What's New at Home

We are settled into our new home in Frisco, just North of Plano. We've been here less than a year after living in Georgetown just 14 months. We had the advantage of a little time before this move, so we did as much to the interior of the house before we moved. We've also finally finished the outside with a new patio and cover as well as extensive additions to the landscape. I'm not quite to maintenance mode, but the end is in sight. I am busier than ever. Work has been insane with too much time on the road for my health and wellbeing, but 'you have to make hay while the sun shines' as they say here in Texas. I am glad to be in demand.

The move North again was prompted by an opportunity to change lifestyles and get my travel under control. Those of you who know me know I've been teaching as an adjunct for almost two decades. I'm currently teaching in the Cyber Security program and love it. Thank God for distance learning and online classes or it wouldn't have been possible. Starting in 2016, I'll be teaching full time and consulting part time. It's an opportunity I was hoping would come along when I retired, and although I'm not retiring, I will be shifting gears and getting off the corporate merry-go-round (for the most part).

People

One change that has taken place with the move and move back was my getting more involved with a life-long interest - Amateur Radio. It's been on the back burner for many many years, but with the removal of the morse code requirement, I decided to go for the license and grab some more serious 'Ham Gear' and get on the air. I've only been at it for a few months but I've already started making contacts from places as far away as Asiatic Russia and South America with many places inbetween. Amateur radio operators tend to be a very friendly and supportive group and I'm looking forward to meeting new friends from around the world. It's also an opportunity to use my radio license to give back to the community through several volunteer programs I participate in.

Although my time at home has been very limited, I hope the career changes will give me even more opportunities to meet some nice neighbors and join a couple of the clubs here with my wife. More time to volunteer and enjoy my hobbies is benefit I'm expecting with this change.

Activities

Somewhere in between all the other activities, I still enjoy playing Mah Jongg occassionally with new friends and old. I've also managed to sneak in a card game or two as well. It's easy to see how spare time can become committed time in no time leading to no time.

I still enjoy the work I do. It's a hectic pace to maintain, but anything that keeps the wolves at bay is a good thing. Oh, did I mention playing pack leader with a furry attack girl? When I do manage to sit for a while (actually I sit a lot more in my work than is healthy), I frequently have a warm 'fur child' keeping me company.