My test for 3rd Class Brown belt was delayed until Tuesday. It was actually a very short test since I had basically been grilled previously on several components. I knew the curriculum better than I thought I did... and it helped that I'd been reviewing the material for over a month. I need to stay on top of the organization from now on. It will make testign for 1st Degree Black belt much easier.
In preparation for the stick training portion of 3rd Brown, I purchased an LAPD-style baton. I regretted the purchase as soon as it arrived. The quality is not that much of an issue... but I immediately discovered why Professor Steiner recommends (or prefers) a baton without grooves. So this first stick will be relegated to "dirty" duty. I recently ordered a Dymondwood baton from Robert Koga's school. It measures 29"x1.5". it will be on the 'large' side. I had a choice between 1 & 1/4" or the 1 & 1/2". I think that the thicker stick will assist in grip development.
I also have an in-person interview for the Costco testing job. It's been a long time since I've worked anywhere but Microsoft. I've interviewed outside once or twice since leaving security but I've always ended up getting the MS testing gigs. You never know how these will go but I'm working this time so hopefully that will give me a bit more confidence. Plus I've already spoken with their individual over the phone. I think that this may be more of a team meeting session.
As far as planning for training I'm beginning to appreciate yet again that one really needs to plan SPECIFICALLY towards a goal & not simply have an intention to "do some training". I am going to have to make SOLID plans to attend Sexton, EPI, VDI or even the Icon advanced course within 6 months (or less) and begin saving funds for that course without fail.
I may only have the one opportunity to attend this year. That is NOT optimal. I'm honestly hoping to get in AT LEAST two courses in 2012 but it's March already and I'm still farting about. (Well... getting dental work done among other things.) Attending the full EPI Ep & firearms course in October would be fabulous. I really do want to attend Sextons course however & though they haven't yet updated their 2012 schedule on the web site I suspect that they'll have an offering in Las Vegas in September or October. Also, VDI has driving courses in June through December but the SUV supplemental course will only be realistically available in October. That conflicts with the EPI course.
Much of this depends upon funding of course. If I remain at Microsoft, I'll be restricted as to how much I can scrape together over the next 8 months or so. This will probably mean limiting myself to a single course... or two "cheap" ones. VDI & Icon may end up being my workable options.
Unfortunately, it will not serve my purpose to save without a plan (that never works). It also won't be easy planning too far ahead when I have no certainty of what my employment is going to look like. One thing I miss about being an "a-" contractor... the 100-day break-in-service. Seriously... I'm beginning to miss that time off. It would have been perfect for this kind of thing. I would always have that block of time every year to take training. Oh well. That's irony for you. I worked there for years wanting to migrate to vendor status & now that I'm there I miss losing that 100 days of wages because I can't get time off when I really want it.
In preparation for the stick training portion of 3rd Brown, I purchased an LAPD-style baton. I regretted the purchase as soon as it arrived. The quality is not that much of an issue... but I immediately discovered why Professor Steiner recommends (or prefers) a baton without grooves. So this first stick will be relegated to "dirty" duty. I recently ordered a Dymondwood baton from Robert Koga's school. It measures 29"x1.5". it will be on the 'large' side. I had a choice between 1 & 1/4" or the 1 & 1/2". I think that the thicker stick will assist in grip development.
I also have an in-person interview for the Costco testing job. It's been a long time since I've worked anywhere but Microsoft. I've interviewed outside once or twice since leaving security but I've always ended up getting the MS testing gigs. You never know how these will go but I'm working this time so hopefully that will give me a bit more confidence. Plus I've already spoken with their individual over the phone. I think that this may be more of a team meeting session.
As far as planning for training I'm beginning to appreciate yet again that one really needs to plan SPECIFICALLY towards a goal & not simply have an intention to "do some training". I am going to have to make SOLID plans to attend Sexton, EPI, VDI or even the Icon advanced course within 6 months (or less) and begin saving funds for that course without fail.
I may only have the one opportunity to attend this year. That is NOT optimal. I'm honestly hoping to get in AT LEAST two courses in 2012 but it's March already and I'm still farting about. (Well... getting dental work done among other things.) Attending the full EPI Ep & firearms course in October would be fabulous. I really do want to attend Sextons course however & though they haven't yet updated their 2012 schedule on the web site I suspect that they'll have an offering in Las Vegas in September or October. Also, VDI has driving courses in June through December but the SUV supplemental course will only be realistically available in October. That conflicts with the EPI course.
Much of this depends upon funding of course. If I remain at Microsoft, I'll be restricted as to how much I can scrape together over the next 8 months or so. This will probably mean limiting myself to a single course... or two "cheap" ones. VDI & Icon may end up being my workable options.
Unfortunately, it will not serve my purpose to save without a plan (that never works). It also won't be easy planning too far ahead when I have no certainty of what my employment is going to look like. One thing I miss about being an "a-" contractor... the 100-day break-in-service. Seriously... I'm beginning to miss that time off. It would have been perfect for this kind of thing. I would always have that block of time every year to take training. Oh well. That's irony for you. I worked there for years wanting to migrate to vendor status & now that I'm there I miss losing that 100 days of wages because I can't get time off when I really want it.
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