I passed!
Some of the information I’ve learned just as a hobby actually stayed in this withered cortex! Classes begin in July!
Now I have to update all of my old school information.
It’s been 20 years. I’ll have to retake the ACT. Ho’boy.
Stay safe out there, folks. Life’s about to be very busy, but this time it won’t just be “I’m delivering the mail”.
-JB Swift
8 hours. 4 acres. One riding mower with a slippery belt.
How am I this exhausted? I’ve spent years walking dozens of miles in heat like this, but all day on a riding mower wore me out.
And I forgot sun screen, and I haven’t been out in the environment in a while. My arms are burned, again.
But my father was correct: damn but it feels good to see all of that acreage cleaned up.
The ditch out there is going to be an absolute nightmare. Ugh.
Stay safe out there, folks.
Seriously. The snakes are out in force this summer.
-JB Swift
Mein Sohn. Mo buachaill.
Welcome to 6. You’re well on your way to being your own person.
For the love of God, be better than me. Love you more than you’ll ever know.
Stay safe out there, folks.
-JB Swift
I went to a double class for Kung Fu training to get extra practice and help teach a few of the younger students. During the downtime between classes, one of the students asked Sifu what he knew about ‘lightsaber combat’.
“I’m learning about those forms, but I think we have someone here who can host a seminar on the subject.”
He then turned to face me, the question obvious in his expression.
Now, he’s not wrong. I’ve read a lot about the various forms of lightsaber combat, and I’ve even practiced forms developed from fight choreographers.
But can I teach?
…well, I can’t say I don’t want to try.
Guess I have something else to look into, on top of the other things I’m looking into, now that I have the time and chance to do so.
Stay safe out there, folks. Lots are happening!
-JB Swift
I’ve sent off the application for LSU’s Cyber Bootcamp!
After over a decade of looking at news articles, learning bits and pieces of the trade to satisfy curiosity, I’ve finally taken the step towards learning cybersecurity professionally and moving to the next stage in life.
Yes, that is terrifying. And exciting?
Who knows, maybe this old dog can learn a new trick. Dad Law requires me to use the bad joke, and I make no apologies.
While I wait for the assessment (which took an hour to complete and reminded me that I’m not in the 90’s anymore; I was writing the math problems out on notecards when I remembered that I had a calculator), I’m going to wrestle with a different problem: the BMF for the “William the Pecostian” story.
I wasn’t expecting this rewrite to grow into a real novel, but I’m here and now I have this struggle to deal with. There are at least two more dramatic scenes before the story’s climax, but where I am currently could call for either a downtime scene with the protagonists, or a short cutaway to the antagonists to heighten the tension. In other words, I’ve reached the Big ‘Furry’ Middle.
The kids have been reading these over my shoulder; I’m moderating my language while they’re in the room.
I’m not sure yet which choice will be the better one, and I might write out both to compare them. That means I’m also fighting off the procrastination that’s tempting me to look at other things, even if they’re things I want to work on.
I’ll be calling out for beta readers to look it over. In the meantime, there’s a Kung Fu class for the evening and a long chat with Sifu over something he wants me to look into.
Stay safe out there, folks.
-JB Swift
Han: “Dad, how did you put yourself into Fallout?”
…I’m not sure if I should be complimented or not. I’m not that scruffy!
… though the kid has a point.
Stay safe out there, folks.
We’ve reached the point of the grievance process where it will sit in a “No Man’s Land” between the Union and Management: Step A. When this occurs, Union leadership sends the evidence up the chain of command so Management cannot squirm out of the decision-making process on whether or not I still have a job.
Technically, I’ll still be Career, but I’ll be sitting in Limbo until they finally stop being stubborn. My experience tells me that this is how they get around the higher-level charges being set against them: they wait out the grievance. I’ve one coworker who’s been at this stage for nearly two years…
I can’t sit on my laurels and wait that long. I’m no longer involved in the grievance, so I’m left to my own devices. That left me with many late-nights pondering (despairing) on what to do.
But I have a lot stashed away, financially, so the family will be fed. It might get tight occasionally, but we have breathing room for me to decide on something:
“Should I go back to school and try a new stage in my life?”
I’ve applied for a course on Cybersecurity. It’s something that I’ve had an interest in for years, but when I started in the Post Office, it was a highly-restricted field. Now that it’s been made more available, I can finally learn and work in a new field.
So, there it is. I’m going back to school. Only took twenty years…
Going to be some late nights spent studying and handling homework. I have an assessment to take in a couple of days, but I’ll let you know how it goes. For now, it’s chores and budgeting.
Stay safe out there, folks.
-JB Swift
My RPG players remain cooler than yours.
Though if they keep this up, I’m going to look into setting up a shop somewhere on here.
Just a quick post for today! Going to set myself up for a writing sprint this evening!
Stay safe out there, folks!
-JB Swift
Happy Father’s Day to my US American readers.
I’d wax rhapsodic about the significance of the holiday, but I think I have something better to show you.
Haven’t had a good burrito in months. It’s going to be a good day.
Stay safe out there, folks.
-JB Swift
Well folks, I tried. I tried to keep up the pizza delivery work as a possible alternative to staying at home while the grievance process went through, but the pay wasn’t enough to make it worthwhile.
Having the kids cry and seeing the worried expression on my wife’s face at my leaving for a night shift, after getting used to me being around them so recently, was a factor, I’ll admit. But economics and quality of life were the driving influences in that choice.
It was costing more in fuel and planned maintenance for the vehicle than what I could make at the best possible chances in a week’s worth of shifts. In effect, I was losing money by working that job again. Coming home to a darkened house every night, knowing my family hadn’t had me around when I was so near, and missing out on the routines we had made over the years, was driving me back into a depression from which I had just managed to get free so recently.
I turned in my cap and shirt. I’ll still be on payroll if we ever get desperate, but I’ll turn my attention to something else. Something I know I’ve wanted to learn and work at (but never had the chance to further my education, thanks to the career), and would challenge me.
I’ll write about it once I’ve confirmed my choice.
In any event, it’s time for an event! A gaming session! First one in nearly a month!
Good Lord, I’ve needed one.
Stay safe out there, folks!
-JB Swift
Swift's Corner 