I am actually sitting on my apartment building’s front porch, watching runners and walkers for the “University of Louisville 10-Miler” road race go by. It’s nice to get some fresh air on occasion!
Well, what is new in my life since my last post?
I applied for, and got accepted to, a Graduate Certificate program with the University of Louisville; it will be a one-year, 3-semester (2 classes per semester), joint program between UofL’s J.B. Speed School of Engineering and the Department of Mathematics, resulting in a Certificate in Data Science. I originally got accepted last fall but will start classes in May.
Well, “would have started”.
I spent the last few months looking for (and applying for) any kind of financial aid: through FASFA, Sallie Mae (loan), grants through UofL, and 3rd-party scholarships, grants, and other aid.
No luck.
While I have enough saved for one class, it’s becoming increasing clear that I don’t make enough to do this program without help. So, I am going to have to email my advisor and tell her to remove my registration. That sucks.
After 3 years of starts and stops, modded character classes, modded backgrounds, and even an upgrade in internet services, I finally finished Baldur’s Gate 3 last week! The character I decided on was a Fallen Aasimar (a ‘Half-Angel’) named Rook. Rook was a Sorcerer, with a modded “Frost” subclass – a lot of her attacks were frost/snow/ice-based, tending to be more of a defense, crowd control subclass. My unofficial backstory for her was that she was in the Sword Coast (the general area of the game), trying to get control of her powers and her rage, when she got kidnapped by Mind Flayers. This had the unintentional effect of focusing her powers on bringing down whoever was responsible. After numerous adventures with new friends and allies she (epilogue) traveled throughout the region, helping those she could, seeing what she could, before returning to Baldur’s Gate to help with the rebuild process (Baldur’s Gate got wrecked). It was a very fun game to play through! I may start another campaign up in the summer, but that is to be determined.
I am approaching my 10-year anniversary at work. I don’t think I will try for #11. We got word on Friday that there are some behind-the-scenes stuff happening between our company, our ‘boss’ company (KY Transportation Cabinet), our ‘parent’ company (Peraton), and another group (Webber). I can’t say what all is happening – especially since the workers don’t have many facts, yet – but it could result in coverage changes. What it has done is hardened my stance in that it is time for me top find a new, main career. I love my current co-workers and bosses, and job itself is pretty interesting, but I am also fighting ‘burnout’ and the policies/excuses of at least 2 of the 3 other companies mentioned above are driving me crazy. I do not have any set job I am looking at or leaving for, but I don’t see myself working for my current company at the end of this year.
Adding to the fun of 2026:
I had been dealing with a flare up of left heel pain for probably 2-3 weeks. This past Tuesday, while leaving work, I got a very sharp spike of pain in it. It died down for a few minutes. Almost halfway to my bus stop, something in the back of my foot ‘popped’. For the next 3 days, I wrapped my foot, put ice on it, and kept it as elevated as possible (working in an office helped). Yesterday morning (Saturday), I noticed more swelling, pain, and now bruising in the area that popped, so I went to the University of Louisville First Care area. After X-rays, the doctors told me that I had fractured my heel and possibly torn part of my Achilles tendon.
I am currently in a plaster foot cast (also on crutches) until Tuesday, when I have to go see a Podiatrist. After that, depending on what the doctor says, I will go into a walking boot (with a heel lift) for “a few months”. I don’t know if I will need surgery, yet.
So far, getting around my apartment on crutches has been an adventure. 😉 I am off from my main job on Monday and Tuesday; if I don’t have to use the crutches after Tuesday, I’ll probably be back in the office on Wednesday. After Wednesday, we’ll see what the rest spring and summer have in store.
Other odds and ends:
- “Thunder Over Louisville” is back on the schedule in 2026. The largest fireworks show in North America (plus a 6-hour Air Show) starts on Saturday, April 18th, at 3 PM EDT. I haven’t heard if I’m working during it again; if so, I’ll be working 5 PM – 12 AM. If not, I have an invitation to a non-Thunder-related ‘Beatles Day’ at a friend’s house, which should be fun.
- I’ve really enjoyed two Jazz concerts that I’ve been able to go to with my best friend and one of her bosses! The University of Louisville apparently has been having monthly Jazz concerts at their School of Music this year, near the end of each month. Sullivan Fortner, the 2026 Grammy Winner for “Instrumental Jazz Album” was the most recent concert – it was so amazing!!
- There is an ‘Alumni’ Drum and Bugle Corps out there, called the AALC: African American Legacy Corps. It’s for anyone – regardless of race, gender, or age – that has marched or taught in the Drum Corps/Indoor Percussion/Winter Guard world; it will pay tribute to the contributions to the ‘Black Drum & Bugle Corps’ of the past. The ultimate performance will be at the semi-finals of the DCI World Championships in 2027; other performances will take place before then. I have sent in an Interest Form – hoping to get chosen for this group!!
- Interstate 65, the main north-south interstate through Louisville, will be shutting down in less than 2 months, for major bridge repairs. This will be a headache and a half for motorists… and for those of us who watch interstate cameras to help said motorists.
- And, ‘that’ streak is still active.
So, changes are indeed ‘afoot’ (pun not originally intended). I have to navigate the next 4-6 months-plus with crutches, a cast, and walking boot, with a surgery yet to be determined. I am possibly leaving my current main job or changing shifts on that job. The possibly of school is slipping to near-zero, for this year. Let’s see where they all take me…!
The Nexus 