I have worked for the same Government Agency for 38 years now and have taken thousands of hours of in house training. This past month or so they have been working through my training and have determined that much of it is no longer valid because of changes in how we do business and changes in the laws that allow us to operate. This is really funny because I am currently the only one around here with the authority to do some things and this is because of my no longer valid training----sooooo----I'm off to see the WIZARD----
For the next two weeks I am off to training then home for a week where I will have training for two of the five days that week then off the next week for three days of training and then off the next week for four days of training. It has been many years since I had six weeks tied up in training.
This is really going to be funny to be at these training sessions because I have probably done more of this kind of work than the teachers of the classes will have done---well it sure will be fun to act STOOPID!
Thursday, March 6, 2008
TORN
I was going to blog last night and got everything set up and ready to go when the Jazz game came on the tube---I sat down at the computer and read my e-mail then turned it off and watched the game---not even a good game but the JAZZ won!!!
I went to a training session yesterday where people were being trained to do fuel reduction and wildlife habitat improvement. I got to go because in the last six years we have done 38,000+++ acres of this. It was fun to talk about the machinery we have been using and see it going to other places for the same use.
I don't take any credit for anything that happened here but my Wildlife Biologist has got every honor and award that is out there for his work and breaking new ground---it was a good day. The food was even good.
I went to a training session yesterday where people were being trained to do fuel reduction and wildlife habitat improvement. I got to go because in the last six years we have done 38,000+++ acres of this. It was fun to talk about the machinery we have been using and see it going to other places for the same use.
I don't take any credit for anything that happened here but my Wildlife Biologist has got every honor and award that is out there for his work and breaking new ground---it was a good day. The food was even good.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
BORING---BORING---BORING
I have a way boring life---I go to work---I come home---I eat---I watch 3 episodes of Desparate Housewives (oh wait I can't do that anymore---I finished all the episodes last night)---I go to sleep---I wake up at 1:30 am and look at the clock---I roll back over and go back to sleep---I wake up at 4:00 am and look at the clock---I roll back over and toss and turn until around 6:00 am at which time I am hurting so bad I get up and go to work. It is the same day after day. DAY. AFTER.DAY.
It is so amazing to me that as I get older it gets tougher for me to sleep---what's that all about????? We no longer have any kids in the house so you'd think with no noise sleeping would be a breeze.
By the time I get out of bed every morning I can tell you everywhere I was injured when I was younger---yup---every single bruise, twisted joint, or simply where I got shook up on a Bull or a horse.
It really is true---"IF I'D A KNOWN I WAS GOING TO LIVE THIS LONG I WOULD HAVE TAKEN BETTER CARE OF MYSELF!!!!"
It is so amazing to me that as I get older it gets tougher for me to sleep---what's that all about????? We no longer have any kids in the house so you'd think with no noise sleeping would be a breeze.
By the time I get out of bed every morning I can tell you everywhere I was injured when I was younger---yup---every single bruise, twisted joint, or simply where I got shook up on a Bull or a horse.
It really is true---"IF I'D A KNOWN I WAS GOING TO LIVE THIS LONG I WOULD HAVE TAKEN BETTER CARE OF MYSELF!!!!"
WHOSE TAXES
Well I've spent the better part of Saturday and Sunday doing the Income Tax calculations for my two youngest daughters. I used Turbotax on line and it is a great system provided your internet provider doesn't kick you off line every fifteen minutes for two days. Irritating.YES!! VERY!!!
Now that I have them in the envelopes waiting for my daughters to sign them I feel pretty good about having them done. Then I think "Why should I be the one that has to spend all this time doing taxes?" And the answer is simple and it's the same every single time---"'cause you're the dad, that's why."
So all you dads out there who have been happy getting through tax time on your own---your kids are getting bigger and soon you can be the dad that does the taxes---"'cause you're the dad that's why!"
About 27 years ago I started to use H&R Block to do my taxes---they have always been good to get them done and they have always been able to get me returns that are bigger by far than what I pay them to do my calculations. In an audit situation with the IRS they are (and have been several times) there to defend my calculations and in case of any other problems they are there to help answer the questions. OK those services cost a little money---the services I provided for my daughters cost nothing---BUT---when it comes to an audit or answering questions about what is what they are on their OWN. It would behoove them to get the tax book and go through the figures that have been sent forward because I DO NOT PLAN TO ATTEND HEARINGS OR DEFEND ANYTHING TO DO WITH THEIR TAXES!!!
Good. luck. Girls.
Now that I have them in the envelopes waiting for my daughters to sign them I feel pretty good about having them done. Then I think "Why should I be the one that has to spend all this time doing taxes?" And the answer is simple and it's the same every single time---"'cause you're the dad, that's why."
So all you dads out there who have been happy getting through tax time on your own---your kids are getting bigger and soon you can be the dad that does the taxes---"'cause you're the dad that's why!"
About 27 years ago I started to use H&R Block to do my taxes---they have always been good to get them done and they have always been able to get me returns that are bigger by far than what I pay them to do my calculations. In an audit situation with the IRS they are (and have been several times) there to defend my calculations and in case of any other problems they are there to help answer the questions. OK those services cost a little money---the services I provided for my daughters cost nothing---BUT---when it comes to an audit or answering questions about what is what they are on their OWN. It would behoove them to get the tax book and go through the figures that have been sent forward because I DO NOT PLAN TO ATTEND HEARINGS OR DEFEND ANYTHING TO DO WITH THEIR TAXES!!!
Good. luck. Girls.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
WHATTA LOSS
I talked to our friend that lost his wife last Thursday this afternoon. He is in a quandry regarding what happened and what he is going to do with the rest of his life. He says he is numb and doesn't have a clue where he is going.
He is moving his brother to a new job in Wyoming today and is very happy for the chance to get away from everything and just drive and think. We talked about a lot of good times we had together at the Gorge and reminisced about the work we did there. It was nice to talk to him but I sure do feel bad for him. He is in for a pretty rough ride the next few weeks while he decides what he is going to do with this part of the rest of his life.
Nobody ever said it would be easy---as I look at this I have it pretty good even though I feel like things have gone to hell in a hand basket---I ain't smilin' but I am countin' my blessings. I love all ya all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He is moving his brother to a new job in Wyoming today and is very happy for the chance to get away from everything and just drive and think. We talked about a lot of good times we had together at the Gorge and reminisced about the work we did there. It was nice to talk to him but I sure do feel bad for him. He is in for a pretty rough ride the next few weeks while he decides what he is going to do with this part of the rest of his life.
Nobody ever said it would be easy---as I look at this I have it pretty good even though I feel like things have gone to hell in a hand basket---I ain't smilin' but I am countin' my blessings. I love all ya all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Whatta Crock
Spent about half of yesterday driving to a town south of us on slick icy roads to meet with DCFS, meeting with six people representing four agencies telling us how great they are, and driving home.
No one---nope not one gave us any room to hope for getting the kids in the near future---six to eight weeks is the best guess---my guess at this point in time is if we are really, really lucky we will get them for summer vacation unless our kids get them back before that. Some decisions will be made near the end of April in court---I really struggle with this system of help---guess time will tell how resilient the kids really are.
It is super tough for me to hold my tongue and just watch all this crap go on---it really is a CROCK.
If I had to pick a single governmental entity that oversteps its bounds on every turn it would be DCFS---nothing I can do about that but I sure don't think they are doing the best for the kids---no matter what they think---but---my opinion does not matter one whit!!!! And to top it all off they don't have enough guts to talk one on one about it!!!!
No one---nope not one gave us any room to hope for getting the kids in the near future---six to eight weeks is the best guess---my guess at this point in time is if we are really, really lucky we will get them for summer vacation unless our kids get them back before that. Some decisions will be made near the end of April in court---I really struggle with this system of help---guess time will tell how resilient the kids really are.
It is super tough for me to hold my tongue and just watch all this crap go on---it really is a CROCK.
If I had to pick a single governmental entity that oversteps its bounds on every turn it would be DCFS---nothing I can do about that but I sure don't think they are doing the best for the kids---no matter what they think---but---my opinion does not matter one whit!!!! And to top it all off they don't have enough guts to talk one on one about it!!!!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Gone but not forgotten
I have been reading the blogs regarding the passing of one of my friends. She was an interpretive specialist at Flaming Gorge when I knew her. She was married to a guy I really liked and I was tickled when he settled into being a fire guy---I have talked to him about that several times and he always says "I can't believe I finally have the job I have always wanted." He earned it and deserves it.
They had two boys at home that ran around with our kids. They were great friends and drew each other into many adventures that most kids never have. They swam to the island out from the dam for bonfires (in ice cold water that was abouyt 500 feet deep), climbed the arch bridge across Cart Creek (just to show the cops they could), hung off the railing of the dam and took pictures (you can't even get there since 9/11), climbed out on the cliffs above the Green River and took pictures (the best is of the diving board), and dove off the cliffs around the reservoir. When I think about what they did I am amazed that we didn't have a funeral for one of them.
It has been almost 20 years since folks moved on from there but it seems like only yesterday. We have remained friends and have kept in touch through all that time. There is a hole in my heart from her passing. I hope her family copes. We will all miss her.
They had two boys at home that ran around with our kids. They were great friends and drew each other into many adventures that most kids never have. They swam to the island out from the dam for bonfires (in ice cold water that was abouyt 500 feet deep), climbed the arch bridge across Cart Creek (just to show the cops they could), hung off the railing of the dam and took pictures (you can't even get there since 9/11), climbed out on the cliffs above the Green River and took pictures (the best is of the diving board), and dove off the cliffs around the reservoir. When I think about what they did I am amazed that we didn't have a funeral for one of them.
It has been almost 20 years since folks moved on from there but it seems like only yesterday. We have remained friends and have kept in touch through all that time. There is a hole in my heart from her passing. I hope her family copes. We will all miss her.
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