There were many things that drew my interest to my current employer. I won’t go into all the reasons now but one is the opportunity to change assignments every few years. There was nothing more scary to think about in college than to graduate and get a job doing the same things for 30 years. If I didn’t want to do the same thing I’d have to go find another job and that, as we all know, is such a pleasant experience.
So I am here working for the man. It is good. The man is very understanding.
This week I started a new assignment. Doing something totally different than I have done in the past. In fact I had been doing essentially the same job for 10 years. Now it all changes. Maybe it’s the English in me but it is a little hard to change from what I have grown to know. The other half of me finds it very exciting to try something new.
So my first week happens to coincide with training for this new product. Today is the half way point of the training this week. That’s right 5 days of paid work to sit in a classroom and listen. Oh yeah and absorb some info.

So learning is a good thing. Moving on in the career is a good thing. Getting paid to do it all is even better.

Since 1998 I have visited Las Vegas more than a few times. I have stayed a casino hotels. I have passed on the pamphlets passed out on the street. I have wandered aimlessly on the strip. I stopped and wasted too much time in front of the Bellagio watching the water fountain show. Once I spent 4 days there attending Photoshop World. It was a great time. Since my first trip I have noticed many times on TV that the layout and other features of a casino have been pointed out. These things intrigue me tremendously.

• No windows.
• No clocks.
• Free drinks.
• The slots are in the back forcing everyone to pass everything else to get to them.

I had a supply chain class at the university that taught me that most business do similar things including the grocery stores.

But my quarrel is not with casinos or grocery stores. Tonight it is with Chuck E. Cheese or should I say, “The kids casino.” They have copied the successful features of casinos and made it kid friendly. I spent two hours there tonight and it was crazy. The game machines each had their allure to the boys. Blinking lights and buzzing bells. Free refills. Tickets for performing well. Tickets are redeemed for prizes. This all seems so familiar like a… hmmm, I don’t know…. a casino.
Note: I went as the only adult with two children.
Now you may be thinking, “What are you doing at Chuck E. Cheese on a school night?” It was a school fund raiser. Plus we missed going there last Saturday for a birthday party. Grant cried so Susan promised we would go for his birthday coming up next week. Now I know what you are thinking, “How convenient and easy!”
Yes, I agree.

Still waiting to hear back from Exxon. The person I sent my paperwork to is now back from vacation so I hope to hear a few more details this week.
One of the things I had to send it was proof of degree completion. This really means official transcripts. While filling out the paperwork for that I chose the option to “wait for degree.” The foot note said that could take up to 6 weeks after graduation. I have no way to check when that will take place and then I have I no way to check when they are actually sent. Or do I…?
I went back to the school system and ran a DARS (degree audit report system). This summarizes everything in one place. Credits, grades, gpa, remaining classes, classes taken…
This was at the top of the report:

I had to read that line again. “Student has a degree from ASU” Yes! That is what I am talking about!! Finally the school has recognized me as an official graduate.

Here is my final report card if you will. At the bottom it shows my GPA which is now my final GPA. It could have been better. I felt robbed in my international business class and I should have done better in my database class. Well anyway, I did so much better than high school.

University life is still somewhat interesting to me. Part of the reason is the stuff that goes on at college. I never had the true ‘experience’ but I like my what I am doing now.

So it is always entertaining when I hear comments from my fellow students about their lives and adventures of being away from home. The best comment I heard this week was:

"Tell me what I did. What did I say?"

I am not sure what context that was being asked but I like to think it was due to a few too many adult beverages.