[DJ Voice] All right! We’ve got enough horns tootin’ for an Blues Brothers album, but let’s work this mutha up to a full-fledged Earth, Wind and Fire concert! Cheers, kudos & a big slap on the back to everyone so far, and let’s keep those stories of personal triumph coming in! [/DJ Voice]
I got an 88 on my written EMT test. I’ve had several people come forward and offer to write letters of recommendation for me (this is a big deal - these are people in high places, which counts for a lot) when I go for my interview. As they put it, the county ‘needs people like you.’
I’ve also had guys at the firehouse helping me train for the agility test. I’ve gotten a lot of emotional support (lots of “You can do it!”), and it means a lot, especially when I’m up against super-fit kids in their 20s.
I ran a committee during the last school year, made up of parents, law enforcement, traffic engineers and district staff. The committee studied ways to improve traffic and pedestrian safety around schools and neighborhoods in proximity to schools. We ended up with several recommendations to the board, including educational programs for kids and drivers, plans to reorganize the traffic patterns at the schools, and generally formed some meaningful and effective partnerships between PTO groups, the district staff and local officials. The day after I presented the report at the board meeting, the superintendent, two of the cops on the committee, and 4 of the 7 board members either called or wrote to congratulate and thank me specifically for putting it all together.
And, troublmakr, they doubted the Google-Fu of a Doper? Do they not with whom they were dealing??? 
I’ve gained a reputation as ‘the guy who can find things’. About a year ago, one of my friends said, “Okay, I want something I know you can’t find.” I simply raised an eyebrow questioningly, and she altered her statement to, “Okay, if you can’t find it, no one can.”
2 hours later, I had a DVD of the live theater performance she was looking for being mailed to me. (total serendipidy that I was able to find it at all, but in this case, it was results that counted.)
I’m 83 years old and have kept myself in such good shape that I don’t look a day over 80.
-
I passed the level 6 kanji test, which means I’m qualified to go to junior high school (the test is meant for native Japanese speakers, so most of the other takers were elementary-school kids. Kinda fun to see them freak when I sat down with them).
-
I passed the level 2 Japanese proficiency test for foreigners, which rates me as business-level. Combine with with #1 and you’ll understand a lot about the world of business.
-
I completed my first three-quarter century ride (120km) this month, met a bunch of neat people and had a good time.
-
I helped out a stranger at the immigration office this morning while I was waiting for my number to be called. He needed to write an explanation for a special request, but he couldn’t write well in English or Japanese.
-
Our first child is due to be born in about three months, and I think my wife and I are doing an OK job of getting ready without going nuts.
My wife and I rescued a stranded biker last night. We were on our way home from the grocery store, and saw him in a bank parking lot, puzzling over his Ninja 250. Turns out it cut off on him and wouldn’t restart. We offered the usual help, and looked over the bike for anything obvious. A jump start and a bumpstart didn’t work, so we figured the bike was pretty much dead. His cousin was supposed to come get him and the bike with a truck, but so far had not showed up (turned out later his truck broke down too, d’oh!).
We went home and unloaded the groceries (hey it was 90 out and I bought ice cream), hooked up the trailer to our car, and returned to give him a much-needed lift to his house.