After The Diploma

What happens after the diploma? I have memories of my 12 years of public education ending with graduation from Westbury High School in Houston, TX. I think I said something like,

“I am so glad this is over!”

Good attitude for someone who was about to start as a Freshman (FISH) at Texas A&M University in Collage Station, TX. I was ready for freedom from all the ‘restrictions’ of high school and freedom from living at home. I was a member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band. I had arrived.

And I fell in love with my soul mate. We got married. I left Texas A&M and joined the US Army to “Be All You Can Be”. That was in 1967.

Fast forward to 1978

After a 10 year span of serving in the US Army, I remember thinking that I really need to go back to college and get a degree in something. All the cool jobs required a degree. Off I went, in hot pursuit of my degree. For the next 5 years, I gave up everything for a college degree. My wife and kids stuck with me through this time even though I was an absent husband and dad. My focus was on ‘getting the degree’. Goal accomplished in 1983. I graduated from University of Houston  with a BSET (Bachelor of Science in Electronic Technology). Now I can go get one of those cool jobs. I went from one cool job to another. Moved my family from Houston, Texas to West Lebanon, New Hampshire, to Dayton, Ohio and back to Houston. Then one more move to Corpus Christ, TX for one more cool job – only to lose it like many others before.

Fast forward to 1995

After my last job loss, I did some major soul-searching. Eight months later, I had an Epiphany. God literally shook me and said,

Reflecting back on my life and education, I realized I had not applied any of my education to my life. So I did that.

Fast forward to 2011

I retired from my dream job. You could say I graduated – not from school, but from work, full of book learning and experiential learning. Now it was time to apply my experiences. It was time for me to transition from success to significance.

Fast forward to today

So what happens after the diploma? What happens when a student completes a course? Application happens. That’s right, application. The diagram below calls it Steady State Phase.

If we do not apply what we’ve learned, we lose what we learned. The Steady State Phase falls flat.

To my classmates from Blogging101, I encourage you to keep on keeping on. You may be behind on some of the assignments. Do not let that keep you from finishing what you started.

I wish I had learned that lesson way back in 1966.

Thanks for stopping by, y’all come back now.

Friday Photo

Today’s assignment: develop a regular feature for your blog. The idea is to have a post that is regularly scheduled. Developing a regular feature builds expectation from readers.

Photography is one of my hobbies. I love to take pictures, especially of places we visit. I am sure I can keep you entertained with a weekly photo feature.

I’ve already posted a couple of photos in response to the The Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge prompts Express Yourself and Serenity. I also posted a photo in response to the Blog Event assignment with a Weekly Pet Share.

Say hello to the 1st Friday Photo.

We lived in Corpus Christi, TX for 20+ years. I may not be a water person, but I did enjoy the view. This photo was taken at 6:49AM on 10/26/11 off Ocean Drive near Poenisch Park. It reminds me of Genesis 1:3.

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

Brand! Blavatar! What’s Next?

Today’s assignment: extend your brand with one of the following: a custom Blavatar, a custom image widget, or a Facebook fan page. When I read that, I felt like Charlie Brown.
I understand the need to extend my brand but just did not want to do the assignment. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense.Time to tackle this assignment.

What in the world is a Blavatar? A blavatar is an avatar for blogs. An avatar is an icon or image representing a particular person in computer applications such as blogs, forums or other social networks. Another term that you may see is Gravatar. This is a Globally Reconized Avatar. I decided to take that approach – for now.

We have a yard sign that is planted in front of our RV wherever we park.

I squared up the image and added the name WagginTailsRV on it. That is the name we picked before we retired. It represents the wagging tails of our fur babies as we travel along. I will be working on a better image that represents this theme. If you guys know a sketch artist or someone who could help with this, please let me know.

I want to have an image or a series of related images that will link this blog with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social networks.

One more assignment to go, I think I will finish this course. Thank you for following along with me and thanks for the support. I also appreciate the new bloggers who are following Tales From The WagginMaster.

A Blog Event

Our assignment today is to participate in a blog event of my choosing.

A Blog Event is an event sponsored by another blogger. Just like WordPress provides a variety of blog prompts such as Weekly Photo Challenge or Daily Prompt, individual bloggers sponsor and manage blog events to help promote blogging and to build topical communities.

Searching through lots of blog events I found one that is interesting to me – Pets.

This weekly pet share is dedicated to Cody, my 10 y.o. Golden Retriever. Cody shares the floor of or motor home with MeiLing, our 3 y.o. Chinese Crested. (She will be the target of next week’s Pet Share. Floor space is limited in the RV, but that does not stop Cody from doing what he does best – napping.

Cody has gathered his favorite chew bone and commandeered MeiLing’s bed for his afternoon nap. He does not mind that he is in an extra small bed.

Thanks for stopping by, y’all come back now.

What Did You Do Today?

Before we starting full-time RVing, our youngest daughter Laura, and oldest grandson Gage, lived with us. We would have the conversations around the dinner table in the evening that started with the question, “Gage, what did you do today?”. Gage would answer then ask someone else the same question. It made for interesting table conversation and it certainly was a good relationship builder.

While we no longer have these dinner table conversations, I can still have an imaginary conversation with Gage. G’Mee is Gage’s grandmother, my wife – Carol.

January 13, 2013

Gage: “What did you do today, Papa?”

Me: “Well Gage, I broke the washing machine!”

Gage: “Broke it?, What happened?”

Me: “Sometimes the computer in the washing machine gets stuck and it does not work correctly. When that happens, it makes this clicking sounds. I tried to reset it with the direction G’Mee told me. I thought it was OK so I tried to open the front door. When I did, the handle broke off.”

Gage: “WOW, Papa! That’s not good. G’Mee is going to be mad!”

Me: “Yes, I know. But I can fix it.”

Gage: “Before she gets home?”

Me: “No. I will have to order the part. Then I can fix it.”

Gage: “G’Mee is going to put you in time out.”

Me: “I hope not. I am sure everything will be OK as long as I can fix it.”

Gage: “OK, let me know what happens.”

January 27, 2015

Gage: “Papa, what did you do today?”

Me: “Remember when I told you I broke the washing machine and that I could fix it after order the part?”

Gage: “Yeah, did you get the part?”

Me: “Yes I did and I fixed the washing machine. See!”

Gage: “WOW, that’s pretty cool Papa! I bet G’Mee is going to be happy now.”

Me: “She is. In fact she is washing clothes now.”

Gage: “Cool! Papa, how much did the part cost?”

Me: “Fifty-two dollars.

Gage: “What? It must be made of gold or something.”

Me: “Nope, just plastic.”

Gage: “Oh Papa, G’Mee is going to be mad at you for spending all that money on something made of plastic!”

Me: “I don’t think so. Remember, I fixed the washing machine. That will make her happy.”

Gage: “I’m glad you fixed it Papa. I love you, man!”

Me: “I love you too.”

Thanks for the conversation, Gage. I miss you, man!

By the way, the manufacture included this label with the new handle. I wonder if I should put it on the washing machine?

Thanks for stopping by, y’all come back now.