finally developed something unique where the beginning "L" in first name looks like a backwards script "T" and the "Y" last letter of last name aggressively circled the entire signature to finish it off. Over time, also went through variations. One was first letter of First and Middle name with full last name, and while I dropped that, a variation is used where required to initial a form, keeping in script form rather than printing the 3 first letters, and even the period following the middle initial. For actual signature, experimented signing with nickname that I typically answer to, but in print, sudden dyslexia as people switch two letters in my last name causing front and last to rhyme with two common first names. While am still called by my nickname as the common greeting, signature in now the formal given first name, Lawrence rather than Larry.