There’s something uplifting about celebrating one’s achievements with those who are closest to us no matter what stage of life we happen to be passing through. If we’re moving through a formal education, it can be recognition that’s preparatory for future goals & achievements; part of leadership development. If we’re more advanced in experience, it can be a celebration of relationships and high points before moving on from one objective to another.

I had the previlege of attending two such ceremonies last night. The first consisted of seeing a leader of 22 years with our company commemorate milestones before moving towards the realization of dreams after what I’m sure would be considered an already fullfilling career.

The second was watching a maturing leader – one of whose development I am intimately engaged - receive well-earned recognition before moving on towards many future successes.

There was no graduation ceremony for getting promoted from Elementary School to Middle School when people my age were in school. It was just something that happened to everyone who passed onto the next grade level. But for a certain individual “pulling a hat trick” - Academic Honors; Citizenship Award as voted by peers; and The President’s Education Award – at this event most certainly foreshadows a lifetime of positive experiences and we couldn’t be prouder or happier for him.

Nothing Succeeds Like Success:

Hi, I know that I have been gone for awhile and so thought that I would document my excuses for being gone so long.  I see that John has been busy giving everyone something to watch.  Now go out and do something!

I have spent the last several months working at work, a novel concept. 

I work at a power plant where the newest unit was built in 1959.  It seems strange to work on something that is almost as old as I am especially considering that it is in better shape.

Both of the coal fired units were taken off line for maintenance.  We did them one at a time to avoid turning out the lights.  Since I am the only I & C technician working here I got to learn a lot about the units.  I have been working at these plants for a little under a year so the outage was a real learning experience for me.  I now know what  to avoid.

During the outage I worked ten hours a day seven days a week.  Then I had an hour plus commute each way.  That left only enough time to band aid any emergencies that came by at home.  It’s a good thing that I have several cars available to drive since I now have several partly broken ones that are cluttering up the side yard.

Becky and I did find time to buy her a “new to us” car.  It is a ’07 Dodge Magnum R/T.  I keep telling people that we bought grandma a used station wagon.

After the outage I got to deal with all of the things at home that didn’t get done while I was away.  At some point I will either be done or dead.  I’m hoping that the ’51 gets some work progress, too.

Enough belly aching.  Here are a few pictures that I took at the plant. 

At one time Canon City had electric trolley cars that used 30 cycle power.  This building was used to distribute and control that power. Continue Reading »