Greetings all. I’ve been away from the boards for a while, so I thought I’d post a brief update.
You may recall that for the past 2 years or so I was applying for and being rejected from a job. Well, 3d time proved to be a charm, and I landed a new gig a couple of months ago as a federal administrative law judge. The interviewing and then the waiting were pretty stressful and interminable. Got the word 2 hours before my wife and I were to head to the airport for a 25th anniversary trip to Alaska. Then after the trip I had 2 weeks to close up the office I’d been in for 24 years, then 2 weeks of training followed by 4 weeks of training in DC.
I’m now working in a small town about 1.5 hours from my home. I rented a 1 bedroom apt, and am driving there Monday a.m. and back Friday p.m. until we decide what we want to do - where we want to end up. Don’t really need 5 bedrooms anymore, but it sure is nice to have the room when the kiddos come home. At the end of the month I can put in for a transfer either back home or elsewhere, but there’s no guarantee when that would happen.
Our current situation is working well. It is just nice to have SOME steady situation after the hectic last few months. I’m not posting here much because for the first time in a quarter century I have a job I don’t hate and that doesn’t bore me to tears. I used to do most of my posting from work - now I actually have work to do that I don’t HATE! Feels Weird! 
Being a judge is really cool. I think I’m doing a pretty good job of not letting the robe go to my head.
My work is in a town of about 30k, and my apt is maybe 7 minutes from work. It is ASTOUNDING how quickly you DO NOPT MISS big city traffic. During the height of the “rush hour” you might have 4-5 cars ahead of you at the light at the busiest intersection … Our offices are in a brand new uber-green building, which is pretty cool as well.
Didn’t get to play much golf this summer. Sliced a tendon in my thumb in early June, which pissed away June and July, and then August and September went crazy. Heading out tomorrow for a final round of the year and to celebrate my and my best buddy’s eligibility this month for the senior tour (50). As a present, I bought myself an upright bass, and am enjoying thumping away as my wife fiddles around.
On the home front, my oldest has set a date to get married next July. She’s finishing up student teaching. The boy is a junior at UofI still studying Aero Engineering, and the youngest is still digging Molecular and Cellular Biology. Scored a lab gig where she is removing and slicing up mouse brains. Mmm - BRAINS!
So basically all is well at casa Dinsadle. Hope all is well with all of you. Have an extra spooky Samhein!
and it turns out for the better. Spooky Samhain to you, too!
Just an incredibly onerous application/testing/interviewing/fraternal hazing process seemingly reflecting blind luck at least as much as ability.