I am, by no means, some epic success story.

Had a great childhood, lots of advantages, and I’m hardly some Titan of industry - if anything I feel like I’ve done very little given all my advantages…

But I passed a hot crew truck, while riding to the airport - I smelled the tar pot before I saw it, and…. I don’t know. I’m sure there is a German word for it.

I felt an odd sense of gratitude for my father putting me on that hot crew as a teenage boy, mixed with a sense of progress? that I am not still working one.

Question:
Not sure why I’m have to ask a question but since I do…

Choices:
Gravy on mashed potatoes
Gravy in the side
Gravy on mashed potatoes and Turkey
Cranberry sauce on dry turkey

 

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Aglifter,

Choice D. All of the above. With extra gravy over the top.

quote:

Not sure why I’m have to ask a question but since I do…

Because instead of starting a New Discussion, you started a New Poll.

quote:

Question:
Not sure why I’m have to ask a question but since I do…

Because you picked "New Poll" instead of "New Discussion".

Growing up I didn't have a lot of ambition. Teachers told me I'd amount to nothing... etc. If the steel mills were still running, I'd probably have ended up there like my Dad, his father, and his father.

After fumbling through life and then having a moment of clarity, I enlisted in the Air Force. After boot camp and tech school I arrived at my duty station. It didn't take me long to realize I didn't want to be treated like that for the next 20+ years. Got my shit together, got out, and got a degree in EE from a Top 10 engineering school. The rest, as they say, is history.

A couple of years back I had to dig a roughly 100ft trench from my house to my new shop for power/water. My ground is comprised of rocks with a little bit of dirt mixed in. It took me the better part of two days digging that five foot deep trench with my little Kubota backhoe. The last eight feet or so of the trench was alongside the house and I wasn't able to get the tractor safely close enough to use it, so it had to be done by hand with a tamping bar and a shovel...one rock at a time.

My buddy came over to help me out and brought is then 14 year old son along. Before long we were up top "supervising" while the boy worked. At one point we both agreed that this exemplified the value of a college education.

Yep, the world needs ditch diggers too, just so long as it ain't me.

Don't feel bad about not being a Titan of Industry. I suspect most of those aren't really happy with their lives.

I think my family when I was growing up would have been rated "lower middle class" or "a few steps above poverty". My dad worked and mom kept house. We always had food (mom could make anything taste good) and a roof over head. My clothes were always clean and neat. I was expected to be obedient and respectful of anyone in authority. Spanking happened, but not often (I was a quick study). I did well in school (but never all-"A"s) and went to a local "street car college" in Detroit--degree in Chem Eng'g. Had done 4 years of AFROTC so was commissioned upon graduation and embarked on a 20-year career in USAF. USAF paid for a Master's Degree in IE while I served. Never worked in either engineering discipline. First 15 years USAF was as a Ground Electronics Officer (mostly radar) and last 5 were NCO Computer Programmer (long story, previously discussed). Upon retirement (in Germany) returned to USA and got work with a big semiconductor manufacturer as a COBOL programmer, and did that for 26 more years. Was pretty good at it, but didn't invent anything remarkable. Never married and managed to put back some money, and with 2 retirements and SS am living fairly well. Can't complain. Have much to be thankful for--parents who cared to raise me right, excellent education, good military experience, and worthwhile and rewarding employment. Life is good.

Happy Thanksgiving, all!

flashguy

As I've said before, I was raised in two conditions, abject poverty or affluence. When we got affluent, my parents went out and started a business that was doomed to failure and didn't give up until they had trouble putting food on the table. Then they went back to work at normal jobs until we were affluent again. Wash, rinse, repeat.

So I went in the Army, put myself through college by working 40 hours a week and the G.I. bill combined and became an Electronic Engineer.

I've been really lucky in my career as I was involved in a few really important things:

1. Part of the design team that made the world's first accurate visual field plotter. It's used for checking eyesight and very good for detecting visual problems and indicating pretty much what they probably are.

2. Part of the design team that designed one of the two first TENS units (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator) Very good for treating muscle and nerve problems.

3. Part of the design team that developed and brought to production the world's first triaxial laser. (HeNe, C02 and frequency doubled YAG. Used for neurosurgical uses up to and including amputations.

4. Part of the design team that developed the world's first laser for Corneal micro sculpting (and later also used to carve scenes inside transparent blocks of plastic).

I've been very, very lucky to be a part of all this and sometimes wonder what I did to deserve it.

quote:

Originally posted by Flash-LB:
As I've said before, I was raised in two conditions, abject poverty or affluence. When we got affluent, my parents went out and started a business that was doomed to failure and didn't give up until they had trouble putting food on the table. Then they went back to work at normal jobs until we were affluent again. Wash, rinse, repeat.

So I went in the Army, put myself through college by working 40 hours a week and the G.I. bill combined and became an Electronic Engineer.

I've been really lucky in my career as I was involved in a few really important things:

1. Part of the design team that made the world's first accurate visual field plotter. It's used for checking eyesight and very good for detecting visual problems and indicating pretty much what they probably are.

2. Part of the design team that designed one of the two first TENS units (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator) Very good for treating muscle and nerve problems.

3. Part of the design team that developed and brought to production the world's first triaxial laser. (HeNe, C02 and frequency doubled YAG. Used for neurosurgical uses up to and including amputations.

4. Part of the design team that developed the world's first laser for Corneal micro sculpting (and later also used to carve scenes inside transparent blocks of plastic).

I've been very, very lucky to be a part of all this and sometimes wonder what I did to deserve it.

Which one?

quote:

Originally posted by bcereuss:

quote:

Originally posted by Flash-LB:
As I've said before, I was raised in two conditions, abject poverty or affluence. When we got affluent, my parents went out and started a business that was doomed to failure and didn't give up until they had trouble putting food on the table. Then they went back to work at normal jobs until we were affluent again. Wash, rinse, repeat.

So I went in the Army, put myself through college by working 40 hours a week and the G.I. bill combined and became an Electronic Engineer.

I've been really lucky in my career as I was involved in a few really important things:

1. Part of the design team that made the world's first accurate visual field plotter. It's used for checking eyesight and very good for detecting visual problems and indicating pretty much what they probably are.

2. Part of the design team that designed one of the two first TENS units (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator) Very good for treating muscle and nerve problems.

3. Part of the design team that developed and brought to production the world's first triaxial laser. (HeNe, C02 and frequency doubled YAG. Used for neurosurgical uses up to and including amputations.

4. Part of the design team that developed the world's first laser for Corneal micro sculpting (and later also used to carve scenes inside transparent blocks of plastic).

I've been very, very lucky to be a part of all this and sometimes wonder what I did to deserve it.

Which one?

Synemed made it and got FDA approval around 1978. I started there in 1976 and was employee #13 but in seniority I was #6.

Synemed was named for synergistic medicine.

http://www.synemed.com/

Synemed has been designing and manufacturing innovative ophthalmic instruments since 1976. Although the technology has changed, our commitment to you has not. Since the introduction of our first instrument, digital imaging and automated perimetry have continued to evolve. We remain on the leading edge of the industry, providing you with the most sophisticated instrumentation available while balancing that sophistication with easy operation and affordability.

The EyeScape Digital Imaging Systems, our upgrades for older-generation instruments, and our continued innovation in in ophthalmic imaging are why Synemed and high-quality ophthalmic instrumentation remain synonymous within the industry. For the most advanced technology that is affordable, upgradeable and easy to use, the only sensible choice is Synemed.

Aah, yes...I remember Synemed. The technology has come a long way since that generation visual field analyzers!